This is it. I just have to walk through those huge doors and the trial begins. Oh, I’m so nervous, shaking out my arms and shifting from foot to foot just to try and stay calm. It never works. Breathing exercises, that’s what dad taught me to do in situations like this. So, I close my eyes and count.

Breathe in slowly for ten seconds. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Hold for eight seconds. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Breathe out slowly for ten seconds. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Again.

Breathe in. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Hold. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Breathe out. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Again.

In.

Hold.

Out.

After a few repetitions, I finally felt my heart slow, my muscles relax and a calm settle in me. The writhing ball in my stomach that sent jitters throughout my body has settled to a dull hum. Relaxing my controlled exercise, I breath normally and open my eyes to lo0k again at the doors that will lead to the biggest change of my life. Whether it will be a change for good or bad, I don’t know yet but everything will be different after this.

All my life, I’ve lived with this hanging over me. Every Myath lives in constant wariness, always on edge for encounters with the “Other Races”. Many fal1 prey to fear. But for me, it was never the other races that haunted me, it was mum's kin. Always, from the time I could remember, I had to watch what I said, who I trusted. Dad equipped us to deal with most of the dangers out there and taught us to escape from whatever we couldn’t hide from. But when we fled my childhood home, it wasn’t because of the Icanthie security checks or the roaming guards, it was because of the Kuthars. Mum's kin were always the hovering sword ready to fall on our necks.

They took my mum from me long before she was killed. They wanted to use my brother as a tool to strangle the life from a rival House. And, if they had their way, they’d eliminate anyone who threatened them. I don’t know what’s worse, that they’d kil1 me because I am a Myath or that they’d kill me despite the fact that I am kin...

A soft chime rang in my head and the looming doors swung smoothly open. It was time. My group entered into the same large room I gave my evidence in. I had both Kine’s guards and my own as well as my close kin. We were a smal1 group, but with Two Kings and a Head of House, me made an impact. Thane especially had a most fearsome glower going on, but I worried for my guards. They had become my close friends and I think they were concerned about me. Kine, Mathias, Lazot and Simeon were all calm and composed, probably used to this rather official setting. Seth was just Seth, he always made me smile.

Kine would normally be one of those presiding over the trial but, because of his connection to me, he had opted to nominate another to fill his role. His sister, Niah, would not play a big role in the trial, but Kine had given her his vote. In our brief meeting, I had found her inscrutable, almost cold, the perfect diplomatic facade. Still, Kine trusted her, and I trusted him.

We settled into our places on the main flo0r, Wistra already in her place opposite us with her two oldest cubs, Quix and the Banished behind her, all of them in restraints. Their nanites had been restricted to necessary functions only, meaning they had no access to communications, enhanced healing or any other perks. The nanites were only allowed to facilitate maintaining life and shifting, which was considered a fundamental right.

I felt fairly well prepared for this trial. All my life, not only had I trained in languages, culture, defence, engineering and any other skill I could find a teacher for, I had also studied the laws of the races, both to protect myself and my people but also in the minuscule hope that, one day, we could gain a place among the other races, recognised and respected by them. My father had taught me constantly, readying me for the w0rld I had to live in. He did an amazing job and, since he’d been gone, I’d tried to continue my training and learning. Though I’m convinced I probably missed so much he could have taught me, I had to be ready.

Unlike all the other races who, in every nation, are acknowledged and given rights in the law, as a Myath I was not protected or even validated legally. If any other Myath stood here, it would be as if they didn’t exist or perhaps as if they were a Slothbear. No, even Slothbears have more respect for the danger they pose. A Myath would be equal to a Skim if they were here. But I had rights as the King's ward. That transcended even my race. It wouldn’t stop Wistra though, I had a feeling as I watched her across from me, so calm and superior, that she had something up her sleeve.

Another tone in our heads, louder this time, alerted us all to the nine members of the Ruing Triangle and the eighteen other figures that made up the Council, seated above us. One of the Triangle sto0d.

“The trials begins. Charges brought against Lady Wistra, Head of House Kuthar are as follows. Treason, attempted murder, murder by proxy, grievous mental harm, atrocities against kin, conspiracy to incite rebellion. How do you plead?”

Wistra held us all in suspense as she slowly stood to answer the charges. She was so calm, though I saw the spark of temper in her eyes.

