His Fading Humanity

Chapter 11: Trials

Her composure was sturdier than the strongest of barriers. She was the epitome of peace and control. No wind could shake her, no storm could harm her. Even the sea itself could not wage war on her.

She matched the character of a patient predator. Alluring, beautiful, and lethal. And indeed she was all of those things. But on the inside, she was screaming. Tearing through her bones with an ear-splitting force and gnashing her teeth in anguish. Her heart alone could shake the earth in a mighty quake, her mind could put even the most powerful to shame with her wit.

Yet she sat at her place at the grandeur, circular table. It was wooden which boasted of a deep auburn color and it was encased in a layer of polish, making the surface of it reflective and shiny in the light.

Her reflection was skewered, it stared back at her with a jagged frown.

The crown on her head was golden with crystal jewels engraved into it. Each kingdom had a jewel to represent their nation, and all seven rulers who sat around her had a different colored stone sitting just on the frontal surface of their crowns.

Five kings and two queens - one being Asheria, sat around the table. Each member stood in place to represent their own kingdom and testify in the deeds of Kyros. The reasoning behind bringing the case to national trials was because not only was the crime severe, some of the victims had been from outside of Asheria's kingdom of Winterfest.

Some of the victims were visiting and were citizens of the outside kingdoms.

And the world wanted justice.

The burly king of the Sommersol kingdom stood up from his chair.

The light stubble on his chin sparkled in the light and he tucked his muscular arms behind his back.

"Today we have gathered to discuss some important matters. A beast has been captured and we all have slightly differing views on how to handle the situation. As you know, he is an inhabitant of the kingdom of Winterfest, but he claimed the lives of members belonging not only to my packs, but some of yours as well. I will let queen Asheria speak first, as Kyros belongs to her kingdom." He nodded his head in her direction and before slowly sitting back down.

Asheria stood up, her own robe spilled down her back in lavished purple waves, and the dress in which she wore for this occasion was an icy blue color. It represented her kingdom.

"Kyros is being held in my prisons. He awaits a trial in which I wish him to attend, and I request that he is brought in so that he may tell his side also. Too long we have been in the unknown and masked the monster. But now, it is time to unveil him and unmask the man behind the beast." Asheria stated, voice unwavering and sturdy.

"If I may speak," Queen Atya, ruler of the Deserta Kingdom said, "Why is it that you wish to hear him speak? Were his actions and intentions not clear when he committed those monstrosities ten years ago?" Her sparkling brown eyes bore into Asheria's and her black hair was kept short and fanned out in kinky curls around her.

"My kingdom rules with a just, fair hand. I believe all prisoners - whether they've committed a small crime or a more serious one, deserve to be heard, too. I make judgments based on gathering logic, and I listen. I listen to their side, I analyze it, I investigate it. I like to make sound decisions, and I wish to make sound decisions in any way I see necessary." Asheria replied.

"That's preposterous!" The king of the Nether kingdom exclaimed as he aggressively rose to his feet.

His black hair matched his eyes and the obsidian stones he wore in his crown, making his skin look especially pale. "You will excuse the actions of a man simply because he deserves to be heard, too?"