Page 13 of Sundered By Fate

His voice carried with a strength that surprised even him, a strength that had been forged in fire and shadow. Malekith'ssigil ached reassuringly along his spine, damaged though it was. A promise of a future—so Aric wanted to believe. Not yet. But so close.

Cyrus's sneer faltered ever so slightly, replaced by a hint of uncertainty as he realized this was not the meek researcher he'd once bullied. But he quickly recovered. "Your corruption ends here, Solarian."

Cyrus raised his hand, cutting off Aric's protest with a fierce gesture. "The accusations stand, Solarian," he declared. "You did not merely dabble in forbidden magics—you became ensnared in their clutches. You disappeared from the realm, only to reemerge in the company of demonkind." He spat the words as if they were poison.

"Your very presence is a threat to the safety of these people and all we have sworn to protect," Cyrus continued. "On the eve of your execution, your demonic coconspirators attacked the Pureblade outpost and spirited you away. I would have hunted you down myself, had it not been for . . ."

"For what?" Aric demanded. "For your own cowardice?"

Cyrus's nostrils flared as the people of Thornhaven gasped.

Aric took another step forward, and the townsfolk shifted uneasily in response. "I never asked for their aid," he said, with a calmness that surprised even him. "It was your order's cruelty and lack of preparation that allowed me to be captured in the first place."

Several onlookers gasped in shock at Aric's brazen defiance. Even Virida seemed taken aback by his raw honesty.

Cyrus narrowed his eyes. "Is that what you tell yourself to justify your treachery?"

"I don't have to justify anything to you or your order," Aric shot back, some of Malekith's poise slipping away. "My loyalty is to the people of this realm, first and always."

Cyrus's jaw clenched, lips thinning. "And where have you been hiding all this time, Solarian?" He leaned forward, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper that still carried over the crowd. "What pacts did you make with your demonic masters in exchange for your release?"

Aric met the inquisitor's glare with one of his own. He would not allow Cyrus to twist the narrative of that terrible night any more than he already had. "I made no pacts." His voice rang out like a bell. "The demons captured me only because your order abandoned me. Left me to die."

Cyrus recoiled as though struck, a hollow victory in that incredulous look—but Aric couldn't stop himself now. "And when I did escape, it was no thanks to your order's supposed protection. You were too busy trying to bury my research to bother trying to save me—or anyone else."

The acting townmaster, Virida, sensing the growing tension, stepped forward from the crowd. "Stop!" she shouted, her voice strong and authoritative. "You don't know what you're talking about."

She turned to face the inquisitor, her expression stern. "This man," she gestured to Aric, "saved our town from a demon attack not two weeks past. He staggered into our town half-starved and badly wounded after escaping the demons, yet he risked his own life to protect us, and you're accusing him of being in league with them? That's nonsense."

Several townsfolk nodded in agreement, their faces softening as they looked at Aric. "He's been nothing but kind and helpful since he arrived," one of them said.

"He helped me fix my roof after the storm," another added.

"And the sewage tunnels," Kalmo said. "Can't forget those."

Cyrus turned on the townsfolk, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You've all been deceived by his demonic tricks!" he shouted. "Who knows what manner of dark enchantments he's used to ensnare your minds?"

Aric seized the opportunity, stepping closer to the Lord Inquisitor. "This is all beside the point. I have information that must be delivered to the Silver Tower, and the Silver Tower alone." He squared his shoulders, meeting Cyrus's stare head-on. "I won't allow you or your order to stand in my way."

Cyrus's expression darkened with fury. "You overstep your bounds, Solarian." His voice dripped with poison. "There is no knowledge worth keeping from us—if you mean to put yourself beyond our law, then that only confirms your guilt."

"My time imprisoned in the demon realms has given me insights into threats you can't begin to comprehend," Aric said, careful not to reveal too much about the anomaly or his experiences. "If you truly care about the safety of the realm, you'll allow me to present this information to the proper authorities."

The crowd murmured in agreement, and some of the Pureblades exchanged uncertain glances.

Aric pressed on, sensing Cyrus's uncertainty. "I know that our relationship was never one of great trust, inquisitor. I served the mages, and you hated magic with a passion. But this is bigger than you or me." He took a deep breath. "If there is any loyalty left in you to the human realm—loyalty that exceeds your fear and disgust of those unlike you—please. Let me help."

Virida's eyes narrowed as she watched the two men face off. "Lord Inquisitor," she said, her tone measured. "I urge you to consider the consequences of denying him this chance."

Cyrus's patience was threadbare, his mind too fixed on his task. "Enough talk!" he barked, raising his voice to a shout. "Seize him!"

The Pureblades advanced, hands poised to draw their weapons—but the townsfolk closed ranks around Aric, forming a human shield.

Virida planted herself firmly before the templars. "This is still Thornhaven," she said, her voice laced with steel. "And Aric Solarian is under our protection until proper procedures are followed."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, their earlier uncertainty hardening into resolve.

The Pureblades hesitated, clearly unsure whether to risk an open conflict with the townsfolk.

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