All stared at the lithe, naked flesh of Fyre Von Rha, bound at the wrists and ankles.
“You killed her?” Sol asked.
“She sleeps,” Zania said as if she wanted to spit at the woman.
“And Ambassador Von Rha?”
“Demanding his right to address the Senate High Council.”
“What of the others?”
“As you predicted.”
“So we have them all?”
“What are your orders?”
Sol wondered what her impatience was masking. Contempt? Betrayal?
He watched Zania’s eyes flit over Fyre’s enviable body and then meet his.
Jealousy...
General Kroq’s snort felt like a dull hammer smashing Sol’s senses.
“The rebellion you feared is crushed before it ever began?” said the General.
Sol considered the General’s question.
Is it this easy? What am I missing? Will their quick and secret deaths inspire others to follow in their steps?
“So it appears, General,” Sol said.
“You’ll be executing them, of course?” said the General.
Sol felt the sharp intake of Admiral’s Folant’s breath, but wasn’t sure if it was a gasp of empathy for the rebels, or distaste for the General’s scant regard for the lives of traitors.
“Surely, due process of the law shall prevail,” Folant said.
“Quite so,” said the General and his eyes narrowed. “Or at least the appearance of it. A public trial will send a clear message, Sol.”
Sol realized he had moved to Fyre’s side as if drifting through a dream. He caught the concern in the General’s eyes and looked down at his own hands and realized he was gripping a ceremonial dagger that he always kept sheathed inside his cloak.
He ran the tip of the blade down Fyre’s back.
How swiftly her destiny to bear my children slips away. It would be so easy to kill her now... too easy.
Admiral Folant cleared his throat loudly. “So...” he said. “Is it to be the arena of Judgment for the seven?”
“Or,” General Kroq said, “as Chief Justice Meuric likes to call it: the Colosseum of Death?”
Everyone laughed.
“Death is the only sentence Meuric understands,” Sol said.
“Well they do say justice is blind,” Admiral Folant said.
Sol felt their laughter disguise their fear.
CHAPTER 59 - A PLEA
Fyre jolted awake. She felt an intense spotlight glare down at her. She turned her head away. Blinked away the stars in her eyes.
Her hands were bound behind her back. She felt someone standing behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at a Vanguard legionnaire. His face was covered with a death mask. Meaning he was of House Mortuus.
She recognized the grand hall dimly lit by flaming torches. I’m in the Vanguard Supreme Court?
“All rise,” said the legionnaire, “for the Supreme Court justices, Chief Justice Meuric of House Mortuus est Sanguis, Justice Sentinel of House Sanguinem and Justice Lowri of House Ignis.”
Six more spotlights shone down on six other prisoners. Fyre recognized on her right side, the Ursu, Glaw and his companion Myf. Together with the human, Dax. But also a Lupos commander. The one who Dax hated.
Blaidd.
On her left, two humans, a woman of eighteen years and a young boy. They held hands. She recognized them.
Codi and Bron.
They were all dressed in black and orange body suits. Except for Glaw who had been stripped of his armor and stood before them in just his fur.
She recognized the red hooded cloaks of a Vanguard Death Panel.
“Why am I here?” she demanded. “Release me at once.”
“Remind the prisoner to show restraint in court,” the center of three judges spoke from beneath her hood.
A bolt of pain shot up through Fyre’s wrists and into the back of her head. She fell forward and writhed on the floor for what seemed hours, but was probably only a few seconds.
With each passing second of pain she felt her teeth grind with hatred. Until, at last, she felt the stabs of pain subside.
She was hauled back onto her knees before the judges.
“You are charged with the offense of sedition,” the center of three judges spoke from beneath her hood. “How do you plead?”
“I demand the right to counsel,” Fyre said.
The chief judge consulted with the two other judges in low whispers.
“One has been appointed for all the accused,” Sentinel said.
“Who?” Fyre demanded and turned to the familiar metallic click-clack of a military officer’s steel-toe knee-high boots.
A female commander stepped into the arc of the spot lights. She bowed low before the Death Panel.
