Standing Trial

Zan kept his temper and refused to react. When he heard that the soldiers had come to arrest him, he anticipated such an outrageous accusation. "I am not guilty of either crime. And I do not believe that this is how the justice system was set up to work." Under Aurora's mother Zephyra, the courts were fashioned to require a waiting time between an accusation and trial so evidence could be gathered. Zephyra had done this to give herself time to hide the indiscretions of herself or her subordinates, but among the general public the time helped for justice to prevail. Having charges brought and a trial in the same day was unheard of.

"This is most unusual," Birger agreed.

The rest of the Council also seemed uncomfortable. They, too, knew the law. Cafer, on the other hand, was unperturbed. "Perhaps under the old Empresses that was the law, but we have a new ruler. What do you say, future Emperor Alaron?"

The boy arched his back, looking every inch a ruler already. He had been coached well by his mentor. "We will hold trial now. I want everyone responsible for my mother's death to pay."

Zan bowed to the young prince. "Your mother is not dead, Prince Alaron. I have someone who knows that she is alive. I just received the news a moment ago."

"A convenient story. The Empress is dead when it suits you, but now miraculously she is alive. Tell me, who is your source," Cafer demanded. He narrowed his gaze, wondering what the guardian had up his sleeve.

"I…I cannot tell you without his permission." Zan had promised Gandr a new life. He would not go back on that just to save his own skin.

"You lie! There is no source." Alaron said angrily. He banged his small fist on the arm of the chair.

"And what about the other crime? You were the last one to see the prisoner alive. Birger said you left very angry. Why did you return?" Cafer pretended to be concerned.

"My answer will not be believed anyway. Plus, I am sure you have your own theory." Zan looked meaningfully at the other councilman.

Cafer touched his chin as if in thought. "Indeed I do. I think you pretended to be angry so that no one would suspect you. Then you snuck back to the prison cell when no one was looking and stabbed the gnome. Unfortunately for you the gnome cried out and alerted the guards. When you were discovered, you hid the knife and played savior. You are the traitor among us, and he was going to reveal you. How does that sound?"

"Sounds like you have it all figured out," the silver-eyed man responded sarcastically. "I tell you the truth: someone stabbed the gnome, but it was not me." Zan could feel the noose tightening around his neck. This was not a miscommunication. He was being set up. Sure enough, Cafer's next words confirmed his suspicion.

"I thought you might deny it, so we have saved the last piece of evidence in order that your lies might be revealed." Cafer smiled wickedly. "This knife was found in your room this morning. It was hidden behind a panel on your bed." Cafer held up a knife for everyone to see.

Zan had not seen it before, but since it was not his that was not surprising. "Behind a panel, you say?" He asked incredulously.

"Perhaps Zan uses it for protection." Birger would not easily believe that a man he trusted would be so wicked.

"I have a knife or two hidden in my own room," Another councilman added.

"The knife alone is not the problem. Within the handle, a piece of the prisoner's garment was caught. How else could it have gotten there unless it was plunged into the gnome." Cafer's voice was triumphant.

"Murderer!" Alaron screamed. The room was abuzz. Zan's hands were jerked behind his back and he was forced to the ground.

"Your Highness," Zan begged. "Please give me time to prove my claims."

"Do not tell the future Emperor what to do!" Cafer threatened. He strode over to the Guardian and leaned down so no one else could hear. "You may have had Aurora's ear, but I have taken care of that. You were in the way, just like Gandr. The Empire thanks you for your service, but your time is through."

"You!" Zan yelled. The ground began to shake. The soldiers holding the Guardian released him as they fell to floor. Everyone else looked for something to grab onto. Amid the chaos, the silver-eyed man saw his chance. He bolted through the door. The guards outside lay unconscious, and Gandr was waiting for him. "Cafer is the traitor!" Zan said to the gnome.

"Yes, and he will not rest until you are dead. Now come on!" Gandr shoved the Guardian toward the hall.

"We cannot escape," Zan said as he ran.

"Maybe you can't…" Gandr grinned. They stopped along an outer wall of the palace. There was shouting everywhere. Gandr ran his fingers along the marble wall until he found a suitable spot. "Look away."

Zan complied. The ground rumbled slightly and when the Guardian looked, a fissure had opened in the wall. The two passed through the wall and the hole closed behind them. They found themselves in a strange glowing passage. The walls sparkled in the darkness.

"Where are we?" Zan asked.

"I have no idea! It is your palace. We should be outside, but it seems we are between the walls."

"So that is how they did it…" Zan recalled how the Empress and Devrim used to escape from the palace unseen.

"Come look at this," Gandr called him over to one of the one-way windows.

"They cannot see us!" Zan was amazed. He watched the soldiers run by without taking notice of them. Without warning, Zan ran back toward the Council's room. Gandr took a moment to react, but then followed on his heels. Within the meeting room, emotions were heated. Alaron had been rushed from the room to safety. Everyone seemed to be arguing. As the pair looked on, Cafer was shouting at a guard.

"What do you mean you cannot find him?!? Zan did not just disappear into thin air!"

"This is madness. I cannot believe that Chief Zan is a murderer. There must be some mistake." Birger's voice was also raised.

"He ran away. Does that sound like an innocent man to you?" Cafer said more calmly. His face became sad as he gently lay his hand on Birger's shoulder. "I do not want to believe it either, but these are the times in which we live."

Looking through the magic window, Zan's eyes flashed. "That silver-tongued snake! We have never seen eye to eye, but I never thought him capable of this."

Gandr nodded. "That is the problem with those with a silver tongue; they often have a silver dagger to match."

"I have seen enough. I must get out of here and find the Empress. She is in more danger than she realizes." The guardian had been tasked with protecting Aurora. He had been given a new opportunity to fulfill his duty.

"I am coming with you," Gandr said with conviction.

"You mean you have chosen a fresh start?"

"It might be nice to be one of the good guys for a change," Gandr joked.

Zan chuckled. "Nice, yes. Easy? No… Are you sure? Then let's go!"