Kingdom Born

Chapter Four: Aftermath

The Council of Elder's held my court marital while I was still in my battle gear.

A High Elder rode at the head of the column coming toward us. The guard's faces in her wake did little to console me. They were grim. High Elder, Miin Stalker, galloped her horse right up to Rainer, pulling to a halt less than a hair's width away. Rainer tossed her head skyward and pawed at the uneven ground and I was hard pressed to keep my seat. My head still rang from the combination of the cross bow quarrel and the fall from Rainer's back but there was no way that I was going to show how I suffered to the former Captain of the Guard.

She was well preserved for someone of her age. Underneath her heavy robes of office, you could still see the sun toughened skin and the muscles she earned in her youth. Of all the Elders, she resented my appointment to the position of Captain and she did little to change her opinion in the two years that I led. Her dark eyes glanced on the men and dismissed them. She grabbed for Rainer's rein. Rainer reared back on her hindquarters and flailed with her front.

Stalker easily avoided the unexpected attack. I could only hope to be so quick when I was her age. My reluctant admiration for her died as quickly as it came with her sneering words.

"You've been digging your own grave for these last few months, Longsword. I didn't expect you to throw your career into it so quickly."

She paused waiting for me to snap off a reply to her. I just eased Rainer away from Stalker as much as I could without making it seem as if I was backing down from her authority. "The Council has heard of your treatment of our Messenger. That was a stupid move, Longsword."

"It was the right thing to do at the time."

I could feel the rest of my party begin to crowd in behind me, offering their unwavering support to me regardless of how it might affect their own careers. This was not the best thing to do. Stalker had proclaimed herself my enemy from day one of my appointment. My guards were some of the best in the Garrison. There was no way that I was going to allow them to run up against the Council.

"You have a long list of charges against you, Longsword. How do you plead?"

Yana bullied her way in between us; a freed captive holding on her waist was of deathly pallor. "In case you didn't notice, we just rescued close to seventy men from Badlander raiders."

"All the Council knew was that the Captain of the Guard of Sandshore left the city that she is Oath bound to defend leaderless." Stalker glared at me over the top of Yana's small stature. "How do you plea to all the charges?"

Yana wasn't going to let herself be ignored. "She hasn't even heard the charges."

Stalker didn't bother to acknowledge Yana. She had her sights set on bigger prey, "I do not think Longsword need hear ALL of them.”

Yana's blue eyes narrowed with annoyance, "I think she does."

“Refusing the orders of the Council Messenger, assault on the same Messenger, physical detainment, insubordination to an Council Messenger, unwomanly conduct of an officer, abuse of authority, dereliction of duty...shall I continue?" Stalker smiled as she rattled off the charges.

I saw Yana's face darken with anger. I heard the resentment in the guard behind me. More blood was going to be shed if I didn't stop it. "I plead guilty to insubordination and abuse of authority."

"Phara..." Yana twisted around and gaped at me.

"As for the other list of charges, I contest..."

Stalker did nothing to hide her pleasure. Her tone of voice was a sneer of contempt "You know the penalty for insubordination alone is enough to end your place in the Garrison."

I met her cold glance with one of indifference. "I did what I thought was right. I would do so again."

"So be it," Stalker whirled her horse around, almost knocking Yana and her riding partner into the ground, "You are officially relieved of command. The First Lieutenant is in charge until the Council of Elders reconvenes and appoints a new Captain."

After Stalker stated her judgment she turned away as if I was below her notice. "Lieutenant, take charge of the prisoner. I will come and inspect her after midday." She jerked her horse's head around savagely. "I think the west corner would be the best place for your prisoner."

"The personal conduct of the Captain is all that the Council has jurisdiction over, Stalker..."

Yana's face was crimson with her fury. I swear that if she had thought she could have taken Miin Stalker down, she would have pulled steel.

Grabbing her arm, I almost pulled her from the saddle. "Yana!"

Yana looked at me with anger and resentment burning in her face. "This has nothing to do with all those charges she laid. This is personal."

"True enough, but she is an Elder - a representative of the Council. This is not her voice that you are hearing. Yana!" She almost jerked free. I shook her roughly, letting my fingers dig hard into her upper arm. There would be bruises there tomorrow.

Stalker leaned forward over the horn of her saddle, "It is fortunate that you remember that as well, Longsword. You are in serious trouble."

"As I said, I did what I thought was necessary at the time. Just looking around me, proves that." I took off my helmet and wiped sweat from my brow. I debated about half a second then voiced my opinion, "If you want an apology, Elder, you will be waiting a long time."

Stalker's face hardened with determination. Then she kicked her horse into a gallop back toward the town.

I set my helmet down on my thigh and sighed wearily. I was aching in every bone of my body. The ramifications of the Council's order would probably hit me later but right now I could only think of getting these poor men safe behind the stone walls of Sandshore. I glanced over at Yana. She was staring resolutely after the fading figure. I gestured to Stalker's backside, "Yana, send an escort."

Yana twisted around in the saddle. "You've got to be kidding."

"She is an Elder. It doesn't matter whether or not we approve of her actions. She deserves our respect. Send Tanzeer and some of our followers." Yana turned away with a grim smile on her face, "And make sure that she makes it safely back to the Garrison."

"There is no guarantee that we routed all of the badlanders. A simple attack..."

"Lieutenant, as my last order, I command you on your Oath to swear that Elder Miin Stalker will make it to Sandshore."

"On my Oath to you, I swear her safety." She spun her steed around, but kept her eyes centred on me. "If she thinks that I will stand by if they order an executioner for you, she is sadly mistaken."

There was a circle of silence around me - as if suddenly I was no longer a part of the living world, just an armoured spectre of the pale morning light. I kicked Rainer into motion and simply sat on her back as she carried me back to my fate.