Page 63 of The Ashpaw: Part One

The color left her cheeks, and she turned towards Kyntha, as though she might intervene.

Instead, Kyntha placed a soft hand on her arm.

“Go ahead. The truth will not harm you.”

Mauricia blinked heavily, swallowed, and then told her story again. This time, her voice wavered, her words stumbling and filled with doubt.

“I… Kyntha lost an earring, and I-I thought it might be in the dining hall. So I went to look for it, and thought I saw—”

“Thought you saw or did see?”

“Um…”

“Answer me!”

She flinched. “I saw the Ashpaw stick the earring in her pocket. And it was there! We all saw the guard find it.”

She pointed towards the earring on the table, looking too strange and out of place among the companions it had joined.

Eidan stared at the earring for a moment, and then looked at her again. “You’re lying.”

Then his eyes fell to Darion. “Did you actually watch her as she spoke?”

Darion growled. “The evidence—”

“Easily planted. Are you honestly so quick to judgment?”

Darion opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He stared at Mauricia more closely now, his gaze flickering towards Kyntha for the briefest moment before returning to his brother.

He remained silent.

Eidan sighed. “Dominic, summon the Council.”

* * *

Alastair steepled his fingers in front of his lips, his focus narrowed as he watched Mauricia give her testimony for the third time.

He nodded, then gestured for Fern to speak.

“Tell us what happened in your words, Ashpaw.”

Fern’s mouth was dry, and she coughed when her throat spasmed. Karn rose at once, offering her a sip of his ale.

“There, there. Just speak the truth of it.”

She nodded, the movement jerky. He gave her a small smile, patted her on the head, and retook his seat.

“It’s… true that I like to collect small objects, but they are discarded items, none of them stolen.”

“I don’t know,” Norden said slowly. “I’ve been looking for my missing quill tip for weeks.”

The alphas all chuckled. Except for Darion.

“But I swear, I did not pick up Kyntha’s earring. I wasn’t even near the head table tonight.”

Alastair leaned forward, his tone gentle. “But then how did it end up in your pocket?”

She sniffed, her voice cracking. “I don’t know. Really.”