I glanced at the windows, wishing they were open to allow the sea breeze to filter in, when a gasp from the nobles pulled my attention from the plate glass. Striding in behind Jaska were his wife and son as well as Teryn. I heard Aelir whispering to V’alor but could not make out what was being said as the ambassador walked in as if he were strolling the gardens. A placid expression on his handsome face, his goatee was patchy but growing in, I had noticed. To be honest, I had noticed everything about him over the past ten days. I’d been at Aelir’s side throughout the negotiations that had resumed. Teryn, as always, was possessed of great insight and helped to negotiate a treaty that should please all who sailed the Silvura Sea. Or most that sailed. Many would still be up in arms about the port fees, but money to build bigger and better docks had to be raised somehow.
I’d not spoken to Teryn other than polite nods or official questions such as where he wished to sit, would he require an escort to his suite, or if he desired to have his secretary brought some red tea. Today, he looked quite beautiful. Black hair combed back and oiled, his charms dangling from his ear, bouncing softly, his green and white robes rich. His sandals were polished with black leather straps that hugged his feet like a lover. How I wished to hold him but dared not. Knowing his time here was limited, and to save my heart from being tornasunder, I had distanced myself from the man. It was for the best, I told myself and Tezen, who was constantly berating me for being a pigheaded coward afraid of a few tender feelings. I’d threatened her with latrine duty if she brought it up again, but she seemed unafraid. Probably because she spoke the truth. Teryn walked along with Jaska until they reached the bottom of the steps leading up to the thrones, where four people were about to pass judgment.
Aelir leaned forward, gold locks sliding over his regally clad shoulder to pool on his lap. “Mahouk Nouradi,” he said as the nobles quieted, fans flapping steadily. “I find myself more than mildly surprised to see you down there with the prisoner.”
Teryn bowed deeply then righted, his golden eyes darting to me for a fraction of a moment before addressing the king. I glimpsed a myriad of emotions in that quick glance that set my guts to twisting as if I were back on the sea.
“Your Highness, I am here at the behest of the prisoner’s wife to request that she and their son be turned over to my care for the foreseeable future.”
The nobles whispered to each other as Masha went to her knees before the king, her boy doing the same. “She is due to give birth soon, Your Majesty.” His sight moved to the queen, amber eyes soft with concern. “As a woman who has lived through the ordeal, I ask that you and the king look upon her with compassion until her child is born.”
Raewyn spoke up at Aelir’s surprised silence. “When is the child due?” she asked. “Please tell her and the boy to rise. Someone bring her a seat.”
Teryn translated, and within a blink, the stool that would have held Umeris was now under the very pregnant wife of a kidnapper. Truly, the day was starting off bizarrely. The boy, Kinya, hung onto his mother like a prickly burdock to a sheep’swool. Raewyn pulled Aelir’s glower from Jaska to whisper in his sleek, pointed ear.
“I see no reason to not allow the woman to be surrounded with her people as her time is nigh,” Aelir flatly replied. Teryn bowed slightly. “I would tell you to keep a close eye on her, for if she disappears in the night, my displeasure shall fall on you, Mahouk. She took part in this abduction of the royal heirs, and if not for the kindness of the queen, she would be giving birth outside the door of her husband’s cell.”
“The queen is a kind and compassionate woman,” Teryn said, placing a hand on Masha’s drooped shoulders. She was pale as well. Sadness flowed from her. “I shall ensure she stays in my suites. After she has given birth, I would ask that she be allowed to linger with my staff as a helper to the undersecretary, who is bedridden with a severe case of shadow whispers.”
Every mainlander looked befuddled. “Mahouk, you push your luck,” Aelir warned, his tone tense. “She too is to stand before me for sentencing. Are you asking that she go back to the Black Sands to be judged by your vahasi?”
“No, Your Majesty, I simply seek to keep a woman with two children out of the dungeons below this mighty keep. I would ask that the king consider a punishment that would allow her to visit her husband periodically while keeping her children close. Perhaps an indentured servitude?”
Aelir sat back with a huff, his back slapping the stone throne. “You ask to keep this woman as a slave?”
That was a shocking request as we on the mainland did not own other elves, or humans, or any other sentient beings. I did not think the Sandrayans did either, but there were no laws about such things, just a general dislike of the practice.
“No, Your Majesty, not a slave but a servant bound to my house under the ruling of the law. She will be under my watchful eye. I would ensure the children are raised properly with no hintof rebellion taught to them. My house is an admired and noble house that sits above reproach. If you wish, I would gladly ask the vahasi to send a recommendation to Your Majesty?”
“No, that is not necessary. Fine, the woman will stay with you through the birthing. As long as she is here in Celear, she will follow our laws. Her son will be taught our ways as well as yours, and if word of any trickery or rebellious verbiage from the boy or her reaches my ears, she will find herself in her own cell and her children handed over to a noble house to be raised. Explain that to her, Mahouk.” Aelir waited for the translations to be made. Masha bowed as deeply as she could seated with such a large abdomen. She whispered to Teryn.
“She is agreeable to the terms of her servitude in my house. She says that the king of the mainland is just, kind, and handsome.”
“The king of the mainland has a kind queen who would see no woman give birth in squalor,” Aelir replied. Along the far wall, kneeling royal secretaries were busy writing down what was said, the scratch of quill to vellum barely heard over the fans of the nobles and the discussion between king and ambassador. “Does she wish to remain for the final judgment of her husband?”
