Aldred frowns. “That can’t possibly be the real codex.”
“What?” asks Lincoln coolly. “Because the real one was hidden on Earth at the Wheeler Institute?”
All the blood drains from Aldred’s face. “What did you do?”
“We got the evidence, of course.” I raise the item in my hands. “Oh, and you may be permanently short one demon patrol, if you know what I mean.”
Aldred’s features turn slack as he slumps onto the bench. “You’re doomed. Whatever you’ve done, it won’t help you.”
Sure, it won’t.
The Arbiter looks at the codex in her hands. “You had two days to make your arguments in tandem with this evidence, I’m afraid that’s down to a matter of seconds now. Do you have anything to say?”
I raise my hand. “Yes.”
The Arbiter’s all-white eyes narrow. “Go on.”
I point to Aldred. “He’s guilty as fuck.” Aldred’s face turns so red he seems ready to burst. Meanwhile, a chorus of stunned gasps echoes around the room. I roll my eyes. “Come on, you all know he’s guilty. Spare me.”
The Arbiter focuses on Lincoln. “And what do you have to say?”
“Nothing to add. My lovely fiancée captured my sentiments exactly.”
I take Lincoln’s hand. That’s my guy.
“Then I shall prepare the evidence.” The Arbiter focuses on the codex, which rises up to hover above our heads. Seconds pass, and my chest tightens with worry. Will this evidence be enough? I know Lincoln said the Arbiter is fair and all, but who knows what happens when you’re magically chained to a chair for all eternity? This bitch could be crazy.
When the Arbiter speaks again, her voices echoes in odd ways through the cavernous room. “Commence the review.”
The codex becomes larger and translucent, just as it did with Cryptan in the Vault. Images flicker through its depths. I recognize the faces as they give testimony, starting with the children we first interviewed and ending with Mrs. Pomplemousse. Beams of light shoot out from the codex as the different images pass through. Meanwhile, the irises in the Arbiter’s face turn from white to icy blue.
I was so busy getting the evidence I never really considered the process by which it would get reviewed. At last, the Arbiter raises her arms, and the codex flies into her grasp. The moment the magical item reaches her palms, it returns to its regular appearance. The Arbiter blinks once, slowly. When she refocuses on the courtroom, her eyes are all white again. “There is enough evidence here that we wish to reopen this trial.”
“What?” Aldred hops to his feet again. His barrel chest heaves with frantic breaths. “That’s against tradition. You need to decide now. And there is only one true result—send both of them to jail, starting with Lincoln.”
I point at his Aldred’s nose. “That’s the High Prince Lincoln to you, buddy.”
The Arbiter sets the codex into her lap. “This is an area of law with no precedent. Never before has evidence been brought on the last day.”
“Send them to prison!”
“How dare you?” The Arbiter’s all-white eyes flare with bright light. “This is my courtroom, and I have set a new precedent. No one is to be imprisoned until the evidence is reviewed fully.”
“What about Cryptan?” Aldred raises his fists. I have to hand it to the guy; he’s not giving up. “You can’t possibly—”
“Enough!” The Arbiter stands. Her imposing seven feet of height means that she positively towers over the room. “I set the justice here. We reconvene on Monday. That is my commandment. You may all leave.”
Lincoln and I share a look. Little by little, we break out into huge smiles. I’m not sure who moves first, but suddenly we’ve enveloped each other in the mother of all hugs.
All the work was worth it. Interviewing those who’d been hurt by Aldred. The trip to the Wheeler Institute. And now, we have a chance to can win this case and legitimately dismantle Acca. I lean into Lincoln’s shoulder, inhaling his sweet scent of pine needles and leather, one thought echoing through my mind.
We’re so close. We might actually do this.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I soak in every aspect of this moment. The press of Lincoln’s arms around me. The drip-drop of condensation from somewhere deep in the cave. The screeching of Aldred as he loses his cool. I want to bottle this up and save it for the hopeless times, because chances are, there’ll be plenty of those in my future. And when they arrive, I’ll mentally return to the here and now, remembering how Lincoln and I kicked some serious ass today.
But then, Aldred’s screeching gets earsplittingly loud. The moment ends. Oh, well.
“They are guilty!” Aldred’s mismatched eyes are wild with rage. After that, he rushes across the aisle, his face flushed red and fist cocked high.
Even worse, he’s coming straight for me.
The move takes me by surprise. Aldred is a lot of things, but a warrior isn’t one of them. I stare at him, mouth open. This is really happening. Aldred’s charging at me with the clear intention to introduce his fist to my face.
In court.