Page 28 of Shifter King
Conservator Getarno clasped his hands before himself, his aura flushing a deeper blue. His wings somehow became thinner, almost vanishing before they strengthened in color and form. "They were the last of the great cadres to remain after the Expulsion. The Star Emperor had come to power, the first of the Ten Abliato Forebloods. He realized with his great wisdom and foresight the truth of their plans, and a plot was uncovered in which they intended to steal and murder every non-skinchanging child, steal all of the women who could bear children, and turn all the world into skinchangers like them."
She closed her eyes, drawing in more air that seemed to be thinner and thinner. Vague images danced before her mind's eyes, shapes and forms she did not want to see or feel. "They suffered," she whispered.
"Their brains are different. You know this, of course." A patronizing edge entered the man's voice. "It takes far more suffering to get through to them. And that is why it had to be this way. Had this been ordinary glass and resin, they would have perished relatively swiftly. Some still did. But it took far longer to die. This serves as a lesson against all who might follow their example and attempt to overthrow the rule of the Abliatos though this was done by the ancient Tiablos centuries before the Abliatos accepted their true calling to rule and oversee. The Star Emperor ensured that a lesson was made of them and an end to the skinchanger tyranny brought about. From here, the true purposes of all the races were discovered. They tore down the temple and the Tue-Rah as well. It is sealed beneath a hundred feet of concrete, metal, and marble. Every point at which the Tue-Rah appeared was treated in the same fashion. It will never open again. We are safe from all incursions."
AaQar turned to face him, his eyes hard. "The Order of the Darmoste Accord were sworn pacifists." Each word was bitingly intense despite the quiet deadliness of his voice. "None of these men or women and especially not the children participated in any battle or conquest."
WroOth circled, faster this time, his hand dragging over the glass. He continued to murmur. "Hiatto. Keonyi. Inshic." Names. More names.
She ducked her head, a dagger of nausea stabbing through her and twisting once more.
"And who told you that?" Conservator Getarno laughed, scorn filling his voice. "Some outpost or trench trader?" He returned his focus to Amelia. "I've heard some of the nonsense they speak beyond the walls of civilization. It is good you have come here for the truth. Such lies cannot be permitted. They must be crushed. Only the truth may be spoken."
"The truth?" The throbbing intensified along with the buzzing in her ears. "Did you kill the children too?"
He scoffed. "Skinchanging pups would have grown into skinchangers more barbaric than any before. They had to be dealt with. You really are a soft soul. You do not understand the atrocities these animals committed or what they would have done. It was essential, young woman. The pleasures and luxuries you enjoy now are only because of the hard and essential choices made by those who came before you. You should not find this so distressing."
Her hands shook as she pressed her elmis tighter against her torso. Steeling herself, she met his gaze. "The journey was challenging," she said, her voice harder now. "The coming of the Grey Season made it all the worse. That's why I came. To see what could be done."
"Oh." He gave a small nod as if he expected this. "That is why you have come. You are one of the outer families coming to do their duty. I suppose that explains why your skinchangers are so large."
Naatos looked around the entirety of the open-air arena and then stepped back, moving behind Conservator Getarno.
The Abliato needed to go. If he didn't, he would die. But the warning wouldn't come to her lips. It was simply knowledge. He was going to die. And painfully. Those faces in the monument—their eyes. Their death had been horrific. All the more so because they could heal. This wasn't an execution. It was a torture, exhibition, and humiliation all at once.
"You should be cautious though," Conservator Getarno continued. "I can't help but notice you don't have even one ring to protect you."
He fluttered the fingers on his left hand, drawing attention to his several rings. The largest cobalt band on his middle finger caught her attention. "To protect you against a skinchanger attack. Even if you've had them since you were a girl, you can't trust they won't turn on you. I mean—" he chuckled as he placed his hand over his heart. "I'm safe. And if you need help controlling your skinchangers or even just to repel them—" He swiped his thumb across the lower portion of the ring.
A spark of electrical energy shot out, arcing over his other fingers.
"See?" Conservator Getarno smiled. "Very simple. Repels them as well as some of the larger options. It doesn't matter how much you trust them. They're animals. You should be cautious in case you are in a place where there's no one to protect you. I've heard that the outlying territories don't have access to all the same security systems. As long as you are here, nothing can harm you, but, once you depart, you should make sure you have at least a few to aid you."
"And how would these systems here protect me?" she asked, intentionally avoiding looking at Naatos even though she knew what he was doing. "Your security system triggers if someone transforms or if there's blood? What if they become something non-living?"
The Abliato chuckled, giving her an almost pitying look. "You have heard wild tales in your travels indeed. Skinchangers can only become living creatures of roughly the same size they already are. And usually the changes are not that extensive. They're strong, but they are exceptionally sensitive to electrical impulses. Easily repelled. And it takes a great deal of energy to even begin a transformation for even something basic."
"So if someone were turned to sand, nothing would happen," WroOth said, still staring at the monument.
"Someone turned to sand?" Conservator Getarno laughed, then sighed. "Skinchangers cannot do that. Abliatos, on the other hand, well…as you can see. Nothing is beyond our reach. You seem exceptionally uneasy, young woman. Perhaps I should call someone to manage your skinchangers for you. They seem rather strong-willed. The levy can be taken, and you may rest and speak with civilized company until it is resolved if you wish."
"Everything is recorded here." She glanced up at the red lights. Not that Naatos would care if anyone saw him destroy this Abliato.
"Yes. Of course. This is intended as a place of contemplation and meditation. But like every other facility, it is constantly recorded in the event something needs to be reconsidered. There are no blind spots."
Naatos's arm snapped out seizing Conservator Getarno by the neck. His fingers dug into his throat so quickly that all the man managed was a strained gurgle. "Good. Then let's hope they see this."
Amelia stepped back, averting her gaze. It had been within her power to at least give this man a warning and yet she hadn't. That knowledge settled within her, unpleasant but not heavier than knowing the carnage that had happened here earlier.
"They say it's like drowning," Naatos continued, his voice low and deadly. "Drowning and burning to death all at once. It's unfortunate you cannot be forced to endure it for the same length of time."
The conservator's strained gurgle faded. Even through the suppressed odor, something faintly smelled burnt and dry. Unless it was just her imagination. She glanced up in time to see the conservator's form, his flesh and bone turned to glass. His clothing, from his cloak to his rings to the embroidery on his tunic beneath his robes, remained as they were, a little arc of electricity shooting out from the blue ring before it vanished. His expression remained preserved in a horrible rictus of agony, his eyes now vacant and his jaw twisted open.
Naatos shook his hand as he stepped away, staring up at the red lights. "This is enough for one day."
The red lights neither wavered or blinked.
Amelia stepped around the motionless glass form, her throat and chest tight. No blood. No life. No alarm. But how long before the Abliatos realized what had happened and came for them? Could they truly face off against them all?
