Seanan stood in front of the council, staring at the people in the circle around him. He mustered a smile, his lips twitching, when a few people cast supportive smiles in his direction.

"I'm sure you know why we've called you here." Rakard's lip curled up.

Bowing his head, Seanan shrugged. "Actually, I'm not sure."

"It's because you are the one who has been killing off townsfolk one at a time." Lutara pointed a finger at him, her face reddening.

"Now, Lutara..." Headmistress Kasali glared across the room at Lutara. "We brought him here to ask questions, not to throw accusations we can't prove."

It won't be long before you will be throwing accusations you can't prove, Seanan thought. He remained quiet, listening to the councilors as they bickered. The wait seemed an eternity, and the lower councilors couldn't come to any concrete conclusion on what to ask him. Not surprising given the fact that they threw this together last minute at the insistence of Lutara and Rakard.

Finally, Headmaster Alarens pounded a fist against the oak table where he sat. "All of you, shut up! We're not here to bicker. We are here to ask him what we need to know."

The lower councilors fell silent in response to the Shadar who led them all. Generally, Alarens listened to the others politely and took all they said into consideration. Most day to day operations were run by the lower councilors, and he delegated other responsibilities as necessary. Seanan knew the man to be a fair, equitable leader. But the man also had little patience for this sort of bickering.

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as all eyes turned to him. "What questions did you have for me?"

The men and women leaned forward, glancing at Alarens. He steepled his fingers in front of him and stared down at Seanan. "Seanan, we all appreciate the work you've been doing for us as a healer for those who can't pay for the healers in the next towns over. But some startling accusations have been made by some of the villagers, and we have to investigate. We want to give you a chance to cooperate with us and answer for yourself."

Seanan bowed his head. "I appreciate the consideration, Headmaster Alarens."

Alarens inclined his head to acknowledge the statement. "Let me get to the point. Several of the townsfolk have come forward and say they saw you kill one of the recent decedents. Another person said they saw you kill the girl who went missing a few nights ago. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"The girl who went missing a few nights ago is home safe with her parents. If I killed her, why would she be back home safe and sound?"

The councilors around the room muttered amongst themselves. On some faces, he saw agreement, but on several, there was an undisguised disgust. They sneered down at him, but no one spoke directly to him. It won't be long before they no longer listen to Alarens.

Alarens pounded his fist on the table, silencing the mutterings. "Silence, all of you!" His blue eyes fixed their gaze on Seanan. "What do you say then about the accusation?"

"Shadar Alarens, at this moment, I cannot explain to you the accusations made." Seanan spread his hands in an appeal to the council. "What I can say is that you all know me. You know my work. As you said, Shadar, I have been a valuable member of the community here. I've come here to help your town, not to hurt you."

"Still, they say you have miraculous powers." Alarens leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table's gleaming surface.

Seanan remained silent.

"Is that true?"

"They say it is." Seanan folded his hands in front of him.

"What do you say?" The torches flickered, their light casting an eerie glow behind Alarens and throwing shadows across the darkened room.

"I am what I am. A healer."

"That doesn't answer the question." Alarens narrowed his eyes. "Answer the question directly, Seanan. Do you or do you not have special powers you use in healing."

Seanan exhaled slowly. "Yes."

The low rumble of conversation broke out again. Over the chaos of whispering, Lutara raised her voice. "What kinds of powers, Healer? Is it true you can raise the dead?"

The mumbling rose to a higher pitch.

Alarens's voice rang over the din. "I said be quiet! I will be asking the questions here. The rest of you will remain silent and observe. You may make your opinion known when we meet about this later."

Seanan's shoulders slumped as the noise died down again. This is exhausting...

"Well, Seanan. Answer Lutara's question."

"Yes." Seanan stared at Alarens. "I can raise the dead."

Rakard's features contorted into a snarl. "Then how do we know you didn't kill the girl? You could've panicked when you realized you'd been caught and brought her back so that you'd still look like the town hero."

Alarens shot to his feet. "Rakard, you go too far! I warned you to be quiet. Leave immediately."

Rakard shoved his chair back and rose, glaring at Alarens. "How dare you dismiss me! I have every right to be here."

The glint in Alarens's harsh blue gaze made Seanan wince. Rakard didn't seem to notice. He gesticulated at Seanan with a twisted smirk on his lips. "We should let the people decide, Alarens. After all, it's by their missive that we are all in authority here. I'm sure if we told them the truth, they'd crucify him in an instant."

Alarens stalked around the circle and grabbed Rakard by the collar before the man could register his superior's intent. "You will be quiet, or I will personally make sure you're removed from office. We still believe in innocence until proven guilty in this council. If you don't, perhaps the people would have a different opinion of your leadership." He gave Rakard a vicious shake and then shoved him toward one of the four doors positioned at the four directions of the circular room. "Now, you can leave on your own, or the guards can toss you out. Which will it be?"

Rakard dusted himself off, shooting a narrow-eyed stare at Alarens and at those who were nodding in agreement with the older man's speech. "I think I will retire to my chambers early. My apologies, but it seems I am no longer welcome at this meeting." Spinning on his heel, he stormed out of the room and slammed the heavy wood door behind him.

Everyone stared at the door for a few moments, mouths ajar.

Alarens rubbed his hands together. "Well, now that one problem has been dealt with..." He turned to face the rest of the room. "Does anyone else want to cause a ruckus? If so, you can head in the same direction as Rakard. May as well save everyone's time here."

