Martin waited at the morning meeting on the first day of the week as Navir finished the prayer. It sounded rote, mere ceremony. Navir didn’t have much conviction in his voice whenever he prayed when it was just the High Elders meeting together.
“First matter of business is the confession written and given to us all from Carmen, concubine of Fadrique the Weather Controller,” Navir said once he sat down. “The message has been sent by post to Inessa, as it is of a sensitive nature, and we would hate for rumors to spread. Inessa’s trial is set for later today. We will all be there, yes?”
Martin frowned, looking through his papers. “What confession? Why is Inessa involved?”
“Dalius? Do you have a copy of the confession?” Navir asked.
He finished writing the sentence before looking through a different stack of papers. Martin narrowed his eyes at Navir’s calm manner as Dalius pulled out the page and passed it over. Martin picked it up, reading through it quickly. It was a confession, weighing heavily on Carmen’s soul, of the many, many times Inessa would engage in acts of sexual intimacy with her while she was under Fadrique’s stewardship.
Martin slammed the page on the table. “This is slander. You cannot do this to Inessa’s character.”
“Carmen was sincere in her confession, I believe every word,” Fadrique said.
“And what exactly did you promise her when you told her to make this up?” Martin said, standing. “Did you promise you wouldn’t hit her before you slept with her for a month? In the goodness of your heart, did you possibly promise to leave her alone entirely?”
“Martin, careful,” Navir said.
“Why wasn’t I informed. Why wasn’t I there when you discussed the validity of the confession and whether to put Inessa on trial?” Martin asked, knowing his anger was getting at a danger point.
“It’s majority vote,” Navir said.
“And as I’ve said before, that doesn’t mean I’m completely excluded from the decision! This is illegal! I will go to the King and Queen if I must!” Martin said.
“Do it, Martin. Let them know the simple mistake that you haven’t been as diligent in your duties as a High Elder. That you’re really depressed after the sins have been weighing heavily on you. I could certainly reveal another sin you’ve been keeping from everyone,” Navir said.
Dalius and Fadrique watched the exchange with interest, turning toward Martin to know how he’d react. Martin glared at Navir, then closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Navir jumped this on him because he’d be frazzled for the rest of the meeting. He needed a clear head.
Martin sat back down, steepling his fingers and bouncing them against his chin.
“We will, of course, have to make sure Inessa’s not marked since the accusation of being a flooder has been placed against her,” Fadrique said.
Martin closed his eyes, refusing to let the anger bubble over.
“Undoubtably,” Navir said.
Martin straightened in his seat doing nothing. He opened his eyes and stared ahead, letting his mind wander and staying silent for the remainder of the meeting. Let them assume they beat him. Let them assume he was all alone and just going to step aside. For the remainder of the meeting, he imagined every way he could break their power, feeling a paternal instinct to protect Inessa with everything he had.
These men were not going to mess with his secret daughter again. Of that he was certain. And he refused to be bound by their power anymore. The absolute worst thing Navir could have done was threaten to reveal Martin’s darkest sin. It had already happened, and he was still standing with nothing left to lose. As Carlos’ letter said, his family was still behind him, and he was going to use their support to end the concubine law, and Navir, for good.
***
Indenuel took Inessa’s hand as they walked through the garden. Tolomon was behind them, giving them a semblance of privacy, but neither one of them spoke. The argument from the night before was still fresh. Indenuel knew he should make sure she was alright, but he was honestly sick of her asking for Dalius to do what Matteo suggested. He could not ever ask Dalius for anything. Nor any of the High Elders. They had proven their colors, and he never wanted to be associated with them.
“Inessa!” Rosa called.
Indenuel and Inessa turned to see her running toward them, holding a paper. “Rosa?” Inessa asked.
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She ran to them, out of breath, holding a paper. “Martin warned us. Nathaniel had to wrestle this out of a postman’s hand. He was under strict instructions to give this to you after all his other post was delivered. He had an unusually large amount of post to deliver today.”
Nathaniel caught up with them, looking deeply concerned.
“What is it?” Inessa asked, trying to read the words, but Inessa was having a hard time reading print, let alone the fancy scrawl of High Elder Navir’s writing.
“A paper summoning you to a trial,” Nathaniel said.
Indenuel took the page. “What? Why?”
“Apparently one of Fadrique’s concubines confessed to Inessa acting like a flooder,” Rosa said, hands on her hips. “They believe her, because of how detailed it is, so you’re getting a trial to make sure you’re not marked. Probably throw you in the dungeon, too. The laws about this are still new.”
“Make sure… I’m not marked?” Inessa asked, turning pale. “They’re going to disrobe me again?”
“Like hell they are,” Indenuel said, aware of the shaking in his hands. “Wait, again?”
Inessa turned her emerald eyes toward him, a flicker of concern somehow for him instead of her situation. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. What are they… why would…”
She touched his arm that held the paper. “That was before. When I was still a concubine. Maybe… perhaps I… now that I’m your wife…”
Nathaniel gave Inessa a side hug. “You have a completely different status. They can’t treat you the same as a concubine, and Adosina will be there to make sure they don’t.”
