Giving a brief nod to Ugotlas, Edeline marched around the corner. It had taken far too long to track down the remaining knights, even given that they did not have that many streets to search. She figured they kept missing them by a few paces each time, passing each other one street over as they circled around. This on top of only being able to grab some more of the dried bread to eat.

  Assembled in front of her with their hands bound, now disarmed and unarmored, were the remaining royal knights. While a few more had chosen to fight back, most had given in on hearing that their leader was dead. The presence of Ugotlas and the Witch of Wrath had helped to intimidate the knights as well. In total, she counted around four hex men packed close, watched over by a pair of Lasfont guards.

  There was no building here that could hold all of them in a single room at once, so they had found an open area just outside the barricades and led them there. If any more creatures showed up, she and Ugotlas could be handle that. Not that Edeline would mourn if any of them fell in such an attack. Seeing the suffering Takhat had endured at their hands left her with little pity.

  It was a little surprising that the Witch of Wrath had picked now to disappear instead of joining in on the questioning, but they had to proceed regardless. "Knights of Hyarch," Edeline said, putting as much of an edge into her voice as she could manage. It still sounded all too weak to her. "You came here seeking Edeline Hallowscroft, correct? Here I am. Tell me why you were ordered to hunt me down."

  "Treachery against the crown and the kingdom," one of the men at the front said, as the others began to mutter and murmur. "You should know what you did."

  "I am aware of what I have done. But are you?" It would be a convenient excuse to hide that Edeline was of Pelagoin blood, that Princess Splendora had chosen Hallowscroft as her hiding place. Declare her a traitor, and few would think again on there being secrets behind that accusation.

  "Seeing you throw spells around like that, I think I do," another knight added.

  That was also a possibility, one Edeline had not considered. As the situation in Hallowscroft had worsened, she had been less discrete about her spell use. There were quite a few survivors from the band that had threatened the town, and they would have no reason to hide what they had seen.

  There was one way to make sure. "And what of my brother?"

  "Isn't he dead?" The speaker this time was one of the men in the back row. "Shouldn't you...know that?"

  "What are you even playing at?" added another.

  That was all the confirmation Edeline needed right there, cold and clear.

  If it had been the matter of their struggles in Hallowscroft, her brother's name would have come up right beside her own. Myronel had been the one to make the decision to defy the aldermen and stand with his sister. He had also been the one to kill Lord Kelshir, a detail that would unquestionably lead to the king wanting Myronel dead.

  "Curious how they pledge to follow orders they know nothing about," Ugotlas observed, "I was under the impression these were the best of the fighting forces your kingdom had."

  "Why don't you untie us and-" one of them started to say, only to break off in a grunt of pain as the man standing next to him stomped down on his foot.

  Edeline could not deny there was the temptation to tell them the truth, but she knew just what that would bring. To announce her bloodline in front of these men would be the same as announcing her bid for the throne. A throne she did not want, and a crown she increasingly was coming to hate.

  At least she could speak on the other matter. "You have been misled," Edeline told them, "My brother yet lives. Some of you probably already saw him, here in Lasfont."

  It was well enough to let them doubt what they had been told, since Edeline herself was not certain of the entire truth. There were still questions surrounding why the effort to frame her brother as dead. After all, he had exchanged word with His Majesty...or had he? Those messages could have been intercepted and false replies sent...but even if so, the reason behind that remained unexplained.

  A problem that would yet again have to be dealt with another day. "So, if you were to have captured me, what would happen then?"

  "I guess...we'd take you to Diademia for a trial." The uncertainty told Edeline there was no real plan there. Whoever gave them their orders expected this to end in a fight, one with her dead.

  "Not with the other orders, we couldn't," another stated.

  Edeline's gaze snapped over. "What other orders?"

  "Don't say it," one of the earlier men to speak hissed.

  His demand for silence was ignored. "There's word of an insurrection in Melyn. After we were done here, we were going to travel west to deal with it."

