Mrs. Castell notices Heidi at the same time. Her grief morphs instantly into rage.
She stands so fast her chair screeches backward. "You!" she screams, voice breaking. "You cursed thing!"
The courtroom erupts. Pack soldiers move immediately, intercepting her as she throws herself forward, hands clawing in Heidi's direction.
"She did this!" Mrs. Castell sobs, thrashing. "She ruined my family! She poisoned the land! She stole everything from us!"
"Mrs. Castell, sit down," a soldier orders.
"No!" She points at Heidi, wild-eyed. "She needs to die! She needs to be killed to appease the Goddess! The land is rotting because of her!"
Gasps ripple through the crowd. Heidi stands rooted, heart pounding.
