22. Appeal
Gerard checked his appearance in the mirror.
Well this was it. This had to go well or a lot of blood was likely to be shed.
He checked down the list of people summoned to his emergency court hearing.
The people he had instructed to attend “regarding a grave matter of security” had no idea what they were to hear.
Attendance was made more likely by the courtroom having been closed for two days and no reason given for it.
People not motivated to attend by him, would hopefully be motivated by their own curiosity.
Commander Lancastre and his assistant Vell had been asked to bring with them five sergeants and ten corporals from
the legion that was now camped outside the city gates.
He wanted representatives of the rank and file to hear everything. Key courtiers in administrative positions were
also to attend, Magemaster Sol and his wife and two teachers from the school, with two student representatives.
These people were the people he needed to have on their side. If he could do that, then the legion would follow Gant’s orders.
If not…well. He’d already decided to own his decisions in this.
Terin came in, attired in full dress regalia and certainly looking like a lord. “All set?” he asked.
“Yes” said Gerard, “I’m nervous that‘s all. Where‘s Hirn and how is he”
“Not much different, and in custody in the guardhouse. He seems just as keen to speak though.”
“Good, well we’d better not be late, lets go.”
The two of them proceeded to the courtroom, picked up by Alena and ten of her guards as escort. Twenty of the
castle guard were already in the courtroom stationed around the room. Gerard wanted a forceful entrance.
He wanted people to feel secure. They were going to hear things that would scare them. Most of the guard had now had
some first hand experience of what they were facing. All of them could be counted upon.
He and Terin took their seats on the plinth of the courtroom and an official banged a gavel loudly and announced,
“Special hearing of the court of the Dukedom of Strant is in session.
Steward Gerard presiding, Lord Terin in attendance.”
Gerard addressed the assembled crowd and thanked them for coming.
It looked like all the key people were here.
“We have just successfully prevented a small group of mages from an order known as “The Order of the Elite” from
attempting to do serious damage here in Strant. We now have reason to believe that they intend to do significantly
more damage, and have already been found to have been the perpetrators of at least two miscarriages of justice,
and possibly more. It falls to me to try and do what is best for the Dukedom.
Now I wish to share the information that I have with you.”
To most the announcement came as surprise, not of course to Alena’s warriors. Two courtiers he noticed were trying
to excuse themselves to the polite refusal of exit by the castle guard.
He saw Jan use the scanning device on them and shake his head.
If his opening remarks had caused them to need the privy, then the gods help them when Hirn dropped his hood.
“I would like firstly to update you all as to the events of yesterday.
Captain Alena, if you would kindly report to the court what transpired yesterday when your guard attempted to question Mages
from the Order of the Elite who had infiltrated the school please.”
With no nonsense Alena took the stand and relayed the basic information about the attempt to arrest Sevaren and the rest.
Gerard thanked her and asked Terin to do the same.
A whisper travelled around the room. Lord Terin himself had given battle?
Terin spoke in the same measured tone as Alena. Facts were all that was needed at the moment.
There would be more than enough pathos and drama when Hirn took the stand.
Gerard thanked Terin and proceeded to the meat of the meal.
“The conviction of both my sister Riani, and that twenty years ago of Gant Fistrini were both based on evidence
tampered with by the mage Sevaren. Sevaren was killed as he attempted to detonate an explosive device that would
have murdered a good many people in the mage school, as Captain Alena has described to you.
We have a mage here today who has defected from the Order of the Elite and wished to warn us of what was planned by them.
I would like you to hear what he has to say.
Gerard called Hirn to the witness stand.
Looks of shock were not new to him when non members of the order saw his scarred and inhuman appearance.
The cries of revulsion had little effect on him. Hirn waited for them to quieten down.
He looked across to where Gant, Riani, Sil, Avin and Jan were sitting together with Magemaster Sol and his wife.
Sil met his eyes and acknowledged him with a slight nod.
Hirn wasn’t a man that evoked much sympathy today.
He’d found his confidence and in explicit detail described first how he had come to look the way that he did.
He left out nothing, including how young teenagers with magical ability had been robbed of their lives prematurely
by him and his order without guilt, how people were manipulated into joining by use of blackmail, lies, love,
greed…until they had no choice but to stay.
