Zoelyn froze and slowly looked up at Syrah. “Matricide.” She whispered and felt her mouth go dry at the word. She hadn’t truly focused on Shade’s crime until now. Her mind had locked on the fact that he had saved Grim’s life and she hadn’t bothered to consider the consequences of Shade’s actions. There wasn’t a single house on Sanctuary that would condone the killing of kin, let alone killing a parent no matter what the circumstances were. “He is cutting his ties with us to protect us. He knows how everyone will react when word spreads.”
“So what do we do?” Syrah asked softly.
“We keep your Father asleep as long as we can so I can sort out what to do without him going for my Brother’s throat.” Zoelyn mumbled and let out a long slow breath. “And then we strangle Shade for putting me in this position. When I have to answer to Grim about all of this he will go for my throat.” She added in a softer voice.
*
She was finishing the last stitch as the door opened and glanced up to see Dray poking his head around the doorway. The Blight’s expression was troubled and she felt her own stomach knot in response.
“Have you finished enough that you can come to the main hall? Jala has just arrived and Neph is calling for everyone to attend in the Great Hall. Shade has refused to answer any of his questions and Neph is so pissed the vein in his forehead is standing out. You have to see this for yourself Zoelyn. Shade isn’t acting anything like he was in here. He is being a complete ass.” The words poured out of Dray and she could hear both excitement and dread in his tone.
Nodding slowly she rose from her chair and looked to Syrah. “Will you keep an eye on your Father until I return?” She asked hopefully and sighed with relief when the child nodded. “If he wakes find me at once alright?”
“I will.” Syrah promised as she moved to the chair Zoelyn had just vacated and settled into its cushioned depths.
Stifling a yawn Zoelyn stretched her back and followed Dray from the room. The knots in her stomach didn’t seem inclined to loosen and she had the unsettling feeling they would only get worse as the day progressed.
“When I came to fetch you Jala had just arrived at the front gates. If we hurry we might be in time to hear everything that is said.” Dray explained as he picked up his pace.
Wordlessly Zoelyn nodded and quickened her own steps to match the Blight’s. The halls of the city were empty as they practically ran toward the Great Hall, but she could hear the buzz of conversation echoing toward her. Everyone was already gathered, and by the sound of it something big was going on. It might be the return of the children or the arrival of the High Lady, then again it might be something Shade had done and they had already missed it.
She was practically breathless when they finally reached the door and barely managed to slip inside and press herself back against a wall as Jala entered from the main doors. The High Lady was dressed like a queen in a long purple gown and wore a serene expression on her beautiful face. Valor walked easily at her side with a faint smile creasing his lips while the two Bendazzi trailed behind them both like royal guards.
“She looks more like the Empress than the actual Empress does.” Dray whispered and Zoelyn had to nod in agreement.
Zoelyn’s gaze shifted to her Brother who wore the same battered leather armor that he always did. Neph’s face was lit with a scowl that was softening as Jala approached, but Zoelyn could see the tension in his body that spoke of contained anger. It didn’t take much to determine the source of Neph’s fury. Shade lounged near Neph looking perfectly relaxed and rather insolent by the way his boots were propped so casually on the small table that rested in front of Neph’s throne. There wasn’t even a trace of the grief she had seen on him in Grim’s room and even his color seemed to have improved. He no longer looked pale and weary, if anything he seemed amused. A faint smirk pulled at Shade’s lips as he watched Jala draw closer, and Zoelyn could see the flicker of hesitation on Jala’s face as she caught sight of it.
Jala didn’t falter in her steps though despite the confusion in her violet eyes. Her gaze never left the dais Neph was seated on until she drew to a stop a few feet in front of him. Her head bowed forward and her wine colored curls fell over her face as she gently released Valor’s arm and dropped to her knees before Neph’s throne. The gentle murmur of the room faded to silence as the High Lady of Merrodin humbled herself before the Delvay throne. Neph’s scowl faded completely in his shock and he leaned forward quickly to stare down at Jala in disbelief as she lowered her head to rest on the stone floor.
“I come to Delvay for several reasons today, but the foremost is to beg your forgiveness High Lord NephonDelvayon. I turned my back on Delvay in anger and I spoke words that I regret more than I can say. I ask your forgiveness for my childish behavior and beg that Delvay will once again consider Merro as an ally, though I know I have no right to ask such things after my unforgivable behavior in your own city.” Jala’s words rang through the Great Hall and Zoelyn could see mouths dropping open around the room. The High Lady couldn’t have stunned the people of Delvay more had she paraded into the room naked and clucking like a chicken. Such things were simply not done in Delvay. No High Lord they knew would beg anything of anyone no matter the situation.