"Then he wasn't practicing Aggressor spells being taught by Adept Pleates?"
Fernonia looked prettily confused. “Don't know what spells you are talking about, Ma'am. The training Adept Pleates was giving us had to do with the projectors. He didn't have one with him."
"So, according to what he told you, he was wandering around thinking."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Thank you for making that clear. Now, I know you submitted a report of the battle you had with the Hermanian sorcerers, but would you give us your personal observation of what happened that morning?"
Fernonia took a short breath and puffed it out. Aetria got the impression the Novice was about to recite a lesson, as if she had practiced her presentation for hours before. She caught Fernonia darting a nervous glance in her direction. Why was Fernonia so afraid of her?
"I was really busy directing fireballs at the infantry trying to form up below us on the field. Adept Pleates had pointed out our targets and told us to fire slowly, being careful not to interject too much Power into the projectors. When the fireballs hit us, I was knocked down and almost lost consciousness."
Corerilla broke in. “Are you sure they were fireballs?"
"Ma'am, you are an Aggressor, and I am an Aggressor. We both know fireballs. Those were fireballs."
"Yes, Lieutenant, I know fireballs, but I wasn't there. You were. What happened next?"
"The commander directed fire against the troops rushing our position, then ordered our retreat. He got us off the hill and back to our staging area. It is all in my report, Ma'am."
"Thank you, Lieutenant,” Corerilla said, turning to theCouncil Leader and looking at him. “All the Council members have read your report. I am sure General Borlock has read it as well."
Sonja nodded. She was not being as difficult about the hearing as Corerilla feared.
The Counselor turned back to the guard lieutenant. “Please resume your guard duties, but be ready to provide further testimony if needed."
Fernonia jumped to her feet and marched from the room. The silence that remained in the room after the slam of the door was deep. Aetria suppressed a desire to squirm in her seat.
In the silence, Corerilla walked slowly over to her little table and picked up another of her carefully arranged scrolls in her left hand, tapping it in her right hand as she slowly proceeded to the general's table. Handing the scroll to Holendal, she turned to look at Trelana and Aetria.
"Adept Pleates, who is my main witness, and also the one who made the charges against Sorceress Aetria, is dead. The only witness he can make is his written word. There are three sources of his testimony. The first comes from the reports he wrote as commander of the sorcerer regiment. He was tasked by the Council to provide a weekly report of the activities of the Regiment.
"Secondly, in the spring of this year, he proposed the development of a Power projector weapon. He was authorized by the Council to do so and to send daily reports of his progress. The Council members have read both sets of these reports and are familiar with them.
"The final source of his written testimony is his correspondence with his mentor—with me. Like any communication between mentor and student, these are privileged, and not shared unless agreed upon by student and mentor."
The Council members, mentors all, nodded their heads at the Counselor's last words. Trelana had told Aetria she was going to have a hard time getting information from those letters since she, even as advocate for Aetria, would not be allowed to read them.
"The volumes of reports and letters Adept Pleates left would take one person weeks to read, and for all members of this hearing to read them would take months. I have taken the liberty of condensing the answers to the questions I would have asked the commander if I could have called him as a witness to this hearing.
Corerilla held up her left hand. “This first scroll contains excerpts from Adept Pleates’ daily reports to the Council concerning the weapons project. He sent us a morning and evening report. To make it easier for us all to follow, I have put them in chronological order, using Day 1 as the day he arrived at Inhestia last spring to accept the recruit company into the sorcerer regiment. Novice Holendal will read these momentarily, but before he does, I want to make the point that, except for letters of private correspondence, I will provide the appropriate report with each answer. I believe this is in keeping with the king's Justice Code."
Sonja turned and looked at Corerilla who had returned to her table. “Almost, Counselor. I reserve the right to call for private correspondence as well. You have the right to refuse. If you refuse, I can, and may, put the issue before a King's Justice to decide if I can read them or not. I realize this is a very sensitive point between the Council and the king, but being sensitive does not mean I won't broach it."
