Page 96 of Wings of Ice and Steel

‘Louder, Kayla. The whole hall wants to hear you.’

Kayla looked at her with pleading eyes, but Ariadnne’s heart was stone. She would get no quarter there. Kayla closed her eyes as if accepting her fate.

‘It was me,’ she said in a clear voice. ‘I killed the General.’

Josef stood in shock, face paper-white. Noise erupted as everyone started talking at once.

‘Silence!’ Councillor Jagen roared, his expression furious. ‘You dare to interrupt this feast in our general’s honour?’

Ariadnne’s eyes widened as she realised his disdain was aimed at her, not Kayla.

‘What could be more important than bringing the true killer to light?’ She snapped. ‘It is exactly what she would want.’

Councillor Leth raised a hand to quiet her.

‘What evidence do you have that it was this young knight?’ he said with an unnerving smile. ‘Does she have motive?’

‘Evidence? I’ve heard it from her own lips—’

‘You are quite intimidating when you are angry, my dear,’ Councillor Vesta chimed in. ‘Has anyone ever told you that?’

‘What has that got to do with—’

‘The poor thing is clearly terrified.’ Councillor Leth gestured towards Kayla. ‘Come here, girl, away from the varanya.’

Kayla glanced at Ariadnne with terror before stumbling to her feet, towards the head table.

‘Now, it seems clear to me,’ continued Leth, ‘That Ariadnne has become delusional in her grief and has coerced this poor knight into the confession of an act she could not possibly have committed. Why I’m sure I saw her in the training yard that evening.’

Ariadnne went cold, if she’d needed proof that the entire Council were behind the order to take out her handler, the row of stony faces staring at her while Leth outright lied to give Kayla an alibi, was it.

It didn’t matter how much evidence she found—they would never release Nieve. They would rather kill her and deal with Ariadnne’s grief in the hope that she became more tractable later, than allow them a chance.

She saw Leth beckon to the guards at the back of the hall, and Councillor Jagen made a subtle gesture toward his neck that made Ariadnne go cold.

The collar. Her breaths quickened. She could kill them now, end their monopoly over the varanyen—but if she shifted who else would die? Her eyes flicked to the hall of knights and varanyen at her back. She would have to fight her way out, and kill half the knights—who, if they were anything like Nieve, might be innocent.

She backed away, refusing to say another word. She wouldn’t be responsible for more death, and she wouldn’t stay there long enough to be shackled. She turned and fled.

She ran past outstretched arms, barrelling through bodies with luck and surprise on her side, using every second that gave her to her advantage.

She slammed into the doors, heart pulsing in her ears as her bare feet pounded against stone. They were behind her. She didn’t have long.

The heavens opened, angry, vengeful rain lashing against her face, mixing with her bitter tears. The fabric of her dress clung to her body like a second skin, the floor of the parade ground slippery and treacherous.

She had to reach the south wing. Had to free Nieve—before she erupted in the mass of scales and claws that gathered beneath her skin. Waiting. Pressing. Ready for her to control to slip. Gasping breaths ripped down her throat; her dragon was angry enough to raze the castle, but Ariadnne couldn’t count on the beast not burying Nieve in the rubble.

She sprinted into the south wing, wet feet slipping beneath her. The sound of the rain beating the side of the cliff was a roar in her ears, masking the sound of her haggard breath. She took the stairs at breakneck speed, spiralling into the castle’s bowels.

A singular guard waited at the bottom, rising as she staggered round the corner. He was young; still green behind the ears, lips blanching in fear.

I don’t want to hurt you. Let me through.’ Ariadnne grated, her voice unnaturally deep with a gravelly edge as her vocal cords struggled to maintain shape, her body begging to stretch.

‘I… I can’t. We’re under strict orders… after last time.’ The guard swallowed.

‘You don’t understand, I have to see her.’

Her eyes changed, becoming many-faceted as they betrayed the truth of her words. A ridge of scales broke along her arm.