A brilliant scream of victory rose up around us, even Cresswell huffing with shocked laughter. I held my breath instead, watching my mother. Who had given her these words? Jack McCallum? Who'd given her the strength against the rest of the council? Michael? He was there in the background with her other Chosen.
"The only law regarding the two-natured will be one that ensures your place of safety and respect with every other citizen of Kimmery!" My mother's voice wavered, unused to her own clear tone, the volume of authority. Her eyes widened as the crowd screamed again. We were jostled, my Chosen and I, as bodies surged and celebrated.
My mother smiled briefly, but the sunset caught on the tears tracking down her cheeks.
"We need to get inside," I said to Aric, who was watching the dancing crowd with a smile. His eyes flicked to me, brow furrowing slightly in confusion, but he nodded, catching the attention of the others and pushing me forward to the veranda doors.
"What's wrong?" Cress asked, seeing the tension on my face.
"I don't know. Maybe nothing."
But it wasn'tnothingI'd seen on my mother's face. I didn't know what that pain meant, only that this victory wasn't as sweetly won as most of my mother's support.
Amos was waiting in the doorway, ushering us inside, a deep scowl carved into his face. He took one look down at my hands, dark with Griffin's blood, and his scowl was wiped away by brief horror.
"I'm fine, it isn't mine," I said, adding before he could recover his temper. "I apologize for leaving you unprepared for today—"
"I know the nature of a protest, Your Highness. You acted recklessly all the same," he said, bowing briefly.
I wanted to argue, but I pressed my lips together. I'd interfered in his duty of protecting me, no matter how right I felt in my own actions.
"Your mother and the council have been waiting on your return," he said, turning quickly and leaving us to follow his swift steps.
Cosmo was waiting for us in the upper hall when we returned, and he charged for me, snatching me right off my feet. "You did it. You did it, Bryony! That's not your blood, is it?"
"No, Griffin's, she's fine, I think. I didn't, not really," I murmured, resting my face against his throat.
"You did, you spoke to your mother enough about everything that two-natured have suffered. The council couldn't shake her, no matter how hard they tried. Well, Jack and Weston and a few others fought back too," Cosmo added, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Come, they're bullying her again, I think, and they've sent for Camellia."
Amos opened the door to the conference room, and my eyes went directly to the balcony. It was a mild night and the doors remained thrown open, the revelry and cheers from the garden still rising up to meet my mother where she stood at the balustrade.
"You," Thomlinson hissed, and my shoulders straightened, chin lifting.
Daniel and Owen moved to my side, Thomlinson squeezing himself around the edge of the table.
"Do you even realize what you've done? The consequences of this night? What kind of army will Kimmery have to protect it now? Do you know the wealth of the kingdom relies on those mines?"
"If Kimmery relies on what might be equated to slave labor, then we are certainly failing as a kingdom," I snapped back. "And I sincerely doubt it's Kimmery who relies on the profits of those mines. You own three of them!"
Thomlinson growled, attempting to tower over me. He was a tall man, and very wide, but his intimidation relied on bluster and I refused to be swayed.
"Thomlinson, enough," Weston barked from the other end of the room. "It's done now, regardless."
A few of the other councilmen grumbled in agreement—although most didn't seem happy about my mother's declaration, but their voices only made Thomlinson turn red with fury.
"When Roderick hears about this," he spat out.
I arched an eyebrow. "What will Roderick have to say about your failure in the argument? Listen to your peers, sir, it is done."
"Bryony."
Thomlinson whipped back suddenly at the sound of my mother's timid voice.
I sank into a deep curtsey as she moved slowly forward from the open doors.
"They seem happy, don't they?" she asked me with a tremulous smile, glancing back over her shoulder. "They've turned back to the city for their celebrating."
"Mother, you've transformed hundreds of lives for the better," I said, rising up again and taking her hands in mine, gripping them tightly.