“I mistook you for honorable,” Owen snarled. “That was my error.”
Then, Langley turned as if to reach into the carriage, and in his hand flashed a curved campaign saber.
Aurelia’s breathless voice rang. “Owen!”
Langley’s blade came free with a hiss. Owen barely avoided the first cut. The blade swept past his shoulder and struck sparks from the stone wall. Owen grabbed a discarded sword from the open trunk at the carriage step. He drew it just in time to meet Langley’s next blow. The impact jarred through his arm.
Langley’s attacks were hard, angry, and meant to overwhelm. Owen gave ground, but his injured body protested with every movement. His ribs burned.
Langley lunged again, but Owen turned the blade aside and drove him back, forcing him away from the carriage. Then suddenly, Langley changed direction, heading toward the passage where Aurelia stood with Carter’s statement in her hand. Owen’s blood went cold. He moved without thought.
Langley’s blade went like a lightning toward Aurelia, near enough to make her recoil against the doorframe. Owen came between them with such force that his shoulder struck Langley’s chest and drove him backward. Their swords locked. They were standing face to face.
“You ruined her mother,” Owen snarled. “You won’t touch her.”
“I ruined no one!” Langley shouted. “They ruined themselves by failing to understand power!”
That was his confession, not in law perhaps, but in spirit.
Langley raised his sword again. Owen didn’t retreat. He met the blow, turned it and with one swift movement wrenched Langley’s blade aside. It clattered across the stones.
Before Langley could recover, two officers seized him.
“This is unlawful!” he spat. “I am General Arthur Langley. I will have every man here be punished for this!”
The senior officer stepped forward. “No, General. You will answer for charges formally brought and evidence duly sworn.”
Langley’s gaze cut to Aurelia. She didn’t look away.
“You,” he snarled. “This is all your fault, yours and that of your unstable mother!”
Aurelia came nearer, though not so near that Owen couldn’t reach her if Langley broke free.
“You called her unstable because she wouldn’t be frightened into surrendering my father’s work. He died with his name blackened. My mother lived with hers whispered over tea tables by people too idle to question who had taught them the story. And I …” She paused. “I grew up learning that the truth may be buried by powerful men, but it doesn’t die merely because they command it to be silent.”
Langley gave a sharp laugh. “You think this restores him?”
“No.”
The answer surprised him.
“Nothing restores him. Nothing returns us to the life your lies destroyed. But this ends your right to profit from them.”
Langley stared at her, breathing hard.
“You wanted my mother remembered as a warning. But she will be remembered as the one person among you all brave enough to refuse a lie.”
His face darkened. “You insolent little—”
“No!” she shouted. “You have spoken over my family long enough. No more.”
The officers tightened their grip, as they drew him toward the waiting carriage. As he passed, Aurelia held her ground. Owen came to her side.
“He heard me,” she drew a breath that trembled.
He wrapped his arm around her. “He did.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Then that is enough.”
