A Trial Begins

Chapter 20 

They were stiff and unsure as they stood before her. Their posture is exemplary in comparison to the mercenaries' turned knights who will be their commanding officers. The tension in the training ground is potent enough that even Seazuna and Avery who were normally rather lackadaisical were stiff. Zarracen couldn't be happier for it. As much as she dislikes some aspects of the Knight Order this seriousness was a little bit missed in the past few days. 

Having caught Avery one too many times in her admiration moments and Seazuna lounging around with a wide grin on his face when he should be patrolling the grounds. These other knights will breed competition for a better position which will keep Seazuna from lagging behind hopefully. As it stands without his natural biology, he'd be weaker than Caleb. 

Zarracen steps forward and begins. 

"Sir Gibraltar spoke highly of all of you. However, I know that knight via his exploits not...personally," with this said her eyes drag across all of them before she continues. 

"I'll decide you worth from what I can see myself. Is that understood?" 

"Yes Galt!" All of them bark. 

"Good. En Callista and Xan Blakely step forward." The crunch of grass is heard as the two move forward. "These two will be your commanding officers outside of myself. Treat them as if you would a knight of 2nd class." 

She notes a few frowns at that last part. Guess they understood that they'd be taking commands from people lower than them. Most of the knights here were 2nd or 1st class respectively. Normally, a few of them would be knight captain in charge of barracks somewhere, squad or a platoon. Instead, they came here. It doesn't account for noble ego as well that might not like taking orders from two commoners. If they can't take orders though she has no use for them. 

So she says, "I didn't here a yes Galt. Is that understood?" 

"Yes Galt!" 

Once she gets her confirmation, she moves on to the squad placement. 

"Let's get to the squad placement then. They'll be three divisions. Grounds, Personal and my division. En Callista will be in charge of personal guard unit and Xan Blakely will be in charge of the grounds." 

With all this said in done, Zarracen proceeds to have them lineup in front of their commanding officers now. 

With Avery she sends Xan Fenedrel a 6th tier sword master that seemed average to the eye. Sir Dorian a nobleman who was under the Order of Nobility. Everything about him seemed serious but the thing that stands out about him is the fact that he utilizes a shield as a primary weapon. 

From what she was able to gather from the reports he's known as the Iron Bulwark by most of his colleagues. The final person on En Callista's team is Galt Irisa a noblewoman from a tektdom that reeked of chemicals and the ground. The information stated her father was an alchemist not her but if Zarracen's nose is correct she dabbles. 

With Xan Blakely she places En Ymenia and Xan Colet a commoner for the Order of Magus. With Avery given her abilities she gave her more individuals who specialized with weaponry rather than magic for Blakely she gives him more magic user. En Isata is a 5th tier sword master whose primary weapon is an axe. The last of this grouping is Sir Jeane Veras, an individual known for his bow and dagger work as a tier 3 martial master. 

For Zarracen's own group she sadly took the rest of the noblemen and women. Sir Reynard Gibraltar balanced fighter in both martial mastery and magic. Which is surprising seeing as martial masters had a harder time subletting into magic. Part of the reason she has such difficulties now. It might be the reason the man has breached a wall as his father said. 

Galt Jehanete Veras Jeane's twin sister an 8th tier mage that while under the Order of Magus was directly in Galt Askola's company. Galt Annett Morrow another sorceress but one who was up under the Order of Valor would be with her as well. The last of this grouping is Sir Caleb Murry, the newly knighted boy from before. To keep him up under her wing as she'd promised Sir Gibraltar she'd do. 

At the end her roster looks pretty balanced with a good in between of magic and aura users between each squad. 

En Avery Callista team set up: Sir Dorian Higgs, Xan Fenedrel Jax, Galt Irisa, and Xan Cauld.

 Xan Blakely team set up: En Ymenia, Xan Colet, Xan Seazuna and Sir Jeane Veras.

Galt Zarracen Ahktan team set up: Sir Reynard Gibraltar, Sir Caleb Murry, Galt Jehanete Veras, and Galt Annett Morrow.

"Separate to get know your squad. My team with me-" 

"Actually you don't have time for that," Fiella pops up startling a few of the knights who grip their weaponry or began to channel magic. 

"Fiella," Zarracen sighs out her name. 

"Sir Kayiback Rerrer has arrived and is waiting for you in the lounge." 

"Kai is here?" Zarracen casts her glance at her troops. "Spar get to know each other foster teamwork. Don't kill each other." 

She commands before walking off with Fiella. "Did Kai happen to state why he's here?" 

"No but Isabella is currently playing hostess with him." 

Zarracen speeds up her walk at this. She did not need Kai disclosing her secrets to her Princess Isabella. The man is the type to do so happily if he wasn't flirting with her himself. The thought of which irritates Zarracen to know end. 

She enters the room with Fiella hot on her heels to a surprisingly suffocating silence. Kai was sitting nursing a drink of some kind while Isabella was glaring at him over the rim of her tea cup. Zarracen is unsure what to make of it and wonders what was said between them. Kai looks at her and grins with a grimace. 

"Hi Zari," Kai greets. 

"Kai?" She says his name in a question which he answers. 

"I'm here on business." 

"Then get on with it Sir Kayiback Rerrer." 

"I've been ordered to advise you that have been sanctioned for killings in Arthwa. I mean what in the nethers were you thinking killing a bunch of knights. Now I have to bring you in for a tribunal." 

"You could not and leave." 

He scoffs at this. "If I don't do it someone will. You'd rather be brought in by Askola or Norcross?" 

