Empire of Ashes

Chapter LXXIII - Guilty

They let me watch the trial. I wasn't sure why — nothing was said that I didn't know already. But the king was humouring me, perhaps because he thought I was teetering on the brink of betraying my friends and he wanted to lure me off the edge. So I stood behind his throne and watched the proceedings along with the entire Anglian court.

"He was in the mines at Canton," Ark said. "He went inside to stir a rebellion."

"Lies and hearsay," Temris laughed. "Show us some proof or leave the floor."

They had been arguing back and forth for nearly an hour. The seven witnesses from Canton had already had their say, and now it was left to Ark to seal the nails in the coffin. Saqui was watching from the sidelines with a stony expression. They hadn't even called him as a witness. There was no point: he knew nothing more than Ark did. If I had been prosecuting, though, I would have called him just for his silver tongue.

"You will be quiet while the witness is giving testimony," the judge snapped. He was in his forties, greying and short-tempered. "This is your last warning."

Tem held up his hands and inclined his head. He was grinning — he wasn't taking his trial very seriously. Neither was Anlai, who had a smirk stuck on his face. Poor Fendur was left to stand between them with his mouth twisted in worry and his hand twitching towards the hilt of his missing sword. I wasn't sure where Melia was this morning, but she was not with them. Perhaps because she was retching her guts up.

Ark continued when the judge waved a hand. "I do have proof, incidentally."

"By all means, present it," Herox said.

"The accused will have to do that, I'm afraid," Ark drawled. He turned to face Temris directly. "Take off your shirt, Ragnyrsbane."

Tem didn't even try to contain his laughter. "And compromise my modesty in front of half of Anglia? I fear this is not appropriate. Don't you agree, Your Majesty?"

"Do as he says," the king snapped.

"I would like to exercise my right against, uh ... self-incrimination?"

Herox simply shook his head.

"You lost your rights when you were charged with treason," the judge agreed. "Take it off."

"The court orders me to strip," Tem muttered with obvious amusement. "Fine, have it your way..."

And so he unbuckled his belt and then pulled his shirt over his head. My eyes went straight to the slash across his ribs, as they always did, but the Anglians were looking at the fresh brands on his shoulder and forearm, of course.

"Damning evidence, I'm sure you agree," Ark said triumphantly. "He went into the mines, as I said, he started a rebellion, and then he led the slaves into a shield wall against our brave soldiers. Three hundred men slaughtered and two thousand slaves escaped. What can we call that, Your Honour, if not high treason."

"It is circumstantial evidence. Canton is not the only place you can get a brand," Tem retorted.

"Shut up," the judge said, his patience clearly waning, "or you will be removed and the trial will proceed without you."

He waved for Ark to continue, but Ark bowed his head and left the floor, apparently finished. That made it Tem's turn to speak at last, but he was not in any great hurry. He was still shirtless, for some reason, and he managed to waste half a minute muttering with Anlai in Cambrian. The few words I heard were foul ones.

"You may call your witnesses now," the judge prompted.

"Who can I call to witness? Of the men I have with me, one is sworn to obey me and the other is my cousin. Their testimony would be as clouded as that of the assassin, and I will not insult the court by presenting it."