by Billy Wong
Understanding that he wouldn't likely sway his mother, he looked around the room for support. "A lot of you have seen both Claire and Damon fight. Though I'm stricken to the core by his loss, and with all due respect, do you truly think he would have put up much of a fight if she was set on killing him?"
"She was pregnant," a plump middle-aged advisor said. "That could've had an effect."
Sophie replied, "It's been mere weeks since she matched blades against me. Her abilities shouldn't have decreased much from then yet." Theo smiled at her honesty in aid of her romantic rival.
"But by the same token, her wounds from your battle cannot have fully healed."
"Mine haven't either," she admitted. "Still, I don't feel Damon would've been able to do much..."
"Even the strongest warrior can be caught off guard," the queen said. "Do you all not remember when she first visited our country, the great First of Spears was nearly laid low by three of our overzealous captains?"
Theo shook his head. "I myself could barely defeat one of the brothers. Them together would be a far different challenge than a lone Damon."
"She also did not have her spear with her, and she still won."
"I find it unlikely she would have underestimated him so much as to not bring her spear," Gunther put in, "when it could've made the difference between losing her child and keeping it. She is known for being rather calculated, after all."
"Those who have felt her spirit in battle, like Gunther and myself, know this isn't like her," Sophie said.
This is a farce, Theo wanted to add for her, but refrained from it. "What proof is there she killed him, other than his blood being on her? Is that enough to convict her of such a serious crime, for which the penalty must be death?" He gulped to voice the last part.
Talia replied, "There is no evidence of any other possible culprit."
"Like I tried to say, magic could have been used to hide his passage. Maybe his shoes were enchanted so nothing would stick to them, thus not leaving a trail of blood."
"Have you have had your fill of your fairy tales? We have."
"But Manuiel brought an army over the mountains with the help of magic! How can you dismiss what we already saw to be possible?"
Darius raised a hand. "It is a possibility. But in the serving of justice we must deal in evidence, not wild suppositions made to favor those we admire."
Wait, that was it! "Speaking of evidence, was Damon's death wound from a slash or a stab?"
"I believe it was a stab. Why?"
"Claire, was the assassin's weapon thinner or thicker than your dagger?"
She gazed hopefully at him. "It was longer, but I think thinner."
He turned back to his parents. "If we check Damon's wound against her blade, and find it wouldn't fit, that would be evidence a different weapon was used on him."
"She could have thrown it away or hidden it in that case," his mother said.
"She hasn't left the castle since then. We'll check all around it, and if we don't find it it'll seem like she might be innocent."
Talia scowled. "She could have someone else in league with her who carried it away."
"Yeah, but if they had everything that well planned out, it would be even more improbable that she managed to lose her baby and get caught like this in the first place."
"It's a fine idea," the king said. "Gunther, take her dagger and go check... the body."
Claire handed the knife without protest to Gunther, who took it with a respectful nod. "I hope to return with good news."
She smiled. "Thank you for trusting me. I'm grateful you and Sophie are willing to stand up for me."
"You were a great opponent. It would be such a waste for you to be executed wrongfully."
Gunther left, and everybody waited tensely. Before he could return, a young guard entered and walked hurriedly before Darius with a bundle in hand. "Your Majesty, we've found something." He unwrapped his burden, revealing a small, thin sword with a gently curving blade. Drying blood still caked it. "This was hidden in a drawer under clothes, in Lady Claire and her cook's room."
Theo's heart leapt in his chest. "What? Father, you can't possibly believe Claire would have hidden the weapon in her room, when it's obviously the first place that would be checked. Whoever killed Damon must have hidden somewhere until we left, and then put it there to frame her."
His father regarded Claire with a frown. "It is strange to think she would do that, I acknowledge. However, we must act according to what evidence we have."
"Seize her!" his mother said all too eagerly. He thought Claire still had a good chance of escape since she could likely outmaneuver the guards and Sophie, the only person present at the moment close enough to her level, might not be inclined to put full effort into stopping her. But instead, she just stood there and didn't resist as two guards grasped her by the arms.
Seeing the way he looked at her, she easily read what he was thinking. "I can't run away and leave Lily to fend for herself. Who knows what would happen to her left alone, with her captors believing I'm responsible for the prince's death."
He drew close to panic. "But you could be killed."
"Of course I know that. And, I trust you to save me."
Theo's blood ran cold as the queen spoke. "Save you? When a prince of Egrent has been slain, not even his misguided brother can save the killer. The sentence for such a deed can only be swift death."
"Wait!"' Theo said. "You can't kill her. If you kill her..." He thought about threatening to kill himself, but doubted his parents would buy it. Hell, he wouldn't even be able to follow through on it. As much as it would upset him if Claire was gone, wasting his own life in addition wouldn't help anyone. "If you kill her, I won't become king!"
Talia exhaled sharply. "What did you say?"
"I'm heir to the throne now, right? You and father both want your line to continue ruling this land. But if Claire is executed while I don't believe she's guilty of murdering my brother, that won't happen. When I become king, I'll abdicate the crown and let the nobles fight over it. A family that puts the innocent to death over petty grudges doesn't deserve to be called royalty. I swear I'll do it."
