The Burden of Trust

by Nikki Frank

  Elita gave a little sniff. “Indulge me while I play the devil’s advocate for a moment, and tell me why she’s pregnant with a half-demon if she didn’t want to be with him?”

  Talon shrugged, but the pain etched itself on his face. “As if I would know for sure. One could make all sorts of assumptions. Perhaps she got drunk. Maybe he raped her. Maybe she’s loose. All unlikely in my mind. It’s been months since she and I had a good romantic relationship. The most likely scenario is she’s grown to care for him.” A faint blush tinged his cheeks. “It’s possible for the heart to move on.”

  At this point, he turned and gave Iya a withering look. “And you . . . for shame. I’ve had regular reports since you returned to civilization. You want her to be rid of her child because you fear what he or she will do when grown? You’re her partner. She shouldn’t have to face these things alone.”

  “What reports?” Iya protested.

  Talon’s scowl deepened. “She’s my ward until her nineteenth birthday. I keep tabs on her. My methods are my own, but I care about her safety enough to monitor.”

  Iya looked like Talon had stuffed a lemon in his mouth.

  “Thank you, Mr. Puck.” Elita jumped in before they could start another spat.

  Talon got up and walked from the meeting hall.

  Chapter 25

  “I’d like to call the guard, Velor,” Elita announced.

  Elita did this with all three of my dragons, both of Iya’s shi, Bazyli, Omri, Ferika, and Katriane. No matter how they had ended up with me, their stories all ran the same. I took them in benevolently, and they stayed willingly. When they talked about Iya and I, they described him as the strength and me as the heart. Their fond feelings for me filled my eyes with tears. Once Katriane had gone, Lord Feéroi started to stand, and Elita pointed him back into the chair.

  “You still have two lords who have not yet had their say.” Her expression dared any of the other lords to challenge her. When no one did, she gave them a curt nod. “Demon Lord Olivia, would you prefer a free-form speech like the other lords or questions like the other witnesses?”

  “Questions?” I squeaked. I hadn’t prepared a speech. Hopefully she had questions ready for me.

  She must have because she started flawlessly. “Please explain in your own words how you acquired the role of demon lord, seeing as how you are only an imp.”

  “The short version? Zaemon tried to force you to marry him, and his minions were killing off all my other friends and family. There is a magic talent that imps can use to manipulate time. But the user only controls a few seconds, and it completely drains them of magic. In other words, no imp uses this power because it’s a death sentence.”

  “Yet, you used such magic and survived?” Elita eyed me carefully. “Already, you showed signs of power above your station?”

  I shook my head. “No, I got lucky beyond luck. Omri the sphinx happened to be there. He manipulated enough magic infusions to save my life. Even then, I barely survived.”

  “Hmm . . . and you sought Iya out as a mate after becoming demon lord?”

  “I only sought him out to help stop the demon magic from taking over and turning me into a demon.”

  “Why didn’t you ask a healer in your own country?”

  “Who knows demon magic better than a demon?” I asked back. “There’s hardly a ready supply of demon healers in the Central Borderlands. I didn’t want rumors of my condition spreading, so asking around to find a healer at home wasn’t an option.”

  “Iya took you on with an ulterior motive, though.”

  “Yes. But not domination. He wanted two things from helping me. He wanted trade and help with the secret evacuation route he and Tomi were planning. At the time, they didn’t know I was an assassin capable of eliminating the Goblin King. Their plan included only evacuation.”

  “But they never bothered to inform our government of the impending danger?”

  “You’d have to ask Iya about his motivations if you want to know for sure. He and Tomi told me they didn’t want to create a panic, which would lead to people getting hurt. Their own citizens were still in the dark. They were to be evacuated under false pretenses in the hopes of being able to get more people out in an orderly fashion. Iya and Tomi said that once their citizens were safe, they were going to inform the government here.”

  “And you believed this?”

  “I did and still do. They may be akuma, but they have peaceful lands and prosperous citizens. I’ve seen it for myself. That doesn’t happen under a crappy ruler. They genuinely care about their citizens and planned what they thought would save the most lives.”

  Elita narrowed her eyes. “If Iya was doing so well on his own, why would he propose a pair bond with you? What did he hope to gain?” The last part came out sounding sinister.

  “He thought the bond would be necessary for exactly the reason you saw yourselves. He didn’t want to take his citizens and hide on Earth. The promise of our combined power gave us a new option. Together, he thought we might defeat the goblins. No single person here could have managed. Without the pair bond he had the foresight to insist on, we would have lost our lives, our people, everything.”

  “And what were your plans for all the power once you eliminated the goblin threat?”

  “We hadn’t even discussed it. We really weren’t giving ourselves much hope for the future.”

  “Do you have anything else to say in your defense?”

  “Only to judge us based on our actions and not on any prejudice you might hold.”

  I sat, and Elita offered Iya the same choice.

  “I’ll say my piece like the other demon lords.” Iya stood proud and faced the other lords, mild contempt on his features. “I’m not sorry for what we’ve done. And no matter how you judge, I’d do the same every time. We saved all the citizens in my province, not to mention all of yours. My one regret is, if you condemn me, I’ll be leaving my citizens to lords as short-sighted as you.

