by SlyOkami
“Thea, we all make mistakes. You mustn’t degrade yourself over being outwitted, learn from those mistakes daughter. Use them to grow.” Fjorn told her sternly.
“Yes, father.” She nodded, her eyes still dropping to her knees.
“And then, the mysterious mage appeared!” Kayle cut in, “Stumbling into the fight as Thea held off all the fiends by herself! Right before passing out like a damsel in distress~” she teased, continuing to tell the rest of the tale from what Thea had told her. Even the siege, from what she had seen herself, and heard from Nerick and Simon.
Most of the story was Erik, Fjorn noticed. “A powerful caster and skilled tactician. Where did he say he hails from?”
“Nowhere, father. He’s a born traveller, raised by his mother who was the same.” Thea explained, “He has little understanding of our society, having spent most of his years studying magic and other things. He’s even observed demons for a while.” Trying to keep her tone neutral but not too much, knowing her father was a master conversationalist.
“Hm, and you say he cast some enhancement spell upon you? Like the one he used against Bjorn?” her father then asked, obviously curious.
“Ah, of course you’ve heard of that…N-No it was different…” Thea answered awkwardly.
“I’m told he’s still in prison, the Sinbeni are not grateful for the assault.” Fjorn expertly directed the subject, “Have you asked for assistance from the Bjorns? I can ease the guild’s issue but legality is his forte.”
“I-” Before Thea could respond the door to the entrance room was slammed open, cutting her off.
“You cannot just barge in like this!” exclaimed the Selene guard captain, wearing dark crimson armour while being rushed inside by several more men wearing silver military uniforms.
“Droy? What is the meaning of this?” Fjorn asked the captain as each of them rose, the Marquis weakly holding onto the armchair to stand. Thea and Kayle rushed to help their father.
“Royal knights, sir.” Droy bitterly explained, as one other soldier walked into the room. The only one not wearing his helmet, holding the wyvern-like helm beneath his right arm.
The soldier glanced across the room, “By royal decree, everyone within this household is under military arrest. You are to immediately appear before his highness, king Druvia Sol the first.” the soldier announced.
“Fairy shit!” Fjorn swore in annoyance, “If his highness wishes to speak to me, he shall come here himself! Military arrest? What is this nonsense?!”
“The Marquis household of Selene alongside that of Marquis Bjorn, merchant guildmaster Fiy, naval commandant Sejein, and the southern church officials, you are all under suspicion of high treachery.” The soldier pointedly explained.
When Sebastian walked into the room carrying two trays of drinks, sandwiches and snacks. Raising his eyebrow as he saw the military men, “Refreshments gentlemen?” the butler asked. A dangerous glint in his eye, causing the soldiers to grip their still sheathed swords.
“Marquis, tell your summoned demon to heel.” The lead soldier ordered, having been told of the household servant.
Fjorn snorted, “Sebastian, show these gentlemen the door.” he ordered the butler.
“As you wish sir.” Sebastian complied, leaving the two trays to hover where he held them while walking forward.
“Marquis Selene! If this escalates you shall be branded a traitor!” The soldier warned, paling as Sebastian suddenly began to change. The butler’s hair elongating and changing into a bunch of hundreds of horns, his eyes warping into three, his fingers morphing into blade long claws.
“Need a hand there, mister Droy?” Sebastian asked in a deep hiss, as he came to stand before the lead soldier. Looking not at him but glancing at the crimson guard captain.
“If you find the time…” Droy chuckled dryly.
“I shall sir.” Sebastian answered, but not moving another inch.
Each of them froze where they stood, the demon, the soldiers, even Thea and Kayle. As another man walked into the room, “You’re taking too long Shaun.” said the brute-like man. Wearing a pitch-black set of Slayer armour and heaving a massive black claymore over his back, the man was bald with green eyes.
Freed from the momentary paralysis, the lead soldier stood at attention. “My sincere apologies General Kolbert! The Marquis will not comply!” he quickly explained.
