The King's Ring (The Netherworld Gate Book 2) (25 page)

The junior officer again scribbled quickly.

Kai had tensed at the prospect of a bird being sent to Rasselin, but he felt the pressure inside him unwind when the council decided it was unnecessary. He felt much safer knowing that the council had not, and would not discover his past. Despite Liloriel’s assurance that agents were above the law, there was nothing that had stopped Garfule from arresting them on the road. Even after he saw the marks on their hands, Garfule was quick to put them in irons and drag them into Telshir.

“What charges are laid against the accused?” the elf to the presiding officer’s right asked.

“There are three charges against the accused,” Garfule replied ceremoniously. “If it pleases the council, I shall read the charges.”

“It pleases the council,” the presiding officer stated with a slow nod.

Garfule pulled the silver ribbon away from the rolled parchment and read from it. “The charges are listed in order of severity, starting with the least serious crime. The first charge is trespassing on Selemet Island without proper notification or papers. The second charge is theft. The third charge is several counts of murder.” Garfule rolled the parchment back up and held it to his side. “How does the council answer the charges?” Garfule asked.

Kai glanced from Garfule to the council and back to Seldaric. His companion said nothing and stood still. The presiding officer rose to his feet and held his right hand up in the air.

“The council has decided…”

“You can’t decide without hearing our side of it first!” Kai bellowed. His words echoed off the halls as he spoke. “That isn’t right. We told you we are agents of the Kruk priestess. Furthermore, we didn’t murder anyone!”

Garfule crossed over to Kai and punched him hard in the stomach. Kai flinched and fought the urge to cry out in pain when the elf’s fist slammed into his burn injury. He was not going to give the elf the satisfaction of vocalizing the pain.

Garfule stood in front of Kai and glowered at him. “You will hold your tongue, human, or I will have it wrenched from your mouth with a pair of tongues fresh from the smith’s forge. Do you understand?”

Kai returned the stare, but said nothing. The rage was boiling in him. He wished his sword was with him, then he would show this elf some manners.

“Thank you, enforcer, the council would resume if you will retake your place,” the presiding officer said calmly. Garfule growled menacingly and moved back to where he had been standing. “Selemet is an elf nation, human,” the officer said. “We hold our courts in accordance with the laws that have been passed down to us by our ancestors. While I know you may do things differently in your homeland, the wisdom of our predecessors has been tried and tested for centuries, even thousands of years. I remind you that one hundred years after you are dead and returned to the dust, I will still be sitting on this council. My eyes see with wisdom such that you, as a human, will never come close to grasping.”

Kai clenched his jaw and was about to say something, but then an odd thing happened. The elf smiled at him. The smile appeared surprisingly kind, merciful even. Kai nodded and remained silent.

The presiding officer’s smile lingered on his lips as he resumed his declaration. “The council finds the accused guilty of trespassing on Selemet. The High Council of Selemet should have been notified. However, since the accused claim to be acting under direct orders of a Svetli’Tai Kruk priestess, this can be overlooked. This council has been notified of Jahre’s death, and attacks in Medlas and Bluewater. Therefore, there appears to be sufficient evidence to dismiss the first charge.”

“No offense has been found?” Garfule asked.

“No offense has been found,” the councilman clarified. “Does the enforcer wish to challenge this finding?”

Kai fought the urge to glance over at the heavy handed enforcer.

“The enforcer agrees with the finding,” Garfule replied evenly.

“The council finds the accused innocent of the second charge. They were not found carrying items that had presumably belonged to the dead men found in the forest and on the road. By the enforcer’s own report, the wagon was intact, and the accused carried only weapons and provisions for food. A horse was presumed stolen, but it was not found with the accused. The second charge is dismissed.”

“No offense has been found?” Garfule asked.

The councilman shook his head wearily. “No offense has been found,” he sighed. “Does the enforcer wish to challenge this finding?”

“The enforcer agrees with the finding.”

“Finally, the council has decided to dismiss the third charge altogether.”

“For all counts?” Garfule asked.

“Yes, for all counts,” the councilman decreed. “According to the report, there were two bodies found near the wagon. The bodies had been ravaged by carrion beasts and the cause of death was undetermined. The other four bodies were discovered shortly after their demise during a battle, presumably with the accused.” The councilman turned to Seldaric. “I am guessing that the two of you were on your way to Elroa’s tower, am I right?”

Seldaric stiffened, but he said nothing.

The councilman rubbed his forehead and then took in a deep breath. “Seldaric, I am inclined to dismiss the charges against you, but you must assist me in return. Were you traveling to Elroa’s tower?”

“With respect, that is a question I am not allowed to answer,” Seldaric replied. “Only Liloriel may disclose the nature of our assignment.”

The councilman sighed and shook his head. “Did you know that the tower was destroyed two days ago?”

Seldaric’s stoic expression broke and he glanced to Kai.

“There was some sort of attack there. Elroa’s body was found this morning in the Golden Leaf Inn, after the innkeeper went to bring Elroa breakfast in his room.” The councilman folded his hands together in his lap and leaned back in his chair. “If you were trying to save Elroa, you failed.”

Seldaric bowed his head and his shoulders slumped. Kai frowned, now knowing with certainty that it was the assassin who stole the horse from the men with the wagon. That was the only way he could have been so far ahead of them.

“In light of these other events, the council believes you innocent of all charges. I don’t know what the four men near the wagon were doing, but for the moment they are not my concern. It would appear as though we have a person or persons who are bent on murdering elves. I need them stopped.”

Kai sighed heavily and looked to his comrade. Seldaric raised his head and watched the council.

