Trials of a Champion

by Thomas O'Gorman

After the massacre of the Pearls Keyland rode back to the palace and found the nine remaining dukes. As he was about to speak to them a squire ran up to Keyland and gave him a piece of parchment. Keyland read over it and smiled.

  “Lords, I am happy to report that the Carrington line is finished. Prince Henri had a fatal riding accident and a ruffian on the street stabbed Prince Devon. Lady Patriche had a miscarriage and neither the mother nor the baby survived. You all know that the Queen had Landis killed and she will be tried for murder as soon as is convenient. I have delivered to you what you wanted. A kingdom ready for new leadership. I humbly offer myself as king if it pleases you.”

  All nine of the dukes present voted yea, and although it took a unanimous vote of all fourteen dukes to name a new king, Keyland accepted the vote of the nine as giving him the right to be called the next King of Aviel.

  Over the next week the sham trial of Queen Octavia was held, and she was found guilty of treason and murder and was executed by decapitation. The newssheets were extremely skeptical of Keyland’s rise to power and called it a coup d’état. Keyland tried to take over the army and the navy, but General Coy and Admiral Nonce refused to meet with him or acknowledge his power. The army splintered off into two factions. The faction loyal to Keyland was by far the smaller group, numbering 8,000. The army General Coy commanded was 18,000. They took opposite positions around Alexandra, with the bigger group on the northern end, and the smaller group on the southern end. Surprisingly there was no fighting between the groups. The leaders realized that countrymen did not want to fight each other. They had an unspoken agreement not to attack one another while the Menegar threat was still viable. The navy was also divided but again Keyland had a smaller number of ships than Fleet Admiral Nonce had.

  Keyland had nine dukes on his side, but the remaining five did not support him at all and called him a usurper. They pulled their household guard back from the army and did not pay any taxes. In fact, the dukes that supported him paid only a nominal amount of taxes. Keyland didn’t have enough of the army to enforce anything different. The populace had turned against him as well. He was basically trapped in Vandileigh Palace with no power base and no authority. He was sitting on a powder keg and he was sure the country would have erupted into civil war if it wasn’t for the fear of the Menegar attacking. Keyland had to find a way to secure his power and position and he had to do it quickly. The treasury was close to empty and without any taxes coming in he would not even be able to afford to keep the palace up, much less run a country. He needed dreckels, and for that he needed the power to collect the dreckels. For that he needed a much larger, and an undivided force. He decided to declare General of the Army Vic Coy and Fleet Admiral Everett Nonce traitors. He needed to do more than that, though. He needed to take them out.

  Chapter 20: News and a Trial

  September 20, 850 A.A.

  Sarah was nervous. Winn’s trial was to take place on the morrow. She had visited him daily for the past week, and though he didn’t say much to her, she told him over and over again that she loved him, and he had to fight his best. He said he would, that he was eager to destroy his foes, but not with any conviction or resolve. She was worried that somehow, he lost all his anger and his will to fight. It was like he was tired of living and he just wanted it all to end.

  “You are just being nervous, Sarah,” Jaunty had told her. “When I talk to him, he is different, the fire burns in his eyes. I think that when you are around him, he is very withdrawn and unsure. He sees so many versions of you, and he believes that you hurt him badly. You confuse him, that is all. He will destroy whomever they put in front of him. You have to believe that.”

  Sarah wasn’t so sure, but if anybody knew Winn in this state, it was Jaunty. It killed Sarah inside that Winn didn’t trust her, but she knew that his mind was broken. She prayed to the Almighty unceasingly that the oracle would cure Winn and they could go back to the way things were, or at least start over again.

  Sarah looked up as the carriage they were riding in stopped. She, Svae, Alana, and Bevy were invited to the Ambassador’s residence by his wife for a luncheon. Though she was in no mood for socializing she felt it would be rude to refuse the invitation. She made her way out of the carriage and was shown into the house to a sunroom where the luncheon would be served. The sunroom had a lovely view of some mountains in the distance and a large stream that flowed behind the house.

