by A D Lombardo
Robert padded his son’s shoulder. “The choice is yours, my son. Let me go with you to speak with Roark. We three, Iver, Roark, and I, were very close once, and he may be willing to listen if I go with you.”
Drew nodded. “Thank you, father.”
It was time to go. The Stone River bridged once symbolized the beginning of responsibility, and now it would mark the end of his freedom. Rayna took his hand, and they climbed the hill. Yulia, Riome, Kendra, and Sabastian also joined him on the road.
Leaving Drew with Eugene and Robert, Kai led the rest of his friends, thankful he was not alone. The melted snow left the road a muddy mess. Kai’s stomach burned with disappointment that he could not find the truth or his father’s body.
Behind him, Eugen and Drew's argumentative voices caught Kai’s ears, but he did not stop or turn back. He kept his eyes forward and continued to close the distance between him and the bridge.
Drew charged to the front, taking hold of Kai’s arm. They stopped five feet shy of the bridge. “You are a Prince, Your Highness.” Drew waved to Eugene. “Lord Sknash tells me that you have certain rights. First and foremost, you have a right to be heard. You never spoke at your sentencing. Not one word. Before they pass judgment, a council of your peers must hear you out by law.”
The use of his formal title surprised Kai. “What would I say?” He looked to the others. There was little chance he could ever find any proof, even if he had weeks to search.
“The truth,” Rayna insisted. “You have nothing to lose, so tell the truth. Queen Nola is a murderer. She brainwashed you, poisoned you and your father. Her hand forced the blade.”
Riome stepped forward. “Drew is correct, Kai. Diu law states that royalty has the right to plead their case. You only need the majority of the council to agree on your innocence; Nola has no vote, and Aaron is an uncrowned King, so he has no power yet. Roark, Sigry, Dante, and Cazier decide your fate. Convince them, and you may yet have time to prove your innocence.”
“Should he not present the facts?” Rayna repeated. “The Queen is guilty of murder.”
“If Kai mentions the Queen, she can speak,” Riome explained, “and you do not want her derailing your support. His best bet is to incriminate a third man in the room, the person who took Iver away. The council must address the questions: who is the third person, what did they witness, and what was their involvement?”
Once again, knowledge was power. If there was any hope left, Kai needed to heed Riome’s advice. Relenting, he agreed to confront the council. Acting as his ambassadors, Drew and Robert Henley met with Admiral Roark Raebun and Kempery-man Dresnor. Even from a distance, Kai could tell the conversation with Roark sounded heated, and it was almost unclear who argued for or against him. But in the end, they parted and Drew reported that Roark would follow the letter of the law—nothing more.
His second group, Eugene Sknash and Riome Tamika, approached the Queen’s army requesting a conference with the Grand Duke Dante Carmelo and Master General Adrian Cazier. In addition to asking for his right to speak, Kai requested a private council with the Grand Duke, hoping to inform him of his cousin-in-law’s demise.
Dante accepted the terms to allow Kai to speak to the council in his defense, as was the letter of the law, but he refused the private meeting. He informed Eugene and Riome that any news the prince wanted to share should be delivered to the council as a whole. He would extend no favors.
Chapter 23
Last Words
Despite the fact that it was the middle of winter, the heat was rising. Many people had begun removing fur-embellished shawls and overcoats and fanning their faces. Without Yulia’s influence, the cold weather faded and the snow melted, but this heat seemed unnatural, and Kai imagined his dear Weathervane friend was up to more tricks.
Watching the sweat pour off the armored men, he surmised their extra gear and furs left them taxed by the heat. He chuckled to himself. Yulia, you are devious.
While everyone waited with their respective groups, Diu soldiers erected a large white tent. They hoisted up thick poles at two points while others pulled out the corners and added more supports every ten feet, each drawn out by ropes and anchored by large metal spikes the men drove into the ground. Inside they unrolled two decorative carpets, upon which they placed tall thrones for the Queen and her two boys and smaller chairs for the council members.
First, five Kempery-men, each with four Mryken sentry dogs, approached the newly constructed tent. Unsure of their purpose, Kai reached out and sensed their confidence and dedication. Their ears perked to his probing, and they turned their heads toward him, yielding to his Beastmaster's will. If the Mryken were meant for more than show, they would no longer heed anyone’s desire but his.
