"Very well. Tomorrow you will be given the chance to bear witness to the crimes committed against you. A friend will bring you before the Council when the time is right."
A pendant hanging around her neck glowed a brilliant blue, lighting from within. Cara lifted it, and her lips pursed. "I'm being summoned by the regent. Later, I'll meet with Cael and tell him what I can of our plan. Until then, get some rest. Tomorrow is an important day for all of us."
The memory faded as Midori jolted upright on the bed. Could the binding ceremony be part of Cara's plan? Or was this something different? Even on Earth royal families often promised their children in arranged marriages for political alliance. Was that what had happened between Cael and Cara?
She had to trust her new ally had things well in hand. Resolved to have faith for now, Midori rose and moved to the line of floor-to-ceiling windows. She peered out at the alien skyline, letting the strange beauty of this new world steady her nerves.
The heavy door creaked open, the sound tearing Midori from her reverie at the window. She whirled, eyes widening as the tall broad-shouldered figure of Baelor strode into the room.
Instinctively, she took a step back, fingers curling at her sides. Though he was Cael's friend, could she truly trust this man? Hadn't he ultimately brought them here and turned them over to Bres? Her wary eyes traced the sharp angles of his alien features, noting the hard set of his jaw and a puckered scar running from brow to chin.
Baelor held up his four hands in a placating gesture. "Peace, Midori. I mean you no harm."
The words gave her pause, echoing Cara's from the previous night. Could this be the "friend" she had spoken of? Midori's muscles relaxed, though she remained guarded.
"Why are you here?"
"To escort you." Baelor's silvery gaze was steady, sincere. "It's time for you to bear witness to the Elders."
She searched Baelor's expression, seeking any hint of deception, but found only an earnest determination burning in his eyes. A glimmer of hope rekindled within her.
Squaring her shoulders, Midori gave a resolute nod. "Very well. I will go with you and speak my truth before your Council." Her words carried all the quiet strength she could muster, pushing down the fluttering of nerves in her belly.
A ghost of a smile played across Baelor's full lips. "Your courage does you credit. Come, we must not delay. The ceremony is about to begin."
Midori drew in a steadying breath and allowed Baelor to lead her from the chamber.
The doors opened,and Cael stepped into an immense cavernous hall. He walked down the aisle to the center of the room. The weight of its vaulted ceilings and looming archways pressed down on him like a physical force. He swept his gaze across the gathered masses, feeling small and powerless.
On a raised dais at the far end, the thirteen Elders of the Council sat in stern judgment, their wizened faces etched with disapproval. Flanking the central stage where Cael now stood were rows and rows of witnesses—nobles, dignitaries, even common folk allowed to bear witness to this momentous event, the bonding ceremony of a prince.
Cael scanned the assembly, eyes narrowing as they settled on his Uncle Bres. The regent stood beside Cara's father, Xandar, a sly grin plastered across his smug face. Clearly pleased withhimself, Bres leaned in to murmur something to the chief Elder, who nodded gravely in response.
Cael's eyes darted between the dour Elders and faceless throngs surrounding him. His heart pounding, he awaited Cara's arrival for the binding ceremony. What twisted lies had his uncle woven to bring this situation about? A bead of sweat trickled down his back as he clenched his fists, fighting the urge to lash out. The only thing keeping him from shouting out the truth was Midori's absence from the room. Cael didn't doubt for a second that his uncle would make good on his disgusting promises.
The head Elder cleared his throat, the sound reverberating through the hushed chamber. "Prince Cael Ó'Gormáin, you stand accused of grave crimes against the throne and people of Zyranth." He paused, leaning forward to fix Cael with an expressionless stare. "How do you plead?"
Cael opened his mouth, but Bres cut him off with a raised hand. "If it pleases the Council, I will speak on behalf of the accused." His uncle's oily tone made Cael's skin crawl. "As regent protector, I have unearthed disturbing evidence of Prince Cael's transgressions.”
Bres launched into an intricate web of lies and false evidence, painting Cael as a selfish, reckless heir who pilfered from the royal coffers to fund a debauched lifestyle. With each outrageous fabrication, Cael felt his anger rising. His hands clenched into white-knuckled fists as he fought to maintain composure. Bres was crafting an insidious narrative, and the Council seemed to lap it up, their expressions ranging from shock to disgust as they turned accusing eyes on Cael.
"You have heard the evidence against you, Prince Cael," Xandar stated, his voice like a death knell. "What do you say in your defense?"
A heavy silence fell over the assembly as every eye bored into Cael. He opened his mouth, poised to unleash a furious tirade, torally whatever shreds of honor and credibility remained on his side. Then his gaze fell on Bres. The regent's expression twisted into a sinister sneer as he made a subtle gesture, a mere flick of his wrist. The implication was clear—defy me, and the human suffers. Cael's blood turned to ice in his veins.
Swallowing hard, Cael forced himself to remain impassive. "I have nothing to say," he managed.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as Cael hung his head, feigning resignation. Inside, his mind raced, assessing angles and escape routes. He had to play along, at least until he found some way to ensure Midori's safety from Bres' reach. Then, and only then, could he tear down his uncle's lies.
Xandar rose and lifted his hands, his face stony. "Considering these revelations, I suggest Prince Cael be stripped of his title as heir apparent, and the crown of Zyranth henceforth given to his offspring. Until such a time when a future heir comes of age, the regent shall remain in power and oversee the duties of the crown."
The hushed murmurs from the crowd faded as the heavy doors swung open once more. Cara glided in, resplendent in a shimmering gown of pale orange with a train trailing behind her. Though her face was a serene mask, her eyes flashed with some unreadable emotion when they met Cael's.
As she ascended the steps to join him on the raised platform, time seemed to slow. Every instinct screamed at Cael to fight, to resist this mockery of a ceremony his uncle had orchestrated. But he remained rooted in place, paralyzed by the sheer enormity of the forces arrayed against him.
Cara took her place opposite him while a holy mother entered the chamber and began the solemn rites. All Cael could do was search Cara's inscrutable eyes, looking for any hint of what role she truly played in this unfolding nightmare. Could hetrust what she said the previous evening, or had she been playing him for a fool? Was this her plan all along?
Cael stood frozen, a statue amidst the swirling chaos of the ceremonial chamber. His eyes locked with Cara's, searching for any flicker of emotion beneath her serene facade. But her gaze revealed nothing, only a placid mirror reflecting his own turmoil.
