Chapter 19: The Trial of Westen I

Verlock and two other knights walked the aisle that led to the dungeon, it was a dark alley illuminated with fire torches that hung on the walls. Guards were standing watch. In his stroll so far, he had seen about ten sections of duo guards and foot soldiers.

The walkway smelt of burning candles and wet mud, although, there was no mud in sight.

As they approached the dungeon doors, the guards acknowledged Verlock with a nod.

"Commander." One of them said.

"Open the gate."

The guard brought out the keys, shuffling through them till he got the one he needed. He unlocked the gate, giving them access to the dungeon.

Verlock walked in, the interior was dark, slightly illuminated by the lights coming from the small windows. Drane was crouched in the corner, head on his knees, hands wrapped around his legs. He was the only one in this cell.

As Verlock entered, Drane raised his head up, sorrow and fear in his eyes. "It is time, isn't it? Am I to be hanged, executed without a course?" He asked with tiredness in his voice. "I did not do it." He asserted more to himself than Verlock . "I swear on my service to the late King Andor and the white Lords that I did not do it. This is— this is injustice...".

Verlock looked at him, hearing subtle snuffle and watching him shiver. "It was a goblet you brought by yourself to the Nobles. Something you have never been witnessed doing."

Drane stood up, and came closer to Verlock, getting a clearer view of his face. "Is it now a taboo for the head cook, the man in charge of these things to bring wine to his queen?"

"There are maids for that."

"It was—" He held back tears. "It was a wine...it was a wine brought by a royal merchant who is not in the kingdom this moment! I tasted the wine! I made sure it was safe to consume before bringing it before my Queen! It was out of respect that I thought it would be best to bring it in the merchant's stead."

"And yet, your act of good deed has landed you in trouble, Drane!"

Drane cleaned his eyes, his face agreeing with Verlock's statement. "I know the judgement is death by hanging. Does the queen want me to take the blame for it? I will do it. But those girls...those maids are innocent... as I am."

Verlock grunted. "The queen is just. If you are to be dead, it wouldn't be without a trial. But you will not be staying in the dungeon; you will be moved to a quarter on full watch until this matter has been resolved. King Ratarod is waiting to have your head for it to satisfy his ego, but the queen is fighting silent battles that an innocent man —one who has served her father truthfully for years and is now serving her, will not be executed... unjustly."

When he heard the statement from Verlock, tears flowed down his eyes. He bowed his head to hide them.

"You will as of this instant be moved to a secluded chamber in the eastern yard, awaiting the arrival of Westen. You have the queen to thank for that."

Drane understood what Verlock was saying. This was a rare chance given to someone suspected of treason to his ruler, talk less of someone suspected of commiting treasury to another King from a different Kingdom. But he couldn't rejoice yet, because after the trial, even when he was innocent, he could still be executed with enough testimony and proof against him. This was a table of Kings, and whoever was plotting may have prepared a way out for himself. He looked at Verlock and then bowed his head."The mercy and good heart of the queen is unmatched."

Verlock grunted some more and turned away from him, walking out of the dungeon, leaving the knights that accompanied him to do their biddings.

•

•

"Has he been moved?" Sharma was seated at her table in her chamber, an ink stone in one of her hand, writing on a papyrus paper.

Romayo was standing by her side, looking down at what she was writing.

Verlock was standing, opposite her, a fee distance from the table."Yes, my lady. He thanked the queen for her mercy and unmatched grace towards him, considering himself one of those lucky."

"Hm. I wouldn't be so quick to consider myself lucky in such positions."

Verlock's facial expression was void of any emotion.

Sharma looked up at him. "You can begin the trial. Start it secretly. Let no words of this spread to the towns lest the plotter escapes. Find every suspicious person you can find and who is new in the kingdom, asking them the reason of their stay and visit."

"Yes, my lady."

"You will have the support of the knights."

Verlock bowed.

"Begin immediately." She said.

Verlock walked out of the chamber, leaving Romayo and Sharma in the room.

Sharma raised up the paper in her hand, went through it and then picked up the royal seal, stamping on it. When she was done, she rolled the paper and stood up.

"You may come out now." She said

A black knight came out from the corner, he was covered in full armour.

She handed the paper to him. "You know what to do."

The knight collected it and bowed before exiting.

"It must be going to a far land." Romoya said.

Sharma looked at her, "Some things are better done without interference. King Ratarod signed a truce which he cannot withdraw, but that does not mean he cannot begin a war. This matter is not a trivial one, even when he looks like he is calm."

"May I ask my lady, what do you intend to do?"

Sharma walked to the window of her quarter and stared out. "Make it imperceptible as possible."

