The Fourth Age Shadow Wars: Assassins (The Fourth Age: Shadow Wars Book 1)

by David Pauly

  Since Daerahil was there to authenticate the origin of the documents and that they were written in plain text, the King had no choice but to admit them into evidence. There was great muttering in the courtroom, and Mergin looked quite pleased at having this admission, until Daerahil continued speaking.

  'The documents also state that at the time of my actions, I caused an announcement to be made throughout the land that I was doing this only in the interests of Eldora and that I was fulfilling my orders to pacify the province as required by the king. I believe that the success of my actions and my restoration of order to the province far outweigh my breach of protocol in this matter.'

  At this a ragged cheer went up from Daerahil's supporters, and the king frowned as if in disbelief that the trial was not going as expected.

  Daerahil now said, 'I deny any and all of these charges of sedition. I had no knowledge whatsoever of the attempts on my brother's life, and there has been no evidence presented here today to convict me of such charges. As such, my Lords, I end my defense in chief.'

  Sitting down, Daerahil exhaled slowly, knowing he had explained away all but the financial documents taken from the joy house. Yet he did not doubt that the King would vote for his guilt, along with Prince Jasper of the Delta. Jasper had recently been promised vast estates in Shardan if he voted with the King, but this was only a rumor brought to Daerahil by Larissa; there was nothing that could actually be used to impeach Jasper's credibility. His brother smiled at him and nodded, confirming his suspicions that Alfrahil would vote for innocence, as would the Lords of Eldora, for many of them were openly nodding their heads in agreement at Daerahil's testimony. Thus, Daerahil told himself, it would all come down to Paladir and his vote, and Daerahil believed that Paladir was no more convinced by this weak evidence than anyone else would be who did not personally bear Daerahil ill will.

  Mergin rose and seemed about to begin his summation, but surprisingly called Daerahil to the witness stand instead.

  'I protest your Majesty,' said Daerahil. 'Lord Mergin presented his case against me and formally ended it before I began my defense.'

  'There is precedent, my Lord King: that of rebutting the testimony of a witness to prove the witness false. I have evidence to prove Prince Daerahil's testimony false and to show that he did indeed have knowledge of the attempt on Prince Alfrahil's life prior to the ambushes.'

  'I will allow this line of questioning only to ascertain the accused's veracity, not to admit any evidence or documents at this stage of the trial,' said the King after a moment's consideration.

  Mergin retrieved a small number of rough parchments from his table and approached Daerahil. 'Thank you, my Lord. Prince Daerahil, can you identify these documents before you?'

  Daerahil looked down and saw a simple purchase order for thirty horses, another one for fifty bows and quivers of arrows, and smaller purchase orders for food and clothing. His signature was clearly marked on the orders for the horses and weapons, and his buying agent had signed for the rest.

  'Yes, these are receipts for horses and weapons for a hunting party I planned to lead before the horrible events happened in this Kingdom. The other receipts are for clothing and food for a veterans group. What of them?'

  'So, my Lord Prince, this is your signature on the documents?'

  'Yes, Mergin, what of it?'

  Ignoring Daerahil, Mergin asked, 'Finally, can you tell me what this document is?'

  One final piece of paper was shown to Daerahil.

  'It is a release from combat service order for the fifty men whose names are written here. It is also an order for an honorable discharge for all of them for services displayed in combat,' said Daerahil.

  'Why did you personally write these orders?'

  'I wrote them because these men were personally responsible for repelling the last attack upon me and my staff when we were separated during a dust storm in Shardan. There is nothing improper about these orders at all. My brother and I signed many such orders during our military commands,' responded Daerahil.

  'Thank you, Prince Daerahil, you are excused. I now call the Shadow known as Gray Water to the stand.'

  The Shadow rose and, after acknowledging his code name, responded to Mergin's questions.

  'How do you come to be in this Chamber today?'

  'You placed me in charge of investigating the assassination attempts on Prince Alfrahil. I gathered these documents and brought them to you.'

  'Where did you find these receipts for the weapons and the clothes and food?'

