Roland's Response
The Rhone prince blinked at Caspian, but was interrupted by Edmar before he could answer.
"This is ridiculous! You're accusing her of this outrageous thing and you don't even know if it's the same woman this foreigner claims accosted him!"
"Silence, Edmar." Haf commanded. "You marrying her was never going to happen, but this new information casts everything in a wholly more sinister light."
"You can't control me forever!" Edmar threatened, his face turning red.
"Control yourself." The Commodore boomed, finally gaining his son's quiet.
"Let's have the girl brought here," Cora suggested. "We can question her, and get to the bottom of everything. Sons, I do not think either of you should be present for this, but Prince Roland, if you would be so kind as to stay, I would greatly value your input. Perhaps Mayra as well, since she's been responsible for keeping watch over the brides?"
The last question she directed at Haf and Roland. The former looked agreeable to it, but the latter grimaced slightly before finally nodding. It made sense that she would be present, even if Roland would prefer her not to be.
At least he wouldn't have to relate the goings-on to Riley afterwards; Mayra would be sure to fully fill her brother in on all that happened.
The Commodore's sons filed out with grim expressions, leaving the others while Cora sent people to fetch Mayra and Brenna.
"If he is enchanted, what can be done to break the magic?" Cora asked Roland anxiously. Surely every kind of magic had some way to counter it.
"I do not know. For me, it seemed to fade when I was not in her presence and breathed fresh air, but I'm not sure how much of that was due to the fact that I already knew what real love felt like, and was actively attempting to resist what was happening." He wished he had more information to add, before coming up with some.
"We had, for a short time, an herbal mixture which nullified magic, but it was all used up in the war to protect Klain from the Void's attacks. We do not know the recipe for it, or even if the herbs are available." Roland didn't mention that it came from the Fae, who hadn't spoken with them since the war. There would be too many questions, and Edmar's situation seemed more urgent.
Cora and Haf looked at each other in a wordless conversation that long-married couples are capable of having. Finally, sounds of arrival indicated that the stressful part of the day was about to begin.
Mayra and Brenna arrived together, with the younger looking warily at the elder.
"Hello," Mayra greeted everyone. "How is it all going?"
Brenna's eyes were glued to the floor once she saw the room's occupants. Her veil was up, hiding most of her face from view. Roland was studying her, but Cora was the first to speak.
"Brenna, remove your face covering, please." The words were polite, but the tone was fierce. Brenna hesitated a moment, but knew she had no choice but to obey.
She kept her eyes lowered as everyone else watched Roland's reaction. His grim expression was all the confirmation needed for her identity.
"We have some questions for you." Haf explained.
"I've changed! I don't know what he's said, but I'm different now!" Brenna burst into tears, before turning to Roland. "I'm sorry about back then. I truly am. I have no excuse except that Titania had me convinced that deception was the best—the only—way to get what was best for Rhone."
She hung her head in shame.
"Where did you get the herbs for Haf's medicine?" Cora ignored the girl's teary apology.
"Those? I kept the mixture from long ago." Brenna answered.
"Do you have more herbs?" The older woman probed.
"Peter and Mayra took them." The Rhone girl responded, her voice a little shaky.
"All of them? You have had no others in your possession since you arrived?" Cora pushed once more.
"Am I being accused of something?" Tears streamed down Brenna's face. Haf sighed.
"Edmar insists, suddenly, that he is in love with you and wants to marry you. We have learned that you have the ability to seduce men with magic, herbal means. If you have done so to our son, it is in your best interest to reveal it to us now." He didn't want to beat around the bush any longer.
Brenna looked like a rabbit caught in a snare, wide-eyed with fright.
"It wasn't meant for him," She whispered.
"What?" Mayra's eyebrows shot up in alarm.
"I had a little, that I never intended to use but didn't want to throw out. When Cora invited me to dinner to matchmake me, I was so afraid that the man wouldn't like me, and I'd be cast out, so I used it to make sure that he would love me and want me. Then I would be protected.
"I thought it didn't work! He walked away and didn't seem interested at all! Since we saw Edmar right before going inside, I did wonder if perhaps, accidentally… it only works once, you see." She cringed as if she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
"You're admitting to using magical means of seduction, and justifying yourself by claiming that you merely caught up my son in the plot by accident?" Haf's voice was even, but his tone was steely.
"I didn't mean…" Brenna buried her face in her hands.
"Is there a way to undo it?" Mayra asked, cutting past the drama to a solution.
"Not that I know of," She said. "The Queen, I mean, the Void, had suspected Prince Derek had someone he already loved and that's why it didn't work on him initially. She suggested a stronger dose the second time to overcome that–" Her eyes widened in horror and shame as she remembered he was in the room.
"I'm sorry! I'm glad it didn't work back then! I was young and stupid and under its influence. Now I just wanted a chance at a new life with a husband who would love me! Any husband!" Brenna looked like she might collapse at any moment.
Haf moved a chair out for her to sit in, and the others in the room all exchanged looks of skepticism mixed with pity. The husband and wife looked at each other before nodding very slightly.
"You understand," Cora took the lead on breaking the news to the girl, "that we cannot let you stay here. So long as Edmar is under your spell, you pose a threat to our way of life."
Whether Brenna was to be believed or not, she could not remain among the Cetoans.
"I'm sorry," Brenna said again.
"I believe some of the Klain guards are headed back on the boat which brought me down," Roland offered. "She could be sent there to be dealt with by my father and the Klain authorities."
"Please, no!" She cried, "I ran away when I learned the truth because I feared the worst. I don't serve the void, I didn't know! They'll execute me if they think I do!"
"Choices have consequences," Cora cut in harshly. Though she had a lot of compassion in her heart, it vanished quickly when one of her sons was threatened. "Even if you thought you served your queen and not a creature from another realm, it should have bothered your conscience to use magic to seduce innocent men. I believe your prince is wise. You should go and face what you have done."
Brenna swallowed, as panic and brokenness warred across her face. Mayra felt a flash of unwanted pity. She didn't want to feel bad for this girl who turned back to her old ways. After all, Finn's life could have been ruined by her wrongdoing, and now the leadership of a nation was compromised. Even if she was telling the truth about Edmar not being the target, it was dishonest to make a man think he was in love.
"She should be thoroughly searched, I think, before she is taken away. It wouldn't do for one of her guards to fall in love with her suddenly and aid her escape." The words felt heartless, but Mayra believed in their wisdom. Desperate people could do very desperate things.
"Yes, thank you Mayra." Haf agreed before speaking to Brenna. "You may have had a hand in saving my life, I'm told. As such I will write a letter informing Klain and Rhone of those circumstances. What they do with that information is not up to me. I will not plead for mercy after what you have done to my son, but the wisest leaders always want to gather all the knowledge they can before making decisions."
"Thank you, sir." Brenna said wretchedly.
"Come to the bedroom for Mayra and I to conduct a search of your person, before you go," Cora said reluctantly. She didn't want to submit anyone to such indignity, but the situation seemed to demand it.