The day again seems to scroll up into a rosy ball of yellow and orange surrounded by a sea of blue with fluffy clouds quickly pirouetting, overtaking, and some drifting back while others passed the fire chariot in the sky.
Alaisdair and Pretty Lady were looking and longing for their reuniting, as Alaisdair had finally made all the connections he needed to make his psyche whole again. His Lady was determined to be wed within a day or two. In several short days, Alaisdair learned that his wants were reduced to his family and the overwhelming love from and to his wife.
The outcome of the courts would tell how quickly things could be wrapped up, Then their life and reunion with their children. Because he found that the only thing that genuinely counted was the unconditional love that wanted to burst free and engulf those who comprised his family, from the four of them to all the spokes spread across the globe.
His Uncle Fallon said it best, "Don't dismay, After all... It's a Big World, Laddie, and you will see it all."
Alaisdair and Pretty Lady strolled arm in arm into the Ball Room where the family was gathered. The Triplets ran up to Alaisdair. Lyree said, "Mama is almost totally healed. Will you do another song for her?"
Alaisdair immediately sat on the floor, took his "Rina" from around his neck, and put it to his lips. A healing tune covered the Ballroom - any upset was gone, and Mercy was sitting up straight as tears ran down her cheeks as she lifted her hands and eyes toward heaven. The poisons were all gone from her body.
Everyone was eating and chatting, but Alaisdair and Pretty Lady were still enraptured by one another. Gazing deeply into one another's eyes. They were startled when King Solomon clapped his hand to get everyone's attention.
"Prince Alaisdair, you must call for all ballots to be marked and handed to you through Pretty Lady." King Solomon continued, "Queen Maud and I must go with the Bailiff to be sentenced."
Alaisdair stood and clicked on his amplifier, announcing to all participants, "It is time to go to the court and the amphitheater for sentencing. All ballots must be filled in and handed to the Bailiff in your section. Outer tiers first, then each lower bench."
Alaisdair and Pretty Lady were the last to hand the ballots to Queen Ada and King Samir.
A runner approached the bench. Lady Liberty is in the last stages of dying. Price Clayton asks that she be allowed on the floor of this chamber so the family can pray. Libee's bed and attendants are wheeled to the front of the judge's bench.
King Samir calls for Prince Alaisdair to come to the scene. "Please play your flute," the king says.
Alaisdair drops to his knees and implores God to give him the grace to play what is needed. Before he does, he leans over and says to Libee, "you have a reason to live. Mercy's children are also TomToms, and your brother Clayton could use your support."
Alaisdair put his Rina to his lips, and an angelic song burst forth. All the court was enraptured with the beauty of the notes. It was a heavenly tune no one had heard before. It seemed as if it was only moments, but they found they had been in concert for several hours. Libee was sitting in bed, all her wounds apparently gone, and the three kitten girls were snuggling with her.
King Samir said, "I am thankful you pulled through, or the charge for your murder would have been added to your father's and husband's charges. However, I have been told several prisoners died in transit, so those will be added to the charges against the Duke of Sexton.
Queen Ada handed the verdicts on the depositions of all the defendants. It was unanimously voted to remove King Purses, The Duke of Sexton, and The Earl of Edenboro from their ruling status. Their positions will be filled by those next in succession.
"Also, all three will be separated into different prisons
with no contact allowed between them. King Purses will remain in the Land of Myst and be confined to the Island of No Return for a minimum life sentence without parole. He will be injected with a tracer and, should he escape, be hunted down."
"The Duke of Sexton and the Earl of Edenboro will be handed to the High Council in the Scot's Land. The sentences will be carried out as they are mandated here - For the deaths of his subjects and his subjects are still being found, the sentence is death. However, the High Council may decide that the Duke of Sexton be solitary for the rest of his life. Their choice, but he has no plea for parole. The solitary is actually for his benefit, as some of his victims were young children."
"As to Earl Connet, While he was complicit in the death of TomTom Tomilison, his sentence is also life without parole. However, he did not, to our knowledge yet, get involved with torture. Again, it is the High Council's decision."
"All three of these men will share a fate - each will have a monitor put into their foot for tracking. And if they escape, they will be hunted down as rabid animals and killed."
The sanction of King Solomon Steward and Queen Maud still limits their power of decisions. Prince Alisdair has requested that the King and Queen be his advisors for the year. They must step down. Their crime was being too trusting in the goodness of their fellow rulers. Please mark your ballots now.
The tally was flashed on the sign above the courtroom: "Yes, unanimously. That is all the decisions. And they will be carried out immediately," King Samir declared.