Pyralis’ shock and rage has him fuming from the ears and he looks like he is about to run up here after me, but Embrys grabs his forearm to keep him in place. I clear my throat and look at Embrys who is barely containing himself.
I will be all right. I know what I am doing.He drops his hand from his father’s arm and nods his head. Steeling himself for my sake, following my lead like he promised.
I look to Oleander who does nothing to hide her outrage and fear for me. She is shaking and steaming. She keeps her eyes locked on mine.What’s happening? Nuria he will imprison you! Go now while he is still in shock. I will be fine…
I reach out and give her hand a little squeeze. It singes a little to touch but I don’t flinch.No, you won’t be. This is the right way, Oleander. You have to continue to fight for the freedom of the fae. Embrys will help you. He loves you. Let me do this.I turn to face the crowd.
“My name is Nuria Piedmont. I was there with Oleander in the caves when we were informed about the start of the fire. She brought me down to the caves after finding me in the woods, which were very muchnoton fire at that point. She was in the caves with us the whole time and could not have started the fire. Ipromisethat it was not her.” They all know that invoking a promise ties me to my word. Everyone is silent and looking to The King for his next move. “I believe that Miss Lillian must have mistaken Lord Pyralis in her fear and confusion. Red hair does, after all, run in the family as you can see.” Even though I bet Lillian is working for The King, I do not want to incriminate her. I don’t know her reasoning for what she has done but perhaps she was coerced. I cannot be the reason for any pain or suffering inflicted on a ten year old, so I leave it at that; just a confused and scared child, not her fault. Lillian’s hands are clenched at her side and her gaze is darting between The King and I.
The Wolf finally shakes off his shock and looks to the expectant crowd, plastering on a smile. He looks as if he is about to speak when he is interrupted by Lord Pyralis shooting out of his chair.
“She is the servant who ran away from my estate. You cannot trust a word she says, your majesty!” The vargs block him. The look that The Wolf lays upon Pyralis is one of impending pain. The foolish man just admitted to apprehending me, and if The Wolf truly knows who I am then Pyralis is in deep shit for hiding me from The King.
“Well, well, this is a tricky situation indeed. Lord Pyralis, what is your proof that she is untrustworthy? She invoked the promise of her word. Going against it would physically hurt her. Does she look pained to you?” Pyralis fumes but cannot deny that I have spoken true without bringing further attention to himself, so he sits back down.
“Miss Lillian, we have no furtherpurposefor you. You may leave.” The King grinds out behind clenched teeth. Lillian ducks her head and scurries off the dais. Her betrayal stings but I sincerely hope she is not punished for failing in her task.
“Now, Miss Piedmont, it was very noble of you to come to your friend’s aid this afternoon but I am afraid, while we may not yet know for certain whether she ignited the catastrophic fire, we do know she was aiding in a known rebellion group. There have been reports of them hiding in those very caves.” His toothy grin is back and I feel my jaw clench hard enough to crack a tooth.Shit, did I just reveal that somehow?“The confirmation of your presence was all we needed to validate a previous statement that was ascertained from a member of this rebel group that was captured, running from the scene of the fire. Unfortunately he did not survive the wounds he incurred from said fire, so could not join us here today.”
“Who? Who was it?” I demand, not caring about the tone I’ve just taken with the literal king.
“Mr. Fenrick.”
Images of his limp body, bleeding out in the dirt, flash into my mind. I want to scream that it isn’t true but I have no way to explain that I have seen through Oleander’s eyes without giving away my lineage. I look at Oleander who appears as if she is about to explode. We are still holding hands and the fire rising in our palms causes tears to stream down my cheeks. She pulls away and the fire is immediately doused behind her eyes as she realizes the pain she was causing me.
Oleander, I know it must not be true! They killed him. I saw him dead on the ground in front of his soldiers. I saw through your eyes!
I don’t know, Nuria. He was already there when I ran from the forest. I trusted him with my life but I have no way of knowing! I cannot deny it; it will dig my grave further if I admit to knowing him…
Her face crumples at her inability to defend her friend’s honour but she is right. If she claims to know of him then she will definitively confirm her part in the rebel group, so she shakes her head.
“No, I… I do not know of him,” her voice cracks and she hangs her head to hide the tear I see glisten down her cheek. The Wolf snarls.
“It appears we have come to an impasse on both accounts brought forth today. Perhaps it is time to hear the verdict of our peers. With, of course, my say in the final judgement and punishments required.” Both Oleander and I whip our heads towards The King, scowling.
“You said the civilians would decide!” I raise my voice.
“I said that they may share their thoughts. I, at no point, said they had the final decision, my dear.”
Both Embrys and Oleander’s hair burst into flames but The Wolf is quick, as if expecting such a reaction and snaps his fingers which signals a hidden water wielder to dump a small deluge on top of them, leaving their heads smoking and sizzling.
“Come now, if you cannot control yourselves you will be detained for your recalcitrance.” Embrys and Oleander make no further move against him.
“Good. My esteemed civilians, will you please raise your hand if you believe Miss Oleander to have started the fire of the Heartwood Forest?” Most do not raise their hands,thank The Mother!I grab onto her shaking hand again.
“I drop the claims against Miss Oleander, in agreement.” Embrys’ cheer pierces through the silent crowd. Pyralis’ face is red and I can see a vein pulsing in his forehead from all the way up here.
“Raise your hand if you believe Lord Pyralis to be the one who started the fire of the Heartwood Forest.” Almost all raise their hands.
“I am also in agreement with this verdict.” The Wolf’s smile is wicked as he turns his attention to Pyralis.
“Lord Ignacious Pyralis, you are hereby charged with the destruction of sacred life. There is an order to the ecosystem. Without the apex predators, everything tips out of balance. I take it upon myself, the apex predator of this realm, and your king, to seek retribution. The punishment is death.” In an instant Pyralis shoots to his feet in protest, but he is too slow. Beside me, where The King once stood, a massive, black wolf with gleaming green eyes is now crouched and ready to pounce. Pyralis makes it one step before The Wolf is upon him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The moment between breaths is such a small measure of time. In this small space, big things can happen and in this particular moment, Pyralis’ body finds itself suddenly without a head. My world has slowed as I watch the massive wolf clamp his jaws down, eliciting a squelching crunch. Blood sprays, hitting the first two rows of fae and coating Embrys entirely. A coppery stench shoves its way up my nose and I try not to vomit. The slow slump of Pyralis’ body feels like it takes too long but it must only be one breath later. The spot on my wrist where his slave mark was branded tingles for a moment and I know, without having to look, that I have been released from our bond.
I can faintly hear Oleander’s shriek and feel her pull on my hand as she lurches forward. Her searing hand snaps me out of my reverie and our grip on each other is so tight that she pulls me forward with her, nearly flinging me down the steps. Vargs step up to grab us both, holding us back.
