“Are you ready?” Damara asked. She squeezed my elbow, and I tried not to lean too much on her support. I knew she worried about me, but I was trying to be strong.
I took a deep breath. This was the last trial, but potentially the most difficult for me. I would need to testify against the former queen. There had been much speculation as to what sort of punishment Queen Arlene would mete out against her mother. I did not know Arlene well, but I hoped she would be gracious to her mother and exile her.
“I am as ready as I will ever be,” I replied, and I forced a smile. Damara squeezed my elbow once more and let go. I didn’t want to rely on her, but I knew I needed her. What would I do without her steady presence beside me in these trying times? The duties of court still weighed down upon me. My part in the prophecy not only lay in action, but in careful maneuvering of politics, it seemed.
We left as a group, three women walking together, in a solemn processional, our guards trailing behind. The audience hall was where the trial was to be held. We entered and were shown to the front and waited beside the throne. The lords who had been faithful to Arlene during the rebellion were also present, and they winged either side of her seat. The rest of the chamber was filled with minor lords and those of the common folk who could find their way in. The chamber was crowded and hot from the press of so many bodies in one place. Unlike the other trials, this one was an open forum, in part to dispel any question about the judgment against the former queen.
A trumpet blared. “Now entering, Her Majesty Queen Arlene D’ Aux,” the crier’s voice rang out and silenced the assembly.
The people as one fell down on bended knee. Arlene walked in. She wore breeches and a surcoat with the rearing horse of the D’Aux royal family emblazoned on her chest. From her shoulders hung a long crimson robe, which was dragging on the ground behind her. Many had been scandalized to see her wearing men’s clothes, but she refused to heed her advisors. She had close-cropped curly black hair, which had grown out to curl around her ears, and a few locks fell into her eyes.
Had she not been announced as queen, many might have thought her the king. She was, in fact, the first lone female ruler on the throne of Neaux. In the past, the crown had passed from father to son. The late king Reginald, Arlene’s father, had no sons, and when his late brother had briefly taken the throne before being killed by the queen’s plots, Arlene had seized control as the firstborn of the late king. On Arlene’s arm was her younger sister, Marie-Celeste, the middle daughter of the royal family and heir to the throne as declared by Arlene upon her crowning. The queen and princess walked through the crowd and took seats on the dual thrones in front of the crowd.
Arlene helped her fragile sister to take her seat. Princess Marie-Celeste had always been of poor health, and in the past couple of weeks, she had only grown weaker. Her dark skin was ashen, and her cheeks appeared sunken in. It was a wonder she had the strength to come to the trial at all. I worried she was being poisoned as the late king Reginald had been. Arlene had her trusted physicians working on her sister, but Marie-Celeste appeared to have a wasting sickness none could cure.
Arlene’s throne was precarious. She had no heir, and she had a flimsy grasp upon the throne. Executing the traitors and giving out fair punishment was her last chance at gaining a firmer grasp on her throne. And then there was my role. As a diviner, I was considered impartial despite the fact that I was from Danhad. My powers were thought to supersede nationality.
Arlene called the assembly to stand. They did so with a rustling of cloaks and gowns. Arlene looked over the crowd; despite her strange choice in garment, she had a commanding presence.
“Good people, we are here today to hear testimony for the trial of former queen Celeste D’Aux for murder and treason against the crown of Neaux. I shall hear arguments for and against her innocence. When all have spoken who wish to do so, I will hand out my judgment.” She paused and scanned the crowd. “Bring in the prisoner.”
The double doors at the back of the room opened with a heavy creak. The crowd parted to let the former queen through. She was led by a pair of stiff-faced guards who wore the royal red and gold. Celeste stood in the center, her long black hair braided down her back, and she wore a gray, rough-spun gown. Her hands and feet were shackled, and they clanked as she walked. The crowd murmured as she walked by, and the whispers were agitated.
