THE DECLINE

Elaris’s POV

The healer’s statement sends Averic to stare blankly through the doors Maevra could never be wheeled out through.

He turns to Sennik.

"I need to see her."

The healer reminds him the council is in session.

"My mother nearly suffocated."

There is no arguing with that.

Sennik allows for a brief intermission but insists that once his services are no longer needed Averic is to return.

Two council warriors escort him to Maevra's chamber while I stay put with the guards my personal security is provided with.

Averic steps out of view and I feel impossibly distanced from him for the first time since the hearing begun.

There are no longer any strategies we have devised between sessions.

No evidence laid out on a table to be examined.

Only a son and a mother who would not return with only one son.

Virelle stays seated.

She lowers her head and mops her lips with a handkerchief while putting on an act of concern any bystanders observing the session would think suitable.

I refuse to reward the expression for if I am showing any emotion at all Virelles should not be aware of it.

Neryss, who stands apart with the other household attendants, catches my eye for the briefest of moments.

There is nothing said.

I suppose this hall has turned into something of a waiting room.

I do not know if anyone else considers it such.

Everyone waits, holding their breath, for word on Maevera's condition.

The recess is significantly shorter than I would have expected.

Averic returns, unreadable, his features lacking any emotion on his face.

There is no anger, no reassurance, nothing I can latch onto.

He walks past the first row of council members and pauses near his own seat.

Several seconds pass before his stare joins mine.

After a single shake of his head Averic turns away.

The sight of Maevra's hands has been enough for him.

The council has been informed.

Sennik inquires if the patient may be brought later.

"If she survives the night she will not be able to move," Averic replies.

Sennik accepts the healer's words.

He does not ask Averic if the young man wishes to defer the session and instead declares the council will reconvene and continue without the second mate's presence.

I understand his meaning.

No matter what has transpired tonight, no matter what Maevera told me in confidence, her voice will not be heard in this chamber this evening.

I remember the pressure of her fingers around my own.

Stand there.

Let them hear you.

I swallow the lump in my throat.

She prepared me for this outcome, only, she failed to mention how much it would hurt.

Sennik moves on with little preamble.

Though regrettable the absence of Luna Maevra is, the council cannot halt proceedings for every situation requiring special accommodation.

Averic returns to the evidentiary table.

Sennik inquires if anything further can be introduced prior to discussing the charge leveled against the second mate.

Averic glances at the sealed dossier and nods.

"You may need to take another look at this."

The guard retrieves the document Sennik carefully opens.

I know what is contained within the pages.

The attendant's confession.

Until now it has sat in reserve as the woman who wrote it could not confirm its terms.

Without Maevra to interpret its relevance it is up to Averic to introduce the contents to the council as an established fact.

The reader has been instructed accordingly.

The hall listens as Averic recites the most pertinent passages.

The attendant described receiving directions from a woman to tamper with the east gate.

She admits to assisting someone through the palace after the obstruction was removed.

The altered medication, the addition of wolfsbane laced liquid outside my chamber door, and Virelle's involvement of the attendant in these endeavors are also confessed.

As expected, the final passage causes a few of the council members to shift in their seats.

It states the second mate's blood was the payment due for the child's continued residency.

Averic pauses for a second before he continues.

The false attack and the expectation Elaris would be held accountable for infractions not of her making are also mentioned, but no commentary is offered.

The missive is nothing more than documentation.

It is the connection between events which have so far been regarded as individual occurrences that proves it's greatest value.

Though the parchment is now officially opened Sennik is obviously reluctant to follow the implications.

He lays both hands upon the table.

"Where is this woman?"

"On healer protection," Averic replies.

"Why is she not here?"

The guard explained the woman was found unconscious after giving the statement.

"She was found unconscious where?"

"After she was given the statement."

"Would you inform the council how she should be brought back before continuing the hearing?"

"I do not think that will be a problem," he replies.

"It has already been reported the woman was found in this condition."

Once the necessary reports are filed away Sennik reads over the medical findings with careful, if unemotional, interest.

