“Yes,” Rivven said. “It is common knowledge among us. Xennet has shared the story with us many times. I do not think he would mind me telling you that Warden Hallum was present at his trial.”
“He was at Xennet’s trial? In what capacity?”
“Warden Hallum was the one who turned him in.”
“Oh my God.” I swallowed hard. It felt a bit like my nice drink was going to come right back up again. “How could he?”
“How could he not?” Rivven asked, looking at me in confusion. “He found Xennet covered in blood beside his victim. There was nothing else to do but report the situation.”
“I mean…I guess so,” I said, letting out a shaky breath. Jesus.
“But he did not abandon Xennet,” Rivven went on. “When Xennet could not put up funds for legal representation, Warden Hallum acted as Xennet’s legal defence himself.”
“He did?”
“He did. From what Xennet has told us, Warden Hallum was ruthless and thorough in his defence. He did everything he could to get Xennet a favorable verdict. But it was not enough. There is no legal defence for murder in the Zabrian Empire.”
“Tasha told me that,” I replied through a tight throat. “Feels incredibly unfair. Especially for children, like you guys were.”
“It is the reality of the system we were born into,” Rivven said. He picked up a glass and began polishing it as he finished his story. “When Xennet’s guilty verdict was read out, and he was informed of his impending exile to this world, Warden Hallum resigned his military post on the spot. Right there in the courtroom, in front of Xennet and the Imperial Justice Committee of Zabria.”
I wasn’t watching Rivven anymore. Breathing heavily, my hands shaking, I sought Warden Hallum out from across the room, over the heads of the dancers. Our gazes connected.Collided.
“Because of his high rank and his many cycles of service to the Empire, they allowed him to act as Xennet’s escort, to stay here with him – and us – as the new provincial warden. Of course, that was long ago,” Rivven said. “We were all younger then.”
I tried to picture it. Warden Hallum as a younger man, protecting a terrified little Xennet.
My heart was hurting. Literally hurting. And it wasn’t from the cardio of all that dancing.
“Thank you, Rivven,” I said, sliding out of my seat. In my bare feet, I crossed the room to Warden Hallum.
I didn’t know what I was going to say. Or what I was going to do.
I just knew I had to be with him.
16
TENN
“What do you think she is doing over there?”
“Who? What?” Tasha asked, flushed and beautiful from her exertions on the dancefloor. She’d just come stumbling over to the bar to get some water.
“Lualhati,” I said. “Look. She has abandoned the dancing and now she is standing before Warden Hallum.”
“Oh, I have no idea,” Tasha said. Her cheeks were so red. I wanted to lick them.
“Ah, stop!” she cried when I leaned in and started to do it.
“Stop looking so delicious, then,” I grumbled.
I couldn’t wait to have her all to myself again. It had been good to stay with Rivven and Shiloh all this time. But it had left us very little privacy. My loins had many complaints about this fact.
My delectable wife did not reply to my comment. Instead, she was now peering through the candlelit saloon to where Lualhati and Warden Hallum stood facing each other. Lualhati lifted her hand, but I could not hear what she was saying to him over the music.
“Oh! He took her hand!” Tasha hissed, grasping my forearm excitedly and squeezing. “Maybe she’s asking him to dance.”
“Clever Tasha,” I purred. “It would appear you are correct.”
