Page 68 of Prisoner of Darkness and Dreams
The voice rings through the chamber, and a cluster of council members draw back to look at the person who spoke. A white-haired dryad, one of the oldest among them, steps forward.
“I called the mortifus. I let it in.” The dryad’s expression is calm, though his words send a shockwave of distressed noises through his peers. “I can’t allow another to suffer for my actions, standing by as I watch you punish an innocent party. My vow won’t allow it.”
“But your vow allowedthis,Haldim?” Diomi asks, disgust dripping from his words. “What about these innocent parties?”
He gestures toward us, and the old dryad shakes his head in reproach, like Diomi’s being a fool.
“Innocent? Are you really using that word to describe Leonidas Claerwyn, the man they call the Nightmare Prince? And her,” he glares at Ana. “We know about the man she burned alive. You can bet there have been more since then. These people have murder seared into their very bones, and then they had the arrogance to step foot onto our land, and threatenus?”
“That’s enough, Haldim,” Diomi snaps, but the old dryad keeps going, looking around at his fellow council members as if he expects them to agree.
“I was only setting things right—letting the forest protect us from being tainted by their evil. Even before they arrived, we knew these people wouldn’t leave without taking whatever they want from us. They are brutes who would hold us hostage until we give them all our secrets. They needed to be destroyed—and the Miravow must agree, as it sent the mortifus here. Who are we to ignore its wisdom?”
“The Miravow reacts badly toanyonewho isn’t dryad,” Diomi says furiously.
“Haldim.” The other older council member—the woman with silvery hair—says his name with such sorrow that even he seems surprised. “Howcould you think this was the right thing to do? How could you twist our values so much that you feel there’s any way to justify this?”
Haldim opens his mouth, but another dryad says something in Agathyrian, and he freezes. For the first time, the old dryad looks frightened.
“No, I was doing what was best for us all. See sense, I beg of you.” It finally dawns on him that they’re not agreeing with him. In fact, they’re closing in on him with a look on their faces that spells judgment.
“Sangquise,” Letrium spits, and Ana inhales sharply.
“What is it?” I ask her, worried she has some injury I didn’t spot before.
“They’re going to banish him,” she says. Diomi is intoning something in Agathyrian as Haldim’s shouts rise.
“You can’t do this! Please!” His voice cracks, sobs interrupting his words.
I know I won’t ever be able to truly imagine the pain of this for a dryad. Their very souls are linked to the Miravow. To be exiled from it forever is to condemn him to suffering for the rest of his life. Despite my rage at what he’s done, I feel a shred of pity.
“Esque nor algarin. Algarin,” he babbles in Agathyrian.
“He’s saying he’ll do anything, if they could just forgive him,” Ana murmurs as we watch the dryads slowly close in around him.
It’s strange to see his desperation even as he allows himself to be herded out of the chamber. Even now, there’s no tussle or fight. They don’t lay hands on him and drag him away. He goes peacefully, even as his wails of horror reverberate off the chamber’s walls.
Chapter 23
Morgana
“What can I do for you?” Diomi asks. He returned to the chamber without any of the other council members—perhaps realizing we’ve had enough of them for one day—bringing two dryads carrying a stretcher with him instead.
“Maybe you’ve done enough,” Leon snaps at Diomi, and even as I’m being lifted onto the stretcher, I give him a warning look. I know he’s still angry, but the one responsible for harming us has been dealt with, and we still need to find a way to work with the ones remaining. Something tells me that their guilt about the mortifus attack will go a long way helping us get what we want.
“Firstly,” I say, “you can let our friends into this building. Or at least take us somewhere we can all be together. I won’t have us separated anymore just because you deem us unworthy.” I try to look as authoritative as I can while swaying gently on the stretcher.
Diomi nods eagerly, suitably penitent. “Of course. We’ll take you to one of our infirmaries. The others can either meet you there or join you in our spare residences after we’ve seen to your injuries.”
I look up at Leon. “Will you go get them?” I ask. “And find Etusca too?”
After the shock of the attack, I need to see everyone I care about in this place safe and well.
Leon frowns, clearly not wanting to leave my side. I reach out to squeeze his fingers.
“Please,” I ask, and he looks to Diomi for reassurance.
“Fixing broken bones is my specialty,” Diomi assures him. “I promise you she’s in safe hands.”