"Was the statement delivered before or after you found the woman?"

"Before."

"Did council members witness the writing of her statement?"

"No."

"Was a council healer present?"

"No."

"Independent witnesses?"

Averic answers truthfully.

"No."

The last response silences the room.

I imagine each member calculating what value exists in the missive without it's author's presence.

Sennik elevates the document.

"A statement generated outside of council oversight from a source currently unable to provide clarification on it's contents cannot be regarded as conclusive, reliable testimony."

Averic does not disagree.

"It does not have to be conclusive or reliable to be investigated."

"You are correct," Sennik replies, momentarily increasing his focus on the young Alpha.

"Though being put under investigation is not the same thing as being convicted."

The council's tension is palpable.

I realize Elaris has been granted neither denial nor affirmation but I do not attempt to draw unnecessary attention to this fact.

Virelle rises from her seat.

She does not hurry, which would have been unwise, but she waits until she has the council's attention before speaking.

"I understand why the members of this council feel inclined to accept such convenient accusations."

Virelle pauses, regarding the sealed statement.

"But I would ask the council to consider the convenience of this information."

Averic's gaze has settled on her.

Virelle is speaking to the council but she is clearly addressing the young Alpha.

"The attendant was kept within the palace walls, guarded by the second mate and her advocates, but once she is removed from this situation she conveniently discovers a method of deliverance and chooses to accuse the one person whose accusations she would not heed."

Virelle gazes at her swollen belly.

"I was accused and investigated despite being denied opportunity for either.

And now, apparently, the sole individual in this room who might be considered to have committed a serious offense is unable to deny any of these allegations."

More than one council member murmurs in response.

Virelle does not accuse Averic.

Nor does she need to.

If she believes the charges laid against her to be false she is careful she does not let anyone believe she is accusing Averic directly.

She asks the council to view the circumstances as she did.

Whether the attendant was threatened.

Whether she was promised protection.

Whether she may have been coerced into giving the statement.

Whether she may have believed what she was saying to be the truth the entire time.

Virelle turns her attention to me.

"I know what someone, desperate for survival, is capable of doing."

I manage to keep my expression under control.

Virelle takes her seat without further comment.

She has not disproven any of these allegations, merely casting doubt upon all of them.

Averic does not respond immediately.

He removes the fourth broken fastening from the small pile on the table and sets it down next to the open confession.

"This was found next to the attendant."

The elder councilman asks if the woman who found it placed it there.

"No.

Did anyone see Virelle place it there?"

"No.

"Did anyone see the clasp removed from the fastening?" Again, Averic is unwilling to embellish the facts.

"Only that it resembles the mark connected to several previous incidents."

Sennik concedes the point but not the idea.

"A repeatedly observed symbol can identify an individual but it does not confirm placement at any specifically designated location."

"Neither does a single imprint," Averic replies.

He does not demand the council believes him but he refuses to allow doubt to dictate what he tells them.

The clasp remains on the table along with the statement and neither item, taken separately, is sufficient reason to continue.

Sennik turns to me.

"Elaris," he says, "were you present when the attendant delivered this statement?"

"Yes.

"Did you hear what she said regarding Virelle?"

"Yes.

"Did anyone threaten or intimidate her?"

"No.

"Did you?"

"No.

"Did Averic?"

"No."

Sennik stares at me intently.

"Did the attendant seem frightened?"

"Yes.

"Of what?"

"I do not know."

That answer is acceptable but I could have said much more.

I could reveal what she whispered to me as she left the room.

What she said before turning to go.

But I have learned the value in allowing uncertainty to remain uncertain and I will not do otherwise simply because I am in need of their support.

"Did you determine her claim to be truthful?" Sennik inquires.

"I believe she told us what she thought to be true."

He is obviously not satisfied.

"That is not the same thing," he replies.

"No," I say, holding his gaze, "it is not."

I return to my seat because I have said enough.

The remainder of the hearing covers Virelle's fall.