Celeste kept her head held high and her gaze forward, fixed on Arlene, who stood at the edge of the dais. I thought back to my own trial in Danhad and for a moment sympathized with her. I could imagine how terrified she was. But she is guilty of her crimes, and you were not, I had to remind myself. She came to a halt and stared at her daughter with a defiant tilt of her chin.
“Celeste D’Aux, you are accused of treason and murder. How do you plead?” Arlene asked. She gazed down at her mother, her face a mask of indifference.
How can she look down upon her mother without compassion or feeling?
Celeste smiled. One would think she was having a conversation in a parlor rather than standing trial for treason. “Not guilty,” she replied.
So the trial began. There were a host of witnesses, lords who were close to Arlene and who spoke of Celeste’s affair with Prince Reynard. They told the tale of how the queen had tricked her husband’s brother into poisoning King Reginald so she could control the throne herself. How she had used many people to her own ends. Most damning of all was her onetime advisor Lord Eeland Yette. Celeste’s face blanched when the betrayer took the stand; it was the only time she ever showed a reaction. He told the court of how the queen had instructed him to find poison, and sent secret orders to kill the poison maker. The crowd chattered at this reaction, and Arlene had to silence them to bring order.
Then finally it came my turn to speak.
“Lady Diranel, we would hear your account.” Arlene motioned for me to move forward. Damara grabbed my shoulders and squeezed before I stepped forward to give my testimony.
I stood before the lords and faced Arlene with my back to the former queen and the crowd. My body trembled, and I held my hands close to my hips to hide their shaking.
“Your Majesty, my lords, many of you know who I am and what I am. For those of you who do not, I am Maea Diranel, the last of the Diranel diviners.” There was a small gasp from the minor lords and the common folk alike. I continued on, “I was exiled from my homeland of Danhad because I knew too much. I learned of a plot to bring both Neaux and Danhad under one rule, the rule of King Adair of Danhad. When I came here seeking asylum, I discovered that the plots had already reached your kingdom as well. Celeste D’Aux plotted with King Adair to hand him the Neaux throne. She conspired with him and her companions to kill King Reginald and King Reynard in order to make way for a new king—a Danhadine king.”
The people shouted and cursed me and my people. I did not turn around. I addressed the lords who were scrutinizing me; Arlene watched me intently.
I took another deep breath. “But I must beg you, Your Majesty and lords of the council. Despite what Celeste has done, I must ask that her life be spared.”
The voices were shouting now, and my own voice was drowned out. Many people had jumped up and were arguing. I chanced a glance at Celeste, and she was smiling at me. The knowing look on her face made my stomach turn. I could not ask for this woman’s blood on my hands, not after so many were dead because of me.
After much shouting, Arlene regained control once again. “Celeste, do you deny this woman’s claims?”
Celeste smiled at me again and said, “What she said is true.”
The crowd irrupted again, but the shouts were much more easily squashed this time. I was dismissed, and I returned to my companions. I felt ready to collapse and swayed a bit. Beau came up and let me lean against his shoulder. I glanced at him, but his expression gave nothing away.
“Who will speak in this woman’s defense?” Arlene addressed the crowd.
There was a deafening silence following Arlene
’s question. No one would step forward to defend a woman who had proclaimed herself a traitor.
“If none will defend her, then I will make my judgment.”
I was shocked. Should she not confer with her council first? Decide on a fit punishment? And then I saw the determined set of Arlene’s jaw. She had come to her decision before the trial had even begun.
“I declare Celeste D’Aux guilty of all charges. You shall be beheaded at dawn.”
Chapter Two
THE CROWD CHATTERED angrily, voices overlapping one another. Some demanded leniency—they called for exile instead of death. Others argued for the harshest punishment available. My head was swimming. She ordered her own mother’s execution. Did I choose wrong in helping her win this crown? Hands were at my shoulder steadying me. I glanced up at Beau; he looked down at me with a solemn expression.
“We should leave before they tear one another apart,” he murmured.
