The room was light, filled with colors as the walls were decorated with faint flower patterns. The sofas were old and you could scent a musky smell like that of old books. This was without a doubt a well-used room. Blake fidgeted on the sofa while Nemain served them tea and scones. The hotel room was far from high class and looked more like an old grandmother’s livingroom but Blake had seen the like before in his old hometown.

“Sugar?” Nemain politely asked and Blake nodded while watching Nemain’s expression. There were only calm. He had in the past hour asked Blake about the incident both in his childhood and last year.

“Eh, Mr. Nemain, am I in trouble?” Blake asked carefully. Nemain did not answer and merely sipped some of his tea.

“You know, Mr. Oakley. This area may not be much to the world but their tea is decent.”

“Mr. Nemain?”

Nemain sighed and put down the cup. “This interview is only for the sake of formality. The evidence has already been gathered.”

“And?”

“It’s my duty to inform you about what is about to happen. Normally you would have someone represent you but as a Hedgewitch you aren’t allowed to have a representative from the coven and no Hedgewitch is suited to be your representative.”

“What about Pyramus?”

“He is a dark witch that has been banned from the Crann Eolais or so Mrs. Graycrest claims.”

“You don’t agree?”

“I think he was allowed just not to enter the coven. The place should be no problem but I am not allowed to argue the point.”

“So I have no one to defend me?”

“Technically that is correct.”

“That hardly sounds fair,” Blake muttered into the tea cup.

“It isn’t. It is also the reason why Hedgewitches makes such easy targets for being scapegoats. That said, I have been defending you but as a Justicar I need to be neutral and not take your side so you can imagine that it hasn’t gone well.”

“I thought I would just be given a small punishment like banishment.”

“Yes, that should be the case but there is some dubious so-called evidence.”

Blake hesitated for a while before asking the question he felt that he did not want the answer to.”What is going on?”

Nemain scratched his beard with a sigh. “Remember how you attacked Ronan Walsh when you lost control over you Apery spell?”

“Yes, what does this have to do with anything?”

“Everything, I’m afraid. The druids have sent the coven a message. Remember the curse Fingal Keir created?”

“Yes, an advanced form of Malison mixed with something else according to Pyramus.”

“Correct, Mr. Walsh has just received the same curse from the wounds you conflicted.”

Blake stared at him in horror. He opened his mouth only to close it again unsure how to reply. “That is impossible!”

“Apparently not. I have sent several people t confirm this fact. It is a weaker version though. He is severely hurt but seems to be alive if grumpy,” Nemain said with a grim expression.

“How? No, why would this matter to this case?”

“Well, the story goes that Fingal Keir created it. But now you have cast the same spell. How is that possible? According to the coven, it is because you created it. Fingal Keir is just your scapegoat.”

“For what? Killing myself? That is ridiculous. Not to mention, Pyramus said that you have to have years of experience with the Dark Arts to create such a curse. I’m sixteen years old!”

Nemain nodded bleakly,” I have spoken with Mr. Marshall and he confirmed it but the coven argues that he is unreliable as he will want to protect you. So all that we have now is a bunch of witches that have no idea of how this kind of curse works or is created.”

“And that counts as evidence?”

“I wanted to dismiss it but my own coven intervenes and approved it. It is out of my hands now.”

“This is insane,” Blake muttered.”I’m the victim. Not the perpetrator!”

“I believe you, though it apparently doesn’t matter in this case.”

“What does this mean for me?” Blake asked meekly as he felt dizzy. They couldn’t do anything to him. Could they?

Nemain leaned back and gave him a sorrowful gaze. “I will try to turn this around but I need to inform you of the worst-case scenario and I want you to make a decision.”

“A decision of what?”

“Of how to continue this case. Just… Listen. And consider what I’m about to say. Once again. I’m sorry.”

*****

Elliott sat in the living room listening to his father giving reports of the captured pack members of Ronan’s pack. There have been some rather strange reports of Ronan sending out members to hunt druids. No one really knows why. Maybe the wounds Blake inflicted were far worse than they had expected.

Mark Rowe was missing. He most likely is trying to gain some favors with Ronan now when most of Ronan’s pack members had fled. It was a good opportunity to rise in the ranks. Jaxon just huffed and said that the guy was a coward.

Elliott was inclined to agree but Mark was only a boy. He could not blame him for being a child. Jaxon was about to say something when the room fell into silence. Elliott frowned as both his father and brother looked at something behind him.

Elliott turned around and saw Blake stand there pale as a ghost.

“Blake!” Jaxon exclaimed and rushed over but Blake just pushed him away. Jaxon looked at him with a wronged expression before blurting out,” why are you trembling?”

Elliott and Owen got up and Elliott could feel a cold shiver rush through his spine. Silvergale growled from his mind and Elliott must agree with her. Something was wrong. The lad was not just pale. He was terrified.

