Dragonlands(208)

"How dare you!" Jacinda stomped a foot. "We came here, offering you friendship and peace."

Granna's chest heaved, her gray hair rippled in the wind. "You did no such thing. You came here attempting to bribe us into an uneasy alliance. We will not be partners with you in subduing an entire kingdom. It is not our way."

"No," Jacinda said. "Your way is to hide in the dark corners of our world and only emerge when it suits you. The Black is filled with cowards."

Granna shot an arm out, blocking Fi from attacking Jacinda. Fi relented, falling back next to Tressa.

"The Black is filled with people who want to live happily in freedom. When our kin is threatened, we take action," said Granna.

"Your kin?" Jacinda's eyes flashed toward Tressa.

"Yes," Granna said, her voice dripping with rage. "I'm told you killed my great-granddaughter's unborn child and put her out to sea to die."

Jacinda's eyes widened. "Your great-granddaughter? That girl?" She pointed to Tressa with one long fingernail. "She suffered a miscarriage and ran away when her lover spurned her. I take no responsibility for her problems."

Mestifito took another deep breath, his throat rumbling.

Jacinda slapped her arms to her side. Then did it again and again until she looked like a bird unable to take flight. "What have you done?" she screamed at Granna. "I cannot take my dragon form!" Her son imitated her, his arms flapping at his sides to no avail.

"Me?" Granna said, a smile on her face. "I have done nothing. My mage, on the other hand, he seems to have blocked your ability to transform into a dragon." Granna smiled and pointed to a man in a long, black robe just behind her. His hands were in the air, palms pointed toward Jacinda and her son.

Mestifito's chest expanded, smoke burst forth from his nostrils.

"No!" Jacinda screamed. "We cannot defend ourselves. At least allow us trial by combat! It is the fair thing to do!"

"Did you allow the unborn babe a chance to defend itself? Did you give Tressa a chance to fight back?" Granna looked back at her great-granddaughter.

Tressa couldn't read the expression on Granna’s face. There was no fear, and yet there did not appear to be any anger either.

"I didn't do anything to her! I swear it. My medicine woman, she did. It was her foul, evil magic that lead to Tressa's unfortunate incident."

"My incident?" Tressa said, finally speaking up. "You killed my baby. You left me to die!"

"Not me! My medicine woman!" Nervous sweat mingled with her makeup as it ran down her face.

"Yes, but by your command," Tressa said through gritted teeth. "I dare you to refute that."

"I—” Jacinda stammered. She looked to her son, but he had stepped away from her, a disgusted look on his face.

Destrian held his hands up in the air. "I knew nothing of this. I swear it to you."

Granna looked at her mage. He nodded, confirming the Yellow prince's statement.

"You know the punishment, Jacinda," Granna said.

Part of Tressa wanted to regret what was about to happen, to make amends with Jacinda before the inevitable, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All Tressa could see was the blood on Jacinda’s hands. The blood of a baby whose mother hadn't even had the chance to save it.

"Death leads to death." Granna raised her sword.

"No!" Jacinda fell to her knees. She crawled on the ground, laying her head on Granna's feet. "Don't do this. Have mercy on me!"

"Did you have mercy on Tressa? I think not." Granna stepped away, leaving Jacinda on the ground, a rumpled, pathetic mess.

Jacinda turned back to Destrian, her hand outstretched. He shook his head, also backing away. Wild, she looked toward Tressa. "I'm sorry. So, so sorry for what I did to you. It was petty jealousy, nothing more. I will give you and Jarrett a palace, a place for you to relax and make love for the rest of your days. You will be supplied with servants for the countless number of children you will have. I swear all this and more will be yours. Just have mercy on me!"

Tressa stepped toward Jacinda. "You destroyed the one thing I wanted in life. You took it away from me because you are a cruel, jealous woman. You had many opportunities to change your mind, but you didn't. You murdered my baby. Face your punishment like a woman." She stepped back, falling into Fi's outstretched arms.

Mestifito's jaw dropped. Heat billowed from between his teeth, followed by a loud spurting noise, drowning out Jacinda's wails and pleas for mercy. Fire flew from his mouth, engulfing Jacinda in flames.

No one turned away. They all watched justice being served upon one who willingly chose the path of anger and jealousy. Tressa was filled with sadness and a sense of relief. The woman who'd killed her unborn baby was dead. Burned alive in a cloud of flames.