What the hell is he talking about?
Erikur let go of Bianca's shoulder and stepped away, striding over towards the High Queen with bravado as Praetor Verano merely held his now bleeding ear and gaped at the Dwarf, Ikaros.
"He-he shot me! He actually shot me!" The Elf wailed.
Ikaros chuckled. "All that Elvehn glory laid low by a bullet. If that's all the might of House Osselus, I like my odds." He winked towards Bianca, who couldn't help but laugh at the Dwarf's demeanor. It was nice to see the man who had called her and her former family animals taken down a notch.
"Erikur Golden-Arrow, I will only be so patient. Speak what it is you came here for and be done with it, if it will help Bianca Miles in her case." Ysolda seemed stressed, albeit more annoyed than anything.
Erikur nodded as he turned to the crowd. "People of Elbafas. People of Elvehn. I don't pretend to be an expert on law. Frankly, I'm more of a lover than a fighter or a scholar. Be that as it may, as a member of the guild of Gaoling's Blade, and having been privy to much of the inner workings of Lady Brialla for years, these eyes and ears know much in this world.
Take, for example, the death of Mister Verunil. Poor guy, I hear you all say, but what do your hearts tell you? Have you not heard the rumors? The secrets? Oh sure, you don't want to speak it aloud, and why would you?! The bastard's father just threatened war if our lovely Bianca wasn't put to death. You're afraid, and rightly so. Our illustrious High Queen can only protect you from so much, correct? Sadly, an Elf throwing a tantrum is quite high on the threat list."
The crowd muttered, looking to each other and nodding. Whispering. Bianca felt a twinge of hope in her chest, that maybe at least her voice would be heard in some way due to this Erikur. Plus, she didn't mind the fact that he'd called her lovely. Not many ever did.
"Not this nonsense again!" Praetor Verano bellowed, finally rising to his feet after the bleeding of his ear had subsided. "I will hear no more slander of my son! You have no proof!"
Ysolda nodded. "He has a point, Erikur Golden-Arrow. Regardless, the trial is over, and the hearing is currently underway. Without providing witnesses, I cannot overrule my sentence. As it stands–"
"Pardon me, my queen, but," Ikaros shouldered his metal weapon and beckoned towards the door. "We can." He walked towards the large entrance to the hall and knocked on the door.
"Come on in, Miss." Ikaros grabbed the door and opened it, letting a figure walk into the room, and bringing a look of shock to Bianca's face.
It was the same Elf from that night at the manor. The woman who Tarshall had knocked unconscious and hidden somewhere safe. No longer in her armor, she was dressed in an Elbafan dress, breeches, and boots with her golden hair braided and lying over her left shoulder. The guard who had told Bianca of Sha'ani's fate, and the one she'd spared at the behest of Bree. How the woman had survived, she didn't know, but she was here now.
And she was a witness.
—
"Ah! She rouses from her sleep," Erikur said as he waved towards the Elf, who looked away and kept her attention locked on the queen.
Ysolda stood, and looked towards the Elf who stood before the court. "State your name, please."
The Elf stood firm. "Lucretia Valentina, your majesty." She bowed.
"Lucretia Valentina, as a witness, and apparently the only one, your word may be what separates the accused from death. Do you understand the weight your word may carry?" Ysolda asked.
"I do." Lucretia nodded.
"Do you swear, upon your honor, to uphold that word. To speak nothing but truth in this keep, before the sacred Oaken Throne itself?"
"I do."
Ysolda nodded. "Then proceed."
The Elf, Lucretia, turned to face the crowd, and Bianca. "Right, then," she said quietly. Bianca caught sight of the Praetor glaring at her, as if daring her to speak another word. "I've worked for Verunil Osselus for a great deal of time. On the surface, he was a kind and caring man. Always willing to lend a hand to his servants. At least, that's what I normally say, if I didn't have the protection of the High Queen."
What is she talking about?
"And what do you say with such protection?"
Lucretia was quiet, the entire room was. Bianca wondered just what could come of the Elf guard's testimony. Would she aid in her release, or hasten her execution? Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Lucretia breathed in deep before speaking once again.
