Page 33 of Rise of the Siren Queen
My grandmother’s face remained unreadable, the epitome of regal control, her features as blank and composed as a statue. It was the face of a great ruler, one who had weathered countless storms and made decisions that shaped the fate of our people. She didn’t flinch, didn’t react, but her scrutiny bore me down.
She leaned back slightly in her chair, fingers intertwining together as her gaze sharpened. “Continue.”
For a moment, doubt prickle at my skin. Was I prepared to fully confront this? To challenge Ithra, and indirectly, Thalor? I swallowed, forcing the hesitation back down.
“Ithra attempted to undermine the kingdom by attacking the human and disobeying your ruling, breaking the sacred laws that protect us. She didn’t act alone. There are whispers of Thalor’s involvement,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
Her expression didn’t shift, though the room tightened. I knew this wasn’t the first time she had heard rumors of Thalor’s manipulations, but it was dangerous to bring them up without concrete evidence.
“And your proof, Iryen?” Her voice was as cold and sharp as the depths of the sea. “Accusations of this magnitude require more than your word. Though your word holds weight, it alone won’t convince the council.”
She folded her hands together, her eyes narrowing in a way that told me she was already calculating the political ramifications.
My stomach twisted. I knew this would be difficult, but the reality of her scrutiny pressed down on me like the crushing pressure of the ocean’s depths. My mind raced, scrambling for the right words, for a way to make her see the truth.
“I understand the need for evidence, Grandmother,” I began, choosing each word carefully.
“But what Ithra did in the moon pond, I saw as well as Sienna. We will testify. Ithra can be questioned under the truth stone if need be.” I hesitated, knowing I was approaching dangerous waters. “Regarding Thalor… Kieran can confirm that Thalor intentionally issued false orders to mislead Ronan and him.”
“False orders? Misleading guards is a serious accusation. Are you prepared to implicate Kieran in this matter as well?”
I felt a sharp pang in my chest at the thought. I knew bringing Kieran and Ronan into this would expose them to the council’s judgment.
“I do not wish to see my allies punished for being misled,” I said, my voice softer now, but firm. “But Thalor must be stopped, or this will not be the last time he undermines Aetheria. His ambitions could tear us apart.”
Queen Nerina leaned forward slightly, her gaze piercing. “Iryen, you understand that even if I believe you, the council will not move without sufficient cause. Thalor is too well-guarded by his manipulation and you know he will pin this to Ithra.”
Her words stung because they were true. He was too clever to leave anything that tied him directly to his misdeeds, and Ithra would become his scapegoat.
I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to remain composed.
“But Ithra is no innocent pawn. She acted on her own accord when she tried to drown the human at the Moon Pond. Her actions alone are grounds for punishment, whether Thalor’s hand was involved.” I replied, my voice measured through a storm brewing beneath the surface. She watched me closely, her silence heavy, as if weighing my words against her long years of experience.
“Punishing Ithra alone might temporarily satisfy the council,” she mused, “but it won’t root out the deeper corruption. Thalor will find another puppet, another opportunity. If you truly wish to stop him, you’ll need more than a single act of defiance from his follower.”
My pulse quickened at her implication. She was right. Punishing Ithra was a step, but Thalor’s influence was like a poison that had spread far beyond one servant.
“Then what do you propose I do, Grandma?” I asked, desperate for any guidance she could offer.
“You need to be patient,” she said, her voice softer now, but with a sharp edge of wisdom.
“Gather proof, but do it carefully. Find out who else Thalor has twisted to his will. Once you have enough, I can make sure the council listens. But until then…” Her eyes locked onto mine, hard as steel. “I will punish Ithra, but Thalor must remain untouched for now.”
I hated it. Every fiber of my being screamed against the idea of waiting, of allowing Thalor to slip away.
“And the elite royal guards won’t go unpunished. Thalor will make sure they get punished along with Ithra as retaliation,” Queen Nerina said, her words laced with a certainty that chilled me.
A frigid shiver ran down my spine at the thought of Ronan and Kieran facing consequences for something beyond their control. The image of them standing before the council, accused of treason, made my stomach churn.
My throat tightened. Ronan and Kieran would face punishment, not for what they did, but for simply being pawns in Thalor’s game.
“You can lighten their punishment. They only left their posts to confirm Ithra’s allegations. They deceived them, it wasn’t negligence.” I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms.
Queen Nerina’s gaze softened, just for a flicker of a moment, aglimpse of the woman behind the crown. “Very well,” she said, her voice measured. “I can reduce their punishment, but know this: the council will look for any excuse to shift blame. Thalor will make sure they do. You need to be prepared for that.”
My jaw clenched in frustration, anger bubbling beneath my scales. Of course, Thalor would twist this situation to his advantage. He thrived in chaos, manipulating every shred of doubt to shield himself and redirect suspicion. And Ronan and Kieran would be the perfect scapegoats, brave, loyal, but easily sacrificed in the grander scheme of political maneuvering.
“It’s not right,” I muttered through gritted teeth, my voice barely above a whisper. “They were following protocol, trying to protect the kingdom.”
