Page 172 of Maksym

His eyes moved once toward the prosecution table. “No.”

I stepped closer by one pace.

“When you arrived at the clearing, what did you see?”

He inhaled. The truth spell seemed to press against his chest. “Blood.”

“Be specific.”

“There was blood on the ground. On the altar. On Prince Nikolay. On some of the Iron Valor wolves. The Alpha was—” His voice roughened. “The Alpha was dead.”

“Did you see the Alpha attack Prince Nikolay?”

“No.”

“Did you see Prince Nikolay attack the Alpha?”

“No.”

“Did you see the first blow?”

“No.”

“Then you cannot testify who moved first.”

“No.”

I let the answer sit.

The witness shifted. Then, as if the spell itself dragged the rest out of him, he said, “I... I didn’t see him at the ritual site. We only came after. There was blood everywhere—Nikolay, his brothers, the Iron Valor wolves, and the Alpha was already dead.”

The required truth entered the record without ornament.

I nodded slowly. “When you arrived, where was Madelyn?”

He closed his eyes.

“Answer,” the Magistrate said.

“She was on or near the altar.”

“Restrained?”

“I saw leather straps. One wrist was still caught, I think. Someone was trying to get them off her.”

“Was she calm?”

“No.”

“What was she doing?”

“She was crying. Or trying to breathe. She looked...” He stopped.

The truth spell sharpened.

“She looked terrified,” he said.

Maddie’s breath left her in a thin line.