Chapter 75

Someone was pounding on the door. Groggy, Dane shouted, "Coming!" The pounding only grew harder. The nerve. He threw away his blanket, stormed to the door, and opened it. Two guards stood outside, and Lara did as well. She turned beet red and turned away while the guards chuckled or cleared their throats. 

Suddenly self-aware, Dane looked at himself. He wasn't wearing anything but his castle-made underwear. He summoned the Keeper's Half-Plate, plate and all. It had been a while since he had put on the dark thing. He pushed the floral-patterned visor up. "What is it?" he spat.

Over the last week, he had loosened up and began using his telepathic enchantment with all and sundry. He didn't need Lara around anymore, but she was a nice enough girl, so he spoke to Seishan and had her inducted into the Handmaids. She was quickly named his attendant.

"What is it?" he asked, not for the first time, in their minds.

Jimmy stepped forward. "The Lieutenant has summoned all the Guards. We must get going!"

Dane nodded and shut the door behind him.

He gestured to the stairs, but Jimmy turned to Lara. "Only the guards. You cannot come."

Lara shrugged. "I'll go help out in the Great Hall."

They walked down the stairs together and then separated.

"I was keeping watch on the Dusk Tower when a handmaid told me that Tessai ordered all guards on duty to make for the courtyard. Would have left you behind, but Jimmy remembered that you don't live in the barracks like the rest of us," Gervais briefed him as he wobbled with a spring in his step, rubbing his head.

"You're still hungover dude?" Dane sniggered. Last night, the guards had received three large casks of beer for their hard work.

Gervais nodded. "I had too much."

"You know, my dad once made an ad with the General Hospice to warn against the negative effects of drinking…too much."

Jimmy chuckled. "General Hospice, Dane, General Hospice. We're Awakened, not the general population."

"We're Sleepers," Dane slapped him on the back. "Don't get a failing liver on me."

When they reached the courtyard, all the guards were lined up in rank and file. They silently melted into the crowd. After a couple of minutes, Tessai came to give orders.

The lieutenant spoke, and Jimmy, ever so kindly, translated for Dane. The gist of it was thus: some hunter from the outer settlement had accused one of the Pathfinders of murder. Now, the guards had to prepare the Great Hall for a 'trial.' And they had to make it sudden. Dane pulled his visor down.

The march was short and silent. One moment, the hall was full of joy and chatter, and it all stopped the next moment. They streamed into the hall, pushed the tables to the walls, and took their places. Dane tried his best to get as close to the empty throne, and secured a spot right by the steps to the alcove.

Five figures came out of the darkness of the alcove and stood by the steps. Seishan and Tessai were among them. Dane activated his enchantment and gave Seishan a nod. "Greetings, my lady."

"Lord Dane," she returned with a smile. "Don't look at his helm. It's a mental attack."

Before he could ask her to elucidate, another stepped out of the darkness.

The armor was bright and gilded, catching the light from the windows and making Dane squint. The hedonistic thing covered the man within from head to toe, flowing to fit his tall, broad frame as he walked.

…as for his helm, it was a smooth surface of polished gold. In it, Dane…Dane saw…saw the faces of all of…he trembled. Dread gripped his heart. He reached out to [Storm Forged] and flicked the switch. He felt nothing.

He probably should have listened to Seishan, he decided.

"Powerful," he told her.

Seishan accepted, "Yes." There was a hint of despondency in her voice. "And even with the Echo, we cannot escape this place."

Dane did not care for her despair.

Perhaps he had been looking at the Bright Lord for too long, for he turned his neck to look at him. "Lower your head," Seishan told him. Dane lowered it.

Gunlaug looked away. The king moved to sit on his throne, gracefully propping himself down. His voice was a serpentine thing, and Dane wondered what he was saying. He flicked the switch and made sure not to look at his helm. That was a…fearful experience. A powerful Echo, that one.

From the doors of the hall, two guards dragged forth a frail, emaciated man, and threw him to the floor. His dirty rags pooled on the floor, but he raised his head. There was nothing to see but deep, dark rage in those eyes. He pushed himself up and straightened.

The Bright Lord began to speak.

"Would you like to know?" Seishan asked.

"Yes."

"The man's name is Jubei. He accused a member of the Host, and Gunlaug had him dragged here to make an example of him. There is only his law, and all that is his is right, and all that is not is wrong."

"Did he truly say that?"

"No. But that's what he meant."

Jubei took a step forward. He pointed a finger at a group of Hunters. It trembled with fury as he spoke. After a back-and-forth between Gunlaug and the man from the outer settlement, Seishan clued him in.

"He accuses a Pathfinder of using a boy from outside the walls as bait for Nightmare Creatures." Dane stared at the accused. He hoped that what Jubei said wasn't so, for if it was, there was very little that could stop every rational man within this Citadel from delivering…well, death.

Jubei, the Pathfinder, and the Bright Lord were exchanging words and screams when a Lieutenant stepped in.

"This is Gemma. He proposes the right of challenge. Essentially, a duel to the death, and all differences die with the vanquished."

Dane almost guffawed. "We legacies have a taste for theatrics, but this is a bit much even for me, my lady!"

Seishan almost smiled.

Gemma smiled and egged Jubei on.

Dane watched it all happen in silence until eventually, Seishan said, "Jubei accepted."