Estingai primed her gemcrest, whipped off her mask, and unzipped her jacket as she came within paces of the dais, Aaden, Uuldina, and Meik'ka a few steps behind her. A few heads in the crowd turned toward her, and eyes widened. People stumbled back, pushing those behind them, eyes wide as they gazed at her. They may not have recognized her face, but there was no way they could have missed the shining, multicolored gemcrest at her clavicle.

"Liar," Estingai roared, fixing her gaze on the woman who had accused her and her brother of murder. She closed in on the woman, but did not ascend the dais. "Koruuksi is no traitor."

The woman on the dais blinked, a swirl of shock and recognition in her eyes, then composed herself, standing tall.

"You and your family are trained killers and spies. Are you really going to claim you've never assassinated an enemy leader or head of state?"

Estingai gritted her teeth. She'd done exactly that, but…

This woman is too certain.

Estingai stepped forward, pushing herself onto the dais. To the woman's credit, she stood her ground. Estingai kept an eye on this accuser, but angled herself so her words reached the gathered crowd as well.

"If Koruuksi killed Anarak, it's because Anarak was guilty of betraying the Remnant."

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Even as the crowed broke out in mixed cheers and protest, Mahele perked up, fixing his gaze on Estingai. "The what?"

Estingai held the man's gaze. "The Remnant. It's what Vila and the others agreed to. One united force to resist the Imaia instead of bickering factions. A single body focused on escaping the Imaia and this world instead of isolated groups fighting just for survival."

She raised her voice and looked back to the crowd.

"It's the reason the Deathknight came to murder us. It knew we would be a threat, united under a single banner."

"How did you survive when they didn't?" someone in the crowd yelled.

"You ran!"

"Coward!"

"Traitor!"

"I survived because Svemakuu gave his life so one of us would make it out," Estingai snapped.

Her words silenced the crowd, echoing through the massive cavern like the crack of a whip. Aaden and the others took the opportunity to gather at the foot of the dais.

"I lost my husband and my best friend," Estingai said, voice tight as she stared out at the crowd, keeping the woman on the dais in the corner of her vision. "When we fight amongst each other, we spit on his sacrifice." She looked back to Mahele. "We spit on all their sacrifices."

Mahele met her gaze, then dropped it.

Estingai looked to the man's daughter. She met Estingai's gaze, but said nothing. Her entire body seemed taught.

The silence of the crowd held the room tight. Her words might have quieted them, but she could feel their distrust, their need to strike at something.

As Estingai looked to the woman who had accused her and Koruuksi, her throat tightened.

The woman did not smile, but there was a hardness to her eyes. This woman knew she hadn't been beaten, and Estingai had an angry mob barely held at bay. She needed to show them who deserved their anger.