“This is going to be a big deal, isn’t it?” asked Stafford.
“I should think so,” I replied between sips of warm ale. “Master Fosco signed away the dragon sanctuary. If King Magnar gets away with his crimes, he might be able to eject the dragons from their home.”
Stafford shook his head. “Those dragons earned it fair and square for what they did to help Auntie Rilla.”
I grunted my agreement. After everything the dragons had suffered during their millennium of captivity, and how hard they had fought during the Great Dragon Revolution, they deserved to rule Mount Fornax for themselves.
A hush fell across the arena, and I glanced up to find Master Roopal stepping into the royal box, followed by the Magistratus and his four ceremonial witches. The old ogre wore his usual gold-embroidered, white robes, and from the way his horns gleamed when they caught the sun, he’d polished them especially for the trial.
“What’s he doing here?” asked Stafford.
“He was with the Prince Regent when I asked him to come and calm Master Fosco down.”
“Was that wise? You saw Master Fosco’s secret paintings.”
I raised a shoulder. “He’s the only person I could think of who had a chance of stopping him, and I think they’re friends deep down.”
The door to the royal box opened again, and Master Fosco staggered into his seat, followed by an equally unsteady Father.
The warriors around me cheered and chanted, “BLUEBEARD, BLUEBEARD, BLUEBEARD!”
Brunus, Virens, and Rufus clapped Gobi on the back, who preened at the reflected glory. I hid my smile behind the last of my breakfast roll. If only these people lauding Father as a hero had seen him last night with his brandywine. Knowing what ogre-hybrids were like, they’d probably cheer even harder.
Master Roopal picked up the speaking horn. “Warriors, witches, and dragons. We bring you all together for a special meeting of the Council of Dragons and welcome our honored guests, the Magistratus, and the Prince Regent.”
More cheers and applause broke out.
The door to the royal box opened again. Masters Solum and Klauw walked in, followed by the Witch General and four of her lieutenants.
“Who invited her?” I muttered.
Stafford’s shoulders rose around his ears. “Maybe they had to close down the Ogre Senate today to put King Magnar to justice. He did hurt the whole country with his locusts.”
I popped the rest of the breakfast roll in my mouth and leaned back to enjoy the trial. Madam Maritimus appeared from an archway at the bottom of the arena with a group of witches, levitating a stage that held three pillories. King Magnar with his head secured in the centre of the board and his hands pinned either side, slumped in the one between Mr. Bacon and the librarian.
Dragons snarled and warriors booed. I glanced around the arena, flinching at the hatred in everybody’s eyes. Up at the royal box, Father placed a hand on Master Fosco’s shoulder as though restraining him from rushing to the edge and breathing fire on the trio.
Master Roopal stood and announced through the speaking horn, “If it pleases the leaders of the Council of Dragons, I would bid you to be silent for the commencement of the trial.”
When the boos quietened into mutters, he continued. “A fortnight ago, members of Mount Fornax allowed an injured male in a cadet’s uniform through their wards. Little did they know that this would trigger the enslavement of the entire dragon preserve to the defendants, Henri Bacon, Favian Albertus, and King Magnar of the Savannah Empire.”
Stafford nudged me, and I nodded. The two of us had spied on proceedings the day King Magnar had been brought in half dead.
“Over the next few days,” continued Master Roopal, “You will hear witness accounts of how the three defendants abused the hospitality of Mount Fornax to exact their wicked deeds. At the end of this trial, I am sure you will agree that these ill-doers have earned their sentence of death by dragon fire.”
Behind him, Master Fosco nodded. Father gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. I rubbed my temples. Had Father’s recent troubles with the Ogre Senate’s votes of no confidence made him more sympathetic to Master Fosco?
“Excuse me?” The librarian raised his head. “When may we mount a defense?”
Master Roopal leaned against the railing of the royal box and spat, “Your actions were indefensible. Silence or I will freeze the skin off your backs.”
“Is that allowed?” whispered Stafford. “I thought they were allowed their own advocate.”
I pointed up at the royal box. “The Magistratus isn’t complaining, so I suppose they’re not going to get one.”
“Before I was rudely interrupted,” said Master Roopal, “I would like to call our first witness, the being responsible for the production of the antidote that saved us from slavery.”
Applause filled the stadium. I sat straighter and clapped. Master Jesper deserved some recognition for all the work it had done to save the residents of Mount Fornax from the loyalty elixir.
The troll emerged from an archway, clad in a smarter version of the black cloak it usually wore. It also held its tall staff, topped by a crystal wrapped in gold wire.
“Introduce yourself to the court,” said Master Roopal.
“I am Jesper, Chief Magical Officer of Tundra.”
“What was your business here in Mount Fornax?”
“I heard about the locust attack on Steppe and offered my invention. The largomorphus rex, a marsupial rabbit that survives on algae found in pink snow.”
The dragons all roared at the mention of the oversized rabbits. An image of one of their squashed-up faces flashed from within the bond, making me shudder.
“We thank you for your delicious and wonderful contribution.” Master Roopal inclined his head. “When did you become aware that Mount Fornax was under the influence of alchemical elixirs?”
