The Bailiff brought in Prince Clayton, the second son of King Purses, and the deceased Queen Alison. "Do you swear to tell the whole truth as you know it?"
"Yes, Sir," said Prince Clayton
King Samir asks, "Prince Clayton, I understand you were childhood friends with TomTom and Mercy. Please tell us how and why you ended up on The Island of No Return."
"Your honor, Sir. I have a shameful tale to tell. Before I knew Mercy, I initially thought I was in love with Prince Alaisdair's wife and asked her to marry me when we grew up.
She told me no, she loved another, but we were study buddies, so I was with her for many years. She was brilliant in languages and in math. One day during the term, I again asked her to marry, and she said no, I love another, and I think you love Mercy.
She pointed to her on the school grounds, and I told her, yes, I do, but she is a commoner and servant, and I cannot marry. She told me Mercy was the daughter of an Earl.
"I sheltered and loved but never told Mercy I loved her; when I went off to medical school, I thought I would ask her to marry me as soon as I got home. I missed her so much."
When I got home, I went looking for Mercy and TomTom. My father told me they were dead - they had run off into the woods as cats and a hunter killed them both. I was stunned - I did not know that they knew one another. Our home is massive."
'That night, I went to the Alehouse and got drunk. I fell off the mountain, and they thought I was dead; I was on the ground all night and found in the morning. I had a huge brain injury and was in a coma for a week. I didn't remember Mercy, but I did TomTom and grieved for him."
"My youngest brother, who got married before I went to medical school, went into the army for his tour and was killed soon after my injury. I went crazy from grief, and my father said I was a sniveling weakling and too bad it was not me who died. I went into myself at that point.
I was put in a hospital and given drugs. I lost all my other memories and thought Pretty Lady was my love and tried winning her back - I pestered her for fifteen years and only came to myself on the Island when I saw Mercy."
A runner approached the bench, handing an affidavit to the judge.
King Samir interrupted, saying, "We have further charges to add to King Purses. The charge of attempted filicide has been brought against King Purses for hurling his son Clayton off the side of the mountain entrance to the Pegasi Keep.
Prince Clayton fell over 1000 feet. Only by divine intervention is Prince Clayton here in our presence."
A look of horror followed by grief overcame Prince Clayton, and his whole body shook in despair.
The Bailiff put his hand on the Prince's back and asked him if he had further testimony or wanted to leave the Dock.
Prince Clayton addressed the court and asked for Asylum in The Land of Myst for him, Mercy, and the children.
King Samir said, "This is out of order. However, because of the recent revelation, I ask the representative for King Sol and Queen Maud to answer this request."
Prince Alaisdair stood and said, "The Royal House and Kingdom of The Land of Myst, at this moment, grant Asylum for you and your immediate family in perpetuity."
Prince Alaisdair asked the court if he could escort Prince Clayton out of the Dock and return with the next witness.
King Samir said, "Yes, and we will have a short break after the next witness."
Within minutes, Prince Alaisdair entered, followed by three undersized Tigers, each covered with a smock. They all walked to the Dock, and the Tigers sat on the bench lined up by age.
Queen Ada asks, "Are we to question these cubs, or will they appear as humans?"
Prince Alaisdair said, "Girls, please morph into human form and await questioning. As the girls did so, Alaisdair again addressed the court.
"I present to the court and the congregation gathered in this amphitheater my three nieces and the daughters of Lady Mercy, who will soon be Prince Clayton's children. This is the Spencer bloodline that was attempted to be eradicated. Princess Lilee, please stand."
Lilee was dressed in green, spotlighting her almond-shaped eyes and offsetting the black of her hair, which had been evident as a cub. Her stripes were black.
Queen Ada said, " I am pleased to meet you. Which triplet are you in age?"
"I am the eldest and am told the most bossy."
"Do you think you are?" asked Queen Ada.
"Yes, I do, but I do know the most. My sisters will agree."
"Thank you, Lilee. You may sit." Queen Ada said with a smile.
Prince Alaisdair asked, "Lyree, Please stand. "
Her stripes were silver, her hair sparkled with a silver shine, and her almond-shaped blue eyes matched her smock of blue spotlighting the Silver hair.
Queen Ada asks, " Do you agree with Lilee that she should be in charge?"
"I am as bright as Lilee, and so is Alee, but Lilee feels secure that she is the oldest, so we go along with her being bossy."
Queen Ada's smile expanded as she said, "I think you summed up the whole of having peace within a close-knit unit. Thank you, Princess Lyree. You may sit."
Prince Alaisdair smiled and asked, "Alee, please stand."
Alee was slightly smaller than her sisters, but her Golden streaked Red hair made her deep brown round eyes her main focus. She was dressed in deep brown shot through with gold and streaks of red.
Queen Ada thought, 'Wow, what a legacy.' She said, "Alee, how do you feel about what your sisters said? Do you agree?"
"I do agree with them. You see, we are of one mind usually in things to be done. We all love our studies, which will be much easier than on the Island. And there really wasn't anything to scare us except that beast in the water, so we had to be very careful if we ate fish, so we stuck to plants, but Mama said we needed meat too, so we learned how to fish and preserve. We are advanced in our skills for our age. Our Mama is the smartest person we know, and she is no longer sad. Papa Clayton is a wonderful person. I am sorry our grandparents are sick. I am told I talk too much."
Queen Ada laughed and said, "You girls are the most beautiful young ones I have seen in a long time. And you're delightful to talk to. You will be welcome at gatherings. Please stay as candid as you are. Such a treat."
Prince Alaisdair asked, "King Samir, may I take the girls back to their parents?"
"Yes. Prince Alaisdair. Thank you for bringing them in so we could see this delightful bloodline."
Then, turning and addressing all, King Samir said, "We will take the affidavits of all other witnesses and read them to the court when we reconvene in one hour. All are dismissed for rest or food. Court dismissed. Bailiff, you and your men take the prisoners into the holding pen and make sure they are watered and fed."