Prime Minister Resmallim never wasted any of the King's valuable time. While the monarch donned his attire, the Prime Minister delivered his morning report. He touched on whatever topics he felt the King needed to know and answered any inquiries the badger had for him.
Once dressed, the badger ambled over to the window where he could better observe the dark sky. He continued staring while a deep frown etched itself onto the King's brow. Resmallim understood the reason for his majesty's troubled mood and said nothing. The whispered words and the melancholy tone just confirmed his suspicions.
"You're sure there is nothing I can do?"
"None, Sire."
The badger never turned from the window. "I don't mind telling you, my mate has quite a temper and she displayed it in all its less than glorious detail last night. I might be king, but that doesn't mean I can always command my queen."
Resmallim paused a moment before he spoke. "This is a matter of state, Sire. Like it or not, both of you must be present; otherwise much of its singular importance will be lost."
The king nodded. "After three weeks, which felt like as many seasons, it comes down to this one moment. It's not what I expected when a menagerie of creatures first placed a golden crown atop my head. Makes me almost wish some other delegation had the power, imagination, and fortitude to accept leadership of our alliance."
"At least you'll not be expected to speak, just read the official proclamation."
"Sure hope we don't have a repeat of the fiasco when the trial first started. All I expected to do was observe the opening proceedings and be gone. Next thing I knew, half the counselors wanted me presiding over the entire trial and the other half ranted about the undue influence my presence created. If I remember, it took another four days of legal wrangling before the actual trial even got underway."
In the privacy of the King's dressing room, Resmallim vented his displeasure. "Didn't I tell you not to make an appearance? If you had stayed, it would have tainted the whole trial's objectivity. Every creature would wonder if it was fair or if the verdict had been preordained. Instead of becoming a shining moment of judicial integrity, I'm certain future historians would classify it at the opposite end of the spectrum."
"Your concern for future historians is laudable. Still, refusing to keep me advised about the case troubled me. Like you said, these were crimes against our union. I felt a duty to know what was happening."
The Prime Minister offered no further comment. The silence hung in the room like a tangible object, but neither would speak. Outside, on the distant horizon, the blackness lightened. Dawn was still another half hour away, but the deep dark of night had lifted. Turning from the window, King Meles strolled across the room. Just before he reached the door, Resmallim opened it, stepped beyond the chamber and awaited the passage of the boar badger.
Once in the corridor, he approached a second set of doors within the residence and gave a light rap. He waited a few seconds and again he knocked. When he struck the door a third time, it opened.
Out stepped the queen dressed in a simple gown of dark fabrics. As sow badgers went, she was an excellent example of both feminine beauty and power. Only the deep scowl she displayed marred the image of a perfect lady. Her angered look deepened when Resmallim offered his salutations. Ignoring the Prime Minister, she addressed her mate in a voice capable of freezing an ocean on a summer's day.
"I take it there is no backing out of this?" Her mate shook his head, which elicited a low growl from the queen as she glared at the Prime Minister. "Good thing this fellow didn't insist our older pup attend, otherwise I would show him the business end of a sharpened spear. Sometimes I wonder if we rule or he just allows us the illusion of ruling."
There was a low snicker from the king as the two made their way beyond their residential quarters. When they entered the open corridor, an honor guard of a dozen armed soldiers flanked them. The protective detail kept close to the two imposing badgers while Resmallim followed at a respectful pace behind them.
King Meles ignored the hares shadowing their movements since they accompanied him or his mate whenever they stepped beyond their quarters. His paw sought his mate as they continued down the corridor. After his fingers entwined with hers, he peered over his shoulder. "What about it, Resmallim? Have you ever wondered how a ferret became my Prime Minister?"
"I always assumed it was my effective style of management under the most adverse of circumstances."
The royal couple looked into each other's eyes and erupted into a series of light giggles. Neither badger turned nor did they slacken their pace as they moved through the Fiery Mountain fortress. When their shared moment of merriment subsided, King Meles answered his own question.
"When our union first formed, every ruler accepted my hares as military commanders, but balked when I selected them for my cabinet. To appease their ire, I asked each of the fourteen major rulers to recommend those they most trusted for the positions my hares held prior to our union. My guidelines regarding these candidates were simple; nominate five for each position, none from your realm, and no more than two from any of the others. Your name came up the most often."
