Page 108 of Blood Curse

“I said the Crown used mine.”

“And revoked everything it had done with it.”

The guard rubbed her fingers. “Will the same words work if it happens again?”

Bryony faced her. “I don’t know. They worked this time. I won’t promise more than that.”

“That’s still more useful than pretending it can’t happen again,” the guard said.

The man met my eyes. “Could you hear us while it moved you?”

“Every word.”

“So could I. I kept waiting for my hand to listen to me.”

“The command takes movement, not awareness,” Bryony said. “Unless that changes too.”

Unease passed across the hall.

“We deal with what it has shown us,” Mara said. “Two taps mean Bryony is present. Compelled people get help, not punishment. If several orders are linked, she revokes the Crown’s use of her authority.”

“And the broken furniture?” someone asked.

Mara glanced at the wrecked table. “Stellan can repair it while reflecting on his behaviour.”

“My behaviour?”

“You broke it.”

“Under command.”

“Then the Crown can hold the other end of the plank.”

A few strained laughs moved through the room. They didn’t clear the fear, but they let people breathe around it.

Bryony’s breath shook. “I basically told you to kill her.”

“The Crown ordered the attack.” I made the words loud enough for the whole hall. “Bryony ended it.”

The room stayed silent.

I looked at every frightened face I could reach.

“Her mouth spoke. Her hand told us she was still present, and her voice revoked every command. Nobody will blame her for words the Crown stole.”

Bryony gripped my coat harder. “Don’t make it sound harmless.”

“I won’t. It used you to order murder. It used me and three other people to carry it out. It can do that again.”

Mara came to stand beside us, rubbing one wrist. “And it failed because Bryony fought it, Stellan slowed it and the rest of you helped without killing anyone under command.”

The guard looked at Mara. “I hurt you.”

“You did.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know. We’ll deal with the bruises after everyone stops pretending they aren’t terrified.”