Chapter 65 Tribunal

  I woke in the middle of the night, not being able to sleep. I wandered around the building. Most rooms were lit softly by a single glowstone embedded ione. I found a small, empty, private bathroom with running water and a mirror. It must be for a mage ander, but it was currently barren of personal possessions. Looking in the mirror, my beard had grown in. I decided to access my barber’s kit and up. The straight-edge razor was o me, but I could quickly heal the skin even if I nicked myself. Experimenting, I found the key was finding the right angle and using light, short strokes. I applied the face balm and looked much better in the mirror. I put the kit away and tinued my wandering of the Eastern Legion Hall.

  The plex was huge. There were s, offices, private bedrooms, dining rooms, and a very rge kit. “ we get you something?” A pudgy cook who reparing the m meals asked.

  Since I was here…“Ham steak and scrambled eggs?” I asked hopefully.

  The otioned for another of the kit staff to fill my request as she appeared to be in charge and focused on the dough she was kneading. I asked, “Is this building always so quiet at night?”

  “No! This is the quietest it has been sihe st Duke’s ation. Back then, the Emperor sent two thousand legioo his province’s Citadel to show his support,” the cook tio roll the dough with her well-muscled forearms and hands. I sat across from the woman on a stool and waited for my food. The cook cracked five eggs and added a milk, pepper, and salt spsh before whisking them. A hand-sized ham steak ced in a separate pan with ba fat. It was not long before a pte of heaping scrambled eggs c a thick ham steak ut in front of me.

  As I ate, the head cook asked, “You are one of the men from Castile’s pany?”

  “I am, but I have only been with them for a month,” I replied after swallowing a mouthful. This was just my fifth week which seemed impossible after all the shit I had been through. “How many mage panies are iy?” I asked before shoveling another forkful of eggs in.

  “Normally, we have twenty or so mages and five hundred legionaries iern Legion Hall. Tomorrow m, we are only cooking for three mages and a hundred or so legionaries,” the cook said while cutting the bread into small ks to bake the rolls. “The Imperial Legion Hall has over two thousand legionaries and gods knows how many mages. The Mage War College is not far from the Imperial Legion Hall.”

  “And the Western Legion Hall?” I asked, finishing my pte. The cook who made it took it away a a steaming cup of tea in its pce.

  The head cook spped each piece of dough hard on a tray to get the shape she wanted and then slid it into the oven. She then answered my question, “The Western Hall has maybe two thousand legionaries as well, but a portion of those are in training and not true legionaries yet.” I did not have time to talk further as Konstantin walked into the kit.

  “Figures you found your way to a meal,” he said with a light tone. “Eryk, we are leaving soon. Gear up. Smart move getting breakfast. We may not have time to eat all day,” Konstantin advised.

  The middle-aged cook addressed the scout, “Konstantin, you old goat. There is a basket of hot meat buns warming in the oven.” I had never seen Konstanti flustered before as the cook addressed him. But he was shaken as he looked at the cook and processed her words.

  “Gilda?” Konstantin showed familiarity with the cook. “What are you doing here?”

  “You know why I am here. Take the buns,” the cook said with a slight smile and a wave of her hand.

  Konstantin’s eyes hardened slightly at his acquaintand ordered, “Eryk, get the buns into your spad get your armor on.” He spun a, shaking his head.

  I added a basket of twelve meat buns to my spad returo our room. I dressed in my armor while the others waited in me. We left in the dark, and I had a ce to ask Konstantin, “Old lover?”

  “Gilda? Gods merever,” Konstantin rasped. “No, we both work for the same woman,” he talked low enough so the others did not hear. “If Gilda is here, someone is not long for this world.” Realizing he said that a little too loud, he gruffly walked ahead of me. So, the cook was a of the Praetorian Guard that Konstantin worked for. She robably an assassin, by his words. The pudgy woman did not look like a fighter. Knowing the agents could be anywhere was good as I never would have suspected the cook.

  We returo the Magistrate building before the sun had broken the sky. The door betweeatues had two legionaries ial armor. Konstantin noted, “They have the insignia of Duke Octavian. He must already be inside.”

  We ehe building, and there were a number of men and women in the white robes of the magistrate walking the halls. The pce was much busier than in the middle of the night. Konstantin stopped and asked questions while we waited. Wheurned, he told us what he had learned, “The Ducal Tribunal will be in the Venus Room. I have dires. They are still waiting on Duke Vito, so have not started.”

  We followed Konstantin to a corridor with a rge double-blue door. There was a mural painting taking up the entire opposite wall. The painting was lifelike and had a womaing the o’s surf. She was naked with long, flowing dark blonde hair and mesmerizing sky-blue eyes that seemed to follow you. I was not the only oaring. “Why is this painting in the magistrates building?” Benito asked.

  Konstantin studied the image lohan he o, “This building was not always the building for the Imperial Magistrates and for training the Truthseekers. It served some other purpose in the past.”

