Nero ran through the castle halls, shoving nobles and servants out of his way. His heart was racing, and he prayed that he wouldn’t be too late. Trials were held in the middle of the city, as a huge spectacle. Nero had always hated the idea, and had always refused to attend. He didn’t even know what he would do once he got there.

It seemed as though the entire kingdom had already heard about it. The streets were flooded with people from every part of the kingdom, noble and commonfolk alike. Nero pushed through the crowd as best as he could. He had to stop it. Faeryn hadn’t done anything wrong.

He wasn’t even sure where he was going. He’d never been to an execution before. He just followed the direction of the crowd.

In the center of the city, there was an enormous execution platform, high above the crowd so everyone could see. There were stands for the nobles, with the King and Queen front and center. On the platform, there was a priest and the executioner, a large, terrifying man with a black mask hiding his face. He rested his arms on a large axe.

Nero’s heart started racing faster, and panic started to set in as Faeryn was brought out onto the platform. He was stripped of his cloak, chained in the magic-nullifying iron again. The guards held him firmly before the King and Queen, and the priest stepped forward.

“Stop!” Nero demanded, still trying to push through the crowd. No one heard him though. The crowd was too loud and rowdy. They didn’t quiet down until the King stood, lifting his hands to silence them.

“Read the charges,” the King said, and the priest unraveled a parchment.

“Faeryn Aithley,” he read, speaking loud enough for the entire crowd to hear, “Knowledge Keeper and Librarian of Anzino. You are hereby accused of High Treason. The charges are as follows: Conspiring to murder the current King of Anzino, plotting to use the youngest Prince of Anzino to take control of the kingdom, unlawful use of magic against the Royal Family, and trading knowledge with outside mages in your attempt to overthrow the kingdom.”

“Stop this!” Nero demanded, finally reaching the execution platform. There were whispers and mutters from the crowd as he rushed up the stairs to face his father, casting himself between him and Faeryn. “What’s the meaning of this? You promised to leave him alone!”

“Stop making a scene,” Father said quietly, eyeing the crowd. “Didn’t you hear the charges?”

“It’s a load of lies! You’ve been trying to get rid of Faeryn for years. Why not just banish him? I’ve done everything you asked of me, so let him go!”

“Enough!” Father snapped his fingers and Nero was seized by the guards. “Keep him out of the way until this is over. I’ll deal with him later.”

“Get off of me!” Nero struggled to break free, with no success.

It couldn’t be true. Faeryn was framed. He would never do those things. Father was making up lies to be rid of him. He’d hated him so much, and Nero was shocked that his father would go to such lengths just to get rid of someone he didn’t like.

“Faeryn Aithley,” the King said, facing down Faeryn with a stoic expression, “what do you have to say to these accusations?”

Faeryn sighed. He was already in chains, up on the execution platform. It didn’t matter what he said, did it?

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“Well? How do you plead?”

Faeryn made eye contact with Nero for a moment, but then lowered his gaze and turned his back to him.

“I’m guilty. Let’s just get this over with.”

Nero’s eyes went wide, and his chest felt tight. He couldn’t breathe. Guilty? He was lying. Why would he say such a thing? Nero knew he was innocent.

“You see?” Father said to Nero, gesturing at Faeryn. “I told you not to trust that heathen.”

Feeling weak and faint, Nero fell to his knees, and the two guards fussed over him.

“Are you all right, Your Highness?”

Nero could do nothing but stare wide-eyed at Faeryn, who wouldn’t look at him. He couldn’t understand what was happening.

“Faeryn…” Tears filled Nero’s eyes. “What—”

“Since you’ve admitted your guilt, there’s no need to proceed and farther,” the King said, waving his hand at the Executioner. “I sentence you to death for High Treason, and it will be carried out immediately.”

Panic and adrenaline flooded Nero’s entire body when they forced Faeryn to his knees atop the platform where he would be beheaded. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t happen.

Something in Nero snapped. He didn’t think about what he was doing when he knocked one of the guards away from him. He pulled the sword of the other and rushed out onto the platform. He cast himself between Faeryn and the Executioner, blocking the axe with the stolen sword.

The axe hit much harder than Nero expected, and the force made him drop to his knees, cutting his skin on the rough wood before he forced the Executioner back, away from Faeryn.

“Don’t touch him!”

The crowd was out of control. People were shouting and accusing Nero of conspiring with Faeryn. Was Nero working with him to take over the kingdom? Had he been brainwashed by the Librarian? What was going on?

“Get out of here, Nero!” Faeryn demanded.

“I’m not going to let the execute you over a bunch of lies!”

“They’re not lies!”

Nero turned to face Faeryn, who gave him a hard stare with his bright blue eyes. His magic wasn’t being suppressed by the iron shackles? Nero’s arms dropped, and the sword clattered loudly as if fell from his hands.

The guards attempted to seize Nero, but they were thrown back by a magical barrier that protected him and Nero.

“This is my fault. I lied to you. I tried to use you to change Anzino. I still think you can do it. Take my knowledge before they kill me.”

Nero was silent, and slowly lowered to his knees in front of Faerny. His eyes were wide, and tears ran freely down his face. He couldn’t make sense of any of it. Faeryn was using him?

“Listen, Nero. I don’t have much time left. I’m sure your father will break down the barrier in a minute. I used you. I betrayed you and I betrayed this kingdom. Everything they accused me of is true. At first, it was my own selfish desire. I wanted to end the tyranny of magic users in this kingdom. I was going to trick you, especially when I heard that you had no magic of your own. But then I met you, and everything changed. I wanted you to become King of Anzino. You’re not a Sorcerer and that will be your trump card. I can’t take the time to tell you the history of the kingdom or why it needs to change, so take the knowledge from me. It’s not really magic, so you should be able to take it.”

“This isn’t right.” Nero sobbed, trying to wipe the tears from his face with his sleeve. “Why does it have to be this way? I thought we were friends.”

“I’m sorry,” Faeryn said, and Nero’s eyes went wide. Faeryn was crying too, his voice shaking as he spoke. “We are friends, Nero, but I won’t let you live with my mistakes.”

“What do you—”

It hit Nero like a punch to the center of his forehead. His head ached as his mind was flooded with all of Faeryn’s knowledge of Anzino, and as the pain subsided, his vision started to fade. He fell to the ground, laying face down on the platform in front of Faeryn, his face wet with tears.

“Goodbye, Nero Arnaldo. You were the only real friend I ever had. I love you.”