“We were in Royal Bar. He decided to play the knight and save a damsel in distress. Except this knight was drunk, and the damsel wasn’t actually in distress. He took down every guy in the room who tried to stop him anyway.” Adrian chuckled and Vlad looked mortified.

“Geez. I didn’t know you were like that.” I shook my head in disbelief. Vladimir, the dedicated law intern, involved in a bar brawl.

“They only locked him up for one night, but he got his own VIP cell since there was no sign of him calming down. The Court Guards felt it was best to put him in solitary where he couldn’t beat anyone else up,” Adrian continued. “He was a beast.”

Unbelievable. I could barely picture Vlad in a bar, let alone in a fight. He struck me as the type of guy who spent most of his time studying in the corner of a library somewhere.

“Adrian, enough.”

Commander Pete Hudson came back, along with two men in suits, all three wearing the same deadpan expression.

We stood up and I met Hudson’s gaze. “Look, I know what I did was wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll pay the fine. Though I’ll need to ask my parents if it’s more than two hundred bucks.”

“It’s not that simple, Ms. Montgomery.”

“You want me to do community service too? That’s all right; I love the elderly.” The last comment earned a choking noise from Adrian, who tried hard not to laugh.

Vlad cut off my childish behavior and politely asked, “What was suggested for the penalties, sir?”

“There are stricter laws during the Gathering, as I’m sure you well know, Lord Ambrosia. There is no room for negotiation. We simply cannot tolerate anyone ruining the sacred month of December with any kind of violence. Therefore, by royal decree, we have no choice but to place Ms. Avery Zosime Montgomery under arrest and in a holding cell.”

Surely my ears caught it wrong.

“Wait, for how long?” Adrian stood and fished out his cell phone, seemingly ready to send for more help.

Vlad looked very calm as he asked, “When is the trial, sir?”

“I’m afraid there won’t be one, Lord Ambrosia.” Commander Pete Hudson shook his head and continued, “It is a minor offense.” When he saw me about to protest, he quickly added, “But an offense nonetheless. Minor offenses do not go to trial.” To Adrian, he answered, “She’ll be here for the week.”

Two Court Guards went to my sides and I barely had time to say good-bye before they took me to my temporary home.