Embrys releases the back of my head and walks forward through the crowd. I peer around the shoulder of the pig fae and watch him take his spot on the other side of Oleander. She shows no signs of acknowledging his presence.Shit, she must be freaking out.
“Loyal subjects, we gather you here this eve to bear witness to the trial of one, Oleander Pyralis, who has been accused of the destruction of the sacred Heartwood Forest, by means of her Goddess given gift of fire. We will hear her plea.” The voice of The Wolf carries far but he does not shout. He is somehowamplified whilst keeping his tone cool and calm. There is some murmuring in the crowd at his mention of the destruction of the forest, his simple gesture of lifting a hand silences the crowd instantly.
“She has her right to a fair trial and a right to representation on her behalf. Miss Pyralis, please do stand and introduce who your representative will be.” The Wolf nods, a show of respect to the order of things. Oleander rises and Embrys watches her closely, sparing a quick glance back to where I am crouched.
Stay there. Stay hidden.
“Your majesty, I thank you for the opportunity to prove my innocence. I will be representing myself.”There is no way she would have had time to find someone to help her. This isn’t fair!
Whispering breaks out amongst the gathered fae again, this must not be an orthodox method. I can see Embrys tug on Oleander’s hand and say something I cannot hear but she just pulls her hand away and stays standing, facing The King.
“Very well. You may be seated. On behalf of the Heartwood Forest,Iwill be standing as a representative,” The King says and the shocked whispering has turned to outright exclamations. This is clearly not a normal occurrence either, for The King himself to stand against an accused. This doesn’t seem fair and I want to barge right up there and yell in his face but it appears Embrys has beaten me to it,foolish man.
“On what grounds do you have the right to stand for the forest? You are supposed to be our ruler, our keeper of peace and justice. If you are standing against my sister you cannot be a fair judge!” Embrys walks up only one of the steps before two vargs grab him, holding him back by the arms. The King waves them off and slowly rises. His cool and calculated smile makes me shiver.
“Mister Pyralis poses a good question. I do not suppose to play both judge and accuser. I am a fair and just King after all,am I not? Thus, my most faithful citizens, I pose onto you the duty of being my voice of reason. Hear us both and choose if this young woman shall bear the burden of guilt or if she shall be granted exculpation. It is not an easy weight to bear but someone must pay the price for the devastation of such sacred life. I trust you will be pragmatic in your decision.” I look around at all the nodding heads and exuberant faces. Having The King ask such a thing from his people is clearly making them feel important. Not a good start for Oleander.
“As for the grounds on which I may speak on behalf of the forest herself, I invoke the ancient right of my direct ancestor, Silasi, protectress of the forests of both realms, as appointed by The Divine Mother herself.” Whispering breaks out amongst the gathered crowd, Silasi’s name being traded around in shocked tones.Who is this person? What is she to the fae?
The Wolf sits back down on his throne and leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees, as if he is about to tell a tale to a group of eagerly listening children.
I scoff but as I look around everyone is dead silent and are indeed, eagerly listening. I can see how this man won over a nation by preaching his fanatical new religion. His way with words and with a crowd is scarier than the monster he morphs into. Embrys shakes off the vargs and bows his head, silently resigning back to his seat.
The Wolf motions to Oleander to join him on the dais. Oleander rises from her seat and steps onto the first step. The vargs do not try to apprehend her as she takes one more step up and turns around to face the crowd. The sight of her determined face pulls at my heart. I can tell she is being brave but her fire is ever lingering behind her eyes, waiting to be set free. I wish I could run up there and stand with her against her accusers.
“Gentle fae, please hear me when I say I am innocent. I have been a protector of the natural world all my life. All thecreations of The Divine Mother are worthy of life and I would never purposefully destroy her blessed design.” Oleander scans the room, keeping her chin up.
“I was deep underground, within a system of caves in the Heartwood Forest with some companions, when word got out of a rapidly spreading fire. At this time I aided in bringing my friends to safety. The fire was too far along, so we had to evacuate rather than try and fight it. I have been wrongfully accused based on my gifts from The Mother and resent the prejudice that is based on my birthright. Unfortunately my companions could not be here with me today but my brother was present; I call upon him to attest to my character.” Oleander gestures for Embrys to join her on the dais.Why doesn't she accuse her father right away? He is to blame!
