Page 64

Faces in the crowd blur until I see the face of my father, warning me what would happen if I continued using magic, if I didn’tunderstand; the teary glimmer in his eyes; the pleading in his voice...

River is crying.

Akilah whimpers.

I slam my eyes shut; my knees buckle.

River and Akilah are forced up the stairs ahead of me, trembling with fear, their every breath sharp.

They seem to know.

No one will save us.

Magic pins River’s head in place on the block. His small body writhes.

Just yesterday, he was humming lullabies. Last night, he was clutching my hand in the dark.

What have I done?

I’m choking on the gag, but I can’t even cry out. I lunge towards him. Magical chains yank me back. Pain blinds me.

Sounds squeal out of River, jerky. He’s trying to sing, trying to keep himself calm—

“HALT.”

My vision clears, and I swing my head towards the white-haired man striding up to the presiding judge. Skriniaris Evander. He glances in our direction and his step stutters as his gaze latches on me. His face darkens with a deep frown. He kneels before the judge and holds out the box I gave him. “I have a copy of the magic pill that supposedly caused the death of former official Temenos. It is a fine spell indeed. Even a royal vitalian might have overlooked an adverse effect with such a rare herb as ippifras.”

The judge stares blindly ahead. “This case has been trialled.” He raises his bell.

White light shoots from the skriniaris’s hand as he blocks him from sounding the bell—the signal for the guillotine to drop. “I’d like to appeal.”

“You should have come to the courts yesterday.”

“I only learned about this last night.”

“Unfortunate. Ill-fated.”

“You’re condemning the innocent.”

The judge sets his small eyes on Skriniaris Evander and laughs. He points across the courtyard to the great wyvern-embossed bell suspended over the well. “The only thing that can stop this execution is the chime of the royal bell, followed by a decree from the king. As long as I have lived, that bell has never rung. Not for the most prestigious noble. It certainly won’t for an unremarkable commoner.”

Skriniaris Evander pales and bows low. “Delay this an hour. You will regret—”

The judge rings his bell soundly and the guillotine drops.

The judge flicks his hand and River’s lifeless body and head are moved away.

I stare at the blood pooling on the wooden boards.

They come for Akilah.

I wrap my numb arms around her—

Magic whips down my back, once, twice, three times. I can’t feel the pain. I can’t hold on. Akilah is dragged through the puddle of River’s blood, sobbing.

Her head is forced onto the block. Her back heaves with uneven breaths and her eyes latch onto mine.

I can’t move. I can’t cry.