The emperor's decision

(Azrael) I watched Alessia pull the blanket over her injured legs. She kept looking toward the door as though she expected someone to come and drag her away. Even after everything I had told her, she was still frightened. I couldn't blame her after seeing the condition of that dungeon. "Get some rest, Alessia. I'll return later." "Yes, Your Majesty." I left the bedroom and found two imperial guards waiting outside. Both straightened when they saw me, awaiting instructions. I looked toward the stairs where Vaedric had been ordered to remain. There were several matters I intended to settle before leaving Raventhorn. "Nobody enters her room without my permission, except the physician and the servant attending her." "Understood, Your Majesty," one guard answered. I started toward the stairs when Kaelthor spoke. My wolf had been restless since we entered the dungeon. Normally, he enjoyed visiting the territories because it gave him an opportunity to observe other wolves. Today, however, he wanted nothing to do with Raventhorn. 'That girl should never have been in there,' Kaelthor said. 'I know.' 'Did you see how she reacted when the guard approached her?' 'I saw everything.' Kaelthor remained angry as I descended the stairs. I had ruled supernatural territories for centuries and witnessed more cruelty than most people could imagine. But seeing Alessia chained beside murderers while her Alpha pretended she was dangerous had disgusted me. She couldn't even stand without assistance. Vaedric was waiting in the meeting hall with several pack officials. His daughter stood beside him, wearing an expensive burgundy dress. She looked annoyed when I entered, although she quickly lowered her head. I recognized her from the reception earlier. "Your Majesty, I hope the prisoner isn't causing you any trouble," Vaedric said. "Her name is Alessia." "Of course, Your Majesty." "Where are her parents?" Vaedric exchanged a glance with his daughter. I noticed the movement before either of them answered. There was something about the way they reacted that bothered me. I waited for Vaedric to explain. "She has no family here, Your Majesty." "Then who raised her?" "She grew up among the servants." "At what age did she begin working?" Vaedric looked toward one of his officials. The man appeared uncomfortable but remained silent. I wondered how many people in this room knew what had happened to Alessia. Judging by their expressions, I suspected most of them did. "She's always helped around the pack house," Vaedric answered. "That wasn't my question." "She was quite young." "How young?" "Perhaps six or seven." Kaelthor growled. I looked at Vaedric, waiting to see whether he understood what he had just admitted. A child that young should have been learning and playing with other children. Instead, Alessia had been working for the people responsible for protecting her. "Who authorized her imprisonment as a child?" "She was difficult to manage, Your Majesty." "Was she dangerous at six years old?" "No, Your Majesty, but she frequently disobeyed instructions." "Then you punished a child by locking her in a dungeon?" Vaedric lowered his eyes. His daughter moved beside him, apparently unable to remain quiet any longer. I turned toward her when she stepped forward. She bowed before speaking. "Your Majesty, Alessia has always been troublesome. She steals food and lies whenever she's caught doing something wrong." "What's your name?" "Vanessa, Your Majesty." "Have you ever been imprisoned, Vanessa?" She looked confused by my question. I watched her glance toward her father before answering. Her expensive jewelry caught the light when she moved. I remembered Alessia apologizing because her dirty feet had touched clean sheets. "No, Your Majesty." "Have you ever gone several days without food?" "No." "Then perhaps you should be careful when accusing a starving woman of stealing something to eat." Vanessa immediately lowered her head. Kaelthor approved of my response, although he wanted me to punish everyone involved before leaving Raventhorn. I intended to hold them accountable, but I wasn't finished questioning them. There were still things I needed to know. The meeting hall doors opened, and one of my guards entered. He carried a small stack of papers that he placed on the table. I recognized him as the guard I had sent to retrieve Alessia's trial record. His expression told me he hadn't found what I requested. "Your Majesty, there is no record of a trial involving Alessia Vale." Vaedric stepped forward. "There must be a mistake." "I checked the council records myself," the guard answered. "Enough," I ordered. Vaedric immediately stopped speaking. I looked at the papers before turning toward him. He had lied directly to me while a young woman remained chained beneath his pack house. I wondered how many other prisoners had been punished without being given an opportunity to defend themselves. "You told me she was convicted of treason." "Your Majesty, the evidence against her was convincing." "Yet you never held a trial." "We handled the matter within the pack." "By starving her and keeping her chained with wolfsbane?" Vaedric said nothing. I had heard enough excuses from him already. His daughter remained beside him, refusing to raise her head. I turned toward my guards and gave them their instructions. "Vaedric is not to leave this pack house without my permission. The same applies to his daughter and every official involved in Alessia's imprisonment." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Bring Mistress Virelda here as well." Vaedric looked up. "Your Majesty, she's only the head housekeeper." "Then she should have nothing to worry about." I turned away before he could argue further. Kaelthor wanted us to return upstairs and check on Alessia. I understood his concern because she had looked exhausted when I left her. Still, I needed to speak with Orvian before deciding when she could travel. I found the physician outside the bedroom, speaking with the servant assigned to Alessia. He bowed when he noticed me approaching. I asked him to accompany me farther down the corridor so we wouldn't disturb her. Once we were alone, I asked about her condition. "Can she survive a journey to the imperial residence?" "Yes, Your Majesty, provided she's properly supported and allowed to rest." "Would she be able to travel on my wolf's back?" "In her condition, I wouldn't recommend it, Your Majesty. She's too weak to hold on, and the journey could worsen her injuries." I considered his advice carefully. Under ordinary circumstances, I preferred shifting when traveling between nearby territories. Kaelthor was powerful enough to cover enormous distances without becoming exhausted. But Alessia wasn't capable of holding herself upright, much less remaining safely on a wolf's back. "Then we'll arrange a vehicle for the journey." "That would be best, Your Majesty." "Have everything she needs prepared." "Of course." I dismissed Orvian and approached Alessia's bedroom. Before entering, I heard her speaking to the servant inside. Her voice was quiet, but my hearing allowed me to understand every word. I stopped outside the door when I heard what she was asking. "Please, can you show me where the cleaning supplies are?" "You're supposed to be resting, miss." "I know, but I can still help with something." I closed my eyes briefly. Alessia had barely escaped a dungeon, yet she was already worried about working. She genuinely believed she had to earn the right to remain somewhere safe. I opened the door and found her sitting on the mattress, trying to remove her bandages. "Alessia, leave those alone." She immediately pulled her hands away. Her frightened expression returned as she looked at me. I approached the bed, careful not to frighten her further. There was something I needed her to understand before we left Raventhorn. "You're coming home with me, Alessia." End of Chapter 5