Page 76 of Silver Claws, Crimson Tears
The Bolt clears his throat. “His Majesty, King Craven Stonefall,orders that the accused, Rhealyn Rose Wyndward, be brought immediately to Castle Stonefall.”
My stomach plummets. The King wants me in his castle? What in all the hells for?
“That’s it?” Voltguard’s voice cuts through the silence. “Nothing about why?”
The Bolt officer shakes his head apologetically. “That’s the complete message, Commander.”
“Send for clarification,” she orders, gesturing impatiently at the machine.
The Bolt places his hands on two copper discs embedded in the Boltgram’s side. His eyes close in concentration as blue lightning crackles from his fingertips, dancing across the metal surface. The machine hums, gears whirring as the stylus twitches expectantly against fresh parchment. The scent of ozone fills the air.
Minutes pass. The stylus remains motionless.
“Well?” Voltguard demands.
“No response available, Commander.” The Bolt’s forehead glistens with sweat. “The channel is closed from their end.”
The Commander dismisses the Bolt. He leaves, closing the door with a quiet click that echoes in the tense silence. Commander Voltguard paces, her boots striking the stone floor firmly. Voltguard stops pacing, her weathered face unreadable.
“Earlier today,” she says, “I received a Boltgram requesting an open channel to His Majesty. The King asked for an update on the situation here. I provided one. He was particularly interested in Wyndward’s missing year.”
I frown and exchange a glance with Vaylen.
“He pressed for details. What you remembered, where you’d been.” Her eyes narrow. “He seemed... intrigued when I told him you recall nothing, which he already knew from my initial report, making his insistence curious.”
Vaylen looks confused. “So why isn’t the King here? Why did he change his plans?”
“Apparently,” Voltguard says, her mouth tightening into a thin line, “His Majesty never told Cragmere he was coming at all.”
I blink. “Wait, what? But Cragmere said?—”
“Cragmere said many things,” Voltguard cuts me off. “But the King never confirmed his attendance. I found it peculiar when Cragmere announced it. In all my years here, Craven has never visited.”
I laugh bitterly. “So he lied to create a spectacle? Is that it?”
Commander Voltguard nods. “It seems that way.”
“Why would the King want me in Emberton?” I ask, shaking my manacled wrists, which feel heavy and awkward even if the chain is broken. Shouldn’t he be terrified I’ll turn his precious castle into ruins? Unless there’s something else going on.
Commander Voltguard shrugs, her face a practiced mask of neutrality. “The King’s motivations are anyone’s guess. He’s unpredictable at best, irrational at worst.”
“Maybe,” I say bitterly, “he just wants the pleasure of executing me himself.”
“Unlikely,” the Commander says.
Vaylen gestures toward the door. “What do we do with Cragmere, his judge, and his circus out there?”
Commander Voltguard straightens her already perfect posture. “Dismiss all Sky Order members immediately, High Prime, then escort the Inspector here. I’d like a word with him about his creative interpretation of royal commands.”
“And what about Skysinger Wyndward?” Vaylen asks, his voice carefully neutral though I catch the concern in his eyes.
“Take her to the chamber next door where she’ll wait.” Voltguard gestures impatiently at my bound wrists. “And forHeratrix’s sake, remove those manacles. She’s already broken the chain.”
I smirk. “And here I thought you enjoyed seeing me in chains, Commander.”
Voltguard’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Don’t push your luck, Wyndward. You’re still accused of murder.”
Vaylen’s hand closes around my upper arm, steering me toward the door.