  'On one of the bodies of the assassins who were slain on the rooftops of the Second District, where Prince Alfrahil was attacked.'

  'Did you identify who that man was?'

  'Yes, my Lord. He was one of the men on the discharge orders signed by Prince Daerahil.'

  'And where did you find the receipt for horses and the military orders?'

  'The receipt for the horses was found in a saddle bag on a horse tied to a tree in the border forest, and the military orders were found on the body of one of the men who tried to kill Prince Alfrahil in the forest,' replied the Shadow.

  'So all of these documents signed by Prince Daerahil or his proxy were found on the bodies of the slain assassins, and some of these same assassins were listed in the Prince's discharge orders?'

  'Yes, my Lord, that is correct.' The Chamber erupted in noise at this statement. Mergin dismissed the Shadow and recalled Daerahil to the stand.

  'Do you deny now that you did indeed aid the conspirators in their attempts on your brother's life?'

  'Vehemently,' responded Daerahil. 'The military orders were written three months ago. The receipts for the horses and weapons were in the care of my proxy. Anyone could have taken them from his office and given them to your Shadow. After all, this Shadow is not an impartial witness but sworn to your allegiance personally. For all we know, he placed this evidence on the bodies himself. Where is an independent witness to hold me accountable for any actions against my brother? It is plain that you have gathered these receipts in a vain effort to substantiate these false charges against me.'

  'I don't think we need any mysterious agents placing evidence, my Prince. Clearly you are linked to the attempts on your brother's life, and clearly you have lied before this Council as to both your knowledge of these events and your complicity in them. I now do indeed rest my case.'

  The chamber erupted in noise again, and it was several moments before quiet and order could be restored.

  Mergin then completed his summation of the evidence and asked that the prince be found guilty.

  Daerahil then rose and with great composure refuted these claims, arguing that the evidence was merely circumstantial and that he loved his brother and his father and would do nothing to harm either of them or defy their will. As Daerahil was about to sit, he looked up and caught his brother staring at him with anger and fear, as if wondering whether or not Daerahil was indeed guilty of these charges.

  'The Council will now retire and deliberate,' said the king. 'We shall return with our vote. We will stand adjourned until after the evening meal, when the verdict shall be read.'

  Daerahil was escorted out of the courtroom and given a fine meal with wine as he waited for the trial to reconvene. Shortly before the eighth hour after noon, the guards knocked on Daerahil's door and escorted him back to the court room.

  'Prince Daerahil, approach and hear the verdict of this tribunal,' said the King. 'First, what say the Lords of Eldora?'

  The Duke of Amarant rose and said, 'My lords, by a vote of four to two, the Lords find Prince Daerahil innocent of the charges against him. But as the most senior Lord let me make my personal statement: I believe the prince guilty and that only his reputation for success in combat has swayed the other members of the Lords. Still, our official vote is one of innocence.'

  'I will now ask the Princes of the Realm to state their votes. Prince Jasper of the Delta, what do you say?'

  'I vote for con
viction, my Lord,' said Jasper. 'There are too many pieces of evidence that the prince has tried to explain away, particularly those of the financial records in the joy house. I believe when there is this much smoke, there must be a fire indeed.'

  'Very well. Prince Paladir of Ackerlea, what say you?' asked the king.

  'I have grave concerns regarding the prince's reckless behavior, and I fear that some of his money may indeed have gone to aid the rebels in Shardan, but I believe it was done without his knowledge. Having been a victim of conspiracy in the message that was sent to the Prince, I believe him when he says that the purchase receipts were innocently bought. Furthermore, if the conspirators who arranged these attempts upon Prince Alfrahil were skillful enough to penetrate all of Lord Mergin's security measures in Eldora and my own measures in Ackerlea, then it is highly likely that these conspirators are to blame for this evidence, not the prince. I vote for his innocence.'

  At this Daerahil looked to his brother, knowing that one more vote for innocence would clear him and restore his rank and title in the land.

  'Prince Alfrahil, what do you say?' asked the king.

