Tearha: The Number 139

Chapter Thirteen: Lady Fatal

"And do you, Nadier, admit guilty to the crime of treason, and be sentenced to death?"

The voice of the Ha'Lof, the high elf of the dark council, echoed through the circular chamber. Standing in the middle of the arena of judgemental stares, wrist and feet shackled, naked with marks of lashes across his body, Nadier looked up to the council with a steadied glare.

Defiantly, Nadier replied, "What happens if I admit my guilt?"

Haeswahl Nunderberg, commander of the dark elf army, stood from her bench. An elf as muscular as a human, Haeswahl wore the black coat of Grandmaster Commander over the black bodysuit of her trait. Her hair was a disturbing short grey and her eyes had cat-like irises with the red of dark elves. She emitted a fearful presence that silenced the rest of the room into bated breath.

Haeswahl commented, "Once your guilt is admitted, your death will be carried out, post-haste."

"And should I refute?"

"A much, slower, execution," Haeswahl replied with a grin.

The large double doors of the council chamber swung opened and Akaras Spaedruiner walked in with a confident, high-held gait. His coat fluttering behind him bore the arms of the House of Speedrunner, two daggers crossed over a buckler.

"Aegai Spaedruiner," the Ha'Lof greeted. "I am to assume there is a good reason for this intrusion?"

Akaras glanced over to his brother and gave a reassuring nod before stepping forward into the centre of the stage. "Yes, my Hae Lord. I would like to plead on the behalf of my brother?"

"Objection!" Haeswahl slammed her clenched fists against the table, the sound echoing throughout the chamber like a clap of thunder.

Most of the council members slunk back in their seats but the Ha'Lof stood to his feet and raised an opened hand to halt Haeswahl. Turning to Akaras, he asked, "And what is the condition of your argument?"

"The name of the House of Speedrunner, in return for the life and banishment of Nadier," Akaras's voice rang clear through the chamber.

The Ha'Lof asked, "And should we refute?"

"Should such a path occur, the House will declare war on the chamber."

Haeswahl shouted, "Blaspheme!"

The Ha'Lof silenced her with another raise of his hand. "Very well. The council will now adjourn to convene and discuss the terms and desolation of the House."

***

"Wanderer. Wanderer!"

Nadier's eyes flickered open to the call of his epitaph. The sound of the streets of the lower city of Everwind slowly waved into his ears and the light of the warm noon Twins wrapped his body in a blanket of comfort, attempting to lure him back to sleep. He took in a deep, hard breath. The stench of the gutter and blood from the butcher's knocked through his sinus and into his brain, immediately setting him straight on the bench, fully awaken by the smell of blood.

The woman before him, dressed in a ragged dress and dirt splattered apron, held out the paper-wrapped bundle to him. "Sorry for the wait." Her short onyx hair shone and glimmered in the light. "Here's your order of brown jaeger leaves."

He stood to his feet and took the small package from her, keeping it inside his coat. "Thanks, Joan. I know it's hard to find jaeger, and there's not really much use for them in a shop like yours," he noted the rustic floristry establishment they stood outside of. "I apologize for the trouble."