No one would meet his gaze as he glanced around the room. When his piercing gaze settled on Seanan, the healer's lips twitched up in silent gratitude for the older man's swift actions to preserve justice.

When no one said anything or moved to leave, Alarens glided back to his seat with a grunt. "I thought not. Good. Now, let's get back to the business on hand."

***

"How did it go?" Eivas practically tackled Seanan when he exited the looming tower where the council met.

Ulda, one of Seanan's other healers and his closest friend, stepped forward and laid a hand on Eivas's arm. "Eivas, come away. Can't you see the man's exhausted?"

Eivas relented, giving Seanan his space. Seanan's lips tightened for an instant, and then he forced a smile onto his face, his cheek muscles twitching with the effort. "Thank you for being here, Ulda. I know your section of the Hall has been busy."

"Busy doesn't begin to cover it." Ulda ran his slender fingers through his thick mop of blond hair. "I don't think I've seen more than your shadow for the last two months, Seanan. But I'm glad I could be here today."

Yes. For now, you're both here. Seanan bit his lip and descended the steps. "I'm glad you could be too."

"So? What happened?" Eivas fell into step beside him.

"They let me go. For now, most of them believe I'm innocent."

Ulda shot him a calculating stare, his thick lashes framing his violet irises, which lit with suspicion. "For now?"

Eivas blinked, glancing between the two of them.

"Yes, for now."

"You sound like you think they won't think that for very long." Eivas frowned at Seanan. "Is there something we need to know?"

"The time is coming when no one here will defend my innocence, Eivas. But it will turn out for good in the end." Seanan quickened his pace, the wind chafing at his face and chapping his lips.

The other two hurried to catch up as he turned onto a less-traveled dirt path on the way back to the Hall and his home.

"What do you mean no one here will defend your innocence?" Ulda shook his head. "The townsfolk love you."

"And they are fickle. If they are shown something they believe is damning proof, they will turn on even their own in an instant." He rubbed his temples and exhaled slowly. "Let's just go home, alright? We still have to lock up at the Hall, and I don't know about you two, but I'm spent. Some rest would likely do us all some good."

Eivas clapped him on the back. "That it would. No offense, my friend, but you look like you're nearly dead on your feet. If any of us need rest, it's certainly you. Why don't you stay at the Hall tonight instead of trekking all the way out to that lonely cottage you claim is a home?"

Seanan shook his head. "I'll have to pass on that for tonight. My apologies, but I need some time alone."

Ulda and Eivas exchanged a look, but after a moment, their shoulders slumped and both of them nodded.

"We'll see you tomorrow, then?" Ulda rubbed his hands together.

The wind from earlier had picked up, and it was slipping its chilly fingers into his coat to freeze the places where it touched. The summer was quickly ending, and the crisp weather of fall was rolling in to replace it. Seanan glanced up at the sky then back down at the dirt trail they had turned onto, kicking a stone in front of him. "I have something else I must do, actually. But you will see me shortly. If not in a day or two, then certainly by the beginning of this next week."

Ulda stared at him, his arms crossed. "So long? What exactly do you need to do? I've never known you to take a day off when it's a work day. Sometimes you don't even make an end of work on the day of rest."

Seanan chuckled, looking back up at the evening sky. The trial and the onslaught of questions had lasted too long. He'd known, of course, that it would take the day. But it still left him drained and ill company for his friends, who wanted to talk when he only wished for solitude and silence. "I can't share what I have to do, but it's important enough for me to miss a few days of work. Trust me, Ulda. I know what I'm doing."

Ulda frowned and chewed on his lower lip. "If you say so."

They came to the fork in the road where their ways parted, and the trio paused.

Eivas stood in the pathway, staring at Seanan with an unreadable expression. "Best of luck with your task then. I'd best be getting home, so I'll leave the two of you here."

"I'll be right behind you." Ulda watched Eivas leave and then turned to Seanan.

Seanan raised a brow. "You have more to say."

Ulda nodded, the frown a permanent feature this evening. "Seanan, what's going on? They're blaming you for the attacks. Or, at least, some of them are. And you're skipping work for a few days for some unknown reason. None of this is normal."

He blew a long breath through his lips and ran his fingers through his hair. "No, it's not. Ulda, I can't tell you more than I already have right now. But I promise you this will all work out. Whatever happens to me in the near future, know that it isn't the end. That I haven't lost."

Ulda shook his head, a bark of laughter escaping him. "You sound like you're going to fight some giant battle and lose."

Seanan grimaced, tucking his freezing hands under his armpits.

Ulda looked at him sharply. "You aren't, are you?"

A smile tugged at Seanan's lips. Perceptive as always. "Not in the way you think. Now, go home, Ulda. Let me take care of this and stop worrying over it."

"You're really going to insist on doing this alone?" Ulda scrubbed his palm over his face.

"Yes."

"Well, I suppose I have no choice but to trust you with whatever's going on since you won't bring any help on board. Best of luck to you, my friend." Ulda reached out and squeezed Seanan's shoulder. "And don't die."

"I promise that there will be no permanent harm." Seanan pulled Ulda into a hug, clapping him on the back. "I mean it, Ulda. Quit worrying about this."

Ulda pulled away and spun his heel. "As you say." He threw a short wave over his shoulder and trudged off in the direction of the Hall.

Seanan watched his friend depart, his shoulders drooping and his heart clenching. Everyone has to suffer so much before things get better. Bowing his head, he turned and drifted in the direction of his own home.