The Inquisition (Summoner, #2)(19)

‘Captain Lovett,’ Fletcher breathed, hardly believing it possible. The last time he had seen her, she had been in a coma, only able to communicate through her Mite, Valens.

Lovett rode down the centre of the room, leaving a trail of dripping water and ignoring the aghast looks from the crowd on either side. Still astride the regal beast, she stopped beside Jakov and snatched the knife from his hand. Rook, momentarily lost for words, suddenly found his tongue.

‘Captain Lovett. How dare you ride into a court of law! Dismount at once or be found in contempt!’

Lovett let the knife fall to the floor, a look of disgust plain on her face.

‘I can’t,’ she said.

‘Can’t, or won’t?’ Rook snarled, standing up from the high table.

‘Can’t,’ Lovett replied, tossing her hair. ‘I’m paralysed from the waist down.’





9


As Rook spluttered, unsure how to respond, Lovett turned her gaze to Fletcher. She gave him a barely perceptible nod, then walked her Griffin, Lysander, over to the jury.

‘I am here to tell you that Fletcher and Othello were not complicit in the crime. They were defending themselves from being attacked by ten men, and they barely escaped with their lives. The dwarf had been shot and Fletcher was carrying him to safety. My own Mite, Valens, stung a soldier who had captured them, allowing them to get away.’

‘You helped them escape?’ Rook roared, slamming his fists on the table. ‘After the murder of five soldiers?’

‘I saved them from being slaughtered in cold blood, after merely protecting themselves from a group of soldiers who were hunting dwarves for sport.’ Lovett’s voice was clear and confident, her gaze moving steadily across the jury.

Charles held up a hand and wagged a finger, smiling and shaking his head.

‘Not so fast, Captain Lovett. I have it on good authority that you were in ethershock until a few months ago … hence your unfortunate paralysis. How could you have seen the events that night?’

‘Through Valens, my demon. I was able to learn to see through his eyes without using a scrying stone, as have others before me.’ She lifted her chin and stared back, defiantly.

‘Preposterous. Only the most skilled of summoners are able to master that technique,’ Charles said, waving his hand dismissively.

‘Yes,’ Lovett said simply. Charles pursed his lips, but could think of no reply.

‘Well, if this is true, we could test it right now,’ Rook laughed.

‘Please do,’ Lovett replied.

Rook paused for a moment, staring at Lovett’s face over clasped hands. Her eyes bore into his, daring him to challenge her.

‘Let us assume that you are able to scry without a Corundum crystal to aid you,’ Rook said, examining his nails. ‘Your testimony is worthless, regardless of this ability. Or should I say, precisely because of it.’

‘Why is that?’ Arcturus asked. ‘There have been other cases where evidence has been given based on what was seen while scrying.’

‘Yes, but that was because they saw it with their own two eyes, on the stone itself. Lovett claims to have seen it all in her mind’s eye, as it were. There is no precedent for this and I rule it inadmissible in court. You are dismissed, Captain Lovett.’

‘This is ludicrous,’ Arcturus shouted, striding up to the podium.

‘It is law, Captain. I make it, you follow it.’ Rook couldn’t help but smile as Arcturus’s face reddened with rage.

‘Jury, please disregard Captain Lovett’s statements,’ Charles said, pushing Arcturus back to his table. ‘And Arcturus. Speak in that way again and we will hold you in contempt of court, leaving the criminals to defend themselves.’

Arcturus stood rigidly, his arms crooked as if he could barely prevent himself from tackling Charles to the ground.

With visible effort, Arcturus turned away, instead grasping Othello by the shoulder and leading him back to Fletcher. The dwarf stared at his feet in silence, avoiding his friend’s eyes. He looked smaller somehow, diminished. The stoic dwarf, who had borne so much, had been broken.

Fletcher’s hatred for his tormentors simmered inside of him. They had all the power, and he had none. This trial was a farce, the verdict a foregone conclusion. Even as he raged, his thoughts were preoccupied with one, frightening realisation: he was going to die, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Berdon … Sylva … he would never see them again.

‘I won’t stand for this,’ Lovett said, crossing her arms.

‘Yes … I can see that,’ Rook said.

He grinned at his jibe, and Fletcher heard Lord Forsyth snort with laughter.

Captain Lovett ignored him and turned to the jury.

‘Listen to your conscience, not these charlatans,’ she said, pointing a finger at the two Inquisitors. ‘These boys are victims of circumstance, nothing more.’

‘That’s quite enough, Captain,’ Rook snapped. ‘My patience wears thin. One more word …’ He nodded at the nearest guard, who raised his rifle, the barrel wavering slightly under her griffin Lysander’s steely-eyed gaze.

‘Now, do you have any other witnesses that you would like to call forth, or can we call it a day?’ Charles asked.

Captain Lovett turned to Arcturus, and Fletcher heard her whisper.