Chapter Thirty-Two

"Well, a few of us will speak on your behalf," Gren said, shocking Loralie. "We all saw the truth here today, and it cannot be denied. There were mitigating circumstances that made you do what you did. Though you still did wrong, it is, perhaps, a bit more understandable."

"Thank you for that as well, Sir Grennulf. I never thought to have a dragon's understanding, but I find it eases my soul somewhat." She rubbed the spot over her heart, feeling a warmth there that was comforting. "Still, I will never forgive myself for what I did to that ice dragon family."

"And yet, it all turned out rather well for both the ice dragon child, who now has two families—his dragon parents and grandparents, as well as the Draconian royal family, who consider him as a son. That child brought about an alliance between the ice dragons and the royals of Draconia, reuniting the colorful dragons of that land with the reclusive ice dragons, and with we snow dragons as well, through the relationship with Valdis." Gren's voice sounded just a bit philosophical in her mind. "Often, the Mother of All works in mysterious ways. From what I've heard, the Draconians also have alliances with the sea dragons. It looks like they are putting all the various dragon groups back in contact with each other, which I feel can only be a good thing."

Loralie thought hard about the implications of that, but then, Gren moved back so another dragon could pass, and the moment was broken. A few minutes later, Loralie watched Det delegating the cleanup to his lieutenants. A barrier was going up around the remains, which would be searched by mages before being cleared away. He sighed as he turned from the scene and went to her.

"I suspect it's better this way. We've all heard more than enough from Gebel to condemn him many times over and clear you of all your supposed crimes. Gren said something like that to me before he gave the order to flame. The Dragon Council, it seemed, had heard what it needed to hear and passed their own judgment."

"You don't say," Loralie commented, already having made her own conclusions on that score.

"The trial is over at this point, but the Council will reconvene to talk over these events. The dragons passed on what happened with the traitor. Thank you for going after him."

"I'm glad I could help," she answered as they walked. "Do you think there were others?"

"I hope not," Det said on another gusty sigh. "But nothing should surprise me after all this. I think the mages will want you to consult on the remains since Gebel was human, and there was Citadel magic involved, but that request should be made through the Council by Lady Elira. Nobody will disturb the ash piles for now. I've tasked Guards to watch over both sites. We're going to have to examine how this all happened and what would make Nerod do what he did."

"Was that his name?" Loralie asked as they turned down the street that she thought would lead to House Adain. She was starting to get the layout of this city. At least a little.

"Yes. Mage Nerod of House Ostilrood," Det confirmed. "A mid-level mage who always had delusions of his own importance. He wanted to be on the Council, but Elira was chosen over him. Frankly, he never had a chance, but he still insisted that she had somehow stolen the spot meant for him, as I recall now."

When they turned another corner, Loralie saw they were on the street where House Adain stood, and the twins came running toward them. Luc was watching their backs but apparently hadn't been able to curb their enthusiasm about watching for their parents' arrival. Loralie and Det each picked up a twin and hugged them reassuringly.

"I was so scared," Penny admitted, hanging on to Loralie as if she'd never let go. "But I did like teacher said without even thinking, and we turned away the bad magic."

"Yes, you did, and I am so proud of you both," Loralie agreed. "Oh, Det. You should have seen them. They only just learned to repel magic this morning. They were telling me about it at lunch." Det carried Petr, and Loralie kept Penny in her arms as they walked back to the wide entrance to House Adain's courtyard. Luc had withdrawn once he saw the children had, indeed, found their parents. "When that man, Nerod, ran into the courtyard, he launched a magical attack aimed at the twins, but they both repelled the strike like champions." Loralie knew she was grinning hard, beaming at her smart, powerful children.

"You did very well," Det told the children, seemingly having a hard time speaking once he learned the danger they'd been in. Loralie smiled at him. The children were all right, but she understood his residual fear. "I think Belinda might let you both have a special treat for how brave you were," he added.

Both little faces lit up with expectation. "Maybe she'll let us help bake cookies!" Petr enthused, scrambling down from his father's hold. Penny wasn't far behind, both children running into the house, shouting for the good-natured housekeeper.

Loralie reached out to Det, putting an arm around his waist as she lay her head on his shoulder. Just for a moment. They both needed the comfort of each other's touch after the crazy events of the day.

"I didn't know they'd come under attack," he whispered, his tone almost brittle.

"Nerod ran right past here when he dashed away from the Council chambers. When the bell sounded, we all ran out to see what was going on, and that's when he came in and tried to hurt the twins. I jumped to intervene but was too far away."

"You couldn't shield them?" Det looked down, gazing into her eyes. His tone wasn't accusatory, merely curious.

"I tried, but I came out the front door, and the children had come from the side of the house. From the schoolroom," she explained. "But they didn't need my help. It was amazing, Det. Truly amazing. They just raised their little hands, and the strike went around them, deflected by their fledgling shields, which must be stronger than anything I could have conjured at their age." She looked over at the house. "See that scorch marks on the brick? That's what they deflected."

The magical blast had also taken out a few of the large flowerpots on that side as well. Broken crockery and spilled dirt lay all around.

"Sweet Mother of All," Det breathed, looking at what she'd pointed out.

He let her go as Belinda came to the front door and walked out to greet them. She was wiping her hands on her apron and smiled at them both. Loralie stood by while Det explained that they needed to go back to the Council Hall and that the children were excused from lessons for the rest of the day because of the excitement.

"Cook is already making a batch of cookie dough with them acting as her assistants," Belinda revealed with a twinkle in her eye. "We can keep them happy and busy until you come home, Captain."

"Thanks, Belinda," Det said warmly. "You're a treasure."

