A Savage Debt (The Beholden Duet #1) - Zoey Ellis Page 0,3
to their thrones.
Ana loved seeing her father at court events.
It wasn’t as though she rarely saw him otherwise—they dined together weekly—but seeing him holding court was an incredibly exciting experience.
Wide and tall, the king was imposing, able to silence a room by his presence alone. Ana enjoyed watching him create and enforce laws, debate with court officials and the royal houses, as well as deal with the accused. Each time he held court, he demonstrated why he was a great king, and it couldn’t be denied by any other house, though they tried. She learned a lot about how he ran the kingdom, the choices he made, what procedures he upheld and why, but she knew her mother was his secret weapon. They discussed and debated everything privately, even though the queen rarely spoke at court. Ana had once asked her why she was happy for Father to get all the credit while she sat there and said nothing. Her mother explained that she didn’t need to broadcast her involvement because everyone knew she was vital to the king—that was the importance of being an Omega. She said Ana would only truly understand when it was time to reign along with her Alpha, but in the meantime she needed to work hard at her studies. Ana found it fascinating to watch them. It all fed into her knowledge for when she became queen.
“Court is in session,” a courtier called out. “Maddoc, a criminal with multiple counts against him, who has terrorized the Kingdom of Allandis for decades, is requesting to address the court, and more specifically King Orick. The offender’s request has been granted by order of the king. All royal houses are in attendance; Goldfrost, Thorneshaw, Sterling, Redcrest, and Villemore. Prior to Maddoc being brought before the court, His Majesty will allow one query before the hearing begins. Are there any who wish to speak?”
“Yes.” A nobleman, thickset with graying hair spouting from both his beard and scalp, rose from the far left-hand pew. “I have been asked to speak on behalf of the nobles.” He cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, many of us want to know why you are allowing this criminal a chance to speak. He has committed heinous crimes, including murder, rape, arson, and treason. After twenty years of his reign of terror, we finally have him in our grasp. Why not kill him and be rid of him?”
The king paused for a moment before he replied, his voice relaxed and smooth. “There is no use in cutting off the head of a snake only for the body to squeeze you to death. Maddoc has gained support over the years. We need confirmation of those who’ve aligned with him and have enlisted in his fellowship of destruction. In addition, it is imperative we know how they are operating, how they get supplies in and out of the kingdom, how they coordinate and plan attacks, and most importantly, where they are based. This man can give us everything we need to eliminate his band of ‘Mad Men.’”
The sound of snickering rose throughout the hall at the use of the frequent nickname given to Maddoc’s men, but Ana was too nervous to be amused.
“Do we really need the information that desperately, Your Majesty?” the nobleman asked. “We will find them all eventually. Better that the man is dead.”
The king inclined his head. “We cannot underestimate the reaction of his men when news of his death circulates. It may inspire them to fight harder and longer to avenge him. And consider this, Maddoc came here of his own free will. His men must know he is here. I’m sure they cannot be so foolish that they’re not expecting his demise.”
“I doubt he is here to offer the information you seek, Your Majesty.”
“Too bad for him,” the king said gravely. “He has placed himself in our hands. There is no possible way for him to escape us now. We will get the information out of him, or he will suffer greatly before his execution.”
The nobleman nodded and sat back down, a low hum rippling through the crowd.
Ana swallowed at her father’s words, a hard ball of tension and nausea souring in her stomach. If his men knew he was here then they could be planning anything. It was all very well to mock and belittle them in front of the court—call them a band of mad men like they were incompetent fools—but Ana knew from her reading, and from talking