Page 2 of Power's Fall

Franco looked over to see that Colum’s gaze was pinched, face lined by grief as he looked down the elongated central aisle of the famous Long Room. This was where they’d found Josephine’s head—in a basket right here in the Trinity Library.

Shit. Franco should have insisted they meet at the Boston Public Library rather than allowing Colum to host it here. The problem was, Boston wasn’t neutral territory, and Dublin was. Though Colum was the archivist for the Masters’ Admiralty, technically he was neutral.

Still, maybe there was somewhere else on Trinity grounds where they could have this meeting…

“Hey, guys,” Franco started, “maybe we should go somewhere?—”

Colum slapped a hand over Franco’s mouth. “Quiet now. I want to hear this.”

The haunted look had left his face, so Franco nodded, and Colum dropped his hand.

“I’m adding one more to my side,” Eric said. “The Hungary admiral.” Eric’s eyelid twitched as he said it, and Regina closed her eyes for a moment before looking at the ceiling and sighing.

“No,” Juliette countered. “The numbers were already in your favor because of Colum.”

“I’m neutral,” Colum protested.

Juliette looked at him, one brow raised. “Technically, but aren’t you essentially Eric’s adopted brother?”

“Er…” Colum shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Technically, neutral.” Juliette faced Eric. “Practically, you obey Eric.”

Eric snorted. “You must have a very different relationship with your siblings, if you think he’ll do what I say because he’s my little brother.”

Devon smothered his amused laugh. Franco didn’t bother. Juliette had a better relationship with her own brother now than she’d had when she first became Grand Master, but she felt no obligation to follow Harrison’s lead or obey an order he gave.

“Fair point. We’ll count Colum as neutral. That still leaves you with eight to my seven.”

“Would it help if I told you one of the people coming currently hates me?”

Franco thought Eric meant that to be a joke, but there was something grim under the words.

“Mildly. Which one hates you?” Juliette asked.

“You’ll be able to tell.”

Now Regina snorted.

“Did we ever decide what to call this?” Colum asked. “This meeting?”

“Trinity Council,” Juliette said.

“Masters Council,” Eric countered. “We both have ‘Master’ in our names. Masters’ Admiralty. Trinity Masters.”

“We’re both built on trinities.” Juliette raised one hand. “It’s not my fault you chose ‘Masters’ Admiralty’ as a name when Trinity Masters makes more sense.”

“That wasn’t always our name,” Colum said. “That’s recent, post Admiral Lord Nelson. Before that, it was?—”

“Masters Council,” Eric said, cutting off Colum with a sharp glance in his direction.

Franco slowly faced Colum, eyes wide and round. He needed to know what the Masters’ Admiralty had originally been called. Not wanted to know.Neededto know.

“Colum, don’t tell him,” Eric said quickly.

“Franco, please find out,” Juliette said with a smile.

“Ah feck,” Colum muttered, avoiding Franco’s gaze.

---