Lord Zel’Kaudell was silent for a moment, then nodded once. “Master Stavin is within his rights to seek redress from this council. Have someone invite High Priest Zel’Draval to join us.”
It took slightly less than a span for the priest to arrive. During that time Stavin informed the council of some of the happenings in Moravad and along Zel’Draval’s path through Coravia. When Zel’Draval arrived, he strutted triumphantly into the council chamber.
“Well, Lord Councilors, I see you’ve captured him. Good. Once he’s been executed we’ll discuss Trade between Coravia and Kavadia.”
Lord Zel’Kaudell simply looked at the priest for a moment then said, “Seize that murdering fool.”
When the Council Enforcers seized him, Zel’Draval began screaming. “Not me, you defective imbeciles! Him! The traitorous pretender! I’ll condemn you all!”
Lord Zel’Kaudell said, “Silence that fool,” and a gag was quickly forced into Zel’Draval’s mouth. “There, now that we have some order in here, we’ll continue. Karvar Zel’Draval, you are accused of murdering members of Master Trader Zel’Andral’s family. That you have already admitted to this council that you did in fact kill Queen Rowena and Prince Caldan simplifies matters.” He paused when Zel’Draval started struggling wildly.
“There is also your crime of slaughtering the people of Fallen Leaf and Fel’Hadak. I call for a voice vote of the council. All in favor of letting Master Stavin have this priest, say aye.” Every member of the council said aye. “The motion is carried. All in favor of condemning this priest to death for the murder of Kavadian civilians in the town of Fallen Leaf, say aye.” Again, the vote was unanimous. “All in favor of condemning this priest to death for the murder of Kavadian civilians in the town of Fel’Hadak, say aye.” Again, every member of the Council said aye. Karvar Zel’Draval was glaring around at the council now, but couldn’t even protest around the gag in his mouth. “Master Stavin, in accordance with Kavadian law, this man and his followers are yours to do with as you please. Now, just to satisfy my curiosity, what is this nonsense about you being the King of Coravia now?”
Stavin chuckled. “King Teravan and Princess Ellissan survived the attack on the palace. King Teravan abdicated in my favor so Coravia would have a warrior king to take Coravia back from Lebawan. We’ll discuss anything else after the traitors who supported Zel’Draval are seen to.” Stavin smiled and bowed to the stunned councilors, then the enforcers forced Zel’Draval out of the council chamber behind him as he left.
Karvik and nine Warriors of Kel’Kavin met him at his horse. “I see they sided with you.”
“Yes. The Aravad Traders’ Council has sentenced him to death for his crimes at Fallen Leaf and Fel’Hadak. Once he’s been seen to, we’ll deal with his followers.”
Karvik and his men surrounded Stavin and his prisoner for the long ride back to their force. Stavin rode, but Zel’Draval was forced to walk behind the horses with a rope around his neck.
When they arrived, Stavin motioned to Lady Daynah and Lady Saralee, and both of them hurried to his side. “Yes, King Stavin?”
Stavin bowed slightly. “Ladies, I present you with the traitor Karvar Zel’Draval. He has been sentenced to death by the Aravad Traders’ Council for the murder of the people of Fallen Leaf and Fel’Hadak, Queen Rowena, Prince Caldan, and all the rest of the victims of his rampage through Coravia. You may carry out the sentence.”
Lady Daynah smiled evilly as she looked Zel’Draval in the eye. “Karvar Zel’Draval, I am Lady Daynah Zel’Karyn, Heir of Zel’Karyn.”
Lady Saralee echoed Daynah’s smile. “Karvar Zel’Draval, I am Lady Saralee Zel’Coy. Under the Code of the Chosen, we claim the right of the first wronged to execute you.”
Karvar started thrashing wildly and Stavin motioned for Karvik to remove the gag. “I am the High Priest of Lebawan! Only a king, a true king, can order the execution of a priest!”
“And I did,” Stavin replied.
Karvar shouted, “You are not the true king of Coravia! I am!”