  Alfrahil rose, his face one of conflicted emotion. His extension of his powers during the trial had been too unfocused to perceive Daerahil separately from the crowd. His examination of Daerahil in his chambers had revealed nothing, so Alfrahil found himself accepting the evidence presented with no clear insight into his brother's state of mind. 'I do not know what to say, my Lord. While I am not convinced my brother tried to aid those who attempted to kill me, I cannot overlook the evidence presented today. Furthermore, though I do not know what he believes in his heart, it is clear that even in jest my brother does wish that he was crown prince. For these reasons, I must abstain from voting.'

  'That is your right,' said the King. 'I now cast my vote for guilt, as Prince Daerahil has clearly committed sedition against my will and the will of the Council of Ministers by his actions in Shardan, his statements about the royal succession, and his involvement, no matter how nebulous, in the conspiracy to assassinate Prince Alfrahil. The Council has come to a draw. Therefore, in accordance with ancient law, I cast the proxy vote of Prince Frederic of Amadeus as I see fit, and it is one for guilt. Prince Daerahil, you are found guilty of sedition. May the gods have mercy upon you.'

  At this, complete pandemonium broke out in the court, and Daerahil was immediately surrounded by the guards of the King.

  'Prince Daerahil, you will be taken back to your confinement, and you shall hear the judgment of the King tomorrow,' said Mergin, a look of triumph upon his face. Alfrahil saw the stunned disbelief cloud Daerahil's face as he cried out, 'I am innocent, innocent I tell you. Brother, I beseech you change your vote before the official record is written.'

  Alfrahil saw Daerahil dragged from the courtroom, feeling a terrible weight of despair at his brother's fate.

  #

  The next morning, Alfrahil was walking with his guards toward the Citadel. Numerous reports had come to the Citadel of angry soldiers shouting in the streets, a small mob of them actually marched to the Citadel demanding to see Daerahil before being dispelled by blunt arrows shot from the Citadel guards. Several prominent merchants had sent official protests to the King, claiming that Daerahil's rights to a counselor had been breached and that he must have a new trial. Worse, the general citizenry who had rallied behind their king and Alfrahil now openly called for Daerahil's freedom, and dozens of banners flown by Daerahil during his campaign in Shardan were flown from buildings all across the city.

  Entering into the base of the tower of Anicetus, Alfrahil proceeded to the Council Chambers and, upon entering, was welcomed by Mergin and his father, who looked as though they had not slept much the past several weeks.

  Mergin began the meeting with a summary of all that was known to date about those behind the assassination attempts.

  'At this time,' he said in summing up, 'we can state with some confidence that the conspiracy was foreign-born, though implemented with local assistance. The scoundrel Fafnir certainly aided the conspirators, and so, it seems, did Prince Daerahil himself.'

  Alfrahil rose. 'Let us not place the blame upon foreigners so easily, for even with local assistance, no foreigner could have set events in motion as quickly as was the case here, when it was my chance discovery of the joy house that triggered almost immediate attempts on my life. No one outside the City could have assembled the necessary men and the oil traps that were used so effectively in the first attack. Not in so short a time.'

  'Though I believe we will ultimately discover the conspiracy to be of foreign origin,' said Mergin, 'I agree that we must leave no stone unturned here at home.'

  'Perhaps, Lord Mergin, you are correct,' said the King, 'but the final blame must lie to the south. Only there is the true motivation and hatred to attack the realm of Eldora to be found.'

  Not wishing to disagree with his father openly, Alfrahil remained silent with downcast eyes, knowing that his father's irrational hatred of all things Southern was once again in full bloom. 'Have I made a horrible mistake?' he asked himself silently. 'Should I have voted for innocence? It seems so unlike my brother to wish me harm, but the evidence from the Shadow was quite compelling. I only hope he can forgive me some day, but I had to abstain from voting, as I still cannot decide what is true and what is false.'

  Hearing a polite cough from his right, Alfrahil saw Mergin staring at him. As he turned to face his father, Creon said sternly, 'Now that we have your attention again, my son, let us adjourn to the Throne Room and summon your brother so we may tell him of his fate.'

