The Right Side of History (Schooled In Magic Book 22), Christopher Nuttall [books to read romance TXT] 📗

“Including you,” Emily said, flatly.

“I do what I have to do.” Gordian didn’t meet her eyes. “My priority is preserving the school.”

“Which is suddenly a great deal easier, as the necromancers are gone,” Emily said. She couldn’t hide her anger. “You’re welcome.”

Gordian gave her a sharp look. “We’re not ungrateful for what you’ve done,” he said. “But that doesn’t absolve us of having to deal with the consequences.”

“Really?” Emily tried not to snort. “And what would have happened, Grandmaster, if Shadye had crushed Whitehall? Or if Rangka and his comrades had actually carved their way through the Craggy Mountains? Would there not be worse consequences then?”

“Yes,” Gordian conceded. “But we have to deal with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.”

Emily allowed her eyes to bore into him. “And so you have allowed Master Lucknow to try to arrest me in the middle of a crowded town,” she said. “What were you thinking?”

She didn’t wait for him to reply. She knew the answer. Gordian was a weak man - politically, if not personally. He hadn’t been able to oppose Fulvia, let alone Master Lucknow, without paying a high price. She had no doubt Master Lucknow had promised the sun and the moon - or, more practically, a guarantee there would be no further demands, if Gordian signed off on the warrant. The non-existent warrant... perhaps that had been the plan all along. Gordian might find himself holding the bag, after Emily’s arrest and execution. Certainly, no one would come to his defense.

And Master Lucknow can claim he was only following orders, she thought. It would excuse everything, if the orders came from a legitimate source. Bastard.

“If this is how you repay me for saving you from a world-ending threat,” she said instead, “I’d hate to see how you punish your enemies.”

Gordian stood. “I regret the necessity of arresting you,” he said. He didn’t sound as though he meant it. “However, my personal feelings are immaterial. The council must assert its power or risk losing everything. The problem you present must be handled as quickly as possible, before the sparks of fire and fury along the borders lead to a full-scale war. You have already caused quite enough trouble, Emily. Perhaps it is time to put an end to it.”

Emily scowled. “And can I expect a fair trial?”

“Of course,” Gordian said. “But the charges against you are quite serious.”

“And no one has told me the charges,” Emily said. She looked him in the eye, resisting the urge to stand. “Your decision - the court’s decision - must stand the test of time. If it looks as though you judged me guilty, before so much as giving me a chance to defend myself, what will history think of you? What will the council as a whole think of you?”

Gordian hesitated. Emily pressed her advantage ruthlessly. “You know I have friends and allies,” she said. “What will they say, if you put me in front of a biased court?”

“History is written by the victors,” a new voice said. Master Lucknow was standing by the door, his arms crossed over his chest. “And by those who survive.”

Emily cursed under her breath. Gordian was a weak man. Master Lucknow was not.

“Come, Lady Emily,” Master Lucknow said. “It is time to face the court.”

“My... my father hasn’t returned,” Emily said. How long had it been? She wasn’t sure. “We need to wait for him.”

“Your father has abandoned you,” Master Lucknow said. There was something in his voice that suggested he wasn’t lying. “Come with me. Or do you want to be dragged?”

Chapter Four

EMILY FELT AS THOUGH SHE WAS walking to her own execution.

They hadn’t shackled her, or placed her under a compulsion spell, but she was grimly aware escape was impossible. The castle was so heavily warded she didn’t have a hope of getting out, not even if she had all her magic. Master Lucknow walked beside her, close enough to grab hold of her arm and yet not close enough for her to take offense. She knew, without looking, that Gordian was behind them. She wished, for a bitter moment, that he could live up to his predecessor’s reputation just once. Grandmaster Hasdrubal would have crushed Master Lucknow for daring to talk down to him.

A shiver ran through her as they walked down the corridor. Where was Void? She couldn’t believe he’d abandoned her. He could have done that a long time ago, if he hadn’t cared for her on some level; he could have simply ignored Jan if he hadn’t wanted to intervene when Master Lucknow had tried to arrest her. He was a strange person, with many secrets, but it was impossible to believe he meant her harm. He’d certainly had no shortage of opportunities to hurt or kill her if he’d wished.

She glanced at Master Lucknow. “What... what have you done to Jan?”

Master Lucknow’s voice was frosty. “That is none of your concern.”

Emily refused to be cowed. “He was only trying to help...”

“Jan’s fate is none of your concern,” Master Lucknow snapped. “When this is over, he will be dealt with.”

Emily winced. Jan didn’t deserve that.

The corridor widened as they walked into the courtroom. Emily had expected something akin to Alassa’s courtroom, where her father’s supporters had been tried for war crimes, but the magical courtroom was quite different. The room was so dark that large swathes of it were cloaked in shadow. Seven hooded figures sat at a desk, facing her; an eighth man had his hood pulled back to reveal his face. He looked oddly familiar, as if she’d crossed paths with him at some point over the last few years. She couldn’t place him. A tall man stood on the near side of the desk, his face carefully blank. Emily shivered as she recognized Master Tor. He’d told his class, once, that he practiced law in front of the White Council. She hadn’t really understood what he’d