  Edeline tried to remember where Melyn was. Obviously, it was somewhere in northern Hyarch, but details about the place eluded her. Aether, she was far too tired. If Hamond had been here, maybe he could make some sense of it. However, he had gone to see about finding a place for Sedat to stay. Just let her sleep in their room for the next few days.

  Back to the more immediate matter. "I have no concern with this insurrection. But do none of you find it strange that I, one person, am considered enough of a threat to divert you when you could be fighting against it? Or against the Spellking?"

  "We're just following our orders," one of them protested. The other knights nodded and added their agreement.

  Edeline's mind immediately went back to the events in Hyarch. "Good men follow orders," that spellbound watch captain had said, before cutting down his own men. For all Edeline knew, this was just the work of another agent of the Spellking. Dividing the kingdom, weakening it...wait, was the insurrection also part of that?

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "If that is how they wish to be judged, perhaps we should oblige them." Ugotlas's words roused Edeline from her thoughts.

  It was tempting, but no, there was a better solution. "Their fate lays with Captain Takhat. Once she is recovered, she can decide what awaits them."

  "I was under the impression there is no available space for them." Ugotlas padded over and sat himself down beside her. "Any choice regarding them must be made now, and anyone else who could is occupied."

  Edeline hated that, every bit of it. The more she claimed any mantle of leadership, the closer it felt that she was to the royal and noble titles she wanted to reject. Even so, Ugotlas was all too right. The decision, as much as she would rather push it off, fell to her.

  That led her to one more question for the knights. "Did you all come here with enough supplies for your journey to Melyn?"

  The blank stares she got in return told Edeline that whoever was in charge of managing their supplies had to be among the dead. Even with that, some of these men ought to at least have some grasp on the importance of sufficient food and water for their travels. How...they had to have been expecting to be able to resupply here in Lasfont. There was no other way.

  "If you do not want to make a decision now, I will." Ugotlas clearly viewed that question as further hesitation. "For this matter, I will not be merciful."

  Edeline opened her mouth to reply, struggling with what she might say.

  "Perhaps you should worry about your own judgment first."

  Spinning around at the sound of the new voice, Edeline was initially confused to see no one there. She realized it a mere second before he came into view, a second sphinx standing there coldly gazing at Ugotlas.

  It was not the only one. Two more shimmered into view, on either side of the first one. Why they chose now to reveal themselves, Edeline did not know, but their words told her this was not friendly. She tensed, ready with a spell if it was needed.

  "Ugotlas of the Sekhmati," the front one spoke, "Your malfeasance led to the death of many of your fellows. Whether it be by design or mistake, such a failing cannot go without punishment."

  "Would it not be the failings of those who could not contain the woman I sent?" Ugotlas answered, "It would have been readily apparent that she was under a spell to pacify her."

  "They lost their lives to their error. It is only fitting that you face the same. The judgment of the eyes of the heavens is upon you."

  "How about you all talk this out?" Edeline did not expect them to, but it was worth trying.

  "Silence. You, and the rest of those here, will face the eyes of the heavens soon enough." The sphinx's look was dismissive, a hint of irritation in his voice.

  "I already did," Edeline muttered to herself, knowing they would not hear, knowing they would not care. First in Hallowscroft, and then in Kelshir, she had faced her death, and survived.

  "So let it be written for the ages to come. Today we meet this betrayal with-"

  "Terra volt!"

  Tendrils of energy shot out from both of Edeline's hands, each pulling a large earthen chunk from the ground. They floated into position above and in front of her, both crackling as currents of stormy magic flowed around them.

  "Dijed inek heka-" spoke the apparent leader of the sphinxes, taking one step back.

  Flicking her wrists, Edeline brought down the two clumps of rock and sand upon him with a heavy crash, cutting off the words of the spell. If the sphinx somehow survived the impact...well, he wouldn't be casting any more such spells any time soon.