“The council is under the impression that whoever is responsible for Elroa’s death, is the same party responsible for Jahre’s death and the attacks in Medlas and Bluewater. Can you confirm this?”

Seldaric shook his head. “I am not at liberty to discuss the details of my assignment.”

The councilman huffed and slapped a hand on his knee. “I grow tired of the Kruks and their presumptive authority.” The elf rose from his chair and approached Seldaric. When the two were nearly nose to nose, the councilman whispered harshly. “I am well aware that the Kruks guard the three relics to open the Netherworld Gate. I know that whoever is behind these attacks is seeking the relics. It is not difficult to figure out. However, let me be clear. The Netherworld is an unforgiving plane. There is no possibility that the Sierri’Tai sent to that realm would have survived. That is why the council banished them there in the first place. We let the Netherworld fight the war for us. With its volcanoes, its monsters, and its demons, the council has wielded the Netherworld like a great, fiery sword. Mark my words, there are no Sierri’Tai left to fear. Even if a few did survive, there could only be a few left, and they would pose no threat to us now. We are strong. Our islands and cities are rebuilt. The Kruks are the last vestige of a dying tradition started by elves who had become afraid of their own shadows. What I do care about, are the real world attacks carried out against elves and elvish cities. I want the responsible party brought to justice, do you understand?”

Seldaric stood still, barely breathing.

“Now, tell me, is someone running around the cities on Selemet Isle looking for the relics?”

“That is a question he is not at liberty to discuss with you,” a familiar voice called from the hall.

Kai turned to see Liloriel walking through the doorway and approaching the councilman with great speed. She still limped a bit from the wound in her leg, but she hid her pain well.

“Ah, the priestess,” the councilman greeted with a smile that did nothing to hide his contempt. “Your fairy tales of controlling the Sierri’Tai army have brought destruction and death to the Elven Isles. I was only trying to understand the events more completely.”

Liloriel pressed a hand to the councilman’s chest and pushed him two steps back from Seldaric. “Councilman, you know full well that you are not privy to information regarding the Netherworld Gate. The Svetli’Tai Kruks answer only to the Triad.”

The councilman flared his arms out to the side and bowed graciously. He backed away another two paces and then stood tall. “Two of the Triad are dead,” the councilman said. “Jahre, the leader of your presumptive organization, is dead. So is Elroa.”

Liloriel nodded. “Yet, the third member is not dead. Unless the Triad authorizes the Kruks to disclose information to the High Councils, we are honor bound to secrecy.”

“A most convenient tenet,” the councilman replied sourly.

Liloriel shook her head. “It is our secrecy that prevents the spread of panic and fear. It also prevents those who would abuse the power beyond the Netherworld Gate from attaining the items needed to open that barrier.”

“Not anymore,” the councilman replied evenly. “From where I stand, whoever this attacker is, he has at least two of the relics by now.”

Liloriel stood silent. She turned and looked to Kai and Seldaric. “You will release my agents. I can confirm that both of them are working under my direct supervision.”

The councilman nodded slowly and pointed to Garfule. “Release the accused.”

Garfule nodded and moved to unlock the shackles that bound Seldaric and Kai.

“Is there anything you can tell the council?” the councilman asked.

Liloriel nodded. “We are working to apprehend the man responsible for these atrocities. The Kruks request your sanction, and your cooperation.”

The councilman nodded and turned to the junior officer. “Let it be written that Liloriel has confirmed the agents’ mission. All charges are dismissed.”

The junior officer nodded and quickly scribbled on his parchment.

The councilman turned back to Liloriel. “As a show of good faith, the council will organize a party to accompany Liloriel, priestess of the Kruks, and her agents. They will assist in apprehending the perpetrator of these horrible crimes.”

“The council cannot assign anyone to Kruk missions,” Liloriel replied evenly.

“No, but then I suspect you have already gone to the old Sierri’Tai castle, am I correct?” The councilman grinned slyly and pointed at her. “Why else would you have forsaken your two agents? You were far behind the murderer. So, you sent these two to protect Elroa, and you went to warn the Kruks at the castle. It is only logical.”

Liloriel would not confirm the councilman’s reasoning.

“Come now, why hide the truth from the council now?”

Kai watched the two stare at each other for a few moments. The tension in the room was thick enough that it nearly sucked the air right out of the chamber.

Finally, Liloriel moved close to the councilman and spoke softly enough that only the councilman, Garfule, Kai, and Seldaric could hear.

“Councilman Fillion, I know of your long standing hatred for the Kruks. I know that you blame us for the death of your daughter.”

The councilman blanched and bristled, clenching his jaws.

“You should honor her death, for she died protecting the Netherworld Gate. This is not the first time someone has tried to gain access to the relics.”

“The Kruks have failed their duties,” Councilman Fillion replied angrily.

“Priestess Harielle would be saddened to know how far her father has fallen.”

The councilman closed his mouth and looked to Liloriel with cold eyes.

Liloriel shook her head.

“You know the Kruks must submit to the will of the councils if the Triad falls,” Fillion said.

Liloriel nodded. “I know you wish to control the Kruks, so you can disband them and bury the memory of your daughter, but that will not help us now. The Triad has not fallen. The third member lives. Until that changes, the Kruks are not under the direction of the councils.”

Liloriel turned to Seldaric and Kai. “Come, we are finished here.”

“Priestess Liloriel,” one of the seated councilmen called out. “Elroa was found tortured in one of the rooms at the Golden Leaf Inn.”

Liloriel nodded her thanks and then directed Kai and Seldaric out of the chamber.

Once they were out of the building, Kai turned to Liloriel and asked, “What was that about?”

Liloriel sighed heavily and shook her head. “Humans are not the only race bogged down with self-aggrandizing politicians.”