  “It is certainly a lovely view,” Svae said.

  “Does it look like your mountains back home?” Alana asked.

  “No, ours are always misty, and they are piled one atop the other,” Svae replied. “These stand apart a little, and the view is so clear.”

  “We have some cloudy days, and the mountains are gray when the snow is falling on them,” Lady Elsa Wells said as she entered the room. “It is mostly clear skies though, I must admit. The weather here is lovely.”

  “Do you like living here?” Sarah asked.

  “Very much. The people don’t like gaijin, or foreigners, for the most part, but once they get to know you, they are the nicest people I have ever met. So very polite.”

  “What about the food?” Svae asked.

  “The food took some getting used to, I will admit,” Elsa said. “They do have a wide variety of dishes and whether you like seafood or land-based food there will be something for you to like.”

  “So far the food has been very good,” Sarah said.

  “Speak for yourself, princess,” Bevy said. “I feel like I have been seasick for days.”

  “Have you been to Isa?” Alana asked. “How far is it?”

  “No, I have not been there. I understand it is a four-day journey over some rough terrain. The village rests on the side of a mountain. You should dress warmly. It is cold up there.”

  “We have no furs,” Sarah said. “Where would be the best place to acquire some?”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Elsa said. “I will make sure that you are all provided for.”

  “Thank you very much,” Bevy said.

  “Yes, thank you,” Sarah said. “As you may understand, my mind is on my husband’s trial. Have you ever witnessed such a trial?”

  “Yes, we saw one once,” Elsa said. “It was held in an arena with five sides. The arena was full of people. So much so that it was hot and smelled foul. There was a space in the middle of the arena with lacquered flooring. The man on trial got to pick from ten people to fight. He picked a woman who looked to be of average height and build. She met him in the middle of the arena, and they began to fight. It was the most savage beating I have ever seen. That woman beat the man senseless. Then when he laid begging on the floor, she hit him in the throat with such force that he died.”

  “I am afraid that doesn’t make me feel any better but thank you for letting me know what to expect,” Sarah said.

  As Sarah finished her sentence the ambassador rushed into the room.

  “Princess, you must see this message at once. It is marked most urgent from General Vik Coy, and is for your eyes only.”

  Sarah took the message from the Ambassador and read it.

  Queen Sarah Carrington of Aviel,

  Your Majesty, I hope and pray this note finds you. Ambassador Wells sent me a communique through the amazing Xi En network of ships that you may be in or around the Xi En capital city Kishoda, so I am sending this message back through that network to Ambassador Wells in hopes of it finding you.

  My Queen, I have terrible news. There has been a coup. Keyland Vaux killed your father, your brothers and put your mother through a sham trial and had her killed as well. You are the only heir left. He has taken the throne. I am so sorry for your loss. The country is in chaos. There are reports that ten of the dukes supported Keyland but now only seven, the northern dukes, will claim they support him. The army and navy are splintered and while no fighting has broken out, we are going to be helpless if the Menegar attack. I can’t get the force in Trellheim to respond to me, I d
on’t know if they are for are against Keyland. The people do not support him, and there are riots on the streets of Alexandra daily.

  My Queen I feel like if you came back to Aviel the country would rally around you and the army and navy would reunite and we could throw out the usurper Keyland. Please reach out to me and let me know your intentions as soon as you can. Please return to Aviel as soon as you are able. Your humble servant.

  General of the Army Jik Coy

  Long Live the Queen

  Once Sarah finished reading the message, she dropped the note and put her head in her hands and cried out.

  Svae was sitting beside her and she took the note and read it quickly. She handed the note across the table to Alana and then she went down on one knee. Alana and Bevy quickly read the note and did the same. The ambassador and his wife also knelt.

  “Your Majesty,” Svae said. “We are terribly sorry for your profound loss.”