I nodded my agreement. Beside me, Damara and Elenna were crowding behind Hilliard, who was forcing a path through the crowd. I joined the other women, and we huddled close together as Beau followed behind. Despite our escort, we were jostled about as the common folk came to blows. Beau’s blade sang as he unsheathed it. Those that saw took a step back and forgot their arguing for a moment and let us pass through. Once we were in the corridor outside the double doors, I inhaled deeply.
“I think it best if we adjourn to our chambers until matters have been settled within,” Damara announced.
We all agreed and headed towards our apartments. The news travelled before us, and the palace hummed with the news of Celeste’s execution. The reactions were mixed. Celeste had been favored at court, but her apparent role in the murder of two kings also made her an enemy—the servants and minor courtiers did not seem to know what to think.
I wrung my hands and worried about the future. It was critical for Arlene to hold the throne. No matter what her decree, I did not think her people would willingly place Marie-Celeste on the throne, not only for her gender but her ill health. Unless a better candidate could be found, that meant Sabine’s son would inherit the throne. She had yet to give birth, but I knew from my vision that she and Adair would have a son.
Arlene had to keep her people’s love. It was the only way to prevent another revolt. Killing a beloved former queen, no matter her crimes, did not warrant love and respect. It engendered fear. The bloody queen was whispered about in the halls since the day she had taken the throne in a bloody battle, and it had only been justified by the string of hangings and beheadings that had followed her rise to the throne.
Once we were back in the apartment that I shared with Elenna, we shut the door behind us, and I sank into one of the seats. I covered my face with my hands. We needed to leave sooner rather than later. I could feel Johai growing stronger, pulling me to stop him. However, if I left Neaux like this, it would only leave a festering wound vulnerable to infection. I had stopped Adair’s plan by helping Arlene take the throne, but I had only made things worse. Arlene is not the queen I thought she would be. I was no diplomat to help heal the wounds of this country.
“She made a foolish decision in condemning her mother,” Damara said. She sat across from me on the opposite couch, her hands folded in her lap.
Everyone looked at Damara. I was not surprised she had spoken her mind thusly. She had always been direct with her thoughts.
“Celeste would have done the same if the places were reversed,” Beau said as he leaned against the far wall facing the door. He appeared at ease, but his hand was resting on the pommel of his sword.
Damara shook her head and placed a hand to her chest. “I cannot imagine a mother would do something like that to her child.”
“Whether or not Celeste would have done the same is irrelevant. The matter at hand is how to recover from Arlene’s blunder? She is obviously impulsive and led by her emotions, but there must be some way to make her seem less bloodthirsty,” Hilliard said. He glanced around the room at all of us, waiting for anyone to add their thoughts.
“There remains the matter of Danhad. Arlene has yet to call a council about possible retaliation towards Danhad for their involvement in the revolt,” I replied. “Do you think she could be persuaded to sign a new treaty?”
Everyone was thoughtful for a moment, and then Elenna spoke up. “I find it unlikely that a woman who would execute her own mother would be open to peace talks.”
My stomach sank at the thought. I had done everything in my power to stop the war, but it seemed it was inevitable. I can do no more good here. I must continue my journey.
“Then what happens now?” I asked as I peered at my companions. “If we cannot sway Arlene, are we safe to leave for the Biski tribes?”
Damara stood up and paced back and forth. “This issue will have to be resolved somehow. We are on the brink of war, and if we leave Arlene on such a precarious throne, it will be simple enough for Adair to swoop in and wrest the throne from her and secure it for his child.”
“What do you suggest, then? The queen is a stubborn woman, and she will not be swayed from her decision,” Elenna asked. Of everyone in the room, she appeared the most at ease. I envied her seeming calm, but I supposed the politics mattered little to her. Who ruled the throne did not change much for the Biski.
“I don’t know. The queen needs an advisor, someone who can guide her. She has the potential to be a great ruler with the right guidance,” Damara said as she tapped her chin.