“Blake?” Jaxon asked gently and Elliott could see Blake swallowing like he tried to gather the courage to talk.

“I need to speak to Elliott,” Blake suddenly uttered with a faint voice.

“What happened, Blake?” Jaxon repeated with an increasingly distressed voice.

“Please leave, Jaxon. I need-“

Smoke suddenly erupted from the shadows and a scent of ashes hit Elliott's nose as Blake was interrupted by Ahriman's arrival.

“Blake? I can feel your distress all the way to the nether realm. What-“ Ahriman silenced and narrowed his eyes as he saw Blake’s pale face. “What the hell happened?”

Blake covered his mouth like he was afraid to let something bad out while he leaned over like he was in pain.

“Blake?” Jaxon repeated like it was a chant.

“What did the Justicar say? You were supposed to meet him, right?” Elliott muttered, trying to help Blake get the words out. Blake seemed to collect himself but was still fiercely distressed.

“He… He told me it was bad. The druids have provided new evidence.”

“Evidence of what?” Elliott asked.

“My guilt. The coven claims that the incident last year was staged by me.”

“That is ludicrous. What did you want to kill yourself?” Elliott frowned but Blake just shook his head.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. Ronan… He was cursed with the same curse Fingal Keir used last year. He got it from the wounds I inflicted,” Blake said as Elliott paled.

“Then he is-“

“He is alive but they are using him as evidence that I was the one that created the curse and used Fingal Keir as a scapegoat.”

“They can’t do that!” Jaxon exclaimed before giving Elliott a confused glance. “Can they?”

“Apparently, they did. Why are you- God, what do they want to do with you?” Elliott asked. Blake let out a burst of lifeless laughter to cover up his trembling voice.

“Mr. Nemain gave me a choice. He can continue my claim of innocence. Because of the conflicting evidence, I would be freed. But so would Fingal Keir.”

“That would set the shifters off. They would want a war!” Owen mumbled and Blake nodded.

“Nemain said as much. Many would be harmed and even killed. He then said that he could change the sentence if I claim that I am guilty. Then the conflicting evidence would make both me and Keir guilty and we both would share the same punishment,” Blake paused as he took a trembling breath. “They would punish us both by removing our magic. Using something called the Rite of Animus.”

Ahriman let out a hiss and his eyes glowed dangerously. “Are they insane? Are they still using that?”

“What is it?” Jaxon asked confusingly.

“It’s a very dangerous ritual that practically destroys all signs of magic in a body. Sounds harmless enough but magic is tied to the very being of a person. Destroying it is like removing the brain of a body. You will be nothing more than a husk,” Ahriman explained while pacing the room. “A very fitting state for someone to steal Blake’s magical abilities as well. Who the hell came up with this idea?”

“I don’t know… I don’t care… I-“ Blake groaned and pulled on his hair.

“Blake?” Jaxon asked gently while Elliott a paled. So either they throw Blake to the beasts or let other people die? Is that even a choice? Elliott looked over at his father who stared grimly at Blake refusing to look at him. He might be the Patriarch but right now this was his choice. What the hell is he supposed to say in this situation?

“I should say that I am guilty… Right?” Blake trembled. Elliott stared at the young boy who looked up at him with tear-filled emerald eyes. So big and innocent. This boy has just started to see the world. There was not a speck of malice in those eyes. “I mean… It is my life or everyone elses. It’s should be the right thing to do.”

Blake bit his lip as tears started to stream down his face. “So why am I afraid. It should be an obvious choice. Why hesitate?”

Oh god. Elliott had no word as Jaxon held onto the shivering Blake trying to comfort him.

“But I’m afraid. I’m sixteen years old,” Blake fell onto his knees. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life as a husk!”

Elliott could not bear it anymore and went over to Blake and held him onto his chest. The boy was so small in his arms. So fragile. Why should such a young boy have to decide his fate like this?

“You are not sacrificing yourself,” Ahriman said bitterly.

“But-“ Blake sniffed.

“No nothing. What’s the point of sacrificing yourself for people who clearly want you dead? Not to mention, war will happen no matter if you agree to be their scapegoat or not.”

Elliott held onto Blake’s face and gave him a soothing smile. Or at least as much of one he could muster. “Though a bit crudely said. Ahriman is right. A war will come no matter what you do. This tension has been building up long before you entered our world and will continue long after you leave. It is the adults' responsibility to handle this. Not yours,” Elliott turned to Jaxon. “And not yours.”

“Then what am I-“

“I’m going to talk with Idris Nemain and say that you will be declared innocent. If they let go of that madman. Then I will handle it but we do not sacrifice the innocent to appease our anger,” Elliott let Blake hold onto him and patted his head.”That would make us no different from the coven or Ronan.”