  “Olivia’s right. You are only seeing us through your biases and not for what we’ve done.” He turned his back on the lords and knelt in front of my chair, taking my hands. “I love you, Olivia. Talon’s right, you deserve better. If, by some luck, we get out of this, I’ll do my best to be better. The love you inspire in those odd companions you’re always picking up is remarkable. And I’m sure any child we have together will be as fantastic as her mother.”

  He sat back down in his seat as Elita took the floor again. “My turn,” she said. She told the story of her and Emmett and then talked a bit about me and our friendship together. Then she wagged a finger at the demon lords and the Synod.

  “I want you all to think of something as you deliberate. If these two were so power-hungry and desperate to rule as overlords, then why are they sitting here? Why didn’t they take out the whole lot of you during the several opportunities they’ve had? They immobilized and sent an entire army through a gateway by themselves, yet never harmed one of them. Why would they try so hard to preserve negotiations if they were only going to take over? Why fight battles twice or more when their chances were practically gift-wrapped? The whole group of us in this room couldn’t take them in a fight. Half of you are calling for their exile or death, and yet you are all completely unharmed. I ask you, are these the actions of the monsters you are accusing them of being?”

  Elita’s antennae twitched as she waited for some response. Her father stood and smoothed out his vest. “I think you’ve said enough, my dear. Now, as I said before, it is up to the Synod to pass sentencing.”

  Again, the hooded figure stood. He flexed his antennae. I’d never paid attention before, but they were all doing it. They must communicate with the other fairies that way. After a moment, he spoke slowly and deliberately.

  “After considering the additional te
stimony, our sentence for the accused has changed. We are placing the pair on one hundred years’ probation. During this time, if they attempt to take over as overlords, as defined by violently acquiring any additional demon lord thrones for themselves, their sentence will be death by dragon horde to be carried out immediately. Aside from this, they are released to continue all the duties being demon lord of a single district requires.”

  Elita squealed and jumped on me, hugging me wildly. Iya stood and faced the lords again.

  “Before everyone gets to patting themselves on the back and enjoying a feel-good moment which comes at mine and Olivia’s expense, don’t we have a goblin prince sitting around the palace somewhere? Shouldn’t he be in here on trial, rather than us? Because last time I checked, he tried to take all your thrones. And his father tried to wipe out all magic-kind aside from goblins. But you’re right, us saving your asses is a far more troubling problem. I’m so happy you dealt with us first.”

  I laid my hand on his arm. “Enough, Iya.”

  He glared at me. “No. It’s not enough. Not one of them has seen to the real problem despite the fact that we did the hard part for them. All they had to do was draw up a treaty and bind Tezky with magic. Instead, they put us on trial while you were sick and in the hospital. They only grudgingly let us off. Agma still looks like someone stuffed shit in her nose. And not one of them has said either ‘thank you’ or ‘I apologize.’”

  “Not one of our citizens said thank you,” I pointed out. “I never expect much thanks.”

  He jammed a finger in their direction. “They’re not regular citizens. And all your citizens love you, mine respect me. We’re getting neither love nor respect from our peers.”

  Lord Feéroi cleared his throat. “That’s not entirely true, young man. Kessit acknowledged your accomplishments, Tomi defended your motives, and I told them we should be grateful to you. I am ashamed to say we crossed our priorities and should have dealt with Tezky first, but some of us do appreciate and thank you. Likewise, some had legitimate, if unsubstantiated fears. In the long run, you will find having patience with a proceeding like this will pay off. Not everyone may agree with the decision reached here, but no one can argue it wasn’t a fair trial.”

  Iya snarled at him and stepped in front of me. “Fair trial? It only became fair because your daughter stepped in.”

  Suddenly the three of us were encased in a bubble of blue magic. Iya stared around him in shock. Lord Feéroi poked him in the chest. “Do you wish to undo everything I’ve done? Keep your mouth shut, boy.”

  Iya rubbed at his chest. “Huh?”

  “Elita and I had this worked out from the moment I knew bias would rule the outcome.” Feéroi gave Iya a condescending look. “I’ve been on my throne nearly as long as your father had his. Managing a situation is second nature. The other akuma were not going to show mercy, and my own demon lords have a bias toward akuma. Forcing them would have bred resentment and suspicion. But I wasn’t going to sit around and let them execute my most popular demon lord or the akuma who saved her.”

  Iya blinked at him in disbelief. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. But you two are going to have it rough because Tomi and I are the only ones in favor of the pair bond, and Tomi shows little more than base tolerance. You have to be careful. Tolerance can only be pushed so far.”

  He raised his hand to break the spell and stopped. “I wouldn’t mention the child around the other lords. Elita and I can build up favor for each of you, but in the case of your baby, most are either going to be against it based on breeding or based on fear of what it might become.”

  “But Talon’s only half-Toyol. I’ve never heard anyone complain,” I said.

  Lord Feéroi raised an eyebrow. “He never mentioned ill-treatment? Because I’d wager my throne, he’s had his share. But he wasn’t a high-profile figure until recently, and he’s never been a threat at any time.”

