Lorian stood. “As you are well aware, you were arrested last year for your part in a violent riot. You were put on probation for your crimes. You were also grounded from flying during that time.” Kerrigan glared at him. Violent riots. What a joke. “Yesterday, you flagrantly ignored the terms of your probation by leaving the bounds of the mountain to meet with insurrectionists.”

“I did what?” she gasped.

“You were seen walking into the area in the Dregs referred to as the Wastes,” Lorian told her plainly.

“So? I’ve gone there before. It doesn’t mean I’m working with insurrectionists.”

“Did you or did you not meet with Dozan Rook?”

The council buzzed at the name. Clearly, they knew who Dozan was. Not good.

“Dozan Rook,” hissed Alsia with a sneer.

“The so-called King of the Wastes,” Lockney informed them.

“He killed his own family, you know,” Boze said with a glare. He’d always been a toad-faced jerk. Kerrigan had never liked him. “Nothing but a menace.”

“Miss Argon?” Zoh prompted.

Kerrigan gulped. “Yes, I was with Dozan Rook.”

“And were you aware,” Lorian continued, “that he had sympathies to the violent group, Rights For All?”

“I… yes, but…”

“And that he was funding their mission, which involved the events of the night of your arrest.”

“I knew he was giving them money, but—”

He cut her off, “As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, she willingly went into the Wastes to meet with Dozan Rook. She is friends with another orchestrater, who goes by the name of Clover. She met with them despite her probation and broke the rules.”

“I can speak for myself,” she snapped back.

Helly stood and gestured to Kerrigan. “I believe that we should listen to what she has to say.”

“Of course you do,” Lorian sneered.

“No infighting,” Malwin said with a wave of his hand. “Let’s keep this civilized.”

“I second Mistress Hellina,” Lockney spoke up. He gestured to his notebook. “For the record.”

Zoh nodded. “Tell us what happened last night, Kerrigan.”

Kerrigan gulped. “I have been under an immense amount of stress due to Society training. Since I was grounded for a month, I had spent ten days in Bryonica during the holiday training to improve. Mistress Alura passed me for all of my tests, but I was pushing myself to the point of blackout. I spoke with Mistress Helly about these instances,” she said, leaning heavily on the truth, if not giving them everything that had happened. “She recommended a stress reliever, but it wasn’t working. I wanted a second opinion.” There was hurt in Helly’s eyes. Kerrigan hated it, but she had to push through. “I wanted answers to help me complete my tests.”