Despite my earlier apprehension, the lights of fortune seem to have shone in my favour for once since my incarcer8n. When word first reached me that my trial d8 had 8een advanced, I had given up all hope of trying to use reason and person8n. I knew that this rescheduling was an attempt to catch me off guard, and unprepared as well as an obvious ploy to force me into a corner. Should I had stood 8efore my jury unprepared as I was, I would have had no choice 8ut to rely on my powers of manipul8n in order to gain my freedom. Which in turn would only drag me further into this pit of notoriety. However it seems that fortune has chosen to throw me a line, in the form of an unlikely ally.

Not only was Ru8ygaze a veteran in her practice, 8ut she was acclaimed for her unsurpassed a8ility to distinguish the guilty from the innocent. Some have even gone so far as to spread rumors of her a8ility to peer into the mind of the prosecuted. Had she chose to lead the case against me, I knew that there would 8e no hope. Yet it seems that she has decided to stray from the field of prosecution, and for reasons that she refused to divulge, has taken my case as my li8er8nalist. Although my chances of freedom were slim, now I at least have a single point to guide myself by through these tur8ulent waters.

Finally the day that I had long aw8ed with 8aited 8reath had arrived. When I was escorted through the edifice, I knew that the next time I would step through this threshold, I would either be a free troll, or in chains. I will admit that when I first witnessed the number of civilian that had amassed just to observe my judgment, I was quite astonished. Nevertheless, this could work to my advantage in the long run. In larger gatherings, chaos spreads quickly, faster and deadlier than any known disease, infecting those in a fury just 8y 8eing in the proximity. I knew that if need 8e, I could unleash this disease unto this crowd and simply slip away like dust in the breeze.

Although I had prepared myself as thoroughly as feasi8ly possi8le in such a short amount of time, nothing could have 8race me for the sight of my adjudicator. I had anticip8d the sight of an aged and fee8le teal 8lood to 8e seated 8efore me. Instead, perched upon the 8ench as though it were a throne, was His Honorable Conciliator. Perhaps I should have considered it an honor to have one of such a high caste, not to mention the great 8ridge 8etween sovereignty and rusticity of to hold my f8 in the 8alance. However his Honor was known far and wide for capriciousness in addition to his adherence to unconventional ideologies. As long as he was seated in at the head, it was almost an assurance that the rest of the jury would vote in his favour. No one would 8e so foolish as to challenge him.

The hearing lingered till the luminance of the rose8 moon 8egan to e88 into the harsh light of the sun. I knew that soon it would end and it had taken all of my cunning to present my defense in a way that I hoped would draw enough sympathy. My li8er8nalist did her part as to portrait me as the victim, an innocent lead astray of the path of valance 8y a misleading lusus. Although she played her part well, I could not help 8ut notice some su8tle cues. Eventually I 9egan to realize that she was wearing a façade, hiding 8ehind a veil of overconfidence; and although she wore it well, I could see that 8eneath there was the smallest of hesitation. Almost as though she was unsure that my defence was justifia8le. 8ut despite her moral dilemma, she never strayed from my defense.

As it came to a close, I 8egan to feel a slight dread in the pit of my stomach. This was my only chance to 8ring redemption to my name and cleanse myself of my sins. 8ut should I 8e found guilty, the most favoura8le of outcomes would 8e a life confined in a damp, disgusting cell, a life which I am certain I could not em8race. As the reading of my charge proceeded, I 8egan to search for an escape. The guards and many of the spectators were weak minded and foolish, easy to control. My judiciary looked directly into my eyes, as though to invoke some form of sympathy or anger from me. I only stared 8ack defiantly as he read the sentence.

Guilty.

My entire world came crashing down. I had tried to prepare myself for just such an event, 8ut hearing it only cemented the dread in the depth of my core. I tried to gather myself again and concentr8d on my escape, my last 8id for freedom. 8ut it was unnecessary. My li8er8nalist had taken immediate actions and did what I 8elieved no one to be foolish, or perhaps daring, enough to do.

She called into question nothing short of the honor of the Conciliator and demanded that my case 8e 8rought 8efore a higher power. Immed8ly afterwards a tensed silence fell over the crowd. Never have I heard of someone to have the audacity to say such things to one of such a no8le 8lood colour. I decided to take this opportunity to overpower the mind of the guard, 8ut as I concentrated on manipul8ing him to 8earing his arms, His Honor 8urst out in a discerning chortle, which grew in pitch to a horrifying shriek of mirth. The victim of my manipulation tensed with fear as did so many others in the room. No matter how hard I concentr8d, I could hardly yield an inch of movement from their frightened lim8s. Once his honor had calmed, I prepared for the worst, if need, I was willing to fight with my 8are hands.

He 8rought his florid gavel down and declared, to the astonishment of myself and most likely everyone else, that my appeal had been granted. My custody was turned over to my li8er8nlist, and as I was escorted from the court, he looked to me and 8id me good luck on my journey, to the imperial palace.

It was at that moment that it donned to me. I was not simply taking my appeal to a higher power. No, I was to plead my case to the highest power on the planet.

The Empress herself.


A/N: i apologies for any grammar and/or spelling mistakes. my beta is busy, but i want to update on a regular basis. [i was hoping bi-weekly or if i'm too busy then monthly]

again sorry. and if you like and or need clarification, please review.

TFG