"Understood,” Meldoran said, cutting off the retort he knew would come from his Counselor. The pained look on her face told him he was right in stepping in, although he worried it would cost him later on. Time would tell. He nodded to the young Provisioner. “Proceed, Novice Holendal."
Holendal stood and read:
"Day 1 (evening): I am concerned that, during the Oath taking, Aetria was not paying attention to the Oath. Perhaps she did not think she had to, having taken it once before. A small thing perhaps, but troublesome. Mage Kelristo noticed my concern and misunderstood, assuring me Aetria is under full control of her spell casting. I should hope so, but what about her loyalty to the regiment?"
Trelana put a restraining hand on Aetria's arm as she started to rise out of her chair. “Later, Aetria. We can rebut this later. Do not react to everything you are going to hear. I told you that Pleates said bad things about you. Prepare to hear worse."
Corerilla watched the exchange between mentor and student with a grim smile on her lips.
"Day 2 (morning): Aetria's showing a great deal more fire and zeal since we left Inhestia. This is the sorceress I remember from four years ago. A little insubordinate, but normal for a new Sub-Commander feeling her way into command. The young always think they know better than their elders do.
"Day 6 (morning): Lieutenant Nemos reported that one of the Novices left his sentry post last night. He had told Aetria about the disappearance, and she took it upon herself to find the missing youngster. She is very protective of her Novices. He then said a most disturbing thing. He said she went to the deserted guard post, and with no effort to scout for the trail of the Novice, headed out in the direction that later proved to be where he went. Nemos asked me if sorcerers had a spell to track with. I told him no, but that there was a logical answer to what she did. I believe she did, in fact, find his trail where Nemos could not. I must watch him, and her, more carefully."
Holendal paused and took a sip of water from his goblet on the table. Reading in a loud voice was a strain.
"Day 6 (evening): Lieutenant Nemos reported to me this evening that he had asked Aetria how she tracked Recanlin. She said Recanlin had been practicing spells, so she sensed the Power use. I told Nemos that there was indeed a logical explanation for how she did it. He did not look convinced. I will ask Recanlin tonight during our special training what he was doing out there.
"Day 7 (morning): I have removed Recanlin from the special training. I can't have an Aggressor wielding the weapon if he can't keep his mind on his business. He says he walked off his post because he was worrying about his performance during my training. He thinks the other Aggressors are picking on him. I can't abide such immaturity.
"Day 7 (evening): A most distressing day this has been. Aetria came to me at midday and said she had sensed a source off to our west. I had sensed nothing. We turned to that direction and I finally sensed a source nearly three hours later. Remembering what I had heard about Aetria's strange Power sensing after her burnout, I am concerned when she is sensing Power even a Mage candidate like myself can't. Is she somehow dealing in wild magic? She was very strident during our staff meeting and opposed my decision to investigate the sour
ce. I had to be blunt with her.
"Day 10 (evening): Nemos returned with his scouting report. He was very adamant we could take the source. He says there are very few sorcerers, none above the level of Sorcerer. I made the decision to attack the enemy sorcerer camp and take the source. I believe it will be a perfect opportunity to prove the value of the projectors. Aetria again opposed my decision. She complained about the danger of grid burnout for my Novices. I told her they were not going to spell fireballs of any great size, so they were safe. I am losing my patience with this young officer. She even objected to my stopping Recanlin's participation in the weapons project. She is meddling in Aggressor business.
"Day 13 (evening): Have dispatched a report to you and the general about our failed mission. I take the failure upon myself for trusting too much in my senior staff, whose performance led to our defeat. I met with Aetria this evening to go over my report. When I told Aetria that Nemos had incorrectly gauged the strength of the Hermanian sorcerers, whose counter-attack nearly killed us all, she tried to defend him, implying his estimate of their numbers was correct. I was tired of her doubting my word and was perhaps a little blunt when I told her she started her attack too early and alerted the Hermanians to counter-attack. She flew into a rage. I told her she had the right to submit a report along with mine, but she scornfully refused to do so. I told her I was submitting a copy to the Council, and she had the audacity to question my right to communicate with them. I dismissed her with a warning not to discuss this business with anyone. Thank the Power I will be rid of her tomorrow. I will order her into a position where she can hurt no one else."