Stavin shook his head. “No. You broke the law when you examined and condemned people who were not followers of Lebawan. Prince Caldan was not yours to examine or condemn, nor was Queen Rowena. But really, none of that matters.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?!” Karvar screamed.
Stavin smiled as he looked up into the condemned fool’s eyes. “Exactly what I said. The laws of Coravia are irrelevant here. You chose to come to Kavadia, to Aravad, and only Kavadian law and the will of the Traders’ Council apply here.” Stavin’s smile took on an even nastier twist. “Under Kavadian law, any Chosen Master Trader can pass judgment on you for your crimes--and the entire Aravad Traders’ Council just did.”
“No! No, you can’t do this to me! I’m the High Priest of Lebawan!”
Stavin nodded to Lady Daynah, and she pulled a leather boot-lace from her pouch and slid it through her fingers.
Karvar again screamed, “No! I am a Chosen lord! You can’t strangle me like a common criminal!”
“True, but we can execute you like the traitorous bastard you are,” Lady Daynah replied. “Kneel.”
Karvar screamed, “No!” and started fighting so violently that Karvik almost lost control of him. Stavin took the fight out of him by grabbing a guardsman’s ax and ramming the butt of the handle into Karvar’s gut, dropping him to his knees. As the traitor gasped in pain, Stavin said, “I promised to remind you that the only people you were allowed to inspect were your own followers--which didn’t include the royal family.” He gave the priest an evil grin, then stepped away.
“Lady Daynah?” he invited with a sweep of his arm, and she bowed before stepping forward.
Daynah tied the cord around Karvar’s neck, but before she yanked it tight, Saralee said, “Not too tight, Day. Let him die slowly and painfully. Make it last, like he did when he stoned Aldie.”
Daynah looked at her cousin, shook her head slowly, then jerked the cord as tight as she could. “No, Sara,” she replied as Karvar started to choke, “we’re not them.”
Karvar was struggling against the rope that bound his hands as he struggled for breath. His whole body was jerking violently and he fell to the ground and writhed in agony as his face darkened. His struggles became even more frantic for a moment, then slowly stopped. As death took him, Lady Daynah said, “The traitor Zel’Draval is dead, Your Majesty.”
Stavin nodded. “How do you feel?” he asked as he put a hand on her shoulder.
“Sick.”
“Good. Executing someone shouldn’t be easy. Why don’t the two of you retire? Sara looks greener than you do.”
Both women walked away with their heads down. Karvik stepped up behind Stavin and said, “I’ll bet neither of them has ever killed anyone before.”
“Probably not. Daynah feels sick, but so did I after that first time. Sara looks like she feels worse. They’ll recover, though. Now the question is what to do with the rest of them?”
“Do they deserve to die like Zel’Draval did?” Karvik asked.
“They are all traitors,” Stavin growled as he looked toward Zel’Draval’s followers. “Let them follow Zel’Draval to Eshokanal’s hell.”
“And that?” Karvik asked as he looked at the elegantly dressed body at his feet.
Stavin followed his gaze and stood silent for a moment, then shrugged. “Strip any valuables off the body, then bury it in the latrine pits. The gold and jewels will go to Lady Sahren when we return to Coravia.” Karvik nodded and saw to the body while Stavin spoke to his generals.
“Advance on the traitors,” he commanded, “but grant quarter to anyone who surrenders.”
All three generals replied, “Yes, Your Majesty,” then turned to their subordinates and began giving orders.
Zel’Draval’s force reacted to the bugle calls and formed up to repulse the attack, but soon confusion spread through the ranks. The Kavadian allies they had counted on had formed a defensive line beh
ind them, cutting off any escape through Aravad.
Shouts echoed across the field of battle. Each side could read the other’s signals, so there was no chance of surprise. The traitors were out-numbered more than five-to-one, but they fought with the ferocity of men with nothing left to lose.
Stavin stood near his tent and watched, and the growl of an angry dragon rumbled in his chest. Karvik was at his side, holding on to one shoulder to keep Stavin out of the fight.
A group of men broke loose from the rear of the traitors’ force and ran for the trees, but a group of Lady General Zel’Pardin’s cavalry ran them down. Only six of the ten lived to surrender.
