An Uncomfortable Question

Chapter 12

Leyade’s smile vanished the moment she heard the question. Her relief at having got through the questioning evaporated, and anxiety crept back in. She bit her lip, her gaze travelling around the gathering.

“Well…”

She tried to think of something to say that would not sound foolish, but eventually gave up.

“I don’t know,” she admitted with a resigned sigh.

“I was afraid of that.”

Councillor Eldrin nodded slowly.

“As you know, the next stage of the trial is the witness testimony. As Queen Elira explained, this is when the witnesses will give their accounts, and at present, you have no one to speak for you, Leyade.”

Eldrin spoke calmly, his tone gentle and conciliatory, though his words offered little comfort.

“To be honest, Leyade, I’m concerned. Without Kiany here, it will be very difficult for us to accept your account. And please don’t misunderstand me!”

He quickly raised his hands.

“I believe you. You seem sincere, but…”

He paused.

“The fact that I believe you, and that you appear to be telling the truth as you understand it, does not change the fact that everyone sees reality through their own eyes. Something I accept as fact might seem absurd to you.”

The councillor explained his reasoning with gestures of his hands, watching the young elf as she stared at him in confusion.

“What I mean, Leyade, is that the Kiany you know may not be the real Kiany.”

The young elf looked even more confused. For a moment, she remained silent, trying to make sense of his words.

“What exactly do you mean, Councillor?” she managed at last.

Councillor Eldrin drew breath before continuing.

“There are creatures in this world that can change their shape and pass themselves off as anyone they wish, and…”

He stopped at the look of disbelief on Leyade’s face. He was trying not to hurt her. With a grimace, he continued.

“This could be one of those occasions.”

“I understand what you mean, Councillor, but it doesn’t make sense,” the young elf replied, frowning slightly. “I saw her change from a sparrow into something resembling an elf with my own eyes.”

She gestured in frustration. She could not understand how he had reached that conclusion.

“That proves nothing, Leyade,” the councillor replied. “Some creatures have the power to do that.”

“Let’s suppose that is what happened,” Leyade said. “Why would she give me the weapon? I don’t understand.”

“Probably to see what would happen. These creatures tend to be chaotic by nature and will seize any excuse to sow chaos. And I’m sorry to say this, Leyade, but a young elf far from home, desperate to find something that might help her save her homeland… would be a tempting prospect.”

The councillor laced his fingers together, looking troubled as he spoke slowly.

“But I saved her life. I think that is reason enough to dismiss the theory.”

Leyade took a step forwards, certain of her words.

Councillor Eldrin sighed and shook his head.

“Precisely. If I’m right, that would explain why she did not harm you. Perhaps it was a form of repayment: she gave you what you wanted and sent you to your death in Kalneria. If you survived, you would have what you had asked for. If not…”

His voice grew quieter until he left the sentence unfinished.

Leyade folded her arms, refusing to accept it. The theory was ridiculous. However many coincidences there might have been in her story, this seemed even more far-fetched. A false Kiany? Who had given her a sword to cause chaos? What next? What utter nonsense.

“I don’t know… With all due respect, Councillor Eldrin, I don’t find the theory convincing,” Leyade replied, certain that Kiany had been who she claimed to be.

“I understand. It is only a theory, after all.”

Councillor Eldrin shrugged with an amused smile, casting off his seriousness and becoming the cheerful, easy-going person he had been at the beginning.

“You have an iron will, Leyade.”

His smile widened, and he placed a hand over his chest before sitting down.

“That is all, Your Majesty.”

The queen nodded before speaking.

“Thank you, Leyade. The questioning is now complete. We shall move on to the witnesses’ testimony.”

A dragonfly in vivid shades of red emerged from one of the stands and fluttered around Leyade.

“Please follow Neila and wait outside, Leyade. Protocol requires each witness to give their testimony away from the scrutiny and pressure of the accused.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Leyade bowed to the queen and then to each member of the Council before turning to follow the dragonfly, Neila. The insect glided lightly on the air currents.

“Quite a day, isn’t it?”

The elf tried to strike up a conversation, her voice weary and her hands still trembling. She looked at the dragonfly as though she were the only thing that made any sense.

The dragonfly did not reply. She simply spiralled through the air.

“If only I could be like you and fly freely through the sky, Neila…”

The elf lifted her gaze, following the dragonfly’s every movement.

“Do you think they’ll let me go?”

Neila let herself drift on the breeze as it brushed her wings and carried her along without resistance.

Leyade sighed, watching the early afternoon sunlight shimmer on Neila’s iridescent wings. The dragonfly led her at an unhurried pace, away from the tension of the hearing and around the back of the enormous wall of roots that formed the stand.

The elf glanced to either side. They were well concealed, but she could make out guards watching from among the trees. Even in this brief moment of respite, she was under surveillance.

The dragonfly turned gently, leading her to one side of the trial grounds. Leyade could not help sighing as soon as she stepped out of the Circle of Truth.

The same fairy who had brought her food and cared for her in the dungeon was waiting there. The blue-haired fairy, who never told her her name, sat on a root in a simple black dress.

“Leyade,” she greeted her with a nod. “Please sit here.”

Leyade walked towards her. As soon as she stepped off the path, Neila flew away. Behind her, a wall of ivy grew steadily until it blocked the way back.

Leyade sank into the seat of vines with a long, audible sigh.

“That was…”

All the strength seemed to drain from her body. Her arms dropped to her sides, and she slumped like a rag doll.

“…hard.”

The fairy nodded and turned towards her, taking out her waterskin and offering it to her.

“There’s a flower infusion in here. Have some. It will help you relax,” she said, as serious as ever. “Only the witness testimony remains, and then they’ll give you their verdict. Not much longer now.”

Leyade took the waterskin and drank before looking at the fairy and nodding.

“Yes. Not much longer now,” she murmured, looking down at the waterskin between her hands.

Her hair fell across her face, concealing an expression that was difficult to read.