When Walter came the next morning Anya gave him her letters for the twins.  He promised to get them to Lord Wildwood as soon as the warden had looked them over.

Anya did not mind.  She had become used to the lack of privacy of the prison.  No doubt it was better for her than for the men below.

Anya settled herself in for another long, boring day.

She considered writing to Jim, but like a thousand times before decided against it.  It would not change anything and she did not know what to say even if she did.

"Anya Davies?"

The voice was unfamiliar and she jumped to her feet.  The man looked vaguely familiar.

"You are to have an audience with His Majesty today.  You are to come with me."  He was very tall and broad and seemed to be a solid mass of muscle and he towered over Anya as he unlocked the door to her cell.

She could not help but be intimidated by the imposing presence, smaller and separated from her magic as she was.  It did not help that she had no warning of an upcoming audience.  Surely this sudden event could mean nothing good for her.  Her heart pounded hard.

"Who are you?" Anya asked.  For a moment it felt like she had fallen once more into one of Thorne's schemes.

But it could not be.  He was dead.  She comforted herself with the knowledge.

"I'm Warden Porter."

Anya had heard of him and what she had heard did not calm her at all.

He was a powerful wizard, likely the equal of Lord Wildwood.  He monitored the prisoners and no one ever escaped the tower under his watchful eye.

Anya was almost grateful that her magic was disconnected, because she surely would have felt overwhelmed by such a powerful wizard in that moment.

Anya got to her feet.  She was suddenly aware of how filthy she was.  She had done the best that she could with the limited water that she was allowed, but she knew it had made little difference.

Now she would appear before a group of rich and powerful lords and ladies looking more like a beggar than anything.

It was not far from the truth.

Anya shook her head.  It was not the time to worry about such things.  She rather needed to be thinking about what she would say, but she did not even know what was happening exactly.

The warden put heavy metal chains on Anya's hands.  "Come," he commanded and Anya did not even think of disobeying.

* * * * *

The warden and two guards escorted Anya threw the city and into the castle.  Anya kept her head down and tried to ignore the curious expressions of the people that they passed.  She was led once again past the tapestries and through the halls and stairs until they reached the same doors that she had entered on her first visit to the castle.

Anya was brought into the room.  It was almost exactly the same as the previous time she had been there, except there were far more guards and she was bound even more tightly.  They clearly were not taking any chances on a repeat of the ignition potion incident.

The king sat on his throne and the queen by his side and various courtiers and nobles stood around.  The queen watched Anya curiously, but oddly without obvious rancor.

Anya noted that the thrones were sitting on a new dais and Anya cringed inwardly, imagining the destruction that she had caused.  The king's skin—as far as Anya could see—looked as if it had not been permanently scarred by her attack.  Anya was glad.

"Anya Davies," the king said in his booming voice.

Anya squeaked, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"You've been much on our mind since the last time you stood before us," the king began.  Anya shifted uneasily at the reminder of what she had done.

He continued speaking.  "We have heard much testimony about what occurred last year.  But we would hear it now, in your own words."

Anya began to speak with a shaky voice about the events that had occurred from the first time she had seen Thorne to the last.  She found it easier to speak as she continued.  There was something comforting in telling the simple, honest truth to the best of her ability.  It did not matter if they believed her.

When she finished the king spoke.  "Are you aware that the David, Earl of Farhaven, Baron of Thorne denied all that you have just explained?"

Anya straightened her back as best she was able.  "I did not know, but neither am I surprised.  He dealt in schemes and lies and manipulations."

The king was watching her closely, as were all the rest of the people in the room.  Anya could feel the filth clinging to her body, but she would not allow herself to be cowed.  At least she could face what was likely her end with what dignity she could muster.

"Have you anything to say for yourself, Anya Davies?" the king asked.

Anya swallowed.  "I am sorry for everything I did, although I know that changes nothing."

The king's eyes did not leave her face.  "What would you change, if it were in your power?"

"I would have killed Thorne the moment he told me I had to kill a man," Anya said coldly.  She could hear whispers around the room.  Let them judge her, her words were true.  They did not know Thorne as she had.

The king looked around the room and spoke.  "We will speak with Anya Davies in private.  Clear the room," he ordered to a guard.  "Lord Wildwood, you may stay.  And those guarding the prisoner will also remain.  And the scribe, for recording purposes."

Soon everyone had been ushered out but for those the king had chosen.  The queen watched her husband.  Anya waited.

"We have thought much about this matter.  What shall we do with you, Anya Davies?  You committed treason and attempted murder and have stolen magic from two wizards against their will, all crimes which beg for death as a reward.  Yet your victims speak in your defense.  They explain that the very stealing of magic gives them insight into what you were thinking at the time.  We are most curious about your motives."

He paused for Anya to speak, although surely he had already heard her reasons before.

"I was only trying to save my younger brother and sister.  I knew what I was doing was not right, but neither was leaving them to their fate.  I did not know what else to do."

"We understand your desire to protect the children.  Yet why did you not seek help?"

"From whom?  I was a peasant and a witch.  Who would help me and where would I seek help?  If I said anything Thorne might have carried out his revenge on them.  At least, that is what I thought, at the time, Your Majesty."

The king was still watching her musingly.  "When we became king the land was in chaos.  It has much improved, but there are those seeking to grasp power and displace us from the throne.  There is much more in our land that needs to be fixed.  You were a victim of this, Anya Davies.  Yet it nonetheless does not excuse your actions."

"I understand," Anya said.

"In the unlikely event that you were again forced you to act against your conscience, what would you do?"

She did not know what he hoped to gain through the strange direction of his questioning, but she had to answer.

"I would fight them."

The king smiled slightly.  "You would not give in?"

"I would find a way."

The king nodded.  "You have determination.  I have made my decision." 

Decision?  The word hit Anya hard.  She held her breath.

"Anya Davies, we hereby sentence you to exile from our kingdom."

"Exile?" Anya repeated dumbly.  She had not even considered such a possibility.

"You will not enter any lands belonging to our empire on pain of death.  You will not deal in any matters pertaining to any monarchy, not just our own.  We will be observing you from afar so live simply and quietly."

He turned to the scribe.  "Arrange passage on a ship bound for the wild continent for Anya Davies."

"What about Damani and Kallie?" Anya asked without thinking.

"They will remain in the care of Lord and Lady Wildwood."

Anya nodded.  She doubted she had a choice and they were safer there regardless.

"Perhaps, in time, they might join you," the king said in what almost could have been considered a kind voice.

He looked to the warden.  "Assign two guards to remain with Anya Davies until such time as she leaves our land.  She may prepare herself for her journey.  If she tries to escape she may be killed."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You may go."

Anya walked out of the room, the world surreal around her.  She was neither going to be killed nor be locked away until she died.

Yet another land, far from Kallie and Damani.  Still, it was better than she could have hoped.  They were safe and she would be free.

Anya's arms were released once they left the king's presence and Anya rubbed her wrists.  The warden walked with them until they were out of the castle and then spoke sharply to the two guards who accompanied them.  Anya barely listened.

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

The warden turned to Anya.  "Stay with two men and heed what they say, lest you find yourself back in my jail, or worse."

Anya nodded her agreement.  She had no desire to run anywhere.  It seemed that her old troubles were over and she would just have to face the new ones head on.

* * * * *

Author's Note:

Only a chapter or two to go...

Thanks for reading!