"Noted." Zarracen winces. "Well I figured this would happen but not so soon so let's go." 

"That's it? You're not going to argue?" 

"Why would I? I've been getting slammed with violations the moment Praer brought me into the Order of Valor. It's not anything new. Most of them were no fault and this one will be decided as such as well. Unless they want to argue for justice against those who were willing to commit a treasonous act against our Star?" 

Zarracen is blunt and too the point. She goes on to reveal what the knights had done to Kayiback and how she's already was investigated on scene by RIM. His confusion is plain at this as if he really thought she didn't do anything to cover her tracks. Zarracen looks towards Isabella who was sitting there still glaring at Kayiback. 

"Leave us Sir Kayiback I'd like to speak with my guard before you take her away." 

Fiella escorts him out of the room and he doesn't argue. With a flick of wrist the room becomes shrouded in her magic. It surprisingly puts Zarracen at ease to feel that darkness dancing over her skin as if it was a caress before seeping into the room in it's entirety. 

"I didn't think she'd move this quickly." 

"You at least contacted who you needed to right?" 

"Of course, I did." 

Zarracen nods her head. "Well, if that's prepared. I should probably tell ya that you might get some animosity from Grand Knight of Valor Ulruk Praer as well." 

"Why?" Isabella questions exasperatedly. 

"One of his family members or students pretended to be a bandit and attempted to attack my group the mercenaries while we were in between Arthwa and Illuvia." 

"And you didn't think to mention this sooner that you have enemies with your former superior officer." 

"Technically he's still my superior officer. Kind of sorta still a member of the Order of Valor since for some reason your sister can stop an Emperor's command." 

"Stop his command? Don't be foolish you are crazy if you think that. He's allowing this because he loves seeing the games we play with each other to lower each other's standing. I have to keep my head swiveling to keep from losing anyone. My empty mansion isn't because of want." 

"You don't have anyone you can trust then." 

"Only Fiella." 

Isabella admits. Zarracen understands not being able trust people. Even at a young age she struggled with that. Now as an adult her sensors must've been malfunctioning because she would never have gotten into such a situation as a child. Her instincts forged in worse of the underbelly wouldn't have allowed it. Because if it did, she'd be dead right now. 

She's allowed herself to be a sheep shepherded by individuals like Praer who didn't have her best interests at heart. Does Isabella? She could just throw her away. Start over. So, why isn't she. Is her power really needed for whatever she wants to get done? 

Zarracen doesn't know what to say or do next. So, she leaves. Kayiback is looking down at the floor when she walks out of the sitting room. His eyes flash in guilt as he pulls out enchanted manacles. 

"Really? If I wanted to escape, I would have while I was in there with Isabella." 

"Protocol you know how it is?" 

"No...I don't." 

The manacles are placed on, and she immediately feels as if she's being locked away in an enclosed room with zero light and no exit. The amount of pressure on her chest is almost enough to bring her to panic as her becoming weak is known. She's willingly doing this because she wants to trust Isabella for some reason to be able to get her out. 

Auturia is nice this time of the year she's heard. She should've just left. But, if Kayiback's right maybe they were ready for her to run and if it was Grand Knight Norcross waiting for her, she just knows she's going to die. So, she swallows her apprehension and panic down before stoically walking out the mansion with her head held high. 

As she leaves her knights were watching. She smirks their way at least to give those she's known a few days the confidence of her return. She didn't know why this bunch of knights wanted to move down but she knows enough to understand that this is likely their last chance. 

Kayiback attempts to cheerily talk to her on the way to the Military Tribunal. It's a long way but its made in carriage as they ride through the town into the enclosed military grounds. 

The amount of knights standing around outside as if waiting for her to be paraded through is disconcerting. Some of which were Knights of Valor that she didn't get along with of course. Many of which though seemed to be there as guards to keep the peace. 

"The tribunal isn't tomorrow it's today isn't it?" 

"It's right now. They're trying to run you over Zari. And I can't help you with this." 

"Save it Kai. I know you're only good for a good time." 

Hurt flickers across his face but she ignores it in favor of stepping out the vehicle. The chains rattling as a statement to her arrival. The two of them step forward and walk into the building under the jeering gazes of those who should be her comrades. 

Outside the inner tribunal chambers were a few more guards and a man. Kayiback orders the guards to open the door. 

"Actually, Sir Rerrer I'll be taking over for her escort." 

"I've been ordered to take her to the chamber," Kayiback states plainly. 

"And I'm her Legist your orders don't trump the law of a Tribunal. You lot have already embarrassed an outstanding Grand Knight with foolishness of this magnitude for a case that was already in the process of being closed without fault because a Margrave wanted to complain about a fiancé of all things dead that was no fault but their own." 

"She can't just kill them though she could've knocked them out." 

"Regardless those individuals would be dead anyway and perhaps members of their family as well. Treasonous activity of the level they were doing is not taken lightly. You're a noble. You should be aware that entire bloodlines have been killed off for less." 

Zarracen stares at Kayiback a bit shocked that he'd say that, but she'd forgotten. He's a noble. Their egos at times were larger than their sense. Kayiback walks off in a huff he does pause and wish her luck but she didn't care about luck or any of his well wishes at the moment. 

"Who made you my Legist?" 

"She may not be able to intervene directly but it doesn't mean she cannot do as much as this." 

"What's your name?" 

"Malachi Dalecki at your service." 

"Nice to meet you Malachi." 

"Let's get this over with then." 

The enter inside.