Had I not known Rafaela for nearly a century, I might not have recognized the sudden glimmer in her eyes for the pride it was.“Murderess” was what had done it.Had to be.
“I care not what you think she’s done.You?—”
“Oh, there’s no question about it.She killed two people.Humans.And then a guard.Fae.And assaulted a bunch of us too.”
Rafaela’s pumping-blood-red lips split into a slow, dangerous smile.I resisted the urge to take my own step back.
“I didn’t ask you what you believe she did.I asked you to free her immediately.You’ve not yet done so.You should.”
When Cosette still didn’t move to obey, and even the dim-witted Arno inched away farther, the white-haired goblin opened his mouth as if to warn her.But after a look at how hard Rafaela’s face was, he snapped it shut without a word.
The lumoons bobbed lower as if preparing to better illuminate the imminent bloodbath.
I sighed.“You should do as she says, Cosette, and she may still spare you.”
Rafaela scoffed, somehow making the sound both refined and menacing at once.
Cosette crossed her leather-clad arms and legs while her wings fluttered behind her.“I am an investigatory soldier of the empire.I will under no circumstances release a murderess without lawful reason to do so.”
“I-I’ll do it,” stuttered Arno.With a grimace, he peeked at the tear he’d opened in my lip that was quickly mending but still raw at present.A bruise might even be blossoming upon my jaw.
I smelled fear pumping through his blood as he extended a magical key toward my cuffs without removing it from his belt.The key buzzed like the prison sentry’s wand-weapon.Arno waved it behind me and my shadole shackles fell heavily.They clattered against stone before he bent to retrieve them.
Cosette whirled on him and shrieked, “What are you doing?”
“He’s trying to save you,” answered another of the guards.“Don’t want the inquiry if we let a superior die on our watch.”
“The only person dying is my prisoner.The drake can come down to the prison himself if he wishes to argue his case to the magistrate.But it’s already been decided.”
She snapped tiny fingers at the guards,sht.“Apprehend her.”
They only began backing toward the doors, unwilling to expose their backs to Rafaela.
Smarter than they looked.
“I saidapprehendher,” Cosette boomed in her big voice.
Over her little fuchsia head, Rafaela told the guards, “You’re dismissed.”
“Not Arno,” I said.
“Which one’s Arno?”Rafaela was asking when the five other sentries sped out the doors, allowing them to slam closed behind them.
Arno stood alone.
Rafaela sniffed the air.With quick glances, she took in my face, my split lip, a smear of my blood on the edge of Arno’s hand.
Rafaela’s jaw tightened, as did the skin around her eyes.“I see.”
Arno whimpered under his breath.
To the goblins who’d emerged from the halls, she said, “Take him to the dungeons.”
When Arno’s shoulders slumped, his head dipped between them, and he allowed the goblins to lead him away, Cosette’s mouth dropped open with a squeak.
“What…?No, you can’t…”
“You obviously don’t know who I am.So let me give you another chance you don’t deserve.I am Rafaela Eudova, drakess of the Zaraga territory.”
