Elwanda

Chapter 11 - The Steward

The familiar sight of white stained walls, majestic rugs, well-groomed servants and the cold, intimidating hallways of the palace was everything but pleasant to Elwanda as she was taken by a squad of soldiers to a place she doubted would be friendly.

Her nerves twisted into painful knots when huge double doors were opened and she was dragged into what resembled a council room. It was built large and round to resemble a throne room yet no throne was within it. Instead, numerous stately seats were all that surrounded a long table of polished redwood. The walls were draped by hanging red velvet, and the windows allowed weak sunlight in, yet the room was dim.

A good number of the seats were occupied by well-dressed men, including the singular chair at the head of the table.

She was forced to her knees a few feet near the edge of the table.

"Incredible." A council member chuckled. "And here I thought the sought witch was one aged and wise. This is only a girl."

"A wily serpent female is what she really is, Noaldan." Someone else inputted. "We were warned that she would escape us and we paid no ear. Now, we've learned our lesson."

Elwanda peeked above her eyelids at the men seated around the high table and glimpsed Alodie, the King's Advisor, at the head. He looked somewhat exhausted with the way he was leaning into the cushion of his chair.

Regardless, he sat up. Then, he didn't look so tired anymore.

"Elwanda." He called. His voice was light and casual, as if he was an old friend. A disappointed friend.

Hearing him say her name that way also made disappointment creep into her chest.

"Your Highness." She muttered.

"Are you aware of the gravity of the things you have done?" He asked.

She reasoned that the question was rhetorical and gave no response.

He went on. "Do you know the penalty of escaping imprisonment when grave accusations were already upon you?"

Until the smell of foreign fragrance reached her nose, Elwanda did not realize that The Advisor had got up and was standing by the table. If she reached an arm out, she could feel his coat with the tip of her fingers.

"Your crimes are great, Elwanda Osthall." He stated. "And you have been found guilty of them all. You are guilty of orchestrating the murder of Velus Legoven, palace and dungeon patrol guard."

Elwanda's heart near stopped. She interlocked her fingers to hide the tremble in them. One way or another, she knew the truth would eventually come out. It hurt to hear the advisor speak her crimes because they sounded like they had been committed by someone that wasn't her. Never in her life did she think she would be tagged a criminal, for whatever reason.

"You are guilty of hiding the body of Velus Legoven with the help of your accomplice, Elbyn Qeir, who had a major hand in your escape from jail. You are guilty of attempting harm on the soldiers of Aldbourne Foxmerrow through arsonry on the night of your escape. You are also guilty of the bewitchment of Raedrim Vocien of Valbell and his household to enable your easy escape from interrogation and for a second attempt at arsonry on innocent townsfolk of Valbell that were present at the convergence."

Elwanda blew out a soft breath. It did not surprise her that Rauloring would know all of what happened in Valbell. Elbyn being caught after how careful he had been was proof that they did not leave a stone unturned. She did wonder if he had given himself up or something. If so, then it wasn't a very wise approach.

"For all your crimes and those you are being held accountable for in regards to the unpunished acts of your late mother, Edwina Thorold; you, Elwanda Osthall, are hereby sentenced to death by beheading."