Emma took a deep breath in as she stepped forward. "I have merely brought the culprits with me. Please give us your time to listen to them and us."
Viktor didn't want her to say anything at all. His eyes went to Drogo who was standing behind them and was shaking. The Head of the village also looked like he had seen a ghost. "I don't have time for your antics!" he shouted. He hadn't allowed anyone to enter from the north villages because he didn't want them to give evidence or tell people as to what happened. "So get going and let the fight continue. My sons are fighting for their honor."
All at once, Nephie spread her wings out and lowered her head as if preparing to attack him.
"What is this dragon doing?" Viktor said, his voice full of fear.
"Nephie wants you to hear out the two witnesses. If you won't, I am not responsible for the consequences," Emma replied, crossing her arms across her chest.
And Viktor knew that she meant war. If he didn't listen to her, the dragon would rage war against him. All his guards won't be able to handle the six dragons out here. He had no choice. He had to deal with her, but once he had dealt with this situation, he was going to punish her. Maybe kill her. Enough was enough. "What do they want to say?" he said, glowering at her.
Emma gestured with her chin to her father. He didn't respond. Yul came inside the ring with a huge grin. He grabbed him by his upper arm and dragged him in front of the king. "Speak," he hissed.
Drogo began shaking. He had never thought that he would confront the king. He never thought that his previous wife would do this to him. He hated Emma all the more and cursed the day she was born. He bowed and started, "When you had sent the princes to the north villages, we received the information. We wanted justice and so we helped them go against the princes. I raised the rebellion along with my three men. The villagers got together and we attacked the vampire guards during the day."
"I am sure that it was Lazarus who wanted this attack," Viktor growled, forcing Drogo to be his mouthpiece. "He ordered you to kill Prince Jade."
But Drogo was already too scared of the dragon after being flown for a day in their clutches. "No, Prince Lazarus has nothing to do with it. In fact, he wanted to stop the rebellion and did everything to do that. He called wives of the rebel leaders to the palace and met with all of them, parted with gifts also." Drogo's throat bobbed when his thoughts went to Avice. He didn't even know how she was doing. He didn't know where Angus was.
Viktor clenched his jaws. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. "Anything else?"
"Your Majesty—" Drogo wanted to say more, but Viktor put his hand up.
"Enough!"
"Your Majesty," Emma forced herself in. "The Head of the village wants to speak now."
This time Magnus brought him forward.
"Speak!" Viktor snarled.
"Your Majesty," he squeaked. "It was Drogo who headed the rebellion, but—" he started shaking with fear so much that he started wailing. He sank on the ground on his knees. "Have mercy!" he wailed.
Viktor stiffened. He knew what was coming.
"It was me who killed Prince Jade!" The Head of the village started crying loudly. "But it was purely because we couldn't stand against their cruel methods of asking for taxes. We are very poor and we can't afford to pay them. It was an act of self-defense." His shoulders dropped as he wailed even louder.
Everyone in the audience became silent as they watched him. Now that the truth was out, the courtiers didn't know how to react. The Village Head meant that the king was cruel and that he made a wrong decision to make his sons fight each other.
Jasper, on the other hand, was shocked. He stumbled to his brother Lazarus and grabbed his arm to keep himself up. He didn't know that it was the Village Head who killed his twin brother. Yul had informed him that his father wasn't letting anyone from the village and now he understood why. His father wanted to create disharmony between all of them.
"Is there anything else?" Viktor said in a serious voice. his reputation was at stake.
"No, Your Majesty," the Village Head replied, still sobbing.
"Guards!" Viktor shouted, pointing at the Village Head. "Throw him in the dungeons!"
The guards rushed to him and pulled him up from his position. They dragged him to the dungeons amidst deafening silence while he screamed of injustice.
Once he was gone, Emma said, "Now that it is proven that Lord Lorza had no hand in murder of Prince Jade, you have to acquit him of all charges."
Viktor wanted to slam something. Anything. His plan was foiled completely. He was going to teach Emma a lesson. "Why are you so interested in Prince Lazarus?" he asked, leaning back in his cushioned chair. "I hope you know that he is getting married to Olya."
Emma gasped. She flitted her gaze to Lazarus. He came to her and whispered. "You don't have to answer him." Magnus shifted on his feet.
But Viktor was pissed off. "Are you his concubine?" he glanced at Bernice and the rest of the dragon riders to see their reactions. They were all stunned. He liked it. "You are behaving as if you are his wife, but Emmalyn—" he leaned forward. "If you don't want to be called his cunt, and if you have even a modicum of dignity left, get out of this kingdom. Otherwise, I can put you in the quarters of the whores of the palace."
"Father!" Lazarus growled.
Viktor ignored him. "You are nothing but his whore. I will never let you marry him. He will marry and mark Olya. So get out of here with those dragons because if I see you again, I will behead you!"
"Father! This is preposterous!"
Emma stopped him. And what she did next, shocked Viktor out of his wits.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l