Spellscribed: Conviction (22 page)

“What the hells…” Endrance muttered, turning his attention to the dais as he stepped onto it again. It looked like they had a more eventful night than even he had.

Logan was waiting, as was Alana and Ahmed.

Ahmed was still wearing his red silk-lined coat and carrying his staff, but the clothes underneath looked different. Endrance thought he heard the familiar clink of fine chain links shifting when the battle mage approached.

“I’m glad to see you survived the attack unharmed.” Ahmed said.

“Thanks.” Endrance replied, sighing.

The battle mage paused. “Though, now that I think about it… we might have gotten a sympathy vote from the Veridian King if you had gotten hurt.”

“Hey!” Endrance exclaimed, frowning. “That’s not funny.”

Ahmed looked confused. “It isn’t.” he said. “I am serious. You want to win this, don’t you?”

Endrance sighed, nodding. “Yeah.”

“Good.” Ahmed paced. “All right. We may have stirred up the pot a bit with that revelation, but it could still easily be trounced. It all seems too fantastical without proof.”

Endrance sat on the stool. “Well, should I see Jalyin again, I’ll just ask her to testify.” He said sarcastically. “Maybe she’d be up for condemning herself to the courts on my behalf.”

“If only the elves were so cordial.” Ahmed said.

“I thought I’d heard that Valzoa was going to be here?” Endrance asked.

Ahmed hesitated. “Valzoa?” he asked. “No, he hasn’t been here. Why do you ask?”

“I was told by my guard that he had been kept in the room next to mine.” Endrance said. “Why… why would he tell me that if wasn’t true?”

Ahmed considered. “I’m not sure,” he concluded. “But who was it?”

“Ethan, a man I had known for a few weeks before I came to Ironsoul the first time.” Endrance explained.

“Well, maybe he didn’t understand the situation.” Ahmed said. “As the scion of one of the biggest houses of the elves, an elf like Valzoa cannot be put on trial or even reprimanded without risking a war. Even the imprisonment he had suffered during your event could have been enough to warrant retaliation, should he not have been so genial about it. We didn’t even talk to him about this, lest his people think we were accusing him.”

Endrance’s hopes fell. “I hoped that I’d be able to see him.” He said. “Though if he’s not here, he’s not here.”

The first of the spectators began to file in. Endrance noticed many more inquisitive stares, and more than a few angry glares amidst the wizards and apprentices. Gwen and her brother, Elric, also showed up, giving him a wave as he was spotted. Gwen spotted Joven and literally dragged her elder brother over to sit next to them, since the crowd had been giving them a few feet of space. Joven awakened just long enough to glance at the two, look Gwen up and down with an approving smile, and then dozed back off.

The room filled, and Weldom teleported in just before the kings entered. He activated the ward circle quickly, and then took his place standing by his chair just as the High King arrived.

Endrance was sure to be standing when the doors opened, but when he glanced over, he saw that while Gwen and Elric had stood, his friends had not. They weren’t paying attention to him, but the enchantments in the circle should have done that. Perhaps Weldom hadn’t activated that ward, since he had used it to interrupt him yesterday. The High King gave the group of barbarian’s a stern look, but otherwise said and did nothing.

When the kings were seated, everyone in the room could see there were twice as many of the royal guard present throughout the courthouse. Two of the tower guards were also present, clad in their highly enchanted equipment. They were taking security, and the possibility of disorder, very seriously.

“High Magus Weldom. Battle Mage Ahmed.” High King Mastadon said loudly. “We will continue the trial at the next stage.”

“Your highness!” Ahmed exclaimed. “I wish to bring up the events of last night, before we continue.”

The High King’s brow furrowed. “Why?” he asked.

“It is relevant to the defendant’s innocence, sire.” Ahmed said. “As I am sure you’ve been told about the latest murders?”

Endrance noted Gwen perk up a little, and Joven opened an eye without otherwise moving.

