Half of the house was occupied by a single room containing a large elliptical table with chairs positioned around it. The table was made from a type of wood I’d never seen in Shiyalta. Many years of use had left the thick varnish on its surface marred by dark stains. It was likely a piece with a rich history that had been made somewhere farther south.
“I see a familiar face.”
I entered and approached Jula Lacramanus. There was an old grudge between the two of us. I’d heard that she was now head of her family, but it hadn’t occurred to me that I’d find her here.
The arrogant expression she usually wore was gone now. She was so consumed by fear that I could hear her teeth chattering.
I stopped near her chair and softly touched her thin neck from behind.
Her shoulders twitched powerfully. “Eeeek!”
I looked over at the old woman sitting at the opposite side of the table. “Luida Gudinveil. I didn’t think I’d see you here either.”
Luida looked at me without a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Yes, I came along.”
“Were you conspiring with the others? It changes things if you were.”
“No. I came here hoping for some entertainment. I’m just visiting.”
I guess she doesn’t matter.
“We’re short on seats,” I said.
“I believe there’s one in the next room,” Myalo replied from her position near the entrance.
I walked around the table and opened the door to the other room. It was dark inside because there weren’t any lamps.
As I was looking around for one, Henrique—who’d come along with Tillet—knelt before me and offered up a lamp in an overblown gesture. I didn’t feel like thanking her, so I accepted it wordlessly.
Now that there was light, I found that the other room was a strange place full of bookshelves and display cases. It was a veritable cabinet of curiosities. I couldn’t tell what most of the objects inside the room’s glass cases were. One held a broach with a gemstone, while the case next to it contained a dirty necklace apparently made from a chain of flimsy iron pieces. It must’ve had some historical value to be worth putting on display.
There was also a chair to sit on while admiring the items. I picked it up with one hand and returned to the main room.
On reentering, I headed to the top of the table.
“Move aside,” I told Keagul Cursefit, who I recognized as the woman from that morning.
The woman to her left or right would have to move too, but Sharun Charleville on her left looked very old, and I couldn’t be bothered to wait for her.
“Come on. Move along,” I said to Vivila Marmoset, who was sitting in the most conspicuous place at the head of the table.
“You can’t order—”
I grabbed the back of Vivila’s head and slammed it hard into the table. It felt like I’d just smashed an overripe piece of fruit.
“Is that some old witch belief? You think knights like me can’t harm you? Maybe it was true once, but things changed ten days ago.” I spoke as I peeled Vivila off the table, still holding her hair. “We only held ourselves back while Her Majesty was around. Maybe you never realized it, but you were under Queen Shimoné’s protection. Well, not anymore. Don’t expect any mercy from me.”
The Ho family had offered their spears to the royal family. We’d sworn our loyalty and stayed true to our word. It was what had stopped us from occupying the royal capital to eradicate those we didn’t like. Even when a second son’s promising career had been ruined because of some false accusation, no one had made a fuss about it.
But now the royal family was gone, and so too were the laws that shielded witches.
“Ugh...” Vivila sat down in her chair with blood flowing from her nose. “If you’re going to kill me, then get it over with.”
“I will, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to talk first. Now get yourself and your chair out of my way, you old bag.” I released her head like I was casting it aside.
Vivila didn’t try to hide her displeasure as she moved for me. I put my own chair where hers had been and sat down.
“Tillet, tie them all up except for the Gudinveil woman. A simple rope around the chair and their stomachs should be enough.”
“Yes, sir,” Tillet replied. She took a rope and began by wrapping it around Kiki Enfillet’s abdomen.
“Don’t bother,” Kiki Enfillet said. “We won’t try to run.”
“I’ve got no patience for you right now,” I told her. “Keep your mouth shut and maybe I’ll make your death a little less painful.”
“All right...” Kiki Enfillet was relatively cooperative. She didn’t argue any further.
“Before I get to the main topic, the disrespect shown to the bodies of my parents was...”
Halfway through the sentence, my emotions got the better of me and I couldn’t stop my nose from running. I couldn’t bear to embarrass myself in front of these people, but the more I tried to quell my emotions, the stronger the flow of mucus and tears became. I just couldn’t hold myself together once I started thinking about Rook and Suzuya.
I must look pathetic.
“Which one of you was responsible? I was told that a grand witch used her authority to force her way into the morgue.”
As I spoke, three of the other five of the witches glanced over at Jula.
Okay... Should’ve known it was her. Who else would go so far out of their way to do a thing like that?
I stood up from my chair.
“Eek! No! It wasn’t me!”
“Shut up.”
Jula hadn’t been tied up yet, so as I approached her, she went tumbling backward out of her chair.
“Stop! Get away from me!”
“What are you crawling on the floor for? Come on, get up.”
I grabbed Jula by the collar and forced her to her feet.
“Sit. Relax. I won’t kill you yet.”
“Ah... Ah...”
Jula remained standing and simply trembled. She was staring into space, as if she couldn’t process anything, and both of her hands shook violently as she held them out to protect her head.
She thinks she can hide from reality? No chance. Even if she faints, I’ll shake her awake.
“I said sit.”
Henrique picked up the fallen chair and placed it against the rear of Jula’s knees. At the same time, I pushed Jula’s shoulder downward, forcing her into a sitting position. She didn’t try to resist.