  The other two sphinxes backed away, fear written as if with the sharpest of inks on their faces. "What...what is this?" one of them demanded of Ugotlas.

  "You seek the spells of the Elemental Hex, do you not?" Edeline knew, without question, that she needed to make it brutally clear. "Step forward then! I shall give you exactly what you desire!"

  The two did not move, looking back and forth between each other, Ugotlas, and her.

  "I was told to discover what information on the Elemental Hex survived," Ugotlas said after a long silent moment. "What better way than to arrange an agreement with someone who had already encountered a different member of the Elemental Hex? Even if that meant having to aid in battle against her enemies, it would be worth it."

  "Then why would you work with the very woman who slew our kindred?" The sphinx scowled.

  "I would rather not have, but your failure to hold her left me with no other choice. Any of you could have easily determined that she was hostile to me, and taken appropriate precautions. Instead I return to find a town brought to ruin by the very matter we were researching, and you all nowhere to be found."

  "Would the information you brought have predicted this?" The sphinx waved one paw in the air, as if to indicate all of Lasfont.

  "We are wasting time," the other sphinx, the one on the left, spoke up, "Perhaps our haste to gain access to the Sluice is as much to blame as your lack of communication as to the importance of the woman you sent. The judgment of the eyes of the heaven will spare none of us in the end if so, but I at least can admit there is still more both we and Ugotlas can accomplish before that."

  "Wait," Edeline said, hoping she was wrong about what that meant. "Are you saying that you found the chamber of the Sluice? That when you entered there, she cast the spell that did this in response?"

  "That is correct."

  Edeline took in a deep breath, the kind reserved for shouting with full force, but held herself back. Nothing about it was a mistake in the moment. With the Witch of Wrath roaming the town freely and possessing some understanding of what the Sekhmati were after, hurrying their efforts would have been the logical next step, Ugotlas or not.

  "It should not be a surprise that I am in favor of postponing any judgment," Ugotlas stated.

  "And not that of these men?" Edeline could not resist pointing out. The knights in question were looking on in quiet defeat, with any defiance vanished at the sight of Edeline's spell.

  "I cannot deny my opinion is self-serving," Ugotlas noted, "All the same, I still would be more valuable to you and to Lasfont than they would."

  "Enough." If he wanted a decision, then fine, Edeline would give it. "What you do among yourself once this is settled is your affair. The same goes for however you choose to deal with the Witch of Wrath. My current focus is on ending all threats to the people here, be they knights of Hyarch, sphinxes of Remuat, or the Sluice itself."

  The right sphinx growled with a rumble. "A bold statement, and you certainly possess a heka few among your fellows do. I am willing to give you one chance to prove your worth. You must act quickly though."

  "I will need time to arrange the cleanup from the mess they made." Edeline indicated the knights with a gesture. In truth it was more to give them time to rest and recover, but she doubted this pair of sphinxes would be sympathetic. "Two days from now, we can meet to discuss our approach."

  "Very well." The sphinx turned to leave. "And Ugotlas, do not fail again." He paced off, clearly wanting to be anywhere but here.

  "I will remain to keep eyes upon the situation here," the other sphinx said. The departing sphinx gave no response, continuing to move away. He might be a problem later on, but there was nothing that could be said or done about that this moment.

  As much as Edeline just wanted to go lay down after that, there was still the matter of the knights. Now, at least, she understood just what ought to be done. She turned to speak to Takhat's men, ready to give instructions on shifting out the barricades just enough to give them more room to house these men in. She certainly couldn't do that task without some aid.

  The two guards that had been there were gone. Edeline blinked, trying to figure out what had happened. Had the sphinx...no, she would have noticed any spells. They had to have fled, either at the sight of the new sphinxes, or after witnessing Edeline's spell.

  "Ugotlas," Edeline said wearily.

  "Is there another matter that requires attention?" Ugotlas asked.

  "Go find me some of the guards and bring them here," Edeline answered, "Preferably ones that won't run away."

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