Hi All... Here's the chapter you've been waiting for. Sorry it took so long. I don't know why this one was so hard to write, but here it is!   I even did a special edition picture to go with it for everyone. Enjoy. :)

Brackstone waved, indicating he wanted to start. "With Kellan's knotted ring inked across her, I find it hard to argue he hasn't interfered. Fortunately for him, the Fire Circle has made it clear Wren's death is not in their best interest." He rubbed his dark beard. "Still, retribution must be awarded to compensate for the ring and his continued interference between the contracted couple. I render my judgment in favor of assigning penalties."

I don't understand. I searched Jaxon's face then Kellan's for answers. What does that mean?

Loud sheets of rain pummelled the windows. A smug smile crept across Otis' face, and Jaxon's gaze turned to Archamaeus.

Nothing yet, Jaxon finally answered. A majority judgment is needed.

"Sure, everyone stare at me." He turned to Kellan and shook a finger at him. "You're just lucky, Wren is willing to go through with the contract, or the outcome of this case would be entirely different." He faced Jaxon. "I agree with awarding penalties."

Kellan sulked in his chair like the passing judgments didn't matter.

Yes! Jaxon eased a hand into his pocket, pushed back his shoulders, puffing out his chest. "In the interest of the Fire Circle, and Wren's life, I too am only interested in seeing penalties awarded."

Kellan's supporters and the Water Circle erupted in cheers. I let out a long breath and rested my forehead against the burnt, wet boards, letting the weight of my upper body sink into them. I withheld the sob of relief deep inside me. Leaders of a circle were expected to maintain an image of strength and power, even if it was contrary to how they really felt. A blue stone on my necklace flashed, while I tried to reign in my emotions.

Jaxon stood tall with his lips turned up into a faint smile, waiting for the echoes of applause to die out. "Should we determine penalties then?"

"Judgment hasn't concluded." Kellan glared at Jax. "I still get a say."

"To what?" Jax rolled his eyes. "The council's already decided you get to live."

"Mind your place, Second. I heard." Kellan poured a baseball-sized sphere of water into his palm, rotating it with his fingers. "Still, I have to disagree with your assessment about no damages." Kellan glanced at me.

I pressed a hand to my mouth. Kellan. What are you doing?

"Isn't that right, love?" His features softened for a brief moment before he turned to Jaxon. "Not only is she connected to me in life and death, but she's also admitted to being in love with me. The way I see it, I'm guilty of all charges."

Oh, my God. Are you trying to get us both killed?

Kellan rolled the sphere off his fingertips and caught it in his other hand maintaining its form.

Jaxon clenched a fist until I could see it blanch white. "So? The council has already voted, and your admission of guilt doesn't change the verdict."

The spinning, watery ball halted in the center of Kellan's outstretched hand, and his lips drew into a lopsided smirk. "Doesn't it?"

Someone in the audience shuffled their feet against the floor. Another person shifted in their seat, making the bench creak. The pitter-patter of raindrops continued to assault the window panes, demanding entry into the room below.

Jaxon scrunched his brow as if he were trying to puzzle out what Kellan meant, when Brackstone let out a deep baritone laugh, making his belly bounce and his cheeks redden.

"Well played." He pointed his stubby, sausage-like fingers at Kellan, before smacking Archamaeus' chest with the back of his hand. "You see what he did?" He let out another bark of laughter.

A murmur grew among the crowd, and people were turning to those sitting nearby. It looked like they too had no idea what Brackstone found amusing.

"Remind me not to play Calept against you for stones, Kellan." Brackstone's laugh faded. "I do believe you'd rob me blind."

"You have the dissenting vote..." Jaxon groaned and crossed his arms, maintaining his firmly clenched fists.

"The all-important decision on penalties falls to me?" The water globe rolled from his fingertips, splashing onto the ground. He edged forward in his chair, glanced at his fellow council members, then let loose a wide smile. "Excellent." He clapped and rubbed his hands together. "Let's hear the recommendations."

"Are you always this annoying?" Jaxon raised a brow, shooting Kellan a glassy stare. "There are still laws you have to follow. So, you can wipe that smug grin off your face."

"Something tells me he has them memorized." Archamaeus nudged Brackstone with his elbow. "For your interference Kellan, my judgment is to award a herd of prongmera to the Fire Circle."

Brackstone rubbed his neanderthal beard. "A thousand stones and six equestars."

Kellan scoffed. "Both of those recommendations are kind of steep, don't you think?"

"With the amount of meddling you've done, you're lucky we haven't demanded two necks instead." Brackstone pointed at me, then back to Kellan.

"There's only one thing I want from his circle." Jaxon didn't flinch, maintaining his sight on Kellan. "I'm told the prongmera known as Amaress is under your circle's ownership." He shifted his weight to his other leg. "I want her papers."

"Tsk-tsk." Kellan shook a finger in Jaxon's direction. "Unless I've forgotten how to count, I believe that's two items you want from me."

"We wouldn't be having this conversation if that were true." Jax's expression hardened, and he rubbed his fingers with his thumb. "Besides this is the best offer of the recommendations."

