Martin was there when Tolomon cracked an eye open, blinking, before turning his head. “Are we dead?”

Martin smiled. “What does your headache tell you?”

Tolomon closed his eyes again, giving a soft groan. His face had thankfully been cleaned of the blood. It unnerved him to see the man lying there with dried blood coming from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Martin stood up, walking over to the door, whispering that Tolomon was awake and to let Theo know. The servant nodded and left to find Theo. Martin walked back inside as Tolomon rubbed his forehead.

“The trial is still set for tomorrow morning. If you don’t think you’ll be well enough, we can have another Graduate take your place,” Martin said.

“No, I’ll be fine.” Tolomon tried to sit up, noticing his clothes on top of the chest of supplies. “I’d like to be there.”

The door opened and Theo walked in. He grabbed a chair and brought it over to the side of the bed. “Hello, Tolomon.”

Tolomon gave a small nod in greeting, then closed his eyes to hold in a wince. Theo placed his fingers against Tolomon’s temples, sensing what was going on. “You probably get this a lot, but you, my friend, should be dead.” Tolomon chuckled before wincing. Martin shook his head, knowing Tolomon wouldn’t have bothered wincing if he wasn’t feeling the hurt.

Theo released his hands before dipping them in water and drying them. “You’re going to be fine. The healing power is growing back the portions of your brain that got eaten away, hence the headache. I got to you in time, so those parts of your brain aren’t lost, they just need to grow back with the healing aid. It’ll take another day or two for your headache to go away. Your balance might be affected as well for a few days, so I’ve brought you this to keep you upright.” Theo pointed at a wooden crutch against the wall. “If you insist on watching Indenuel, I suggest another couple guards stay close by, and never let him out of the chains unless the guards are in the room with you.”

“It was an accident. He didn’t mean it,” Tolomon said.

“All the more reason to keep him chained up. He’s a powerfully dark individual right now, and it seems he can’t control it. Thank God he hit you and not Martin,” Theo said.

Tolomon nodded. Martin remembered the argument he had with Indenuel. Mainly how Indenuel screamed at him for keeping the death of God a secret. “It was all Tolomon’s training. It is Tolomon we should thank for saving my life.”

Theo smiled. “You bring honor to your title as Graduate.” Theo extended his hand to help.

Tolomon grabbed it, pulling himself up. “Thank you, sir. I do my best.”

“You certainly do,” Theo said.

The door practically burst open as Nathaniel and Rosa hurried inside. Rosa’s gasp was high as she covered her mouth to keep it in, her eyes widening as she stared at Tolomon’s bare chest. Nathaniel cleared his throat, grabbing her hand, beginning to back away. “Forgive the intrusion. We should have knocked.”

Martin grabbed Tolomon’s shirt and passed it over to him. Tolomon threw it on. “No harm done,” he said.

Theo stood up, going to get another chair. “Come on in, if you don’t mind. He just woke up and has a splitting headache. I doubt you’ll notice, though.”

“No, and I doubt he’d tell us, either,” Nathaniel said.

“I’m fine,” Tolomon said, resting against the wall. “Really, I am.” This was more pointed toward Rosa, who had a distinct look of worry on her face.

“Oh, Rosa would not be comforted the entire carriage ride here,” Nathaniel said, squeezing her hand. “I tried to assure her.”

Tolomon gestured to his face. “Not a scratch.”

Rosa smiled at her feet, shaking her head. “You two are ridiculous.”

“See? I told you he was fine. I never doubted,” Nathaniel said as Tolomon arranged the pillows before leaning against them to help him sit up.

“You doubted a little,” Rosa said as Theo left.

Nathaniel let Rosa take the chair closer to Tolomon as he sat next to her, holding her hand. “I still outlined my wager, didn’t I?”

Rosa sighed. “I guess you did.”

“You two gambled on me?” Tolomon asked.

“Purely out of worry,” Rosa said.

Tolomon smiled. “Right. Out of worry. Whether I’d be dead?”

“No, by the time we heard the news, you were already on your way here and alive.”

“It was whether or not you’d be awake by the time we arrived,” Rosa said.

“Oh, I see. And I guess I shall congratulate Nathaniel on winning…” Tolomon waited for him to answer, but he said nothing, hiding a smile. Rosa looked away, her cheeks reddening before giving the smallest of glances in Martin’s direction. Tolomon snorted. “Congratulations, Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel clicked his tongue. “Thanks.” He squeezed Rosa’s hand, winking at her as she failed to hide a smile, her face still red. “But we were concerned about you too. And for Indenuel.” Nathaniel glanced at Martin. “Is he ready for the trial tomorrow?”

“He will be, yes. I wanted to talk to you about that,” Martin said.

