Coalescence

Chapter 14: Trial and Error

Right before the gate, Carlisle waved to the guard at the top and ordered him to open it. As they entered the halfway point between the two massive lattice gates, Carlisle called a guard over.

"Don, I need a private talk with these folks for a second. Drop the sheets on the gates." The guard nodded and spoke into a small wisp, and within seconds large wooden sheets were dropped on both sides of the gates and the guard made his leave. "Alright, I'll give you three a chance to explain yourselves."

"We got sent on a suicide mission and survived, so now the commander is pissed." Malcolm began, Carlisle slowly nodding his head.

"Ok, enough to make the old man mad but not 'accusing my own men of treason' levels of mad. Try again." He looked to Griffith, who sighed before answering.

"Our young boy over here has a Fey mark, and couldn't help but let loose." Malcolm gave an offended scoff and nudged him with his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, would you rather we have died?"

"And give him the last laugh? Hell no."

"Then don't get so in a bind about it." Griffith whipped his head towards Malcolm.

"In a bind? We're in shackles on trial for treason!" He hit Malcolm over the head with the shackles. "This is the definition of a bind."

"Okay you two, I get it, don't kill each other before we even get to the courthouse." Carlisle signaled them to sit. "I've paid them to have ten minutes of time here, so we can talk." He looked at the stranger. "What about you? How'd you get roped into this?"

"Proximity. I was nearby and helped them out, and I decided to stick with them. Now I'm here."

"So Ricard doesn't even truthfully know who you are?" Griffith rushed to shush him.

"You know that if you say his name he decides to magically appear." Carlisle let out a laugh.

"The hell he will, he can't touch me. Legally, I'm above him and his entire monarchy of shit." Carlisle laughed confidently. "Ricard Pierre is nothing but a name and derogatory insult. Well, and your commander." Malcolm's eyes darted between Carlisle and Griffith.

"So that's his name huh? Good, I'll tell them what to put on his gravestone."

"You're quite the fiesty one, Malcolm right?" Malcolm nodded, Carlisle nodding with him. "Let me see that mark." Malcolm tilted his head towards his arm and Carlisle pulled up his sleeve. "Yup, it's the real deal."

"How would you know, you some kind of book worm?" Malcolm asked.

"No, close friend of mine has one too. Maybe he could teach you a thing or two about keeping it reeled in." He pushed Malcolm's sleeve back down and stood up. "Assuming you survive, that is." He knocked on the metal gate and the wooden sheets were raised, soon followed by the lattice. Carlisle waved them forward and they began their march through the city streets.

The people that once greeted Malcolm with open arms looked at him in disgust, scoffing at him and turning their backs as he was paraded through the streets. He looked and saw people that he knew, that he'd even been friends with in his youth, but they all turned away. Griffith and the stranger hung their heads low as Malcolm's darted from person to person. Carlisle held a grin that showed a deeper sense of dread.

"Why do they all..." Malcolm's voice faded out as the shackles took more power from him.

"You're an outcast now, everyone you thought you once knew turned against you." Carlisle pulled them forward to pull them through the streets faster. "The court won't have mercy on you, for better or worse." They approached the massive center of the citadel that boasted an elaborate fountain and massive mountain face that lined the back edge. As Carlisle waved his hand towards the mountain, the massive wall of stone began to open like a door. The group stared in awe as Carlisle waited patiently for the door to open, dragging them into the looming darkness. The mountain wall shut behind them and they were left in the dark, the pressure of the room bearing down on them.