Chapter 154: What’s Happening to Me? [5]
The courtyard was busy despite the early hour.
Students moved between buildings in small clusters, their voices carrying across the open space. Guards stood posted at regular intervals along the walls.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Sound of footsteps echoed as Alaric walked alongside Elina, Caleb and Livia a few paces behind them.
None of them spoke.
Two carriages waited near the eastern gate, both bearing the royal crest.
Guards in formal armor stood beside them, expressions unreadable beneath their helmets.
A messenger in royal livery stood between the carriages, holding a rolled parchment. He unrolled it as they approached.
"Alaric Glimor, Elina Glimor, Caleb Duskwood, Livia Duskwood." He read each name without inflection. "By order of His Majesty King Zardic Grey, you are summoned to provide testimony regarding the events of the capital attack. You will proceed immediately to the palace for formal interview."
It wasn’t a request. It was an order.
Elina’s posture stiffened slightly, but her expression remained perfectly composed.
"Of course. We’re ready."
The messenger gestured toward the first carriage.
"Ladies in the first carriage. Gentlemen in the second."
Elina moved forward without hesitation, her steps measured and careful.
Livia followed her, pausing only to glance back at Caleb and Alaric.
A guard opened the carriage door. Elina climbed in first, her movements smooth and practiced. Livia followed more slowly, gripping the door frame like she needed the support.
The door closed behind them.
Alaric turned toward the second carriage. Caleb was already there, one hand on the door handle.
He didn’t look at Alaric. Just opened the door and climbed inside without waiting.
Alaric followed, pulling himself up into the carriage and settling onto the bench opposite Caleb.
The interior was well-appointed, cushioned seats, curtains on the windows.
The carriage lurched into motion, wheels clattering against cobblestones.
Silence filled the space between them.
Caleb stared out the window, watching the academy walls pass by.
His jaw was clenched, shoulders tense beneath his academy uniform. Dark circles matched his sister’s, evidence of too many sleepless nights.
Alaric leaned back against the cushioned seat, arms crossed loosely over his chest.
He studied Caleb’s profile for a moment, then looked out his own window.
The silence stretched.
After several minutes, Caleb spoke without turning from the window. "Don’t talk to me."
His voice was flat. Not angry, not hostile. Just... empty.
Alaric’s eyebrow raised slightly. "Wasn’t planning to."
"Good."
More silence.
The carriage turned onto a main road, the ride smoothing out as they left the academy grounds behind.
"They’re going to ask about what we saw," Caleb said suddenly. Still staring out the window. "What we did. Who we killed."
Alaric didn’t respond. Just waited.
"I’m not covering for you if you did something you shouldn’t have."
"Same."
Caleb’s fingers drummed once against his knee, then stilled. "My sister was there because of you. Because Elina wanted to go shopping and dragged her along."
"Your sister was there because she chose to go."
"She wouldn’t have been in the capital if—" Caleb cut himself off.
"If what?" Alaric’s tone stayed neutral. "If Elina and I hadn’t been there? The attack would’ve happened anyway. She would’ve been there anyway."
Caleb’s head turned then, eyes meeting Alaric’s for the first time since they’d gotten in the carriage.
"You don’t get to tell me what would or wouldn’t have happened."
"Neither do you."
They stared at each other for a long moment.
Then Caleb looked away first, returning his gaze to the window. "Just stay away from her. From both of them."
"That’s not up to you."
"It should be." Caleb’s voice dropped lower.
"You’re dangerous."
Alaric considered that. "Maybe."
Caleb’s eyes snapped back to him.
"I don’t care who the hell are you. And what the fuck are you doing. Just stay away from my sister."
Alaric just raised his brows. "What if don’t?"
Caleb eyes narrowed, "Trust me. You don’t wanna find that out."
Alaric just hummed and leaned back. Not in mood for further argument.
The carriage hit a rough patch of road, jostling them both. Caleb’s hand shot out to brace against the window frame.
When the road smoothed again, he didn’t respond. Just settled back into his corner of the carriage and returned to staring out the window.
The silence returned, heavier this time.
Alaric closed his eyes, letting his head rest against the cushioned back of his seat.
The lingering exhaustion from last night still weighed on him.
Then after few moments, the carriage lurched to a stop with a final jolt that made the bench creak beneath them.
Caleb pushed the door open and stepped down onto the cobblestones without waiting for a guard to assist.
Alaric followed at a more measured pace.
They stood in a circular courtyard paved with gray stone, surrounded on three sides by tall buildings of pale marble.
Guards lined the perimeter. Their postures were rigid, eyes forward, weapons visible but not drawn.
The first carriage had already arrived.
Elina and Livia stood near its door, waiting.
Elina’s expression was carefully neutral, hands clasped in front of her. Livia stood close beside her, one hand gripping her own wrist so tightly her knuckles had gone white.
A man in formal robes approached from the central building. His face was weathered, lines carved deep around his mouth and eyes.
"This way," he said without preamble. Not hostile, but not warm either.
He turned and walked toward the central building’s entrance.
Four guards fell into formation around them, two ahead, two behind.
The building’s entrance was massive. Their footsteps echoed as they crossed the threshold.
The corridor stretched ahead for what looked like a hundred feet, lined with doors on both sides.
They climbed a short flight of stairs. Turned down another corridor.
Finally, the official stopped in front of a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bands. He knocked twice.
"Enter," a voice called from inside.
The official pushed the door open and gestured for them to proceed.
The room beyond was larger than Alaric had expected.
A long table dominated the center, dark polished wood that reflected the light from tall windows along one wall. Chairs lined both sides of the table, most of them empty.
At the head of the table sat a woman in deep blue silk, auburn hair pinned up with gold combs. Queen Vesperine. Her green eyes moved over each of them in turn, assessing.
Beside her stood a thin man with silver hair—the Lord Chancellor, judging by his formal robes and the seal hanging from a chain around his neck.
Two more officials sat further down the table, both with parchment and ink ready in front of them.
"Come in," Queen Vesperine said. Her voice was calm, controlled. "Close the door behind you."
The official who’d escorted them stepped back into the corridor. The door swung shut with a heavy thud.
"Please, sit." The Queen gestured at the chairs across from her.
Elina moved first, taking the chair directly across from the Queen with practiced grace. Livia sat beside her.
Caleb took the chair on Livia’s side.
Alaric settled by Elina, posture relaxed despite the formal setting.
Queen Vesperine’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than the others.
"Thank you for coming," she said, though they all knew it hadn’t been a request.
"I’m sure you understand why you’ve been summoned. The attack on the capital was the most significant security breach in a generation. We need to understand exactly what happened, from those who were there to witness it."
She folded her hands on the table in front of her.
"This is not an accusation. You are not suspects. But we need your account, detailed, accurate, and complete." Her eyes moved across each of them again. "We’ll be speaking with each of you individually. One at a time."
The Lord Chancellor stepped forward. "Lady Elina Glimor. You’ll be first."
Elina stood without hesitation, smoothing her skirts. She followed the Chancellor toward a side door.
It opened, then closed behind them.
Leaving the other three sitting at the table with the Queen and the silent officials.
Waiting.