Chapter 4 #2
“Thank you.” I handed him the reins. “And have my belongings sent to my room, if you wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course.”
“And don’t forget an apple.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Lady Witch,” Henrick said, pulling Jarrow away.
I watched fondly as my good boy trotted off, eager with the prospect of a treat.
There were few people I trusted with my horse, but Henrick was one.
He had been managing the stables for as long as Jarrow had been here. He knew what the creature meant to me.
I turned to Meredith, resigned. “Lead the way.”
Meredith led me through the familiar corridors of the Citadel.
For a moment, it felt as though I’d never left, like everything was exactly how it had always been.
Except I had left, and nothing would ever be the same.
I was changed—irrevocably. And if I didn’t keep a tight leash on myself whilst here, everyone would know it.
“Here we are,” said Meredith, opening a door I’d only passed through once before.
I faltered before starting forward again.
The entire round table was occupied, filled with a mix of gazes, some accusing, others curious.
Most were witches, their wielders standing against the nearby wall to observe.
However, a few seasoned wielders were given chairs.
I knew each person in some capacity or other, having taken classes from most of them.
My eyes fell on a familiar face and my shoulders relaxed.
Herrin came to his feet. “Lady Witch,” he said, his voice warm.
“Head Wielder.”
He came around the table and enveloped me in an unexpected hug before taking hold of my shoulders to inspect me. “You look well.”
“As well as can be expected.” I offered him a sheepish grin.
“And Rixon?”
I opened my mouth—
A throat cleared. I froze, remembering the rest of the room.
“Well, yes, we can catch up later.” Herrin clapped me on the back before returning to his seat beside the head witch. Fiona sat glaring at one of the other council witches, Skye.
Meredith took the only remaining chair, leaving me to stand; it seemed they had called a full council.
I shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.
I hadn’t expected to feel so ill at ease during their interrogation.
We hadn’t even gotten started. Willing the thing inside me to remain calm, I plastered an indulgent expression on my face.
“Thank you for answering my summons, Lady Witch,” said Fiona. “Your journey went well, I trust?”
“As well as can be expected. We encountered a few small packs of demons—the last just about a day out, but managed all right.”
Fiona nodded. Herrin’s eyes gleamed. The others might not know, but he knew how perfectly capable I was at handling more than just magic.
Even now, I could feel the phantom double blades strapped to my back, hidden within folds of air.
I had him to thank for it. Convincing him to train me hadn’t been easy, and he’d never treated me softly, but I was better for it.
“I am sure you understand the severity of your summons,” said Fiona. I nodded. “Good. Then, please, explain your circumstances to the council.”
“My wielder has accepted the role as Raeria’s ruling monarch. He was crowned last week—”
“Such a thing is forbidden,” said Leilani, clenching the edge of the table’s surface.
She was a darker skinned female with sleek lines and a powerful voice.
I’d seen her summon countless demons in summoning stars, but had otherwise had little interaction with her.
“We do not mix the politics of the crown with those of the Citadel.”
“Did you know your wielder was the crown prince?” Phoebe asked. I knew her better than the others, having taken several of her courses.
“His title was just as much a surprise to me as it is to you, I can promise you that.” Not a lie. I was surprised to discover it, and I certainly hadn’t known when we’d sworn our oath.
Would I have refused him otherwise?
“You understand that we cannot allow this…this breach of conduct,” said Skye.
“It goes against everything we are.” She threw Fiona a challenging look, as if expecting the head witch to throw me in a cell this very moment.
Not that cells could hold witches. We had enough of our own power that such a thing would be difficult.
“She should be stripped of her bond,” someone muttered under their breath. The mere thought had me recoiling. Never mind that I didn’t know such a thing was possible. Every witch needs a wielder. I glanced around, trying to catch the source. Gianna gave me a challenging glare.
“What would you have me do?” I looked at Fiona.
Fiona did not speak.
“I think it is obvious, no?” Moriah crossed her arms. “Your wielder must abdicate.”
“He can do no such thing.” I was uncertain of how I managed to maintain a level head. Surely at any moment, my eyes would begin to blacken. I wanted more than anything to lunge across the table and strangle a few of these witches. Especially Gianna.
“He has no other choice,” Moriah continued. “We do not wish to enact the full might of the Citadel against you.”
Stripped of my bond…
“My wielder cannot abdicate. He…” I hesitated. If I couldn’t trust the council, then who could I trust? “He is the only thing standing between Raeria and a portal to hell.”
