Spirit Song by M.C. Dwyer

Author:M.C. Dwyer [Dwyer, M.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

By the time they returned to the throne room, this time with a contingent of Ailerons standing as guards, the double doors were standing open and the hall was filled with nobles. As before, Ailerons lined the carpeted walkway, providing a space for Princess Ingrid to approach the dais.

King Edmun stood at her approach, and she swept a low curtsy. He bowed in return, then gestured to an ornate chair that had been added to the dais. Nepenthe lent her his arm up the stairs, then took up a position next to her seat, mirroring the position of Barth on the other side of the king. The king sat as well, which seemed to be a signal to begin.

Drinian stepped forward carrying a long staff capped in iron on both ends. He lifted this up and brought it down on the stone floor with a boom. On the right hand side of the hall, a smaller door opened, and several guards entered, leading the shackled, surly guardsmen and a frightened-looking Marid, followed by the ambassador who was not in chains but flanked by guards. They came to a halt before the dais.

“You stand here accused of treachery of the highest order,” King Edmun said, his voice echoing down the hall. “To whit, attempted assassination of a royal princess.” He looked sternly at the four who stood before him. “Before we hear the testimony, do any of you have anything to say?”

The guards stood firm, and though Marid shifted her feet, she also said nothing. Sir Thom looked especially pained, his sour-lemon face twisting in what might have been anger.

The king nodded. “Princess Ingrid, do you have any questions before we begin the hearing?”

Ingrid stood up and addressed the court. She was, as Nepenthe had noticed, well schooled in her position. If she was nervous, it didn't show in the slightest. She looked out over the hall and said in a calm, clear voice, “I will withhold judgment until I hear the testimony of the witnesses.” There was the briefest of hesitations before she asked, “May I know when this plot first came to light?”

Edmun nodded his head in her direction. “Approximately one week ago, as you will hear from the testimony of the witnesses.”

“And has the ambassador been implicated in this plot?”

“Not directly. It is currently unclear what his role in events was.”

“Very well,” she responded. “Let us begin.” She took her seat once more.

“I call forth the stableboy Alric,” the king said, and Alric slipped from the front row.

Nepenthe looked up in surprise. He hadn’t even seen him there.

Alric was wide eyed but, as ever, equal to the task, even of speaking in front of the entire court of nobles.

“Alric,” said Edmun, “please tell me what you heard.”

“I was working in one of the stalls when the two guards walked by. One of them said, ‘This is more trouble than it’s worth,’ and the other one said, ‘We’ll be paid well enough when she’s dead.’”

There were murmurs and the sound of shifting feet from the assembled nobles.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.