"We could always have another child."
"Are you sure? You're getting up there in age, Mother, and I don't know that you'll be able. Besides, what will you do if you bear another, have me killed so that my younger sibling can inherit?" People gasped at his bluntness, and his father's eyes bulged. "It's too bad Egrent doesn't have a merit system for inheritance like High Waloros. If it did, maybe you could raise them better to have them displace me as heir."
"How dare you speak to your mother that way!" Darius said, stomping his foot.
His voice softened a tad, but he met the queen's blistering gaze resolutely. "Perhaps I went too far implying you would have me killed. However, everything else I said stands. If you end Claire's life, our family's reign also ends with me."
"'You truly would do it." Was there a slight bit of pride for him in her voice, despite all the anger she must feel? "Fine, she will not die for now. She will be imprisoned indefinitely, or until such time as you come to accept her guilt and the necessary punishment."
"I will never accept that. And far from being imprisoned indefinitely, she'll soon be free." He shot forward and snatched the assassin's blade from the guard, surprising all again with his confidence of action. "Because by finding the owner of this, I will prove her innocence."
Claire broke out into a smile. "Theo! You're strengthening my love for you with each word." Her face sobered. "I do hope you can fulfill them quickly, though. Accusing his envoy of high crimes and holding her prisoner... such could be seen as an insult by the Hierarch."
"In your position, you have the audacity to make threats?" Talia asked with a sneer.
"It's not a threat. It is simply a statement of a quite likely eventuality."
"And what if it is? We cannot forsake our pride as a nation by bending to High Waloros's will at
every turn, even when one of our royal children has been heinously slaughtered."
King Darius gave a slow, grim nod. "My wife speaks truth."
"I didn't say what you should or shouldn't do," Claire said. "I only warned of the possible consequences."
Sophie interjected. "We are hearing that High Waloros will soon control Fian. Once their occupation is complete, there'll be even less between us and their armies than there already is."
Darius sighed. "Then whatever happens, we will face it with honor."
"Enough of this." Talia made a shooing motion with her hand. "Take this impudent girl away, so she'll not corrupt the minds of our gullible youth any more today."
Sophie counted as a gullible youth? Perhaps she didn't have the most diverse experience, but Theo didn't feel the description fit. And Gunther, for that matter? "Stay strong, Claire!" he said while the guards led her away. "I'll visit you soon." Glancing at his mother, he dared her with his eyes to say otherwise. To his relief, he found himself the winner in their battle of wills this time.
#
After a long discussion among the advisors about what to do if there were signs of aggression from the Hierarch, out of which nothing substantial came, Theo went to see Claire. He tried to apologize to his mother on the way for being too harsh on her, but she refused to talk and simply walked away. His father however seemed impressed with the way he had finally stood up to her in public, saying, "Seems you're becoming a man at last." He responded with a plain nod he thought suitable for a man and continued on his way.
He descended into the dungeon, the jaded guards giving him curious looks as he passed. Even for them, the sight of a prince visiting a prisoner must be something unique. The place was damp and dark, not accommodation he found acceptable for Claire. He'd have to ask his parents to treat her better, although he wasn't confident he could convince them. He spotted her sitting inside a dirty cell, a shackle around an ankle chaining her to the wall. "How are you?" he asked, worry gnawing at his gut.
"Fine, for now." Her tone was even, but too even, like she was trying to make it stay controlled.
"They didn't do anything to you?"
"They hit me a little." When he bared his teeth in response, she added, "Don't worry, it was nothing more than what you'd expect from people thinking I might have killed their prince. You know how tough my body is, a few wild blows from ordinary men in anger won't damage me too much."
So it seemed like most took his mother's side in this. He told himself it was understandable, considering they didn't know Claire and only thought of her as the stranger who carried out her feared master's will and had bested their champions. "Even so, I don't appreciate the thought of the woman I love being beaten. But if you're all right, I'm glad for that. Did the assassin give you any other clues as to who he might be other than the sword he wielded?"
"He was very covered up, to the point I could not get a good look at any part of his skin. He had white hair, but moved like a exceedingly quick man in his prime."
"Covered skin as if he had something to hide? I've heard dark elves have white hair even at a relatively young age for their kind... so maybe he is one of them?" He paused, thinking such a conclusion might be too easy. "Or perhaps he's one wanting us to think he's a dark elf, to deflect suspicion from his true self."
"Either is possible, I suppose. If there are no tracks of his to be found, that weapon might be the best thing to divulge his identity from."
"I don't know," Theo said nervously. "The weapon doesn't bear any distinct markings. Other than its unusual shape for around here, it doesn't stand out much."
"Despite the lack of marks, its form alone is different. I think a good idea might be to check which smiths have forged something similar."
''I guess, if it was forged near here to begin with."
Claire hung her head in acknowledgment of the likelihood it hadn't been. The thing looked pretty exotic compared to the straight blades favored in Egrent, after all. "Have you talked to Lily? I gather they aren't letting her visit me, considering she would have by now if they did."