The housekeeper beamed and went back into the house, humming a little tune. Loralie and Det went back out from the courtyard and walked the now-familiar path to the Council Hall. A crowd had gathered, even larger than the throng that had observed the trial this morning. All the doors at the front of the building were thrown open, and the Councilors were starting to assemble.

Det escorted Loralie into the chamber and to the chair she'd come to think of as her place. Then, he took his own seat at the Council table. Lady Adain called the Council session to order, and they began discussing what had just happened. Det gave his report of the action in the streets and the results.

"The leader of House Ostilrood has been sent for," Det concluded. "Since it was a senior member of his House that freed Gebel, I thought the Council might want to talk to him."

While they waited for the man to show up, the Council started speaking with Loralie again.

"It is clear Gebel and his allies were getting information from Skir," Lady Elira said without preamble, looking both angry and alarmed. "Nerod subdued the Guards and the mage I left on duty, and freed Gebel. He had to know combative magics that our mages have not seen before and that we do not teach. We also do not know the ways of the Citadel ice. Which makes me think that if Skir gave that information to his flunkies…"

"Then, he did so for a purpose," Loralie concluded. "Gebel originally planned to destroy the Veil, invade the enclave, and use your Gate to get into the Citadel while his soldiers kept everyone else busy and distracted with the fighting. Once inside, he would use his forbidden knowledge of how the ice works to free his mentor and, perhaps others."

"The unthinkable." Lady Elira looked upward, as if in supplication. "And he got much closer than I'm comfortable acknowledging with his plans."

"Yes, he did," Loralie agreed. "But he's been stopped. Now, I just have to stop Skir from finding another mage follower so he can try again."

"Skir needs to go back to sleep," Lady Elira agreed. "Though, I'd prefer it if our dragons could destroy him as easily as Gren took care of Gebel. Of course, I know nothing in this world can kill a wizard. Which is why the victors of the wizard wars devised the Citadel in the first place, before they left." She shook her head again. "I'm truly sorry for all that has happened to you and little Penny. I want you to know that."

Unexpectedly touched by the woman's words, Loralie fought against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Det was nearby, and she drew strength from his presence, even though he wasn't touching her. Just knowing he was close soothed her.

"Thank you, milady. And thank you for taking the twins under the tutelage of your Hall. They very much enjoy their daily lessons there. It was this morning's lesson in deflecting magic that I believe saved their lives when Nerod attacked them."

"I am grateful for that. They are a pleasure to have among our students, though I fear they will outstrip their teachers much sooner than the other children. Their magic is quite different than ours." Lady Elira ceased talking and deferred to Lady Adain.

"Please forgive me for judging you too harshly," Det's grandmother said, shocking Loralie. That she was doing this publicly, for all to hear, meant something important. "You were given untenable choices, and you did the best you could. I see that now."

"Thank you, milady," Loralie said quietly. "There is nothing to forgive. You were concerned for your grandson and the twins. I understand that. I also know how my actions looked to the world."

Lady Adain smiled at her. A first, Loralie realized. This day had been full of wonders. Then, there was a commotion as a pair of Guards escorted an older man through the crowd, holding him by both arms. They deposited him in front of the Council and stepped back.

"Lord Nero Ostilrood," Lady Adain pronounced. "You son, Nerod, is dead. He was sentenced by the Dragon Council, and the sentence was carried out this afternoon in the street near your House, as I am sure you are already aware. What we need to know is if you were also aware that he was in league with the human mage, Gebel, and getting information from the condemned wizard, Skir?"

Lord Nero didn't answer right away, which spoke volumes to Loralie, but she watched the Councilors to see what they made of the old man. Each was considering him with narrowed eyes and varying expressions of doubt, surprise, and condemnation.

"House Ostilrood is a small one," Grennulf spoke into Loralie's mind giving her the background that everyone else seemed to already know. "There is a bitter history between the Houses of Ostilrood and Adain. The current Lord's father once courted Lady Fiora Adain, but she chose against him, and he never forgave her for what he thought was a slight. Truthfully, the dragons who knew him say he would never have suited Lady Fiora, but he became a bitter old man and poisoned those of his House against the Adains. It seems the old feelings are still there, even though the old man is long gone."

"Couldn't their heartmates speak some sense to them?" Loralie asked, curious.

"Very few actually have heartmates," Gren revealed. "It is a very small House, after all. Besides Lord Nero, only the mage, Enrad, and his sister are left of House Ostilrood now. And of the three, only Enrad has a heartmate."

"Enrad? Isn't he the one who gave me such a hard time at the manor house?" Loralie thought she recognized the name.

"Indeed, he is. The Ostilroods have long sought to increase their own power at the expense of others. Until today, though, I never suspected they were actively working against House Adain. Now, I'm not so sure. I think we will have to look into every member of the House, very closely. Including the single dragon who shares their hearth and home."

Loralie had a hard time concentrating on what followed. The Council questioned Lord Ostilrood, but he wasn't very forthcoming. All the while, Loralie's mind raced with everything that happened on this most momentous day. Eventually, the Council decided to hold Lord Ostilrood and the rest of his House in confinement until the next day, when they could all be questioned more closely. Loralie was just as content when they closed the session for the day.

Too much had happened. There was too much to take in all at once. She thought she might just be in a little bit of shock.

Eventually, the chamber cleared out. Det came to her and suggested they go home. After all the tumult of the day, one fact kept ringing through her mind…

Gebel was dead.

Gebel was dead!

She was free of his threat for good. Now, all she had to do was find a way to stop Skir from doing it all over again with some other poor mortal fool. Then, if she survived that—which she still doubted—she would probably have to deal with the ice dragons' ire. No rest for the wicked, it seemed.