“My King,” she nodded to Kine, “Councillors. I refuse to answer the charges. This trial is illegal and has no right to hold nor judge me.”

A gasp erupted from the entire room. How bold she was. But the Council wasn’t fazed.

“I can understand that you believe you are not guilty, which is why you are given the chance to plead so, but why do you feel this trial is illegal? The proper procedure has been followed. Evidence has already been submitted and reviewed by this Council.”

“Evidence submitted by a Myath, who is not recognised by the law.”

“Perhaps, but the ward of the King is recognised and protected by the law. And the evidence was originally witnessed, then later passed on to the King's ward, by an Icanthie. Your sister no less. Do you deny your sister recognition?”

Wistra stalled. Whispered comments flew around the r0om, accompanied by mutterings and shuffling. Finally she answered.

“... Memory Transference is a precarious process, and we have no way of knowin-”

“The foremost expert in memory transference has not only signed off on the validity of the evidence but has also helped the King's ward to extract further evidence. We have no concerns over the validity of the evidence submitted. Now, how do you plead?”

Wistra did not respond.

“If you refuse to give a plea, then based on the evidence already given, the Council will find you guilty Lady Wistra. Your sentence will be given and the trials for the members of your House will proceed. I don’t need to tell you that, as Head of House, you bear responsibility for their crimes.”

Wistra walked forward, getting as close to both the Council and Kine who sat next to me, as possible. Though her guards were alert and ready to act, they let her move about a little, probably deferring to her status despite being a prisoner. But it made me tense. I didn’t trust her.

By the time she had gathered her thoughts, the Council was visibly annoyed and well they may be. Eventually speaking up, Wistra addressed her comments, not to the Council, but to each of the Houses sat watching and to Kine. “To put it simply, my King, I will not put in a plea because of her.” She pointed straight at me. “Due to her upbringing and her other... disadvantages, she is simply not fit to be considered by the law. She has no standing, no rights. Why have I been imprisoned, dragged before you all to be degraded and slandered on the word of this...” Wistra sneered as is she had tasted something foul, “individual?” She finally spat out.

The hall broke into quiet grumbles of both agreement and discontent but mostly annoyance. No matter what they each thought on the matter, to voice the opinion openly, in front of the King no less, was unacceptable to them. Already the Council had ruled on this and Wistra was questioning them. Not a wise idea. Neither was challenging Kine.

“I do not know why you address me, Wistra of House Kuthar. I have relinquished my vote in this trial. However, if you are concerned about my ward, then perhaps I can alleviate it.”

Turning away from Wistra, Kine addressed the Council. By giving her his back, he gave the impression that she was nothing to him and not even a concern to his safety, the perfect blow to her ego. But I wouldn’t take my eyes off her. She was dangerous.

“If you will permit, I’d like to clarify the status of my ward. Sierra is a Myath, Daughter of Lady Feenya of House Kuthar... and granddaughter of King Orphis of House Den. Sierra is not only my Ward, she is my cousin. I trust her and cherish her as my kin. Though this doesn’t change her status, I hope that knowing how much faith I put in her and the strong kin ties we have built reassures you of the validity of her evidence.”

“WHAT!!??” Wistra screeched, the first crack I’d seen in her calm, superior facade.

The room similarly broke out into shocked gasps and chatter, the old speculation resurfacing. Mathias edged closer to me, whether for his comfort or mine I wasn’t sure, but the light touch helped us both to remain calm. It wasn’t easy, having our personal life pried open for scrutiny. I thought to look at Niah, wondering if she had known but, by the looks of it, she hadn’t. It was hard to tell considering the most excellent mask she had cultivated, but the slight widening of her eyes gave it away. Kine was in trouble.

Another chime rang in our minds, silencing the restless spectators.

“Indeed, my King, thank you for enlightening us. As blood kin to the King, you have the right to bestow the title of Royal on your ward, though it is not a common practice anymore and even less often accepted by the bestowed. It has never been given to a Myath before but there’s nothing prohibiting it as far as I am aware...”

“Thank you Council.” Turing to me, Kine took my hand. “Sierra, I offered you my protection as my ward. Now, I’ve had the joy of finding out we are kin, I offer you the protection of a title. Do you accept the title of an Icanthie Royal?”

