"A slave?"
The word rippled through the hall, drawing sharp breaths and hushed murmurs from every corner.
For a fleeting instant, Vera's lips curled, but the expression vanished, just as quickly as it came, smoothed into careful composure.
"Yes," she said, stepping forward with measured grace. "A slave. She meant to pass herself off as a commoner. Being tied to such a name is disgraceful, and she was going to lie her way out. That would be deception before the Masters and Elders. I could not allow such dishonor to stand, so I had to intervene and expose the truth."
Turning to the Masters and the Elders, she dipped her head politely, as if to apologize for overstepping her boundaries.
The gesture, from everyone else's perspective, was humble, almost reverent.
Kyva could only stare at her, confusion tightening in her chest. What had she done to her to deserve this?
