The king, whose country’s fate depended on him and on the results of the trial, couldn’t stop thinking of Cyan, exhausted, proud, and happy, embracing their son. He yearned to hold his child in his arms again, inhale his sweet smell, and watch the expressions on his adorable face.
Afleck entered and asked if they needed anything. When he didn’t receive an answer, he gently closed the door behind him.
Tanti stood before the window. From there, he could see a portion of the magnificent palace, a portion of a cloud in the sky, and a portion of the grove, where the acacia trees stroked each other gently. He threw a blue tassel into her lap and then another one. Yellow, red. She smiled and invited him to join them. What he wouldn’t give now to see if the jewel still hung around her neck.
“You’re a strange young man,” the king said. “If, after everything, and considering your unfortunate circumstances, you’re standing before the window and smiling.”
“I’m smiling?”
Now the king and Balanter smiled at each other. “Yes. Can you explain what about that white, sharp, gloomy sight makes you smile?”
“I just wondered if she’s still riding Gayalo.”
“Afleck!” The king shouted, and the always-prepared Afleck entered in alarm. “Take this confused Izmerandi and find him a bed. He urgently needs some rest. Make sure he bathes, and perhaps a sip of wine will soothe him before he sleeps and will organize his thoughts.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ve slept enough,” Tanti said. “But a bath and wine wouldn’t go amiss right now.” He bowed and followed Afleck.
“By the way.” Balanter called after him. “Who’s riding Gayalo and where exactly is she riding?”
“Nowhere special,” Tanti said. “Just riding for fun.” And he left.
“And then, they smiled, the king and two of his people,” said the White observer, who’d spied on them from a hidden entrance. “I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. Suddenly, the king squawked like a rooster and sent one of them away. When the man laughed, the king and his advisor burst into laughter, or into tears, I didn’t see.”
“The second option makes more sense,” the general said. “But you can never know with those Blues.”
***
Laorin paced on her balcony, memorizing the sentences that she’d have to say tomorrow at the trial. It would be the first time she would manage a court hearing. She had to be sharp and accurate. Her role seemed complicated and threatening.
She hadn’t taken a break from her hard work in a long time. She hadn’t taken a walk or ridden her horse. The war and its termination required all her attention throughout the day. Halior took it upon herself to arrange the hall, including all the little details, such as seating and timetables. She was busy and preoccupied all day. Nikon wasn’t at the palace. The queen had sent him to investigate the events of the war.
The queen continued to memorize the passages from the handbook of the royal legal procedures, trying to rid her mind of her bothersome thoughts.
In the evening, Nikon returned from his journey. The queen ordered him to bathe and eat before coming to her headquarters. She knew she had a long and busy night before her.
Nikon gave her a brief report about what he’d discovered about the battles.
“I still don’t understand how Galrock achieved victory,” she said. “The Blues conquered the Valley of the Edges. What caused their retreat? Why did the Blue king surrender when he was at the height of his power? Was it because he was afraid?”
Nikon paused before responding. “Before the attack on the western border, Galrock received the support of the Swamp Dwellers.”
“The Swamp Dwellers? The Bonook? Why would they involve themselves in a war that isn’t theirs?”
“He promised them the plains of the Boresh region, which they’ve desired since forever.”
“Just like that, he took it upon himself? He made an alliance without informing us and sold our eastern borders to those lizard eaters?” The queen raged. “But why did he do it? After all, the Bonook are a small, weak, sickly people…”
“Because of the Hayatulaum.” Nikon told her of the training of the huge beasts and the chain of events as he learned of it. “Although the Blue king managed to come up with a brilliant ploy to prevent the annihilation of his people, Galrock took advantage of the fact that the troops were concentrated at the Valley of the Edges and attacked Hey Hill.”
He described what he had discovered about the battles, horrifying the queen. “I wouldn’t have approved slaughter and burning down villages had I known.”
“Perhaps it was inevitable in order to cause the Blue king to surrender.”
“Indeed?”
Laorin was silent for some time, deep in thought. “Well then, we won,” she finally said. “I’m glad I agreed to King Dark Blue’s request to end the war. Yet I can’t forgive him for his part in starting it. Every punishment we give him won’t compensate for the pain and sorrow caused.”
“You were wise to insist on a trial. Our people will see that we desire justice.”
“Justice? But who, dear Nikon, will judge me?”
“Why and what for?”
“I sent people to their deaths.”
“Your Majesty, don’t. This is war. And today, you win.”
“How awful to win this way,” she said.
“On the other hand, losing could’ve been even worse,” Nikon said. “Be happy. You’re the judge tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Nikon. Your words ease the heaviness in my heart.” Again, she was silent, and then the glimmer of a smile appeared on her lips. “We must confess that one way or another, Galrock brought us victory.”
“Yes, he did that.” Nikon nodded. “Let’s prepare for tomorrow,” he said. “We have a big and special day before us. We’ll take care of everything else right after the trial. But how can I help you now?”
She handed him the handbook and showed him the paragraphs she was trying to understand.
