A Mending Magic Healer testified that he examined Boe shortly after the accident and found evidence of a newly healed femur fracture. In his opinion, there is no question that the boy broke his leg and received a healing spell.

Finally it’s time to question Jensen himself. I feel as if my nerves have been wrung out like a wet cloth.

Tessa invites Jensen forward and he climbs into the witness seat slowly, like a man twice his age. Jacey pours a bit of the truth serum into a small drinking horn and offers it to him.

Jensen grimaces as he brings the keras to his lips, and I’m forcefully reminded of my encounter with the foul-tasting liquid after my father’s bones were stolen. I remember the horrible, lurching feeling of not having control over my answers. Of the words practically leaping from my mouth the moment a question was asked. The memory makes bile rise in my throat.

Jensen downs the truth serum in one swallow.

Bram has the first question, and he leans forward slightly in his seat. “Can you tell us your name?”

“Jensen Niles.” The answer comes almost instantaneously.

“Do you have bone magic?” Talon asks.

“Yes, I’m a Healer.”

“Which kind?” Talon presses.

“Disease.”

When it’s my turn, I shift in my chair so I can meet Jensen’s gaze. “Can you tell me what happened the day Boe broke his leg?”

Jensen relates the story more or less the way I saw it in the vision. He took Boe with him on a house call. The horse got spooked. Boe fell and broke his leg. As Jensen talks about his son, the lines around his mouth soften. His eyes shimmer.

“What was it like to watch him in pain?” I ask.

From the corner of my eye, I see a few of the council members react to this question with raised eyebrows or frowns. But I don’t care. They need to hear it.

“It was torture,” he says.

“What would have happened if you hadn’t healed Boe’s fracture?”

“He would have died.” Jensen’s gaze is steady.

I nod at Jacey to indicate I’m finished. I wish I could handle the entire interrogation myself, but we agreed to limit ourselves to just a few questions at a time before ceding to the next team member.

“Did you use forbidden magic to heal your son?” Jacey asks.

I press my lips together and stare at my lap. It’s a good question for getting to the truth, but a terrible one for helping Jensen.

“I didn’t have a choice,” Jensen says, his voice even. “Any parent would have done the same.”

“Did you perform a healing spell by accident?” she asks.

“No.”

“So you did have a choice.” Her tone indicates it’s a statement, not a question, and Jensen must interpret it the same way, because he doesn’t reply. “Go ahead, Niklas.”