“Was…it…you?” she asked again.
“What specifically?” I asked.
“Did you have anything to do with the illness of the cetani?”
“Umari, what in the Mother’s name are you talking about. Of course, I didn’t. Did you leave just after we did to make it here? You could have asked last night. If you were so concerned.”
“They let me in, Tolero. The sword was my own.”
“If it was your own, then why do you accuse me?”
“The same reason you accused me.”
“The rest of your people believe I am to blame? Though I was here when it all started?”
She lifted her chin and drawled, “Were you?”
“Umari, I will not defend myself to you or anyone else. I had nothing to do with the cetani illness.”
“Not the illness. The egg. You were the first to see it, and no one else was allowed into the circle before you.” She clenched her teeth, the tension in her jaw increasing her ferocious nature.
“Why? Why would I ever steal your sword, which I didn’t even know you owned, and kill a very rare cetani hatchling? The cetani have been mine, in the Flame Court, long before you came here.”
“Was that why? You didn’t like that they made the draconians even stronger? Or was it the fact that you didn’t like how much they reminded you of my daughter?”
My words became low and lethal. “I’ll give you one chance to leave this room unharmed. But do it now, Umari, or you will be taken to the dungeons.”
“I have nothing more to say anyway.” She got all the way to the door before she stopped. “Stay the hell away from my beasts and my people,” she finished, stomping out of the room.
“Shall I retrieve her, Your Grace?” Inok asked, already walking toward the door.
“Let her go. She knows she has a losing fight on her hands. She’s worried about the cetani. Just let her go.”
It took him several moments of shaking his head and pacing between the desk and the door, but he did as I ordered. “You give her too much freedom, my king. Like a snake, she will eventually have the ability to turn around and bite you.”
“I make the best of a terrible situation and have compassion, Inok. It does not mean that I am not still holding her accountable. Send a message to draconian fae that half are to remain with the cetani, and the other half are expected to perform at the Trials.”
“But, Your Grace—”
“Inok, now is not the time. We will follow the ritual, and I expect them to do the same. Send the message and let the pit lords in, please.” I jammed my thumbs to my temple, making clocklike circles until the tension dissipated.
“Yes, my king,” he gritted out, leaving the room.
Within minutes, two males followed him back into the study. Muth was a tall, slender fae. I noted the look he gave me as they entered. Disdain? I looked to Attoc, but he was just as aloof as always with his short gnome-like features. He grabbed the tail of his long white beard and bowed as he kept his eyes to the floor.
I stood. “It’s been brought to my attention, per your last meeting request, that you would have me choose between your fighters, rather than deciding amongst yourselves as we have for the Trials for centuries. Is this correct?”
The pit lords looked to each other with blank faces. Definitely odd. They usually hated each other. Both competitive by nature, they could hardly stand by each other some days.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Muth said, snapping the last two words like they physically hurt him to say.
Inok cleared his throat.
The males looked to him and stood a bit straighter.
“Don’t forget who you stand before, Muth. Your fighting pit is open because I allow it.” He said nothing, only stared ahead blankly. “I will not choose either of your fighters to sponsor this year.” I waited for the arguing to start, as I knew it would, but instead, they remained still and silent. “Brax will fight in the pit bracket this year as my fighter.”
“So that’s why he was snooping around my training grounds,” Muth spat.