She is asked to recount the events and she does so without hesitation or alteration.

She claims to have been accused of poisoning Maevra.

She says I became abusive when she refused to believe me and then tells the council exactly what I did when she refused to stop.

I give only the answers he requires of me when he finally focuses on me.

"I did not touch her.

“Did you approach her?”

'I was on the upper landing.

"Could you have reached her from there?" "No.

"Did you become angry?"

"I was concerned."

"Did you threaten her?" "No.

"Did you desire her removal from the palace?" "I wanted the attacks to stop," I reply.

One or two members of the council glance towards Virelle but I say nothing more.

The matter is put to rest.

The hearing stretches on for hours.

Arguments are made, evidence is presented, investigations are requested.

Some items are considered inappropriate for further discussion.

Others dismissed due to lack of definitive sources.

Averic remains composed, responding only when asked and refusing to insult Virelle.

He does not disagree with Sennik, though he does hesitate slightly when one of the elders asks if fear and resentment might not be responsible for exaggerating some of the household incidents.

I remain in the same place the guards assigned to me have remained.

My legs begin to ache and the child stirs, reminding me that even the council forgets I am carrying a person for most of the evening.

Occasionally, I remember Maevra.

I imagine her lying beneath the heavy blankets and I wish it were not necessary to decide if her memories remain accessible to her.

If she wished to speak we should give her the opportunity.

She has always wanted to speak clearly so people might hear what she had to say.

Tonight, that opportunity is not offered because nobody is certain if she will be able to return to this chamber tomorrow.

When the council finally begins arranging their collection of documents for the night, I am certain our session has lasted far too long without any resolution in sight.

Sennik calls for the remaining council members to stand.

"The council will deliberate," he announces.

They will reconvene in the morning and I know more consideration will be given to the remaining evidence.

The arrangements for the continued examination of the blood-moon essence will also be finalized.

The fates of two women will remain in this group's hands.

They continue to make rules, limiting the freedom of individuals, until it is no longer apparent they are not attempting to restrict us all.

Virelle rises as the last of the council members file out.

She turns away from me before leaving and I feel an uncharacteristic amount of apprehension.

Averic stays near the evidence table as the doors shut behind the final visitor to tonight's session.

I wait for him.

He finally deigns to speak to me.

"At least tell me if you are tired," he says.

"I am not."

His expression suggests he knows this is not true but there is nothing to be said on the matter and certainly nothing more to be done.

The hall begins to empty.

Once again, I find myself waiting on Averic while a healer arrives through the side doors, bearing a sealed message.

The woman arrives directly to where Averic is standing and hands him the communication from Luna Maevra's chamber.

Averic opens the notification and reads the contents, his eyes lingering on single lines before resuming their progress.

He stops halfway through the second reading, sets the strip of parchment down, then unfolds it once more and reads it a third time.

I notice the creasing of the paper at the folds of Averic's fingers.

"What does it say?"

He is already staring at me.

For the briefest of instants, I think he is going to tell me what Maevra needs.

It is not what he says.

"She is requesting your presence," Averic replies.

At mention of Maevra's name I should have felt sympathy.

Instead, I am overcome with the realization of what this could mean.

"Does that mean she can speak?" "I do not know," Averic replies.

"She made a specific request," he continues.

"I am not completely certain what she meant but she specifically requested your arrival."

"Has she been released from her bedchamber?" "I would not risk taking chances with her condition," he says.

"Do you know what she wanted to tell us in private?" "She said it cannot wait until morning," he replies.

I think back to Maevra's warning before the hearing had even begun.

Stand straight.

Do not beg.

Let them hear you .

She had said precisely what she wanted me to understand.

Now, it appears Maevra intends I arrive at her side before the night is through.

Whatever she has to say or whatever it is she wants me to know first, I am certain she does not wish anyone to hear it through me.

I move towards the corridor leading to Maevra's sleeping quarters.

Averic follows.

Behind us the great chamber doors shut and the hearing has come to an end for tonight.

But Maevra's secrets are only just beginning.