No. He deserves the truth. He deserves someone to stand for him.
She tensed her legs to stop herself from shaking and straightened to her full height.
“No,” she said firmly. “He didn’t force me. He would never. I went with him because I believed him.”
Her mother sobbed the moment she’d said the words but Kara couldn’t look at her.
“And you were on your way to take the Fire Shard when you were captured, is that correct?” Galen asked.
Kara didn’t flinch. “Yes, that is correct.”
Gasps. All around her. The whole room recoiled at her words. She couldn’t help it, she looked at the crowd. Rows of faces blurred together, all a mixture of fear, anger, disbelief. But one caught her eye.
Sienna.
She wasn’t glaring like the others. She didn’t look disgusted, or certain of Kara’s guilt. She looked absolutely terrified for her.
At least not everyone is convinced that I’m a traitor.
The judge’s voice pulled her back. “Lady Hale, do you have anything further to say before the Council passes its verdict?”
She raised her chin. “You keep calling Sebastian a traitor. But he’s the only one doing anything to stop what’s coming. And if none of you can see that... then you’re all fools.”
A shocked silence followed. No one moved. She met every one of their gazes, defiant.
“There is no proof thatanythingis coming–” Galen began.
“You are worried about Draknor too,” she said to the Council. “I heard you. During the Arcalon.”
Let them know I know.
What more can they do to me?
It got their attention. Worried whispers flared around her. Elias visibly paled. Evelyn and Merrick exchanged shocked looks.
Her father stared at her. “You do not know what you heard, Karalynna. The Council would act if there was a true threat to Vallenna–”
Right. That’s why you want to execute the one person who could save us.
“Thereisa true threat. Sebastian didn’t just wake up one day and decide to betray the realm he’s fought his entire life for!” She was shouting now. Why was she shouting? “How could you actuallybelieve–”
The judge raised a hand. “That is enough.”
Silence fell again. Long. Uncomfortable.
“The Council will now retire to consider their verdict.”
The six rose and strode through a door behind the dais. Kara was left standing alone, guards either side, the gallery’s eyes boring into her back. The wait felt endless. But it couldn’t have been more than ten minutes before the door opened again. They filed back in, faces grim.
That was fast.
Her stomach sank. A guilty verdict took no time at all.
“It is time for the Council to cast their judgement,” the judge said, the words echoing through the hall. “You will each in turn state either one of two verdicts: guilty, or not guilty.”
Kara stood tall. She couldn’t look away as the Council members voted – one by one.
Merrick Durent spoke first. “Guilty.”