We were all pensive for a moment. Who could we trust? The wrong advisor could be allied with the enemy or bought. I would hate to leave with the danger of another upheaval the moment I was outside the city walls.
“I know what you’re thinking, my lady. Are you sure this is the right path?” Hilliard approached Damara.
“You’ve followed me through worse. Do you think you can accept this challenge?” she said with a secretive smile.
Hilliard tilted his head towards Damara in a sign of acknowledgement.
“Then that matter is settled.” Damara clapped.
“Damara, what are you plotting?” I asked.
She only smiled and declined to elaborate.
We spent the rest of the day restless in the apartments. I found my mind wandering back to the queen on more than one occasion. I tried to rationalize Arlene’s decision but found it difficult to swallow. I spent a restless night in my bed; my sheets became tangled about my legs from the tossing and turning. For the first time in many nights, I did not dream of Johai. I did not know if it made me feel better or worse. I woke early again the next morning, and when I left my chamber, I found Beau waiting, dressed and armed.
“How did you know?” I asked.
He shrugged. I smiled, and we left the apartment without a word. We passed a few servants on the way out of the palace, but they did not stop to question me. Outside, the palace grounds were quiet and still. A mist hung about, cloaking the pine trees and shrubbery in gray. A chill in the air cut through my shawl, and my skin prickled with cold. I pulled my shawl closer about my shoulders as I walked. The gardens here were wilder than the ones I knew back at Keisan. The garden paths wended in and out of thickets of trees and shrubs, ending in strange niches where benches or small covered structures were placed.
Everything was silent but the crunch of my boots on pine needles. Beau followed, silent as a shadow. At the center of the garden was a grove. The pine trees circled an open structure with tall pillars on all sides. The roof was open, but at the far end was a large oak tree, and its canopy acted as the roof to the temple. I had first come here for King Reginald’s funeral. I shed my shoes at the entrance and walked through the grass that acted as a floor. Dew clinging to the grass kicked up and dampened the edge of my gown and prickled my toes with cold.
I kneeled down in front of the tree, and the dew soaked into the fabric of my gown. I shivered but did not move to warm myself. This was my own form of penance. I stared up at the tree and listened to
the soft rustle of wind through the branches.
“Back again?” a mellow voice said.
I raised my eyes to see the barefoot priest standing before me. He smiled down at me. He had olive skin and gray-streaked hair that was receding at the scalp. His eyes were a deep brown, full of knowledge.
“I am. I find I often seek solace as of late.”
The priest hummed and kneeled down on the grass beside me. Beau did not move to stop him; he trusted the elderly priest. Over the past three weeks, I had spent much time in this place. It was the only place in the palace I felt any sort of peace. Calm seemed to linger about the arches that surrounded the clearing. It was the only place I felt I could hear the Goddess’s voice.
“I heard about Queen Celeste,” the priest said. I winced without thinking. “You feel guilty for her fate?”
I shook my head and did not take my eyes off the oak tree. It reminded me of home, of the oak standard on the banners of Keisan.
“I do. As I feel for the others who have died because of me,” I replied.
“You still grieve for your husband?”
His words brought a fresh wave of tears to my eyes. Jon had been my husband in name only. I had married him to gain access to the royal palace in Sanore. We had an agreement: if he would help me find out who Adair was working with, I would pretend to be his wife. When the rebellion had begun, Jon had been mortally wounded defending me. Of all the deaths I had been the cause or indirect cause of, his death laid heaviest upon me. I may not have loved him, but I had cared for him as a friend. He had given all so I could live.
“Yes,” I said; emotion tightened my throat. I was not willing to say more or the tears would come flowing out.
The priest did not say any more, and we sat in companionable silence, listening to the wind through the trees and watching the fog lift from the ground.
“You have a great destiny thrust upon your young shoulders. You should not shoulder these deaths as well. The queen’s actions were her own; you cannot control them,” the priest said.
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