“Commander Zania Tebrok, acting as counsel for the accused, your honors.”
“I don’t want her representation,” Fyre shouted. “I ask for my father, Ambassador Von Rha, to stand as my defense.”
“Call Ambassador Von Rha,” Chief Justice Meuric said.
Tebrok glanced over to Fyre. “Chief Justice Meuric,” she said, “regrettably, injuries from an accident prevent Ambassador Von Rha from representing the accused.”
“Condolences, Fyre of House Von Rha,” Justice Sentinel said. “Proceed as Counsel, Zania Tebrok.”
“We would hear the pleas of the accused, counselor,” said Chief Justice Meuric.
“A plea of innocent is lodged,” she said, “for Fyre of House Von Rha.”
“Ursu, Glaw Brynmore, how do you plead?”
“I plead forgiveness for being too cool for school, mama,” Glaw said.
The cuffs around his wrists glowed red and Glaw fell to his knees with a sharp roar.
“Human known as Myf,” said Justice Sentinel, “how do you plead?”
Through gritted teeth, Myf shouted, “Go to hell.”
Her cuffs glowed hot, but she remained standing.
Fyre caught Dax’s eye. He silently mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”
She felt tears sting her eyes.
“Human known as Zen Dax, how do you plead?”
“I demand to speak with my captain,” Dax shouted and fell to his knees as his cuffs glowed hot.
“Your Honors,” said Tebrok, “Commander Dax claims innocence.”
“So noted,” said Chief Justice Meuric. “Lupos, Commander Blaidd, how do you plead?”
“You have no jurisdiction over--”
Blaidd grunted and fell to his knees.
“Your Honors,” said Tebrok, “Commander Blaidd pleads his innocence.”
“So noted.”
A grinding sound of ancient door hinges cut through the grand hall. The vast doors opened to a hazy blur of flaming torches. In strode a tall, regal figure shrouded by a cloak.
Sol Morlok stepped out of the flickering shadows. He stopped before the Death Panel and bowed.
“I beg your indulgence, Justices,” Morlok said.
“President Morlok, state your business here.”
“I would petition for the prosecution and for the sake of political unrest ask for transparency in the trial.”
“How so?”
“I ask the court for trial to take place in the Arena of Judgment.”
Fyre’s eyes popped wide. She felt a knot tighten in her chest.
“This is a death sentence,” Tebrok said. “It harks back to a dark age of justice. A time of extremes. Are we prepared for the consequences of returning to that dark time? Are we as a society prepared to turn our backs on tolerance?”
Chief Justice Meuric held up one hand to silence Tebrok.
“We would remind the counsel for the defense, we are tolerant, not naive.”
The three justices consulted in whispers.
“What is this Arena of Judgment?” Dax whispered to Fyre.
“Our worst nightmares.”
Chief Justice Meuric looked up.
�
��Trial by Colosseum of Death,” she said, “is so granted.”
Fyre swallowed hard. What have I done?
CHAPTER 60 - DEATH SENTENCE
Dax walked between the two long columns of Vanguard Legionnaires. Taking the wide marble steps that lowered into the bowels of an underground cave system, he paused to glance up at the ceiling of the Supreme courthouse for one final time. A pastel mix of hues that was a thick, impenetrable shimmering cloud hovered over his head.
He studied the journey ahead. Fyre vanished into darkness. Codi seemed about his son’s age. Small and weak. Dax fought back a sickening feeling when he considered how long Codi might survive the horrors that awaited them.
A Vanguard legionnaire shoved Codi in the back. He fell onto his knees.
“Get up, scum,” the Vanguard shouted and raised his Cat o’light tails up over his head. As he brought the whip crashing down, Codi threw up his arms.
The Cat o-light smashed against Codi’s arms, but his body suit instantly reacted and cushioned the blow with a wafer thin shield of high tensile nano-steel. It deflected the force of the Cat o’light back at the Vanguard.
Codi lowered his arms and the shield automatically folded quickly away. He felt along his arms with wide-eyed surprise that they didn’t seem to be shattered.
Codi smiled and glanced up at the Vanguard.
