Corinna moved into action, and the Society Guard who had been carefully placed around the aerie formed up behind her. She stepped up to Lorian, who had just landed and stood by his dragon, Oria.

“Lorian Van Horn, you are under arrest by order of the Society council for possession of illegal artifacts and treason. Anything you say and do can be used against you.”

Lorian jumped backward toward his dragon, as if he were going to flee, but a rush of guards dropped him to the ground. A set of magic-dampening manacles were fixed around his wrists, rendering him inert.

Lorian gasped. “What is the meaning of this? I didn’t commit treason.”

He was still shouting as Corinna dragged him away, reading him his rights as a Society member to appear before the council to plead his case. Kerrigan crossed to Helly, who was silently crying.

Helly glanced up. “You were right. I had a team check his home and study, and there were artifacts as well as letters with the House of Shadows all this time. He was the mole, and he cost us good men and women in this war.”

Kerrigan pulled Helly into a hug. No matter that Lorian had caused her so much grief, he had been friends with Helly for years, and his treachery would have lasting repercussions.

63

The Trial

Kerrigan hastened into the council chamber. Her eyes flitted around the room until she found Audria and Roake seated off to the side. “Sorry I’m late. I was looking for Fordham. Have you seen him?”

Audria shook her head. “He wasn’t in his room when I left. Roake?”

“He said he’d be right behind me. Must be late.”

But Fordham was never late.

“Huh,” she muttered. She bit her lip and sat back. He’d show up. He had to. Kerrigan and Fordham had both received notices about a formal meeting with the council after Lorian’s fate was decided.

She had never seen the council chamber full before. Every Society member in the mountain was in attendance for Lorian’s trial. He stood at the podium, straight-backed and unblinking. Someone had the decency to clean him up, but she could see the strain the last few days had on him.

“Have either of you spoken to Alura?”

Alura awoke yesterday. Helly had informed Kerrigan that Alura didn’t wish to have any visitors. She wouldn’t tell her how she was doing medically either.

Audria and Roake shared a look, and Audria said, “Helly wouldn’t let us see her. But can you imagine how she’s feeling right now?”

“Terrible,” Kerrigan whispered.

But Alura wasn’t in attendance. Surely if she was awake, she would do everything she could to be at her father’s trial.