He told them why they were coming to Tinvarth, because they had no food left on Artez.
Then he told them why they were coming to Strant.
Yells of disbelief and cries of treason were raised around the room when Duke Arrin’s part in it all was disclosed.
Hirn had again waited for silence.
“Yes, treason indeed, against life itself, and I am as guilty as they. What I say is true.
I was present when Arrin instructed Sevaren to arrange for Riani‘s exile.
I delivered the orders myself from our mage master, Danid, telling him to do it.
We wanted her to uncover a mage whose powers we coveted who was living on Minthrall.
We couldn’t track her and her family so we sent Riani there, knowing that they would find her, with a device to relay her position to us.
Riani committed none of the crimes of which she was accused.
The murdered men were both enchanted and killed by the Mage Order of the Elite.”
Gerard prompted him, “and Gant?” he asked.
“Gant was a gift from the gods above. Arrin became impatient and wouldn’t wait for us to cause Harol’s death
magically. He lost his temper and killed him. Fortunately Gant was nearby. “
“And is Duke Arrin a member of your order?” Hirn asked Gerard.
“Yes, a member for the last eighteen years under the direct instruction of our Master of Masters, Danid” answered Hirn.
The courtroom was quiet now, but the atmosphere tense.
People were trying to make sense of it all, and were looking for an answer.
“Hirn, please explain to the court how this invasion will occur.” Gerard asked.
Hirn repeated the plan to the further amazement of the members of the court.
“Thank you Hirn, may I ask for questions?” Hirn nodded.
There were none immediately forthcoming. It was simply a case of “would people believe him or not?“.
Then one of the mage teachers stood and said, “I simply don’t believe that a mage can absorb the energy of another and live. “
Hirn turned to Sil, as if asking permission, she nodded agreement.
It was obvious what had to be done.
Hirn’s eyes suddenly glowed red, he let his hunger show its full strength, and the veins in his face began to
pulsate in anticipation of fresh energy. It was just over four days since he had last fed, he could easily last
longer, but his magical energy was constantly depleting just to keep himself alive.
It wasn’t difficult to wake what slept in him.
“Please cast a ward spelling and then you can tell everyone what having part of your soul devoured feels like.”
said Hirn, suddenly exuding danger and looking not at all pitiful.
The mage was nervous, but also certain this was a fabrication, some political sham and so he cast the ward spelling.
Gerard asked the mages there to confirm the presence of the ward, it being invisible to non-mages.
They all did.
Hirn looked again at Sil and said “I do this to make things right.” and absorbed the ward.
The mage gasped in shock, he’d felt pain. “ I felt you take it, I felt you take my energy!”
Hirn smiled a twisted smile “I have a part of you now, and it will never be yours again.
I suggest that you ensure that several hundred of my kind do not come here and find you as delicious as I did.”
Gerard called for a recess.
People needed time to take this in.
The guards had instructions not to allow anyone out of the castle, but it was necessary to allow time for refreshment.
Hirn had visibly shaken everyone with his theatrical display, but Gerard knew that what they had seen was no play acting.
He asked Commander Lancastre and Vell to join him in his study.
“Comments please” he asked them
Both sat looking at each other. Vell spoke first.
“Treason is the worst crime a soldier can commit. Mutiny. But the…none of us signed up to murder our own people.
With respect, I’d like to resign. This isn’t something I want to have any part in.” Gerard nodded.
“and you Commander?”
Lancastre was shaking his head. “I watched Gant at his trial. I never really believed it. It was the Seerorb that
convinced everyone. Arrin’s been getting more and more bizarre for the last few years, so I can‘t say I‘m overly
shocked by his part in his brother‘s death. One thing though, he doesn’t look like this Hirn you know.”
“No” Gerard explained the use of glamour spellings. Lancastre raised his eyebrows.
“Oh. I see,“ and then “In your position Steward I don’t know what I’d have done, but I know what you have to do
next. Put one of your own in charge of the legion out there. I’ll hand over to them with no fuss.
Gant would be a good rallying choice, and get Terin in the Ducal seat.”
"I’m glad you see it that way. ” Gerard was pleased and surprised this had gone easily. Lancastre chuckled.
