Page 10 of Control's Undoing

“Do you want a history lesson?”Colum asked abruptly.

“Yes, please.”Annie took a sip of the milky tea that was surprisingly delicious, given she rarely drank hot tea, let alone tea with milk.

“There are nine territories with lines that were first drawn when the society was founded, during the height of the Black Plague.”

Annie’s eyes widened.

“Our territories are not unique to individual countries, even though the names of some might suggest that.”

Colum hopped up, rifling through an old atlas stand, before returning with a map she’d never seen before.On it were the territories Colum mentioned, along with the names of their admirals.She was amazed by just how much of Europe—and even Asia—was included in the Masters’ Admiralty.

“The territory of Germany contains modern-day Germany, and portions of Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.”Colum pointed as he explained, his enthusiasm evident.

“Interesting.So essentially you have nine Grand Masters, one per territory?”she asked.

Xavier sat back, looking bored and sighing heavily.She had to fight back her own annoyance at his attitude.

“No.Well… Might be?Each admiral is in control of their territory and their people,” Colum said.“But there are a fair few things that the fleet admiral has to sign off on and he helps the territories.The fleet admiral is more like the head of the EU.”

“Big job,” she said somewhat playfully.

“It is a big job,” Colum replied.“I worry that Eric is…” His comment drifted away, the rest of his thoughts unspoken.

“Colum,” Xavier said before she could ask any more questions, clearly ready to move on.“Why are we here?”

Colum rose from the couch, walking over to a large, well-lit worktable.Picking up a painting, he turned toward them.

Annie stood as well, drawn to the piece of art Colum held, studying the style, the brush strokes, the colors of the portrait.In the painting, a young dark-haired man in what would have been casual clothes for the time was sitting, leaning back in a studied yet meant-to-be-casual pose, common with informal portraiture.Both the subject’s clothing and the artistic style dated it to the late eighteen hundreds.Studying his face more closely, she wondered who he was.Because he looked vaguely familiar to her.

Xavier reached out to take the painting from Colum, who pulled it away from Xavier’s grasp.Undeterred, Xavier moved closer, his gaze sharp and focused, the intensity of his interest almost palpable.“Where did you get this?I’ve never seen it.”

“It’s been here.In the archives,” Colum responded.

“Who was the artist?”Annie asked, curious if it had been painted by a Masters’ Admiralty member.Her mind whirled as she considered how many famous artists could have been members.What treasures might be contained and protected by the archive?She glanced around, then at the stairs, wondering if all the physical items were stored here, or if there was off-site temperature-controlled, museum-quality storage.

“When was this painted?”Xavier demanded, crouching and leaning in to study the details.“Where?”

It was the most animated she’d seen the Frenchman.

Annie looked at the painting again, irritated she couldn’t put a name to the familiar face.“Who is?—”

“Oscar Wilde,” Xavier and Colum replied in unison.

She snapped her fingers.“Oh, of course.I thought he looked familiar.”

The only thing missing from the incredulous look Xavier flashed her direction was an audible scoff.This guy was getting on her nerves.

“So I’m here because you need me to evaluate the painting?”Annie asked, even more confused about why the Grand Master had asked her to come to Dublin.Surely in the entire membership of the Masters’ Admiralty, their society had at least one art expert.

“Not exactly,” Colum replied, turning to put the portrait back on the table before picking up a stack of papers.“Maybe I should explain what’s going on.”

Xavier tsked.“No, no, no.Why do that?”

Annie pinched her lips together to suppress a snort of amusement.

Colum blinked at the other man, appearing merely confused rather than upset by Xavier’s sarcasm.Annie considered telling Xavier off, but he had a point.Colum needed to tell them what was going on.

Colum sighed, looking almost irritated that he had to explain.Annie wanted to throw her hands in the air in exasperation, then shake both men.

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