Holyshit.
Right, one thing was absolutely and undeniably certain.
I was never bringing that curse down on Mom and me.No way.No how.
I wasn’t going to do it before.
But…yikes.
Another man approached Edgar.Dad-not-Dad allowed the man toexamine him, even clutched on to him, still appearing like he was trying totalk.
In the end, the guy turned toNoctornoand reported, “Elevated pulse, but that is all, Your Majesty.The coughingbrought the blood, I believe.But outside the curious fact he doesn’t seem tobe able to speak, I can find nothing wrong with him.”
“Thank you, and thus, we will proceed,”Noctornodecreed.
Proceed?
After Dad-not-Dad coughed up blood and was struck mute?
“What?”I whispered.
“Do you wish to speak in your client’s defense?”the kingasked the man who came in with Edgar.
“I’m sorry, my king, but he didn’t allow me to know whatdefense he wished to use.He wouldn’t speak of it, only asked me to accompanyhim to advise should things look like they were not to go his way.”
Noctornonodded and declared,“Foolhardy and pompous, which is no surprise.It matters not, as we haveeye-witness statements, and a mountain of evidence, this was always a matter ofbeing a ceremonial proceeding.As such, you’ll hear my judgment, Mr.Dawes.”
Mr.Dawes?
Edgar didn’t miss the address, I knew, because he wentstatue-still, attention riveted on the king.
Noctornodidn’t waste any time.
“You are found guilty of all counts, and as such, I stripyou of your title,”Noctornoproclaimed.
Dad-not-Dad sputtered nonverbally.
The room went wired.
“It remains held by Lady Corliss Dawes, Countess ofDerryman, until her death.It then will be held with her daughter, Satrine, tobe transferred down her line,”Noctornowent on.
Edgar kept sputtering, his face getting red, not with theeffort to speak, but fury.
“I strip you of all your lands, holdings and assets.By mydecree, these will be transferred into the name of the Countess of Derryman andinherited down her line.I do this, save the amount it will cost to procure acottage of no more than three rooms in a region near our northern borders.”
At that part, Aunt Mary chuckled low and whispered, “Edgarhates the north.”Pause then, “And northerners.”Pause and further, “And thecold.”Pause and last, “AndLunwynians, and the northis rife with diversity.”
“Plus, a small stipend for you to be clothed, fed and keptwarm,” the king continued.“Not to mention, a two hundred and fifty thousandpound fine paid to my treasury.You will be secluded in this cottage for twentyyears, or until your death, after, of course, you serve a seven-year sentenceat my leisure.”
Since Edgar was Dad, I knew he was fifty-three.That meanthe’d be out at sixty.Which wasn’t old, but I had a feeling the king’s“leisure” wouldn’t be leisurely for Edgar, so he probably would not come outnearly as robust as when he went in.
“If word should be heard, or actions taken, that you haveconnived to cause harm to any citizen of my realm or any other, for purposes ofvengeance, or any purpose at all,”Noctornocarriedon, “you will stand another trial.And if found guilty, your sentence will meanyou shall be hung by your neck until dead.”
Holy crap!
Dad-not-Dad stopped sputtering, moving, and lost all colorin his face.
“That’s all,”Noctornosaid touniform guy.“He can start seeing to that now.And clear the room.”