Even the dragons went silent to hear what Master Jesper would say next.
“A so-called plague had broken out across the dragons with symptoms mimicking clearscale. Something about it looked suspicious, but before I could investigate, warriors arrested me and took me to General Thornicroft for interrogation.” The troll’s voice trailed off as though talking about the experience was painful.
I chewed my lip. That had been my fault. I had told Albens Griffon that Master Jesper was suspicious.
“Go on,” said Master Roopal.
“Hooded and cloaked figures attempted to murder me but shot General Thornicroft through the heart.”
Muttering broke out. I suppose very few people had heard about the General’s plight.
Master Roopal picked up the speaking horn. “How did you know they wanted to kill you?”
“As I explained to Cadet Bluford and Madam Evolene, who were with me at the time, the attackers were still shooting even after they had mortally wounded General Thornicroft.”
Two of the lieutenants standing behind the Witch General whispered into her ear, making her shoot to her feet. After a quick enchantment, she said in a magnified voice, “Master Jesper. To which Evolene do you refer?”
“The young witch who helped me create the antidote. Without the tireless efforts of Madam Evolene and her friends, Mount Fornax would never have been liberated.”
“Bring her out.”
“What’s going on?” asked Stafford.
I rocked back on my hard, sandstone seat, holding my arms over my roiling stomach. Evolene had nothing to do with the plague apart from trying to fix things. “T-that’s what I want to know.”
Evolene inched out into the arena floor, clutching her staff to her chest. “W-witch General?”
“Evolene Galloway,” snapped the Witch General. “You are in violation of your probation.”
My breath caught, and I clenched my fists. Evolene needed to speak up and defend herself. She hadn’t done anything wrong!
Her mouth dropped open. “B-but I didn’t commit any more crimes.”
The Witch General s
pread her hands over the rail of the royal box and glared down at Evolene. After letting a tense silence stretch out, she said, “One of the conditions of your probation was to not consort with known criminals.”
Evolene shook her head. “B-but I don’t know the alchem—”
“You are aware of Master Jesper’s illustrious history?”
When Evolene didn’t reply, the two lieutenants stepped forward to flank the Witch General. My heart exploded in my chest. Surely, they couldn’t be reprimanding her for working with Master Jesper? This didn’t make any sense.
The senior witch bared her teeth. “Evolene Galloway, I asked you a direct question!”
“I…” Evolene gulped. “I heard from a friend that Master Jesper worked for the Snow Queen, but it was punished for its crimes.”
“That is no excuse. Once a criminal, always a criminal!”
The lieutenants pointed their staffs at Evolene and encased her in a yellow bubble.
“What?” The word slipped out of my mouth as a gasp.
“Evolene!” Stafford rushed out of his seat, only for one of the lieutenants to blast him back into it with her magic.
“Evolene Galloway,” said the Witch General. “For the violation of your probation, you will be returned the Magical Militia where you will serve your full sentence!”
Chapter 4
Evolene opened her mouth in a silent scream within the bubble and pressed her palms on its surface, trying to push her way out. Somehow, the enchantment had divested her of her staff, rendering her helpless. The Witch General folded her arms and receded back into the royal box, while the two lieutenants levitated the bubble toward them.
For a moment, nobody spoke. We’d come to see the punishment of the villains, not the arrest one of the people who had helped to apprehend them.
“Say something,” hissed Fyrian.
Her words were the jolt to the heart I needed, making me pull myself upright.
“Wait!” I shouted. “Didn’t you hear what Master Jesper said? She helped save Mount Fornax. The alchemists were throwing explosives on us all, and we escaped together—”
“Cadet Bluford,” said Master Roopal. “If you have a grievance with the Witch General’s policies, you may approach her during the recess. Any more disturbances and you will be sent back to the mountain.”
I pointed at Stafford, who the witches had left as stiff as a tin soldier, leaning against the sandstone seat. “What about Cadet Perrault? He didn’t do anything wrong.”
Master Roopal turned to the lieutenants and said something I couldn’t hear. The taller of them, a witch with cropped, silver hair, flicked yellow magic across the stadium, and Stafford slumped in his seat.
I turned to my best friend. “Are you all right?”
He moaned, his face turning the color of bleached bones. “What are we going to do?”
“I’ll speak to the Witch General and make her understand.” Stafford’s shoulders trembled, and I gave him a pat on the back. “If she doesn’t listen, the Prince Regent will.”
Stafford bowed his head, hiding his damp eyes with a mop of caramel-colored hair. “Why would he help Evolene? He hates her.”
Cringing, I turned away. With all the trouble befalling Mount Fornax, I hadn’t had the chance to write to Father about my new friends. If I explained how she’d saved our lives on countless occasions, he might intervene on Evolene’s behalf.
The warriors around us broke their silence, muttering about what Evolene might have done to have warranted a Magical Militia punishment. As witches tended to govern themselves, it probably never occurred to them to protest.
Rufus scooted up to us. “Bluford, you should go, now. If anyone can save Evolene, it would be you. I will watch over Stafford.”
With a sharp nod, I stood and made my way down the steps, around the walkway at the perimeter of the stage, and through the arch that led to where Eyepatch and his colleagues were serving breakfast to about a hundred warriors.
