CHAPTER 169: TRAPPED

Confused.

Scared and also afraid.

These were the feelings Jenna could give a name amongst others. Wishing that Rhane was here to keep her grounded. She could stubbornly ask that she no longer wished to partake, but that would be impulsive... and it might hurt Rhane.

Jenna pressed her palm against her knee, her fingers twitching. The whole place felt colder than usual, even though the sun was still out. Every thought in her head sounded too loud. Every heartbeat was a warning.

She didn’t even know what she was more afraid of— the council, Lois, or herself.

If Rhane were here, he would tell her to breathe. He’d say it softly, the way he did when her anger came before her reason. She would have listened too. But he wasn’t here. And now the silence was crawling, whispering things she didn’t want to hear.

Maybe she should walk away. Refuse the tournament, not like it was necessary she knew what her heart wanted. End it before they did. She could almost see herself doing it, standing tall, pretending she didn’t care what they thought. But that was the problem. She did. And worse, so did Rhane.

If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have risked his own life until now.

Jenna’s hand went to her chest. She hated how fragile she felt. Hopeless and small.

"Are you alright?" Olivia’s voice came like a knock against the fog in her mind.

Jenna looked up. The girl’s face was pale, her lips quivering like she was the one being judged.

"I- I’m fine." As if her shaky hands wasn’t enough proof, Jenna’s voice cracked.

Olivia frowned. "You’re not. You haven’t said a word since Lady Rachel left. What do yoy thinknan will do?"

Jenna forced a smile that didn’t stay long. "Nothing new. Just the usual talk about righteousness and maybe a little slap on the wrist."

All lies. Jenna knew better, and Rachel wasn’t going to buy time for her anymore.

Olivia stepped closer. "You’re shaking."

"I’m not."

"You are." Olivia sat beside her, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Maybe... maybe you could talk to them before the trial ends. Explain what happened. You didn’t mean to break the rules, right? They’ll understand."

Jenna let out a dry laugh. "You think they listen to explanations?" and who said she didn’t mean to. Jenna completed in her mind. Infact she wanted to break all rules till the end.

"They might. Lady Rachel does. She looked—" Olivia paused, her small hands curling into fists. "—she looked like she wanted to help."

"She can’t. Not anymore."Jenna’s voice cracked halfway through the sentence. She turned her face away, pretending to look at the anything but nothing.

For a moment neither spoke. The wind from the open court moved their dresses slowly, the faint wet earth of rain sliding in.

"Lois won’t stop," Olivia said after a while. "And the council never forgives. Everyone knows it."

"Knowing doesn’t fix anything," Jenna muttered. "They’ll still punish me."

Olivia bit her lip. "Then we run."

Jenna turned sharply. "What?"

"We run," Olivia repeated. Her voice trembled but her eyes didn’t. "Before they come. Like we did that day under the rain."

Jenna stared at her. This child... always trying to fix things too big for her hands. "And go where, Olivia?" this time she genuinely smiled.

"What if I get caught?"

Olivia shook her head, "Not if Rhane comes for you first."

"You sound like a silly girl," Jenna whispered, though she didn’t mean it.

Olivia shrugged. "Then let’s both be silly together. Just this once, so you can be with your beloved."

Jenna lowered her head. Her hands were still covered in sweat. "You shouldn’t have to see this," she said.

"I’ve seen worse," Olivia replied, her voice small but steady.

Jenna smiled weakly, brushing a strand of hair behind the girl’s ear. "You really haven’t."

Jenna but her lips, maybe she didn’t have to run all the way out. If she would slip into the mountain and let Rhane know. His plan would be better than hers.

"We will run, alright." Jenna began and Olivia clapped excitedly. "But not away from here...to Rhane. I will go to Rhane." She emphasized on her going alone. She wasn’t going to involve a child in something dangerous.

"But you-"

Jenna waved her hands dismissively. "You’ll look out for me. Won’t you?" Jenna glanced around, she didn’t see any guard running towards her... yet. She didn’t know when Rachel’s grace would end and she didn’t want to wait find out.

