Page 47 of Songs of Retribution

The bastard. I jumped up from the bench. "You don't even know my name. How can you sentence me without a name?"

Guards yanked me, restraining me, and my magic ached. This entire room was a shadow. It would be so easy to slip into it. But that might get Orman in more trouble. He remained still on the bench. His shoulders didn't even hunch. He'd known the outcome too, the asshole. I wanted to punch him after I physically accosted all the idiots in the room.

Kirsi jumped from her seat, illuminating her face more. "I wish to hear the full charges."

Sigurdur turned towards her, scowling. "Do not make a fool of yourself, Kirsi Kuninkaan."

She seemed ready to retort but snapped her lips shut before shuffling past others, causing a stir in the crowd, and storming out through the front doors, allowing light to glare in.

Sigurdur curled a hand into a fist then turned back to the guards holding me. "Return them to their cells."

They directed Orman to rise, which he did without so much as a hint of fight. He could take out at least a dozen of them before going down. When we made it back to the cell, Orman spoke with an elf who bowed and retreated before sliding the bars down onto the floor. He said nothing more, and I left it alone for a few minutes, then I couldn't contain the energy bursting from me.

"Well," I said, "what's our plan?"

He looked up at me. "There is no plan, Neia."

"Excuse me?"

An elf returned with two trays in his hand, and Orman accepted them along with two large tankards. He slid one of each to me. An elegant meal was arranged on the tray—grilled fish, salad with ripe watermelon and berries in it, potatoes sprinkled with green herbs, and a thick slice of cake.

"Eat," Orman said, already diving into his tray. He took a long swallow of whatever was in the tankard, and I slapped at it. He tightened his grip and pulled it away from me. "What the fuck is that about, Neia?"

"You're going to drink alcohol when we need to figure out how to get away from here?"

He took a swallow, glaring at me as he did, then answered. "I won’t get away from here. You should and soon."

My hands flew up. "You're just going to let them kill you?"

He winced but nodded as he pulled a bite of cake free. "Yes. They won't believe my intentions are honorable if I disappear." He met my eyes and his careful expression softened. "It's the only way to protect the Prasanna, to protect Sai and Luz and Ishir and you and Elisa. You damn well know it. Now eat; this food is too good to waste."

I dropped to the ground, the resolve leaving me in a rush, but I stared at him. "You knew this would happen coming here, didn't you?"

"I did. It's part of the reason I wanted you to come."

"To watch you die?"

He shook his head as he took another bite and closed his eyes, savoring the taste. "Nah, I knew you were scrappy as fuck and you'd get away and send word. Plus, I enjoy spending time with you."

The torch on the wall flickered, and I couldn't break my gaze from Orman. "You…" The word sputtered past my lips and anger flared through me so that I struggled to form words.

He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow.

"No," I said, firming up. "You are too much of a bastard. You don't get to lie down and die like a fucking saint. That's not me and that's not you."

Orman grinned in a way that was more normal for him, his eyes twinkling. "Another reason I brought you. You ain't going to sit around here and feel bad for me."

"Once we get away from here, I'm going to use my shadow magic to cheat and kick your ass."

He smiled. "Y'know you're making me almost sad I won't get to see that."

My mouth gaped, opening for words that wouldn't form, that I couldn't come up with. Orman had come here to die, and he meant to do it. He sacrificed himself for the sake of everyone we loved and the purpose we all stood for.

But I couldn't make that sacrifice. I didn't care if he was ready to face his death; I wasn't. I'd do whatever I must to free him, even if it cost me my life trying.

With that, I settled down and ate the saints' damned food. I'd need my strength to pull this off.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

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