A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 26: A Trial

Hold on! Wait! Don't let go!

Your own family you cannot forgo.

Com now, make a stand.

And as you do, make them understand.

Guilty or not, April Greatsbane did have to face a trial. That much was inevitable. Teylin could only wonder what implications this would have on the young queen's life and her political career, and his own role in bringing about this day.

He never imagined his actions would one day have such a large effect, yet now, as he found himself in the company of some of the most influential people in all of Ëra, he was disillusioned. As a child, Teylin thought age brought with it a special kind of wisdom that was imparted to all who were worthy impartially. Even later in his life, he believed that all decisions in the kingdom were made by calm men who were wise and skillful, masters of every situation. All lies.

The hall was in pandemonium. There were all kinds of important people here. Not since Asteryn's coronation has so many members of the Royal court assembled. This was perplexing. The whole thing could and should have been a private affair. Why risk a scandal? Surely no more than a handful of people were required to prove April's innocence? This was wrong. The only consolation was that Asteryn at least had the good sense to not allow the public to know or witness what was happening, although Teylin suspected the news would already have spread. Somebody was bound to spill.

To Teylin, the place seemed alien. The black marble, once so strong, proud and inviting now seemed to soak in tears. The gold had lost its shine. Its dull yellow did not do much to change the general mood. It was cloudy outside, so the windows were of no avail. The place was much colder than it had been during Asteryn's coronation, when it still hadn't snowed. Lanterns were used to light the place and the throne, it looked the most weathered of the lot. A few months ago, it had been a seat of power. Now, it looked like it was ready to give in at any moment, as if a thousand years of sorrow were bearing down upon it.

Normally, judgments were made by the King, but since in this case, it was the queen who stood accused, Asteryn thought it more prudent to let her be judged by someone who could be believed as more impartial. Hazzad, who was standing by the chair at the foot of the throne, was the obvious choice. Hazzad had told him all this and much more the other day. The memory of it still made Teylin shudder. There was so much happening at Ërastir, and nobody knew! The Greatsbanes were so close, a few more months and that would be the end of them. It was only thanks to the efforts of men like Hazzad that the family was still extant...

Teylin was interrupted in his thoughts as the King of Ëra entered the hall, flanked on both sides by the Royal Guard, not that they would come in much use. Asteryn himself looked tired and haggard, as if he hadn't slept for several nights, which he probably didn't. Teylin recalled how he and Joe found him the night they confronted him. That night, April was still safe and oblivious to all of this. Funny, Teylin thought THAT day was bad.

As the King walked past, people fell silent. They bowed low, but some had a curious expression on their face. Teylin couldn't put a finger on it. A very distraught April was in intense conversation with Hazzad, who didn't even pause to look when the King walked in. In the reign of Aghbard, such behavior was akin to treason and would have been punishable by death. Asteryn pretended he did not notice. He walked up the stairs and sat on the throne, hunched up in its shadows.

Almost as soon as he sat down, Hazzad approached, went down on a knee and declared in a voice that rang across the cold court, "My King, the case that lies before us is that of April Greatsbane, Queen of Ëra. She stands accused of the murder of Asterya Greatsbane, Aunt to the King of Ëra." Hazzad made sure to avoid the usage of personal pronouns. This was bad enough as it was. When Asteryn nodded meekly, he continued. "April Greatsbane." She was brought forth. There were two guards on either side of her, but she wasn't shackled. The way she was wringing her arms though, Teylin suspected she had been treated just like any other prisoner. Part of him, the part that was as just as it was impartial, approved, but the rest of him was in shock. To think such a thing would happen to his best friend's... "KING! I AM YOUR KING! Do not call me Asteryn as if I were your friend... I am your KING!" Teylin's remorse died out. Asteryn should have confided in him. He should not have shouted. He should not have pushed him away.