by James Dale
The twelve knights halted them about three feet from the dais, turning them over to a squad of palace guardsmen. The knights then did an about face and marched smartly from the chamber, their mission successfully completed. Their exit produced a polite scattering of applause from the gathered audience as well as a few wistful sighs from some of the younger ladies in attendance.
It came abruptly to a halt when Lord Minister Errdan stepped onto the dais, walked to the far left of the platform and rapped his staff sharply against the floor three times. "His royal majesty Ellgenn Ellgereth, King of Doridan!” The man shouted in a thunderous voice. “Son of Dorhal! Descendent of Ellnad Ellgereth! Bearer of the Highsword Siegebreaker! Broken during the Great War of the Stones!”
The gathered noblemen and women hastily scrambled to their feet as Ellgenn was escorted through a door at the rear of the dais by a court page. The king was dressed in heavy white robes of satin trimmed with fur. It was obvious he was not well, for his gait was slow and measured and he leaned heavily on the page. In his right hand Ellgenn carried the Highsword Siegebreaker, its blade broken off a foot below the hilt. The once mighty sword was useless now, fit only to be a symbol of office, for no mortal smith, Man or Ailfar, could repair the divinely forged, shattered blade.
Ellgenn painfully took his seat, laying the broken sword across his lap, and when the page departed the dais, he nodded to his Lord Minister. Dornen rapped his staff thrice more and continued. "Princess Annawyn Ellgereth! Heiress to the Ivory Throne of Doridan! Morgan Ellgereth! His Grace the Duke of Dorshev and brother to the king!"
Though Braedan had been brought here in chains to be tried for piracy, his only thought at this moment was Annawyn Ellgereth was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She was dressed in a sleek, cream colored gown, her long auburn hair braided with strands of pearls and draped over her right shoulder. There was a silver circlet about her brow and pearls lovingly embraced her slender, perfect neck. All the emotions she had stirred in him the first time he’d seen her, emotions he had tried over the last month locked in his cell to deny as imagined fantasy, washed over him once more like a tidal wave. Escorting this vision of Heaven was her uncle Morgan. Only slightly younger than his brother king, Morgan was nevertheless hale and fit despite his years. He seated Annawyn on Ellgenn's right, kissed her hand, and then took the last remaining seat on the dais.
Once Duke Morgan was seated, Lord Minister of the King's Justice Dornen Errdan stepped down from the royal platform and rapped his staff against the tiled floor the chamber. "His Grace, the Duke of Raashan. Kiathan Ellgaer!" he declared with undisguised admoration. “The King's Champion! Swordmaster of Ljmarn Haelfest and Betrothed of Princess Annawyn!”
Kiathan entered through a door to the right of the chamber, and stepping up onto the dais, walked to the center of the royal platform where he knelt before the king. Ellgenn extended his right hand and the Duke of Raashan took it in his own and kissed the royal signet ring. He then stood and faced the gathered crowd, motioned for Dornen, and the Lord Minister passed him a rolled parchment. Without preamble, he broke the seal on the scroll, opened it, and began to read.
"These are the charges brought against Tarsus Aernin and Jack Braedan." He paused long enough to fix the pair with a smug, satisfied smile before continuing. "Tarsus Aernin, you are charged with robbing the Lending House of Kulvar of the sum of two thousand gold Dorkarrs. With the theft and destruction of the ship Sparrowhawk, property of the House of Ellgaer, and with being an officer of the infamous pirate guild the Free Brothers of the Sea, where you did engage in murder, rape and theft of unarmed merchant ships and defenseless villages in the realm of Doridan. How do you answer these charges?"
Tarsus said nothing, his only reply a murderous glare.
Duke Kiathan smiled. "Let it be recorded on this the 13th day of the month of Sendora in the 814th year of Victory over Darkness, the accused remained silent, stricken speechless by his guilt at the stated charges."
"Jack Braedan," Kiathan continued, "you are charged with being an officer in the pirate guild the Free Brothers of the Sea, where you did engage in murder, rape, and theft against unarmed merchant ships and defenseless villages in the realm of Doridan." The Duke of Raashan handed the scroll back to the Minister of Justice. Justice, "How do you answer the charges?"
