Here’s a scene that got cut and never made it back into the story. I’m posting half today and half tomorrow.
“You recall the Detral, beloved?” the Sural said.
“How could
I possibly forget him? He put a poisoned arrow in you.”
I possibly forget him? He put a poisoned arrow in you.”
“Do you recall how easily
he was caught alive? How swiftly we located and captured his son, alive?”
he was caught alive? How swiftly we located and captured his son, alive?”
“It was
certainly quick,” Marianne admitted.
certainly quick,” Marianne admitted.
“It was a disgraceful show
of incompetence. It is not commonly known that the Detral’s predecessor, the
Detralia, did not put him through the trials in the proper manner. He was not
worthy of his position, and I had evidence he was following his mother’s example in failing to prepare his son for the trials.”
of incompetence. It is not commonly known that the Detral’s predecessor, the
Detralia, did not put him through the trials in the proper manner. He was not
worthy of his position, and I had evidence he was following his mother’s example in failing to prepare his son for the trials.”
“How could they
get away with that?
get away with that?
He shrugged. “The Detralia
thought she could forge the records, command the proctors to walk into the
dark, and deceive the Sural.” He shrugged again. “She failed.”
thought she could forge the records, command the proctors to walk into the
dark, and deceive the Sural.” He shrugged again. “She failed.”
“What
happened?”
happened?”
“I executed her,” he
answered, “and I made an ally of her heir. I should perhaps have killed him
then as well, but I was reluctant to destroy an ancient bloodline. It displeases
the Jorann.”
answered, “and I made an ally of her heir. I should perhaps have killed him
then as well, but I was reluctant to destroy an ancient bloodline. It displeases
the Jorann.”
Marianne swallowed hard. The
Sural, as gentle and kind as he was to those he loved, was merciless when he felt it necessary.
Sural, as gentle and kind as he was to those he loved, was merciless when he felt it necessary.
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