"The only one that could have played executioner is Friya." Lith thought. "She is in a situation that reminds me of my own back on Earth. With nothing to lose and too much rage eating her from the inside."
"The rage part hasn't changed much." Solus pointed out.
"But you are right, the others had too much of a quiet life to do something so extreme. My only hope is that during the last month Friya managed to put herself back together. Shouldn't we check on her? What if something bad happened?"
"Solus, I get you have a big heart, but life is not that easy. If Friya actually killed someone, what could I possibly do or say to make her feel better? If she really is in a dark place, she either needs a hug or a kick in the a*s, but not from me.
Only family or a true friend can do it, while me and Friya barely know each other. We hang out together only because of the academy and Quylla, we are not that close.
"That Linjos is insane, though. Doing such a thing to a bunch of kids. I have never been so happy about Tista never going to an academy. This exam would have crushed her, and I Linjos!"–
***
Being the youngest, Orion called Quylla first. After consoling her for a bit and promising her to visit again soon, he called Friya.
"What do you want?" From the opening line Orion could already tell that something was terribly wrong. Friya had been part of his household for barely a month, but he had never seen her like that during his brief homecomings.
She had been stressed and often gloomy, but after all she had experienced it was a normal reaction. They had barely spoken before, because he was always short on time and felt she needed her space.
Now, instead, her gaze was cold as ice. There wasn't a trace of tears on her cheeks, her eyes weren't red, but that only made things worse.
Orion had led countless troops on many battlefields, so he had no trouble recognizing that expression.
"Oh gods, what have you done?" His voice was outraged, but not with her. All his fury was aimed at Linjos, but Friya had no way to know it.
"What I had to." She scoffed.
"I made your precious Ernas household proud, doing the Queen's bidding. Unlike your real daughter, I might say." Her voice was full of spite and hatred.
"Don't you dare to talk that way about your sister!" He scolded her.
"Sister? Please! We've barely known each other from six months, she knows nothing about me and nor do I about her. We are not sisters! The only reason you adopted me is to spread your f*cking name and get your hands on my lands!" Friya yelled in outrage.
"I'm not your daughter, I'm your tool. And you aren't my father. My real father died a dog's death pursuing my dear mommy's ambitions. She and your wife would be best friends, they are both b*tches." At the thought of her mother, Friya's voice went stone cold.
"That does it!" Orion closed the call, and much to Friya's surprise appeared right in front of her less than a minute later. He had to pull a lot of strings and call in a lot of favours, but for him every second was worth millions.
"Get out of my room." Friya yelled as soon as she recovered.
Orion suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder, preventing her from running away. Friya saw his hand moving fast, so she closed her eyes and clenched her teeth for the incoming slap.
But the slap never came, Orion was instead hugging her tightly, refusing to let her go no matter how much she struggled, kicked or punched.
"Let me go, you f*cking b*stard!"
"That's it, little one. Beat me, yell at me, do whatever you want but don't you dare ignore me." Friya could feel warm tears running down her shoulder. She was so shocked seeing him cry to be frozen in place.
"I'm so sorry. When I brought you in my home, I promised to treat you like one of my own and yet I have already failed to protect you. I never wanted for you to suffer like this. I don't care about my name, nor about what the Queen thinks.
You are just a child, for the gods' sake, how could they do something like this to you?"
In Orion's hold Friya didn't feel any anger or violence, only warmth and affection. It was similar to what she had experienced in Lith's embrace, but hundreds of times stronger.
She clung to him desperately, crying her eyes out. A silent rage started seething inside Orion. He didn't repress it, but didn't let it manifest either. It was like a volcano, building up its burning fury.
He held Friya until she passed out from the crying, then he used his own version of the Hush spell so that no noise could disturb her rest.
After shielding her with everything he had, Orion went into Linjos' office and gave him the beating of a lifetime.