“Even a Shard-stealer?” Simone countered.
“Watch your tone, tide-walker,” Tobias spat. “If I sent my men, I doubt they’d bring him in alive. I will not have his blood on Thorne hands. Not when I don’t yet know why he did this.”
Evelyn stood, her greying dark braid falling over one shoulder. “My Lords, my Ladies, if House Thorne will not carry out their duties as enforcers of Vallennan law then let me send one of mine. We have skilled hunters in Sorrel, expert trackers–
Tobias loomed over Evelyn, who, to her credit, did not even blink. “If you harm one hair on my son’s head, then you’ll not only declare war on House Thorne – but you’ll bury the truth with him.”
Kara had never seen the Council like this – openly fractured, raw with anger. No one challenged him further. Whatever feeling burned in the room, no House was so foolish as to start a war with Vallenna’s only army. Tobias glanced around the table, fury on every line of his face.
“If you want your justice against my son, you’ll serve it with all of Vallenna watching. After I’ve had a chance to question him. We will hear his truth before anyone passes sentence.” He fixed Evelyn with a cold stare. “Not in some nameless field by a Sorrel arrow.”
Alaric cleared his throat. “My Lords and Ladies, please. We have discussed this. It is why we summoned Karalynna to us. We need a neutral House to act. A House as yet unaffected by this crime. Someone who knows him, and can get close with magic that can subdue.”
Kara’s blood went cold.
No. No, he can’t mean–
But she knew exactly what he meant.
She’d never used her magic for that – to restrain, to control. Her magic, dulled pain, soothed, brought peace. In severe cases, she couldsend the injured or sick to sleep whilst they were healed, to spare them suffering. It was meant for good.
Not to trap and silence someone.
Not to strip them of their senses.
Not Sebastian.
How dare they ask her to twist her magic in this way?
“Subdue?” she asked in horror. “You want me to force sleep on him? Against his will?”
Her father’s expression didn’t soften. “Yes.”
“Father – I can’t. That’s not – my magic was meant to ease suffering, not create it. Putting someone under like that is–” She couldn’t find the word. Violation. Betrayal. Everything her magic was supposed to stand against.
Her father fixed her with a cold stare. “Yes, Karalynna. You can. And you will. You are my daughter, heir to House Hale, the magic of our region runs strongest in your blood. Strong enough to overcome even the son of House Thorne. Find him, place him into an enchanted sleep, and bring him here,” Alaric hesitated, glancing briefly at Tobias. “For trial. To discover his motivations. Lord Thorne has agreed to this much.”
Kara barely had time to process her father’s words when Tobias’s gaze moved to her.
“Bring my son back unharmed, Lady Hale.” It wasn’t an appeal, it was a command. And a warning.
Kara swallowed hard. “Yes, my Lord.” She couldn’t look away from Tobias’s eyes, so like Sebastian’s.
She would do it, because she was Hale, and because her father had asked it of her. The Council asked it of her. But the thought of facing Sebastian again now filled her with dread.
“She won’t go alone,” Henry said suddenly, his hand finding Kara’s. “She’s my betrothed. I won’t let her face a trained Thorne warrior without protection.”
Galen met his son’s gaze across the table. Something passed between them – too quick for Kara to read, but heavy with meaning. Galen gave a single, practically imperceptible, nod. Approval, maybe? But for what, Kara didn’t know. And when she glanced at Henry, there was something cold and calculating on his face that hadn’t been there before. He held her hand tighter. She looked away quickly.
“House Caldris stands with House Hale in this,” Galen announced.
Alaric gave Henry an appraising look and glanced around the faces of the Council members. There was no disagreement. Finally, her father nodded, “Yes, I think that would be for the best.”
Kara turned to Henry. “You don’t have to–”
“I know,” he interrupted. “But it’s decided, isn’t it?”
She searched his face – the coldness was gone – perhaps she’d imagined it. He stood there now looking measured, reliable, and Kara found herself grateful that she would not have to do this alone.