Holendal lowered the scroll, glancing at Aetria with a look of shame, before sitting down.
"I have one more written statement from Adept Pleates to present, but before I do, I intend to call as a witness the man who delivered Pleates’ last correspondence to me. I call Assassin Sergeant Ventler to give testimony before this hearing."
Now where have I heard that name before? She turned to see who was now entering the room.
The man used a crutch to help himself as he painfully limped towards her. The look of pure hate she saw on his face brought back with a rush, the memory of the fight in the Hermanian tavern, and her knife embedded in the man's leg. The Sergeant reached the chair next to Aetria, and with one hand moved it as far to his right as he could before slamming it to the ground and falling heavily into it. He held the crutch upright, close against his left side, like a grounded spear, as if to ward Aetria off.
"Please identify yourself to the Council,” Corerilla said in Hermanian.
The man replied in the same language, his voice deep and gravelly. “I am Sergeant Horates Ventler of the Hermanian Assassin Corps, retired, temporarily.” He said the last with a glare at Aetria.
The Counselor translated his words. Aetria sensed his coming out of retirement might lead to her demise shortly thereafter.
"Sergeant Ventler brought me a letter hastily written by Commander Pleates. He wrote the letter as he was searching for the general, as you will see, to save his life."
Aetria looked in shock at Sonja. The general's expression did not change, except for a slight smile that appeared momentarily on her lips. The Council members’ reactions were much stronger, the outpouring of questions filling the room. Meldoran raised his hands for silence but did not use a hand flare. The room quieted.
Aetria noticed Ventler was looking around with amusement at all the commotion that had just gone on. She wondered if he knew what Corerilla had said to upset this crowd.
"Please proceed, Counselor,” the Council Leader said.
"Sergeant Ventler, please describe how Adept Pleates met you and gave you the letter to send to me. I will translate as best I can. My Hermanian is not as good as I would hope, but it will have to do."
The sergeant told his story in short sentences, waiting after every two or three to allow Corerilla to translate. His delivery of his statement sounded practiced, as Aetria was sure it had been.
"I was a common Assassin at that time, being promoted to sergeant a few weeks later. My squad of Assassins was in pursuit of General Mythrian. Being in Delmathian territory, we disguised ourselves as a band of rowdy young men out for a lark and a drunk. Pleates met us in a tavern. He was disguised as a whore and certainly fooled the lot of us!
"Since we needed to have some women with us to make our party believable, we took in several, including Pleates. We were hitting all the taverns and inns along the road, looking for the general. It was just after dark when we approached the inn where the general was. As we dismounted and were getting ready to go in, Pleates pulled me aside. I thought ‘she’ was going to try to get me to bed her. I was quite taken aback when he said he was a man.
"He told me he was on a special mission, and he didn't think he was going to survive. He had a letter he wanted delivered to a place called Inhestia. Said I would be paid very handsomely for my efforts. He didn't know who I was or he would not have left the letter in my hands. He said the people he was trying to find were in that tavern, and there might be a fight. I told him I would deliver his letter. I stayed outside with our horses.
"The man Pleates was right; there was a fight. He died, along with my lieutenant and two others. Sergeant Graner ran out of the inn and told me to ride as fast as I could to tell the Magess the general was dead. He would follow with the remains of the squad, several of whom were injured. I left immediately after getting my orders."
After translating the sergeant's last words, Corerilla walked over to her table and looked at a scroll she had opened there. “The Hermanians had many assassins out looking for the general,” she said, looking back at Ventler. “How were you able to find her?"
"We were told we would find them in that area because our sorcerers were sensing a source being opened."