The general sighed, “I told you before cousin, I don’t mind if you just call me Henry on duty.” Slapping the shorter man over the back and almost tripping him. Henry turned to face the butler, as the demon’s eyes went wide. “A bound demon ey? Don’t see your make much these days. Costly bastards you are.”
Without warning and all too quick for anybody to react on time, Henry unstrapped his claymore as the blade glowed a fierce crimson. He slashed down, cleaving right through the demon before embedding his blade into the tiled floor.
Sebastian’s body was felled in two, each part slowly unclinging from the other before sloppily falling to the floor.
Henry sighed, seemingly annoyed by how easy that was. ”His majesty foresaw your incompliance, Selene.” He said, while easily pulling out the blade from the ground. “Ah, Colonel Thea, Second Lieutenant Kayle. I heard you were back in one piece each, no hard feelings eh?” Henry said with a grin, “Now, come willingly. As I’d rather not have to forcefully carry an old man before his two daughters.”
Fjorn, Thea, Kayle and even Droy were baffled as they stared at Sebastian’s cleaved corpse. All speechless but the Marquis, who looked up at Henry with utter fury.
“You miserable fiend…No, I will not come willingly less so quietly!” Fjorn exclaimed, “You would dare accuse me of treachery!? It is that bratty king of yours who betrays this kingdom! Hiding his armies within these walls! Calling us back with our men to hide with him! Abandoning thousands of people! Giving up our lands and homes!”
The Marquis’ expression was red from anger as he pulled out of his daughter’s hands, moving to stand before the much larger Henry. “M-My wife died for this kingdom! I-I will not be-be-” Then suddenly he screamed out in choked surprise, clenching his chest while falling to his knees.
“F-father!?” the sisters shouted as they both rushed to his side, ignoring the soldiers as the closest few took a step back.
The Marquis fell to his side, trembling as he clutched his abdomen, a continuous choked breath frozen over his confused expression. As the two quickly fell to their knees before him, their voices slowly faded from his ears. As he reached out to touch Thea’s face, his vision also began to give away.
Then his very sense of touch, slowly numbing away until there was nothing more.
Thea stared down at her father, his eyes wide in shock, hand slowly unclenching from his chest as he took his last breath. A breath of strained relief, life disappearing from his eyes.
“Fucking hell…” Shaun cursed, “Is he dead?” he asked in disbelief.
“No, he’s taking a nap, you dimwit.” Droy replied harshly.
Ch 11 - Judgement
King Sol sat at the very centre of the long table, resting above a large podium with a set of stairs on either end. With him sat six others, four on his left and two on his right.
To his right sat the Arch-Duke of Druvia, High Meister and King’s Guardian, Drew Kell. Next to Drew was the Bishop of Druvia, Saint Samael Kalashnikova, the third most powerful man in Druvia. A round man with priestly cut light-brown hair and dark green-blue eyes.
To Sol’s left then sat the four regional Dukes, who under normal circumstances would not have been around other than one, but with the approaching demonic army them and their soldiers had been called in to protect the fortress capital. A capital that was located in the southern region of Druvia ever since half the continent was lost.
First was Duke Darius Setsu of the northern regions, the furthest from the capital. An old man with an Asian complexion, black hair with two dyed strands of purple and light grey eyes. Second fro
m Sol was Duchess Bell Jior of the eastern regions. A young and beautiful woman with complexly braided dark brown hair and green eyes.
Third was Duke and Elven King Ta’lai Fae’er, of the western elven owned regions of Druvia. A rather tall, pale skinned man with pointed ears, pale blonde hair, and fierce cyan eyes.
Lastly to the very left was the southern Duke, the man who owned the regions closest to the now broken demon border. Kol Bjorn, Klein’s younger brother and superior in nobility rank. Naturally grey hair like his brother, half of it was cut short while the other half was left long and braided. His fierce blue eyes spoke of experience beyond his young age.
Standing behind the table were several others. Marquesses and Marchionesses of the land of Druvia, four standing behind each of their respective Dukes, all but Kol and Bell who had three each at the moment. A few of them were neither human nor elf, but instead stubby dwarves. Two Meisters stood behind Drew, archiving this moment to the history books. While behind King Sol stood his minister of law, minister of finance and three trusted advisors.
