Ashurran and Prince Hashizawa were cautious as a deer drinking from a river, and they never were caught or even suspected. But they should have been looking out for those who knew about the affair, not for those who didn't. The Prince's eunuch was not only greedy; he had a cowardly and traitorous heart. He decided the truth would eventually out, and he would be punished severely. It was better to come clean with the King now and stay blameless. So he went to the King and told him everything.
At first King Oghinta couldn't believe him. But the eunuch took him to the Prince's chambers at night. And the High King saw Ashurran, his own trusted general, lying in bed with his son, kissing him. The King didn't wait to see more; enraged, he stormed into the bedroom and yelled, "This is how you repay my favors! Have you seduced my son in order to make him King instead of me?"
Ashurran paled and bit her lip, appalled by this accusation. She said, "I have been always loyal to Your Majesty! I've never wished you ill, never even thought of it! I did what I did only because I love your son. He almost pined away to nothing in his gilded cage, sad and alone. Would you blame me for wanting to serve him as I am serving Your Majesty? It's not good for the kingdom if your only son and heir is being brought up as a housewife! "
Her speech enraged the High King even more. "It' not your place to judge how my son is being brought up!" he shouted and ordered to throw Ashurran in jail.
Then Prince Hashizawa stood up straight, despite his clothes being somewhat in disarray, and said resolutely, looking his father in the eye, "Your Majesty, if you want to punish someone, it's me alone who should be punished. Your General is here solely on my request. She is guilty of nothing except obeying my orders. She never tried to put me to anything but good and never said a word about your without deference. On the contrary, Ashurran always spoke of you with admiration and love. Please, Your Majesty, don't be rash, don't misjudge your faithful general, who supports you and defends your kingdom."
The High King was amazed by this wise and reasonable speech. He thought his son a child, and he was already a man grown! But it wasn't enough to sway him into changing his decision. The guards put shackles on Ashurran, and she didn't resist, only lowered her head, blushing with humiliation.
Ashurran was thrown into jail, and the very next day the High King announced her guilty of treason and sentenced her to death. The Royal decree was read three times a day at every city street and square. The execution was scheduled in a week.
For three days in a row Prince Hashizawa couldn't eat, couldn't drink, and couldn't get out of his bed, consumed by grief. He asked his father the King for audience many times but the King refused. The Prince shed bitter tears, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile there was unrest among Ashurran's soldiers. They didn't believe in her guilt, knowing very well that their General never schemed against the High King. The soldiers murmured, "If the glorious Ashurran is so easily sentenced to death, common soldiers like us aren't safe from the King's injustice!" Also they all loved Ashurran and didn't want her dead. The officers started to make plans how to attack the jailhouse and free Ashurran by force. The news about the pending execution reached the neighboring kingdoms, and Ashurran's friends and followers, the people who were saved by her or who served under her, threatened to rise in rebellion. Upon receiving the news king Irineo of Arheeze gathered his troops and marched on the capital, with the intention of saving Ashurran or, had he failed, avenging her death.
When King Oghinta learned about that, he was very worried. He realized that he could lose his crown, once he had executed Ashurran. But his pride prevented him from changing his decision. Also he started to fear Ashurran even more. She was universally loved and revered, and so many people rose in her defense. Who knew if they don't want her to become the queen of Yunan! That's what the ruler thought, consumed by his paranoia.
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Gates to Glory: Epic Fantasy Adventure Tale (Ashurran #1)
Adventure[FINISHED]She was born in a tribe of fierce female warriors. Swords and spears have been her toys from the cradle. She has the only path before her, to become the tribe chief after her mother. Yet Ashurran dreams of strange lands, of bigger battles...