“Why weren’t we told about this sooner?” Indenuel asked.
“A political game,” Nathaniel said.
“Where is Addy?” Inessa asked, the concern still plain on her face even as she pretended not to feel it.
“With Father, making a swift plan as we speak.”
Indenuel looked at Nathaniel incredulously. “With Martin? You honestly trust him? After everything he’s done, after all he’s allowed to happen?”
“Yes,” Nathaniel said. “Guilt and remorse are powerful tools when used in a godly way. A man like my father just needed a push over the edge, and the rest of us just need to step out of the way as he cleans up his own messes. You’ll see. I am completely confident he’s going to throw a surprise at the other High Elders that leaves a huge hole in their politics.”
Indenuel shook his head. This was going to end badly. Inessa wrapped her arms around herself, still trembling. “They’re not going to hurt you, Inessa. And if they so much as touch you, I’ll…” He trailed off. Nathaniel and Tolomon both studied him, and Inessa’s smile dropped. Indenuel closed his eyes, rolling his head around his neck. “Not—use—corruption—when I diplomatically tell them they are wrong.”
Pablo walked up to them, holding a letter for Inessa. “For you, ma’am.”
Inessa didn’t look like she wanted to receive another letter, but she took it before opening it, trying to read it. She frowned, struggling with the words, but allowing herself to struggle. “I don’t… what’s this first word? I don’t know it.”
“Yeah, that’s a hard one. It’s ‘wear’,” Indenuel said.
“‘Wear… your… best… dress… today… Ado…Adosina.’ What does that mean?” Inessa asked.
“It means Addy is confident in the plan,” Nathaniel said.
“And wants to make sure you dress in a way that makes the High Elders regret ever finding you.” Rosa wrapped her arm around her shoulders, smirking as they headed back. “Come on. This will be fun.”
Indenuel watched his wife walk off with Rosa, and he rubbed his forehead, trying desperately not to think of how horrible this could go. “Tolomon and I have only one job during this trial, and that’s to make sure you don’t lose your temper. Trust in the process,” Nathaniel said.
Indenuel still glared at the paper. “I don’t trust it.”
“Do you trust Addy? King Ramiro? Queen Lisabeth?” Nathaniel asked.
“A lot more than I do your father,” Indenuel said.
Nathaniel nodded. “Then trust in them. The High Elders are losing their power. We just need to hold on for a little longer.”
***
Inessa fell back into a habit she didn’t think she’d ever need again. She pretended to be braver than she felt as she entered the conference room in the Cathedral. The past couple months since losing her concubine status and gaining Indenuel, first as her betrothed and now as her husband, she didn’t think she’d ever have to pretend again, but now, facing the four High Elders back in this room, her old habits kicked in as she ignored the pounding of her heart. She didn’t make her meek pose, because she no longer needed that. Instead, she looked forward, chin high, holding tightly to Indenuel’s hand for both support and to make sure he didn’t get too angry. Indenuel’s glare was already there, his fingers tightening protectively around her hand. Inessa rubbed his arm as Adosina walked over, smiling.
“Hello, Inessa. Are you alright?” she asked.
“Perfectly,” Inessa said.
Adosina smiled, touching Inessa’s shoulders. “And you will be, too.”
She nodded, hoping it was believable.
“None of these extra people need to be here,” Navir said as he organized his notes, not even giving Nathaniel, Tolomon, and Rosa a second glance.
“This is a simple trial, Inessa is allowed any guest she wants,” Adosina said.
“This is not either a simple trial. She has been found guilty of performing acts of a flooder, and therefore in danger of being a part of a devilish cult that could bring about the second flood,” Navir said.
“Which means, according to law, she gets one guest,” Adosina said.
Navir glared at her. “And the rest must wait outside.”
Adosina placed a hand around her. “Let me stay, send the others away. The High Elders won’t be able to hurt you, so you can speak if you’d like, but I do have a plan.”
Inessa nodded, giving her a side hug before walking over to the others. She hugged Indenuel. “I’m going to be fine, alright?” He simply held her closer. “Don’t lose your temper. No matter what you think is happening in here, I trust Addy.”
“I trust her. It’s just Martin and the other High Elders that I can’t trust,” Indenuel said.
She opened her eyes, still tightly in Indenuel’s embrace, and looked at Tolomon and Nathaniel right behind him. “Tolomon? Nathaniel?” she asked.
“I give you my word he will not enter the room,” Tolomon said.
She could almost feel Indenuel smiling. She herself relaxed, knowing Indenuel wouldn’t dare disobey those two men.
Inessa gave Indenuel a kiss before breaking away from him. Rosa, Nathaniel, Tolomon, and Indenuel walked out of the room, not before Indenuel gave each and every High Elder a good long glare. Inessa straightened her skirts before walking over to Adosina, who looped her arm around her, smiling.