Before the podium was a group of more people. Standing and facing the podium while surrounded by two whole platoons of royal guards, these were the accused faction.
They all had been waiting for a few hours now, waiting for all of the accused to be gathered before this royal court. And as of now only two were still missing, Thea being showed inside by Henry and his men.
“Where is Fjorn?” Drew promptly asked seeing only the woman he knew to be the Marquis’ daughter.
“Marquis Fjorn collapsed from the strain of having his familiar severed alongside the stress of the moment.” Henry responded, “He died before medical care could be provided, his youngest, Kayle and some of their men are storing his body as we speak.”
Whispers broke out from the accused faction, surprise, confusion and bitterness filling their tones.
“Enough!” Exclaimed the Bishop, “You are before a royal and holy court. Thou shall shut up or face the axe where thou stands.” he reprimanded harshly. Nobody dared say or whisper another vowel. Samael nodded towards Thea, “My condolences Selene.”
Thea though barely reacted, her expression cold, her emotions still numb. She simply walked over to stand by the rest of the accused.
“My condolences as well, miss Selene.” Sol too said, as he scanned the accused group in its entirety. “Henry, where is Klein Bjorn?”
“Oh, I had some volunteers go fetch that one.” Henry responded with a smirk.
“Define…volunteers.” Sol added with a raised brow.
When suddenly the double wooden doors were slammed open, as a procession of Slayers walked in with a ceremonial style. Four of them in the centre dragging with a Klein wearing only his underwear, each holding either a leg or arm.
“The Slayer’s Order in its entirety, sire.” Henry then answered on que, as the Slayers stopped to stand at perfect attention. “Throw him in boys.” Henry told them.
“T-Throw!?” Klein exclaimed, abruptly the four holding him threw his body into the air like a sack of potatoes, landing at the very middle of the gathered group of would-be traitors. He groaned in pain, slowly rising to his feet when one of the others handed him his cape to cover up. Klein swiftly took it and wrapped it about himself.
“That would be everyone listed, sire.” Drew pointed out, sneering as Klein fidgeted about with the cape to cover himself. “Shall I start?”
“Yes, please do Drew.” Sol replied, as he warily glanced in between each man and woman present below.
Drew bowed politely towards the king before turning to face the accused, “Miss Selene, I shall start with you due to…circumstances.” Thea looked up at the Arch-Duke, a hollow expression. “All titles Fjorn held, Marquis of the east, Merchant’s Association founder and Druvian Ambassador to the dwarves. They have all been renounced by the acts presented to this court. You are entitled to his rank of nobility and none more, do you uptake this title?”
Thea narrowed her eyes, “I do.” she solemnly responded.
Drew glanced at Duchess Jior, “Bell?”
Bell nodded, “The girl has nothing to do with the father’s actions. I accept her taking of part of my duchy.”
“Then I announce you Marchioness Selene Thea, all lands your father once owned now fall under your name. As for the other titles, lands and resources. They shall be seized by the crown.” Drew explained sternly, “You may stand aside from the accused, Marchioness Selene. Your name is clean.” he then said.
Thea did so, walking out of the encircling soldiers as they opened a path for her to stand by Henry.
“Now, you lot.” Drew returned to the accused, “I shall begin reading out the accusations. Is there anything you wish to admit to before I do?”
“W-Will there be leniency to those that do admit? I-In theory of course.” One man said, the merchant’s guildmaster.
“In this case Fiy? No, most if not all of you are to be executed for high treachery.” Sol coldly responded, “Continue Drew.” he then told the Arch Duke. After which, despair finally began to set upon the accused, as eyes widened, expressions paled, and knees buckled.
Drew cleared his throat, “The proof of this group conspiring against the crown goes as such. Arranging of market prices over much needed food, water, metals and other materials while blackmarket sales of fairer value were being made in between the current presence. Hiring of mercenaries using said profited funds, mercenaries who the crown previously failed to hire for the defence of Druvia due to lack of. Leaking of military operations, guard shifts and weapon storage. Weekly illegal payments of military personnel and church officials to incite violence within the capital.”
