The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 32: The Trial

Chapter 32: The Trial
The day had finally come.
And she wasn’t sure she was bold enough to face it.
Rory stirred beside her, yawning lazily as she rubbed her eyes.
"You’re still in bed? The day looks half gone, Claire." The life in Aurora’s usually vibrant voice was nowhere to be found. She sounded matter-of-fact.
She turned to look into her sister’s face, smoothing her hair.
"There’s nothing to do here - it’s been a while since I was allowed to be lazy in peace."
Rory propped herself on her elbows.
"Does that mean we are staying here?"
Claire blinked.
"Nice as it may seem, Rory, there’s nothing for us here."
"Are we going back to our house in Loodswood?"
Claire’s heart clenched at the distant way her sister spoke about their home. It made her realize how inhabitable it really was.
"I don’t know."
Rory laid her head on Claire’s chest quietly.
"You never told me what happened to you, Rory. We tell each other everything, remember?"
Silence.
"Is it true Arlan almost died?" Aurora changed the subject.
She drew the covers higher above them.
"You can’t avoid talking to me. Tell me what they did to you, dear." Her voice fell to a whisper.
Claire felt Aurora shudder.
"They left me chained..." She broke off.
Claire took in a deep, calming breath.
Her sister buried her face in the crook of her arm and began to cry - it was the first time she had cried since her return.
Then, she rose up and wiped her eyes.
Claire followed her movements, seething inwardly at her inability to take away the pain Aurora was feeling.
Aurora pulled down the neck of her night dress, revealing a bite mark.
Claire recognized the mark instantly.
"A mate mark? From where?" She nearly bolted off the bed.
Rory continued to cry.
She scooted closer and cupped the little girl’s teary face in her pale hands.
"Tell me what happened."
Aurora wiped at her flooded eyes.
"They chained me..."
"Go on..."
"They chained me in a dark cell..."
"In a dark cell..." She urged.
Her sister’s eyes went blank, as if she was re-living the whole terrible experience again.
A knock on the door startled them.
"Are you decent, milady?" A masculine voice asked.
Casting one last longing look at her sister, she dashes for the dresser and snatched her robe from it.
"Do come in." She said at last.
A dark-haired man in a long silk robe walked in.
He was completely unfamiliar.
The hallway behind him was devoid of activity.
When the sunlight caught on the pearls adorning his robe, they looked like little orbs of light.
"Miss Stenly." He bowed.
She curtsied despite her curiosity.
"And who might you be?"
He gestured dramatically to nothing in particular. "Let me introduce myself. I am Lord Moonstone. I was sent to escort you to the hearing by the King himself."
He smiled broadly, exuding a facade of familiarity both of them knew to be false.
"I thank you for your graceful offer, but I am yet to prepare. I was told it would begin two hours after noon."
The charming man’s smile faltered briefly.
"It is advisable that you are seated early. Take your time, I will wait upon you as is my duty."
She nodded at him, plastering a smile at him.
Something fell to the ground within the room.
He tried peering beyond her to see the little corridor that led to the main bedchamber.
She glanced over her shoulder at the doorway.
"Are you alone, milady?"
His voice held a stiff hint of suspicion.
"My sister. She couldn’t bear to sleep alone."
The man’s gaze narrowed slightly, though he nodded.
"I will be outside." He bowed once again and left the room.
Claire watched him leave and closed the door behind him.
Just as the door jammed shut, she saw guards stationing themselves around her door.
And they weren’t wearing the howling Lycan banner.
Yeren must have sent them, she thought.
Her footsteps were loud against the polished marble as she navigated her way back to the furnished. The size and luxury of the room still took her breath away.
Aurora was sitting at the edge of the bed with her back to her. Before her was a shattered mirror.
The little girl was panting furiously.
"Rory?" She called, hesitant to move closer.
Aurora didn’t turn.
"I can still hear his voice."
"Whose voice?"
"Him. He’s here."
She almost stopped breathing.
"Who?"
"The wolf that marked me."
Clenching her jaw, she moved forward.
"You’re not attending the trial. It’s my burden to bear, do you understand."
A brief nod was her only response.
Another knock tore through the fiery silence that settled in the room.
The same maids that had attended to her marched into the room carrying a tub, pails, accessories, and whatnot.