  Sarah looked up after a moment. Tears were running down her face. “I don’t believe this. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Your Majesty, I suggest we return to your quarters where you can grieve in peace and consider what your next course of action should be,” Alana said.

  “Yes, I think that would be best. Thank you for your hospitality, Ambassador and Lady Wells.”

  “Your Majesty,” they replied.

  The ladies led Sarah back to the carriage, and they rode back to the Imperial Palace in silence except for Sarah’s tears. When they arrived at the palace Sarah was led up to her rooms and she requested to be left alone. She stayed in her rooms for a few hours. Once she came out of her rooms, she strode down to the prison cell where they were keeping Winn. She asked if she could have some privacy with him and the guards left her alone with him.

  “Winn, I have something to tell you and I need you to listen and understand me, your confused mind notwithstanding.”

  Winn looked up from where he was sitting, which was the far end of the cell. He got up and walked to the front of the cell.

  “I am listening,” Winn said.

  “Thanks to your brother…,” Sarah started to say.

  “Half-brother.”

  “Half-brother, as if that makes it any better, I am now Queen of Aviel. Keyland had my family killed in a takeover attempt to be king.”

  “Keyland is king?” Winn growled.

  “Not really, he is in possession of the palace but most of the army and navy do not support him. The people don’t support him either. With the Menegar attack coming any day, the country is in chaos and in no position to defend itself.”

  “I am sorry about your family being killed. I liked your mother a lot even though she tried to poison me. I liked Devon too, until he raped my cousin.”

  “Winn those assertions are not true. My mother and Devon were always nice and gracious to you. My mother bought you those suits, remember?”

  “Sort of, I don’t know. Anyway, Keyland must be killed. As your husband and his blood, it must be me that kills him.”

  “I agree with you, but first things first. You must go to the oracle and be healed after you win your fights tomorrow. I must go to Aviel and give the people a leader to rally to. Winn, I must leave, as soon as possible. It takes four days to get to the port city of Ukida and another two weeks to sail to Aviel. By then the country might have erupted into civil war.”

  “Yes, I see that you must go.”

  “Winn I am of two minds. I have a duty to you as my husband and a duty to Aviel. If you want, I will stay here to watch you fight tomorrow. I will support you. I desperately want to stay and go with you to the oracle, but I can’t.”

  “I don’t need you. I hope when you leave I never see you again. Leave now. I will fight better without you here.”

  “Winn you do need me, and I will see you again. I know that is your damaged mind twisting your words. If you die tonight, I will have lost everything. You can’t die, swear to me you won’t!”

  “I won’t. I will prevail. I will go to the oracle. If she can heal my mind then I will know the truth, that you are against me. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I never could do that. I will kill Keyland. That is a promise.”

  “Let me kiss you goodbye, Winn. Please.”

  Winn stood against the bars and it looked like he became rigid when she said that. In truth he was torn. Part of him wanted her kiss so badly it hurt, but the rest of him was repulsed by the idea.

  “Sure, you can kiss me,” Winn said. He put his cheek up against the bars so she could kiss him.

  “Your cheek, really?”

  Winn sighed and put his mouth through the bars. Sarah kissed him with a long and lingering kiss. Winn did not kiss back.

  “That is the worst kiss you have ever given me. You really think bad of me, don’t you?

  “I don’t know what to think, Sarah. You don’t understand. I love you and I hate you. There are two extremes I feel at the same time. Part of me wants to hold you and the other part wants to choke you out. Your presence makes me war with myself. The thought of you tears my heart apart.”

  “Perhaps it is best if I leave before your fight. I fear I am a distraction.”

  “You definitely are.”

  “I will go. Just know that despite how you feel now, I still love you with all my heart. I need you to come to me as soon as you can once you are well. If you are not made well, you still must come to me. You will have to learn to forgive me of your imagined slights, for I will not live without you.”