The second set of guards formed an outer ring around the tent, a mix of Milnos and Diu soldiers with Regent Maxwell in the lead. He and his men were a surprise to Kai; given the nature of this meeting, he expected Dante and Cazier to keep this event restricted to Diu council members. Still, he understood Nola would keep her one true ally close, and she clearly had sway over today’s proceedings.
As the council assembled, Kai’s heart pounded in his throat. It was now his turn. Eugene, Drew, Robert, and Riome approached alongside him. Holding his empty hands up, he eyed the Mryken dogs with the Kempery-men standing guard at his entrance. While his friends held back just inside, Kai stood closer to the center of the vaulted tent facing the council.
On his right, Sigry, the palace physician, offered his usual scowl, followed by Grand Duke Dante Carmelo, who appeared unforgiving with a touch of sadness threatening to overtake his typical pleasant nature. In the center, Queen Nola sat with her two sons Aaron and Seth. She oozed confidence below her smug expression.
Beside Seth was Master General Adrian Cazier, who stared at his daughter Riome. Kai imagined it was difficult to be on opposite sides. In the last seat was Admiral Roark Raebun, the Red Warrior, sitting on the edge of his chair with his fingers dancing on the hilt of his sword.
Lastly, near the tent's edge, Dresnor stood, seemingly unwilling to commit to one side. His body was rigid, and his gaze held a thousand-yard stare.
Nola’s indifferent, bored expression worried Kai. Was her confidence so strong that she did not even worry about what he might say? The other faces and hateful expressions burned a hole in his heart. Seth appeared broken and empty. His gaze was hollow, and he stared at nothing near his feet. The boy wore no embellishments befitting his royal title. The cuffs of his white shirt did little to hide the scaring and deep bruising from his prison restraints. Why was Seth marched out here for this? Kai found it difficult to stomach the pain his mistake had caused—and the idea a mother could be so cruel.
On the contrary, Aaron displayed a self-righteous expression, holding his head high as though he was already the crowned King of Diu and everyone should bow to his presence. The crown perched on the boy’s head was grander than it should be for a prince—another bit of Nola’s handiwork on display.
Grand Duke Carmelo addressed the group. “According to Diu law, Prince Kai has the right to be heard by the council. Tell us why you murdered your father and where you have hidden his body.”
The contempt Kai felt the last time he stood before these people felt was nothing compared to how they looked at him today. Each one no longer held even an ounce of feeling for him. Even his cousin Cazier’s narrow gaze swelled with hate. How could he possibly hope to win them over? Should he even say anything? The gray line between guilt and innocence blurred, leaving him unsure he deserved forgiveness.
Roark rose from his chair and growled, “He is wasting our time. Seize this traitor. He murdered the King, and I will serve justice.”
Drew stepped next to Kai. “You will let the Prince speak. No disrespect, Admiral, but sit back down.” His voice carried as much weight as his stare, and Roark sat but continued to seethe.
“Before I address the court regarding my father,” Kai finally said, “I
have news for the Grand Duke. This is personal information, and I did request a private council, but Dante refused. In my search to prove my innocence, I discovered the murder of Barton Manzini, husband to your cousin Louisa Carmelo-Manzini. Two men buried him in the forest between here and Port Anahita, about five miles from here—a well-dressed Milnosian man named Darwin and a hunter who goes by Carter from Port Anahita.”
“Lies!” Roark shouted, rising up in his chair but not standing. “He aims to distract the council. You will not garner trust with your lies, boy!”
“How do we know you speak the truth, Kai?” Dante asked, sounding hesitant to trust.
“When you last saw Louisa, how did she act?” Kai posed the question feeling confident he gained ground with Dante. “If I remember correctly, she was like a sister to you and came to the palace daily. Could they use her against you?”
The concerned look on Dante’s face hinted the Grand Duke felt concerned.