Romayo walked slowly towards her. "Will you be able to achieve it?"

Sharma smiled. "We hope. Aridal, though great and fearsome, does not need war this period. I plan to keep it peaceful for a long time."

•

•

TWO DAYS LATER.

~~Hadu's chamber~~

"Lift your hands up, my prince." Hadu instructed Artirad. There was no one else in the chamber except them two, and some bottles boiling in the furnace.

Artirad struggled to raise his hands up, suspending it in the air with great effort.

Hadu took out the warm jaded clothing apparel that was prepared for him and started wrapping it around Artirad's waist.

Artirad sighed a relief. "That feels so good, Hadu."

"You will feel even better in a week, my prince."

Artirad smiled. "You know something, Hadu?"

"What is it my prince?"

"You may perceive me mad, but I am quite grateful that I drank it in the stead of your queen. Imagine the proceedings that would have occurred in a short while if it was the other way around."

Hadu didn't say anything. He tucked the end of he apparel into the wrapped sides, securing it tightly around his waist. He helped put his hands down. "It should never have happened."

He walked to his table, picked up a napkin, soaked it in warm water and used it to clean Artirad's forehead. He then opened a small elixir bottle.

Artirad grimaced. "Not this again."

"I can assure you it is doing wonders."

"It is bitter."

"Bitter is good. Every antidote is bitter, a quick way to recovery." He handed the elixir to Artirad, who was too lazy to take it from him. "Do you want me to pour it in your mouth?"

Artirad looked at him. "If you could hold my nose too, that will be perfect."

Hadu smiled and came closer to him. "You could still joke in your state? You have an easy-going spirit."

Artirad lifted his chin up and opened his mouth.

Hadu pinched his nostrils together and poured the tonic into his mouth. "Swallow now, my Prince."

Artirad squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed, Hadu releasing his nose and looking at his frowned face as he tasted his mouth. "So bitter. How long again do I need to continue taking this?"

Hadu dropped the elixir bottle on the table close to the burning flasks. "A week and some days—"

"Some days?!"

"—more." Hadu looked at him. "Yes, my prince. Some days more and all the poison in your system will be out."

Rod opened the door to the quarters, a basket in his hand filled with herbs.

"Good thing you are here in time." Hadu told him.

Rod looked at him, confused. "Did I miss something?"

"No. You will need to help Prince Artirad. He needs someone to aid him walk around the palace."

Rod smiled and pointed to the door. "That is why his helper is here."

Midel walked into the quarters with a Knight guard of Rabadon and two foot soldiers who also wore the armour of Rabadon. Midel was holding a white robe in his hand. He looked at Artirad who was staring blankly at him. "At your service my prince. Your brother, King Ratarod has asked for the guards to accompany you."

Artirad tried getting up. "What is all the fret about? I am only taking a walk."

Midel ran to him, helping him to his feet. "You cannot do away with that which is yours, my prince. It was an order that cannot be disobeyed."

Artirad grunted and looked at the guards.

"Can you stand on your own?" Midel asked him.

"Is that supposed to be a question?" Artirad glared at him.

"I will take that as a yes." Midel smiled and let go of his hand, making him falter a bit. He straightened the robe in his hand, which rolled to the floor. "A gift from the Queen...to keep you warm. It is cold outside."

Midel went behind him, helping him put his right hand in the right side of the robe.

"I must say I am wary of gifts these days." Artirad said, putting his left hand in the left arm of the robe. Midel adjusted the clothing on his body. The robe matched with the jaded apparel that was wrapped around his waist.

"You are set my prince."

Artirad looked at him. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Midel looked around. "I don't think so. No."

"My shoes!"

"Oh... Shoes!" Midel chuckled and looked around. "Where are your shoes, my prince? I don't see them."

"Is that not your duty to know?"

"It is—" Rod raised his hand, smiling in the middle of their altercation. "I will go bring them from the inner chamber, my lord." He dropped the basket with him by he floor and walked past them to the other room.

"See," Midel grinned at him. "not my fault."

Hadu handed another bottle to Midel. "Make sure he takes this when he is out of breath. He will need it."

Midel collected it.

"Another bitter tonic?" Artirad asked.

Hadu smiled. "Not this one."

Rod came out of the room carrying Artirad's shoes. He bent before Artirad and gestured for him to put his legs. He wore him his shoes.

"Thank you, Rod." Artirad said.

"My pleasure, my prince." Rod smiled.

"Shall we?" Artirad asked the knight guard who signaled for them to go ahead by exiting the quarters first.

Midel helped him walk by holding his arm and using it as support.