Rodrick tried to wipe the sour look off his face, but Eddy could see that it was eating at him.
"Milord. The Knights have petitioned for the immediate execution of the traitors." He sighed at the end of the statement and grabbed the goblet of water in front of him.
Eddy could see the tension in the men. Some were downright anxious and others were stone-cold calm.
"Why would we execute them?" Eddy asked Rodrick, hoping for an opinion or explanation.
The anxious men around the table did not like that at all.
The younger men even gained a scowl that they were suppressing.
Rodrick gestured to Sofia, "Your Steward can help put this into perspective, but the situation demands intervention."
Sofia picked up and whispered, "There are factions within your retinue. Half would like to see the mercenaries "piked" as they put it, and the other half leave the decision up to you." She cringed, "But, there is an issue...one Knight..has already executed a member of the mercenaries."
Eddy was stunned.
"Did the captive try to escape?" He asked back.
She shook her head no and had a dire expression.
'No...' He stood up and gestured for Sofia and Rodrick to follow, leaving his sweet sister at the table to nibble on some bread.
They walked behind a archway that separated the rooms and could hear the Knights burst into disagreement.
"Sofia, please explain." He was standing upright but felt a knot in his stomach.
She looked down, "It seemed that an older man in the mercenary group was known by the Knight." He nodded, "The Knight, Desmond Greenwood is claiming that he defended himself from the captive."
Rodrick sighed, "Milord, this is something that happens from time to time."
Rodrick was clearly upset about the situation, "This is a break in discipline. The matter of defense is not being questioned at this tim-"
Eddy put his hand up, "Why isn't it being questioned? Surely this means the Knight broke protocol in some fundamental way? How does a captive get free and attack?"
Rodrick froze.
Sofia spoke softly, "Milord. I investigated the scene, the bindings were untouched."
Eddy felt the pit in his stomach drop. 'This is corruption.'
Rodrick smiled lightly, "The man was a traitor, he brought assault on the Lord. This matter should be closed. Knight Greenwood will be punished for his lack of discipline."
Sofia nodded in slight agreement.
Eddy felt a part of him snap slightly. He wanted to yell that this is the problem. THIS is how the people in power become complacent.
He felt pain in his chest.
"I need a moment." He stumbled to the ground, Rodrick and Sofia were panicking slightly, "Are you hurt, milord?" Sofia was looking for needles or something that would indicate injury.
Eddy felt for his chest and breathed deeply.
'What is happening?' He leaned over and tried to get more air in his lungs, he couldn't breathe.
'Is this a panic attack? I haven't had one in years?' He felt the cold stone of the keep, his keep.
'You are in control, Eduardo. If this is a paradox game, we have max fucking legitimacy and crown authority. We have resources, men, we are in a fucking fortress. We are OKAY.'
He leaned back and could feel the pressure waning.
Eddy didn't even need to look at his "status" page bullshit to know that his stamina was at 0%.
'What do I do? I have to punish the Knight, he fucking executed a man, I have half of mind to do the same unto him.' He felt the tinge of pain in his chest start again, 'So much for the meditation...'
'FUCK!' Eddy stood up with Sofia and Rodrick watching.
'I am a kid to them. A noble brat.' He knew that Sofia saw him as someone smart, but he knew it was just his adult mind influencing it. He wasn't a genius and she would figure it out eventually.
Eddy steadied himself.
"Sofia. I need information. Speak with someone now and ask them to compile a list of statements, comb the documentation, look for monetary exchange, anything that denotes a reason for acting other than them being traitors."
He then turned to Rodrick, "We will continue this, but now you must see it through new eyes. I need you to question WHY. Can you do that?" He nodded meekly.
Sofia began to speed walk down the hall and passed the table, giving the men a look over.
Eddy pulled Rodrick close, "The Knight slayed a captive." Then he waited for Rodrick to respond, "Why?"
"Why indeed! Was it personal, financial, a grudge? Perhaps the man was hired as a long term scheme to murder this seemingly unimportant man." Rodrick was confused.
Thaddeus continued, "Nobody seems to care about the death, the man was a traitor."
"Why?" Rodrick muttered.
"I don't know. Maybe all the Knights are lazy. Maybe all of them are worthless men who cannot follow simple orders." Thaddeus had a dangerous tone as Rodrick began to seethe slightly.
"Why?" Eddy muttered, "Why? Because. The most likely outcome is usually the simple and logical answer. Why would a man execute another? Because he could, and get off without reprimand."
Rodrick was feeling awkward, "Why?"
Eddy nodded, "Why doesn't anyone care that a prisoner of ours was slain with little explanation? Why did the story IMMEDIATELY fall apart?! How does a bound mercenary attack an armored Knight to a degree that death is the only outcome?"
Rodrick was looking ill at this point, Eddy was rambling on, "How does this system even work? Do the Knights do whatever they want? Should I abdicate and let them lead, because apparently they want to be in the Lord's position!" He was fuming, "They wish to make decisions of life and death at their own WHIMS AND THEN LIE ABOUT IT?!!!
Rodrick was shocked, the anger was real.
"IS THIS WHAT BEING A NOBLE IS? DOING WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH NOBODY TO ANSWER TO?"
Rodrick didn't respond.
"Begone."
He waved his hand and Rodrick disappeared.
His heart was thumping. Rodrick was smart, but he didn't GET it. Eddy could see it plastered on the man's face, he was too deep to see.
Eddy walked back into the hall, his sister was looking confused, she was traumatized, the yelling wasn't helping.
He sat down at the seat and the arguments continued to flow.
Each side, why to execute, why not. Some of the men had potential, "You cannot execute a prisoner of the Lord without investigation! The man was bound, we all saw it! How does a mere mercenary stand as a threat against a Knight?" Then the men around him nodded deeply.
"The details do not matter for Greenwood's word is good!" Another stood at that and they continued at each other.
One side had the brains.
The other? Not so much.
Eddy looked for Rodrick, 'No where to be found', he assumed he went down to speak with Sofia.
"That is enough!" Eddy shouted, but was immediately spoken over.
He shouted louder, "ENOUGH!" but was once again unheard.
He felt the rage. A man's life was taken. They won't. Even. Investigate.
He breathed deeply and yelled, "I SAID, ENOUGH!!!" as he slammed his hand on the table, sending a pulse of Mana instinctively.
The men stopped.
It was quiet.
So quiet, the men could hear the swaying of the Iron Chandelier dangling from the ceiling.