The Lost Rose

Chapter 14

The morning after the attack, the rebels that were caught were being interrogated. But what the regents were expecting the most out of was their leader.

The one that wanted to kill us in yesterday. The one I pushed away.

We are all sited at the tribunal in a big semi-circle in front of where the culprits will be standing.

I haven't been able to sleep all night. I kept tossing and turning, thinking about what happened. There is the rational part of my brain which thinks that this was my imagination, that it was just shock that changed the way I perceived the events. But there is also this other thought that occurs to me: what if? What if it did happen? What if I actually threw this man across the room without a single contact?

I am lost in my thoughts while my uncle is talking with King Frederic, from the east palace.

From right to left there is the south palace, the east, the north and the west. All the regents and heirs are present. I am right in front of Chase.

Who is watching since earlier.

I look back at him and I see a question in his eyes.

- Are you okay? He mouths.

I nod and then look away. He knows something is up.

I wish people couldn't read through me like an open book.

They have already brought in a few men but they kept saying the same thing.

- Who ordered you to attack? Queen Katherine had asked.

- Nobody.

- Why did you attack the north palace in particular?

- It was the lighting.

- What are you talking about?

- The lighting on the big oak tree, in the west part of the city.

And that's all we ever got from them. They tried but they wouldn't answer more.

I don't know what they did with them after. Will there be a public execution?

What if no one talks, will they torture them?

The room grows silent as they bring another man.

The leader. At least of the group, not the attack.

He walks towards us and then stops in the middle of the semi-circle.

My heart starts beating faster. He could talk about what happen yesterday, why wouldn't he?

When I take a better look at him, which I didn't really have the time to before, I realize he is way younger than I thought. He is in his early twenties, I'd give him 23, not much more. He has dark curly hair, at ear length. He is tall and looks quite strong. I did notice that yesterday though. His skin is a clear brown and he has a few cuts on his face.

He looks as arrogant as he must be. But there is something in his features that makes him look witty, almost smart. He isn't scared to be here. This could very well be a theater show I wouldn't see the difference on his face.

He is standing here, handcuffed, guards around him as he eyes all of us with a little smirk at the corner of his mouth.

How can he act so sure of himself? Isn't he scared he is going to get executed? Or maybe he has come to terms with it. Now he will just have fun and mess with us.

Queen Katherine, who has been interrogating the rebels since this morning, clears her voice.

She starts interrogating him and asks him his name.