Chapter Twenty Eight

                                    

                                          
This text has been translated to a language you can understand
Everything was a mess. 
Ezra was in the prison, held there by his own people and by Tau. 
Tau had declared himself the night monarch in the wake of Ezra's arrest, and was holding Ezra to trial. 
You're next, he hissed at me. I'd run far if I were you, and take your half-breed daughter with you. 
I didn't plan on running. 
Divana went straight to the Viceroy, who was waiting in the debrief room with his advisors and Linnae. 
Dad, Ezra's been arrested, she reported, her wings vibrating anxiously. Tau has overthrown him for the night. 
The Viceroy looked up, and we all turned to see Tau slinking into the room. 
Is this true? the Viceroy demanded. 
It is. I'm the standing night monarch. Tau lifted his chin. Ezra's trial will commence shortly. 
Why has he been arrested? the Viceroy asked sharply, standing up. What has he done? 
Our citizens have arrested him for treason, Tau explained blandly. And, of course, we all know what the punishment for treason is... 
Divana whirled on him sharply. You're not saying you're considering execution!! He hasn't committed treason, we were ALL fine with him having Moiety! 
Not all of us, Tau drawled. The people are furious with him. They demand justice. As the night monarch, it is my job to deliver justice how they see fit. 
You shouldn't even be the night monarch, I spat shakily. You robbed Ezra of that title by organizing a mob to take him down. 
The natural succession laws make the title fall to me, he retorted. Fritillary is in metamorphosis, so he can't claim it. You are a Chiro...and I am his father. I get the title. 
We'll see about that. The Viceroy lashed his tail, then turned to one of his advisors. Send word to Atlas in Orthop. Tell him we need him here NOW. 
The advisor nodded, then darted quickly out of the room. 
He won't get here in time. Tau shrugged, and turned away. I have to go put the prince to trial. Excuse me for declining to attend changeover tonight. 
I turned to the daytime monarchy as he left, ears pinning back. You're not going to stop him?? 
As much as I know this is wrong, as the day monarch I don't have power over nighttime affairs, the Viceroy said helplessly. We have to wait until Atlas gets here. He has the power to stop this. 
I felt a growl rising up in the back of my throat. They couldn't stop this? This was clearly Tau's attempt to take over the night monarchy, and he was succeeding, but they couldn't stop him? 
I knew it had to do with what Ezra was planning to tell everyone tonight. I knew that was why he asked for more time, so he could orchestrate this and dethrone Ezra before Ezra could do so to him. 
It was evil. 
I pulled Divana and Jewel aside when I could, and asked them to take care of Moiety. 
Please just watch her while I try to sort everything out, I begged them. I'm going to try and fight Tau on this, but I'm afraid of him getting ahold of Moiety again, and what might happen to her. Keep her safe for me.