Aloisia shifted back. “I have to go. Inari won’t know about their decision.”
“All right.” Tristan nodded, withdrawing from her. “I’ll see you around, Lis.”
“Likewise.” She retreated down the corridor, searching anew for Inari and Ezra.
The further she strode from the nave, the quieter it became. Her footsteps echoed along the stone floor. She followed the corridor around, listening for any sign of them. There weren’t even any priests walking these hallways.
Glass shattering chimed up ahead. Aloisia paused, her heart jumping to her throat.
“Kietöilpää. Ezra, that went everywhere,” Inari said, his voice distant.
Aloisia continued creeping forth, listening for where his voice was coming from.
“That hurt,” Ezra growled.
“Of course it’s going to hurt. I have a needle in your hand.”
A door was left ajar up ahead.
“Hold still,” Inari scolded.
“Is there nothing in here to lessen the pain?”
“Nothing which would take effect quickly enough, no.”
Aloisia shouldered the door open. Glass was sprinkled across the floor, along with some herb which had been inside said glass. Ezra perched atop a bench, the colour returning to his cheeks, whilst Inari clutched his hand and tried to stitch the wound shut. The scholar’s sleeves were rolled back, and runes painted his forearms.
“Need any help, boys?” she asked.
Inari glanced over his shoulder briefly. “If you could restrain him, it would be a great help.”
“Please don’t,” Ezra said, wincing as the needle pierced his skin.
Aloisia breathed a laugh. “Honestly.” She shook her head and took to searching for a broom instead. She found one propped up against the wall beside the door and swept up the shards of glass and spilled herbs.
Ezra sucked a breath between his gritted teeth as Inari continued to sew up the cut on his hand.
Once done, Inari spread a poultice on it and bound it in strips of cloth. “There, was that so bad?”
“Yes,” Ezra grumbled, jumping down from the counter.
Aloisia finished sweeping the glass into a dustpan and turned to them. “The judiciaries have made a decision.”
“Joy,” Ezra muttered, picking at his bandages. “And what did they decide?”
“The trial is being brought forward to today. They asked for you both, if possible, to set a protective ward upon the Temple to defend those within.”
Ezra lifted his gaze to hers. “Have they now?”
“They also asked for one of you to accompany Guard Oda and one of my sisters to Execution Square to bring the creature to Temple Green, where the trial will take place.”
“We seem to have missed a lot,” Inari said. “But it will be done.”
“Will it?” Ezra asked. “I am in no condition to be placing wards.”
“Then I will do it. Please, put your feet up and relax. It’s not as if all our lives are in danger.” Inari shook his head and made for the door.
Ezra puffed out a sigh. “Fine, I will help. Wards can be tricky at the best of times.”
