“Shit—“
“Call me Kat again—“
Dag and Falke sprinted up the steps. Hagen moved between Katla and Dorian and pushed on Katla’s chest. Dag and Falke grabbed her arms to pull her back, having to lift her off the ground to take her down. She kicked the air, still lunging at Dorian and shouting threats about his calling her by such a name.
Despite his running from her, Dorian had never been more pleased with himself.
And Katla knew it.
“You’remine, little King—“ she continued. “If you ever call me that again, I’ll cut off your cock!”
“Katharos!” Hagen shouted. “Enough.” But Hagen’s eyes cut back at Dorian. “Way to piss off the executioner, kid,” he muttered to him.
“It’s in my nature,” Dorian shrugged.
Katla calmed and shrugged her arms away from the pair holding her. “I’m calm,” she almost shouted to them. “I’m fine.” She glared between Hagen and Dorian. "Should I think we'll be putting him on trial, or have you decided to let him walk free in our streets without consequence?" she snapped.
Dorian saw Reverie grasp at her knife. He shook his head, making sure she did not try to take down an entire room full of Blackhands—though he knew she would have tried. He glanced back to Hagen as Katla stepped back, and then he pushed his arms and wrists together in front of him.
"If you don't put me on trial, they will question you," Dorian muttered. "String me as your captive, High Elder."
Hagen considered him a moment, and then he gave Katla an upwards nod. A quiet chuckle emitted from Katla's lips, and Hagen looked as though he would laugh.
"Try not to enjoy it so much," he uttered under his breath.
"Oh, you know me," she uttered as she sauntered before Prince. A rope was tossed in her hands by a woman behind her. "I wouldn'tdare," and the tone in which she said it made Dorian’s neck hair stand on end.
“I honestly wasn’t speaking to you, but I suppose it does go for you as well,” Hagen said, gaze darting to Dorian.
Dorian's wrists were bound so tightly in front of him, the ropes nearly ripped his skin.
Hagen exchanged words with the other Elders. People shifted, and Katla shoved Dorian to the center of the dais. Fists clenching, Dorian tried not to let the uncomfortableness of his current predicament rest on his face.
He was ready for whatever verdict these people decided for him.
Because he knew the truth.
Katla gave him one more look before pulling her axe from her side and hoisting it up over her shoulder. "I wonder, Prince," she said in his ear. "Are your insides made of blood and bone, or is it of fire and cowardice treachery like the rest of your line?"
Were it any other moment, he would have smarted back at her, told her she could find out later with a bit of blood play, but the room had become silent, and Dorian found he couldn’t speak.
A man stepped forward upon Hagen's call and pulled a scroll. He read the date, the time, and place, recorded the Elders and Generals in attendance, and finally read Dorian's charges.
“—Dorian Eaglefyre of the Magnice realm. Born to the mother, Arbina Promregis Amaris. A child of the Promised line. The Fire Prince. Charged with conspiracy and treason to Haerland for the death of the Venari King." The man paused, and all eyes fell on Dorian.
"How do you plead?"
Dorian straightened as tall and broad as he could make himself. "I am not guilty."
Murmurs broke out around the room, but Hagen held up a finger, and the whispers stopped. Sitting lazily in his chair, legs spread, hiding his mouth with his hand, Dorian wondered if the High Elder was using it to hide his expression—to seem impartial to the verdict his people would decide for him. But Hagen glanced to his left and gave a nod to the Elder he'd introduced as Marius.
The gait Marius took to walk before him was deliberate and calculated. As though his every step meant a break in the room. A crack in the dais. He paused before Dorian, shocking hazel eyes staring through the fire Prince—
He spat in Dorian’s face.
Dorian winced and cursed under his breath. "Bit uncalled for, don't you think?" he muttered, wiping away the saliva with his bound hands.
The handle of Katla's axe swung behind Dorian's knees. The break against his thighs sent his knees buckling, but he forced himself to stay upright.
