Kai’s knuckles whitened on the arms of his chair. “You can’t destroy evidence and then try to use it to condemn somebody. You can’t expect us to believe you found this box of paperwork, during an illegal search, mind you, and it held the patents for a Lunar-targeted weapon, and that Linh Adri had some working knowledge of it. That is a lot of speculation. On top of that, you violated a number of articles in the Interplanetary Agreement when you apprehended an Earthen citizen without due cause and invaded private property.”
Levana cupped her chin with one hand. “Why don’t we argue about this later, darling?”
“Oh, you want to argue later? Would that be before or after you’ve killed an innocent Earthen?”
Levana shrugged. “That remains to be seen.”
Kai sneered. “You can’t—” He abruptly cut off, forced to hold his tongue.
“You will soon learn, dear, that I do not like to be told that I can’t.” Levana shifted her attention on Adri again. “Linh Adri, you have heard the charges against you. How do you plead?”
Adri stammered, “I-I’m innocent. I swear I would never … I didn’t know … I…”
Levana sighed. “I want to believe you.”
“Please,” Adri begged.
Levana ate another prawn. Swallowed. Licked her bloodred lips. “I am prepared to offer you clemency.”
A rustle of curiosity spread through the crowd.
“This decision is contingent on your disowning all legal interest to the orphan child, Linh Cinder, and swearing fealty to me, the rightful queen of Luna and the future empress of the Eastern Commonwealth.”
Adri’s head was already bobbing. “Yes. Yes, I do. Gladly, Your Grace. Your Majesty.”
Cinder glared at the back of Adri’s head. Not because her decision was any big surprise, but because she couldn’t imagine it was going to be this easy. Levana was planning something and Adri was falling right into her hands.
“Good. All charges are absolved. You may pay your respects to your sovereign.” Levana held out a hand, and Adri, after a moment’s hesitation, scurried forward on her knees and placed a grateful kiss on the queen’s fingers. She started sobbing again.
“Does the child not show any gratitude?” said Levana.
Pearl squeaked, but slowly shuffled forward and kissed Levana’s hands.
A woman in the front row, her mouth full, clapped politely.
Levana nodded and two guards stepped forward to drag Adri and Pearl to the side of the room.
Cinder had already put thoughts of her stepmother aside, bracing herself, when Levana’s attention landed on her. She made no attempts to withhold her delight as she said, “Let us continue with our second trial.”
Fifty-One
Cinder lumbered to the spot where Adri had been groveling moments ago. She planted her feet and readied herself with an exhale that was meant to be steadying, though it was impossible to ignore the fluttering of her pulse or the list of thirty different hormones her retina display told her were flooding her system. Her brain was acutely aware of her fear.
Two guards flanked her on either side.
“Our second prisoner, Linh Cinder,” said Aimery, pacing in front of her, “has been charged with the following crimes: unlawful emigration to Earth, rebelliousness, assisting a traitor to the crown, conspiring against the crown, kidnapping, meddling in intergalactic affairs, obstruction of justice, theft, evading arrest, and royal treason. The punishment for these crimes is immediate death by her own—”
“No,” said Queen Levana, smiling. It was clear she’d thought a lot about this moment. “It has proven to be too difficult to manipulate her, so an exception is to be made. Her punishment shall be immediate death by … oh, what shall it be? Poison? Drowning? Burning?”
Her eyes narrowed with the last word and Cinder had a stark memory—a nightmare she’d dreamed a hundred times. A bed of red-hot coals charring her skin, her hand and leg crumbling into ash.
“Dismemberment!” a man yelled. “Starting with those horrendous appendages!”
His suggestion was met with a roar of approval from the crowd. Levana allowed the tittering for a moment before she raised a hand for silence. “A rather vile suggestion, for a rather vile girl. I’ll allow it.”
Cheers exploded through the room.
Kai leaped to his feet. “Are you savages?”
Levana ignored him. “Another idea comes to mind. Perhaps the honor of enacting this punishment should be none other than my newest, most loyal subject. I do believe she is quite eager to please.” Levana curled her fingers. “Linh Adri. Won’t you step forward again?”
Adri looked about ready to faint. She took two uncertain steps forward.
“Here is an opportunity to prove that you are loyal to me, your future empress, and that you despise your once-adopted daughter as much as she deserves.”
Adri gulped. She was sweating. “You … you want me to…”
“Dismember her, Mrs. Linh. I suppose you’ll need a weapon? What would you like? I’ll have it brought up. A hatchet perhaps, or an axe? A knife seems like it could get messy, but a nice sharp axe—”
“Stop this,” said Kai. “It’s revolting.”
Levana leaned back in her chair. “I am beginning to think you do not appreciate your wedding gift, my dear. You are free to leave if these proceedings unsettle you.”
“I won’t let you do this,” he hissed between his teeth, his face flushed.
Levana shrugged at Kai. “You can’t stop me. And you won’t stop the coronation. There is far too much at stake to risk it all for some girl … some cyborg. I know you’ll agree.”