Upon This World of Stone (The Paladin Trilogy Book 2) by James A. Hillebrecht

Author:James A. Hillebrecht [Hillebrecht, James A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Story Merchant Books
Published: 2012-07-11T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Deep Plans, Dark Plans

“Have we a chance, do you think?” asked Darius.

The three of them were gathered around the small table in the middle of the cell where they had spent most of the previous night and all of the present day talking over the endless aspects of the coming trial. The single candle had been replaced half a dozen times already at Adrian’s command, and this one was beginning to sputter as well. The Prefect sat back in the chair, looking at the notes he had carefully scribed on the three sheets of parchment.

“The Scholar prosecuting this case is Ebaras nar Etham, and he is not an evil man,” he said simply. “If he comes to believe you are innocent, he will say so openly to the judges. But it is they who will arrive at a verdict. They too are honest men and will hold to their oaths of justice.”

The man stopped and Darius actually smiled. “I seem to hear a very loud ‘however’ at the end of that statement.”

The Prefect looked at him and considered for a moment before continuing, “However…they know all too well the impact you have had on the Faithful of the Southlands and even on members of the Church.” He shot a telling glance at Joshua. “Whether you intended it or not, you stand as a rebuke to both the Congregation and Dogma of the Church, a challenge to their claim to be the light and the way of Mirna. If once you have been brought to trial and acquitted, it will seem that they are sanctioning your views and, by association, condemning the position of the Church. It will take truly compelling evidence for them to choose one man over Mother Church.”

Darius nodded slightly to acknowledge the honesty. Then Joshua spoke up.

“Forgive me, Prefect, but while I have every confidence in your ability to argue an accusation on heresy, murder and treason are both civil charges. Should we not have a civil lawyer as part of this team?”

“I fully concur,” said Adrian. “But no civil lawyer will touch a case such as this. The chances of success are minute, and the damage to one’s career is inevitable. I fear the Prisoner is stuck with the likes of you and me. Are you satisfied with us, Paladin?”

In response, Darius looked up at the ceiling, closed his eyes, and softly sang:

“While truth you hold, no sword can bite,

No foe can injure thee.

If truth you yield and scorn the light,

No force can succor be.”

Joshua put a hand over his eyes and shook his head. Adrian sat back in the chair and said, “Accused of heresy, and yet you openly sing the Great Song outside the body of the Church. Have you given yourself up for lost, then?”

Darius paused and then shrugged. “I do beg pardon, for I put you both at risk by such actions. Old habits die hard and fealty to truth dies harder yet. As for giving up, I still have some scant hope.

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