“Better luck, next time,” Codi said.
The Vanguard sneered. “Don’t think your Crash-guard will save you in the Colosseum.”
Dax felt his stomach backflip. What have I brought down on our heads?
“Move it,” a Vanguard shouted from behind.
Dax felt a sharp pain in his back. He tumbled down the steps. He landed in the arms of Glaw.
“Hey, Day-tripper,” Glaw said. “Party’s this way.”
“Any idea what’s going to happen to us, Glaw?”
Glaw shot Dax a quizzical look.
Flaming torches were chained to walls. In the gloom they shuffled along as fast as their ankle bracelets would allow.
“You’re joking, right?” Glaw asked.
Dax sighed. “You’re right, Glaw,” Dax said. “I’m just chilling, making small talk while I wait for my ice cold beer and barbecue chicken to be served.”
“The whole medieval look ought to give you a clue, man. And if that don’t ring any bells, follow your nose.”
Dax sniffed the air. Acrid burning oil punched his nostrils. And something else. Foul, ammonia based and thick.
“Is that dung?”
“Getting warm, human.”
As they walked further along the dark, damp wide stone tunnel, the stench became unbearable. Dax retched.
“I’m guessing it ain’t horses?
A long, hollow roar sounded out from the far end of the tunnel.
The prisoners stopped and glanced at each other.
Dax looked at Glaw. “That’s a--”
“Yup!”
Ten minutes later they were forced up a flight of steps and into a circle of iron bar cages
“Commander,” shouted a female voice.
Dax spotted a woman in an orange and black body suit, much like the one he wore. It took him a moment to recognize her in the gloom.
“Valkyrie?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“You’re alive?”
“I’m not a ghost here to haunt you, Commander.”
“Who else is with you?”
“Sergeant Van Cleef,” she said. “Lieutenant Blok, and six from Delta squad.”
Dax felt a wave of relief, mixed with trepidation for what they were all about to face.
A group of white fur Ursu stuck their snouts through the bars at Glaw.
The biggest snarled at Glaw. “Come any closer and I’ll turn you into a fur coat for your girlfriend, Glaw.”
“As I live and breathe,” Glaw said and laughed.
Myf winced and punched Glaw. “Keep it down, Glaw,” she hissed. “You want the guards to hear us?”
Glaw ignored her and pointed at the Ursu in the cage.
“Well if it ain’t Trahaearn ‘Ice Ax’. Good to see you flea biting Polars where you belong.”
They growled at Glaw.
“What’s that?” Glaw said making a show of holding a paw up to one ear. “Can I let you guys out? Sorry, busy washing my coat clean of the stench of Polar scuzzballs.”
The half dozen Polar Ursu roared at the top of their voices and ferociously shook at the cage wall. The hinges began to pull away from the walls.
“Your cowardice betrayed us, Glaw Brynmor. I’ll be collecting on your bounty,” Trahaearn said, “before I leave this planet, Glaw, with your head on the end of my ice-ax.”
“You and your crew got fur balls stuck up your butts,” Glaw said.
Dax turned to Myf. “Tell me Glaw’s on medication for staring into black holes,” said Dax, “and just maybe I won’t shoot him.”
“Glaw likes to improvise,” Myf said and dragged him away from the Polar Ursu. She slammed him against the far cage wall that adjoined another cage. “We all got hidden talents. What’s yours?”
Dax shrugged. “If I had time for a hobby, it’d be bear hunting,” he said.
Glaw sniffed at the air and cocked his head to one side.
“What is it, Glaw?” Myf asked.
“If I didn’t know better,” Glaw said and slowly turned to the cage on the far side. “I’d swear she’s here.”
“Who?”
He shook his head.
“No one,” Glaw said and swallowed hard.
A shadow moved in the far cage and a brown female Ursu stepped into the half-light.
“Always playing the clown, eh, Bryn? How you been honey bear?”
“Who is she?” asked Myf.
Glaw’s bottom jaw fell slack and his tongue flopped out.
“Glaw, you’re drooling,” Myf said. “Stick your tongue back in before you leak out all your brains.”