They sat until late at night. With her advisor at her side, she felt more confident and prepared for the trial.
Chapter 48
The Trial
The courtroom was spacious and bright. Huge alabaster pillars supported its tall ceiling. Beneath the ceiling was a wide stripe of winding, complex ornaments. The big floor tiles were of two alternate colors, white and golden-white. In the middle stood a row of stone chairs, surrounded by a low interwoven partition, to mark the area of the defendants.
The Blue king arrived with his people, escorted by armed guards, who led them to their place. According to instructions, the head advisor and several high-ranking officials escorted him. The rest of the Blues were brought to a separate corner, where they sat in a closed cell, bars separating them from the hall. Tanti was relieved that he could hide himself among his Blue friends without drawing any attention. Numerous ideas arose in his head when he thought about what he’d do or say if he was discovered. His heart pounded with excitement.
When given a hidden sign, all those present in the courtroom rose.
“Queen Laorin!” The attendant called.
The queen entered, accompanied by her people. She wore a heavy ceremonial dress of pure white, full of different textures. Her long train trailed behind her on the gleaming marble tiles as she walked. Her hair was gathered tightly at the back of her neck, her crown on her head. Next to her, yet slightly behind her, walked the queen’s sister, Halior, her advisor, Nikon, and the ministers. They sat, while the high-ranking ministers, judges, clerks, attendants, and guards sat down in the fan-like structure.
The attendant instructed everyone to take their seats.
Queen Laorin opened and declared.
“I am Queen Laorin, the queen of Anura. I am the authority representing my country, and on its behalf, I bring to trial King Dark Blue, who in th
is trial represents the country of Nautilin.”
“King of Nautilin.” She continued. “You stand accused of causing war and of exacerbating the conflict between our neighboring countries, who until then had lived in peace. You are responsible for the suffering of the people of both countries, for the deaths and injuries of soldiers, loss of property, and the rest of the distress brought about by war. What was your intention in breaking this delicate balance? Did you covet our territories? Though you wanted to expand your reign, did you not have mercy on a peaceful country—not even on your own people—that you had to lead them into hopeless battles?
“Before my parents died, they ordered me to live in peace with my neighbors. They especially emphasized Nautilin, whose way of life is so different from Anura’s. My parents maintained a friendship with you during their reign. Had my parents known that with their death, a conflict would begin that would end so badly, it would have caused them great sadness. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to have wise advisors and a captain of the guard who led us to victory.
“I accepted your request to end the fighting, and summoned you, in order to sentence you so that justice can be served. Today, I intend to raise the deviant actions that caused the war to break out. I mean to ensure that there will be no more wars in our region. Not only will your fate be decided today, but the fate of your reign. And now, before your verdict is decided, exacting our full measure of justice, I demand to hear what you have to say in your defense.”
The Blue king stood with his shoulders slumped, his hands clutching each other tightly. The status of a prisoner in the last few days had been difficult for him. He’d been closely watched by young, rigid, silent military men, who’d treated him and his people with cold politeness, contempt, and derision. It was difficult for him to face them. He, the beloved, honorable king of Nautilin, stood in this cold, wide marble hall with its huge columns and hostile crowd, who were about to seal his fate. The hardest thing was listening to the queen, without understanding why she was so furious.
“I am amazed in light of your anger, Honorable Queen. I am shocked when faced with these accusations, which I’m wrongfully accused of. We Nautilins are a peaceful people. Indeed, there was peace between the two countries for many years. I still don’t know the reasons the borders closed and why White guards were stationed along the borders. I still do not know what pushed the Anurians to arm their army and prepare them for a war against us. We weren’t the ones who wanted this war. We only prepared our army to protect our borders. I’m accused of not acting to prevent this war. And I ask you, where are the letters I sent you, in which I appealed to Your Majesty to discuss the matter with me, yet to no avail!”
The queen raised her hand to silence him. “Honorable King, now I’m the one who’s amazed when faced with your smooth words and your audacity. How dare you mention those letters and ignore the fact that those same vile letters were what caused the conflict?”
“I haven’t even the slightest idea what letters Your Majesty is talking about.”
“Beware, Blue king. I will sentence you for your lies later. Unfortunately, I threw away those vile letters, for if not, I would’ve presented them here, before the judges, and you could not deny your part in them. I have one letter, which is your last letter, in which you requested to end the war. In the letter, it is obvious that the word ‘honor’ is unfamiliar to Your Majesty. Had I not had mercy for the lives of the soldiers and the suffering of the people, I would’ve torn it to pieces the minute I lay my hands on it.”
The king and Balanter exchanged looks. They worked for hours on that letter, on that hill, under the moonlight. How many times had Balanter copied it, straightening the lines and rounding the snails as best as he could?
Balanter raised his hand, seeking permission to speak.
“Perhaps there was a mistake,” he said. “Perhaps something went wrong on the way?”
The queen signaled Nikon, who took the letter out of the bundle of papers before him. He stood. “This is the letter of surrender,” Nikon said, presenting it to the judges. “Delivered by the messenger to the queen. Does the Blue king recognize his handwriting?”
