The blizzard outside was beginning to subside, but there was a raging storm inside Sio. Ava and Lurio had asked that she remain unknown until Lurio and Auburn could investigate exposing Otheyo to the rest of the tribe. Sio didn't think that was necessary, Ava was proof enough of Otheyo's wrongdoing, but the woman had insisted. And so they were complicit in her request. None would believe them until real proof had been recovered, and without Ava's cooperation, their story wouldn't hold merit. Lurio had gathered some evidence incriminating Otheyo, but it was circumstantial at best. What Auburn and Sio needed was substantial evidence of Otheyo's involvement with the murder of Sio's parents. So Sio decided she would help bring Otheyo to justice, for the sake of her mother and father.
But Sio did not forget Ava's role in her grandmother's fate.
They needed access to Otheyo's holo-band if they were going to get anywhere. They also knew Otheyo's motivation; The Obelisk. Perhaps luring him to this sanctuary was the answer. Sio had told Auburn this idea of hers, and he nodded saying it had merit, but until they were sure that was what motivated Otheyo, they could not set the trap. Searching for evidence was paramount. Sio agreed. The blizzard subsided, and Sio and Auburn set out first, letting Lurio have more time with his daughter. It took a few hours to return to the village, but they made it just in time for first light. None were out save a few fishermen and miners making their way to their posting of the day. Since the mines were not open yet, Otheyo had assigned his workers on surveying duty. Auburn and Sio greeted the other miners as they passed making it seem like they too were going about their own survey early in the morning. It was fortunate they wore masks to cover their exhausted faces.
They made their way to Otheyo's office hoping to catch him before he would set off on his own mission to survey for another salt deposit. Sio did not know the plan other than this. She followed Auburn, and that's all she knew. It had become a habit of hers, she realized. Perhaps that was the nature of apprenticeship, but Sio didn't know for certain. But she trusted Auburn, that was enough for her. They arrived at Otheyo's office just as he was going out. Auburn waved him down.
"Otheyo," he yelled. Otheyo stopped and waved back. The other man walked toward them, meeting them halfway.
"Auburn, I take it you have news?" He asked. Auburn nodded, and gestured for them to enter the office. This was not a conversation for prying ears, he seemed to hint. Otheyo nodded, understanding his meaning, and they went back toward his office. Once inside, Otheyo took off his mask and hood, but Auburn remained masked.
"It was Lurio, Otheyo." Auburn said with urgency. Otheyo appeared shocked, his eyebrows raised and mouth agape. Sio merely nodded, hoping to bolster Auburn's story. "My own father-in-law!"
Auburn sounded convincingly furious, it made Sio a little afraid of the man. What stories could he weave, she wondered. Otheyo placed a hand on Auburn's shoulder, as if to steady him.
"How can you be so sure?" Otheyo asked warily. Auburn stuck out his wrist and wordlessly asked if he could sync up his holo-band to Otheyo's, to which he agreed. It was brilliant, thought Sio. Otheyo shared his own data and Auburn displayed his own findings to a display nearby. Sio wasn't sure how he did it so quickly, but Auburn had replaced Ava's data with Lurio's data on the way back from the cave. Everything synced up, the dates, the times, and even the access codes.
"I don't know his motivations, but I know for a fact it was him, Otheyo. I don't know what to do, my friend." Auburn sat down on a nearby chair, noticeably exhausted. He was really good at this, thought Sio. Sio went over and hugged Auburn, maybe showing her concern would be a way to convince Otheyo further.
"I understand, old friend. I can't imagine what it must feel like." Otheyo said as he leaned over his desk toward Auburn and Sio. He slammed his fist on the desk. "But how did he get the current codes? Ava was the only one who had access to them."
"He must have gotten them from her before she died. This whole thing was planned, Otheyo. I know it!" Auburn patted Sio's back and Sio backed off as Auburn stood. It was a stretch saying that, but it would further convince Otheyo of Auburn's sincerity, surely. Otheyo's eyes widened, and Sio just knew that the man believed Auburn.
"They knew…" He muttered. Auburn took off his mask in that moment appearing truly exhausted.
"Knew what?" Auburn asked. Otheyo shook his head. He went over to the console on his desk and opened up the data that Algodon and Auburn had retrieved. He opened it to a few blurred images, and Sio began to hear the melody again.
"This… is the Obelisk." Otheyo looked at Auburn and Sio. "This was taken a few days before Atka and Xio went missing. They had been in the mines taking survey of a new area and sent me these images, I went to meet them with Ava. But they were no where to be seen. After that Ava and I got separated by a collapse. Ava was the only other person I sent these images to, she must have sent them to Lurio."
"Lurio has always been unpredictable, even as a worker," Otheyo continued. "It is well known he's nearly fanatical when it comes to The Symphony. Anything that upsets The Balance, he's known to be vocal against."
"You don't think he's capable of murder, do you?" Auburn asked. Otheyo rubbed his temples.
"After Ava went missing in the mines… he likely blamed me, and anyone who went against The Symphony. He was so very angry at Iridia Yuka, as you both are aware."
That was true enough. Otheyo was a clever man, Sio thought. But not clever enough to hide from the truth. Sio remained silent. Otheyo and Auburn stared at the images floating mid-air. Sio continued to listen to the melody. It told her to wait, so she did. Everything would fall into place soon enough.
"What do you suggest we do?" Asked Auburn. Otheyo shook his head.
"We must hold a council, this concerns the entire tribe." The suggestion surprised Sio. He wanted everyone involved? It was curious. "Especially with the Obelisk involved."
"Understood. Shall I tell Tomak?" Auburn offered. Otheyo shook his head.
"No, I'll do that. For now keep an eye on Lurio, make sure he doesn't run off, he's resourceful." Otheyo nodded to Auburn who returned with his own inclined head. They left soon after. Sio and Auburn to rest at home, and Otheyo to tell Tomak the news.
They returned home and met Lurio outside. Auburn gestured for both Sio and Lurio to get inside the shell-unit as quickly as possible. Upon entering they shed their shell-suits and sat in the family room. Auburn taking a long drink from a flask of water from his equipment. Without the masks on, everyone appeared ragged from the long journey home. Auburn spoke first.
"I weaved a tale for Otheyo." He said. Lurio peaked interest at this. Auburn explained that he had pitched Lurio as the culprit behind the mines.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Lurio asked although surprisingly unfazed.
"Because it makes him vulnerable, father. Vulnerable to make me his second to trial." Auburn said. And then showed Lurio the data he synced from Otheyo's holo-band.
Lurio nodded, stunned. Sio was confused.
"What does that mean?" She asked.
"Second to trial means that Auburn will speak on Otheyo's behalf, presenting evidence in place of argument. It puts him in a position to perfectly frame Otheyo for everything that he's done." Lurio explained.
"So he'll show everyone the truth of what happened in the mines?" Sio asked. Lurio and Auburn nodded. "What about Ava?"
"I'll bring her as my second." Said Lurio. "The tribe will not expect that, neither will Otheyo. It will be perfect!"
Auburn nodded once more. "But first, let us rest. Otheyo will tell Tomak, who will alert the tribe. I assume you will tell Ava, Father?"
"I have a direct line to her holo-band, she will be here when needed," Lurio added, tapping at his wrist. After confirming the details with Lurio about what happened in the mines, all retired to their rooms. But Sio could not find rest.