Time to Defend the Truth

Chapter 11

The entire Council remained silent, watching Leyade. The wind drifted gently between the roots, stirring the clothes and hair of those gathered there. Leyade’s heart pounded deafeningly, her palms were sweating, and she struggled to find the words to begin.

She glanced at the councillors. Caelumir watched her patiently; Selwen’s expression remained impassive; Eldrin was gesturing for her to stay calm, and Fayla… was Fayla. Her only contribution was a yawn. Queen Elira had taken her seat and was stroking a dragonfly perched on her hand.

“Very well,” the queen said at last. “Why don’t you tell us what happened, Leyade? We would like to hear your side of the story.”

Leyade breathed in and out, gathering her courage. It was time to prove her innocence.

“Esteemed members of the Council,” the elf began. “I have been informed that I stand accused of stealing a magical sword. However, that is not what happened. The accusation is unfounded.”

Leyade projected her voice so that everyone could hear her and tried to sound confident. At that moment, she was glad she had attended elocution lessons back in the village.

As expected, the councillors reacted to her statement. Caelumir nodded attentively, Selwen’s expression did not change, Eldrin seemed surprised, and Fayla sighed as though this were the eighteenth time she had heard it.

The elf took a few steps across the roots, considering how to continue.

“I actually came by the sword lawfully. In the forest south of the human kingdom, I found a badly injured sparrow who turned out to be Kiany. She gave me the sword out of gratitude and kindness. I had told her that dark spirits were attacking my village, and she wanted to help me. But since I don’t know how to use it, she sent me to find someone here.”

Leyade tried to keep her account as clear and concise as possible. She wanted to leave no room for doubt or misunderstanding.

Her words caused a noticeable stir among the councillors, who began murmuring to one another. Selwen looked agitated and incredulous, making remarks to Caelumir, who nodded thoughtfully. Young Eldrin had to cover his mouth to stifle a reaction and avoid a reprimand, and even Fayla looked confused.

The young elf frowned slightly, looking from one member of the Council to another in bewilderment.

The queen regarded Leyade without a change in expression, then turned to her councillors and spoke.

“Please, members of the Council.”

Queen Elira did not even raise her voice. She simply addressed them with that ever-present smile on her lips.

“Remain silent and allow the accused to continue.”

They all fell silent at once, though their expressions remained unchanged. They simply turned their attention back to the young elf.

“Thank you, Queen Elira…” Leyade replied, still confused. “All I had left to add was that, while crossing this forest, I came to a dryad’s lake. She stole my belongings, including the sword.”

Leyade fell silent for a few moments, keeping her emotions from overwhelming her again.

“She called me a thief and accused me of stealing the weapon. Even though I told her the truth, just as I am telling you now, she not only refused to believe me but tried to kill me.”

The councillors began murmuring again. This time, they seemed confused, incredulous or lost in thought.

The queen acknowledged her account with a slight tilt of her head, her usual serenity undisturbed.

“So, Leyade, you are saying that this was all a misunderstanding, and that the dryad attacked you. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she confirmed, nodding firmly. “I am willing to apologise to the dryad for entering her territory if that is what she wishes. I don’t want to cause trouble or hurt anyone. I only want to continue searching for the person who can help me save my village.”

Leyade spoke calmly and confidently. All she wanted was to leave this place and prove that she was innocent and meant no harm.

“Thank you for presenting your case, Leyade.”

The queen inclined her head gently before looking towards her councillors. She extended one slender hand, inviting them to speak.

“Leyade has given us her account. It is now time for the councillors to ask their questions. Who would like to begin?”

Silence settled over them like a veil. The councillors exchanged glances, conducting a wordless debate, until Councillor Caelumir broke the tension.

“With your permission, I shall open the questioning.”

The queen gestured for him to continue, and he nodded.

“First of all, thank you for telling us what happened, Leyade.”

Leyade shook her head nervously, holding her breath as she waited for the first question.

“There is something I would like to ask you, and I hope you will answer.”

The purple-haired councillor gestured calmly.

“Why do you wish to apologise to the dryad? According to your account, she tried to kill you. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Councillor Caelumir,” the young elf confirmed, grimacing as her hand rose involuntarily to her neck. “Well, you see, I understand why she was angry. Technically, I entered her territory without permission and bathed in her lake. To some creatures, an intrusion like that is a serious act of vandalism. So, to an extent, I understand why she attacked me, particularly since she saw me as a hostile intruder. That is why I believe apologising would be the right thing to do.”

