Queen of Fate (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #3)

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Flowing robes fluttered around the Queen Justice and the two judges that entered the courtroom. They settled themselves behind a long wooden bench. Each judge flanked the Queen Justice, and all of them looked at us expectantly.

My magistrate immediately stood, indicating for me to do the same. The potion still fogged my mind, but I managed to stand without swaying too badly.

The Queen Justice sat stoically behind her bench, her lips pursed and her expression severe. A gong sounded in the corner of the room, and magic reverberated through me. It made my head spin.

“The courts are now in session.” She eyed my magistrate and me on one side and then the kingsfae commander and their magistrate on the other. “Elowen Emerson has been charged as a lorafin who twisted fate. This is considered an illegal offense, punishable by death. I shall hear both sides’ testimonies today and in the coming week.” She glanced at the two judges beside her. “We shall make our decision at the end of the argument and decide upon the extent of Lady Emerson’s punishment then.” Lips pursing, she focused on my magistrate. “Magistrate Fortifine, you may begin.”

The Queen Justice’s words penetrated my mind briefly but then disappeared like a scent on the breeze. My mind was so muddled. It took everything in me to simply stay standing without swaying.

My magistrate indicated for me to sit. Sluggishly, I sank onto my seat.

Jax squeezed my shoulder again from behind but let go when the guard gave him a stern look.

Magistrate Fortifine, still standing, smoothed her fitted wool coat and slacks, then clasped her hands behind her back. “Queen Justice, as we all know, Elowen Emerson did indeed twist fate using her lorafin magic. The ancient wards have spoken, and that cannot be denied. In fact, even she doesn’t deny it. She never did. She’s taken responsibility for her actions, however, the true reason behind such an act has not been fully revealed.”

Magistrate Fortifine paused in front of the bench. “We shall be presenting new evidence to the courts that hasn’t been previously seen. It will be shocking, appalling, but also enlightening as to why Lady Emerson did what she did. I have full faith that once the courts have learned the extent of what has occurred, and would have occurred, had she not twisted fate...why, I even go so far as to say the courts will be thanking her.”

The Queen Justice’s eyes narrowed, and the magistrate and kingsfae commander on the other side leaned together to whisper something to one another.

My magistrate turned to me, her eyes bright and alert while I merely gazed at her, trying to stop her image from blurring. Tired. I was so tired, but I forced my eyes to stay open and my head to remain up.

“Prince Adarian is here today as well, as he has evidence to present to the courts of what was occurring within the kingdoms.” She held out her hand to Jax. “Queen Justice, may he enter the courtroom?”

The Queen Justice waved her hand. “Proceed.”

Jax stood and slipped through the opening near the corner, then strode to my table. He carried a bag at his side, and when he reached my magistrate, he dipped his hand into the bag and pulled out a looking glass.

For the briefest moment, my head cleared. The looking glass he handed to my magistrate was the one he used when we’d saved the half-breeds from Faewood. We’d recorded everything, having agreed that King Paevin’s atrocious acts needed to be captured in case the innocent half-breeds were blamed, and it suddenly struck me what Jax had planned.

Magistrate Fortifine swirled back to the judges. “I present to you a looking glass that contains damning information about the now-deceased King Paevin of Faewood Kingdom.” She handed it to the court’s kingsfae who brought it to the Queen Justice and judges. They studied it before turning it over to a magic wielder.

The magic wielder inspected it further, muttering a few spells in the process, then nodded. “’Tis an authentic looking glass.” He handed it back to my magistrate.

“Thank you.” Magistrate Fortifine held the looking glass up and whispered a few words to command it. A picture projected above, high in the air so all in the courtroom could see it. An image flashed to life, showing the Wood outside of Faewood’s palace and the trapdoor buried in the soil.

The Queen Justice’s brow furrowed, and the judges gazed upward, their attention on the image.

“What is it we’re looking at?” the Queen Justice asked.

“This is in the Wood, just outside of Leafton.” My magistrate waved toward the image that showed everything we were doing in the clearing as though it were happening in real life. “Prince Adarian became aware of unusual activities during his recent trip to the Final Matches in Faewood Kingdom. He, along with his guards, a few House nobles, and Lady Emerson, investigated further and came upon a shocking find.”

The looking-glass image changed, showing a lifelike rendition of us disappearing into the cavern’s tunnels, finding the half-breeds, studying the anklets they wore... Everything we’d done when we returned to rescue them was shown to the courts.

“Unbeknownst to the other kingdoms, King Paevin was playing a dangerous game. He’d captured half-breeds who had ventured to his kingdom to compete in the Matches and had enslaved them by using magical anklets that controlled their minds.” She waved toward the image of the catatonic half-breeds. “The king’s plan was to breed the half-breeds he’d captured, harnessing their superior fertility in order to create an army to do his bidding. His ultimate goal was to march upon all of the kingdoms to take control of them.” She released the looking glass, but its magic kept it aloft, the images continuing to play.