  The members of the Council of Ministers adjourned first to take their seats in the Chamber as word was quickly sent to the Princes of the Realm and the Lords of Eldora that the Judgment was now at hand.

  After the men had left the Council Chamber, Alfrahil approached his father.

  'Father, wouldn't it be more prudent to tell my brother of his punishment in private? You know how proud he is. Condemning him to Plaga Erebus for three months will be hard enough to bear without the public humiliation.'

  Sardonically, Creon replied, 'Perhaps you think his punishment too harsh, my son? Perhaps we should instead overlook all of these events and allow Daerahil to attend to his normal duties within the land?'

  'No, Father. I just thought it might be easier on everyone to do this discreetly, so that we do not inflame an already tense situation.'

  Raising his chin arrogantly, Creon stated, 'Such public distress may very well force the conspirators out in the open where we can deal with them. Besides, I intended to make this trial as humiliating as possible for your brother. Perhaps that way he will learn some respect for me during his exile.'

  As they entered the throne room, Alfrahil saw the most rich and powerful men in the realm packed upon benches on both levels. Expectant whispers and murmurs flowed quickly back and forth as they speculated upon the Prince's punishment.

  At the knock of the Citadel guards, Mergin cried 'Enter,' and Daerahil and his guards marched into the room. Filing up toward the counsel table, Daerahil had placed a rigid mask upon his face, seeming to accept whatever fate his father had in store for him.

  'Daerahil, Prince of Eldora, you are found guilty of Sedition for wishing to usurp your brother's place and by your actions in Shardan Do you have anything to say in your defense before sentence is passed?' asked Mergin formally.

  Ignoring Mergin, Daerahil turned toward his father and said, 'My Lord, I again pledge my undying loyalty to you, my brother, and the realm. Please forgive me for my rash and reckless speech, for I meant no evil to you or to any others in the realm. As for my actions, Lord, I only wanted to aid those soldiers who were in desperate need, and I did not mean to defy your authority. I would ask you to show me mercy and allow me to make redress for my transgressions.'

  Alfrahil was amazed at his brother's restraint; he had expected him to erupt in anger again the minute the Sentencing hearing commenced. Someon
e must have been counseling him most closely, preparing him for today. Hoping that his father would likewise practice restraint, Alfrahil waited with anxious expectations.

  Rising and facing his son, Creon said, 'Verily will I show you mercy, Prince Daerahil. The fact that you are my son has allowed me to be too lenient regarding your prior actions. I believe that the folly of youth, along with your exuberant pride and incredibly poor taste in counselors and social companions, has led you to your present predicament. I did not raise you to behave in such a fashion, and, but for your prior service to the realm, the love of your brother, and your lack of malice, your punishment would be far greater. Here is the sentence of the King. You are hereby exiled from the realm of Eldora for three months and commanded to serve as the garrison captain at Ianus Malus. Your rank of prince is suspended during your exile, and all privileges of that rank are forfeit. You are removed from command of the southern army of Eldora and are demoted to a simple captain in the general army. You will leave under guard on the morrow and proceed without delay to your new command. You are forbidden to leave the realm of Plaga Erebus and its immediate confines until your term is complete. Do you understand this decree?'

  Daerahil tried to speak twice before he managed to reply in a strangled voice. 'Yes, Lord. I hear and obey, and with your leave I shall prepare for my new command.'

  'One moment,' said Mergin. 'I believe there was another matter, my Lord King?'

  A wintry smile passed over Creon's face. 'Ah, yes, thank you, Lord Mergin. Captain Daerahil, you will find that your companion, Minister Zarthir, has been arrested for conspiracy to commit treason along with two of his closest counselors, who I believe are also known to you. The funds you have invested against our wishes for your own political ends have been confiscated and returned to the treasury. Upon your return, you will be watched quite closely to make certain you do not attempt to thwart our will again.'

  Daerahil came to a rigid posture of attention. After saluting his father, he was about to turn and leave when Mergin again spoke. 'Captain, there is one more matter that should be addressed before you leave.'