The battle took more than twenty spans to come to a conclusion. Of Zel’Draval’s three hundred and fifty-six men, only seventy-nine lived to surrender. Two hundred and seventeen of Stavin’s troops had been wounded, and twenty-nine killed.
One of Zel’Draval’s officers, a colonel, screamed at the men who were binding him. “You are all going to be executed for this! King Zel’Draval will condemn you all!”
“Zel’Draval is dead,” Lady Saralee said as she walked forward. “He died on his knees with a cord around his neck.”
“You bitch! You filthy Zel’Coy harlot!”
Lady Saralee laughed harshly. “You didn’t think that way when you were trying to get me to marry you, Larrad.”
“You will address me with respect, you whore!” he shouted, and was driven to his knees by a blow to the top of his head from a trooper’s armored fist.
“You’ll not speak to the lady like that, traitor,” the man snarled as he bent over the kneeling colonel. “King Stavin said to grant quarter, but he didn’t say you couldn’t be shown the error of your ways.”
Lady Saralee gave the trooper a dazzling smile, then turned her attention back to Larrad. “How could you support the man who murdered your cousin Rowena?”
“She was defective!” he shouted from the ground. “I should have been promoted to general years ago, but she wouldn’t have Terry promote me.”
“She kept you from being dismissed from the army for incompetence and malfeasance. You nearly got yourself court-martialed for what you did to me, but she shielded you from the consequences of your actions. And you think she was defective? I can’t wait to see what King Stavin does to you.”
“No!” he shouted, his expression shifting to desperation. “No, you can’t! You can’t touch me!”
She shook her head slowly. “Your only protection died in the dungeons with a sword in her womb, Larrad. And you supported her murderer. I hope King Stavin has you strangled.”
Larrad struggled to his feet and took a step toward her, only to be punched in the back of his head again by the trooper’s armored fist. He fell to his knees and looked up at the man. “You’ll pay for that. When we return to Moravad--”
“You’ll never see Moravad again,” a different woman’s voice said. “I doubt King Stavin is even going to take any of you back to Coravia.”
“Who in the hells are you?” Larrad demanded.
“I am Lady Daynah Zel’Karyn, Heir of Zel’Karyn. But I’m not here for you, Larrad. Sara, King Stavin has requested that all officers and Chosen return to the command tent.”
Lady Saralee nodded, then looked at the troopers. “Place that traitor with the rest. He’ll face his fate with his accomplices.” Daynah and Sara walked away, ignoring Larrad’s threats and pleas except for the small, pleased smile on Sara’s lips.
Daynah looked up at her and said, “You just had to rub his nose in it, didn’t you?” Sara’s only reply was a tiny giggle. Then her face sobered as she joined the Chosen.
Stavin waited until he had as many officers and Chosen as the command tent would hold before speaking.
“Lords and ladies, there have been a lot of questions concerning my plans for the prisoners. I’ll admit that I hadn’t really anticipated having prisoners to worry about. What I won’t be doing is executing them out of hand.” He paused to let the surprised muttering stop. “It was pointed out that there are worse fates than being strangled. I will be consulting with the Kavadian authorities tomorrow as to what can be done under Kavadian law. Since it was Kavadian Law that condemned Zel’Draval, we will allow ourselves to be bound by Kavadia’s laws in this matter as well.”
The announcement was made to the entire force after the evening meal. There was some grumbling, mostly involving questions about Kavadia having any laws to obey at all, but nothing serious.
Stavin went to see the Aravad Traders’ Council the next morning with his vest over his armor. And a worried-looking Karvik by his side. Once the meeting was called to order, and a few late arrivals were chastised, Stavin stood and bowed.
“Lord and Lady Councilors, the fate of Zel’Draval’s surviving followers is weighing heavily on my mind. I don’t want to simply execute them, though that is the fate they have earned. If you will, what can be done to them under Kavadian law?”
A man Stavin didn’t recognize stood and bowed. “Master Trad--King Stavin, I am Ambrin Zel’Tomar, legal adviser for the Aravad Traders’ Council. Under the laws of Kavadia, these men are all condemned. However, they are not necessarily condemned to death. There is another option available.”
