Beyond the Gates of Evermoore

“We’re here,” Melody announced excitedly. The car rolled along the gravel to an unceremonious stop, and the two of them stretched their legs for the first time in almost a full day.

It took only a moment to notice her; Xiomara, standing at the threshold of the manor’s great double doors. She was wearing a yellow kaftan with bright blue flowers. Her arms were crossed over her chest.

>

“Come inside,” the old woman said. While Melody was sure she was speaking to her, the Head of Order seemed to have her eyes fixed only on Lucus. “We’ve got a lot to discuss.”

36

A warm fire crackled behind Xiomara as she sat behind her massive desk. Or maybe the desk wasn’t so massive as she was diminutive, Melody really didn’t know.

The Head of the Hallowed Order left them sitting in their chairs for a full two minutes, steepling her fingers and staring silently back at the both of them. It was the first time since she’d met the woman that Melody found her at a complete loss for words.

“How in the nine hells did this happen?” she finally demanded.

Melody gulped. “H—How did what happen?”

“This!” Xiomara shouted, indicating Lucus. “This this this!”

Melody glanced sideways, expecting to see Lucus squirming uncomfortably in his chair. Instead, he only sat quietly. Not moving. Not flinching.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“I rescued someone,” said Melody.

“Rescued?” Xiomara laughed. “Fucking rescued!” She stood up and began circling her desk. “Do you understand where this person is from, Larson? When he’s from?”

“I understand more than anybody,” Melody spat. For the first time, she was past being defensive. “And what about you? Did you understand what you were sending me into? Blindly, without telling me?”

Xiomara’s mouth twisted tightly. She said nothing.

“Of course you did,” Melody went on. “And yet you sent me anyway. And you sent someone else too! Another member of the Order who almost got me killed. Someone who—”

The African woman stopped pacing immediately and gestured for silence. On her face was an expression Melody had never seen before: confusion.

“Back up,” Xiomara ordered. “Someone else?”

“Yes. Another member with the same mission as mine. A pretty big blindside, don’t you think? I mean, at least if you’d warned me—”

“What the hell are you babbling about?”

Melody was angry now, more angry than she’d ever been with the Head of Order. She knew she was pushing a line. That part made her nervous, but it really couldn’t be helped.

“Hanham,” she snarled. “Eric Hanham.”

The room fell silent except for the crackle of the fire. When Melody looked back at Xiomara, she noticed the woman’s whole body had gone rigid.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me,” said Melody. “Eric Hanham was there, screwing everything up for me. At first, I thought he was there to help.” She searched her memory. “Said he was sent by another officer… someone by the name of Aldwyn.”

Xiomara remained where she was, stock still. It wasn’t an act. She was at a complete loss right now.

“You knew all this already,” Melody theorized. Only now she wasn’t exactly so sure. “Right?”

The Head of Order took a deep breath, then let it out very slowly. As Melody and Lucus watched she walked over to the fire and turned her back on them.

“Eric Hanham,” she said in even tones, “was excommunicated. Banished from the Order long ago, for breaking rank and plotting against us.”