Day 6 (The Chamber)

((CHAPTER 4: THE CHAMBER))

When she'd first signed up for this job, she figured that there were a few broad classes of Gifted individuals. People like her, with the sight and claws, the Road Men, modern sorcerers like the Council, and not much more. This, it turned out, was not the case. Jacob was a Road Man, true, but he was also gifted with impeccable aim with his weapon. Others like Alyssa had weapons which were not real, but they were knives or merely thoughts. Yael and Gideon, two members of the council, had vastly differing ways of working their skills. Savant was something different altogether.

He could have had a council seat, if he'd wanted one. He certainly had the seniority. Nobody, not even he, knew how old he was. He had almost limitless power, he had told her once, but suffered under a curse. Namely, there was a particular action he could take and, if he did, he would forget all he knew, save that he suffered under that curse. According to Yael, this didn't happen very often, but he was probably due soon. Of the senior members of the group, he was by far the most approachable. Always willing to have a conversation, deeply interested in all facets of everyone's work, he'd long ago become the unofficial librarian, and was satisfied to remain in that post.

He couldn't read minds, or if he could he was at least polite about not making people aware of it. He could, however, usually tell how people were feeling. So when Alyssa entered the room and made no response whatsoever to his greeting, his expression fell. “Are you okay?”

Alyssa nodded, touched by his worry. “Yeah, Savant. It was just one heck of a job, is all.”

Jacob and Savant exchanged significant looks, and Alyssa didn't bother trying to interpret it. They had a report to make.

Savant seemed to realize this. “Yael and Chad are in right now. Come see me afterwards if you've got time. We can talk.” He smiled sympathetically toward Alyssa.

Alyssa smiled back without feeling. She supposed she might do exactly that. She needed some downtime. Until then, however, she'd have to relive it. At least Yael was there – talking to Gideon would not have been fun. She sighed and walked through the corridor, toward the Chamber.

Yael looked up at her entry. “Nice to have you back, Alyssa. Do you want to go over the briefing, or are you content to let Jacob take care of it?” she smiled slightly; it was their private joke. Jacob always insisted on giving the report. Besides, Alyssa wouldn't want to have to deal with this one.

Yael glanced over at Chad, who was nervously cleaning his fingernails. He glanced up briefly in recognition of Alyssa's entry, and then turned his attention back to the task at hand. Chad always had to be doing something.

Jacob entered the room, looking as somber and serious as ever. Of course, Alyssa knew there was a reason this time.

“Have a seat, Alyssa. Jacob, we'll hear your report now.” Yael said formally.

“Very well.” Jacob replied, his voice even. “As instructed, we arrived at the Knapp household at 9:00 to investigate reports of harpy infestation. There were three in the area, one of which was attached to Ms. Knapp herself. Alyssa dispatched this one without the client noticing. Upon using the approved devices to distract her, we proceeded to the house. There we fought one harpy and were ambushed by another. Afterwards, we discovered the presence of a Sightless One.”

He would have continued, had Yael and Chad not both sprang to their feet simultaneously. “Jacob, there was a Sightless there?” Chad was the first to actually speak.

“Yes.” Jacob replied simply. “Working together, Alyssa and I defeated it.”

Yael and Chad looked like they had ten thousand questions to ask, none of which Jacob would know the answer to. Finally, after a moment of tense silence, Yael gestured toward Jacob. “Is there anything else to say?”

“No. That is the entirety of my report.”

Yael nodded and sat back down. Chad followed her lead, albeit a bit more slowly.

“We'll need to discuss this.” Yael finally spoke up again. “I'll issue a recall for the rest of the council. Jacob, Alyssa, I'd like you to talk to Savant about what happened; if anyone's likely to figure out the reasoning behind all of this, it's him.” She sighed. “I won't sugar-coat this. Jacob, you were the last person to see a Sightless, and that was some time ago. That they've reappeared after all this time bodes ill. I dismiss you.”

Jacob and Alyssa nodded, and departed the room. Savant was waiting expectantly outside, as Alyssa somehow expected he would be. He was definitely agitated.

“Jacob told me everything.” he blurted. He then proceeded to look abashed for a moment before looking back at them eagerly. “Come on to the library, I've got some information about this.”

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