The councillor nodded slowly, as though weighing her answer while studying the glow of the circle.

“Very well. That will be all. Thank you for your honest answer.”

He leaned back in his seat of roots, his expression as calm as before.

Leyade bowed to him, releasing some of the tension the questioning had brought on. She had got through one councillor’s questions, but there were still three to go.

Councillor Selwen was next. She leaned forwards and pushed her glasses into place with one finger.

“I shall ask the next question,” she said, her manner serious and impassive, though a faint crease had appeared between her brows. “I have no intention of wasting time on trifles like Councillor Caelumir. There are more important matters than apologies.”

Selwen gave Caelumir a disapproving look. He did not react.

“Tell me, Leyade, are you certain they are dark spirits? Bear in mind that this is a very serious matter. You cannot make such claims lightly.”

The blue-haired councillor spoke as though she were reprimanding her before she had even had a chance to answer, with the air of someone addressing a person who had no idea what she was talking about.

“Yes, Councillor Selwen. Dark spirits.”

It took Leyade a few moments to reply. Being treated as though she had said something wrong before she had even begun made her uneasy.

“Kiany told me. I have a drawing in my backpack showing what our attackers looked like. Although I don’t fully understand everything surrounding dark spirits, I know this is a serious matter, Councillor Selwen, and not something to speak of lightly. Kiany told me that, if dark spirits were involved, very few people would be able to help.”

Leyade spoke earnestly. She was worried about it too. If even the people here grew uneasy at the mention of them, that was something she would have to bear in mind when the time came to face them.

Selwen adjusted her glasses, thought for a few moments, then turned to the queen and murmured something Leyade could not hear. Whatever it was, it prompted the queen to intervene.

“Can you tell us whether they are roaming freely in the area?” Queen Elira asked after a moment’s consideration.

“When I left, there was a rift, and only a hand had come through.”

She paused and sighed, trying not to think about how things might be now.

The queen nodded, looking at Selwen.

“Very well, Selwen. Thank you for the information. It has been most useful.”

Councillor Selwen nodded reluctantly.

The queen watched her for a few seconds before turning back to Leyade, whose expression showed both determination and concern.

Eldrin and Fayla exchanged a glance. Fayla shook her head lazily, but Eldrin gestured for her to ask her question. They were clearly arguing in whispers, though Leyade caught only one remark.

“The sooner you do it, the sooner it’ll be over.”

Fayla let out a deep sigh before speaking.

“Well, my turn…”

She regarded Leyade with a bored expression.

“There isn’t really anything I’m dying to ask, but I’ll ask about the only thing that has caught my attention as a mage.”

Blunt as ever, Fayla propped her head on her hand, her elbow resting on the lectern of roots.

Leyade was left speechless by the fairy’s nonchalance, even during a trial.

“Go on, then, elf. How exactly is the sword supposed to help you save your village? I doubt you even know what it is…”

Fayla folded her arms, looking a little indignant.

“That is part of what I want to find out: how I can use it to fight them.”

Fayla snorted at Leyade’s answer, as though it were precisely what she had expected.

“But I do know that the sword is magical. It can drive away shadows just as the sun drives away the darkness. It has enchantments, though I don’t understand them.”

Fayla looked a little surprised to discover that she did know something about the sword.

“The sword has a name, and I can use it to invoke its power.”

“That’ll do. You don’t know the half of it, but I don’t care. At least you’re not carrying it around as though it were just a stick.”

She shrugged and leaned back to look at the queen. Then, with a show of politeness that did little to disguise her cheek, she asked:

“I’ve finished my questions. May I leave?”

Everyone turned to look at her. Some were holding back laughter; others covered their faces in embarrassment or sighed, as Leyade did. Fayla turned to look at them, muttering something unintelligible, then folded her arms indignantly when the queen shook her head.

“Well,” Eldrin began with a smile, “now it’s my turn!”

The youngest councillor rose to his feet and bowed.

“First of all, let me thank you for answering all our questions. You have been very brave, Leyade.”

His smile and words of thanks helped Leyade relax. Only his question remained.

“Thank you, Councillor Eldrin.”

The elf smiled at him and returned his bow.

“Please, call me Eldrin,” he said, seeming a little uncomfortable with his title. “Well…”

He rubbed his hands together.

“Ready for the final question?”

Leyade nodded expectantly.

“I have been listening very carefully to your story, Leyade, and there is one thing that concerns me.”

He paused, looking around.

“Where is Kiany?”