An attendant went to take the letter and present it before the king.
“Yes, this is the letter I sent. But to be accurate, this isn’t my handwriting,” the king said. “This is the handwriting of my advisor, Balanter, who’s here at my side. He wrote it according to my instructions. The signature is mine.”
Laorin raised her voice. “Were your instructions to write so unintelligibly? If so, I would say that is a very unroyal act, Blue king.”
“If there were mistakes, I apologize. They certainly weren’t intentional,” the king said.
“Do you not think it appropriate that such an important letter, sealed with the royal stamp, be written by the king himself and not given to his poorest writer? There isn’t one word written correctly here, and the lines squiggle like frightened worms.”
Laughter spread among the crowd.
The Blues were filled with concern. What was happening? Balanter felt extremely humiliated. He was the head advisor, feared by the ministers and beloved by the girls in the palace. He was the only one who knew how to snail besides his cherished Tiponet, who wrote even better than he did. He’d rather lead the army to war and die a hero’s death than suffer humiliation before his king and before these snickering Whites. Right then, he wished the ground would open up and swallow him.
“My advisor, Balanter, did the best he could,” he heard the king say. “He’s the only one in all of Nautilin who knows how to snail, except his betrothed, Tiponet, who is also Queen Cyan’s lady-in-waiting. Unfortunately, she wasn’t there when we wrote the letter. I admit that I know how to read snail writing and sign my name, but I can only write arrow writing.”
The queen rose impatiently, ignoring the ceremonial rules.
“So please explain, Honorable King, how the same man who wrote those vile letters and signed his name to them—letters written so tidily and articulately—couldn’t write a proper letter of surrender?”
The king trembled. “I still don’t know what letters you’re talking about.”
“Allow me, sister.” Halior placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder and squeezed it discreetly in order to calm her down. Laorin now noticed that everyone present was standing, as she had. She sat down, and everyone followed suit.
“The letters didn’t disappear,” Halior said. “You know how meticulous I am about order. Therefore, we collected them, or at least some of them, the girls and I. We glued together the torn pieces and saved them in the palace’s archives. At first, we did it to maintain order. Yet lately, I’ve begun to realize their importance, and I thought it right to bring them to the trial.”
“Bless you, sister,” Laorin whispered. She gestured, and Nikon gave her the bundle of papers. The queen studied them and nodded. “Yes, I confirm that these are the letters.”
The letters passed from hand to hand, from the ministers to the judges. The queen waited for the letters to return to her. She remembered difficult minutes of rage and insult. Her anger swept over her again.
“How can you explain, Honorable King, these letters? Is this not your signature in the margins, cursive and majestic, as required? The other letters carry the same quality of that condescending signature, as my honorable judges can see.”
She threw the bundle of letters at him and they scattered all over the floor of the hall. A rustle passed through the crowd. Her actions were definitely not “White.” Halior noted to herself to rebuke her sister later. In the meantime, the gesture spoke for itself. Balanter collected the letters and served them to his king, who now trembled, unable to hide his fear of the pale-faced queen’s rage.
And then, his posture changed, and his back straightened.
“Your Majesty, I didn’t write these letters.”
“You
’ve been warned once, Blue king, about lying,” the queen said. “Do not make your situation even worse than it is.”
“What else can make my situation worse than it is?” the Blue king said. “To stand here as a prisoner and be accused of things I haven’t done and intentions I never had. To hear that I, the king of Nautilin, am lying. And I wouldn’t lie if my life depended on it. I repeat, I didn’t write these letters. And that signature isn’t mine.”
“Perhaps you told your advisor, Balanter, to write them, as you’ve mentioned before regarding the letter of surrender?” Nikon said.
Balanter stepped forward, his face glum. “Allow me to say, Your Majesty and Honorable Sirs, I don’t know whether I should be sorry for my poor attempt at snailing or glad that my utter failure will bring the truth to light. I swear that neither my king nor I wrote these letters. We don’t have the skills to snail so perfectly. I will add that we didn’t want this war.”
“Well then,” Halior said. “Why didn’t you try to prevent it? You could’ve requested, with the same crooked mistakes, a meeting to clarify matters.”
“Allow me, please, to answer and describe the chain of events from our point of view,” Balanter said. “In the beginning of autumn, we were informed that the army in Anura was armed and training for war. Blues who dared crossed the borders, which had closed without us understanding why, were captured, brought to trial, and imprisoned. Sometimes they were even executed as spies. One of two men who managed to escape brought us the news. From that moment, we tried to prevent the outbreak of the war. We sent letters, but didn’t receive any answer. Later, we found out that White soldiers had captured the messengers carrying the letters. Until this day, we don’t know what happened to them. We assume we’ll never see them again.”
“Lies!” A voice thundered from the front of the hall.
Everyone looked at Galrock, who swaggered into the hall with his entourage. Gasps of admiration passed through the crowd. There he was, the heroic military leader who’d brought them victory.
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