"Not guilty,” Braedan replied in a tone of voice leaving little doubt he thought the charges were a trumped-up farce.
"Do you deny being an officer in the Free Brothers of the Sea aboard the Seawolf? A ship under the command of the confessed pirate, Tarsus of Amar?" Kiathan asked calmly, but Braedan could already see the rage brewing beneath the surface.
"I would never deny my captain," Jack said, then belatedly added, "Your grace," as if it were an afterthought.
"Then you admit you are a pirate!" Kiathan snarled, his rage growing.
"Yes,” Jack shrugged. “A pretty damn good one considering I’d only been with the Brother-hood a few months."
That brought a scattering of chuckles from the gathered crowd.
"So, you admit you are a murderer! That you stole from citizens of Doridan!" Kiathan almost shouted, silencing the crowd.
"I do not," Jack replied. He did not bother adding Kiathan’s title this time and the Duke’s rage swelled.
"If I may, Duke Kiathan?" interrupted Duke Morgan, rising from his seat on the dais and stepping down to stand before Braedan.
"Of course, your grace," Kiathan said between clenched teeth. There was a look of hate on the Duke of Raashan's face and Braedan knew at once he held no love for the king's brother.
"Did I hear you correctly?" Morgan asked, looking Jack squarely in the eye. "You admit being a pirate in the Free Brothers of the Sea?"
"I do. Your grace," Jack replied with a slight bow.
"Yet you deny committing crimes against Doridan?" the duke asked. A small smile threated the corner’s of his lips and Jack knew he had at least one other ally besides the princess at this trial.
"I do, your grace," Braedan nodded. "While serving as an officer on the Seawolf under Captain Tarsus, not once did I do murder or steal from any citizen of Doridan. Or of any kingdom of the Whesguard. Unless of course, any had the misfortune of already paying for the goods contained in King Urgiss' warehouses the night the Brotherhood put Norgarth to the torch."
"That is an unsubstantiated rumor!" Kiathan spat.
"On the contrary Duke Kiathan," Morgan replied calmly. "I received an eye witness account only this morning from a Royal Intelligence officer in Norgarth. Barely three months ago a mysterious fleet of ships, identified by Thessa Arthol of Brythond, as pirates of the Brotherhood, set fire to the docks in Norgarth and destroyed nearly half of Urgiss' warships as they lay at anchor in the Gulf of Nor. It was during this raid, was it not, while facing great personal risk, you rescued the countess from a foul rapist, and upon the discovery of her identity, made arrangements for her return without seeking a single copper in ransom. Thus averting war between Brydium and Kadin?" he added, addressing the crowd.
"That is correct your grace," Jack replied. "With the help of Captain Tarsus...And of course Dorad Ellgereth, former prince of Doridan."
"Is that true captain?" Morgan asked, turning to Amarian.
"Yes, your grace," Tarsus bowed, with a brief smile for the fuming Duke Kiathan. “Jack even paid Captain Davis Gunderson of Dorihil fifty gold Dorkarrs to return the Lady Arthol to Dorshev.”
"Most interesting," the Duke of Dorshev admitted, remounting the dais and taking his seat. "That certainly doesn't sound like the actions of murderous pirates. Most interesting indeed."
Braedan did not miss the dazzling smile Annawyn flashed her uncle, or his answering wink. But the exchange was also observed by the Duke of Raashan.
"Enough of this!" Kiathan snarled, turning to face Tarsus and Braedan. "Nobles of Dorshev and citizens of Doridan, these men are both confessed officer of the Free Brothers of the Sea! That nefarious order has been a thorn
in the side of all Aralon for over five hundred years, murdering, looting and raping without regard to any flag of any Kingdom! Tarsus Aernin stole over two thousand gold Dorkarrs from the lending house of a respected citizen of the Crown! The theft was witnessed by over a dozen officers of that establishment! Some of which are in this very room! There is no need to call any witnesses. I find them both guilty of the stated charges! Lord Minister! Read the sentence!"
