"Hello, Lady Gwen... I believe you know why I'm here" Doric said as the door opened up for him. He had about seven guards armed to the teeth with him. "I'm afraid not... What is it you seek Governor?!" Gwen responded forcing a smile, pretending not to have any idea what was going on. Apparently she had helped the three escape through the back of the Manor.
"What is going on here, Doric?!" Calqués had stepped out, he had been working on a building design project, he was chief architect in the city as well quite a number of lucrative occupations, his diversities made him a very important part of the city. "You will address me as Governor, Sir Calqués" Doric said in between gritted teeth.
"I doubt I will after all of these nonsense, Doric" Calqués said again as though not bothered by the tension in the room. "Where are they?! Vandorr has Celiona Serth captive! I'm sure you know that already" Doric said holding in his rage, trying to compose himself better. Calqués smiled, looking at him as he took his glance off as though not wanting his mind read.
"I know quite a lot of things but one thing I didn't know is how you'd stoop so low as to not protect your own. You keep selling yourself short" Calqués said in a mild manner. "Where are they?!" Doric ignored him and asked, trying to be polite as much as possible. "Far from your very grasp and they'll be until all of these is over" Calques said again waving them to leave his house. Doric scoffed and shook his head, he soon turned around and gestured his guards to follow him.
Calqués had never supported Doric's administration, although he had a neutral stand on politics, he was a very diplomatic man. "Calqués, was that ever necessary! You saw the way he scoffed. He could be back with more force!" Gwen said feeling agitated as ever, another side of her that wasn't always seen. "Oh C'mon woman! That cunt can't do anything. He's only but a dog that barks but doesn't bite. Jackson would have made better governor" He responded with a slight frown across his face before walking out of the room.
"Calqués! Calqués!! I knew it. This wouldn't have just laid away!!" Gwen had rushed into his office some hours later holding up a letter. He grabbed it from her hand. He frowned as he recognized the seal on it, it was the Court's, the Court of Defiance. It was a summoning order to appear before the court. He hissed and squeezed it, tossing it in a trash bin not far from where he sat.
"Are you defying the Court of Defiance?! Calqués you must appear before them lest they charge us with treason!" Gwen said with shivering and desperate voice, staring at her nonchalant husband who continued to scribbling on as though nothing had happened. "I'm to appear in court in two days Gwen, except you'd have me go there now and wait for them, you should let me work" He said slowly without looking up at her.
She let out a sigh, holding her hands together as they grew sweaty already. Calqués knew what troubled her, it wasn't about him, it was about her and he knew how her mind worked. She must have thought up a lot of possibilities, how her image would become tarnished and most especially how the Yerx family would mock her after all she had done to build herself. He watched and shook his head as she walked out of the room slowly.
Doric was playing a game he couldn't keep up with, Calqués let out a mocking laugh. He knew what was likely to happen. Doric would have gathered every Noble who despised the Indies and would use them against him in the court. The Court of Defiance was a Court that investigated individuals who were caught up in allegation of opposing the Governor, after been tried and found guilty, will the accused be charged with Treason.
Only one man had been found guilty of this at the Court of Defiance, it was Zack Zeddic, the lion of the Zeddic family, which belonged to the Fifth Class. There were controversies concerning his sentence, one of which was the fact that he was from a fifth class, the masses felt it to be unfair. Calqués only had few friends from the Noble class, Ashcroft Targeris, Guilford Yerx, Henry Saxton and Daniel Chertsey, all of which were also important figures in the city just as he was. He knew he was safe from anything Doric had in plans but needed to act fast. He sent out letters to these four, telling them about what was happening and in two days he had appeared at the Court in anticipation for his trial.
****
"Calqués Van Stromme Indie belonging to the Indie Family, you've been summoned here concerning the disappearance of Celiona Serth, daughter of Hermis Serth belonging to the Serth family" One of the Jury said to him as he stood behind the counter in the mundane looking courtroom. He had arrived there on time not worried or whatever, it would have been perhaps dangerous if he had ignored the notice.
He nodded and continued to stare at the member of the council who spoke to him. The Courtroom couldn't be classified as the traditional one where lawyers stood and defend their clients. The Court of Defiance was a large council consisting of over 60% Nobles while the remaining where members of lower family classes. It consisted of forty-five members who represented at least one sector the government and to his very surprise, everyone seemed present except two people.
Ashcroft Targeris and Guilford Yerx, members of the First class families and also leaders of the council and at that moment, Thomas Effreu was standing as the representing Council leader. It would only seem that Doric felt it a right moment to make this a right time to try Calqués since his favourite people weren't available.