  “I will go and submit myself to the oracle. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know that I could ever forgive you, it is too much to ask. However, I promise you that I will try.”

  “Your promise warms my heart and gives me hope. It is the first show of love you have given me since you were captured. I will hold on to this hope and it will fuel me as I face what comes. I love you, Winn. I must go now. Until we meet again.”

  She turned and walked out of the room. Winn stared after her a moment then he sat down on the bench in the cell. He was more confused than ever regarding Sarah, but he was sure that Keyland needed to die.

  Sarah went to her chambers and saw that most of her things were packed away and that the Xi En servants were finishing up packing the rest. She sent a summons to the rest of her party and within moments they were all assembled in her chambers. When they were all there, she emerged from an inner room and they all bowed and curtsied and said, “Your Majesty”.

  “Please rise and be seated around the table,” Sarah said. The group sat around the large oval table. “We have a serious problem at home, and it requires my immediate attention. I must leave this afternoon to make the three-week journey to Aviel. I need to take all of you with me, but the problem is your mission is not complete. You were tasked to rescue Winn and take him home. The mission is not finished. Therefore, I need to split your group, and leave at least one person with Winn. Jaunty, I am tasking you to stay with Winn. You are the only one he can tolerate. He hates the rest of the group. You speak the language here and are of their decent, which may help if any entanglements occur. As for the rest of you, I feel like another person needs to stay with Jaunty. Does anyone volunteer?”

  Jaunty looked over at Alana, his fiancé. She did not raise her hand. Neither did anyone else.

  “Winn, the real Winn, would not want anyone to stay with him,” Vant said. “He would have us all go with you to support you and save Aviel.”

  “I agree, ma’am,” Svae said.

  “As do I,” Alana said.

  “I would be helpless to Winn, I am a naval officer,” Bevy said. “I would be more helpful in your service.”

  “I don’t need anyone else to help if no one is willing,” Jaunty said, stealing a glance at Alana. “We are in a land friendly to Aviel and we are not likely to be attacked again. I have no doubt Winn will be victorious tomorrow and we have been granted permission to visit the oracle.”

  “Very well,” Sarah said. “Jaunty will stay, and the
rest of you will come with me. Thank you for your loyalty and support. We leave in thirty minutes. I must write a note to tell General Coy we are coming. You are dismissed.”

  Sarah walked back into her inner rooms and everyone else started to file out of the room.

  “Alana, wait a moment,” Jaunty said.

  “What is it Jaunty?” Alana said. “We must leave soon. I have to finish packing.”

  “Why didn’t you volunteer to stay with me?”

  “Jaunty, my duty is with the Queen. It was a hard choice, but I knew what I had to do.”

  “Your duty is with the Queen over me?”

  “Yes, Jaunty. We are soldiers, you know what that means.”

  “I would never put duty over you. You obviously would.”

  “Jaunty, it doesn’t mean I love you any less, it just means sometimes country comes before family.”

  “Your duty could have been to help Winn, that was the mission you chose.”

  “I chose it to find you, to rescue you, Jaunty. I had the luxury of serving my country and my future husband.”

  “You could have done so again.”

  “No, my duty was clear, the monarch of Aviel needs me, that comes before Winn.”

  “It comes before us? If that is how you feel I think I need to reconsider our marriage.”

  “What?”

  “You are choosing the Queen over me. I don’t like that, and I don’t want a wife that would do that.”

  “If that is how you feel, take your ring back.” Alana took her engagement ring off her finger and slammed in down on his palm and stormed out of the chamber.

  Jaunty was so mad he didn’t go down to the courtyard to see the Queen, Alana, and the rest of their party off. After another couple of hours when he cooled off, he realized he made a huge mistake. He obtained a horse and rode off after the party, but he couldn’t catch them before it became too dark and he had to turn back. He arrived back at the Imperial Palace and did not go to dinner because he was too sick to his stomach to eat. After pacing for an hour in his rooms, he decided to go down to visit Winn.