Stavin bowed slightly. “I’m intrigued. Please elaborate.”
“In many cases, men who have committed crimes such as these are enslaved and bound to the families of those they killed.”
Stavin’s head tilted to the side as he considered the idea, then said, “There are a lot of troops among them. Enslaving someone who has been taught hand-to-hand combat and how to use weapons is kind of difficult.”
Now another man stood and bowed. “King Stavin, I am Adept Zel’Craldan. Enslaving these men would be a simple matter. There is a spell that deadens the will and induces a level of docility and loyalty akin to that of a dog.”
Stavin looked around, then nodded. “Would there be a way to ensure that they served the families of those they killed?”
Lord Zel’Kaudell answered, “We have the census from three years ago. We should be able to find their families.” Stavin simply nodded.
The officers were first. There were few who didn’t protest, but only one received an answer. “I am Colonel Zel’Trandal! You can’t do this to me!”
“I am Adept Zel’Craldan, and I assure you, Colonel, I can.” The Adept waved his hands and said a few words. The colonel stopped fighting immediately. Slowly, the angry countenance he wore smoothed. After just ten breaths, he looked as docile and anxious to please as a simple child.
It took two days to process all the traitors, and Stavin saw to it that the priests were saved for last. As they were led to the Adept, crying and praying to Lebawan, Stavin stood and watched with a small smile on his lips.
“Enjoying yourself?” Karvik asked.
Stavin turned and looked up at him, then shook his head. “No, not really. I am pleased that none of them are ever going to be able to condemn anyone again. And I’ll admit that I’m amused that their god won’t answer their prayers.”
At last the deed was done. Stavin approached the council once more before he left. “Lord and Lady Councilors, we are returning to Coravia in the morning.”
Lord Zel’Kaudell stood and bowed, then said, “We had hoped to discuss Trade with you, King Stavin.”
Stavin shook his head and looked at the table. When he looked up, he looked Lord Perrit in the eye from across the room. “That decision will have to wait until the new Coravian Minister of Trade is brought into the discussion. While I think I have the authority to make an arrangement with you, I don’t think I should exercise it.”
Lord Perrit bowed his acceptance, then spoke. “Perhaps, King Stavin. Are you still planning to renounce the crown when you return to Moravad?”
Stavin bowed and said, “Yes. That’s another reason for me to not make any deals. King Teravan would have to approve, because in about twenty days he’ll be the King of Coravia again.”
Stavin returned the bow, then grasped Lord Ahlic by the forearm in the clasp of equals. One by one the rest of the councilors came forward and exchanged bows and hand-clasps with the King of Coravia.
Lord Zel’Kaudell was last. “King Stavin, it has been an honor and pleasure to have you with us again. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we look forward to your next visit.”
Stavin bowed and said, “Thank you, all of you, for your hospitality.” Then he left, joining Karvik and his guards for the ride back to Coravia.
* * *
Queen Sharindis addressed the King’s Council with a serene smile on her face that puzzled all the Ministers except Princess Ellissan. She looked like she was about to giggle.
“My Lord and Lady Ministers, the traitor Karvar Zel’Draval and most of his followers are dead. The survivors have been enslaved in Kavadia. Karvar Zel’Draval died with a leather boot lace around his neck.”
“Queen Sharindis!” Minister of Justice Kel’Martal snapped as she came to her feet. “No one, not even the king, is above the law. King Stavin did not have the authority to execute a priest without a trial, no matter what he did. Now King Stavin will have to face trial for his actions. I tried to warn you to rein him in, but--”
“That will be all, Minister Kel’Martal,” Shari said in a mild tone. “Have the courtesy to let me finish before you start lecturing me.” The Minister of Justice closed her mouth and sat, but her eyes were shooting daggers at Shari.
“As I was about to say, King Stavin led his force of over fifteen hundred soldiers into Kavadia--”
“No!” Minister of the Interior Zel’Gestan cried out. “Queen Sharindis, we warned you that invading Kavadia could start a war along our entire border!”
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 19