"I know little of the events that transpired after I became indisposed, but I do know of the man Verunil Osselus was. Evil. Despicable. He was a Tribune who woefully abused his power and his stature. Blackmailing and bribing soldiers of Elvehn under his employ to look the other way and say nothing. I was aware of the horrific things he was doing to that poor Faerie on that night, and–"
"Lies! All of it!" Praetor Osselus bellowed.
Ysolda slammed her axe to the ground. "Be silent! Let her speak." She silenced the Elf and turned back to Lucretia. "You may continue." However, the look in Verano's eyes told Bianca all she needed to know: Elves felt themselves superior, but some were more superior than others. He glared at Lucretia, as if damning her for saying such things about his son.
Nodding, Lucretia resumed her testimony. "I was confronted by the guild of Gaoling's Blade, with Bianca in their company, when I told them of what was happening. Bianca attacked me, and tried to kill me upon learning of her sister's fate."
Yep, here we go.
"I do not blame her, however. I saw in her, not malice or rage for the sake of violence, but desperation. A desperate woman who only wanted to spare her sister as much suffering as possible."
Ysolda nodded. "And do you think Bianca is a murderer who deserves death?" She asked.
Lucretia paused for a moment, steeling herself before answering. "Bianca killed Verunil Osselus. This is true. However, if you ask me, he deserved what he got. She deserves life."
Her answer drew the crowd into an uproar. Elves and humans shouted at each other, pointing at Bianca, but this time their demeanor changed. The death penalty was now less certain than ever. Some even pleaded for Bianca's release. How quickly the crowd changes its mind, she mused as she watched Ysolda try to silence the shouting and fierce arguments within the courtroom.
"I think I've heard enough! Lucretia Valentina, thank you for your testimony. Your words have given me pause on the nature of Bianca Miles' sentence." Ysolda declared.
"How dare you! I say–" Praetor Verano tried to protest before being threatened once again by Ikaros, who pointed his weapon at the Elf's head.
"There is, however, one more matter." The man from Forswaron, the emissary, spoke for the first time since the trial began. His voice deep and commanding, he fixed his eyes on Bianca as he made his presence known.
"Issaad al'Kaziim, Emissary of Queen N'fube, you may speak." Ysolda declared. So it wasn't over after all.
Issaad strode across the floor, past Praetor Verano, High Queen Ysolda, and even the guards and Erikur before stopping directly in front of Bianca. He frowned, his golden jewelry shining in the sunlight as his eyes bored into her very soul. "Bianca Miles, daughter of Benjamin Miles, I would break words with you, if I may."
Bianca nodded. "Yes, if you want."
He sneered. "First, allow me to compliment you on your honesty. Not many would confess so readily to such a crime. You are honest to a fault. I admire that."
"Thank you, sir–"
"Be that as it may," Issaad interrupted. "I care little about the lives of petty Elves or the fear of war from the snowskins of Elbafas. No Orc, no Dwarf, no Easterner interests my queen, N'fube al'Citadel. No, I am not here for justice for the lives of a few paltry Elves. Nor am I here for the justice of a Faerie woman so wronged by those very Elves. These things do not concern Forswaron. Therefore, I would dispense of them here."
The man spoke as if he were commanding an army. Issaad inched closer to Bianca, staring into her mismatched eyes before continuing. "My one and only concern, child, is the location of our prince, Nazair al'Citadel. Your guild came close to discovering this information, and your actions compromised their efforts. If our prince is lost, I will have nothing but the absolute destruction of Elbafas, and your Heartland Fae."
Ysolda stood quickly, axe in hand. "Issaad al'Kaziim, I did not summon you here to make threats against my–"
Issaad clenched his fist, and a violent tremor shook the room. Intense heat washed over the crowd, and Bianca herself. Lucretia, Erikur, and even the High Queen herself fell to the floor as the heat radiated all around. Tapestries began to smolder as torch flames grew ever more violent.
"Issaad al'Kaziim, I will not tolerate this blatant misuse of magic in my hall!" Ysolda shouted, her voice stifled by the heat and roaring wind that carried it.
"You misunderstand me, High Queen," Issaad spoke, voice calm and cold despite the stifling inferno all around. "It has been decided long before your people contacted my queen. Should Prince Nazair al'Citadel be lost to Forswaron, your country will burn."