Silence fell.
“What can you mean?” said Fiona, leaning forward, hands braced on the arms of her chair. If I wasn’t mistaken, I caught a look of relief on her features. Perhaps she was glad I had a viable explanation for how things had played out.
On the contrary, she probably wouldn’t be glad to understand the severity of it.
“There is a portal to hell beneath the palace. I have seen it with my own eyes. It requires royal blood to remain closed.”
A number of protests broke out over my explanation. Such a thing could not possibly exist. Rifts, perhaps, but not doorways.
I quickly told them everything I knew. The reason for demons stalking Corinna’s city streets.
How the king’s blood had been failing. How he’d grown weaker.
I lied about his cause of death, stating that he’d been assassinated.
They listened with varying degrees of skepticism.
“Rixon—Aleksander—is his only living heir. I understand that the Citadel and the crown must remain separate, but in this, I believe our goals are aligned. To protect the people of Raeria.”
“You cannot possibly expect us to believe…to believe any of this.” Moriah looked outraged. “It is absurd.”
“It’s the truth.”
“A convenient truth, I’ll give you that,” said Leilani.
“If what you say is true,” said Skye, “that would suggest that the crown has been keeping a monumental secret from the Citadel, one that directly concerns us.” She offered Fiona a pointed look. “I will say as I have said before, the Citadel should hold more power.”
I stared at Skye, shocked. Here they were trying to punish me for tangling my duties and yet, she was claiming that witches should hold power over the crown?
“I agree with Skye,” Meredith added. “If what Aramina says is true, then we have just cause to insert ourselves.”
“That is enough,” Fiona snapped. A flash of rage crossed her features, there and gone.
“Tell us more about this portal, dear,” Barisa asked. She was the oldest of the bunch. “You are certain it leads to hell?”
“Absolutely certain,” I said. “I saw the demons emerging from it.”
I hadn’t, actually. In fact, the only reason I knew the nature of the portal was because of the thing living inside me, and because a prince of hell had confirmed it. I couldn’t exactly share that.
“I’ve never heard such a thing,” Sarai mused. “And it requires the prince’s blood—excuse me, the king’s blood—to stay closed?”
“Yes.”
“How did you discover this information?” Phoebe asked.
“Rixon and I attempted to track the source of the demons. They were inside the city walls—a strange thing when the walls are made of Nebrine. We first believed that…” My eyes flicked around the table, hesitant.
“Go on,” said Phoebe.
“We first believed it could be witches inside the city, summoning them.”
Skye snorted. “Only council witches have access to that sort of knowledge.”
Or ex-council witches, but I didn’t say that. Nor did I say that I knew enough to draw and summon demons of my own, not that I had tried. Not yet, anyway.
“You can see why we found it strange that there were demons within the walls. We began tracking them to their source. Our investigation led us beneath the city, through its many tunnels, until we found a room beneath the palace. That is where we found the portal.”
I was reluctant to describe the entirety of the room. The five pointed star. The murals showing hordes of demon armies at war with humans. I kept most of that information back.
Their questions continued. It was obvious that they didn’t all believe me, but that didn’t matter. As long as Fiona did, she would fight for me.
Right?
“I still think she should be stripped,” Gianna said at last.
“As do I,” Slone agreed.
“And I,” Moriah added.
“Don’t be absurd,” Barisa scoffed. “She—”
“There are enough of us in agreement that a vote ought to be taken.” Leilani eyed the others.
A wave of red-hot anger surged in me. My eyes locked with Gianna, taking in her triumphant expression. There was something else, too, something buried deeper in the look she wore. Jealousy.
My lips began to curl in disgust, anger morphing to something darker. Gianna’s eyes flashed with surprise. I was almost certain that mine had changed. I clamped down on the thing inside me, pushing it down deep. Gianna blinked and frowned, but said nothing.
Fiona stood and said, “No vote. I think that is enough for one day. She’s only just arrived, and given her information, we have much to think about. Much to discuss.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
I wouldn’t let them strip me of my bond with Rixon. They’d have to catch me first. Fiona’s words meant I wouldn’t need to flee, not yet, anyway.
“Mina, you may retire to your room. Do not leave the fortress while you are here. We will summon you again in seven days.”
I knew it was a warning, more than anything. I offered Fiona and the others a formal goodbye, then escaped to my room.