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Through the bond, Dura sends me mixed feelings of relief and anxiety. “I’m glad it's over, but I still dislike our odds on the outcome,” she murmurs back. “But you did well, myAsh’ka. Your arguments were powerful.”
“Let’s just hope they were strong enough,” I say, kissing the top of her head, uncaring of the people staring at us.
Maybe an hour passes. No one leaves the room. Everyone wants to see what the judgment will be. Then, the doors behind the thrones open once more and Adalind and her husband reappear, walking to their thrones. Everyone stands once more until they are seated, and then Adalind declares in a ringing voice, “We have come to the conclusion of this trial. And now, King Rognar and I will render our judgment.”
Chapter 28
Marvik
Iwait with bated breath, listening for Adalind’s verdict. Holding one of Dura’s hands in mine, I give it a reassuring squeeze. Her apprehension is apparent, even without our bond.
After a pause, Adalind continues, “On the matter of desertion, we find Dura ka Woreki . . . guilty.”
My blood runs cold. What is happening? Dura’s hand spasms in mine and resignation seeps into me from the bond. Shocked murmurs go through the crowd.
Still, Adalind carries on, “On the matter of dereliction of duty, we find Dura ka Woreki . . . guilty.”
Now the whispers from the gallery increase tenfold, shock and some offense taking hold. Apparently, we did a good job turning the feelings of the crowd in our favor, because they do not seem happy with the queen’s decision. But I suppose everyone loves a dramatic story like ours.
Adalind claps her hands together once more, silencing the crowd, then sighs dramatically. “This was a hard-won decision by King Rognar and I, not easily reached. But Warchief Verrick was right. Justice must be served.”
I am in shock. I can’t believe that my sister has failed us. Or was it I who failed? My arguments were just not sound enough, my manner not persuasive enough. I have doomed Dura because of my failings.
My sister keeps talking. “It is also true, however, that the throne owes General Dura a debt for her actions at Grimblton. And Sir Marvik is also right; we do not believe that there is any risk of the General deserting again. Hers was not an instance of cowardice or fear, but of the heart and Fate. Therefore, we have reached aruling.”
The orc king surprises me by standing at these words. He walks down the dais and approaches me and Dura. When he stands in front of my mate, the room is deathly silent, wanting to hear what is going to happen next.
“General Dura ka Woreki,” he begins in his gravelly voice, “in accordance with our laws and traditions, you are hereby relieved of your place in the Horde. Your titles and prestige are as nothing. Your honor is naught. No longer are you General of the Southern Horde. No longer are you Keeper of the King. No longer will you hold our clan’s Amulet of Invisibility. Your holdings in the south are dissolved, your wealth is confiscated, to be disseminated as restitution to the Horde that you deserted.”
He reaches up and yanks the amulet off Dura’s neck, snapping the chain. I flinch at his actions, but Dura stays firm, standing impassively. Only our bond tells me how devastated she is on the inside. He pauses here, a terrible pregnant pause. Finally, he starts again. “But within justice, there is room for mercy. Though your actions were shameful, they are understandable. In light of this, and your actions three days past at Grimblton, we rule that you will not be banished to theKillikar. Instead, live the rest of your days amongst our peoples, working to regain your honor and serve your countries.”
Dura’s hand slips out of mine and she takes a knee, placing both her chained fists on her chest. “It will be as you say, My King. I thank you for your wisdom and mercy.”
I take a knee as well, my hand over my heart, like a knight in front of his king. I suppose he is my king now. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The orc king takes another moment in front of us, then nods, walking regally back to his throne. He reaches out a hand and Adalind stands, taking it. They stand looking out at the court and Adalind asks, “Is there any dissention to this ruling? If so, make yourself known or forever be silent.”
No one says anything in the space of a moment and then Adalind declares, “Then this trial is concluded. Guards, release Dura ka Woreki.”
The guards step forward, undoing the manacles at Dura’s wrists and then step back, fading into the crowd as they let Dura go. We both stand and I take Dura’s hand in mine. Courtiers from both sides of the room come forward, buzzing around us like insects, both with congratulations and condolences. Some of them seem genuine and others seem to have hidden barbs, but I am already tired of being around the court without having to discern the politics at play in their reactions.
I look up toward the dais, but Adalind and her husband are already gone, exiting through the doors behind the thrones. I push through the surrounding crowd, giving bare minimum responses to their words, and work to extricate Dura and myself from the turmoil around us. Finally, we make it to the door and the guards open it, letting us out, and close it behind us, shutting out the courtiers that were following. Still holding Dura’s hand, I lead her along, guiding us through the winding halls of the castle.
“Where are we going?” Dura asks me, bemused. Her feelings in the bond are jumbled. There is relief and amusement, but also something very much like sorrow and pain. Losing her titles publicly was hard for her.
“My rooms,” I say. “Hopefully there is no one else in them, but if there is, we'll kick them out.”
Dura laughs slightly at my words, letting me lead her. When we finally get to my rooms, I knock, just in case, before opening the door. Within, all is as I left it. My tapestries hang on the walls, my bed is covered in my blanket, and my chest is still at the foot of the bed. A fire is in the fireplace's hearth, winking cheerfully as the sun goes down outside, the last vestiges of sunlight gleaming through my window. Perhaps the fire was set by the servants at the behest of Adalind, probably suspecting that we would need to find somerespite after their ruling. It’s almost eerie to see the space unchanged after being away for so long. The last time I was here, I was a completely different person.
As the door closes behind us, I pull Dura into my arms, kissing her with hunger and relief. We are safe. Banishment is no longer on our horizon. I pour all my feelings into her, my joy at us being out of harm’s way, and also my regret that she was hurt by the process. She responds immediately, her arms coming around my neck as her lips mold with mine.
Pulling away from her, I do not want things to go too far before we can talk. “I’m sorry that you still lost your titles, huntress. I should have been more persuasive.”
Dura shakes her head, her forehead still touching mine. “I deserved punishment. What I did was selfish and against my Oaths as one of the Horde. The ruling was just.”
“But it still hurts you,” I point out.
She smiles a little. “I will get over it. I just grieve for the career I worked hard to create out of nothing. I was born in exile, the lowest of the low. Working my way up in the Horde, and honing my skills, was difficult. There was much opposition while the old king was on the throne, but I succeeded despite that. I was very proud of how far I had come, what I had achieved with the strength of my arm. It will take a while to adjust, to no longer being a part of the Horde, but I will do it. I have you, the prize that makes up for my losses.”