  “The baby is not a threat,” I protested.

  “Sometimes, a threat is in the eye of the beholder,” Feéroi said. “Give the others time. Once the baby arrives and is clearly nothing more than a baby, the other lords will begin to relax. But as its parents, you should be prepared for the bias against half-breeds. Discrimination won’t be limited to the demon lords. Magic-kind has a hard time with the concept.”

  He patted my cheek and put a hand on Iya’s head. “Are we calm enough to hold our tongues? Can we put Tezky in his place now?”

  I covered his hand with mine. “Thank you.”

  He gave my cheek another pat. “No. Thank you. I seem to be continually in your debt. I only wish I could do more.”

  The bubble disappeared, and Feéroi sat in his seat as if no time had passed at all. No fairies I knew of could stop time. What spell had he performed?

  Lord Feéroi ordered Tezky be brought in. The other demon lords talked as if Iya had said nothing.

  He leaned over and whispered, “I like Feéroi.”

  “Me, too.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Tezky arrived ten minutes later wearing handcuffs. He seemed irritated but otherwise well-kept. Iya and I were given desks amongst the lords, and Tezky took our spot in the center of the room—how quickly things change.

  Again, Lord Feéroi stood to open the proceedings. “Crown Prince Tezky, you stand accused of crimes against magic-kind.”

  “Actually, I sit accused.”

  Lord Feéroi ignored his impertinence and kept going. “It is the ruling of this court, the first of its kind—a joint proceeding by all the lords of Hakushi and The Central Borderlands—that you be bound by magic to a treaty of peaceful co-existence.”

  Tezky shrugged. “I’m not signing anything.”

  Agma smirked. “Funny thing about cooperation. It can always be bought at a price.”

  “I can’t be bought.” He crossed his arms and sat back. “If you harm me, my throne will pass to my son.”

  “Such a coincidence you mentioned him,” Agma’s smile turned truly evil, her fangs glimmering. “I happen to keep a pet hellhound. You are familiar with their talents, are you not?”

  Tezky didn’t answer, so Agma leaned her cheek on one hand, the other tapping claw-like nails on her desk. “Usually, hellhounds only live in the realm between here and the afterlife. They are semi-corporeal and feed on the flesh of corpses. Not a pet most would wish to have, and best not to ask how I acquired mine. But they have a useful talent. They’ve been bred to track and retrieve souls . . . from anywhere. My sweet little Lucien tracked down and brought back a goblin brat by the name of Vletov. Whatever will I do with him?”

  Tezky went as pale as his gray skin allowed, and Agma’s sneer grew. “I wonder if goblins are good eating?”

  “You wouldn’t,” Tezky challenged.

  “Oh?” She tapped a claw against her teeth. “Now you object to eating children? An akuma has no objections to eating just about any creature. It’s been a while since I tried anyone new.”

  Feéroi’s eyes sparkled, and a smile played at his lips. “I can intervene on both your behalf and that of your son . . . if . . . you sign the treaty. Or we can dispose of you both and set a more compromising goblin on your throne. Dynasties can’t last forever.”

  “What are the terms?” Tezky sulked.

  “You will make no move against the demon lords for the duration of your dynasty,” Feéroi started. “You will not interfere as we take all the goblins on Lord Iya’s list for memory modification. Once the last goblin on the list is taken care of, your son will be returned to you, and you will be free. And lastly, you will put a stop to the despicable practice of eating young magic-folk alive. Anyone caught doing so will be executed.”

  I stood. “I have a stipulation to add.” Feéroi waved a hand for me to continue. “The goblins must also free the kobold. Slavery
is a disgusting practice. There isn’t a civilized breed or kingdom in the Borderlands which still practices it.”

  “I second that.” Iya stood with his hand raised.

  “I agree,” Tomi also raised a hand.

  “Motion carried,” Feéroi announced. “It will be added to the treaty. Tezky, you will sign in blood. Since your descendants carry your blood, violation of this treaty will kill any of them.” He held out a piece of paper to Tezky along with a pen which looked more like a pick. “Sign it, and we’ll begin gathering the goblins for memory alterations.”

  Tezky growled as he stabbed his hand with the pen, then signed the treaty. It flared up and disappeared. Tezky flung himself back into the chair, looking livid.

  “Now,” Lord Feéroi mused, “how to bring the goblin lords back here when our goblin prince is looking less than helpful?”

  “I could take my three dragons and round them up,” I offered.

  “That’s an excellent idea, Olivia. Except I’ll borrow your three dragons, take Ferika as well, and go myself. It would be best for the goblins to see we mean business.” The look he shot me said the issue had more to do with me stepping back while my trial stood fresh in people’s minds.

  I gave him a small bow. “Feel free to enlist their services.”

  Lord Feéroi left promptly, and the Synod and lords began to disperse. I took the opportunity to hurry over and catch Tomi. Time to thank the one lord from Hakushi who had my back.

  “Tomi.”

  He turned and gave me a vanilla smile. “Yes?”

  I paused for a moment, considering, then gave him a firm hug. He startled beneath my arms. I stepped back before it got weird and gave him my brightest smile.