"Jenna stop there!"

Jenna stopped breathing. The voice wasn’t kind. It didn’t have to be for her to know. She turned, slowly. The lantern light fell on her face, and the guards didn’t need her name to know who she was.

Jenna took one step back, her heart racing with fear.

"What are you going to do now?" Olivia cried.

Jenna gulped. She didn’t have an answer for the girl. Though she could still back out. Return to her bed, pretend she never thought of running, pretend she believed in their mercy. But mercy wasn’t coming. Not after what she’d done.

If she could just reach Rhane, if she could warn him maybe they’d have a chance. He’d find a way out, he always did.

Without a second thought or warning, Jenna turned ready to bolt.

"Stop her!" Nikolai shouted.

Before Jenna could run two steps, her foot caught on a loose stone. She fell hard, scraping her palms against the gravel. Classic fate being horrible and calling it humor. By the time she looked up, rough hands had already grabbed her.

"Let go of me!" Jenna gasped, thrashing. One of them pinned her arms behind her. Jenna licked her lips and she tasted it.

The sour taste of fear.

"Running away?" the leader of the council hissed, his breath heavy with ale. "That won’t help you now."

"Please—" Jenna’s voice dissolved into a sob she didn’t plan. The harder she fought, the tighter they held her. One grabbed her by the shoulders, dragging her upright. Her knees buckled. She didn’t have strength left to scream.

"Take her to the hall," Nikolai ordered. His lips curled when he noticed Jenna’s tears.

As they passed the crowd, Jenna noticed someone was staring at her. Not with gloat but pity.

Rachel.

Jenna froze. Her lips trembled. "Rachel..."

Rachel didn’t answer, but her eyes remained on Jenna.

Jenna’s chest caved. The tears came hot and fast before she could swallow them back. "You knew," she whispered, voice breaking. "You knew I’d run. You should have...have..."

Rachel blinked slowly, her throat moving like she’d swallowed a scream.

The guards shoved Jenna forward. She stumbled, falling to her knees. And for the first time, Jenna didn’t fight the tears.

She let them fall. Rhane was going to come back after all his effort and he’d find out he wouldn’t have her.

It was her womanly flow! Jenna sighed. The witch had arrived earlier and ruined it all.

Getting to the hall, Jenna was made to stand in the center. The torches threw angry shadows across the faces of the elders, each one waiting for her to admit guilt.

Jenna didn’t. It would be her undoing. She wouldn’t.

"If speaking with Rhane is disobedience, then call it that. But I did not bring shame to this place." Jenna decided to begin before they started their accusations.

The council leader leaned forward, his eyes gleaming like wet stones. "You dare argue even now? You were seen! Do you deny being with the man after dusk?"

Jenna lifted her chin, masking the fear that curled in her stomach. "If you already know the truth, then why ask me? Unless, of course, you doubt your own witnesses."

"Silence her," another councilman barked. "Enough of her insolence."

Two guards moved closer.

Jenna stepped back. "You can silence me, but that won’t change what you’re afraid of," she said, her voice sharpening. "You’re afraid that one woman’s will might undo the order you built on fear."

The guards grabbed her arms. She struggled, the iron biting her skin. Rachel looked away. Olivia started crying clutching Rachel’s dress.

"Let go of me!" Jenna’s voice cracked as they dragged her toward the inner doors. "If this is justice, then may the people see how blind you’ve become!"

Nikolai rubbed his chin, he was enjoying every bit of the moment. Maybe if they break the girl a little more, just enough to make Rhane’s fury ruin things.

"Are we going to let her get away with another insult? A whipping should be in order, no?"

The council leader nodded, "That is right. Take her outside now! We should not overlook another insult from this insolent woman!"

At the snap of his fingers, Jenna was dragged forcefully.

"Touch her again, and I will tear your hands from your body."

The guards stopped. Everyone turned.

Master Brown stood at the entrance, his eyes fell on Jenna first, then on the council.

"Father...." Jenna whispered with a shaky voice.

"Let go of my daughter this instant!"