A Trial of Sorcerers: Book One by Kova, Elise (universal ebook reader .txt) 📕

she wouldn’t be swept away by the kindness either. She would guard her heart from being vulnerable ever again.

Cullen helped her into the saddle and then faced Marcus. He stood in tense silence, head bowed, and Eira allowed him to have his moment. She had mourned through the entirety of the forest and would continue to mourn long after she’d returned to Solarin. When he was ready, he lifted his hands and Marcus’s body hovered off the ground.

Together, they started their silent trek back to Solarin.

The road they were on eventually dumped into the Great Imperial Way. From there, it wasn’t far to the switchbacks that led up to the capital. The roads were empty at dawn, though in the distance, at the gates high above, she could see a group gathered on a platform that hadn’t been there before.

As she approached the final switchback, she heard words from a distance. There was shouting. People began to move.

“I’m not going to be able to help you immediately,” Cullen said softly as he came to a stop. Reverently, he set down Marcus’s body.

“That’s all right.” Eira dismounted with his help. Her hand was still clutched tight, the muscles long since spasmed and locked into place. “I didn’t expect you to help me this much. I can do the rest on my own.”

“But you won’t be alone, I promise.”

Eira didn’t have a chance to ask him to clarify. City guards rushed around them. Fritz and Gwen were close behind. Senators with their bright blue sashes lagged after the rest.

Fritz’s hands closed around her shoulders and he shook her with unintentional aggression. Eira’s head swung back and forth. Her muscles barely had enough strength to support her anymore.

“Eira. Eira! Thank the Mother you’re alive.” He yanked her close and then pushed her back. “What happened?” His eyes were soft with heartbreak as they turned to Marcus.

“I—”

“She must be arrested,” a familiar voice spoke above her. Cullen’s father, Yemir, had reached the circle of guards surrounding her. “Guards, arrest her!”

“No one move!” Gwen shouted, pushing past the guards. She was in her official plate armor, dressed to her neck in steel. “Senator Yemir, you are not the head of the city guard.”

“And neither are you.” Yemir didn’t miss a beat. He made a show of looking Gwen up and down. “You’re part of the palace guard. This is beyond your jurisdiction and falls under the purview of the senate.”

“Please, let’s let her explain,” Fritz said firmly.

“She has murdered her fellow candidates. She has a track record of killing her peers. This is what we were trying to avoid by removing her from the Tower and bringing her to justice those years ago.” Yemir spoke more to the handful of his fellow senators than to the guards, as if he was putting on a show for them.

“I didn’t,” Eira whispered, looking to Fritz rather than Yemir. “You know I wouldn’t. I would never hurt Marcus; I’d never hurt anyone intentionally! We were attacked and I brought him back so he could have a Rite of Sunset. I didn’t hurt him.” Eira grabbed her uncle’s elbow with her free hand.

“I know, I know,” he tried to soothe. “But you must tell us what happened. Who attacked you?”

The senators had conferred in record time. “Solaris is under the rule of law. City guard, you will arrest this woman and take her into custody. There is too much suspicion surrounding her to allow her to go free.”

“We were attacked,” Eira insisted.

“A likely story,” Yemir fired back. “We’ll see if the evidence supports your claims.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Eira screamed at Yemir. Everything was playing out how Cullen had said. But it was somehow made worse by it being his father pointing the blame at her. Eira’s breath was short. She was back in that senate hall, barely fifteen, awaiting trial, awaiting her fate.

“Then you have nothing to fear. Guards, apprehend her.”

“No! I won’t let you touch her!” Gwen pushed forward and brandished her sword.

“Auntie, don’t.” Eira was not about to see any more of her family suffer because of their proximity to her. “I’ll go willingly.”

Cullen finally spoke. “Take her to the depths of the palace.”

“What?” Gwen’s gaze was murderous. “You will not take her there. I have seen the cells and—”

“It’s all right,” Eira tried to soothe. Enough people I love have suffered for me today, she wanted to say. “Let me go.” I won’t be a curse on your family any longer.

“See?” Yemir preened. “My son speaks sense. Lock her away where the worst of Solaris goes. If she’s speaking the truth, she’ll maintain her story. If she’s not…enough time there breaks the strongest of men.”

Eira met Cullen’s hazel eyes. They shone honey in the morning light, deceptively sweet. He’d said he’d help her, but the moment his father had shown up, he was throwing her into the dungeon. Cullen had to take his family’s side. She knew it. Yet, somehow, it still managed to sting. How were there spots of her left to wound?

“We’re going to help you,” Gwen swore.

“We’ll get to the truth of this.” Fritz crossed to his younger sister, wrapping his arms around her to hold Gwen back as the guards closed in on Eira.

“Look after Marcus,” Eira begged as cold, steel-coated hands wrapped around her wrists, wrenching them behind her. The shackles were heavy—a terribly familiar weight. More hands wrapped around her arms, carrying her more than pushing her in the direction of a palace entry. “Make sure Marcus gets a Rite of Sunset! No matter what, give him a proper send-off!”

The ground drifted beneath her as they manhandled her away. Was this how Marcus felt as she ferried him all the way back here? Helpless to do anything? The world drifting around him? Changing?

Her attention landed on him once more. Fritz and Gwen knelt at his side. No…he hadn’t felt anything.

Because he was long gone.

“Goodbye, brother,” she whispered.

The last thing Eira saw was Marcus’s cold body, her aunt and uncle