Page 183 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"We were in the area. When we saw the smoke, we came as fast as we could," Graeson explained, leaving out the fact that they had flown here after hearing about the Royal Seer’s vision.
Kallie nodded absentmindedly as Graeson helped her to her feet.
"Why were you in the area?" Phaia asked, skeptical.
Kallie didn’t hear Graeson’s response as she inhaled a shuddering breath. The coppery tang of blood and smoke overwhelmed her. Around them, hundreds of people rested, an orchestra of moans filling the forest. The gentle pressure of Graeson’s hand was a comforting contrast to the icy chill that clung to her skin as she took in the injuries of the wounded. Nearby, a man slept on the ground, his pant leg ripped off, revealing a ghastly burn. He should have been screaming, yet he slept, his features only marginally twisted. Several others had similar injuries, yet none screamed. It was as if their pain had been sedated.
"Kals?" a quiet voice croaked.
Kallie fell to her knees.
"Mys?" she called out, grabbing Myra’s limp hand. Had Myra used her gift to lessen the pain of the wounded? How many had she helped soothe to sleep? Was her state the result of burning out?
Myra blinked, her hazel eyes unsteady. For right now, they would put the past behind them. When the war was over, they would have that talk.
"Are you—are you all right?"
Wrinkles creased Myra’s forehead as she looked around. "Laurince? Wh-where is Laurince?"
Kallie’s lips parted, but she quickly shut them, peering up at Phaia for an answer.
"He and King Rian are still in the capital fighting," Phaia said, gently brushing a strand of hair away from Myra’s face.
"I—I have to help—" Myra tried to get up, but her limbs were too weak. They wobbled beneath her, and she fell back onto Phaia’s lap.
Kallie placed her hand atop Myra’s. "We’re here, Mys. We’ll help him," she whispered.
Myra nodded haphazardly before exhaustion pulled her back under, her hand once again going limp.
Kallie looked toward the capital, where smoke filled the sky. The tips of the flames peeked over the walls, their torrent unending.
"What happened?" Kallie asked Phaia.
Hesitation shone brightly in the handmaiden’s eyes, her fear of trusting them and telling them the wrong thing evident.
"We’re on their side, Phaia," Kallie urged, gesturing to Myra. "We came to help. But we can only do that if we know what happened."
Phaia took a deep breath and nodded. "After the trial, we?—"
"What trial?"
Phaia blinked. "You don’t know?"
Kalie and Graeson shook their heads.
"Sebastian captured King Rian, Laurince, and Myra when they snuck into the castle. Someone betrayed them. Sebastian made the king stand before everyone and blamed him for the creation of the drakonises."
Kallie gaped. "That’s absurd! He had nothing to do with them."
Phaia frowned. "Not everyone believes Sebastian’s claims, but he was able to turn many against the king by calling Myra up as a witness."
"Myra betrayed Rian?" Kallie asked, apprehensive. Was Myra still working for Domitius? Had she tricked them again? Kallie’s suspicion was hard to swallow, yet somehow she knew she was wrong even before Phaia shook her head.
"She hadn’t meant to. Sebastian and the judge twisted her words somehow and tricked her into speaking lies."
The ground shook, and Graeson’s grip on her tightened.
Phaia barely flinched from the quake and continued, forcing Kallie to tuck away her questions. "I think even more distrust Sebastian now after the drakonises escaped from confinement during the trial and then again today. Some even believe Sebastian released the drakonises intentionally."
