“Thank you.”
Lars rapped his gavel. “I defer to our Dragon Corps Spymaster, Tonio, who will call our witnesses.”
Tonio’s dark eyes swept the chamber. “Our first witness is Adelina of Naobia.” He nodded as Adelina stood. “Adelina, you came to me recently about something strange you’d found in the Queen’s Rider’s cavern. Please tell us.”
“After Ezaara accidentally injured Sofia, Simeon gave her what he claimed was a restorative tea, but it contained a weak dose of skarkrak, a Robandi poison. It knocked her out, so she couldn’t visit Sofia.”
“How exactly did you recognize the skarkrak?”
“I smelt it as I emptied the Queen’s Rider’s vomit pail.”
Amid a flurry of murmurs, Ezaara blushed bright pink. “Great.”
“The scent of skarkrak was on Shari’s soup bowl,” said Adelina. “It was her last meal.” Adelina produced Shari’s dish from her bag, passing it to Tonio, who sniffed it and nodded.
Master Alyssa broke in. “When Jaevin died, Fleur disposed of his dishes, saying Montanarians didn’t like food near corpses, but it was probably just an excuse to hide evidence.”
Tonio gestured to a blue guard, who passed him a leather pouch. “This was found in the infirmary. Adelina, can you identify it?”
Adelina sniffed the contents of the package. “It’s skarkrak.”
“This is the same as the poison that was in Shari’s soup. Thank you, Master Alyssa and Adelina.” Tonio’s predatory gaze swept over the traitors. “Most of you know the Queen’s Rider had an accident at the knife-throwing range, but not many know that Ezaara injured Sofia because she was immersed in a violent mind-melded vision from Ajeuria. Ezaara, please explain exactly what happened.”
Ezaara’s voice shook as she spoke. Through her thoughts, Roberto saw flashes of fire and smelt the stench of burning flesh. Half way through explaining, she paled and gripped the table.
“Do you need fresh air?”
“No, I just need to get through this.”
Sympathetic murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“She’s lying,” screamed Fleur. “Lying through her teeth.”
Tonio shook his head. “Ajeuria was seen near the knife range. Our dragons witnessed the mental assault and have been on the alert since to find out who was responsible. When Ajeuria tried again last night, they recognized her.”
“Fleur,” Lars thundered, “we’ve mind-melded with Ajeuria, and she’s revealed how you tortured her and fed her swayweed. You’d best stay silent until requested to speak.”
Glaring, Fleur snapped her jaw shut.
“None of this has anything to do with me,” Bruno whined.
Roberto’s fists clenched. Bruno was right—it didn’t.
“Silence, Bruno!” Tonio barked. “Kierion, you’re our next witness.”
At Tonio’s taut nod, Kierion told everyone how Ezaara’s cane had been snapped and hidden.
Fresh anger surged through Roberto. Simeon had ruined one of his mother’s few remaining belongings.
Tonio continued, “Ajeuria’s vision, the skarkrak and missing cane caused prejudice against our Queen’s Rider, but she isn’t the only one affected by Fleur’s actions. Master Roberto has discovered another of Fleur’s ploys.”
Roberto pulled back his sleeve, revealing the wound that had never healed properly since the battle at River’s Edge. “Fleur’s famous healing unguent, used for years at Dragons’ Hold, causes damage. Look.” He walked through the chamber, showing the red lines webbing outward from his scar. “If you have a wound that Fleur’s treated that hasn’t healed properly, put your hand up.”
Gasps ripped through the chamber as hands shot up.
“She’s sabotaged our healing,” someone cried.
Nodding, Roberto sat and Tonio started summarizing the evidence.
“Aren’t you going to mention Shari’s dragon?” Ezaara asked.
“You mean Ariana’s belly gripe? No, we can’t track it directly to Fleur.” He sighed. “It’s been a tough day. How are you feeling?”
“I should be asking you that after your fight with Ajeuria.”
Revealing his feelings was strange after so many years of maintaining a tough facade. “I’m good, but this is taking ages. I wish it was over.”
“Why? What’s the hurry?”
“Then I can be with you.”
Her surprise and pleasure rippled through him. “Promise?”
“A horde of tharuks couldn’t keep me away.” He stifled the urge to grin at her. Too many people were watching.
The doors burst open and Gret hobbled in, leaning on Ezaara’s cane.
“Ah, I loaned it to her. Hope that’s all right.”
“Of course,” Roberto replied.
Gret gazed at the packed room, her face reddening. “Sorry, I’m late! Master Lars and honored council members, I have evidence against Simeon, son of Fleur and Bruno.”
Tonio paused, eyebrows raised.
Lars waved Gret forward. “Please proceed.”
Gret limped through the onlookers to face the council. “I’m not sure if she told you, but the night our Queen’s Rider left for the Wastelands, Simeon attacked her in the tunnels. His intent was to defile her. Our swords prevented him.”
A chill ran through Roberto, and then the desire to drive his blade through Simeon’s heart. “Ezaara! When were you going to tell me this?”
“I was too busy rescuing you,” Ezaara snapped, a flash of Simeon’s leering face and grasping hands shooting through him as she remembered. She paled. “And it’s not a memory I cherish reliving.”
Roberto seethed. That shrotty louse. “Sorry, Ezaara, you need my understanding, not my anger.”
“Thank you.” She bit her lip.
Shards, Roberto longed to shelter her in his arms—impossible with everyone watching.
“My Honored Queen’s Rider, is Gret’s accusation against Simeon true?” Lars’ face was stormy. At Ezaara’s nod, his piercing blue eyes cut Simeon to shreds on the spot.
Roberto rose. “If Simeon forced himself upon our Queen’s Rider, then Trixia must’ve spoken the truth. He must’ve forced her, making her pregnant.”
“Yes!” Gret exclaimed. “Trixia was innocent, but Simeon was not punished.”
“You’d believe that whore, over the