“The man, Darwin,” Kai continued, “should be sporting a large contusion on his left cheek where I struck him with a short wooden club. Also, I have a button I cut from his cloak. The initials D.W. embossed into the button may be proof enough if your cousin’s wife knows such a man. I have no idea if she is a victim or if she conspired with Darwin to remove her husband or what Darwin hoped to gain given access to you through Louisa.” Kai handed the button to Drew, who offered it to Dante.
He then continued. “The hunter, Carter, did not fare as well. During questioning, I modified his jawline with his hunting knife. When the man pulled another weapon on me, I stabbed him in the knee with the same blade. He should be easy enough to find.” Kai pulled the blade from his belt and offered it as proof.
Dante inspected the large hunter’s blade, still stained with blood around the hilt. The button raised the Grand Duke’s eyebrow, and he called Captain Strauss forward. Kai could not hear what they said, but when the captain departed with the blade and button, he imagined the soldier would follow the clues provided.
“Now, Prince Kai, please address the matter at hand. Tell us why you murdered your father.” The Grand Duke remained stoic, holding his chin high, offering no signs that Kai’s discovery carried any weight.
There were no words that would clear Kai’s name or absolve him of his guilt. He knew Nola controlled the council, and she would never let him go free. What mattered, at least to Kai, was the faith of one person sitting before him. He spoke directly to Seth. “I did not kill our father. Do you remember our last conversation, Seth? I asked you to trust me.”
Nola reached for her son’s hand. Seth did not move. “Do not speak to my son. You murdered my husband—you murdered the King. Arrest him. I will not tolerate this nonsense.” Her shouts roused the guards, who took a step closer to the tent.
Dante stood and raised his hand, stopping their approach. “We will hear him speak.” The desperation behind the Grand Duke’s unshaved face gave Kai hope he might have at least one ally on the council besides his cousin. There was no question this man’s loyalty for King Iver ran deep.
With a nod of respect, Kai continued. “Brother, I asked you to remember something. This is very important. Do you remember?”
Seth whispered inaudible words.
The crowd hushed and turned to Seth. Everyone waited for the young prince to speak. “Go ahead,” Cazier said, leaning into the young prince to hear his response.
Tears ran down the boy’s face, and his eyes rose to find Kai’s. “I am here, Seth. Remember what I told you. Once simple truth, no matter what.”
“You said,” Seth croaked, “you said, you loved our father and me.”
Nothing else mattered but his brother’s faith. A tear ran down Kai’s cheek. “I do love our father, as I love you. I did not kill our father. Do you believe me?”
Seth stood. Kai held his breath.
The young prince ran to his brother. “I believe in you, brother.” He shouted, hugging Kai. “I believe you. Please forgive me for hitting you. Mother locked me in prison. She thinks I helped you.”
“Seth, get back here,” Nola instructed, but Seth clung to Kai’s side as he rose to his feet. “Do you see? Kai has brainwashed my son against us. Seth did help Kai escape, and his innocent protests were but another lie! They are both traitors—arrest them!”
“Her tears are not real. I saw her with the Regent laughing and holding hands.” Seth whispered so only Kai could hear.
Kai put a protective arm around his brother and surveyed the change in the tent. Dresnor chose a side, joining Drew and Kai. “I should have believed you,” Dresnor spoke, but focused on the Queen. “I should have helped you. If what Seth just whispered to you is true, we must prove her guilt.”
Emotion pursed Kai’s mouth. He knew Dresnor could read lips. So, it took Seth’s words to convince his Kempery-man, not years of friendship. “Thank you,” was all Kai could say.
Roark rose from his seat, clasping the hilt of his sword. Sword drawn, Cazier stepped closer to the Queen with a protective arm in front of her, his eyes wild, fixed on Kai. Dante held his hands in the air, trying to calm everyone, and for the first time, Sigry pulled his sword and positioned himself to protect the Queen.
Guards closed in around the edges of the tent. Kai knew there was no use. These were all men that Nola most likely owned in one way or another. Even Cazier seemed changed; was he compromised by the Queen too, or was this an act to feign loyalty should this all go horribly wrong? Kai had no idea what or who to trust anymore. Considering Nola had brainwashed him to do her dirty work killing Iver, he wondered if each man here stood against him. They all seemed ready to kill him and anyone who got in her way, even her son.
