But not Katla.
Her chin rose to meet his, and her crossed arms pushed on his chest.
"Why would the Venari Alpha... The greatest of them, our friend, our ally, ourKing... Why would he have sacrificed his life when she was alreadydead?"
Dorian's ears rang. Even though he knew the words were coming, they still crushed his heart.
"Because for the first time in his life, he'd found true happiness," Dorian affirmed. "He'd felt what it was like to see into the light and not wonder if it would consume him. Fall deeply into shadows with her at his side, with an equal queen. She was his match, his world... And he trusted the rest of us to keep our shit together long enough to save Haerland from destruction and slavery."
No one moved.
Dorian allowed his ash to dwindle on his body, pulsing back into his usual self. He turned again, his shoulders relaxing in front of Hagen and the rest of the Elders.
"I realize it may be hard for you to believe that someone as strong and formidable as he would have done this. And I question every day if this world was worth their dying for when it apparently wants to tear itself apart instead of uniting against a common enemy," Dorian continued as he settled into normalcy. "But I am doing what he and the newly crowned Venari King have asked of me. I am here asking for your aid. Not your soldiers. Not to give you marching orders. I only wish to confirm the alliance my sister and Draven secured at the Gathering. Or should I think the word of Blackhands is no longer a reliable currency?"
"Your war in the south is not our concern," another Elder said.
"If we lose, it will be," Dorian said.
More whispers filled the chamber. The other two Elders stood from their own chairs and circled around Hagen. Katla moved, giving Dorian a once over as she also joined the men.
"Put him in the ring!" someone shouted.
"Have him prove his trustworthiness!" came another.
More shouts like these echoed around him, the people now in an uproar about what should happen. Dorian turned and locked eyes with Corbin. Corbin looked concerned, his hand on the end of the dagger on his belt.
Within a few moments, the Elders dispersed, and Hagen held up a hand. Shouts quieted as Hagen stepped forward.
"Your trust will be earned, Prince," Hagen said. "You are hereby sentenced to the Ring Trials. If you are innocent of your crimes, you will survive. If not..." His voice drifted, brow raising, and Dorian shifted.
Ring trials.Combat trials.
This... This Dorian could do.
The corner of his lip quirked, and Dorian nodded.
A great horn blew. The conclusion of the spoken trial. People talking loudly entered Dorian’s ears again, and the room began to disperse into groups. Bounding footsteps behind him caught his attention.
"What are the Ring Trials?" Corbin demanded to know.
"And why do they all look so happy about it?" Reverie asked.
But Dorian continued to hold Hagen’s gaze.
"You realize what this means?" Hagen asked him.
"You're going to throw all your worst things at me?"
"It means my people want to determine your worth by our giver and Architect's eyes. It means they are basing your trustworthiness on whether Mons Magnus and the Ghost of Fire like you."
"Wasn't aware your people valued religion, Elder," Dorian said.
"It's the only word they'll care about," Hagen said. "Anything I say will not matter as much as what they think."
"Is this a warning?"
"This is my saying that what Draven told me of you had better be true, Prince," Hagen said in a low tone. "The Ring Trials are not a mockery. We take our fighting seriously and as a currency greater than gold. Not just whatever Belwark trials you've seen in your kingdom."