“Of course, what’s going on?” Nathaniel said.

“He’s denied your claims.”

He saw what he needed to. Despite Nathaniel pretending to be worried about this, Rosa only glanced down, fear on her face, but a fear she had been made aware of. After all the worrying and anxiety throughout this war of Nathaniel getting hurt, he could see plainly that she was forewarned about this. It was enough for Martin to put the rest of the puzzle together.

He stood. “A word, son. By the door.”

“Certainly,” Nathaniel said.

They walked the short distance to the door. Martin glanced at Tolomon, who took the hint and started a conversation with Rosa about how the carriage ride was. “You fabricated the story, didn’t you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nathaniel said.

“It was Tolomon who was there. Him who saw. You are protecting him and his family. All of this was to get me to realize what was happening to Indenuel,” Martin said, placing his hands in the sleeve of his robes.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Nathaniel glanced again at Tolomon. “Father-”

“My interest is protecting you both. I do not mean this as an insult, but neither of you have any idea how to play the political game, especially against Navir. I assure you that man has not only found this all out, but is already five steps ahead of both of you.”

Nathaniel winced. “Is Tolomon going to be alright? Is his sister? We need to protect her, her husband, and her children. She’s his only family left.”

Martin understood Nathaniel’s concern, but he already had a partial plan in place. This was just the opportunity he needed to solve his own problem, and if he could save the others as well, then the trial needed to go well tomorrow. He placed a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder. “I swear to you I will do everything in my power to help. But I need to know the truth. The entire truth. Leave nothing out. The worst thing you can do is let Navir surprise me at the trial.”

Nathaniel nodded. He almost said something when they both heard Rosa giggling. Nathaniel looked over to see Rosa moving her chair closer to Tolomon as he was telling a story. It was an innocent enough gesture, but there was some hesitancy on Nathaniel’s face before he looked at Martin again. “Tolomon is my closest friend, and I cannot let his family get hurt. I also swore to protect Inessa. Tomorrow’s trial needs to end well for both of them.”

Martin nodded, knowing it could end well for him, too, if he played the game right. “I will do everything I can to help you fulfill your promises. Tell me everything and then tell your mother I will not make it to dinner. I need to get ready.”

***

Inessa was asleep when she sensed the light. Despite over four years of living in luxury, it only took three days in a cell for her body to revert to the old ways. Being comfortable enough on a stone-cold floor to sleep. Not worrying about sitting on the floor in a dress. Being able to sense light in a dark room to wake up fast before Jina got angry.

She was up, brushing the dirt off her dress as Martin opened the cell door. Inessa didn’t expect Martin to come visit her. Maybe she should of. It was the first time she’d seen her since the accusations. Since her arrest. Dread filled her soul as she dropped to a curtsey.

“Inessa,” he said in greeting.

She stared at her feet, not saying anything. As an arrested woman, thrown in the dungeon for adultery, she knew her place. She had no rights to talk unless they were given to her, and she needed to treat Martin with the upmost respect either way.

Martin’s eyes darted around, taking in her condition. Stone floor that almost looked like a dirt floor. The lantern light seemed to reflect the purity of Martin’s white High elder robes more than anything else as he placed it on a hook by the door. “Forgive the late hour. I was doing some research.” Inessa said nothing, keeping her hands in front of her, her eyes cast downward. “Are they treating you well?”

Inessa nodded, still not making a sound. Martin walked forward. “Indenuel is awake. Your trial is set for tomorrow morning. Did anyone tell you?”

Inessa shook her head. “Thank you for telling me. I shall be ready.”

Someone from the family always came around lunchtime to give her food. Adosina even brought her a different dress to get changed in so the servants could wash the old one. It was a nice sentiment.

“You will be taken straight from the dungeon to the trial. The High Elders will listen to what Indenuel has to say, then make the decision. One that will most likely end up in Nathaniel getting ten lashes.” Inessa winced but remained quiet. “He told me the truth. I need to hear it in your own words.”

“I have been asked to deny what Nathaniel claimed,” Inessa said.

“But you can tell me. I swear I won’t use it in the trial. Since you’re a woman, it won’t hold much weight anyway.” True, he was just saying that to ease her concerns, but it still hurt all the same. She began to play with her fingernails. “Inessa, why did you do it? Why did you throw everything away for one night with someone who you knew was marked.”

Inessa understood the question. Moreover, she had three days to think about her answer, but she doubted telling Martin would help her situation. Inessa looked at her shoes. “It doesn’t matter, sir. I did it, and there’s no going back from it.”

Martin studied her closer, his frown pronounced. “Inessa, please tell me. It would help me understand better.”

Because as a woman, I am forbidden to talk during the trial.