Soft footsteps echoed against the stone stairs behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Sage tip-toeing down the last step. The Fire Circle guard, who had helped me earlier, intercepted her path. He said something to her, but I was too far away to hear his hush tones, so I decided to let him know she could pass before he tried to do something stupid.

"I told you. She's my best friend," she whispered. "So let me pass before I unleash the pox on you." Sage pushed back her sleeve, revealing a series of nasty looking blisters on her forearm.

The guard clenched his jaw and widened his stance. "All the more reason, you're not getting anywhere near our Second. I'd rather have those, than no head."

I tugged on his charcoal gray tunic, and he shoved his arm in front of me, preventing me from passing.

"Don't come any closer. She has the pox."

"Yes, I know. Sage has been healing people with them for the past week at the Traveler's Guild."

He lowered his arm. "She's a healer?"

"And the last person in here that would cause me harm." I grabbed her hand and pulled her past him. "You, on the other hand, I can't make the same claim for, so I don't recommend pissing her off."

"After that last girl who was down here, I didn't know what to think of this one. Wait. She's not the one who broke"—he wiggled his fingers in the air—"of two guards in my unit?"

Sage smirked and held out her hand for him to shake it.

I pushed her arm down and shoved her in the direction of the arena gate. "And whatever you do, don't shake her hand."

When I turned around, she hadn't taken a step. She just stared at the guard with her hands on her hips, waiting for him to decided to leave us alone or intervene further. Wisely, he took a couple of paces toward the spot near the wall, where he'd previously been.

"Making friends everywhere you go, huh?" I slowly dragged my feet toward the smell of charred wood.

"You don't think he wants to be friends?" She laughed and hooked her arm around mine, then jerked her chin toward the scene unfolding in front of us. "Do you get any of this?"

"Why Kellan has an advantage? Nope, I can't say I do." I rested my elbows against the wet wood.

"The dissenting vote gets to decide which punishment recommendations the council passes. Under usual circumstances, it doesn't matter much. But being a leader of his circle, he has to choose two of the recommendations put forward. But here's the best part"—she paused, tilted her head closer and nudged me with her shoulder—"one of them can be his own suggestion."

"The value of one prongmera?" Archamaeus said, answering the question Kellan has posed. "I don't know, I guess about four hundred stones or so."

"Whatever recommendation Kellan puts forward it has to be worth more than the suggestion with lowest value or it will be thrown out," Sage whispered.

"I assume you and Wren are planning to head to the Fire Circle for the ceremony and celebrations after we adjourn here," Kellan said to Jaxon.

"Obviously," Jaxon replied in a quick, condescending tone.

"Perfect." Kellan slapped his open palms on top of the arena boards, creating a ta-da-dum sound.

Sage and I glanced at each other with the same confused expression. No matter what he said next, it wasn't going to be good news for me. I pressed my hands to my face, wishing I was back in the comfort of Gran's company where things made sense. But that wouldn't help my father or solve any of the stuff I'd managed to have gotten into. I let out a long calming breath.

"Perfect? You can't seriously think I'd believe that statement." Deep lines formed on Jaxon's brow and he pursed his lips.

"It would be an excellent time to bridge the strained relations between our circles and make amends. The fastest way back to the Keep is through our territory, so there's no better time for an official visit, and you can even select your choice of equestars from our herd and collect the thousand stone payment on your way through."

"Are you out of your mind?" Jaxon pinched the bridge of his nose. "There's no—"

"At least think about it," Kellan interrupted. "Aside from those partnering into our circle, you're the first two Fire Circle members to be invited to the Citadel in centuries. I'll pay all the expenses for your visit."

"Why wouldn't you just give him this Amaress creature?" Archamaeus asked. "It seems the most sensible thing to do."

"Honestly, does he do anything that's 'sensible'?" Jaxon said with an air of annoyance. "Why would he start now?"

"Because when we were kids, I promised Wren I wouldn't sell Amaress to anyone. That's why," Kellan snapped. "Look, just agree to the terms, you'll get home quicker, and I'll give Wren the papers for Amaress."

The heartbreak in his words swirled within me, making me want to hold him in my arms and let the rest of the world go to hell. But instead, I stared past the scene unfolding in front of me, wondering how I'd get through the next few days with the connection between us tormenting me to the point of insanity.

"If Jax, doesn't agree, then the Fire Circle ends up with nothing," Sage said softly.

"You don't have to do that," Brackstone commented, sounding surprised Kellan would make such an offer.

"Doesn't matter. Amaress doesn't listen to anyone but Wren anyway."

Jaxon approached the council, opened his mouth, and before he had a chance to say anything, Otis stood using the backrest of the chair to steady himself.

"Jaxon? A word?" Otis waved him over, whispered something into Jaxon's ear, then eased into his seat.

A surge of heat flushed my senses, and Jaxon paused for a moment with his jaw clenched before facing Brackstone and Archamaeus. "Consider the terms accepted." He paced toward the gate where Sage and I were waiting and glanced over at Kellan as he passed. "We leave at dawn, make sure you've made all the preparations by then."

Leave your thoughts! How do you think Wren will do with both of them around? Can't imagine. Wait...I can. Hehehe!  Vote and make a writer happy. Off to go write some more.