That sly cat! He’d been planning this. Some could object to my evidence when I was just a ward but by making me a titled Royal, I had even further protections. The very title of Royal was designed to protect the most vulnerable young Icanthie, close to the King who had yet to undergo their maturity. It was only removed if the individual decided to pursue another title like Councillor, Warrior, Healer, Scholar and so forth.

But did I want this tie? Anything proclaimed here by the Council was automatically made law. Kine had taken a great risk declaring me as Myath when I had not done so last time. They may have known it before, but now it was law. I was at risk by being declared Myth yet protected by being declared the Kings Ward. If I accepted this, that balance tipped closer to protected, by law, but it committed me to the Icanthie in very strong terms. I was already committed to the Myath... I had to decide. Could I take on even more right now? Kine’s eyes were calm and open. He’d accept whatever I decided I knew that. And he wasn’t trying to pressure me. He may have planned this without me but he probably had at least three more plans too...

Bowing my head I gave him my answer “... I accept my King.”

I just had to accept that I was a part of two worlds, maybe three. I needed to try to bring them together. Somehow. Besides, I didn’t want to close myself off from more than half of who I was or the important people that had been brought into my life.

The Council sealed my acceptance by declaring, “Let it be know that this is Royal Sierra of House Den.” With barely a pause for that to sink in, he continued, “Lady Wistra, now that your concerns of the source of evidence against you has been settled, I shall ask for the last time. How do you plea?”

“This is ridiculous! How can you give legitimacy to this thing? I am not guilty and I will not be held to this farce by a mutt.”

Gasps and angry voices rose from all sides. A voice rose above the others silencing them.

“You will show this Council and the Royal the respect due to her and address her properly! These are serious proceedings and you will give them the consideration they deserve.”

Wistra looked directly at me.

“Believe me Councillor, I am giving you and her everything you deserve... She is a half cast, bastard and you are all fools for entertaining her.” Shocked gasps echoed around the hall and Wistra flashed me a small, cruel smile. “Filthy mongrel. Who knows what else is mixed in there! I don’t know why Feenya degraded herself to produce it.”

That was enough. We had to do something to move this on before she riled up others. This trial needed to be concluded or the delegation was in trouble and any help we needed to solve the falling debris evaporated.

“Oh Aunt Wistra.” I sighed and the room fell quiet. “If you’re going to insult me, at least be accurate about it. I am a quarter cast so more Icanthie than not if that’s important to you. And seeing as the human notion of marriage doesn’t exist in our kingdom, then neither can the idea of an illegitimate child. Calling me a bastard is simply inaccurate especially as my parents were true mates. I’m surprised you would use such a human term, considering your feelings on the matter.”

Wistra seethed, disgust evident in her narrowed eyes.

“You don’t think it matters do you? You don’t see me, or any Myath, as living, thinking, feeling beings.”

“Hah!! You think you’re our equal??!”

“Aren’t we all equal? We are all sapient, we all descend from the same ancestors. Biologically, we are all compatible, otherwise I wouldn’t exist. Our cultures are different but the Icanthie culture is different from the Igidoe or Drake cultures too and you don’t deny them rights. Why do you insist on denying the facts?”

Wistra's temper was boiling over and everyone could see it. Her hands, balled into fists, shook with fury, her eyes bulging and her breathing harsh in a room gone preternaturally quiet.

“Aunt Wistra, what makes you so determined to wipe us out? What are you afraid of?”

She snapped. With a snarl, she lunged towards me, so fast I could hardly register it. I’d just begun to move out of the way when she passed me and went straight for Seth. His young voice cried out and Wistra snatched him from Lazots arms and she retreated, Seth dangling from her hand by his neck.

“You upstart little vermin. I’ll force you to prove your inferiority. Show us what you truly are. Shift.”

I strode towards her, confident and calm. “Let Seth go.”

“You see, she won’t even take on her Icanthie form. Or can’t you?”

“Let him go. He’s just a child.” I never took my eyes off of them and she taunted me.

“SHIFT!” Wistra screamed again.

Her screech was painful and broke the unnatural silence only to leave a deeper one in its place. The room held its breath as I waited to answer her. Finally I spoke, my voice quiet but firm.

“I will not capitulate to you Wistra. You are not in a position of power here, you are on trial. Now let. Seth. go.” She refused to respond so I continued. “You have no legal claim to him. His father is House Greer.”

“And his Legari is House Kuthar.” Wistra mocked, sneering at my title.