“I bet you are boy, those troops camped outside are good warriors, and better on your side than not.
Given what I’ve heard though, plus what I’ve seen over the years I’m not willing to pit them against you.
Needless killing is no job for warriors.”
“I’ll ask you to announce your decision shortly after the recess. I hope that I can rely on you to remain a
military advisor to the Court.” Gerard shook his hand, and also Vell’s, and the two men left his study.
He closed his eyes and tried to relax for a few minutes.
Within an hour or so this would just be a matter of public record.
In twenty years no-one would even remember that they’d done it.
Feeling stressed now was pointless, but it was rising in him all the same.
The court official clanged the bell to restart the proceedings and Gerard stood up and went to retake his seat.
He asked first if anyone would like to ask any questions.
It seemed that during the recess the castle guard had been bombarded with requests to tell what they had seen in the
school, Magemaster Sol and his wife also. Gerard had anticipated it and asked Alena to allow it.
Consequently there were no questions.
“Then we’ll move on.” he said in business like way.
He asked Gant to take the witness stand.
“Does anyone object to the sentence of Gant Fistrini being overturned as unsafe?”
No-one did.
“Gant you’re exonerated from the crimes for which you were exiled, namely the murder of Harol, Duke of Strant.”
The cheering from the castle guard went on for two or three minutes and Gant beamed a smile, at last no longer
accused of the murder of his friend.
Terin walked down from the platform to clasp his hand and if any doubts were still lingering in anyone, that quashed them.
Gerard asked Commander Lancastre to join he and Terin on the dais. The Commander addressed everyone.
“Gant Fistrini is my choice as replacement in command of the First Legion of Strant. I will be taking a more
advisory role from now on. He shook hands with Gant and the two returned to their seats.
Gerard then asked Riani to come to the stand.
She stood up, her hand touching Avin’s arm briefly.
Then she marched in her leather armour and boots , a royal blue cloak streaming behind her, to the witness stand.
Mat’s sword was at her side and her own dagger at her belt.
Her dark hair was tied back and her eyes were shining. All the way to the stand the castle guard applauded her.
Nine of them felt that they owed her their lives.
Gerard wished they hadn’t. Who would feel able to object with them showing such resounding support?
Still he asked the question and predictably there was no objection and he happily declared her also blameless for
the crimes for which she’d been accused and had her sentence quashed.
Then he asked for objections to Arrin being removed from the official record as Duke of Arrin and replaced with
Terin, son of Harol.
As one the Court rose to cheer and Terin had to sit and smile and wave and hope that no-one knew how embarrassing this was for him.
When everyone seated again Gerard prepared to wind up the proceedings.
“You’ve all been through an ordeal today. I wish it hadn’t been necessary. I know you all need time to understand
all this. I’m sorry that I couldn’t risk giving you that time. We know that an attack is imminent.
We have possibly two weeks to prepare.
Any queries about anything at all, about the sentences we have rendered null today, or anything that you’ve heard
that come to you later we will try to answer. Lord Terin will be available for part of the morning for the next week to
deal with that, and also to update you with news if we have any.
He will be inaugurated as Duke when we have time.
For now, we have secured Strant from a surprise attack from the Order of the Elite.
Now we prepare for a full assault from them, and Arrin who we now know to be one of them.
Thank you for your time.
This hearing is now closed.”
He strode out of the Court and escaped into his study to let out one huge out breath of relief, and then another as
he kicked off his boots. Of course in about an hour when the news reached the Inns and houses of Strant there would
be a lot of unease. Understandably. People would be frightened, and angry.
Now he had to strike a balance between keeping people calm, and ensuring that all was prepared well enough
for “being calm” to be a sane state to be in.
He hadn’t anything else to offer except his administrative and diplomatic skills.
He was average with a sword, but no warrior. Usually Riani and Terin had beaten him in swordplay since they were children.
But he felt pleased with his work so far.
What skills he had, he’d used as best he could, and he hoped that it would be enough.
Hopefully with a large off duty presence of the castle guard in the Strant Inns spending the bonus they’d been paid,
most people would get a first had story of happenings in the school and in the courtroom from somebody.