“Fertility, you say?” One of the judges raised his hand. “But half-breeds are rendered sterile at birth.”

“Very true.” My magistrate again clasped her hands behind her back. “But as you’ll learn in the coming week—when more witnesses are brought forward—King Paevin discovered a way to make them fertile again, all so he could enact his plan. We’ve learned since King Paevin’s death that he was enthralled by what King Novakin had done on the Solis continent. As we all know, centuries ago, the Solis king marched upon all of the territories on the northern continent and united them under his rule. Apparently, and this was confirmed by the new queen of Faewood, King Paevin had idolized King Novakin because of that, and unfortunately, as we’ve come to learn since his death, he also had secret ambitions to do the same on our continent.”

A hush fell over the courtroom, and the judges all glanced at one another.

The magistrate nodded her head. “You heard me correctly. King Paevin also wanted complete control over our continent. He planned to build his army of superior magical half-breeds and go to war with the kingdoms. He wanted the other thrones to fall so only his remained standing, and it is only because of Lady Emerson”—she pointed at me and paused dramatically—“that his plan was stopped.”

The looking glass’s images kept playing, showing the days’ worth of our activities in a sped-up rate. When the image’s from Jax’s looking glass ended, he pulled another from his bag, and then another. Each looking glass we’d used during the half-breeds’ rescue was surrendered to the court.

It all played out in front of the courtroom, every damning piece of evidence bared for everyone to see of what King Paevin had been doing. Even the opposing kingsfae commander and his magistrate appeared speechless.

Magistrate Fortifine stopped before the judges. “As we all know, looking-glass magic does not allow it to lie or be altered. What you’re witnessing is true and occurred not long ago in Faewood Kingdom.” My magistrate turned and pointed to me. “Elowen Emerson understood the gravity of the situation. She knew the chances of the king being stopped before many lives were lost was unlikely to occur, so she took matters into her own hands and twisted fate. She stopped the king’s plan from occurring. That is why she twisted fate, and that is why she should be pardoned of her crimes and set free.”

The Queen Justice’s eyebrows rose. “Where are these half-breeds now?”

“On the Solis continent,” Magistrate Fortifine replied. “It’s been learned that the magic controlling the half-breeds originated there and was procured secretly by King Paevin. The Solis royal family is working to remove that magic from all of the half-breeds so they may return home.”

The kingsfae commander raised his hand, and the Queen Justice inclined her head. “Yes, Commander?”

“Queen Justice, with the court’s permission, the kingsfae would like to dig more into these accusations to uncover exactly what happened. This is all new information to us.”

“Of course, Commander. We would expect nothing less, and I’m sure the Faewood kingsfae will also be working to uncover the truth of what’s been revealed.” The Queen Justice returned her attention to my magistrate. “Now, Magistrate, back to Lady Elowen. Are you telling me she changed fate to have King Paevin murdered upon learning of his crimes?”

My eyes opened wide, and I frantically shook my head.

“Queen Justice, if it pleases you, may Lady Emerson speak for herself?” my magistrate asked.

The justice nodded. “Very well.”

I tried to stand, but I swayed and almost fell. Jax caught me just in time, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

“Is she unwell?” the Queen Justice asked my magistrate.

My magistrate’s lips pursed. “She’s been heavily sedated with magic-suppressing potions since entering the prison system. I dare say her mind is addled right now.”

The Queen Justice’s nostrils flared. “Yet she’s to testify of what she knows?”

“If the courts would allow her daily potions to be halted, I’m sure her mind would be much clearer.”

But the Queen Justice shook her head. “Absolutely not. Until this trial is over, she shall remain suppressed for the safety of the entire realm.”

Stumbling and with Jax’s help, I managed to reach the bench with the three judges. Once standing before them, I peered up at the Queen Justice and the two judges flanking her.

They all gazed down at me, their faces stern masks and hard lines.

“Tell me, Lady Emerson,” the Queen Justice began. “Did you command the fates to murder King Paevin?”

I shook my head. “No, Queen Justice, but I did tell the semelees to stop King Paevin’s plan to enslave the half-breeds and march his newly formed army on the kingdoms, but I didn’t specify how. The semelees decided that path on their own.”

The Queen Justice leaned toward the two judges, and they began to whisper. After a few terse exchanges, she straightened. “When her official testimony begins, we shall need Lady Emerson to ingest a truth potion to ensure her statements are honest.”

“Another potion?” Jax growled. “Her mind is already entirely fogged.”

The Queen Justice snapped her attention to him. “Prince Adarian, while I understand you’re next in line to be the king of Stonewild, let me remind you that your presence here is on my terms only. I allowed you to enter this courtroom with your looking glasses as a sign of good faith between the supernatural courts and the crown, based upon your involvement of what’s occurred. Don’t make me regret that decision.”

Jax clamped his mouth shut and didn’t say more, but his eyes turned into deadly chips of ice.

“Now,” the Queen Justice turned back to my magistrate. “Lady Elowen may return to her seat, and you may finish presenting what you plan to show the court.”