My eyes popped and my jaw dropped. “I have not claimed House Kuthar!” I exclaimed, shocked by how far she’d go to manipulate the situation. But it seemed I’d shocked her too.

“... You reject House Kuthar?”

This woman. The very idea that anyone would turn her down seemed to shock her more than the news of my connection to House Den. I really wanted to give her a piece of my mind but managed to cling on to my anger and annoyance. Still, my response was sharp.

“I have NEVER rejected any of my kin. House Kuthar rejected me!! What kind of kin does that? You, Wistra, with your scheming and manipulating. Your lies. You’ve lost all sense of honour, of right and wrong. You have betrayed and rejected kin, sought to corrupt a system designed to create a fair society and tear down that system in favour of your own blind prejudice. You care only about power, yet you don’t even wield it for the good of your people. All those in House Kuthar that you’ve traumatised. You don’t even seem to see other Icanthie as your equals, let alone anyone beyond these borders.”

“I AM NO ONES EQUAL!”

I huffed an incredulous laugh. “Why am I not surprised. Do you care about anyone? You may refuse to see it, but we are all equals. Icanthie or not we are all fellow beings, fundamentally the same yet wonderfully diverse. If you accepted the gifts of everyone beyond your small world, you would be so much more yet you isolate yourselves, even from your fellow Icanthie. Why? What are you afraid of?”

“I fear nothing!”

I lost my temper. “No you fear EVERYTHING. That’s why you try to control it all and yet you’re still afraid. Why?”

“Shut up.”

“It’s because you know you can’t control anything. Nothing but yourself and your own choices. And look what you’ve done with it.”

“Shut up!”

You’re afraid of anything new because you don’t understand it, or how you fit in to it. So you villainise it and believe your own lies just so your little world won’t change. Your little world where you believe you have all the power and sit on top, untouchable.

“Filthy mongrel. You lie.”

“You tell yourselves we are villains. That we want to tear down all you have built either because we can, because we want what you have or because we want revenge. You’re wrong. And the fact that you can’t see that is why we see you as the villains. You may not want to accept it but it’s people like you Wistra, who send out groups to hunt and kill us as if we were animals. All we want is to be seen for who we are. Not as a people, not as the Myath, but as individuals. We come from you. We are you. Why should we be treated any differently?”

“Because you are less. You are animals and should be eradicated like the vermin of old.” Wistra hissed at me. It hurt, to see such hatred aimed at me but she was showing herself for what she truly was. Right now, I just needed to keep Seth safe. Which meant keeping my temper.

“And it’s that dehumanisation that led you to where you are. An old word, I know, but it works. You blind yourselves to the fact that we are just like you and that means your horrendous actions are not so bad in your head right? Is that why you ordered mum to be tortured? Is that why you use a child as leverage, not caring about the harm that you do him? You don’t see them as beings anymore.”

Wistra snarled, her grip tightening on Seth. Dammit how do I get though to her? Her image. She cares about her standing and power. Use that.

“I know I won’t convince you. Change only ever comes from within. But you are not showing yourself in the best light Aunt Wistra. Put Seth down gently and settle this dispute in your trial. If you are not guilty, as you say, then let the trial vindicate you.”

The room held its breath as Wistra slowly calmed, at least outwardly, the mask slipping back into place. Looking at her now, you’d never have realised she was capable of the almost unhinged raving of the last few moments. Slowly, gently, she stroked Seth on the cheek and lowered him to the ground but she didn’t yet release him.

We waited. She smirked and ever so slowly, loosened her grip, enjoying every moment of suspense. Finally, Seth was free and he dashed towards me, barrelling into my legs and burying his face in them. I gently stroked him and manoeuvred him behind me, where he poked his head out and hissed at Wistra. We ignored him but I felt Lazot, his anger and worry palpable through our bond, move up behind me and take Seth into his arms.

Wistra stared at us the whole time, but didn’t move. Suddenly, she turned and we all tensed, ready to defend ourselves or flee. I would not risk Seth. While Wistra's back was turned, I silently urged Lazot and Seth back to our seat, though I stood rather than retake mine. She had something up her sleeve and I wanted to be ready. Wistra stood tall and addressed the Council.

“I refuse to submit to this trial so if you will not rescind the charges,” she paused dramatically. “Then I demand we settle with with a duel. I demand the right of Till-ach-Renn.”