Dornen Errdan stepped to the foot of the dais and struck his staff against the floor. "Tarsus Aernin! Jack Braedan! You are confessed pirates, and are hereby found guilty of murder, rape and theft against citizens under the protection of the King of Doridan! This court sentences you to death!"
"No father!" Princess Annawyn cried, rising to her feet.
"It must be done my child," King Ellgenn said sadly, speaking for the first time. "For the good of the kingdom."
"Continue Lord Minister," Kiathan smiled.
"You will be returned to the Tower of the White Horse," Dornen Errdan resumed, "where you will be given a last meal and the chance to make peace with the Creator. Tomorrow at dawn, you will be escorted outside the city walls where you will be crucified, your bodies left to hang for thirty days as examples of justice! May Yh have mercy on your soul."
The chamber erupted in shocked disbelief.
"Your Majesty!" someone in the audience cried, stepping forward to silence the rest gathered in the hall. He was a tall man, dressed in silver and black, with dark graying hair and piercing blue eyes. "On behalf of the people of Brydium," he pleaded. "I beseech you! Re-consider this sentence! This is not justice. These men may or may not have committed…questionable deeds in the past, but these same men have most recently displayed bravery and honor more befitting heroes than murderers. Perhaps their violence against Norgarth was accomplished merely in self-service to their Brotherhood, but their honorable actions in the rescue and return of Countess Thessa Arthol, betrothed of Prince Thonicil, warrant praise, not death. Is that act alone not sufficient grounds enough to commute their sentence to imprisonment? I beg you, on behalf of the Dragon Throne, show them mercy!"
"A weak plea from a weakened throne Ambassador Thongril," Duke Kiathan said, dismissing King Theros' emissary with insulting disdain. "Perhaps if Brydium were stronger at guarding her citizens, the countess would not have needed pirates and murderers to defend her honor. Guards! Remove the prisoners!"
"I'll be waiting for you in hell Kiathan!" Tarsus shouted as palace guardsmen took hold of him and Braedan and began to escort them roughly from the chamber. "In Hell!"
They were quickly ushered passed the stunned audience and out of the palace where the twelve Knights of the White Horse awaited them. The guardsmen loaded the pair onto the prison cart and their chains were once again locked to the wagon's cross bar. Braedan tried speaking to Tarsus, but was prevented by one of the knights and they were forced to make the return trip to the Tower of the White Horse in silence. As they were being separated again to be placed in their cells however, Tarsus did manage to make Jack one promise. "I will not let them crucify you," he vowed, as they locked him away. "I will not!"
When the door to his own cell was slammed shut behind him, Braedan began pacing the small room like a caged animal, trying desperately to think of some way out of this dilemma, but every wild plan that came to mind he soon discarded. He could think of nothing, short of divine intervention, that would save them. Once again, he wondered if this was the end of his strange odyssey. Was he merely an unlucky traveler on a twisted road of fate or, as Tarsus now seemed to be convinced, the returned descendent of some long dead king? It would not matter either way when he was hanging dead on a tree.
Sundown arrived with no solution but it did bring his last meal, a veritable feast compared to what he had been eating the last month. "Would you like anything else?" Sir Gain asked, setting down a tray laden with bread and roasted meat on a small table another knight set before him.
"Some wine would be nice," Jack said. "On second thought, make that a sledge hammer and about two hundred feet of rope."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible," the knight smiled, impressed by his spirit.
"Just the wine then?"
“See to it,” Gain said, turning to the other knight.
“Yes Sir Gain,” he nodded.
“And can you do one other thing for me?” asked Jack when they were alone.
"If it is within reason," Gain said.
"Would you tell Princess Annawyn...tell Anna I was not always a pirate? I was a soldier once. From a respected family. It was a long, painful road that led me to the Brotherhood. And much of it not under my control,” Jack finished.
“Every man is responsible for the choices he makes in life, Jack Braedan,” the knight replied. “And the consequence of those choices.”
“You misunderstood me, sir Knight.” Jack countered. “I wasn’t making excuses. The choices I made put me in a position to save Thessa’s life. And Dorad’s. Even knowing I would end up here…in exchange for saving them? I would make them again. Regardless of the consequences.”
