Page 96 of Degradation

“We will listen to the stories the maids have to tell about you and let your peers decide if you should be banished to the Dark Forest.”

He paled and stuttered.

“Philip, assemble the nobles, please,” Brandle said, offering me his arm. “Brothers, it’s time we decide if we should return home.”

* * *

I stoodbeside the other casters from the noble families and struggled with impatience as I listened to yet another nobleman expound on what he’d done for the kingdom during the Foul Queen’s reign. Another scoffed and discounted several of the gentleman’s self-claimed merits.

The desire to rule permeated the throne room, and many gazes drifted to the vacant throne with a lust for power. Thankfully, it was not an emotion shared by the casters around me, nor by the princes.

Another nobleman and noblewoman quietly entered the throne room unnoticed by most. I glanced at Philip, who was paying close attention to the attendees.

He met my gaze and nodded then intoned, “Each of the noble families is present.”

“Finally,” Liam said loud enough to be heard.

The speaking nobleman stopped abruptly and looked at Liam with distaste.

“Boarish ass,” I whispered.

Getaina snorted beside me. “Each and every one of them.”

Another caster nodded.

“You speak of what you’ve done to the kingdom as if the kingdom owes you compensation for your efforts,” Brandle said, his voice ringing in the room. “That is what the Foul Queen thought too—that she was owed. The kingdom does not need another such ruler.”

“And you think you’re more suited to rule due to birthright?” a nobleman demanded. “You’ve been absent for almost two decades. You know nothing of Adele.”

“You hid away in safety while the rest of us suffered,” another called.

“Convenient that you appear just as the queen fell,” a noblewoman added.

My impatience began to boil. While they argued, my sister waited. In what state? Was she safe?

“Squabbling children,” I said lowly as I watched Eadric hold back Edmund from responding to the noblewoman’s barb.

Getaina took my hand and patted it. “At times. At other times, they’ve protected those who couldn’t protect themselves because they’ve suffered losses too. Children. Grandchildren. Husbands and wives.”

“Generally, they aren’t bad people,” another caster whispered as Brandle faced the noblewoman who’d accused him of being an opportunist.

“Yes,” another added. “They aren’t opposed to one of the princes claiming the crown. Not truly. They’re simply tired of living in subjugation.”

“We all are,” another said.

Yet, this meeting to determine who should rule Turre proved otherwise. With their level of desire for the throne, I doubted any of them would rule fairly for long.

“If the point of this debate is to convince the other houses whom they should support,” Brandle said. “Then shouldn’t we only speak truths?”

“Is it a lie that you only appeared at the end?” the noblewoman asked with an arched brow.

“Enough of this,” I said under my breath. I touched every person in the room with my energy and my intent.

“Let those presenting themselves as the next king or queen step forward and speak truthfully about how they will rule if given the chance,” I called out to the room.

A nobleman scowled at me. “You have no right to speak here, caster.”

Getaina’s disbelief rippled out from her. “No right? She is the one who brought the Foul Queen low.Sheis the one who locked away the Foul Queen’s powers so she can never rise again. Kellen has every right.”

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