Chapter 21

                                    

                                          
 "Welcome, people of Capital City," Rein says loudly over the hum of the crowd. The word spread in the last twenty-four hours about a public execution, which only comes about every season or so. They wait like feral dogs in front of the castle. Some have brought their children to see. I stand in the back for appearances; the rest of the Court is present. Petra and Annalie are to my right.
"Idalia's left Court all together yesterday," Petra shares her latest gossip. I soak in every word. "Lady Acker told her right off for talking to her son like that, and Lady Acker is friends with the Queen. I heard the Queen told Idalia-"
"Shh, the Prince is about to speak," Annalie hushes us. "I want to hear what he has to say." Petra sticks her tongue out at the other girl.
"I'd rather hear about Idalia getting kicked out on her ass," I say. Petra grins at the high compliment.
Rein paces the front steps of Lothar Castle with his hands behind his back. One of the Council Lords whispers something in his ear; he nods sharply, turning toward the people of Roshad. His posture is rigid and his stare is cold; he looks kingly. I don't mean it as a compliment. "Thank you all for gathering for the execution of Peder Mannolly. The Mannolly family was the worst sort of magic, the most deadliest sort of Oceri, and they have been sentenced to death for their crimes of using magic on Roshad soil, Peder Mannolly was seen by four witnesses, using his magic to curse a child. However, I have decided that we will not hold a public execution today."
Mummers from the crowd rise wildly at his proclamation. Rein's eyes search the people, scanning back and forth until he finds me. "Killing for the sake of killing is not how I want to be known. For as long as I am on the throne, whether it be as your placeholder King while my father is away or as your crowned King when the Gods deem it so, I will hold no executions publicly. Death should never be celebrated, no matter how heinous the crimes. As so, Peder Mannolly was executed yesterday on the 18th of Summer at the twenty-second hour, for the charges of magic use, in a private and humane manner. His family received a comparable sentence this morning in Glendyl. Their fate is in the hands of the Gods now. Thank you."
My heart beats rapidly at Rein's change of heart—his change of heart because of me. It is the best apology that I've ever received. 
"To Fel with that Oceri," the man in front of me spits. "And to Fel with the soft Prince."
"The Great Lebe would want this," the woman next to him says. "It is a respectable decision."
"No bang?" the girl between them asks with her bottom lip poking out.
The woman kneels down to be eye level with her girl. "Do you remember when we talked about being the bigger person?" The child nods, her fingers in her mouth as she does so. "That's what Prince Rein is doing; he's being the bigger person."
"Because we're better than Ocerea?" the girl asks in her innocent little voice.
The man puts his hand on the kid's shoulder, patting it confidently. "You're damn right we are."
The girl's eyes widen. "Pa, that's a Rozo for the swear jar!"
Conversations much like the one in front of me happen all throughout the crowd. Anger, confusion, respect, understanding—there is a widespread reaction of various feelings at Rein's decision.
He stands tall at the top of the steps, eyes still watching me. He does not pay mind to any of the others; he only cares what I think.
My head nods slightly in approval. Rein's shoulders relax, a large grin spreading across his face for the entire crowd to see.
"Well, that was uneventful," says Annalie, smoothing down her skirts. "The stars are aligned in the archer; usually Arros provides more entertainment."
"I didn't really want to see all that blood anyway," Petra shrugs. "We should go for a walk. V, thoughts?"