  A man in white robes overheard our versation and informed us, “That is right, legionhis used to be the vil for Duke Latrell wheayed in the capital. He challehe Emperor and was beheaded, and all his property seized. This building became the Magistrate’s office. All of the amazing artwork has been preserved.” He focused on Konstantin, “Are you here for the Ducal Tribunal of Mage Castile?”

  Konstantin nodded, “We gave statements st night to Truthseekers. We are here in case our statements are questioned, or further expnation is required.”

  The man in white robes nodded in uanding. “Only the accused, her Advocate, the Imperial Truthseeker, and the Tribunal are allowed in the room. If witnesses are requested, they will be summoned.”

  Konstantin ground his teeth. He was obviously frustrated at being helpless. A man in purple and gold robes walked down the ter of the corridor. He was ht and had an air of self-importahe white-robed magistrate met him, “Duke Vito. This lease.” He opehe blue double door, and immediately, arguing voices spilled out of the room. The doors absorbed sound as the corridor had been silent before they opened.

  I only got a brief glimpse into the room. Castile was standio a man in yellow robes. Her back was to us, and she was fag a table with three seats. Two seats were filled with Duke Octavian and a young woman who I assumed was Duchess Veronica. The argument that was interrupted was between Octavian and the yellow-robed man. I assumed that was Castile’s Advocate. Nico, the old Truthseeker from st night, walked from a door ihe courtroom to join the proceedings. Duke Vito went to joiher two dukes. The white-robed man shut the blue doors behind Duke Vito, and we were cut off from the se and all sound.

  The white-robed maood in front of the door like a guard. Konstantin pulled us to the side. Benito asked, “What is the pn?”

  Konstantin said, “We wait.” he leaned against the painting of Venus. The white-robed man frowned, and Konstantin stood away from the painting.

  It was almost an hour before Paval asked, “What is going on inside?”

  Konstantin started to answer, but the white-robed man surprisingly answered for him, happy to help, “The charges will be read. Each charge will be dealt with o a time. Each of the Tribunal members will have a turn to ask questions of the accused. The Truthseeker will verify the answers of the defendant. Then, the Advocate has a ce to ask the final questions. Then each Tribunal member votes on the charge.”

  “What about our statements?” Benito asked.

  The white-robed man nodded, “They were copied and given to the Dukes st night. Duke Octavian was questioning their addition to the formal records when the doors opened.” The man had a slight smile, “Do not worry, legionaries. Justice is always based on the evidence presented.”

  “What about the evide presented,” I muttered.

  The white-robed man focused on me, “You would make a good magistrate legionarie. Yes, missing evidence or questions not asked lead to verdicts that are undeserved. Have no worries. Ye has one of the best Advocates in the Hall. Duchess Veronica personally requested him.”

  Another hour passed, and the blue doors did not open. “It seems to be taking a long time,” Bentio stated to his rumbling stomach.

  “Hand out the buns,” Konstantin muttered to me.

  I produced the basket of buns, and we each took one. I offered oo the white-robed man, and he relutly accepted. Benito took possession of the basket, and slowly, the buns were ed. Hours passed, and even the Magistrate guarding the door seemed to get fidgety.

  A man in blue robes, followed by two legionaries ial armor, came down the corridor to our room. The man was slightly out of breath and addressed everyohis is the Tribunal fe Castile?”

  The white-robed man guarding the door answered, “It is. They are still in deliberation, cellor.”

  He looked at us, “And you are her legionaries?”

  Konstantin moved to stand before the blue-robed man, “We are. What does the Collegium S want with the Tribunal?” Konstantin was both fused and hopeful.

  “Truthseeker Yanis came to us this m with a copy of a testimony. We wish to interview any legionaries who were part of the stiant sying,” he said, and all my fellow legion mates turheir eyes to me.

  The man, who I assumed was a cellor, instantly said, “Ah, you must be Eryk. The legionnaire who gave the inal statement. Who else was with you when the mighty stiant was defeated?” I looked to Konstantin, who nodded.

  I was slightly nervous and answered truthfully, “Legionaries Brutus and Fvius are the only two others who have survived. Master Mage Sebastian took Fvius. Brutus—is in Carahagan. He missed the portal to the capital.”

  Konstantin stepped forward, intervening, “What does the College of Schors want with the legionaries?”

  “Just to question them. Nothing nefarious. We will take this one,” he poi me, “And you send the others when they arrive.” The man handed Konstantin a ed scroll.

  Konstantin unrolled it and looked up surprised, “The Emperor’s seal?”

  The blue-robed man bowed, “I am Marcel, sel to the Emperor and cellor of the Collegium S. Truthseeker Yanis is my nephew. My time is precious to me, and I have already been to Eastern Legion Hall and back today.” He wiped his forehead of sweat.

  “Go with him, Eryk. When they finish with you, check here for us first and then the Legion Hall. I will want to talk with you as well,” Konstantin said with a note of curiosity.

  It did not feel like this was voluntary. The two legionaries in steel armor fnked me, and we all followed aed Marcel out of the Magistrate’s Hall. The cellor was a little too excited, in my opinion.

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