All The King's Men

All The King's Men-Chapter Eighteen

"Maxwell de Vence, you are charged with murder, and treason." 

Maxwell stood before the raised dais in the throne room, and glared up at the King. "I am no traitor, and you are no King." 

Martin slapped the man across the face, then turned, and stepped back to his throne. "I will hear the testimony of the only witness to your crime." He waved a hand to his sister. 

Amelia stood from her seat next to her brothers throne. "I saw you stab my father in the heart, and cut my mothers head off." 

"I did no such thing." Maxwell roared. 

Lucas, who stood a few feet away, slammed his fist into the mans face, "Watch your tongue, or I will cut it out." 

Maxwell glared around the room, "You are the traitors," his gaze encompassed the one handed Barons standing to his left. "to believe them." 

"After you killed my parents," Amelia stepped down from the dais, and stood in front of the man, "you chased me through the tunnel, it was there that you lost your hand on a trap my father had designed for just such a purpose." 

"I was attacked near my home, my hand was taken then." 

"Taken?" Amelia asked, "Are you telling us that the attackers actually took your hand?" 

"Aye." Maxwell addressed the barons, "I told you they were behind our attacks, they have my hand, and are going to try to say it was found in the tunnel." 

Amelia turned to the Baron of Wessex, "Did the attackers take your hand with them after they assaulted you?" 

Wessex shook his head, "Nay, I buried it in the cemetery." 

Amelia turned to the other barons who all agreed that the attackers had not taken their hands after they were severed. "Yours is the only hand that was taken?" She asked Maxwell, "That is very convenient." She took a small wooden box from a nearby servant, and held it out to Maxwell. "It has been twelve years, would you like to see your hand?" 

He glared at her. 

She lifted the lid to the box, "Your signet ring is still on your finger. The one that my grandfather had designed for your lands." 

"I did not kill them." 

"Aye," Amelia handed the box to the servant, who proceeded to show it to the Barons. "you did kill them, and then in an attempt to save yourself. You had these five men attacked."

"It was not me." 

"You bastard," The Baron of Cornwall shouted, "My son died in that attack. You killed my son." He began to draw his sword, and stepped forward. Two guards grabbed him and held him back. "I'll kill you myself." 

Maxwell shook his head. "It was not me." 

"Maxwell de Vence, I find you guilty of murder, and treason. You will be executed at dawn." Martin waved to the guards who led the prisoner away. 

Martin waved his sister to her seat, and rested on his throne. "Wessex, Cornwall, Kenilworth, Rockingham, Connell." 

The five Barons stepped in front of the king, and knelt on one knee. "The five of you." Martin began, "joined with de Vence against me. Give me one reason why you should not share the same fate as he." 

"We were fooled," Wessex spoke for the group, "we believed him, your majesty. We deeply regret our actions, and beg your highness's forgiveness." 

"I will have your pledge of loyalty." Martin demanded. 

Immediately the five men pledged their loyalty to their King. The King nodded, and allowed them to return to their places.