Her scowl disappeared when she saw the gown and the dressing stool.
She was to wear that?
It was a simple green silk dress that shone when it caught the sunlight bleeding in through the transparent curtains.
"Good morning, My lady." The leading attendant greeted her with a bright smile.
The rest of them were murmuring among themselves - until the leader glared threateningly at them.
The one with light freckles smiled briefly at Aurora - gasping when she saw the scattered mirror shards.
"Were you attacked?" They all rushed on Claire, examining her for any sign of injuries.
"I’m fine." She managed to wave them off.
"Why is Moonstone outside her door? I thought he was banned from the Castle?" The one with a small voice asked.
All of them froze.
"Who is Moonstone? A friend of the King?"
The four women stared between themselves.
What were they not telling her?
"He was banned from the council by the King only a few days ago."
The name suddenly clicked. But she wasn’t sure where she had heard it from.
"They almost didn’t let us in, milady." Another one said.
Claire sank down on the bed with a soft creak.
What exactly were they saying? That the man that awaited her was not sent by the King?
Aurora sat beside her and patted her knee.
"I don’t think many people here want you to attend the trial."
Claire looked at the frail girl.
And as usual, Aurora had a big point - even for her years.
"I suppose I won’t leave the room then." Her shoulders sagged.
"Give me a minute, My lady." The leader muttered.
She was about to remind the woman that she was not a lady when the woman disappeared into the narrow corridor in a swish of bright pink silk skirts and gold hems.
The remaining girls tried to make themselves useful by tidying up the mess Aurora had made, dusting the chamber, emptying the chamberpot and folding her linens.
Listening for sounds beyond the door became worse than a chore soon enough.
But, she wasn’t mistaken when she heard a female scream.
Everyone with her jerked.
Then a man’s voice chipped in.
The door to her chambers banged open and footsteps hurried forward.
She held her breath as she waited to see who came through, squeezing her sister’s hand as though it was the last lifeline she had.
Andon emerged, followed by people wearing the sigil of the Crown.
One of the maids fainted at the spot - whether it was because of terror or swooning, no one knew.
"Have you been hurt?"
It took a while before she could make sense of his words. A nod was all she could manage.
"Good. Now that people know where your quarters are, you are no longer safe here. Tidy up, I will be outside."
"What about Lara?" One of the girls asked.
Andon spared her a brief glance, smirking unusually.
"Don’t worry about her." He chuckled. "Worry about the men she thrashed."
The girls giggled, but Claire couldn’t share in their mirth.
It had finally dawned on her how serious the trial actually was.
There was no turning back. Many great houses would be gathered to hear what testimony she had against uncle Jarren. Would they believe her? Would they think she is doing it on the orders of the King?
Is a man like her uncle beyond the reach of the laws of Reden?
Andon snapped his fingers before her eyes.
"Get in the tub, Miss."
She coloured. Cultured men never said such to women. But then again, who was to say that the King’s first man was cultured?
Rising to her feet was more difficult than she could imagine. Her legs shook badly - bad enough to warrant the support of the girls attending her.
Andon left the room and stationed himself and his men outside her door. Aurora had left as well after muttering something about privacy.
She feared leaving Rory alone for even a second, but she couldn’t watch over her every second.
Once she was dressed, she was escorted down to the great hall.
The amount of people gathered took her breath away. A bard was entertaining the people as she entered. But instead of passing through, she became a spectacle.
Whispers started all around.
But her eyes searched for only one face - the only familiar face in the room.
Her eyes fell on Zachary’s.
He was here?
Then, she saw him.
He was seated on the throne, wearing a white robe with purple lining.
Their eyes met across the room and her abdomen fluttered.
When she reached the center, Jarren stood there.
Arlan sat a few spaces behind his father, looking bored. His face lit up when he saw her.
An old courtier stood in the middle and read the rules before everyone present.
Her heart was at the ceiling. A smug smile rested on Jarren’s face throughout the recitation.
"Call forth your witnesses before the Moon Goddess."
Sweat beaded at her brow.
Stableboys and maids from Penbrook stepped forward.
Even Arlan sluggishly moved to stand at the witness box.
Everyone turned to her.
Who did she have as a witness?