Page 79 of Silver Claws, Crimson Tears
Cragmere’s face contorts, his authority crumbling before my eyes. “This is outrageous. The Sky Order can’t place itself above the King’s justice!”
“We serve the King’s justice,” I interject. “In all its forms.”
The Commander and I exchange a brief glance. We’re doing nothing else but following the King’s orders.
Cragmere’s composure shatters like glass. His face twists into something feral, eyes bulging with unrestrained fury.
“Where is she?” he screams, spittle flying from his lips. “Where have you hidden that murdering bitch?”
His head whips around, beady eyes nearly popping from their sockets as he searches every corner of the office. Before either the Commander or I can respond, he bolts for the door with surprising speed for a man his age.
“Seize him!” Commander Voltguard orders, but I’m already in pursuit.
Cragmere barrels down the corridor like a man possessed. His feet barely touch the ground as he flings open the first door he encounters, the chamber where I left Rhealyn. Without pause, he launches himself at her. The chair topples backward with a crash, Rhealyn sprawling beneath his weight. His hands find her throat, fingers digging into her flesh with savage intent.
“You took him from me!” he snarls, his voice unrecognizable. “You’ll pay, you bitch!”
Rhealyn makes no move to defend herself. Her arms lie limp at her sides, her eyes wide but resigned, as if she believes this punishment justified.
In three strides, I cross the room, grasp Cragmere’s shoulders, and wrench him backward with enough force to separate him from Rhealyn.
“Control yourself, Inspector!” I command, my voice cutting through his rage.
Cragmere struggles against my grip, all semblance of the calculating Chief Inspector gone. In his place writhes a creature of pure vengeance, consumed by a grief I hadn’t fathomed until this moment.
“She must answer for her crimes,” he wails, still straining toward Rhealyn who gasps for breath on the floor.
I haul Cragmere backward, his body thrashing against my grip like a landed fish. His fury feels both pathetic and dangerous—a terrible combination in a man with power.
“You’ll rot for this interference,” Cragmere spits, clawing at my forearms. “The King will hear of your treachery.”
The judge stands frozen in the doorway, his face pinched with distaste. His gaze falls on Cragmere with open contempt, clearly the Chief Inspector’s display has cost him whatever respect the judge once held.
Commander Voltguard strides past us, entering the chamber where Rhealyn still lies on the floor. The heavy door swings shut behind her with finality, leaving me alone with the raving man.
“Take Chief Inspector Cragmere to the holding room in the east tower,” I order the two Claws standing guard at the exit. Their young faces register surprise before hardening intoprofessional masks. “Keep him there until he regains his composure.”
“Yes, High Prime,” they answer in unison, moving forward to flank Cragmere.
As they secure him between them, his struggles weaken, exhaustion replacing fury. The emotional storm that drove him to attack Rhealyn appears to have burned itself out, leaving a hollow shell of a man.
“Treat him with respect,” I add, my voice low enough that only they can hear. “He’s a grieving man who has forgotten himself, not a criminal. Bring him a strong drink, something to steady his nerves.”
The Claws nod and lead Cragmere away. His head hangs low, defeat evident in every line of his body.
I stand alone in the corridor, my thoughts turning to Rhealyn behind that closed door. The accusation I hurled at her moments ago now seems petty compared to Cragmere’s genuine suffering. Shame washes through me.
“You took him from me!”Cragmere said.
Now his vendetta-like determination is clear to me.
I knock lightly before entering the chamber again. Rhealyn sits on the chair, one hand pressed against her throat where Cragmere’s fingers left angry red marks. Commander Voltguard stands behind her, hands clasped at her back.
“Is she—” I begin, but the Commander silences me with a sharp look.
“Skysinger Wyndward is fine. No lasting damage done.” Her voice carries the same iron certainty with which she leads our forces. “Chief Inspector Cragmere?”
“Secured in the east tower holding room. I’ve posted guards.”
