about Esme, but also thankful she hadn’t been taken by the Darklings. It meant she’d survived another attack. And if Kalon had been there to protect her, even better. I didn’t have to like or trust him in order to appreciate his assistance.
As we headed back to the palace, my stomach felt tied up in knots. There was so much we didn’t know yet. And the deeper we looked, the more dangerous Visio seemed to get.
Derek
It wasn’t a public trial, but at least a hundred Aeternae filled the courtroom, located in a sumptuous building close to the city center and the prison. I could see the palace rising in the distance through the wide floor-to-ceiling windows.
Murmurs traveled across the room. Some of the empire’s most influential Aeternae had come to see what would become of Zoltan Shatal, a man they’d known as chief councilor until recently. He sat in a steel cage in the middle of the expansive courtroom, appearing tiny under the high ceiling. Word had already gotten out about Petra and her sons, as well. The knowledge that such illustrious Aeternae had joined the Darklings seemed to have skewed public opinion, at least among those present. I wasn’t ready to call them all Darkling sympathizers, but I didn’t dismiss the idea. These people were easily swayed, and I could only hope that Zoltan’s trial would show them the unpleasant truth of how evil the Darklings really were.
I was also concerned about Esme and Kalon’s disappearance, but I was inclined to take Valaine’s advice into consideration. Esme was not one to go rogue or isolate herself from our group for too long. If they’d fled the Visentis mansion and gone to safety, then they probably wanted to stay hidden. Sooner or later, she’d reach out, though I was certain Tristan would go after her before then. His heels were burning. His sister’s wellbeing tended to trump his critical thinking, but I couldn’t blame him. I would’ve been just as restless, had Vivienne or Lucas been in any kind of trouble.
Gold guards stood at every entrance. By the north wall, a massive podium had been erected, with the judges’ table and high-backed chairs. The audience boxes lined the east and west walls, and every seat was occupied. Sofia, Tristan, and I had been given spots closer to the judges’ table. Valaine and Corbin had joined us, along with other eminent figures from the empire’s upper echelon. The atmosphere was tense, as many didn’t seem to agree with how Zoltan had been treated.
I’d heard several nobles clamoring about the lack of justice as they complained about how unfairly he’d been treated. Naturally, I scoffed at those remarks, knowing more about his heinous crimes than they did.
“The Lord and Lady Supreme will be presiding over this trial,” Corbin said glumly. He didn’t seem to like this much. “A jury would’ve been more appropriate.”
“The Lord Supreme did say he’d make sure Zoltan got the punishment he deserves,” I replied. “Frankly, I agree with a jury and a judge handling this entire thing, but I also understand where the Lord Supreme is coming from. The damage that Zoltan inflicted on your society will last for centuries, I’m afraid.”
“Order!” one of the gold guards shouted, and the entire courtroom fell silent. “All rise for the Lord and Lady Supreme!”
Acheron and Danika entered through a side door, accompanied by Thayen and one of his Nalorean nannies. The boy was given a seat near the podium, joined by his nanny—though he was basically self-sufficient, a regal child could not be left alone, for his own protection as heir to the throne. Acheron and Danika took their seats at the judges’ table. They both wore black—a modest and serious color that symbolized the gravity of what was about to take place.
“Danika looks positively pissed off,” Sofia whispered in my ear.
“I don’t exactly blame her,” I replied. “Zoltan has created quite a mess. And most of the nobles don’t agree with such harsh punishments for the Darklings.”
“Yeah, I heard some of them, too,” she muttered, shaking her head. “If they knew half the stuff we know, they wouldn’t be so lenient.”
“Let’s not forget that Acheron banned the blood slave trade because of the Darklings. That’s where their discontent truly stems from,” I said. “It’s what Danika feared would happen. Fortunately, they’re not rioting or anything, so I assume they’ll begrudgingly accept the outcome of today’s trial.”
As soon as Acheron and Danika were settled behind the judges’ table, we all