Page 242 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

He set himself up the moment he shot my mate. The moment he knocked out our cousin and dragged him across the divide as blackmail, in direct violation of my orders. The tension between us had been building for years. I just hadn’t expected it to break under my mother’s rule.

“If you’re so convicted,” I said, turning to meet Nix’s glare, “then call a truth-sayer. Simple problems require simple solutions.”

“Like we can just summon a truth-sayer,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Still holding his livid stare, I smothered a smile and lifted my voice. “Elinora, would you do us the honor of moderating the rest of the trial?”

“Elinora is currently—” Nix began, but his words died as she rose from her seat and moved toward the dais in her royal purple priestess robes.

His disbelieving glare turned to me, heavy with accusation.

You planned this.

“Present,” Elinora said silkily. “It would be my honor to preside, if it is the will of Her Majesty.”

Ma looked at me one more time before giving a curt nod and leaning back in her seat, legs crossed, relaxing into her elbow like she meant to enjoy the show. “Proceed.”

Elinora bowed her head reverently before stepping between us. Nix and I moved to either side, giving her space. She steepled her fingers to her chest, her eyes fogging white as she began.

“Cyrus Stuart, did you bring a Grayshellian into our sacred ground?”

“Yes,” I breathed, voice steady. “Under the laws of the Crucible.”

“Did you know of her allegiance to Grayshell prior to granting her protection?”

“I knew of her desire to complete the Crucible, and the efforts she was taking to prove herself. Her heritage was brought to my attention less than an hour before Nix shot her.”

“And was she acting as a spy or agent of Grayshell during her time here?”

“No,” I said firmly. “Freya seeks to prove her worth under Paladin law. To reclaim her honor as a Paladin soul.”

Elinora’s milky, unseeing eyes turned toward Nix, who clenched his jaw.

“Did you knowingly fire upon a petitioner under the Accord of Oath?”

“No,” he snapped, shaking his head. “I didn’t—and don’t—recognize her petition. She’s an enemy of the Crown.”

“Whether you recognize it is irrelevant,” Calypso called from the dais. “The law stands, no matter your feelings. Your prince told you he had an accord with her, and you told him, and I quote, ‘fuck you and your accord,’ and shot her anyway.”

Chairs screeched as the chamber erupted. Raised voices, panic, betrayal like smoke clinging to every breath. I kept my mask in place, but Nix saw it. The twitch of my mouth. The gleam in my eye. Rage flared in his as Ma’s voice cracked across the noise, demanding silence.

Only when every soul was seated did Elinora continue.

“Captain Landry, were you given a direct order by Cyrus Stuart to stand down?”

“Yes, but I⁠—”

“Yes or no?” she interrupted sharply.

Nix’s eyes found mine, promising retribution. “Yes.”

“Did you disobey Prince Cyrus’ order and fire upon the petitioner?”

“I did what I thought was right!” Nix roared, turning now to appeal to the crowd.

“And in doing so,” Calypso said smoothly, stepping down from the dais with regal precision, “he violated the Accords and disobeyed a direct command from a superior title. We can all agree—these are treasonous acts.”

Chills ghosted over my arms as Elinora tilted her head, her voice growing breathy and strange—otherworldly.