The Child of Light and Shadow

Oath

"That was an incredibly stupid thing to do," Ozymandias chides, but I pay him little mind. His words mean absolutely nothing at this point. "Did you really not think anything would happen if you went there alone? There was absolutely no reason to do that. You could have just told me about it. I would've sent a magic knight squad to investigate."

I look up just long enough to glare at him, then close my eyes again, not liking the sight of the iron bars.

"The damage you caused was catastrophic. Over ten people died, Jonah, and you were seen casting those spells. Even I can't pardon something like that, or the people would revolt." Keep on yapping, little man. I'm not interested. "It will take a whole lot of digging to find a reason not to execute you within a week, even with most of the Apostles vouching for you."

"Maybe now is not the time," Nanami, the newest amongst the Apostles, tells him. "He did just lose his mother, after all." She just about looks like an older version of Yukiji. It's king of creepy, actually. "Surely we can at least afford him a day of mourning."

Ozymandias angrily turns toward her, about to give her a verbal lashing, too, but Xerxes clears his throat in time, reminding us that he's here as well. "I agree with her. Leave him be for now."

The fairy looks reluctant to go along with their words, and gives me a spiteful look one more time. "You've really ruined things this time around." With that, he turns around and storms out, Xerxes in tow. Dexter gives me an apologetic smile once the door to the dungeon closes.

"Don't mind him. We'll get ya out of this one, bro." Normally, Patrick would say something similar, replacing the bro with a dude, but the encounter with Risk has changed him, and I don't just mean the missing arm. I haven't seen him smile once since we went to Rook. "He just needs some time to cool off. That's all."

Once the twins leave, Sheba enters, already shaking her head. "You're bothering him now of all times? Out, all of you. The nerve." Neither Seraphina nor Xerxes does anything to counter her argument, and so I'm left alone with her. "How are you holding up, boy?"

I hold up my hands, bringing her attention to the chains around them.

"Just following protocol. You'll be out of them soon enough. That wasn't what I was asking, though, and you know it. Don't play me for a fool. I'm a bit older than these others. Doubt there are any tricks I've not seen by now. Tell me, boy; How are you holding up?"

I shrug, feeling absolutely nothing. "I don't know."

"Shock, you think? No, that would not have lasted this long. You don't look like you've cried a lot." She pauses, then shakes her head again. "Your brother and father, at the very least, have been found." My eyes widen at that, and I jump to my feet. Kieran. My little Kieran.

"Where is he?"

"Calm down, boy-"

"Where's my brother!?" They got to my mom. I need to be with Kieran, or they'll get to him to. He's not safe.

Sheba scowls, raising her chin to look at me from a higher ground. "They're with us, safe and sound. Nothing you need to worry about. The demons would be fools to attack us all."

"Don't fucking trust him!" I snap, and start trying to pry the chains off, smashing them against the bars.

"What are you talking about, boy?"

"Ozymandias! He's working with the demons! He's the third Apostle who betrayed the kingdom!"

The old woman looks around briefly, then approaches the cell. "Who told you that?"