Clenching my fists, I inhaled lungfuls of meat-scented air. The Witch General couldn’t be so narrow-minded. She’d fought the Snow Queen and sacrificed a century of her life to keeping the crazed monarch banished to Tundra.
I side-stepped a bald-headed healer clad in white leather. It was all the fault of the two lieutenants who attacked Stafford. They had whispered something to the Witch General while Master Jesper had given evidence against the alchemists. It was likely them who reminded her of the ridiculous rule that people under probation shouldn’t speak to those who had served a sentence for a crime.
As I passed the last griddle station, one of the warriors in line grabbed my arm. “Bluford. You were not in the mess hall last night.”
I locked eyes with Niger, and my insides flip-flopped. Without thinking, words spilled out of my mouth. “Oh… I went to the palace with Phoenix then spent the evening with Master Jesper and Evolene.” My voice trailed off. There was something about those obsidian eyes that made me lose my composure and forget I was supposed to be a boy. “Um… Evolene.”
“Anything wrong?” Lowering his voice, he leaned in, still holding onto my arm.
My throat dried. Now wasn’t the time to feel giddy. Evolene was in trouble and Stafford was upset. I swallowed hard, focussing on my friends’ plight. “T-the Witch General just arrested her for consorting with a known criminal.”
“Who?”
“Master Jesper.”
His brows drew together. “Can I help?”
“I’m on my way to the royal box. That’s where they’re keeping her.”
He stepped out of the line, and we headed out through the arched exit of the arena and into the bright morning. The clouds had disappeared, leaving a yolk-colored sun blazing within a pristine, blue sky. I updated Niger on recent events and on my suspicion that the Witch General might have had Evolene arrested on the suggestion of her lieutenants.
Niger shook his head. “They need to make allowances for urgent and unusual circumstances. If the two of you had let those alchemists kill Master Jesper, the whole of Mount Fornax would still be under the control of the Savannah Empire.”
“Exactly.” I punched the palm of my hand.
“A warlord like King Magnar with dragons under his control could take over the world.”
I was about to nod when a twinge struck my heart. It was the damsel denial urging me to explain that King Magnar only conquered his neighbors to fulfill his bargain with the spriggan and to protect his sisters. I held my silence. Right now, I wasn’t in the mood to explain to Niger why I would defend King Magnar after everything he had done.
We walked around the sandstone building to the canvas canopy and red carpet that signified the entrance to the royal box. A quartet of dragon warriors stood outside, guarding the archway.
“Master Roopal said I could come up to speak to the Witch General,” I said.
A pair of security witches stepped out from within the arena’s interior. Roseate, the pink-haired witch, trailed after them. She narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on?”
The guard flicked his head at us. “These cadets are trying to access the royal box.”
“I need to speak to the Witch General urgently. And the Prince Regent,” I added.
“Whatever it is can wait until the recess,” said the shorter of the witches.
My hands balled into fists. “They’ve arrested Evolene!”
They exchanged worried glances. Roseate asked, “Are you sure?”
The last thing I needed right now was any attitude from her. I still hadn’t forgotten that she had told everyone my blood could cure the plague and then tried to get me captured. And I still hadn’t forgiven her for locking Ivan and me in the back of the Fornax Flying Float with a crate of king hornets.
“Of course,” I said through clenched teeth. “I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Whatever for?”
“They say she violated her probation by working with Master Jesper on the elixir.”
The shorter of the security witches glanced away, and the taller chewed her lip. She said, “Our orders are to not let anyone through until the recess.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “How long is that going to be?”
“That’s the thing.” She shrugged. “They didn’t tell us.”
My heart sank. What if it took hours for them to take their break? Stafford had to be devastated. I hated to leave him on his own, but then if we sat together in the audience, we might miss the short window of time we had to catch the Witch General.
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Will they spend the recesses here or back at the mountain?”
“The observation gallery has been set up with refreshment,” replied the short witch. “I expect they’ll all go there for the recess.”
“Can we wait for them up there?”
She glanced at her friend. “They didn’t say that room was off-limits.”
The witches stepped aside and let us into the royal entrance, which was cooler than the rest of the arena. Niger and I ascended the stairs and nodded to the two Magical Militia witches guarding the entrance to the royal box.
“Which way is the observation gallery?” I asked. “The Witch General said I should meet her there in the recess.”
They pointed left, so we continued along the curved hallway to a set of double doors. Niger pushed them open to reveal an enclosure with a floor-to-ceiling opening at one end. Outside on the left was the royal box, where Master Roopal stood at the podium directing the trial through his speaking horn. The wall with the door was lined with a table laden with bottled drinks and dishes of food under transparent domes, while plush sofas lined the other two walls.
Niger placed a hand on the small of my back and ushered me forward. “We may as well watch the trial.”
Nodding, I folded my arms and turned my attention to the stage. The observation gallery gave a great view of the three men standing in pillories. Next to them stood Master Jesper, who gazed up into the royal box.
“P-please!” Mr. Bacon raised his head within his pillory and waved his hands about. “We have information you need.”
Dragon Mage Academy Box Set Page 88