"I will be presiding over this case as Council leader since Ashcroft Targeris is on official assignment to the Capital" The one called Thomas Effreu said bending his spectacles. Calqués frowned, did that mean his letters weren't delivered?! He looked towards his left to where Doric sat, he could see his scornful look, he had been talking to two other men who despised him.
Gaius Michander and Frederick Gorgon.
It was still unclear why Frederick Gorgon hated him, although he felt Frederick to be the term 'Ass-licker', he would do anything to be in the favors of the higher class Nobles and as for Gaius, it was obvious. Being in the same class, the Michander's considered themselves better than the others, it couldn't have been their fault anyways at least not the newer generation. About fifty years ago, a man name Mikael Michander was Governor for only two years before he was impeached by the Consul, he was tried for corruption and money laundering. He was a terrible gambler who even went further as to squandering his own family wealth thus dropping the family status.
He looked away from them and back at the council leader who sat in front of him. The courtroom was designed like an auditorium so it was easy to see every possible face. "What do you have to say about this trial?! This will be your only chance to speak until you're being questioned by the member of the Council of the Court of Defiance. Do you understand?! Thomas Effreu said as he flipped open a large book in front of him.
Calques nodded." I think this is a waste of time. I have done nothing whatsoever and have no idea about the whereabouts of Celiona Serth" He spoke.
"Do you deny this allegation then?!" Thomas asked as he signalled for decorum from the already murmuring crowd. "Yes, I do" Calqués nodded again. "Did you harbor a man called Vandorr Brensk in your own house?!" Thomas had asked again. Calques smiled, he could see right through Doric's plans. He knew he would deny knowing about Celiona Serth but hoped to trap him if he acknowledged the question set right in front of him. Calqués nodded and responded "Yes, I did".
The whole room was murmuring again, heads shaking in contempt at every angle except for some who still found it hard to believe Calqués to be tried. "Did you also know that Vandorr Brensk had visited the Governor in person of Doric Demur III?!" Thomas Effreu said again blankly as before, it was as though he had made up his mind.
"Yes I am aware" Calqués sighed and spoke, he couldn't see a way out this time. For the first time, his heart was racing, he could be sentenced for conspiracy and abduction. "I shall call on the Governor in person of Doric Demur III to tell us what transpired between he and Vandorr Brensk" Thomas looked over to where Doric sat. He wasted no time in standing to his feet.
"Vandorr Brensk visited me to inform me of what had happened to Celiona Serth, he spoke of a VANDOLSK. a tale of man who might have been drunk and mad! He did mention that he had found the Crest of Marmalade with her immediately she turned from this hideous monster back into human. He came to meet me for help on investigating the matter, he also told me he kept her at the Indie Manor" Doric spoke with pride.
The whole room murmured more as Doric finished speaking, a grin slit across his face as he saw Calqués' face. He wasn't smiling anymore. "Were you aware of this?!" Thomas said as he scribbled something down in a piece of paper. Calques managed to nod. "I will call on an eye witness who was there when Vandorr Brensk met with the governor just in case you have another argument" Thomas raised his eyes to look at him.
"Gaius Michander, please speak" He said scribbling again. Gaius made no mistake in telling of how he had met with Vandorr and what had transpired between them even further as trying to remind them of what had happened with his wife. "Thank you Sir Gaius, I'm afraid we can't dabble into that now" Thomas waved him to sit.
"Does the accuse have a case to present?!" He said again looking at Calqués. "If none, I'm afraid this court finds you guilty of Conspiracy against the government and Trea--".
"You had better drop your feather, Thomas!!!" A rather old but agile man had burst into the room immediately. All attention had drawn to him, he had a long white beard although his head mostly bald.
"Ashcroft Targeris..." Some people had called in the crowd as they saw him. "What do you mean Ashcroft?! We find this man guilty and he has agreed and answered fairly to all questions presented at him" Thomas Effreu said in calm voice.
"Which is what?! You're about to sentence a man based on some accusations that do not hold water and even more he has no one standing as defence. The law states that before the Council of Defiance can start a trial, two or more Council leaders must be present" Ashcroft said with his stiff rigid voice that commanded respect. He was a first class noble and not only that, his family founded the city, his brother was also Bishop but despite all of these things, he was a man of integrity, he never trampled on anyone and judged unfairly.
"This trial is over and only shows how rotten our judicial system is becoming, it will be recalled in two weeks when I shall be presiding as Council Leader and of course Guilford Yerx as deputy" Ashcroft said again and soon walked out, he had not taken one glance at Calqués who was so happy. It was like a dream in his eyes, just some few moments ago, he was about to be sentenced to death for sure but Ashcroft had appeared to save him.