“She does, Your Majesty, and thank you for your intelligent verdict for her. Truly, your god of wisdom speaks through you at all times.” Aelir cocked a gold brow. “I would like to stay with the good wife Ashwish if that pleases you?”
Aelir waved a hand. Teryn moved behind Masha as she lifted her son to her knee to hold him close. The nobles all grew quiet, even the fans stilling, as Aelir looked down on Jaska.
A round man in dark red robes stepped forward, the high justiciar of the royal court, by the name of Dellyn Mothanna.
“Step forward, Jaska Ashwish, and hear the charges that have been brought against you,” the sheriff called loudly, a scrollclutched in his hands, the sun glowing on the pale white vellum he held open. Aelir sat forward again as the charges were read out loud. Jaska shuffled forward, eyes on his wife, as the charges were read. “Be it known that Jaska Ashwish has been charged with the most foul and treasonous deeds against the crown of Melowynn as well as the peace of the realm. He is charged with absconding with the heirs of the crown, doing so with malice aforethought did lay his hands upon his grace Prince Al’fur and her grace Princess Alfina, heirs of the sovereign lands of Melowynn and all of its provinces. He did seize and bear away the prince and princess from their nursery and away from their rightful guardians, concealing them from the king’s men, thereby sowing dread and disharmony throughout the realm. Thus, that such a wicked deed, Jaska Ashwish has committed high treason, for to steal the body royal before Ihdos and elf is to strike at the heart of the crown itself. Therefore, by the laws and customs of Melowynn, Jaska Ashwish, you shall answer for these grievous misdeeds now to your king. What say you to these charges?”
“I am guilty of all charges the crown brings against me,” Jaska replied loudly, his sight locking on the king and the king only. There was no malice there, just a forthrightness of conviction. Masha began crying as did her son. Teryn stood behind them, jaw tight, shoulders squared. He knew the ruling that the king would pass, as we all did. Truly Aelir had no other choice but to pass a death penalty. He’d been incredibly gracious a few years ago when one of the nobility had attempted to end his life. She had been quite mentally unstable so now spent her remaining years in the dungeon while receiving medical care from the clerics. His leniency in most matters of law was a large call against him by many in our lands. They called him soft. I doubted the king of Melowynn would be soft today. Treason was not a charge that got a slap on the wrist assome did for stealing pigs or drunken lewdness. Treason had only one outcome when committed against the crown.
The sheriff closed his scroll, turned, and bowed to the king. “The prisoner claims guilt of all charges. You are now free to pass sentence, Your Majesty.”
I caught a small rustle among the nobles to my right. Kenton and Beirich had arrived. The olive-skinned wood elf and his shifter husband, both quite skilled druids who ran a small school here in Celear, were now standing at the edge of a cluster of elderly matrons. The old elves snubbed them but kept their comments to themselves as Kenton was a true and dear friend of King Aelir. He had been his companion throughout the king’s childhood, and they were as close as brothers, green skin and long white braids notwithstanding. To be honest, I was mildly surprised to see the druids in attendance since Kenton had voiced his objections to any kind of lethal sentencing with Aelir just last night in a rather heated manner.
The wood elves felt that matters of life and death were meant to be left in the hands of their goddess, Danubia. Mortal elves, be they kings or bakers, were not divine enough to rule over such things. Which is why they—and most of those who walk Melowynn—held necromancy in such low regard. The king had been tired after spending several hours at the bedside of his dying grandfather, so the discussion grew loud until Beirich had stepped in to soothe things.
Watching Kenton as he waited, I then glanced at Aelir. The king had not missed the entry of his friend. His sight still lingered on the slim elf in the plain brown robes and bare feet of the druidic teachers, his husband wearing the same robes, only much larger ones.
“I would ask the prisoner if he has any last words before I make my decision,” Aelir loudly called to ensure he was heard atthe back of the vast room. The king remained seated. Those in attendance grew still as temple mice as Jaska spoke.
“All I ask is that the head who wears the crown recall that it is the poor farmers, blacksmiths, bakers, fishermen, butchers, innkeepers, and merchants who keep the nobility in fine silk robes with matching satin slippers. It is the common elf who weaves, carves stone, cobbles fancy shoes, and barbers. The chandler, the brewer, the miller, and the fishmonger have long been forgotten in Melowynn, their backs bowed by the ever-increasing demands of the vill’s owners and the royals. My actions were vile, yes, but they were just the spark to what will become a wildfire if the rich do not stop hoarding the wealth from the populace with dirt under their nails. My treasonous act brought the attention of all of Melowynn to the plight of the indigents who work for meager coin and no respect. That is all that I wish to say, Your Majesty.”
Aelir rose from the throne. I took a step forward as he moved down the steps to stand face to face with Jaska. The king was smaller, a slim man with the refined beauty of the nobles, but on this day, he seemed twice his size. The prison guards took hold of Jaska’s arms. I slowly removed my sword from its scabbard as I placed myself beside my king. Jaska did nothing but look down into Aelir’s burning gaze. Those here leaned forward to see what the king in the gold, blue, and white robing of Melowynn would say or do. I had no clue what Aelir was doing, but if Jaska so much as blinked, I would separate his head from his torso. That was my duty, my vow, and I took it seriously.
