Page 50 of Obsidian Throne

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Kirill led me to where Evander was waiting. If I hadn’t known already that this would be a somber affair, the uncharacteristically grim line of Kirill’s mouth would have told me.

He left me with Evander just outside of the Great Hall, where everyone was already waiting on the other side of the massive oak doors.

Tension rolled off of my husband, practically choking the air in the small space, but his face was impassive, as usual. I linked my arm in his, squeezing his bicep in a small show of support.

He rubbed a hand over mine, though his features didn’t twitch.

When the doors opened, I put my own mask of steely resolve in place, doing my best to keep any emotion at bay.

In spite of the warmer temperatures of the day, heat poured through the doors from the roaring hearth at the far end of the room.

Rows of soldiers in black and white were lined up along the walls, along with a woman who was sobbing and cradling her swollen belly. Each of them faced a tall, broad man standing in the center.

His wrists and ankles were bound together by shackles and a chain as he stoically faced the massive throne-like chair at the head of the room.

Evander moved forward to take his seat near the fireplace.

I took my place next to him, as he had instructed me, standing on one side while Taras stood on the other. I wasn’t the only woman here, either. Though Ava was ostensibly absent as usual, Mila and a few of the other ladies stood around the edge of the room.

My friend met my eyes, something between sadness and warning in her own. And already, I knew that whatever was happening would be even worse than I had anticipated.

When one of the soldiers stepped forward, it was an effort not to scowl.

Samu.

“Speak,” Evander said in an icy tone.

Samu dipped his head before launching into the crimes the man was guilty of. “...namely, treason against the duke himself while out on assignment.”

“What were the orders?” Evander asked.

The soldier in question winced, the movement nearly imperceptible, and the crying woman in the corner began sobbing even harder.

“To rid the village of Boldegu of any remaining rebels--regardless of their age,” Samu answered flatly.

Remaining rebels…

I thought back to what the duke had ordered that day in his rooms.

Were there truly rebels there? Or had he made the order when his mind was living in the past, like he had when he accused me of being a spy?

Then the last thing Samu said struck me.

Regardless of their age.

The horror of it washed over me, and I wanted to be sick.

Long before I knew anything about Bear or Evander, Mila had mentioned the rumors. The slaying of women and children.

I thought of the question I had hurled at Evander…Murder any children lately?

I forced myself not to flinch at the words and the haunted look in his expression when I had said it. The dark reminder that this was something that Evander and his soldiers would actually be forced to do. Had been forced to do.

That they would have been punished for if they disobeyed.

What was it that Mila had said? Lashes were standard, but it could also be worse. Unclanning.