Sonja sat upright suddenly. All eyes fixed on her. “Who told you there was a source being opened?” she asked in Hermanian, as fluent as Corerilla's.
Corerilla objected to Meldoran. “This is my witness, Leader, and my time for presentations. This is most irregular."
The Council Leader sighed. “But it is also General Borlock's hearing, so she can ask questions when she wants. What did she ask the witness?"
"She asked him to name the person who told him a source was being opened,” Corerilla answered.
The sergeant had been following the interplay between the two Magi and the female general. He sensed an answer was expected. “Our attached sorcerer told us. Her name was Coleni,” he said.
Coleni? How could that be? Aetria glanced at the general to catch her reaction. The man has to be lying.
"Where is this Coleni now, Sergeant? I would like to hear her testimony,” Sonja said, nary a hint in her voice that she knew the name intimately.
"Sorry, General, but she died several months ago, tortured to death by your inquisitors."
"How inconvenient,” Sonja said, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms on her chest.
Finishing her translation, Corerilla asked the general if she could continue her part of the hearing. Sonja gave her a quick nod in response.
"Sergeant Ventler, have you ever seen Sorceress Aetria before?"
"Yes, I have,” the man said, rubbing his injured leg, “and quite recently."
"Where and when, Sergeant?"
Ventler glared at Aetria, then pointed a long finger at her accusingly. “I saw her talking with my superior, the Magess Chalinee, commander of the Hermanian Sorcerer Corps, not more than a week ago,” he declared loudly. “She was in the Freighter's Rest, an inn in the village of Logatha, in the foothills of the Logathian Mountains, Hermania. And they were talking very friendly like—for once being enemies."
Now the center of attention in the room, Aetria alternately wanted to flee and fight. Trelana's steadying hand on her arm signaled not to do either.
"Thank you, Sergeant Ventler. I'm sure Magess Trelana will have questions for you. Perhaps, while
you are waiting, one of our Healers can look at your leg."
Fighting erect, the Sergeant shook his head angrily, glared once more at Aetria, and limped out of the room.
"My last piece of testimony is that delivered letter from Adept Pleates. It only arrived yesterday, so I will pass it around to the members as soon as Novice Holendal has read it. It is by the commander's hand, as you will be able to see. Novice Holendal, please read the letter."
The parchment had been folded over onto itself many times like a well-used map. The Novice finally opened it up and began to read.
"I have doomed General Mythrian. Yesterday, all the sorcerers in the world must have sensed Aetria's expenditure of Power. She has sent a beacon to the enemy to come and find her. As if she didn't think that enough, she has opened my source. I write this as I am preparing to go after her alone. I cannot tell Commander Preldones why I must leave to stop Aetria without disclosing her dishonoring the Order and the regiment. Besides, only a sorcerer can find her now. I must stop her before she succeeds in getting the general captured, or worse. Why is she doing this? Can she be so stupid she doesn't know it will draw the enemy? No, not after her last battle. She is doing this deliberately. By the Power, I hope I can reach her before the Hermanians. If I fail, bring justice to her swiftly."
The room erupted in angry shouting. Aetria lowered her head and sobbed. “It's all a lie!"
Corerilla's shrill voice cut across the din. “I have more, fellow Magi. Please hear me out. I call General Sonja Borlock to give testimony before this hearing!"
If Sonja was shocked by the summons, she didn't show it at all. She stood to walk to the witness chair, but Meldoran stopped her, saying she could testify where she was—formality be damned. Sonja sat back in her chair and looked at Corerilla.
"General Borlock, the Council and I have read your report concerning your journey north to join the king's army, and we are truly amazed with Sorceress Aetria's miraculous illusion spell that saved you from the Hermanian assassins the first time. All the members of the Council are curious how you managed to evade the pursuit of all the Hermanian units converging on your position. As you pointed out so clearly in your report, the expenditure of that much Power could be detected, but you did not say how you avoided capture."
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