Tales of the Five Nations 1-Scarblade

Chapter 14- Coldest Court

Callidus and Alban appeared in an enormous room made entirely out of ice. There was a throne in the middle, and there sat a man with armor made of ice, and his straight, shining white hair reached his waist and swished as he walked to where Alban was standing. There was a boy around her age walking right behind him, and he didn't have the misleading smile that Xerxes had. He winked as King Xerxes set his hand on Alban's shoulder.

"Welcome to our castle," King Xerxes said. "I apologize for the unfortunate events that led you here. Callidus, you may untie her hands. This is no proper way to treat a guest. Introduce yourself, son." He faced his son, who had dyed hair, just like his father's, except that it was short and royal blue, and sky blue in other spots. His empty, saddened impossibly light blue eyes were the same as his father's, though he looked like he was trying to be the least amount like his father possible.

The boy nodded and bowed, introducing himself. "I am Prince Regulus Percival." He mouthed words that Alban could tell were I'm on your side. Alban pretended not to notice, in fear that someone would figure out Regulus had said something else.

"Shall we get on with our court proceedings?" Xerxes asked the figures in jerkins and cloaks. They all nodded, and one waved their hands and two other chairs made of Ice appeared in the middle of the room, and King Xerxes sat down in his throne, which was set much higher than the ground, he told everyone to start, and then a man in a dark green cloak began to list out the crimes that Alban and Feris had committed.

"You two have broken a very serious law—twice. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Alban raised her head and said, "I would like to say that we have only broken the law once—and that was because we were pushed through." She took her chance to glance at Regulus, who was nodding and looking right back at her. "And in the second time, it was with good intention, and in a prophecy."

The chairs that she and Feris had been tied to kept them held there tight.

Whispers flooded the room. "Yet both times, there was no permission. Do you deny this?"

"I think that they did do this with good intentions, Rishon," King Xerxes said. "We should question them separately about their crimes."

Everyone in the room unsurprisingly nodded, agreeing with him. King Xerxes walked towards Alban with a smug smile. "Let's start with this one first." He spaced the words so far apart, and took so long to say one word that someone might've been able to fall asleep before he finished talking.

She struggled to get away from the ropes keeping her tied to the chair. King Xerxes' smile only grew wider as he watched her struggle. He leaned in closer to her. "Now, is there something you want to say before we get started?"

"Actually, there is," she said, creating her own mischievous smile.

"And what would that be?"

"How stupid are you?"

"EXCUSE ME?" King Xerxes backed away, and Regulus gave Alban a why in the world did you do that?! look. "What would make you think that?"

"I don't know, maybe you are bringing someone who can produce Fire out of their hands into an Ice castle? I can literally melt this entire place if I feel like it."

Xerxes sighed, rubbing his head as Regulus was on the floor in the corner of the room, covering his mouth to hide his that's so amazingly true laugh. Xerxes shook his head, and nodded to Callidus, who was standing behind Alban, making sure she didn't escape. "And this is how we know we didn't make a stupid plan."