And the list went on, and on, and on. It took Drew fifteen minutes to read off the entire list, mostly due to the extensive personal accusations of many of the individuals present. Accusations that alone were worthy of public execution.
Until he arrived to the final personal accounts, “Lastly, Marquis Klein Bjorn. On the account of illegal transportation of weaponry, armour and dwarven explosives. On the account of arming potential rebels to the crown. On the account of orchestrating a would-have-been rebellion.” Drew paused, raising his gaze to stare down coldly at the baffled man. “I will not lie to you son, the rest shall be executed by the blade starting tomorrow but you…” he trailed off, glancing over at the Slayers.
“Bjorn Klein, all your titles are now forfeit. All except your title of Slayer, through which you shall be punished. By Trial of Dishonour you will die, slowly, painfully, and consciously throughout.” Drew turned to face the now ice pale expression of Klein, “May the lord have mercy upon your soon to be very tortured soul.”
“No…” Klein mumbled, “Anything…Please anything but that!” taking mechanical steps forward as he shouted.
“Cease your begging, fool.” Kol suddenly rose from his chair, the Duke’s eyes cold as he stared down at his own brother.
“Kol…my brother please! This is unfair! I-I did none of those things! T-The federation!-” Klein continued to beg, rushing at the encircling soldiers who grabbed him before he could go further. “Let go of me! I am Marquis Bjo-”
When suddenly Kol appeared before his brother, the back of his right hand slapping through Klein’s left cheek hard enough for the sound to echo throughout the hall twice. “Do not speak my family name! Traitor!” Kol spat furiously, before reining in his temper. “You are my brother no more.” turning to give Klein his back as he held his now red wrist, “Take this criminal out of my sight.”
Kol walked back over to his seat, as the soldiers pushed Klein back into the circle. He fell to his knees, despair filling his mind while Drew continued on. “Commandant Sejein, you shall also have a personal execution. By military law you will killed by cannon fire on the northern docks for all naval personnel to see, therefore you will have to wait within prison until the demons are either dealt with, or enslave you after taking the city.”
“As for the rest of
you, starting…Well, seeing as it’s almost tomorrow morning, starting in a day and a few hours there will be a stream of public executions, with your crimes clearly stated before the people. The people will be given time to…appease their frustrations, by stoning your bound bodies before your beheading is to occur.” Drew announced, “Since there is, not counting Sejein, Klein and Fjorn, twenty nine of you…Executions will occur from morning to past-noon, each day until we’re done with all of you.”
The soldiers began to round everyone up, Klein and Sejein being separated from the rest. “From tonight till tomorrow night though, you will be under the jurisdiction of the Mage clans and have appointments with their mind-flayers. Any information you still withhold, shall be promptly extracted.” Drew finished with the sentencing, lowered the stack of papers he had been reading from. “Take them away.”
The soldiers complied, forcing the accused group out of the hall. All but Klein, who got picked up by the Slayers once more. Carried like a dead calf, as he neither struggled or spoke while they carried him out the same way they carried him in.
“Hah, does this mean you’re the second most powerful man in Druvia now lord Bjorn?” A well brushed dwarf chuckled from behind where Kol sat, a Marquess.
“Hm, I only retake his lands. Everything else he earned himself, unlike I who has been given everything I own from father.” Kol responded coldly.
“And the factories on those lands? The companies he owns? What happens to those?” asked another Marchioness of his.
Kol glanced to the side, briefly looking at Drew. “They befall under the Arch Duke’s jurisdiction until they can be sold off to new investors.” He responded more quietly, “The crown has only doubled in power through this, making the church the second strongest power in Druvia followed by the eastern Duchess Jior who gains Fjorn’s lands, farms and Ambassador to the dwarves rank, when his highness comes about to regranting it. As for fourth that would be the northern Duke Setsu from his highly profitable docks and whatever his deep pockets will purchase from the Arch Duke which I am sure he will.”