There was no disputing that Nola had a certain air about her, but today Kai noticed something new. There was a substantial amount of magic emanating from her. He continued to study the movement of her magic. No, not from her, but something on her person. She reeked of darkness and hate. It oozed from her, but it had no real structure. The power hung on her like the very dress she wore but it did not build from within her.
Why had he never sensed it before? It was dark magic, weaker than most Katori magic, but it was there. Gleaning her person, he found a crystal hidden within her dress. A black stone, barely a shard, which he presumed was a Katori crystal. The dull glow was less than a spark, but like all Katori magic, it was noticeable. One by one, heads turned to gaze at her, and the council seemed to fall under her spell.
Unaffected by her words or her magic, Kai’s body locked into fight mode. His mind was free of her spell, for now, but he needed to warn Sabastian. But how? Then it came to him. Searching the forest for the Alpha, he told his wolf friend—the Queen has magic, go to Rayna, tell my friends the queen wears a crystal. The Alpha responded, darting from the trees. Glancing over his shoulder, Kai saw the gray wolf bound up the hill for Rayna. He knew she would not understand the wolf, but the Alpha knew her, trusted her, and would protect her for Kai’s sake. The rest was up to Sabastian and Kendra, as Beastmaster they would be able to speak to the Alpha.
Trying to buy time, Kai focused on Grand Duke Dante Carmelo, one of his father’s closest friends. His brawny stature sagged as if he carried the weight of the world, and his tired eyes pleaded for the truth. Kai could not yet tell if he acted under his duress or if Nola’s desires influenced the man.
“Please, Dante, let me speak.”
Sweat ran down Dante’s temples since he refused to remove his decorated winter overcoat like many of high rank. The Grand Duke shook his head and glanced at Cazier. “Sheath your weapon, Master General. We will hear the Prince speak. If it is the last thing we do today, I will learn the truth.”
Yielding to the Grand Duke, everyone went back to their respective seats. Even Maxwell drew a chair behind the Queen’s throne.
Although Kai knew he could not accuse Nola directly, he had to distract them. Somehow, he needed her to remove the necklace so he could destroy the crystal. “I did not kill the Kin
g,” he said, following Riome’s advice, “and I can prove it because there was a third person in the room.”
Nobody would ever question Admiral Roark's loyalty to the King, and since he spent his days in For Pohaku, Kai hoped he remained uncompromised. “Name your accomplice,” Roark shouted, again drawing his blade as if prepared to kill the guilty person the moment Kai or some stranger uttered the actual murderer's name.
In the next breath, a wave of pressure flooded Kai’s crystal. It struck Kai hard. Looking at Nola, he noticed she felt it, too. Unaccustomed to significant shifts in power, she swayed forward, clutching her chest, and Maxwell rushed to her side. Steading herself upright, she continued to hold her chest. Kai glanced over his shoulder—Rayna, Sabastian, and Kendra were collecting magic and shoving it toward the tent.
“My queen, are you unwell?” Maxwell held her hand in his and knelt at her feet.
Everyone turned to Nola, but she waved them off. “I am fine, continue,” she ordered.
Feeling the magic’s weight, Kai allowed it to build slightly and flow through him. It continued to flow like a river into his crystal and out toward Nola. “The other man in the room spoke to me before I ran out . . .”
“Lies!” Nola shouted, cutting Kai off midsentence. The power Nola held floated outward on her voice, controlling the others. “Do not listen to his lies! Kai is a murderer, and he intends to assassinate me. Protect your queen!” she demanded, crumpling in pain.
This was how Nola manipulated those around her. Kai watched her bring each person within range to heel with her words. Regent Maxwell drew his blade and stood in front of the Queen. Sigry, Dante, Roark, and Cazier all advanced a step toward Kai.
Robert, Drew, and Dresnor unsheathed their weapons and closed in around Kai and Seth. Riome slipped Kai a set of throwing stars, and he caught a glimpse of three more, two daggers and three other throwing blades on her person. “Really, not even a dagger, I thought I taught you to be prepared? You could have hidden something from the guards.” She jutted her chin, shoving a sword in his hand.