Of Heroes And Villains (Book 4) by Julius St. Clair Page B

Seeker…the Order is not above anyone else in this Kingdom. They are no higher or lower than the villagers, the Sages, this court, or our friends from the other Kingdoms. Your position is an office like mine. It is a privilege, not a right.”
    “With all due respect, that is easy to say when you’re living in a castle.”
    “Were you there when we were discussing that very topic?” Catherine smiled sweetly. “It was only a few weeks after our battle with Thorn. I said that I wanted to leave it torn down. Expand the meadow. Make it a training ground for the people, but guess what? The people wouldn’t have it. They said that I needed a place to call my own and a platform in which to rule from. A place that outsiders would travel to and respect. I didn’t want it…but they did, and so I listened.”
    “So if the people changed their mind?” Seeker asked innocently.
    “I would have it torn down,” Catherine replied. “In a heartbeat. But…that is not what’s up for discussion. We’re here to talk about—“
    “Bastion,” Seeker said with disgust. “He lives on the outskirts, with his mother and father. They also want nothing to do with him.”
    “Oh, so it’s that Bastion ,” she replied. Seeker raised an eyebrow.
    “Your Grace?”
    “Not your concern. Is there anything else that you want to say?”
    “Just that the boy should be removed from society.”
    “And what do you have to say about it, Bastion?” Catherine asked.
    “That it’s not how it sounds,” he replied. “We were playing…and Mason wanted to see my eidolon. I refused, and a girl named Daisy came to my aid. Mason pretended to leave, but then he went to attack Daisy with his eidolon. He was aiming right for her head. I had to stop him! I didn’t mean for his eidolon to break! I just wanted to stop her from getting hurt! He’s the one that tried to kill her!”
    “Is this true?” Catherine turned her attention to Seeker. Her face was as stone.
    “Mason claims it is not.”
    “You didn’t see Mason attempting to hit Daisy with his eidolon? If you saw Bastion intervene, you should have seen that as well.”
    “I didn’t see it because that isn’t what happened,” Seeker replied. “The boy is lying.”
    “Well,” she said, putting her hand to her chin. “This is a dilemma. Two different accounts. But you know, I really shouldn’t rule until I have had the facts investigated myself. After all, a life hangs in the balance. For now, I will have Bastion separated from society as you suggested. He will live here in the castle, and he will be forbidden to go beyond the meadow’s edge until opening day of the Sage Academy. At that time, I will decide his fate. He will either go to the school, or he won’t.”
    “My Queen,” Seeker said in shock. “Is it wise to allow this boy, this murderer to stay in your castle? He might…what if your judgment is wrong? What if…”
    “I am well protected,” she said. “Don’t worry about me.”
    “If that is what you wish,” he said. He looked over to the other man that had apprehended Bastion. He reached into his pocket and revealed a key to the chains. Catherine clapped her hands together and the man looked up in wonder, then he threw her the key.
    “Good afternoon,” Seeker said. He bowed, and then the two men left Bastion to her. Catherine nodded over to the guards.
    “Cancel any other meetings,” she said. “I have work to do.” The guard nodded back and she stepped down from the throne platform. Bastion cast his eyes low as she approached. He didn’t dare look into her eyes. He didn’t want to see the condemnation. The disgust. Surely she had only put on a good show for the Order. Now she would have him cast into a dungeon, or actually executed.
    His thoughts raced wildly as he heard her footsteps close the distance between them. When her bare feet was right under him, she took her hand, and cupped his chin into her palm. She lifted his head, until his eyes met