The Frostholm Pack was rejoicing. Last night, Cora had announced the long-awaited news that Usher had awakened. Cora didn’t say much about Usher’s condition, but she did assure them that Usher was fine, which was further confirmed by Scott’s diagnosis.
The relief prompted the Frostholm Pack to visit the palace the next day. Their goal was to express their joy, though they realized it was impossible to meet Usher in person. They gathered outside The Palace gates before the sun rose over the eastern horizon. They were jubilant, but their mood turned to confusion when news spread.
Garth had been arrested. The Palace accused him of trying to kill Usher. The sudden explosion of joy among the pack was immediately replaced by confusion. They looked at each other with puzzled expressions, barely believing what they were hearing.
“It can’t be. How could they make such a vile accusation against Beta Garth? Beta Garth would never harm Alpha.”
No one believed it. They all filed into the open High Court.
Usher sat on the throne. His face looked tired and his eyes were sad. His gaze was fixed on Garth, who sat in the defendant’s chair, his hands bound.
On the other side was Ayla. She was dressed in judicial robes and it was her responsibility to judge Garth.
Ayla took a deep breath. She tried to calm herself, even though her intuition had been unsettled since Cora had contacted her. Cora’s message came with Usher’s orders. So, she returned to the palace after a long time, and unfortunately her visit wasn’t for a pleasant reason.
The trial was underway. The charges were read. Ayla approached Garth.
Garth’s eyes seemed to mix different emotions. He looked at Ayla for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Usher. “I swear, Alpha. I never intended to harm you. This accusation is a vile slander against my loyalty.”
“You know very well that it’s not just an empty accusation, don’t you?” Usher replied, meeting Garth’s gaze. There was a similar swirl of emotion in his eyes. “I don’t want to believe the accusation, Garth, but all this evidence provides a valid answer.”
Several photographs were shown to the audience. Everyone could see Garth entering Usher’s room and then administering a bottle of liquid to Usher. They were shocked and wondered what Garth had given Usher.
Garth calmed down with the conviction that he should be able to defend himself easily. So that’s what he did. He would tell the truth, and if necessary, he would also reveal his suspicions about Mireya all along.
“You tried to poison me, Garth.”
Garth shook his head. “No, Alpha. I did not poison you. On the contrary, after I gave you the medicine, you woke up after months of sleep. I did not poison you, I gave you medicine.”
Garth’s rebuttal shook the courtroom. Ayla had to signal the pack to calm down. Then the trial resumed.
“Are you serious, Garth? Even Scott doesn’t know what ill I’m suffering from, so how could you possibly know a cure for me better than Scott?” Usher asked.
“The reason is that the ill you suffer from is not a medical one, Alpha. That’s the only reason Scott couldn’t treat you. No matter how many times Scott brought his friends to examine you, the result was always the same, zero,” Garth replied without hesitation. His face showed seriousness as he revealed all his suspicions. “All this time you’ve been sick because of magic, Alpha.”
The courtroom erupted in shock. Everyone was stunned, and even Usher’s face grew pale.
“You have been bewitched, and the mastermind behind this evil act is here among us, Alpha,” Garth continued.
Usher held his breath. “Who do you mean, Garth?”
Firm and direct, Garth answered with only one word. “Mireya.”
The atmosphere in the courtroom suddenly changed. Everyone, including Usher, looked at Mireya, who seemed as calm as if nothing had happened.
“M-Mireya?” Usher rubbed his face in confusion. He seemed incredulous, so he asked Garth, flinching slightly, “Are you aware of what you’re saying, Garth? How can you accuse Mireya like that?”
“I am not accusing Mireya, Alpha. On the contrary, she’s the one who’s accusing me. She’s trying to get rid of me,” Garth defended.
Usher closed his eyes and shook his head several times. Garth’s firmness shook him and it took him a moment to calm down. When he opened his eyes again, there was disappointment in them. “I never thought you could be so cruel, Garth. Not only did you try to kill me, but you betrayed me and even tried to frame Mireya.”
Garth wanted to protest. It wasn’t just about defending himself, but more than that. He had to prove his innocence and expose all the crimes Mireya had committed, even though he knew it would be difficult. He didn’t have any concrete evidence to prove that Mireya was the mastermind behind all the chaos in the Frostholm Pack. But the fact that Mireya’s arrival coincided with the beginning of the chaos could be a concrete clue.
Garth didn’t want to waste this opportunity. So, he opened his mouth and was ready to speak. His intention was to reveal his suspicions, but Mireya spoke first.
“One thing you must realize, Garth. An Alpha cannot speak without evidence, and Alpha Usher speaks on the basis of the evidence he has gathered.”
Garth turned to Mireya. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is this,” Mireya said as she ordered a surveillance camera recording to be played. Everyone was shocked. “All this time you’ve been disobeying Alpha Usher’s orders, Garth. You know that, don’t you? Alpha Usher forbids anyone to visit Vione in prison, but what have you done?”
Garth was speechless. The video clearly showed him visiting Vione in prison. They were seen talking, and he didn’t just visit once.
The video changed. This time the video showed Garth visiting Ayla. Regarding this video, Mireya spoke again.
“I’m sure you won’t forget that last time, Ayla angered Alpha Usher with her ominous prophecy about our son, Garth. Alpha Usher forbade Ayla to come to The Palace, and yet you allied yourself with her?”
Now it wasn’t just Garth who was cornered, but Ayla as well. All eyes were on her, demanding an explanation.
Ayla took a deep breath and tried to clarify the situation. “Alpha, I-”
“Then you claim you tried to cure Alpha Usher? Who can guarantee that? The medicine you gave Alpha Usher could have been poison!”
*