Winter

Adri whimpered, and made some attempt to compose herself.

“That is better. You have been the legal guardian of Linh Cinder for almost six years, is that correct?”

Adri’s whole body was shaking. “It—it’s true. But I didn’t know what she was, I swear. My husband was the one who wanted her, not me. She is the traitor! Cinder is a criminal, and a dangerous, deceitful girl—but I thought she was just a cyborg. I had no idea what she was planning, or I would have turned her in myself.”

Levana ran a fingernail over the arm of her throne. “Were you with Linh Cinder when she underwent her cyborg surgeries?”

Adri’s lip curled in disgust. “Stars, no. Her operation was completed in Europe. I did not meet her until she was brought to New Beijing.”

“Was your husband present for the operation?”

Adri blinked, flustered. “I … I don’t think so. We never spoke of it. Although he was gone for a couple of weeks when he went to … to claim her. I knew he was going to see about a child who had been in a hovercar accident. Although why he saw fit to go all the way to Europe to be charitable I never could understand, and his philanthropy was rewarded with nothing but heartache. He contracted letumosis on that trip, died within weeks of returning, leaving me to care for my two young girls and this thing he left in my custody—”

“Why did you never seek to capitalize on his inventions after his death?”

Adri gawked openmouthed at the queen. “Pardon, Your Majesty?”

“He was an inventor, was he not? Surely he must have left you something of value.”

Adri pondered this, maybe wondering why the Lunar queen would be interested in her deceased husband. Her gaze darted around the guards and Lunars. “N-no, Your Majesty. If there was anything of value, I never saw a single micro-univ from it.” A shadow fell over her face. “He left us with nothing but disgrace.”

Levana’s voice ran ice cold. “You are lying.”

Adri’s eyes widened. “No! I’m not. Garan didn’t leave us with anything.”

“I have evidence to the contrary, Earthen. Do you think I’m a fool?”

“What evidence?” Adri shrieked. “I haven’t—I swear to you—” But whatever she meant to swear was drowned out by a flood of sobs.

Cinder clenched her jaw. She didn’t know what game Levana was playing, but she knew Adri’s hysteria wouldn’t make one bit of difference. She considered using her Lunar gift to stop Adri’s uncontrolled sobbing so she could die with a bit of dignity, but she hardened her heart and did nothing. She might need her strength when it came time for her own trial. When it was her turn, she vowed to not dissolve into a trembling mess.

“Aimery?” said Levana, her words cutting over Adri’s sobs.

“One of our regiments uncovered a box of paperwork in the storage space leased to Linh Adri in her apartment building.”

Levana smirked. “Do you still wish to maintain your defense that there was nothing of value left from your husband? No important paperwork still kept in storage?”

Adri hesitated. Started to shake her head, but stopped. “I don’t … I don’t know…”

“The paperwork,” said Aimery, “indicated a pending design patent for a weapon with the intended purpose of neutralizing the Lunar gift. We suspect this weapon was intended to be used against you, Your Majesty, and our people.”

Cinder was struggling to keep up with Aimery’s accusations. A weapon with the intended purpose of neutralizing the Lunar gift. She barely refrained from rubbing the back of her neck, where Linh Garan’s invention—a bioelectrical security device—had been installed into her wiring. Was that what they were talking about?

“Hold on,” said Kai, his voice thundering. “Do you have this paperwork that allegedly proves her guilt?”

Aimery cocked his head. “It has already been destroyed, as a matter of royal security.”

Kai’s knuckles whitened on the arms of his chair. “You can’t destroy evidence and then try to use it to condemn somebody. You can’t expect us to believe you found this box of paperwork, during an illegal search, mind you, and it held the patents for a Lunar-targeted weapon, and that Linh Adri had some working knowledge of it. That is a lot of speculation. On top of that, you violated a number of articles in the Interplanetary Agreement when you apprehended an Earthen citizen without due cause and invaded private property.”

Levana cupped her chin with one hand. “Why don’t we argue about this later, darling?”

“Oh, you want to argue later? Would that be before or after you’ve killed an innocent Earthen?”

Levana shrugged. “That remains to be seen.”

Kai sneered. “You can’t—” He abruptly cut off, forced to hold his tongue.

“You will soon learn, dear, that I do not like to be told that I can’t.” Levana shifted her attention on Adri again. “Linh Adri, you have heard the charges against you. How do you plead?”

Adri stammered, “I-I’m innocent. I swear I would never … I didn’t know … I…”

Levana sighed. “I want to believe you.”

“Please,” Adri begged.

Levana ate another prawn. Swallowed. Licked her bloodred lips. “I am prepared to offer you clemency.”

A rustle of curiosity spread through the crowd.

“This decision is contingent on your disowning all legal interest to the orphan child, Linh Cinder, and swearing fealty to me, the rightful queen of Luna and the future empress of the Eastern Commonwealth.”

Adri’s head was already bobbing. “Yes. Yes, I do. Gladly, Your Grace. Your Majesty.”

Cinder glared at the back of Adri’s head. Not because her decision was any big surprise, but because she couldn’t imagine it was going to be this easy. Levana was planning something and Adri was falling right into her hands.

“Good. All charges are absolved. You may pay your respects to your sovereign.” Levana held out a hand, and Adri, after a moment’s hesitation, scurried forward on her knees and placed a grateful kiss on the queen’s fingers. She started sobbing again.

“Does the child not show any gratitude?” said Levana.

Pearl squeaked, but slowly shuffled forward and kissed Levana’s hands.

A woman in the front row, her mouth full, clapped politely.

Levana nodded and two guards stepped forward to drag Adri and Pearl to the side of the room.

Cinder had already put thoughts of her stepmother aside, bracing herself, when Levana’s attention landed on her. She made no attempts to withhold her delight as she said, “Let us continue with our second trial.”

Fifty-One

Cinder lumbered to the spot where Adri had been groveling moments ago. She planted her feet and readied herself with an exhale that was meant to be steadying, though it was impossible to ignore the fluttering of her pulse or the list of thirty different hormones her retina display told her were flooding her system. Her brain was acutely aware of her fear.

Two guards flanked her on either side.

“Our second prisoner, Linh Cinder,” said Aimery, pacing in front of her, “has been charged with the following crimes: unlawful emigration to Earth, rebelliousness, assisting a traitor to the crown, conspiring against the crown, kidnapping, meddling in intergalactic affairs, obstruction of justice, theft, evading arrest, and royal treason. The punishment for these crimes is immediate death by her own—”