Page 63 of The Princess of Portals

“Which I’m sure he’s eager to admit to the Court,” Conner said.

“Well, it’s worth a shot, right? I think we can convince Harlyn to testify against Fenris. He was pretty mad about being abandoned.”

Conner and Kato both frowned. It was a desperate plan, and we all knew it. Unfortunately, Fenris had made such a mess of things that desperation was all we had left at this point.

“Hey, be positive,” I said. “Harlyn will help us. We just need to find him. He’s probably still hiding outside the Fortress, waiting for an opportunity to escape.”

“Where exactly is this Harlyn?” the General asked me.

“If I tell you, do you promise not to arrest him? We need his testimony or the Many Realms Court will condemn Gaia.”

“Yes, I am well aware of the situation, Miss Winters.”

I exchanged looks with Conner. He’d been right there beside me the day I’d found Harlyn.

Conner shrugged. “Tell him. You’re right, Red. Harlyn might be the only chance we have of fixing this mess.”

I glanced at the General. His scowl wasn’t encouraging. Then again, it’s not like I had any better ideas.

“The Dark Woods,” I said. “When last I saw him, Harlyn was hiding out in the Dark Woods.”

The General’s phone was suddenly in his hand, like magic. But it wasn’t magic. It was the General’s quick reflexes and his burning desire to get Fenris back into chains ASAP. He barked off a few brusque orders to the Watcher who answered, then hung up.

The SUV came to a stop. Show time. We’d reached the Conference Center.

“Are you ready, Miss Winters?”

The General gave me a wary look, like I was some wild, uncontrolled variable that he unfortunately had to put up with because I was his only chance of pulling Gaia through this catastrophe unscathed. The dearth of confidence in his eyes was not exactly inspiring. Not that I was going to let his gloomy attitude pull me down. Right here and now, I buried any and all thoughts that this was a hopeless situation.

I clenched my fists and put on my game face. “Ok, let’s do this.”

CHAPTER 3

THE FIRST INQUISITOR

Arow of ornate golden chairs lined the two long sides of the ballroom. On each one sat a well-dressed supernatural, straight-backed and regal, like they were posing for a painting. All eyes were fixed on me, and most of them weren’t friendly.

At the far end of the room stood a third row of golden chairs, larger and grander than the others. They looked like thrones. Twelve golden thrones. Eleven were occupied. The twelfth lay empty. That must have been Queen Seriana’s throne. Some members of the Court were under the impression that I’d killed her. This was going to be anything but fun.

I squared my shoulders and stepped through the door, trying my best to ignore the scathing looks and whispered hisses as I took a seat on the lone metal chair positioned at the center of the ballroom. I held my breath for a moment, half-expecting thorns or spikes to burst out of the chair, impaling me. I waited. Nothing. I exhaled.

I saw Kato and Conner standing at the door beside the General. There were a few dozen other Knights and Apprentices in the room too, all standing. Only the members of the Court got to sit—and me, in this cold, uncomfortable chair that might sprout fangs at any moment.

A young woman with long, glittering hair as gold as her throne spoke. “Savannah Winters, we have called you here today to hear your testimony in the matter of Queen Seriana’s death.”

I recognized the woman. I’d seen her at the Summit last week, the day Fenris had ‘died’. Her name was Duchess Diadora, and she was a Nymph. A powerful Nymph. She’d made a metal sculpture come to life, then commanded it to drag away the traitor who’d supposedly killed Fenris and Seriana. Though, looking back now, that ‘traitor’ had probably been one of Fenris’s lackeys, planted there to sell the lie that he and his mother were dead.

“Do you swear to speak only the truth to this Court?” Duchess Diadora asked me.

“I do.”

Diadora watched me very closely. “Be careful, Savannah. This is not a human proceeding. The magic will hold you to your word. Eventually, the truth will come out.”

I met her gaze, smiling. “Good. That’s why I’m here: to see that the truth comes out.”

Diadora’s face betrayed no emotion. From what I’d seen of her, she was honorable. People respected her because she stood for justice and order. She was tough for a Nymph, but then again, people always did underestimate the Nymphs. Diadora wasn’t a bad person. She wasn’t an enemy. She wasn’t an ally either.

“Savannah, this is Vela, First Inquisitor of the Many Realms Court. She will get to the truth, one way or another.”