“I accept your inquisition, Oberon, Captain of your contingent,” she said, “And I invoke the Divine Right of Nobility to be judged by a Noble higher than me.”

I leaned forward in my throne of shadows, looking at Sir Rellar –who was unfazed.

“Baroness Margery Perry, it seems you have allowed your judgment to cloud,” he started. “You are already being judged by Lady Dawn. I am an arbiter of her will. Unless you are claiming her right is lesser than yours?”

Lady Perry’s smile fell, “Excuse you?”

“Lady Perry, in accordance with the inheritance laws of the Dawns, upon Awakening, all children of the Dawn receive the title of Count. Thus, you are in the presence of Countess Eunora Killian Dawn.”

I blinked.

Wait, what?

I knew that I was above the Baroness by virtue of being a child of the dawn, but there was no notice that I had an actual title. I ran through Eunora’s memories as fast as I could, but no such thing was there. My confusion must have shown on my face because Dame Arella caught my eye and nodded her head in affirmation.

“That’s impossible,” Lady Perry furrowed her brow, “I would have known if that were true.”

Sir Rellar had a cheshire grin on his face as he pulled a piece of thick parchment from the bag on his thigh. Gingerly he unfolded it and held it up.

“This is the writ of nobility signed by the Ancestral Countess Mallorica Dawn, the Duchess of Dawn, assigning Lady Eunora Dawn the legal power and protections of an unlanded Countess.”

Lady Perry went to get up when Sir Limrick placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her ascent.

A storm crossed Lady Perry’s face, “Am I confined to this chair in my own home?”

“He will bring it to you.” Sir Limrick said gruffly.

Sir Rellar went close enough for Lady Perry to read the writ, and she huffed.

“I acknowledge my Divine Right has been heard and met.” She forced out through gritted teeth.

“Good, then the inquisition can continue,” Sir Rellar said, refolding the writ and placing it back into his bag.

Sir Rellar came back to my side and inclined his head.

“Baroness Margery Perry, how do you respond to the accusation of heresy?” he asked, his voice almost bored.

“I am innocent. I am not a heretic, nor is anyone sworn to my house.” Lady Perry said forcefully.

“Very well. How do you respond to the accusation of possessing a corrupted mana source?”

“Once again, I am innocent. I am not instigating these blight attacks.”

“Lady Perry, can you explain what you were doing with several blights in your cellar? Are you harboring your husband?” Sir Rellar arched an eyebrow, and Lady Perry visibly recoiled at his words.

“Excuse you? What does Gavin have to do with this? No. I have not had contact with him since his disappearance after his sentence.”

“Do you swear it?”

I leaned in, curious. But Lady Perry simply looked confused.

“Yes, I swear on Zanth, the God of Music, Gavin has not contacted me in over a Lunar year.”

Sir Rellar looked displeased, “Very well. If you had nothing to do with his heresy, why do you possess three blights sedated in your cellar?”

“Four,” she corrected, “There are four.”

“Not anymore,” Sir Rellar waved her correction away

“What do you—“ she started, “No, never mind.”

Lady Perry shifted her eyes to look directly at me, and I refused to feel small in front of her. I straightened my back and reminded myself of all the anger welling within me. She would not quell it, no matter her response.

“I am investigating why the brambles have been growing in strength so rapidly.” Lady Perry stated, “Simply put, I sedate them and take bits of their core and compare it to different parts of the forest. It’s all very technical, research-wise, but that is the purpose—not the destruction of my own domain, Lady Eunora.”

The ending turned pitying. She was talking down to me. Again. A new rage welled up, and before Sir Rellar could say anything, I stood, my shadows shifting with me.

“Lady Perry,” I snapped, my voice cold even to me, “You will answer with civility. I am young, not stupid. I was sure you’d be able to tell the difference.”

“Well, here we are, my Lady. Me, undergoing a formal inquisition. You, sitting there and pretending you know what’s happening.”

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“I killed that blight, and I know how strong it was. Why would you keep a Tier 1 Level 17 blight around your child? Maybe you’re committing something worse than heresy –maybe you’re attempting filicide.” I snarled, and I heard gasps from around me.

“How dare you!” Lady Perry’s composure cracked, “I would never hurt Jenny. She’s my pride. Not that you would understand a mother’s love!”

It was meant to hurt –a child in exile was meant to be hurt by her words. But she didn’t know the truth. That I hated the Dawns. That Jenny thought I was a monster –but she hadn’t met the real thing. I had. The [Lady of Red Daybreak], Mallorica Dawn, the Countess, the Duchess, whatever you called her. She was emotionless. She was the monster. The Count, Evenor, with his blatant disdain, was a monster. Eve, with her casual cruelty, was a monster. Raph, with his violent temper, was a monster. Theo, with his cold indifference, was a monster. I was not like the rest of them. Or maybe I was. Maybe I was a monster in the making.

But still, her words didn’t hit true. They struck a different chord.

So, I laughed. And as I laughed, my shadows pulsed –in and out, in and out, they were a threat looming behind me. Everyone in the room knew it. I could see it on their faces.