“There was an attempt on Endrance’s life last night, too.” Ahmed said. “Though the prosecution was requested to post additional guards, he was nearly killed.”

Logan’s face reddened. Alana stepped forward. “Your highness, we had requested they put one of the tower guard on the job, but the attack came before we could…”

“Silence.” Mastadon declared, cutting them off. “This is unimportant to this trial. Should he be killed by some resentful apprentices, then that is a Circle matter. The death of my magistrate is my matter.”

“What about the other deaths?” Ahmed asked. “There have been three more deaths in the city alone.”

No one else noticed the look that Tanya gave Selene.

“There’s no proof that it is this same assassin that Endrance claims was after him.” Weldom interjected. “It is also possible that he hired one to help throw doubt onto this case, or had one of his companions do it.”

The assembly looked over at the strange gathering of barbarians. Bridget rested her forehead in one hand, with her elbow on her knee, as she groaned. Joven looked around at the people staring at him, surprisingly alert for a man who had, a second before, been napping. He flashed them all a big, toothy grin.

“Didn’t one of the men that tried to kill Endrance have a garrote?” Ahmed asked. “It could have been the same one who had killed the others.”

“It was just cord, not metal wire.” Alana replied, checking a note one of her assistants handed her. “It couldn’t have cut into flesh like that.”

Endrance felt a trickle of fear down his back. “Oh…” he said, and as he spoke people’s heads swiveled to look at him. So the enchantments did work, though they felt slightly less oppressing.

“What is it?” Weldom asked. “Forgot to mention something?”

“No…” Endrance said, sitting down on the stool. He said the rest in a whisper. “But I think there’s going to be trouble. How protected is everyone else if violence breaks out?”

“Not very.” Ahmed whispered in response. “Five mages and several armed men in a room shaped like an oversized oven?”

Endrance grimaced. “I hope that we can finish this trial soon.” He said aloud.

“Do you have other pressing engagements?” Weldom asked. “You aren’t going anywhere until we’re done with you.”

“Well, other than Balator and the fate of its people, I guess I’m free.” He said. “Go ahead.”

“I’m sure you aren’t meaning to imply a threat.” Weldom said.

Endrance shrugged. “I’m not the one imprisoning their Spengur, nor have I allowed assassins to try to kill the Spengur on my watch.” He said sharply. “And barbarians are highly temperamental, so perhaps no threat need be made.”

“You are a guest here, so long as you abide by both the Circle and kingdom rules.” Weldom stated.

“Seriously though, who had the bright idea to let the prosecution be in charge of my protection?” Endrance asked. “If I’m a guest, that sounds like making all the wrong people responsible for my well-being.”

Now the faces of the three mages on the prosecution were all red.

Ahmed cleared his throat. “That’s not important right now, Endrance.” He said aloud. “Why did you react that way when he mentioned the kind of garrote used?”

Endrance tilted his head up. “The first time, the assassin nearly took my head off with a razor wired garrote. The scar is faint now, but my magic was not good enough to heal it completely.”

“So you are afraid of this person?” Ahmed asked.

Endrance nodded. “Hells yes, she scares me. If my guardian hadn’t interfered, I would have been dead long before you could have brought me to trial.”

“I see.”

“And another thing…” Endrance cut himself off. He didn’t understand enough of the legal system to know what he was allowed to do.

Ahmed looked to the High King, who nodded. “Continue.” He prodded the defendant.

“Another thing. When I was alerted that I was to be put on trial, I came back voluntarily. It only took me a week to get my affairs in order, and set on the journey back.” Endrance explained.

“And you never thought to, I don’t know, teleport yourself here?” Ahmed asked.

“If I did so, then I’d be leaving everyone I was responsible for behind.” Endrance replied.

“You mean the surviving few of the messenger and his escort.” Ahmed clarified.

Endrance nodded. “Yes.” He said. “Balator, and the surrounding territories are incredibly hostile to the unprepared. Ezeilo lost most of his escort when he arrived.”

