Two robed members ofthe King’s Council stood to the right before the elevated thrones on the dais.To the left were two members of the Witch Committee, brass acorn pins gleaming at their lapels.
I recognized the witches as Rowena and Ferdinand; they had stood behind me in line all those months ago.Luckily, we were already acquainted.I had favors to ask of them today.
Crown Prince Bennett and Narcissa sat side by side on the thrones, the king nowhere in sight.The two of them seemed to handle most of the witch-related affairs.King Maximus, I suspected, would have gladly gone back to the Non-Magic Age just to spare himself the headache.
“I cannot believe this,” a wizened councilman with a pair of ornate gold spectacles grumbled to his companion.“Abusinessmangoing down to a witch’s lair?I don’t see how this is relevant or necessary at all.”
“Hush, Archibald.Not here.”The companion was an eagle-like man with black hair streaked with gray and a beak of a nose.His voice was so low it sounded like a growl.
When the murmurs of both parties quieted, Crown Prince Bennett cleared his throat.He trained his gaze on the two robed men.“Sir Sylvester.”He nodded at the eagle man.“Sir Archibald.Rowena.Ferdinand.Thank you for joining us today.I believe you were all informed about what is to happen in the following two weeks.”
“Indeed, Your Highness,” Sir Archibald said, frowning at us through his spectacles.
Crown Prince Bennett continued.“Our emissary, Mr.Edmund de Clare, will be staying at Witch Village where he will report on his experiences.Sir Sylvester and Sir Archibald will relay the accounts to the rest of the King's Council and to the press.Giselle here will be overseeing Mr.de Clare’s stay.Maddox Greenwood will accompany them as a guard.”
“Why her?”Sir Sylvester said, slithering his dark gaze up and down my person.I resisted the urge to shudder.“Isn’t she the one you employed last winter because of her coercive powers?”
I did shudder then.He knew aboutthatside of my magic.Why was he privy to that information?
“Exactly!”Sir Archibald cried, pointing an accusing finger my way.The collar of his green robe was far too big for his scrawny neck.“How do we know she won’t put our emissary under her thrall and sway his report?”
Crown Prince Bennett hesitated.I had the uncomfortable feeling that even he couldn’t defend me against that argument.I couldn’t even defend myself.
Beside me, Maddox’s jaw clenched.If he weren’t playing the silent guard at the moment, I figured he’d have something to say, but it wasn’t his place to fight a council member.
Narcissa sat straighter, her eyes flashing.“Giselle proved herself to be good and loyal last winter.She would never use her magic on anyone for her own gain.Her skill set is far beyond coercion.I would argue that is the least formidable thing about her.”
Sir Sylvester bowed.“Of course.”Sir Archibald merely shot me a disgusted look.
Gratitude filled my chest.Narcissa and Maddox had told me this before, that my magic didn’t make me wicked.It felt nice to be seen that way—if only most others could do the same.
I stole a glance at Edmund, worried I’d see the same fear or disgust on his face, but he looked as calm and polished as ever, his eyes trained ahead.Was he hiding his reaction, or did he truly not care?
“Honorable witches will never use their magic on others without permission or due cause,” Rowena said, frowning at the councilmen.
“What if an outsider trespasses into Witch Village, which has historically been shut off to humans?”Sir Sylvester said.“Will they wield their magic then?”
“Most witches will have no objections to humans visiting our territory, as long as they come in peace and make themselves known,” Ferdinand said.“We will certainly not be violent.”
“Yourterritory?”Sir Archibald said with a sniff.“You witches merely burrowed below ground, still on Olderean soil, when you were lawfully banished.That makes your kind outlaws and criminals—”
“Careful, sir,” Narcissa said icily.All traces of the blushing bride from our fitting last week were gone, replaced by a woman with steel in her eyes.“We no longer adhere to outdated laws, unless your crown prince’s efforts mean nothing to you.”
Sir Archibald’s mouth snapped shut.
“What Sir Archibald is concerned about,” said Sir Sylvester, “is whether witches will be as hospitable as you claim.You may represent the Witch Committee, Miss Rowena, but I doubt the Witch Committee represents all of witchkind.Was it not one of your own who stirred up trouble during the kingdom tour last winter?I would hate for Mr.de Clare to find himself in anunpleasantsituation.”
As much as I detested Sir Sylvester’s oily voice, he had a point.Though witches were known to be peaceful, there were always those who didn’t fit the mold.
Celeste Carr, who I had originally known as Cecelia in Witch Village, had risen to fame as a star soprano last winter, stirred up tensions between humans and witches, and nearly stole the magic from an auditorium full of witches purely out of spite.She was a particularly nasty apple, thankfully behind bars now.
“There will always be those we cannot account for,” Rowena said stiffly, “just as you, Sir Sylvester, do not speak for all humanity.However, I will stand behind my home and my people.I know no other place more welcoming than Witch Village.”
Edmund dipped his head to her.“I’m sure I will find it nothing but.”He turned to the councilmen.“If I may speak, good sirs.I have agreed to stay at Witch Village because I trust I will be in good hands.A wealthy man like me does not go looking for death,” he said pleasantly.“And if we do run into trouble, I am sure Miss Phula and Mr.Greenwood will handle it, knowing of their excellent services last winter.”
Maddox’s cheeks pinked.It seems that he wasn’t immune to Edmund’s charm either.
Sir Sylvester merely offered a bow in return, while Sir Archibald snorted something that sounded suspiciously like “Captain Greenwood’s wastrel son.”
