Chapter 68 #2
Vanora laughs. And I agree with her on this bit. I can’t see Zogar easily giving up any part of his royal title or power.
“What’s passed is passed.” Surath steps forward, her voice clear and firm. “There’s no benefit in discussing this further today. Emotions are high, and there are others to question. Vanora will be confined, her magic constrained—”
“As ours was for four hundred years,” Xendus interjects gruffly.
Surath glares at the former Prime Klerick. “Vanora shall be held prisoner, until a proper court is formed to decide her fate.” Surath turns toward Zogar who nods at his sister.
“But without manticore blood—” Vanora cuts herself off and stares at the floor as Xendus, accompanied by Ovren and Ham, lead her away.
Surath points toward my father, bound in chains. “We will now address the former King of Khotor.”
Guards lead Father before Zogar and Rosomon.
In spite of his chains, my father stands defiantly. “I am King of the Light. I demand my immediate release. This panel has no authority.”
Surath’s hair flares, and she strides toward him. “Under whose authority did you conquer the Seven Kingdoms? Whose authority granted you the right to murder so many?”
My father’s indignation is thick in the air. “It was all the Prime Klerick’s idea. Vanora. She tricked me, too. She lied. She told me we’d marry and rule together.”
Surath laughs as she backs away from my father. “Thank you for confirming your collusion in joining the klericy with the monarchy.”
“I—” Frowning, Father’s eyes flick toward me. “What of him!” He points to me. “If I am accused, why is my heir not in chains?”
I lean back as if struck by one of my father’s countless blows.
“Quiet!” Zogar rises and strides toward me. “Tynan. Were you complicit in your father’s plans?”
Standing, I crunch down the pile of metal to stand closer to everyone else. Zogar’s glaring at me like he’s changed his mind about letting me live. I know he didn’t want Rosomon to forgive me—even though I didn’t do most of what they thought I did.
Behind him, I catch a glimpse of my Rose. Her eyes are full of worry.
“Complicit?” I fight to retain my composure as I think through how best to defend myself. But Father is right. I’m not wholly innocent. “I long knew of my family’s aspirations to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. That part is true.”
“And yet, you warned no one.” Zogar looks like he could incinerate me without even shifting. “And you did nothing to stop it.”
Rosomon steps up beside Zogar. “Tynan, you told me you didn’t know.” Her voice breaks. “Did you lie to me?”
My belly twists into knots. I can barely breathe.
“I never lied to you, Rosomon. It’s true that I long knew of my father’s aspirations.
But until we returned from Lymbo, I didn’t know he’d become king.
I didn’t know he’d joined forces with the Prime Klerick, and I certainly didn’t know that my father had ordered your father’s execution. ”
Tears well in Rosomon’s eyes, and I drop to my knees. I hold up my hands, not in prayer or to beg, but preparing them for chains. Because my father’s accusations are valid.
I might have grown up resenting his cruelty, but I did nothing to stop him.
And if Saxon had never brought me to camp, if I’d been in Khotor when all of this happened, I can’t say what I would have done.
Would I have stood up to my father like some of my brothers?
Or would I have gladly accepted my place as his heir—the place I have now.
“Put him in a prison cell,” Zogar says.
Rosomon cries out and leans against Zogar but doesn’t disagree.
“May I speak?” Xendus steps forward. I didn’t notice when he returned.
“Of course,” Zogar says curtly.
“I have heard this man’s thoughts.” Xendus points toward me. “Far too many of his thoughts.” A dark chuckle rumbles up from inside him. “He’s not skilled at hiding them.”
All eyes turn toward the fierce man, including mine. “I can’t know his every thought from the past,” Xendus says. “But I know them from the day he climbed on my pommel. And based on his memories of life in Khotor, if he’d spoken out against his father, he’d be dead.”
“We should pardon him because he’s a coward?” Zogar asks Xendus, while still glaring at me.
“Tynan’s no coward.” Xendus folds his arms over his chest and shakes his head. “Reckless? Yes. Over confident? Also yes. Arrogant? Definitely.” One side of Xendus’s mouth quirks up.
“But from the moment we returned to the Light, Tynan’s done all he can to help us. He was shocked that Khotor had joined with the klericy. And he only stayed in Khotor and cooperated with his father to obtain a pardon for Saxon, and in hopes of freeing Rosomon’s family.”
“Thank you,” I say.
Xendus shakes his head. “I’d keep that trap shut, if I were you.”
Rosomon takes Zogar’s hand. “Tynan freed my bindings today.” She looks up at him. “He also freed Xendus, Surath and Saxon. And he was the one who encouraged the workers to expose the trickery behind the image of Othrix.” She gestures toward the pile of metal.
“And last night—” She looks into my eyes and stops short, clearly wondering if revealing what I did last night will hurt or help my cause.
“What the Queen says is true,” Xendus says. “Based on all I know.” He points toward my father. “This man should be executed, but Tynan is innocent—mostly innocent.” His mouth quirks again.
“The boy lies!” Father calls out. “He is weak. He’s always been weak. Tynan is easily manipulated, easily lured by power and praise. And he lies to get what he wants.”
“Silence!” Zogar frowns and points toward my father. “Take this man away!”
Guards lead Father from the room, and Zogar remains silent for a long time.
I’m beyond grateful to Xendus for speaking on my behalf, but still expect to be jailed.
Being separated from Rosomon—yet again—breaks my heart, but once they form their court, I’ll mount a defense and take my punishment if need be.
Zogar turns to Rosomon. “What are your thoughts, my queen?”
She remains silent for a very long time. So long that the fear clutching my chest twists into despair. Not despair that I might lose my freedom, or even my life, but a deep sinking despair that she no longer loves me.
It’s possible she never did. It’s possible that my belief in our love was fueled by my overconfidence, my optimism—and my hubris.
Rosomon clears her voice. “Tynan was raised to be arrogant and cruel.” She lifts her gaze. I can’t tell what she’s thinking. “But Tynan overcame his brutal upbringing.” She turns toward Saxon. “With Saxon’s help, he changed after coming to the dragon camp.”
Saxon nods. “And he changed even more, once he met you.”
Rosomon takes two steps toward me. “I could never love a man who’d use treachery and trickery to get what he wants.” Her voice firms. “A man who would use force or brutality to gain power.”
I drag in a shaky breath. She’s describing me. Telling me why she could never love me.
“But I know Tynan. And both Xendus and Saxon know Tynan.” She turns back toward Zogar. “And we all saw the role he played, today, in exposing the lies behind Othrix and the Prime Klerick. Would he have done these things, if he backed his father?” She shakes her head.
“We support Prince Tynan,” Ham and Ovren call out.
“As do we!” Some of the other temple workers gather around Ham and Ovren.
“Without Tynan,” Ovren says, “not one of us would have dropped our ropes today, or had the courage to disobey our masters and expose the trickery.”