Valle : Book 2 of the Heku Series by T.M. Nielsen Page A

we? Begin with destroying the city of Debalih.”
    Kyle stepped forward, “We didn’t harm the actual city, but we did kill anyone we came across, as ordered.”
    “Did you order such?” Maleth asked Chevalier.
    “Yes, I did.” He stood tall.
    “Under what power do you call upon to order the killing of innocent heku?”
    Chevalier looked straight into his eyes, “Under the power I was given to do all I could to retrieve what we were after.”
    Elder Selest grinned, “We did give him that power.”
    Maleth nodded, “That also answers the second accusation. Did you seek out and kill the unarmed lord, Lord Ulrich?”
    Chevalier looked up at him, “He wasn’t unarmed, just over matched.”
    “Easy enough,” Maleth said, then paused before continuing, “Did you free two prisoners from the dungeons?”
    Kyle answered, “We freed one prisoner, the one who led us to Emily, and I’m guessing she was the second prisoner we freed.”
    Maleth frowned, “Was she in the prison?”
    Chevalier nodded, “Yes, hanging by her wrists from the rafters after having been beaten.”
    Emily blushed and looked at the floor.
    “Is this correct, Child?” She was too embarrassed and simply nodded to the floor.
    “We will return to that,” Maleth said. “Did you torture high-ranking officials?”
    Chevalier stifled a grin, “Yes I did, when they wouldn’t give me straight answers.”
    “I see, and the granddaughter?” he asked.
    Chevalier looked at Emily, “I don’t think it was a kidnap as much as a rescue.”
    Maleth nodded, “We will make sure they understand that.”
    Maleth turned to Chevalier, “I don’t understand how you can justify torturing a mortal man, though, Chief Enforcer.”
    Chevalier began to speak, but Emily interrupted him, “I think that was me.”
    Maleth frowned at Emily, “What was you, Child?”
    “I tortured him.”
    The entire Council chambers fell quiet.
    Selest stood, “Explain please.”
    Emily sighed, “He was living with me and was… pushy.” She winced and looked up at them, “So I restrained him to the bed for a while.”
    Chevalier added, “Restraints used on Emily frequently, restraints there were situated as to cause muscle spasms and intense pain.”
    A rumble roared across the Council.
    “Is he speaking the truth, Emily? Did you put the mortal in the same restraints that were regularly used on you and caused pain?” Selest asked, softly.
    Emily nodded, “I’ll take responsibility for that. That happened before Chevalier and Kyle even got to the city. Send the punishment to me.”
    Leonid rose angrily, “There will be no repercussions for that.”
    Chevalier growled, “She was already punished by the Valle for that.”
    Selest spoke, “Everyone calm down, let’s get on with this.”
    Maleth spoke again, “Lastly, did you take the city crest?”
    Chevalier looked into his eyes, “We took nothing but what we came for.”
    The Elders turned away from them and spoke quickly.
    Selest stood, “Very well, now leave us with Emily.”
    Emily’s hand tightened on Chevalier’s arm.
    “Why?” he hissed.
    “We wish to speak to the child… alone.” She smiled down at Emily.
    Chevalier’s body tensed, but he pulled away from her grasp and whispered in her ear, “It’ll be ok. Kyle and I will be right outside.”
    Soon, Emily found herself standing alone in the bright lights with the twelve heku looking down at her. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around herself.
    “Breathe, Child,” Leonid said, smiling at her.
    She took a deep breath and ran her eyes along the heku.
    “You are safe here with us. We can control ourselves,” he said reassuringly.
    “What is the cause of your enticing blood, Child?” one of the Council members asked, inhaling slightly.
    Emily blushed, “Chevalier thinks it’s because I’m pregnant.”
    Selest clapped her hands together, “That is great news, Child! So glad the doctors were wrong.”
    Emily blushed deeper and dropped her