Page 94 of The Fae Girl 1

“Enough of this. Let’s get on with it.” The High King ordered waving his hand at the man to the far left of him who held a small bell up which he rang loudly before speaking.

“We are here today to judge the crimes committed by the High Prince Rillon, on this day, the fifteenth after the solstice half-moon.” He said. “Those crimes being that of gaining property by deception belonging to the High King, damage to said property, and assault of the High King’s guard.”

My jaw dropped. “I am to be classed as property? Even now?” I asked.

“Under the eyes of the law that is what you are.” The man replied with a shrug.

I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth so hard I thought they might break, fighting back the tears that threatened to overwhelm me. I’d be damned if they saw me cry now.

“How do you answer these charges High Prince Rillon?”

“Not Guilty.” He said with a smirk.

Jelric hissed.

“Not Guilty? You were found on top of the girl. You had to be pulled off her. What do you say about the soldier whose arm you broke?” Jelric questioned him.

“I am guilty of that and I apologise. But the girl, I did not do anything she did not want.” Rillon said as he folded his arms across his chest.

“Why would I have wanted that? Why would I have wanted to be anywhere near you?” I yelled at him. “You disgust me.”

“You do not speak in this court.” The man with the bell said pointing a bony finger at me. “We will question you in due course.”

“So I have to just stand here and listen to his lies?” I cried.

“You should not be standing. Get a stool for the girl, High Prince Fain too.” He said waving a hand to one of the servants who hurriedly moved to put them out for them.

“Is this for real?” I asked Fain.

“Our system may seem odd to you but if you want Rillon held to account you need to play by their rules.” He muttered nodding his head in the direction of the men all sat at the table.

I bit back my reply.

I was getting really sick of playing by everyone else’ rules. Sick of being treated as nothing more than an object, a plaything for them all.

“Tell us in your words how you account for the incident.” The man said turning back to Rillon.

“It’s simple. The Fae girl’s been mad for me since the ball. I agreed to meet her today after she wouldn’t stop harassing me.”

“Harassing?” I cried feeling the anger flush in my face.

“Silence. If you cannot hold your tongue you will be gagged.” The man said glaring at me.

Fain held his hand out in what I guess was meant to be a calming gesture. I stared at it, focused on it, as if I could zone out entirely from this entire hellshow.

“Please continue High Prince Rillon.” Someone said.

“As I said, the girl was harassing me. I agreed to meet her today to pacify her and let us both move on. Against my better judgement things got out of hand.”

“In what way did they get ‘out of hand’?” The balding man in the middle asked leaning forward.

“She kissed me. I kissed her back. One thing led to another and well, Prince Fain found us in the midst of a fumble. Nothing happened. It was an error of judgement on my part but look at her, would you have turned her down if she threw herself at you?”

I clenched my fists and closed my eyes as almost everyone in that room turn to me. It felt like they were all eyeing me up and imagining what they would do. I wrapped Fain’s cloak around me tighter as if I could shut it all out.

“You say nothing happened but she is the High King’s property. She is not yours to kiss or touch.”

“Like I said, it was an error of judgement but I dare any man not to have done the same in my position.” Rillon retorted.

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