"Her voice she used to escape once, bewitching some members of the expedition. She was recaptured and silenced, and brought here for interrogation."
"But she has done no wrong," Lily blurted in protest, unable to contain herself any longer.
Turning the malice of his eyes upon her, Vale said in a deceptively reasonable voice, "Explain."
Lily had to fight to maintain her composure. The direct scrutiny of Vale's eyes was like being confronted with parted, bared fangs, poised to rip into flesh. His voice, his single word, seemed to drive a nail through her will. Quailing awkwardly, suddenly afraid and unable to think clearly, she muttered, "I cannot explain. I can just feel it."
Vale made a show of suppressed a smile, and there was some amused clucking and tittering from some of the spectators. Then, in a condescending, dismissive tone, he said, "Miss, be seated, and be silent unless you are first spoken to. That is, unless you have some more substantial to offer this assembly than a mere feeling."
Her cheeks burning, Lily did so, though her instincts screamed at her to ignore Vale's words.
Like the others, the young elven swordmain, Julina, had watched the nymph humiliate herself with an expression of pained, pitying amusement, but her expression turned serious when she noted that Dorain was giving Lily's words serious consideration. After that, Julina watched and listened to the proceedings more closely.