That’s when I saw them, two orange-haired children weeping at the door, the eldest clutching a baby to her chest.
The few remaining spectators exchanged worried looks. Like he had every other time, Rían called a book forth. I glanced over his shoulder as his finger slid down the entries, and my stomach filled with dread when I read the words.
The book disappeared.
Before he could speak, I caught Rían by the sleeve. “I need to talk to you.” I tugged him toward the study door. Rían jerked free of my grasp but came along.
The door closed with a quiet click.
“How dare you order me around in front of an entire room of people. I should send you to the feckin’ dungeon, human,” he growled, narrowed eyes swirling with black. He flicked his wrist, and the tost descended. In a softer voice, still tight and clipped he said, “You cannot do that here, Aveen. Do you understand?”
For some reason, my head nodded, even though I was as confused as ever.
“Good. Now say you’re sorry. And cry, if you can.”
He flicked his wrist, and the barrier lifted.
I stared at him until he mouthed, “Go on,” waving a hand toward me.
“I-I’m sorry?”
Rolling his eyes, he tugged his ear. “Louder,” he whispered.
“I’m so, so sorry,” I practically shouted. “Please forgive me. It won’t happen again.”
Nodding, he flicked his wrist. “That was shocking, but it’ll have to do. Now, say your piece and hurry it on.”
“You cannot kill that woman.”
His eyes shuttered. “Theft of this sort is a capital offense.” His voice held no emotion. No warmth.
“It’s just cloth,” I insisted, my heart thudding against my ribs. “Surely the law allows for extenuating circumstances.”
“There is no gray area in this, Aveen. I’m sorry.”
I caught his hand, determined to make him see reason. “Rían, please.”
“Allowing emotions to cloud my judgement will only end in disaster. And if I do not follow the rules, then no one else will either.” He unhooked my fingers. “You should remain here until I return.”
I watched him flick his wrist and walk toward the door, wanting nothing more than to stay in this warm study and pretend that everything was all right.
But I couldn’t.
I hurried after him, catching the door before it fell closed. Rían shot me a hard look, but instead of reprimanding me, he walked stiffly to the throne and sank onto the edge. “The law is quite clear in this matter.”
No no no . . .
The woman’s eyes glittered with tears.
“Anwen, you will be executed at sundown. Take this time to get your affairs in order.”
I had to catch myself on the edge of the empty chair to keep from collapsing.How could he be so heartless? Did he have no compassion? The woman had children, and he had sentenced her to death.
The woman fell to her knees, sobbing, while the man who had accused her sneered and twisted toward the exit. Her children rushed to clutch her skirts. She wiped their tears with her thumbs, hugging them tight. “Mammy has to go away. But ye need to be brave.” The eldest wept, burying her face in her mother’s chest. “There, there. Yer gonna have to look after the smallies. Think ye can do that for Mammy?”
Sniffling, the girl nodded.
I couldn’t bite my tongue and watch a woman be killed for trying to support her family. What could I do? I was nothing and no one.Helpless. Useless.