The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher (31 page)

“I was.  But I also said I would be checking in on you from time to time.”

              Kenner sat upright and rubbed his tired eyes.

“You really should be resting.” She said gently to him.

“If I could sleep, would we be having this conversation?”

“Possibly,” she said with a hint of a laugh.  “But then you likely wouldn’t remember it.”

“Do I talk in my sleep?”

“No, but you do snore.”

             
Kenner laughed a little, then ran his fingers through his hair.  It was almost as if the action reminded him that he really was awake.

“It’s been an interesting day, hasn’t it?” She asked him.

“That’s an understatement.” He answered.  “I found a friend of mine has the Blackwood Bow, my Captain is on trial for his life on a ludicrous charge and…” He trailed off for a moment.

“Go ahead and say it.” She pressed gently.

“He knows my father.”

              “Yes, he does,” She said firmly.  “And you have questions for him.”

“I have questions indeed.  Perhaps you could answer them, now that you and I are on speaking terms.”

She sighed and looked down at Kenner.

“Depending on the questions, I may not be the right one to answer them.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She then appeared to sit in a chair across the room.

“Sometimes the right answer must come from the right person; especially when it comes to truth.  Although I may be able to give you a true answer, it will mean more to you if and when the right person gives you that truth.”

“That makes almost no sense whatsoever.” Kenner said to her.

She smiled and nodded.

“It will in time.”

             
They were quiet for a moment.  Then Kenner asked her a question that had been on his mind since the tomb.

“Why is this all happening to me?”

“Why not?”

He was a little frustrated by this answer and wanted to raise his voice.  He wanted real answers to his questions and felt “Shadow” should be the one to tell him.

“I really was hoping for a better answer than that.” He did tell her.

Her eyes looked like they focused on him, almost as if searching him.

“Why does anything happen to anyone?” She finally said.  “Why does one acorn become a tree while the others wither and die?  Why does a baby become a boy or a girl?  Why does one soldier survive a battle while all around him are killed?”

“Sounds like you’re talking about destiny.” He said, leaning back against the wall.  As he did, she appeared to lean forward.

“To a certain degree, I am.  But I don’t think destiny is quite what you think it is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

              She then stood from the chair.

“Most people see destiny as some outside force that controls the events of their lives without them being able to control it.  They see destiny as an absence of choice.”

“Well, isn’t it?”

“Not always.” She then paused and smiled.  “Sometimes destiny is choice.”

Kenner wanted to press her further.

“You’re not quite ready for the rest of this conversation.” She said to him.  “It is important that you have answers to your questions; but it is more important that you understand those answers.”

“Huh?”

She then stood over him and smiled confidently.

“Let’s let the next several days teach you the language of a little more experience and then we’ll discuss this further.”

Kenner then heard a knock at the door.

“Sorry to wake you, sir.” Said the inn keeper.  “But there’s several soldiers asking for you.”

“I’ll be right there!” He answered them.  He then looked for “Shadow,” but she had disappeared.

             
The palace looked strange without the throngs of people crowding its halls, thought Kenner.  He was led through the halls to another large pair of doors on another side of the building.  There were two long benches on either side of the wide corridor.  He saw Terri and Captain Krall sitting on one bench talking to a man wearing a white robe.  Upon seeing Kenner, he rose and approached.

“I’m sorry to get you up this early; but the King prefers to hear cases that he’s judging early in the mornings.” He said to Kenner.  “My name is Kirallis.” He said holding out his hand.  “I’m defending Captain Krall.”

Kenner shook his hand and introduced himself.

              “Have you ever testified in court?” Kirallis asked Kenner.

“Never, I’m afraid,” Kenner answered.

“Yes, well…it’s not difficult; but it can be tricky at times.  The most important thing to remember is to answer every question as simply as possible.  Yes or no will do in most questions and never volunteer any information that hasn’t been asked in any question…”

Kirallis was interrupted by the sound of loud footsteps coming down the corridor.  Kenner looked in the direction and saw several soldiers marching down the hall, flanking the King.  He was also escorted by several men and women in robes; and also Prince Melkur.  The sight of the Prince instantly made Kenner angry.

“All hail the King!” Kirallis announced.

             
“Prepping your witnesses?” The King said to Kirallis, who had gone to one knee.

“Yes,
Your Majesty.  It’s always good to prepare early for your court.” Kirallis answered.

The King laughed and then turned his attention to Kenner.  Kenner bowed.

“At least you bowed this time,” He said to Kenner.  He then slapped his hand on Kenner’s shoulder; which almost made him flinch.  This was, after all still the man who ruined his father.

“It’s good to see you alive.” The King said to him.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Kenner said simply.

              “Well, well, well,” The Prince said, stepping in front of Kenner.  “If it isn’t the poacher.”

He had a smug smile that made Kenner nauseous to look at.  He also seemed to be inspecting Kenner, like a butcher examining a cow.

