Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“What more were you expecting?” Emery asked.
“I don’t know. Some of you didn’t even talk. Like you, red guy!” She
pointed to the rubies in Councillor Darek’s circlet. “Don’t you have
anything you want to add to the conversation? Or you, with the weird
animal faces all over your throne. Anything you want to say?”
“We had our say earlier,” Councillor Clarette told her.
“Just like I told you they would,” Keefe said, folding his hands
behind his head and giving Ro an unbearably smug smirk.
“And that concludes our proceedings,” Emery told the crowd as the
rest of the Council stood. “We’ll notify you when the date is set for the
final sentencing. For now, you’re dismissed.”
Fanfare shook the walls as the Councillors glittered away, followed
by steady stomping as their goblin bodyguards marched out of the
hall.
The rest of the Vackers followed, their voices echoing as they
argued among themselves. Sophie couldn’t understand much, but she
was pretty sure she heard several say, “They’re ruining our family.”
And no one so much as glanced Alden and Della’s way.
Keefe tried to break the tension, pumping his fist and shouting,
“LORD HUNKYHAIR LIVES! Say it now, Ro. Say it!”
Ro said it, all right. Along with several ogre words that weren’t very
nice.
Sophie wanted to laugh, but Biana was clutching her stomach like
she was going to throw up—and Fitz’s fists were squeezed so tight, his
knuckles looked bloodless.
Alden cleared his throat. “I know we have lots more to discuss. But
—”