“Huh?” Glaw said.
“Glaw?” Myf snapped. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Huh” Glaw said again. “Oh, um, sure. Myf meet Blodwyn, my wife.”
“You?” said Myf and shook her head in disbelief. “Married?”
“How are you doing, honey bear?” Glaw said to Blodwen.
Myf sneered. “‘Honey bear’?”
Glaw ignored her.
“Well, well, if it ain’t the fallen crown prince?” Blodwyn said and spat through the bars at Glaw’s feet. “Last time I heard from you, you were just popping out for a stroll to mark your territory.”
Glaw looked at his feet.
“Well, you know how it is... an Ursu’s got a lot of roaming to do before breakfast.”
“If that ain’t a fact,” Blodwen said.
“So how are the cubs, Blodwyn?” She tuts.
“You have cubs?” Myf said and pinched herself in case she was dreaming.
“Do you even remember their names?” Blodwyn asked.
“Sure, I do,” Glaw said, “um, let me see...”
“Well see for yourself,” Blodwyn said and waved a paw at four adolescent Ursu taller than Glaw and almost as broad.
They bounded to the cage bars.
“Cubs,” said Blodwyn, “meet your father.”
With a flurry of enthusiasm they all spoke at once and then bowed.
“I’m Gruffud.”
“I’m Guto.”
“I’m Gwawr”
“And I’m Gwil.”
“All the ‘G’s’ huh,” Glaw said. “That’s not going get mighty confusing at light speed.”
“Well they got good manners,” Myf said. “You sure they’re yours, Glaw?”
“Not that you’ll hang around long enough to forget their names,” said Blodwyn.
Myf felt her own slack jaw as she stared at Glaw.
“I never figured you for a dead beat dad,” she said and walked off.
Glaw felt a tear in the corner of one eye and blinked it away.
He called out after Myf, but she ignored him.
“So how you end up here, Blodwyn?” Glaw asked.
“Long story, Glaw.”
“So Dad’s here to free us?” said Guto.
Blodwyn shrugged.
“I guess so,” Glaw said and caught a fierce look from Blodwyn. “I mean, sure, I wouldn’t let my cubs grow up behind bars, would I, now?”
Blodwyn rolled her eyes.
“So exactly how are you going to get us all out, Glaw?”
Glaw stared out into the darkness after Myf and sighed.
Blodwyn tapped her foot impatiently.
“Hey, Myf does all the strategic thinking,” Glaw said. “I’m just along for the wild times and heavy lifting.”
“Heavy lifting? Hey Dad,” said Guto. “I can bench press Gruffud and Gwawr at the same time. Want to see?”
“Sure, um... Gwil,” said Glaw.
“It’s ‘Guto’” said Guto and let his bottom lip flop into a sulk.
“You can play later, cubs,” Blodwyn said. “Right now, Daddy has some heavy lifting of his own, working up to using his side of the Royal family’s brain cell.”
“So what do you recommend?” Glaw said.
Blodwyn sighed.
“Before we breakout, better take care of the neighbors first,” she said and pointed to the far side of the courtyard and a row of stables from which a very familiar and unwelcome stench wafted over and punched Glaw’s snout.
“Is that what I think it is?” Glaw said.
“It ain’t a pony stables, Glaw.”
Sun light began to stream down into their circular pit.
Dax glanced up at the ceiling rolling back on one side, revealing a a crimson sky.
A dozen legionnaires drew their Makhaira swords and ignited them. Another dozen legionnaires appeared with Cat O’light tails. The air crackled.
“Everyone up the steps,” the Vanguard commander shouted and pointed to the staircase that led to a ceiling of iron bars. Beyond which a high walled arena stood.
Dax’s ankle and wrist bracelets clicked open and fell to the ground. As did those of the other prisoners.
“Now,” roared the Vanguard commander as his troops ran at the prisoners. Dax and the others found themselves herded up the steps and out into blinding daylight.
CHAPTER 61 - COLOSSEUM OF DEATH
Valiant (Jurassic War Universe Book 1) Page 28