Bianca, however, held her ground as Issaad's eyes glowed an intense, terrifying gold. He was the cause of the immense magic. Some form of fire spell, perhaps. Whatever the case, Issaad made his power known. The seastone crumbled from Bianca's wrists, and her magic surged through her body. Rather than stop and plead with the man, she did what she did best.
She fought.
She drew her fist back, clenching it tight as Issaad's eyes widened. The heat intensified, nearly knocking Bianca to the ground from the pain. Still, despite the sweltering fire that engulfed the Al'Maran man, she followed through.
I will not yield.
"Ignis!" Bianca shouted, and fire burst forth from her knuckles. She struck the man's jaw hard, snapping the golden earrings from Issaad's ear and forcing him to stagger back. Issaad clutched the side of his face, now bloody with a scorch mark running across his lip.
"You dare–" Issaad began, but Bianca followed up with another punch to his forehead. The Al'Maran man, his magic finally dissipating, fell to the floor as Bianca placed herself on his stomach and held back her fist for a third strike.
Bianca gasped, finally able to breathe again as the heat faded from the grand hall. "Save your fucking threats. I'll find your prince."
Issaad only looked on in shock, as did the rest of the room. Erikur's smile dropped from his face, Lucretia and Ikaros only watched, as did Ralof and Lydia. Ysolda herself even remained silent. Bianca dismounted the emissary, still protecting his face from Bianca's fists, and turned to the crowd.
"Well, what say you?! I made the mess, I'll clean it up. I've been pretty fucking quiet this whole damn trial, so lemme make one suggestion before you decide what to do with me." Bianca demanded.
Ysolda, composing herself, rose once again from her throne. "Bianca Miles, what is it you ask of me before your sentence is passed?"
Bianca smirked. Then grinned, baring her teeth as the crowd of Elves and humans kept their eyes fixed on her.
"If I can make a request, sentence me to find this missing prince by year's end. If I can, you let me go, and give me back all the gold your guards stole from me. If I fail, you get to execute me. Sound fair?"
The crowd said nothing. Issaad rose to his feet, adjusting his golden jewelry. Erikur smiled and began applauding while the rest of the guard could only watch and wait for just what would happen next.
"Couldn't have said it better myself!" Ikaros cheered.
Lucretia sat on the floor, her eyes fixed on Bianca as her chest heaved, the Elf catching her breath. The rest of the crowd slowly rose to their feet, wiping the sweat from their brows and composing themselves. If nothing else, Bianca at least made her point. She wasn't going to just let a bunch of people suffocate in infernal heat out of spite or desire for vengeance.
Then, Ysolda finally made her decision.
"Very well. Bianca Miles, I sentence you to aid the guild of Gaoling's Blade in their search for Prince Nazair al'Citadel. You will be their servant, perform jobs for them, aid them in all their ordeals until your sentence is complete. Failure to do so will bear the penalty of death. Do you accept this sentence?"
"I do!" Bianca answered without question.
Ysolda nodded, and the crowd erupted, but not in anger or jeers. Instead, the people cheered. A middle ground had been reached, and a compromise had been struck. Bianca would serve Gaoling's Blade, and either her service or her failure would be her executioner. Bianca, being who she was, wouldn't have it any other way.
"So be it. As High Queen of Elbafas, I hereby conclude this trial. Bianca Miles, you are officially in the custody of the guild of Gaoling's Blade."
***
The College of Autumn's Gate is not the only school for those who wish to excel in the academic fields, nor is it the only place to train in the art of magic. In the current age, there exist four major schools of such knowledge and academia outside of Autumn's Gate.
Aldhicus Academy, found in the capital of Elvehn, specializes exclusively in the art of battle magic and training people to become incredible mages. However, to my knowledge they have only ever allowed Elves into their halls.
The Halls of Atswala, though they've changed hands multiple times throughout the years. From its grand opening before the War of the Gods to its unfortunate occupation by slavers during the alliance between Elvehn and Forswaron.
The Academy of Kal-Oto, though some may find it strange that the Dwarves would wish to practice or learn magic. You'll find no other place where one can discover the secrets of crafting runes or engineering such devices as cannons or prosthetic limbs.
Finally, the School of Runastas. Not necessarily a school for magic, but one almost exclusively for learning politics and higher education. Most Elvehn leaders boast graduation from these halls.
-From the desk of Lambur Stonetooth of the College of Autumn's Gate