“Say that again, Lady Perry. Tell me how I am a child of woe, a child abandoned by its mother. Tell me. Tell me how you would never do such a thing. It’s a funny thing—you claiming to know anything about me.”

I took a step closer to the woman, the woman who wanted so desperately to insult me.

“Swear to Abelia, the Goddess of Truth, that your statements are true. Swear it. Then we will approach the church and see if it is true.”

Around the room, the knights looked puzzled –except for Sir Limrick and Dame Arella. Even Lady Perry didn’t look so sure.

“Fine, Lady Eunora. I swear upon Abelia’s Divine Domain that the blights were used for investigative purposes to understand the origin of the blight attacks. Nothing more.”

She looked so sure of herself that I couldn't help but laugh.

This is an insane idea, with no guarantee of payoff, I thought to myself, But I’m going to do it anyway.

A feral grin spread across my face, “Then let’s go.”

Sir Rellar was the first to move, taking my right-hand side. He waved at Sir Neil and Sir Limrick, and they ushered the Ladies Perry up and to follow. Dame Arella took my left side, and we left.

Rather than disburse my shadows, I condensed them. And condensed them some more. I pushed and pulled until I had a dozen bangles on each hand, giving off a black miasma that gave the impression of an outline of void rather than a glow of light. I could maintain these Skills for hours like this. As we left the manor, I refused to look at the Ladies Perry, either one of them. Jenny had run from me. Had insulted me. Had refused to give me the benefit of the doubt. I had no interest in that bond we’d started. Not anymore.

I boarded my carriage and relegated the Ladies Perry to their own. That was the moment I realized I’d left Noir behind. My heart sped up, and I knocked on the window.

Sir Limrick was the one to open it, “Lady Nora?”

I whispered through the window, “I left Noir in the basement.”

Sir Limrick blinked, “The bunny?”

I nodded seriously and he gave me a small smile.

“I’ll send Arlen to fetch him.”

“Thank you.”

And then we traveled in silence, and I found myself flexing my [Shadow Manipulation] to the limit —attempting necklaces, rings, and even layering the shadow on my nails to paint them. That last one seemed promising. It was as I had figured out how to make my nails sharpen and shorten on command that we came to a stop.

I got up without waiting for the door to open and opened it myself. My anger hadn’t abated in the short ride over. In fact, the more time I’d had to think about Lady Perry, the more my rage grew. I descended the steps of the carriage as my shadow bangles jingled and my nails lengthened to short almond tips. The tendrils of shadow shifting my hair returned and I didn’t bother to look back as, behind me, the others followed.

At the steps of the church was the same talkative priest from earlier in the week, and as he came to greet me, I held up my hand.

“Direct us to a prayer room, Head Priest, and remain in attendance,” I commanded, my voice laced with power. Whether the shadows were fueling me or it was my own anger, I didn't bother to think about it.

He simply nodded and rushed ahead of us.

“Come,” I said to the knights trailing behind with the Ladies Perrys, “Let us test that oath you swore, Lady Perry.”

“I don’t understand,” the Baroness started, “Why are we here?”

I felt that same feral grin from earlier spread, but it was wasted as I hadn’t looked back. “I’m going to try something. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll consider the inquisition fulfilled. If it does work –well, it could go either way.”

And then we were there, in that same private prayer room with a massive wooden statue with no features and a single ceramic bowl waiting for a donation. I strode through the open door and waved away the priest. I looked back behind me. They wouldn’t all fit. So I made a decision.

It was best they weren’t all here for this anyway.

I snapped my fingers, “Sir Rellar, it’ll be me, you, and Baroness Perry—everyone else in the hall.”

“Your will be done, my Lady,” he responded without hesitation. I turned back to the room and stepped forward to where there was a pillow set by the pillar and kicked it aside. Prayer was not what I would be doing here.

If this works, I’ll know I was right to pray to Morloch all this time. If it doesn’t, I’ll look like a fool.

The door closed and it was just us three. A man in full armor, a woman in riding clothes, and me, still covered in the thin sheen of dried sweat from running to oblivion and back..

“You never answered. What are we doing here?” Lady Perry said again.

This time I answered.

“We’re testing your truth against mine. You better pray this doesn’t work.” I harked a laughed. “Or pray that it does. I guess it depends on the truth.”

I stood above the donation bowl, empty-handed. There was no telling if this would work, but it seemed like my best shot.

I pulsed my will, and my nails became drenched in shadow claws.

I held up one arm directly over the bowl, positioning the bulk of my forearm just above the center.

“Hear me, hear me,” I said, forcing every ounce of power into my voice.

And then, I raised my other hand and positioned the claws pressed against my forearm.

“Oh, Abelia, Goddess of the Truth, Lady of High Noon,” I said, “Take this offering and answer my plea. Show me the truth.”

I slid the claws across my flesh and released my blood, a deep crimson with strands of gold fell in thick drops into the bowl.

“I pray for your arbitration, Abelia. Show yourself.”

I could feel it.

My Divinity.

It filled every word I spoke.

And then the statue moved.