“Where did you get that sword?” He asked Kenner in the same sickening voice.

“I found it.”

“Did you?”

The Prince then stepped closer.

“I’m afraid only officers are allowed swords in our army.  You’ll have to surrender your blade.”

“If you’d like to take it yourself, you’re more than welcome to try.” Kenner said in a low voice.

“Are you threatening me, poacher?”

“Melkur!” The King called to him from the doors. 

The Prince smiled again.

“We’ll continue this discussion later.” He said, sneering at Kenner.

“Anytime.” Kenner answered.

              After the King and his entourage entered the courtroom, Kirallis spent a few more moments preparing Kenner and the others as witnesses.  He gave them advice on posture, tone of voice; any detail that he thought might make a difference in the way a witness might be perceived by the King.

“This above all,” He finally said.  “Never lie, not even a small lie.  The prosecutor can smell a lie from a thousand feet away and he will hammer you if he senses even the slightest untruth.  No matter how insignificant you think the information may be, embarrassing or irrelevant always tell the facts.  Not the truth as you may perceive it; but the absolute facts.”

             
The doors swung wide and a herald stepped forward.

“The case of the People of Walechia verses Krall continues!” He called.

Chapter Thirty Nine

             
The courtroom was much different than the throne room that Kenner remembered.  The King sat on a throne at the very end of the room.  In a single and simple wooden chair sat Captain Krall facing the King and on either side of him were large marble desks, behind which sat the prosecutor, defense and their assistants.  Behind these was a gallery with bench seats for observers, spectators and other witnesses yet to be called.  To the King’s right was a line of twelve men seated behind a stone wall

              “The People of Walechia call the woman known as Terri!” Called a soldier dressed in polished steel armor.  Terri stood up and took a chair at the bottom of the steps leading up to the King’s throne.  As she sat, the prosecutor rose and approached her.

“I will remind you that you have taken an oath to tell the truth.” He said to her grandly.

She nodded simply and then made herself as comfortable as possible as she could in the witness’ chair.

              “As I seem to recall,” the prosecutor continued.  “You were entertaining us with a rather interesting story about a magical forest and a beautiful queen.”

“For the record,” Terri answered, “She doesn’t like to be called ‘Queen’.  She prefers ‘Lady of the Woods’.”

“Ah yes…’Lady of the Woods’ as you call her.”

At this, Kirallis stood up.

“Your Majesty, for the record, it is a well-established fact that the known ruler of the nation known as The Blackwoods does prefer to be known as ‘The Lady of the Woods’.”

“Accepted.” The King announced.  The King then glared down at the prosecutor.  “Move on.” He told him.

“Very well then, Terri.  Will you continue to tell us of your fanciful tale of the magic curtain…?”

Kirallis interrupted him again.

“Is this really necessary?” He objected.

“It goes to the credibility of the witness, Your Majesty.”

“When I said ‘Move On’,” The King said impatiently.  “I meant ‘move on’!  I heard this story yesterday and unless you have more for this witness, I suggest you ‘move on’ to the next.”

The prosecutor looked frustrated for a moment, but still confident.

              “As a matter of fact, I do have one more thing I have for this witness.” He said

“Make it fast and make it short.” The King commanded him.  The prosecutor then produced a large piece of paper.

“Do you recognize this?” He asked Terri.

“It’s a piece of paper?” Terri joked.  Most in the gallery laughed.

“It is indeed a piece of paper,” The prosecutor fired back.  “It is a very important piece of paper.  It is, in fact the official judgment of the case of The Collective Farming Village of Listo verses Terri.  Would you like me to read what this document says?”

“If you like,” She answered dryly.

“It says, and I’ll keep it short as per the King’s orders that you were convicted of transvestitism and the unlawful seduction of a family member of a higher station than your own.  Does this sound familiar to you?”

“Rings a bell.”

“This document claims that you used deceptive means to gain carnal knowledge of a woman above your social station.  Is this an accurate description of the reason you were convicted?”

“Sounds accurate to me.”

“Well?” The prosecutor prodded.

“Well what?”

“What do you say to this?”

“What do I say to what?”

“To this?” The prosecutor demanded, holding the document in his hands.

“To that?” She asked back at him.
             

“Yes!  To this!” He said shaking the document.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not in the habit of conversing with pieces of paper.”

The gallery erupted in laughter and the prosecutor was furious.

             
“Your majesty!  I demand that last statement be stricken from the record!”

“You asked the question, counselor.” The King reminded him.

The prosecutor released Terri from the witness stand and proceeded on to other witnesses, mostly from the city of Calderon.

              He interviewed the Chief of Police, several members of the City Council and eventually the Mayor; all told basically the same story.  Captain Krall came in the middle of the night, declared a military emergency, ordered the city evacuated and then he ordered the bridge over the Serpent River burned.

“Did you ever see any of this army of Wolfen?” He asked the Mayor.

“No I did not.”