“I admit I stole a weapon from a Nethren. That's all.”
“Hold on.” Liria searched the crowd. “Where are those friends of yours?”
“What?” Rallorival went still.
“Someone get me Aranhale, Surdrinvel, Vedanleru, Roddolkith, and Cirarlinaven!” Thax spun to search the Aethari faces in the crowd. “Bring them to me now!”
The crowd rustled as an Aethari woman jostled her way through the gathering and pushed to the front.
“You!” Liria pointed at the woman. “You captured a Nethren spy. But you, Rallorival, did not. So how did you get the weapon?”
The woman went pale, her dark wings drooping. She looked at Rallorival with obvious anxiety.
“All right, Cirarlinaven gave me the weapon,” Rallorival said. “But that's it. Neither of us had anything to do with the attack, and you can't prove otherwise.”
“Where are the rest of your friends?” Thax demanded.
Rallorival lifted his chin.
“Aranhale, Surdrinvel, Vedanleru, and Roddolkith come forward!” Thax shouted. “Now!”
Three Aethari men and one Aethari woman came out of the crowd to stand with Cirarlinaven. Their wings rustled nervously.
“Did any of you help Rallorival attack the freed prisoners?” Thax demanded.
They remained silent.
“You see? I have done nothing but take an enemy's weapon.” Rallorival lifted his wings confidently as he strode up to Thax, looking smug despite the fact that his hands were still bound behind his back. “You've accused me unfairly.”
Suddenly, Thaxvarien started to glow, light seeping from his skin and eyes. When hespoke, his voice was lower, more resonant, and full of power. “Rallorival Banvenarri, you are a twice a traitor!”
The camp fell silent, all eyes upon Thaxvarien. He was a speaker, but unlike his father, Thax kept his will when the Sources filled his voice with their power. He could sense their intent and accepted guidance from them, but he chose what hespoke. And Thax also chose how much power he put into his words.
Rallorival stepped back, his mouth slack.
“I gave you a chance to redeem yourself, and you betrayed me again!” Thax lifted a glowing hand and pointed at Rallorival. “You have connived to destroy a growing peace, all for the lust of my sister. Do you understand the cost? Blood will be shed because of your selfishness. Confess!”
Rallorival fell to his knees and hunched in on himself.
“Confess! Tell the truth, traitor!”
“It was for her!” Rallorival shouted. “I did it for Lena. To save her from those monsters. All of you were about to give up and make peace with them! You would have sacrificed her for that peace. I couldn't allow that to happen. I had to remind you that Nethren are evil. For Lena. It was all for her.” He looked up, his eyes pleading. “What would you do for Liria?”
“Anything,” Thax said as the glow left him and his voice returned to normal. “I would do anything for my destra. But Lena Drask is not your destra. Her future lies elsewhere.”
“Fucking Aethari bastard!” General Caden hissed. “Somebody get this asshole out of my sight before I kill him myself!”
A group of Medean men came forward, jerked Rallorival to his feet, and dragged him away.
“What about them?” Liria waved at Rallorival's friends. “They conspired with him.”
“Take them as well.” The general waved at the Aethari. “I have to speak to the Council before I decide on their punishment.”
“We are not your soldiers, you buffoon! You have no authority over us!” Cirarlinaven launched into the air.
The others followed her, flying off toward Thennis.
“Morons. If you commit treason in a war camp, it doesn't matter who you are.” The general sighed and motioned at some of the Aethari Paradefense soldiers.
