Ascended

I felt a little numb.

I could hear Val and Master James talking, but I wasn’t registering what they were saying. My mind was going over the ramifications of what had been said.

The Hunting Party concerned me, but I had no doubt that if Master James called one in, he would send Val and myself away first. It was the potential that there was at least a mask out there that would allow the Touched to blend in.

If I could find it, I wouldn’t have to wear the bandages over my face any more. It would be a huge win for me, with the other side of that being either the Hunting Party showed up or the Touched got away with the secret and they could start infecting towns at will.

It basically boiled down to a huge win for me or a devastating loss for humanity and the Bokor if we failed.

“Byler.” Master James snapped his fingers in my face.

“Yes, Master?” I blinked to try to help me focus on the present.

“I was telling you about today.” Master James crossed his arms, “Were you listening?”

There was no point in lying, “No.” I hung my head, “I started thinking about being able to walk around without these…” I motioned at my head, “And got distracted.”

Master James shook his head, “I’ll recap.” He nodded at Val, “We are going to be talking to the town leaders. I don’t think there's a reason for them to submit to a blood test. If this solution can mask their eyes, then there is no reason to believe that it can’t mask their blood as well.”

I nodded. Now was the time to talk to him about my idea. “Do you need me here today?” I tilted my head towards the north. “If there is a Touched here and they might attack the city to destroy the crystal, then wouldn’t it be helpful for us if I went out and thinned a few of the Zombies?” I looked at Val, then back at the other Bokor, “I’m not going to be of any extra help while you’re talking to people.”

Master James thought for a moment. “If the Touched have found a way to mask themselves, then the reason that Winey was killed probably wasn’t to stop his research, but to keep it from getting to us. I have a feeling that the Touched is going to try to leave the city, but I told Gili not to let anyone out of the Gates.”

“Are you sure she’s not one of them? Or working with them?” Val folded her arms in front of her.

“That’s where you come in.” He looked at Val. “I want you to stay near the gate and make sure someone doesn’t try to escape.” He turned to me, “I was going to have Byler do that, but if we lock them in and this Touched doesn’t think they can get out…”

“They’ll need a distraction?’ I offered.

Master James nodded. “They don’t know that we know the killer isn’t human, which is probably why they haven’t started turning people to get out.” He nodded at Val. “We need to keep up the appearance that we still think this is a human and that we’re locking this place down, which is why you'll be on the gate.” He looked at me, “If there wasn’t a killer in the city, the two of you would be out tracking down the Zombies outside the city. Since Val has to watch the gate, that means sending you out there with…” He nodded at my hands, “Remember that you have fire. Work on that.”

“You’re sending him out alone?” Val crossed her arms.

“Byler is capable, but he won’t be alone.” Master James sighed. “Helru was insistent that her Wranglers go check out the Zombie nest that you found in the north. I already agreed to let her send her five Wranglers with Byler.”

I shook my head, Master James had already calculated where it would be best for us to be.

I looked at the Master. “When am I leaving?”