Execution.
I am fine with this. I support this.
No, I was fine with the concept. I had to put aside specifics and accept that basic concept. Justice for fae. An eye for an eye.
I had seen a man killed by Lloergan. While I'd acknowledged extenuating circumstances--the whole situation was tragic--he'd confessed to knowingly murdering fae who'd been no threat to him. When he'd tried to flee, and Lloergan killed him, I'd regretted the way that it happened, but deep down, my Cwn Annwn side accepted justice, harsh though it might seem.
I'd witnessed other cases, too, in Patrick's book on the Cwn Annwn. I'd watched those scenes unfold, and I had been able to nod and say, "Yes, this is correct."
So hold onto that. If it was justified in every case I have ever encountered, then it must be here, too.
As I moved into position, Brenin surged forward. The other hounds fanned out, ready to cut Johnson off if he veered from the path.
He did not veer. He hunkered down, as if buoyed by how far he'd gotten, thinking he could still do this, could still outrun them.
Then Brenin leapt.
The alpha cwn hit Johnson, and the man slammed face first into the ground. When Johnson flipped onto his back, Brenin lunged and pinned him.
But what if... The story... It doesn't make sense, and I need it to make sense.
Too bad. Too late. I should have investigated when Ioan gave me that option.
I am not okay with this.
But I would be. I had to be.
Get it over with. Just make the killing blow, and then I will leave, and I will work through the rest.
Brenin looked back at me. Our eyes met, and my stomach twisted.
He seemed to be awaiting a command. But Ioan said he didn't need one. He said Brenin would know what to do on his own.
The massive alpha just kept staring at me.
Just...just do it. Get it over with. I'll be okay with it. Eventually. Just--
Brenin stepped off Johnson. He continued backing away. The man rose, shakily. Johnson stared right at me. Then he turned and ran.
And the hounds did not pursue.
I spun on Ioan. "What the hell happened?"
"It was not the right time."
"Why?" I looked around. "We're in the forest. We brought him this far. You pronounced judgment."
I reached up to push off my hood, but it wouldn't budge. I ripped open the clasps, and the cloak fell onto Rhyddhad. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I nearly tumbled off the horse. Ricky grabbed my elbow.
"I did this, didn't I?" I said, my voice my own again. "I failed."
"What?" Ricky struggled out of his own cloak and let it fall as he rode forward. "No. You didn't do anything." He looked at Ioan. "Tell her she didn't do anything."
"She did not."
"But it's my fault they stopped," I said. "Brenin looked right at me. He needed something from me, and I didn't give it. You said there wasn't any command, that I didn't need to tell him..."
I trailed off and then looked at Ioan. "He sensed I had reservations. That's why he stopped. That's the command I need to give, isn't it?" I tapped my head. "Up here."