Embrys’ shoulders rise and fall slightly as he takes a steadying breath then gets up from his seat to join Oleander. His long legs take both steps in one stride. With them standing side by side I notice their height difference. Embrys truly is a large presence but Oleander makes up for her height with a smouldering fire that seems to always be waiting, just under the surface of her skin.
“My sister left my father and I seven years ago to pursue her devotion to The Mother,”more like ran away,“she had always been a student of the natural world and wished for nothing else but to protect it. I do not believe she has it in her to harm any of the creatures upon this Earth unless provoked in order to protect one that is more vulnerable. I, Embrys Pyralis, vouch for her character and do not believe that she has done what she is accused of doing.” Embrys nods his head to the crowd in finality and goes to step back down to his seat but is halted, by the upraised hand of The Wolf.
“A moment, Mr. Pyralis. I have a query of my own to pose upon you before you take your seat.” The Wolf stands andapproaches Embrys and Oleander, buttoning his suit vest as he walks.
“Now what a shining description of your dear sister’s temperament, I truly do admire sibling adoration.” The Wolf smiles to the crowd, heads nod in agreement. “Is it not true though, that she had you imprisoned within this network of caves?” The Wolf has a feigned look of concern. Embrys slowly nods in response, eyes shifting to where I am still crouched down in the crowd.
“Well, and what may I ask was your crime to have been placed in such a place? If she is as caring towards nature as you have described, how could she treat her own flesh and blood with such disrespect? Unless you truly do deserve to be imprisoned, in which case we would be most happy to take the law into our own hands here at the Palace.” His slow spreading grin and slight tilt of the head reminds me of a jackal about to pounce on a newly found rotting carcass.
“There was no crime, your majesty. It was simply… Uh… sibling rivalry. See I had done wrong to her when we were much younger and I suppose she just needed to make a point. I played along.” Embrys looks to Oleander, who is still looking straight ahead trying to keep her cool. I can see flames flickering behind her eyes and pray that she can keep it together. She would surely write her own death sentence if she exploded on any member of the court like she did with her father a few nights ago.
“I see… Sibling rivalry.” The Wolf stretches out the words, earning a few laughs from the crowd. “Extreme, but I suppose if you went willingly then that was your own prerogative. Nevertheless this has just proven that you were incapacitated at the time of the origin of the fire and would not have had any means of ascertaining who started it. Therefore, my esteemed citizens, you must take his account as one of judgement of character only.” The Wolf’s grin has turned into another feignedlook of pity as he opens his palms to the sky and shrugs his shoulders as if to show he is sorry that this is the case.Shit.
“AndifI find there is any untruthfulness to your words, Mister Pyralis, believe me there will be just punishment.” Embrys’ face goes pale but he keeps his chin up and nods in acknowledgment of the threat.
Embrys looks to Oleander and takes her hand in his, whispering something inaudible before he leaves to sit back in his seat. Oleander lifts her chin a little higher and squares her shoulders to the crowd.Bless her strength and stubbornness.
“I call my father, Lord Pyralis, to the dias,” she calls out and judging by the way that Pyralis’ head swivels from side to side, he is shocked. He slowly rises and walks up the steps to stand between her and The King. Fear emanates off of him.Good, be afraid!
“Father, is it not true that you apprehended and enslaved an Elemental fae recently?”Oh Mother, what is she doing?Pyralis’ eyes go wide with flames as he stares at his daughter. There is a long pause before Pyralis clears his throat and turns to the crowd.
“An Elemental owed me a debt so we agreed upon a time period of servitude as her repayment,” he says through gritted teeth.
Agreed upon, my ass!They both seem to be avoiding the usage of my name and which Elemental house I belong to,thank The Mother.
“Right, and did she not escape your household on the very same night that the Heartwood fire started?” Oleander’s tone has turned cool and silky, the fire in her eyes still blazing. It is scary how similar she and her father can be when provoked.
“She did leave the same evening, yes,” Pyralis’ tone turns into a warning.