“Well spoken, Jack Braedan,” Gain said. “I will relay your message to the Princess.”
“Then I will sleep soundly tonight, Gain Ellgereth.” Jack smiled. “One more thing?”
Gain smiled in return. "Only one?”
"The Ambassador from Brydium? What was his name?"
"Ian Thongril."
"Would you thank him for me as well?"
"I will," answered the knight.
"Thanks."
Sir Gain bowed, turning to leave. "Gain, wait! Would you give Anna something?" Taking the crucifix Molly Reese had given him from around his neck, he offered it to the knight. "To remember me by?"
"I do not think you will be soon forgotten in Dorshev," Sir Gain said, accepting the silver cross.
"Last request. I promise. Do you think I could get a shave?” asked Jack. "This beard is itching like crazy."
"I will send someone shortly," the knight promised.
"With the wine?"
“With the wine,” Gain nodded. "You do not deserve crucifixion, Jack Braedan. I could…add something,” he said hesitantly. “To ease you suffering tomorrow?"
“Thanks but no,” Braedan replied. He had had enough drugs while at Walter Reed to last him a lifetime. “I’d rather die with a clear head.”
"I shall pray for you, then." Gain said, and locked the door behind him.
After the knight's footsteps had faded away into silence, Braedan picked up the tray of food and returned to his bunk. It did smell delicious, and he was famished. He sighed, then tore off a piece of the bread. "Now that is some fresh bread."
After Braedan finished his meal he slid the empty tray through the slot in the cell door for the final time. Soon afterwards two knights arrived. His wrists were tied and while one stood guard, the other lathered his face and carefully removed his beard with a razor. Before they left him, one of the knights retrieved a bottle of wine from the hall and poured him a generous amount into a wooden cup.
“To your health, gentlemen,” Jack toasted and sipped. “Not bad. Not Surcca Valley, but not bad. Leave the bottle?”
“Not a chance,” the knight scoffed. Not everyone in the Tower was as cordial as Sir Gain. When they left him, Braedan lay down on his bunk and surprisingly, soon fell asleep.
Although he had assured Sir Gain he would sleep soundly, he spent the night troubled by dreams. Long months ago, Jennifer Hurst had told him if he wanted his dreams to end he had to follow his nightmare beast. Despite everything that had happened to him since, that promise had been kept. The dreams was of Kiathan laughing madly as he drove great iron spikes into his hands and feet, of Annawyn weeping at the foot of his cross while his dripping blood matted her auburn hair to her upturned face.
Tarsus hung beside him, saying over and over again, "Save us if you're the King! Save us if you're the King!" Sir Gain was there as well, dressed in the full armor of th
e Knights of the White Horse. “I offered you something for the pain,” he said sadly, watching Jack groan in agony. They were all there. Dorad, Kaiddra, Thessa, Heath, everyone he had known come to witness his suffering. And standing behind them all was a dark figure encased in shadow, watching him with red, glowing eyes. In his hands he held a stone that burned like molten fire. As Braedan felt his heart beat for the last time, felt his final breath leave his body, the dark figure thrust the stone towards him and its terrible light filled his mind as its fire consumed him.
Braedan awoke with a start, drenched in sweat and a scream on his lips. He was still blinded by a burning light, but it was only the torch carried by a tower knight as he entered his cell. "It is time," he announced.
"So soon?" he asked, shielding his eyes.
"Stand up please," the knight said.
Braedan did as the knight asked and two knights entered his cell. They turned him around, crossed his arms behind his back, and placed manacles on his wrists. His elbows were then tied tightly together with a length of rope and they led him from the cell. Tarsus was waiting on the next landing, shackled in the same manner and with three more knights guarding him. There would be no chance for some bold escape from the Tower of the White Horse.
"Sorry about this," Jack said as they began to make their way down the winding stairway of the tower. "I thought...things would turn out differently."
"As did I," the Amarian replied.
Their six escorts did not interrupt this morning. Apparently, they would be given this one last opportunity to talk.
"Why are executions always so damn early?" Jack asked.
