Out of the Shadow at Last novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Third Trial

The council met at first light in the open court behind the Fair hall.

Every Alpha sat in the half circle with their packs standing behind them in the cold.

Two stone pillars from yesterday's trial still stood at the centre, with their shallow dishes empty.

Father stood alone at the front with his hands folded.

Mother sat on a bench behind him, in grey, with her head bowed.

Posy sat beside her.

She had not slept, and she did not look up.

I stood across from Father with Ivar on one side of me and Anders on the other.

Anders had not said a word since he came through the gate.

He had put his sword on the council table as he had promised.

Nobody had told him to take it back.

The herald read the charge.

"Alpha Rooke alleges that the champion Linnet Rooke was the barrier mage of the Moon Tower on Hollow Night seven years past," he read.

"He alleges that she let the wards fall of her own will and caused the deaths of thirty northern wolves."

A low sound ran through the packs.

"How does the champion answer?" the oldest Alpha asked.

"I wasn't awake," I said. "I was drugged."

"By whom?"

I looked at Father.

"I'd rather let the Seal say it," I said.

Father's mouth thinned.

"She has the Seal," he said, to the council.

"It was in my private chest. She broke into my rooms last night and stole it."

"It was my Seal," I said. "You took it from your own daughter and gave her a forgery."

"I took it to keep it safe."

"From whom?"

He did not answer.

The oldest Alpha rapped her cane on the stones.

"This is the third trial of the Fair," she said. "It is also the oldest."

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