“So more lives lost, just to get you here.” Ahmed asked. Endrance wondered why he was asking him such hard questions. “How did they die?”

“I suppose they were killed by the undead.” Endrance said, focusing on Ahmed. “What are you doing?” He whispered quickly after speaking.

“Roll with it.” Ahmed replied in whisper, then turned to face the kings. “Undead you say?”

“We were just about hip deep in them.” Endrance replied. “Enough that they could have filled the streets of Ironsoul. However, once the surviving escort had been collected, they were protected against further attacks. Barbarians died keeping the remainder safe.”

“So you went out of your way to protect the royal messenger?” Ahmed asked. “Did anything else happen that could corroborate this?”

“You could ask him about the hydra.” Endrance supplied. “I kept him from harm all the way, until Weldom took custody of me.”

Ahmed looked back at the wizard. “We have a written report by Ezeilo about your behavior and how you conducted yourself from the day you met, until you parted ways. While you may have been a bit intimidating, you did make sure to have their needs provided for. And he believes after what you went through to not only save him, but the entirety of Balator, that you have been at least earnest in your proclamations of innocence.”

He turned to Weldom. “Is the report accurate?”

The head prosecutor grimaced and nodded. “Yes.” He said, his expression like he tasted something sour. “He also reported that Endrance managed to negotiate a peace accord with the wolfmen, something we haven’t been able to do.”

“So he’s also made peace with the wolfmen?” Ahmed declared aloud. “That’s amazing. So it would seem that he’s more inclined to talk his way through a problem, than slice a few throats?” 

Alana sighed, glancing at Logan, and then to Weldom. They nodded in unison. “Yes.” Weldom said for them. “The prosecution has nothing more to add.”

Ahmed looked up at the High King and the two kings flanking him. “So, your highness, we have discussed the particulars of the case before you, and beseech you use your infinite wisdom to see this man’s innocence or guilt.

Endrance looked up and met the High King’s eyes. He could feel the dragon behind the all too human visage, but his mood was plain on his face. Though the dragon would like nothing more than to have justice, it was plainly obvious to the spectators that Endrance was not the right man for the crime.

Endrance realized, though, that the King’s image would be tarnished if he wanted to prosecute him personally, and in the end, had caved and declared him innocent. A humble man, hells, even a king, might be willing to admit he was wrong and accept the hit to his pride and reputation. However, Mastadon was no man; he was a dragon, and a dragon’s pride was more important than his life.

He could see that the High King was going to declare him guilty. He looked down to the floor as the High King stood.

“I find Endrance of Wayrest…” High King Mastadon started.

Endrance didn’t hear the rest. Suddenly, there was a whip-crack of something snapping behind him, and his back exploded into pain. He was knocked off his stool and onto his face, his limbs going limp as pain and shock cut off all control from the rest of his body.

He lay on the stone, feeling a burning liquid soaking into his robes and down his sides, but he was unable to do more than blink.

“My contract is finally complete!” A familiar voice crowed. “Valeria will be pleased!”

“Get her!” High King Mastadon bellowed, his voice just a notch louder than what was humanly possible. Endrance heard the sounds of fighting, and saw a tower guard rush past the dais in a blur, the gems embedded in the armor gleaming with light that streaked as he passed.

“By the gods!” Ahmed said. “Lower the wards! He needs help!”

“He’s already dead!” Weldom cried. “We need to capture her!”

“I’ve got this!” Klaira shouted, running to the center of the courtroom. “You help get her!”

Ahmed picked up his staff, a resonant tone rumbling through the room like the peal of a huge bell. “A Sha’hdi in the same room as the High King?” he muttered, running out of sight. His vision was narrowing, though he saw that it was blood running across the marble dais. His blood.

Klaira entered his field of vision, his staff in her hands. He tried to focus, but it was getting difficult. He saw her raise the staff like a weapon, but his vision was black by the time she swung, if she ever did.