Luminous

125 - All Shall Remember

Coris's trial was open to the public, which was fortunate as Meya could attend even when she was Baroness Graye no more. However, it wasn't of the sort that would attract the masses. The Axel was only spoken of in hushed tones in the highest circles of power. The common folk didn't go about their day with the legality of surgery weighing on their minds.

Familiar faces filed into the pews on the lefthand side of the court. Lady Jaise brought her husband and all their children. Lady Hyacinth had only her eldest daughter. Lord Christopher sat with his mother, Duchess Merilith. Little Lord Frenix and his mother tried their damnedest not to lose Lord Pearlwater and his favored young heir in the crowd. Lord Hubrus and Lady Selane must have left Harold with the nurse. Baron Kellis and Baroness Sylvia sat at the innermost and forefront, having arrived earlier than any. Lady Arinel sat alone nearby, head hung and eyes closed, meditating.

Meya was shepherded to the pew across, reserved for commoners. They made for a curious mix. Healers of all specialties and their apprentices, even the needle-master who turned Dad's tush into a pincushion was there, and elder nuns she recognized from the hospital. Solemn widows and bereft parents, toting their loved ones' portraits. There were law scholars in flowing black robes, eager to witness a historic trial to overturn centuries of tradition, and there were gossiping housewives drawn here by the mere presence of Baron Graye, looking to catch a glimpse of his new mistress.

The door at the deep end of the room opened. The eight Councilors streamed onto the dais. Meya hung her head and tugged her hood over her face as Baron Graye emerged. Trembling, she watched his white robes flutter as he swept off to take his seat at the far end of the long table, next to the bright round orange that was Lady Kyrel.

She hadn't seen him since she left his mansion that morning, sent his men back with her dress, her carriage and the chests of riches, and a message that their deal was off, and he'd made no attempt to seek her. Not even now. She'd exhausted her use, just as Coris said. As they lay side by side, he'd recounted with haunted eyes how Graye had come to taunt him, drive him to the brink of insanity, how his parents found him with a noose around his neck, and again and again Meya wept and apologized. That must have assured Graye of victory. His utter devastation protected her from further harm.

A row of chairs sat facing the dais. Five old men in flowing robes and oddly-shaped hats filed from the side-door to occupy them. Meya noticed with a jolt the healer in purple-and-gold robes Lady Arinel summoned for Dad. What was he doing down there?

Then, out of the opposite side-door, strode a handsome yet emaciated dark-haired young man, draped in robes of bright red trimmed with silver. Meya's heart lurched. She tugged off her medallion, staring unblinking as he made for his lone chair at the heart of the court.

Coris stared straight ahead, his face blank and cold as he sat. Did he see her? He did, right?

At last, King Alden, Queen Zephyr and little Prince Halcyon emerged. The King claimed the most ornate highbacked chair at the center of the table, while the Queen herded the prince to observe with her on a bench in the back, shrouded by a gold-embroidered veil.

King Alden raised his gavel and knocked it on the wood, commencing court.

"Corien, Lord of Hadrian." Coris stood. "You have requested surgery be performed on your person to retrieve The Axel."

Coris made no objection, thus Alden continued,

"Surgery is forbidden under the laws of this land. It is a radical practice that in its very nature harms and violates the body, inflicting unimaginable torture, with slim chance of success. Even in Nostra, it is often resorted to in the direst of circumstances, when death is certain, and there is everything to salvage but life."