Dividing Eden (Dividing Eden #1)(64)

The guard members standing behind Captain Monteros exchanged nervous glances.

The youth started to scramble to his feet, but Captain Monteros grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down. “I don’t believe you are done yet, boy,” Captain Monteros said, standing over him. “Prince Andreus has yet to give his verdict on what your punishment should be.”

Elder Cestrum nodded. “Yes. Prince Andreus. Your sister has given us a fascinating view of what her reign as Queen would look like. Publically punishing the guard is a . . . unique choice. Now the Elders and the court here in the Hall of Virtues would like to hear from you. What ruling would you give this young man for his crimes?”

All eyes turned to Andreus. He pretended not to feel the weight of their expectation as he studied Varn huddled on the floor. Andreus had no doubt as to how the boy got in the castle. After his discussion with Elder Jacobs, Andreus was sure that this “theft” was designed by the Council as part of the Trials. The boy was here because the Council wanted him here. The guards let him through because that had been their orders. Did the boy cut the purse Captain Monteros was holding off a lord’s belt? The boy had no knife that Andreus could see. If he had one, surely the guards would have taken it and shown it as another sign of the boy’s guilt.

His sister was right to say the boy should be set free, at the very least given a minimal punishment for this “crime.” But Andreus knew that was not the ruling the Council wanted—not the ruling he was supposed to give. Not if he wanted to convince them that he was strong enough to set aside his desire for approval and do what the kingdom needed. That he could draw a line in the sand that others knew could never be crossed without serious retribution.

Micah used to say their uncle had been right to want to lead a force decades ago against Adderton for their sheltering and support of the living members of the Bastians. Their uncle claimed King Ulron was weak for not hunting the last of them. He said strong men removed the head of a snake if they truly wished to ensure its death.

Instead of striking down Adderton and the Bastians, their father ordered the guards to seize their uncle for what he claimed was a plot against the crown. Not long after, Father took the advice offered by his brother and removed the snake’s head. No one after that dared to call King Ulron weak.

Now the Council was looking for that same strength—from him. As long as Andreus could convince Elder Jacobs and the rest that he was his father’s son, the crown would be his. His sister’s bid to bring the Council to her side would fail. Imogen would be his Queen and Carys would accept her new place in his life—or he would deal with that, too.

But first he had to cut the head off this snake.

“I understand my sister’s desire for mercy. It is only human to be swayed by a tale of hunger and a sad face. A strong ruler cannot act out of pity, but must instead think of the law.” Andreus glanced down at the boy—Varn—whose defiant pose was gone now. Instead, he seemed to be pleading for help with his eyes.

Andreus’s resolve trembled like the innocent boy in front of him. He thought of Max and for a moment wondered if Varn and Max could have known each other on the streets of Garden City. What would Max think after hearing that Andreus had passed judgment on a boy who was in essence just like him? Would he still believe Andreus was his hero?

Andreus pulled his gaze up and found Imogen standing not far behind the boy in the crowd. To keep her safe, he must be King. To be King, he must prove to the Council he was strong. What was one life when compared to all the others he would help as King? One life against hundreds of thousands.

And really, the boy was here in the Hall of Virtues. He must have known that when he walked into the castle and came through these doors he was doing something wrong. Still he came. For that arrogance the boy deserved to pay a price.

Keeping his eyes firmly on Imogen’s face, Andreus straightened his shoulders and said, “This boy stole a purse. Thefts must be punished. If they are not, it only encourages others to incite trouble in our city and the kingdom. The punishment for theft is the loss of a hand.”

“But I didn’t do it, Your Highness,” the boy cried. “They—”

“Silence,” Andreus snapped. “By interrupting you have shown clearly that you have no respect for the lords of this land. Not only did you steal a purse, but you used a weapon to do so.”

“Andreus,” Carys said.

He could hear the concern in his sister’s voice and he shoved it to the side. Thinking of the throne sitting just behind him, he walled up any pity he felt for the boy and instead focused on the way everyone waited for him to continue. High Lords hung on his every word. The Council of Elders and the guard were waiting to act as he ordered. Terror made the boy on the floor shake.

They all watched him as he had always seen people look at his father. He was no longer the one who guarded a terrible secret—no longer the one that was cursed. He was the one with power.

“To allow you to walk free would be a signal to all of Eden that attacking a lord is allowed.”

“But I didn’t—”

“Andreus!”

He wasn’t listening to his sister or the boy. He felt the power of the throne calling to him as he said, “For the crime of attacking a lord with a knife, stealing from him, and open disrespect to the throne, I order this criminal put to death.”