Ascendant Moon

Prologue

“It is sad to see you in such a state.” Baron Ronric smirked at her as other guards dragged her into the Countess’s court. Marwen sent a glare his way, curling her lip in disgust. It was his fault she was cuffed in these cursed chains and was being treated with less respect than an imp.

“The only sadness you feel is because I am still alive. If I was dead, your problems would be solved permanently.” She spat at him. She had nothing to lose in speaking to him that way, after all, her reputation was already in tatters thanks to him.

The Baron kept the smug smirk affixed to his face at her very accurate statement. “It’s a shame you are too intelligent for your own good Marwen. Then again, I should have foreseen that an unseelie outcast would see through my plans. Your kind are always scheming.”

“Maybe if you actually had any intelligence, you would have made sure you weren’t easy to read.” She hissed, trying to keep ahead in this sudden verbal spar.

“I am not the one in chains.” He grinned. “And I have a good feeling the Countess’s punishment will be severe.”  

“Only because you’ve been whispering in her ear again. Erylis can think for herself Baron, you underestimate her.” Marwen stated firmly. She was under no illusion the Baron had been pressing for a execution, but she had to have faith Countess Erylis was smarter than that. The Baron may have gotten his hooks into her, but Erylis wasn’t completely swayed by him. Yet. Marwen feared how quickly the son of a puka’s influence would grow over the Countess if she wasn’t around.

      The room was filled with noble and common fae alike. It seemed everything had stopped for her trial. A trial that should not even be taking place. Ronric’s conniving ways had put her here, he was an expert at twisting the truth just enough to turn his stories into the plausible ones. Marwen loathed him with everything she had.

    More guards shifted her into position, so that she stood in the centre of the room, judgement coming at her from all directions. Well, the ones who dared gaze upon her. Everything about unseelie fae was designed to be intimidating, including appearance. She was used to being unsettling. It was why she was drafted into the Countess’s personal guard in the first place.

     An ornate oak door swung open with heavy force and Erylis stepped out. The epitome of elegance. Her golden hair was adorned in jewelled emerald combs, complementing the dark green gown with golden embroidery she’d dressed in. The outfit clearly contrasted to Marwen’s own unkempt appearance, thanks to a few days locked in the towered cell. She stared proudly into the Countess’s eyes. She had done nothing. Nothing. Erylis quickly broke eye contact, as though she couldn’t bear to even look at her. Well, that was just tough. The Countess had chosen to believe that…that…Bogle, she could reap the consequences of her actions. Including seeing Marwen in disarray.

     Erylis took her place, sitting tall on a high backed marble chair. The vines and ivy curling up the stone started to shift, forming a pillow of leaves and branches for the Countess to perch on. Erylis took a deep breath, settling onto the chair before finally gazing at her. Marwen narrowed her own ethereal eyes in response, daring the Countess to say something. Anything. Instead the Countess clenched her fingers repeatedly on the arms of the marble seat. After the fifth time Erylis performed the action, Marwen’s patience snapped. She did not need her judgement to be dragged out any longer than necessary. “We don’t have all eternity Erylis.” She prompted. The words seemed to shake the Countess from her thoughts.

“Ah yes, quite right.” The response was muttered quietly.

       As she waited for Erylis to say something more, unease trailed under her skin and not for the first time since this debacle started. What exactly had Ronric been whispering to the Countess? It was easy enough to snap back at him when his forsaken face was in front of her vision, fuelling the rage. But now she was away from him? Marwen wondered how much damage had already been done and how that would really affect Erylis’s decision. Surely the Countess would not kill her, as Ronric so dearly desired?

“I did not think I would be in such a position. Having to pass judgement on not just a member of my personal guard, but someone who I considered a friend. But here we are.” The Countess uttered, as if she could not bear it.

      Marwen resisted the urge to scoff. If Erylis was so distraught at the idea, then she would have believed her over Ronric. She also had not dared visit Marwen in her cell for any kind of further investigation. Probably more convincing on Ronric’s part, but Marwen still held it against her. A friend would have come regardless.

“Marwen, your service as an exceptional personal guard has been measured in terms of your sentence. However, the weight of your crime, must of course, take precedent.”

“The crime I did not commit.” Marwen could not help herself. If she was going to suffer regardless, she would ensure the entirety of the Countess’s court remembered her words. She would ensure Erylis would have those six words haunting her dream for days to come.

The Countess frowned. “The evidence against you…”

“Is circumstantial at best.” The retort again slipped from her lips without thought. Well, she had nothing to lose. It was obvious the ruling had already been decided and this was all for show. If it was a show they wanted, she would oblige. “If the Countess’s court had performed a proper and unbiased investigation into the matter, they would have determined that and my innocence. But do go on about how I am a criminal, despite there being no solid evidence to support the fact. And as you do not want to appear weak, I assume you will continue to go through with this charade, because the ruling has already been decided has it not?”

     The colour flushed to Erylis’s face as she stumbled for an answer. Seizing the opportunity, Marwen continued, “Whatever your ruling Countess, just know that the Baron is a power hungry son of a puka. He may be charming, but the moment a wealthy Duchess comes along, well I imagine he will leave your bed faster than the wind. And I will not be there to dry your tears my friend.”  

    Instead of embarrassment, Erylis’s face was now red with anger. Marwen already knew the Countess would not believe her. She had already become infatuated with the Baron’s attention. But at least the entire audience had witnessed her say it. That may fall in her favour when everything would inevitably collapse.

“Marwen, from this day forth, you will be exiled to the mortal realm. Do not return here.” Erylis growled.

Marwen nodded. At least it was not a death sentence. “Very well, Countess. I’ll await the day you seek me out with great satisfaction.”

“Get her out of my sight!” Erylis spat. With that statement, the guards enveloped her once more, dragging her back out of the room.

     As they passed the Baron, Marwen grinned, revealing her jagged teeth. “We both know you do not get anywhere by playing fair.” She whispered at his fuming expression.

     His fury was enough to keep the smile on her face as she was marched back up to the tower cell to await banishment.