Gwinifer cursed.
I drew a long breath.
My gemstone resonated with his, which was still there. My eyes shot to Malory, who had the faintest curl in her lips as she stared at me, her face hidden from the others, only giving me the chance to see that rare moment of emotion. Like she was satisfied.
Or it was just a flicker of my imagination, because the judge stood up in the next moment. Her expression was back to cold authority, her voice cutting through the quiet. “It seems Miss Darling found a problem with the curse. The question is, why is Lord Reagan stuck in his animal form?”
“There must be something interfering. Something we can’t see,” Finn said.
Varian’s hand slackened at his side, his face solemn and paler than the stone.
“What have you done?” Gwinifer asked, her voice sharp. “We know this is your doing.”
With a glare in her direction, Varian seemed to break from his stare. “That sounds like a righteous, fair way to prove someone’s guilt. No proof, just throwing accusations. As if I could interfere with something like this.”
Malory regarded him, and so did all of us. Not a denial.
“We will uncover this,” the judge said, staring at Varian. “There can’t be interference with the products of the Fates.I’m not sure what could do something like this, only powerful magecraft. And forbidden. I imagine this type of owner wouldn’t leave a trace.”
“With all due respect,” Varian began, “you cannot seriously trust this...trick.”
The judge tilted her head, calm and undisturbed. “Trick? Miss Darling was correct in all she said. Gemstones do resonate with each other at close distances.” The judge’s eyes hardened, cold steel beneath an elegant facade. “If I were you, Mr Ilya, I would be more concerned with the accusation of casting a forbidden hex on at least one person tonight. If Miss Wicklow can prove her accusation, you will be getting a passage to Pavilion.”
Varian blanched further. For the first time, I thought I could see real fear in his eyes.
“What does that mean . . . for Reagan?” Finn asked.
We all turned to the judge. I stopped breathing.
“We’ll start an investigation into the interference with the curse,” Malory answered. “In the meantime, Caedmon Reagan will return to his natural form. To his rightful position as ruler of Mountheim.”
CHAPTER 32
Varian and his lackeys flung the instant the judge uttered the final decree.
Gwinifer lunged for him, but her fingers grasped air.
He was gone.
“We’ll find Mr Ilya and his companions soon enough,” Malory said. “For now, I have a request for Miss Darling.”
The words took a moment to pierce through the haze clouding my mind.
I forced my breath to steady. “I’m listening.”
“Since you will be remaining in Mountheim, and as you were the only one perceptive enough to notice the irregularity with his curse, I would like your assistance in finding the source of the meddling.”
I went still.
If it hadn’t been for the suspicion already surging in my mind about what could have interfered with his curse, I might have told the magister that I was unsuited for this. But I had beenquick on my feet today, and I knew I would help them figure out how it had been done, whether or not she asked me.
“I will help Reagan,” I said.
“Good,” Malory replied. “In return, I will offer you a deal.”
“A deal?” I echoed.
“You will be permitted to visit your family in the human lands, as you have proven yourself trustworthy. And you will be allowed to return to Mountheim afterward, where you will remain until the completion of your sentence.” She tilted her head slightly. “Do you accept this arrangement?”