"They're probably afraid she might slip you something to help you escape, or something like that. Hell, seeing you like this I wish I could do that too. But I guess you wouldn't want me to, since it would be too hard to escape with her. Anyway, yes I talked to her. She's fine, other than being sick with worry for you. They're keeping her under close watch, but I'll make sure nobody harms her."
"Thanks for taking care of my friend. You should tell her for me that it's okay for her to leave... she's free to go home, instead of waiting around for me. And if you don't mind, I'd also appreciate if you could get someone to escort her at least as far as the port."
"Of course I wouldn't mind if that was what she wanted. But I don't think Lily has any desire to leave without you. I already asked if I should ask you whether she could go on ahead, and she said not to even bother with the question."
She flashed a brief grin. "That fool girl, reminding me why I love her. If she went back, she could fill the Hierarch in on what's happened. Though I suppose that doesn't have to be done in person."
"I wrote the letter explaining the situation myself, before letting Lily add whatever footnotes she deemed appropriate. I'm worried what the reaction will be, but it's not like we can or should hide this for long."
"Do you regret falling for me, after I failed to save your brother, lost your child and got thrown in prison for it?"
He shuddered to be reminded of the magnitude of what he'd lost, but hearing the guilt behind her words, smiled and reached through the bars. She leaned over so their hands touched. "None of those things is your fault. You weren't even supposed to be there to save him, so arriving an unfortunate moment too late doesn't constitute a failure on your part. As for the rest, I blame it all on the assassin."
"I would love it if the two of us could kill him someday."
He still felt a bit strange saying it, but anger heated Theo's back and he replied, "I would love that too. I'll take a chance to do it together or alone, however."
"That's right. It will be a happy day when we can avenge our family."
Our family. Theo felt a pleasant warmth upon hearing her say that; although she could just be referring to their unborn child, he thought she meant to include Damon as well. His family was her family now, and in spite of everything else, it was wonderful. "It should be, but it won't if you aren't there to enjoy it with me. You need to take care of yourself, so we can both get through this rough time."
"Of course we'll get through, you think staying in some filthy dungeon would be enough to kill me? I've been on campaigns where we endured far worse. I'll just wait patiently until you win my freedom."
"Even in a dark filthy dungeon, your spirit's a beacon. I hope it'll stay that way."
"I'll keep my spirits strong. I call myself First of Spears after all, it wouldn't suit the owner of a lofty title like that to be broken."
Theo's plea to move Claire to a better location fell as expected on deaf ears. He spent the next weeks investigating the origin of the murder weapon, asking every blacksmith he could whether in person or by letter if they knew anything about it. Gunther, Rory, and even Sophie pitched in as they could, helping him find and get in contact with smiths. But all he learned was that the blade's style was more popular in the south, where people braved great sandstorms on a daily basis. Damon's funeral was held, and he broke down weeping as he tried to speak of what he'd lost. He still could hardly accept that his older brother was gone, and would never give him his guidance and support again. In addition to grief, he felt hot anger. He longed to find whoever was responsible for this and make them pay.
Meanwhile Claire's vigor appeared to deteriorate slightly from visit to visit. At last he commented to her, "You aren't looking so great."
"You aren't either."
"It's just my distress for you bringing me down." In reality, conducting his search in addition to his new duties as heir lim
ited the time he had to sleep and he grew ever wearier. But he didn't want to worry her with that. "You look downright sickly though."
Her gaze became downcast. "I lost a lot of blood along with our child. With the diet and conditions in here, it's a bit harder to recover."
His heartbeat quickened with concern. "Why didn't you tell me about this? Maybe I could bring you some medicine from Lily to help you get better."
"If they won't let me see her, I doubt they'll want me to have something from her. Even though you're the prince, I'm sure you have bounds you can't overstep either."
"Yeah, I doubt my parents would give permission to do that. Maybe I could sneak it to you. I don't want to stand by and watch you suffer."
She gripped his hand and shook her head. "It's fine. I'm no weakling, I'll recover even if it takes longer. But if you get caught, they might bar you from visiting me. I wouldn't like that."
He wanted to say nobody was going to stop him. However, that might not be realistic. "All right, if you're sure you'll be okay without it, I'll take your word for it."
"There is one thing, though. If the Hierarch sees me like this, he won't be happy—well, even moreso than you might expect."
"Is that the case? I'm getting the feeling there might be more between you and him than you've revealed as of yet."
Claire smiled wanly. "We aren't lovers, if you're thinking that way. He's too old for my taste. No, even though we haven't discussed the matter at length, I think he views me somewhat like a daughter, the daughter he never had."
"What? I thought Camilla was his daughter."
"She is. But she's considered something of a brute, concerning herself almost solely with matters of war and combat. I think he appreciates my desire to travel and learn about the world, maybe to the point he enjoys my company more than that of his own offspring."
"I thought it was a little odd how she carried herself around him. Now I guess it's because she seemed more like a comrade perhaps, than kin."