Inessa bit her tongue to keep that from escaping. Inessa finally looked up from her shoes to meet Martin’s green eyes. She expected him to look betrayed. Despite everything, despite how much it made him physically sick to do what he had to, she had broken her promise to him. She promised she’d never do the very thing she had done. But he didn’t seem to care about that. He was simply curious.

“I tried to… distract him. To keep him in the room longer so I could think of a plan to get him the help he needed. He was horribly marked,” she said.

Martin rubbed his forehead, clearly holding back a lecture. “And you couldn’t have just tried to alert a servant? Or Derio with your tree talking powers? Literally done anything else except kiss him?”

“I guess since I am only a woman, I assumed my words won’t hold much weight anyway.”

There it was. The phrases that shouldn’t have escaped her but now did. The slight pain in her voice. Martin stopped rubbing his head and glanced at her through his fingers. He dropped his hand, folding his arms. “I…” Inessa waited. “I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat. “So you…”

“I was lonely, sir. I’ve been lonely my whole life. Always doing things for others, never myself. My mother called it a life of service, and I should never ask anything in return. I mean, I guess I got things in return now. Status. Wealth.” She shook her head. “Material things. But never a cure for loneliness.”

“Indenuel was marked. He still is. He is dangerous to himself and others around him. He almost killed Tolomon by accident today. Why would you want to risk your health by sleeping with him?” Martin asked.

“Because I couldn’t think straight. I haven’t for a while. The depression, the loneliness, I just know I love him, Martin. When you’re with someone who makes you feel understood, it makes the loneliness that much harder to bear when they’re gone. And when they appear in your room, it makes it so much easier to reject all the wealth and the status in the world for one night where I felt loved instead of being on the receiving end of the High Elder’s lust. Yes, I wanted to keep him there, but I also realized how much I wanted him.”

Martin gave a quiet sigh, looking away. “And the threat of shunning? Of disgrace? Was it worth it? For just one night?”

Inessa looked up at Martin. “It was. At the time.”

“And now? If Nathaniel’s plan works and he’s lashed and you two are free to go your separate ways? Do you really think these feelings will never crop up again?”

Inessa looked at her hands that were still placed in front of her. One night wasn’t enough. She knew, deep down, her feelings weren’t quenched, they grew deeper. She wanted him again. If he asked, she would be with him in bed in a heartbeat. Except… “I would not sleep with him with that mark on his chest.”

“And when the mark came off?” Martin asked, already seeing her line of logic.

Inessa looked up at him. Again, he wasn’t betrayed. He truly wanted to know. She dropped her hands to her side. “I love him, Martin. In a way I will never love you. And I know you do not have the same love for me back. You are asking me to return to a life that is lonely. One that makes you just as miserable. I will pretend tomorrow that nothing happened. And I will continue to ignore these feelings to keep Indenuel safe. But I will be miserable.”

Martin nodded, looking troubled. “And his mark never bothered you?”

“Of course it did. But he did what he had to,” Inessa said.

Martin finally started looking troubled. “What he had to?”

Inessa stared at him, doing everything she could not to turn it into a glare. “I was kidnapped. No one helped him. Indenuel begged and pleaded, and God’s own High Elders refused to listen to him, not even to ease his worries, or to make some sort of plan. So, he went to someone who would listen, and that happened to be the devil himself. The same happened with what he tried to do for Santollia City. He tried to do everything he could to save this city, and he was allowed to go as far as he did because of God’s own High Elders, once again. Instead of blaming Indenuel, maybe you should think how you could have helped him. Think about what you can do to make sure he never feels this desperate again. It’s what I am already planning to do. He is still a good man, if marked. He reacts differently to loneliness than I do, but it is still loneliness.”

Martin frowned, staring at Inessa. She stared right back. He then looked at the window, seeing the moonlight streaming in. “Thank you for telling me all this.” He took a step forward. “I have a plan in place for tomorrow. It might not seem like it, but I do. I cannot tell you, as I don’t want you to give anything away, but this conversation has made it easier for me to go through with my decision.” He took another step forward, taking her elbows. Inessa looked up at him, confused. “Thank you. You are right, I do not love you in that way, and never will. But there is a part of me that does care for you, in the same way I care for Addy, Rita, and Maria, which made our nights so physically repulsive to me. I hope, one day, you can forgive me for everything I did, because I will never forgive myself. And if you never want to see me after what happens tomorrow, I understand.” Inessa felt a twinge of terror. Did she say too much? What he said was innocent enough, but she couldn’t help but think of the worst thing possible as Martin planted a kiss on her forehead. The only kiss he had ever given her. One that felt almost paternal.

“Martin?” Inessa asked.

He let go of her elbows and turned around. “I will see you tomorrow.” He took the lantern and left the dungeon, leaving her in semi-darkness.