Turning his head to see how his comment was being received, the king finished his explanation. "None wanted any vermin species selected as Prime Minister, but you had the political ear and confidence of too many rulers. It would be sheer folly on my part if I didn't exploit your clout for the betterment of our newborn union. So you see I'm not as ignorant of politics as you appear to believe."
There was no chance at a response. Up ahead, two hare guards yanked open the doors at the end of the passageway and snapped to attention. Without hesitation, the entourage passed over the door's threshold and onto an open-air balcony. Up close to the low stone wall which marked the outer boundaries sat two ornate chairs befitting a king and queen.
Each guard took his station and came to rigid attention, facing the expansive courtyard below them. Resmallim moved to the left side of the King, far enough back he showed his subordinate role, yet far enough forward that he had an unobstructed view of the upcoming event. A light sea breeze ruffled their fur as all sat facing the morning sun.
A large crowd stood within their allotted space below the balcony, pressing up against the rope boundaries. Along the stone walls, temporary bleachers had been erected, according the earliest arrivals an unobstructed view over the latecomers. The constant buzz of conversations remained low while anticipation grew.
Across the courtyard was the focal point of everyone's attention. The wooden platform measured thirty-five paces from side to side as calculated by the steps of two hares marching before the structure. Its height placed it between the second and third floor. Interspaced along its length were a dozen raised crossbeams.
Below the platform, linen sheets had been stretched. Though these panels hid the scaffolding from view, the rising sun's light illuminated its underside. At this time of year and at this early hour, it cast an eerie reddish hue to the material.
Atop the platform stood four hares garbed in black. With the exception of their long ears, the hoods they wore allowed none a clear view of their facial features. Even the floor-length garments hid the gender of the specific beast.
A great hush fell across the crowd as the sounds of drums drifted into the courtyard. With every passing second, the slow cadence intensified. Two lines of hares marched into the enclosure, their feet matching the beat of the drums. When the line of soldiers reached a point a dozen paces from the structure, they pivoted outward and stepped forward four paces, forming a path between their ranks.
Next to enter were seven hares who surrounded a chained badger. When these creatures passed the end of the formation, they turned to the left and approached a lone chair sitting to one side of the platform. For several moments the guards fussed over their prisoner as they fastened her manacles to the chair's stout timbers. With the prisoner secured, they formed a line between her and the crowd facing forward.
King Meles faced Resmallim. "I take it the sow down there is the prisoner named Tassel?" He nodded and the king leaned back in his chair. "For someone that is capable of toppling our union, she doesn't look so imposing."
Again, he had no opportunity at responding. Six drummers advancing between the two lines of hares. Once the drummers moved past the formation of guards, they faced the crowd and changed the cadence. Now the drummers played a continual roll.
One by one the chained prisoners came forward and were escorted to the bottom step of the scaffolding. With a slow and careful step, each prisoner was assisted to the elevated platform. They were then positioned under the first open crossbeam. Working as an efficient team, the hooded hares placed a noose over the prisoner's head, adjusted the rope, and secured the condemned prisoner's legs together.
With a sudden crash, the drums fell silent and those awaiting death got their first glimpse of the beast who had signed the order for their execution. King Meles rose from his chair and lifted the proclamation.
"By the order of a duly appointed court of law, each of you has been found guilty of capital crimes against the realm where you resided and this Alliance. If any wish to speak before sentence is carried out, I will listen."
The boar badger returned to his seat. As the executioners approached each prisoner, they would repeat the king's offer. When that beast shook off the opportunity, a black hood was lowered over the head of the prisoner.
When the executioners repeated the king's offer to a male hedgehog, the condemned called out in a voice that broke with emotion. Once more the hedgehog tried, and after clearing his throat, called out a third time.
"If you believe in justice, then spare my mate and kits. Both knew nothing of my crimes. They thought the extra gold came from a profitable business, not the blood money I accepted from pirates."
King Meles muttered just loud enough that Resmallim could hear. "What is he blubbering about? He is the only hedgehog here."
"Lord Narffa of the Northern Fjords caught this one selling out isolated villagers. Under their law, his family must serve an appropriate number of years in involuntary servitude; even the children are not exempt. My sources say each has been sentenced to forty years."
"Involuntary servitude is nothing more than slavery with a fancy name." The King's paws gripped the chair so tight his claws dug into the wood. "By the Eternals, I thought we were fighting against this abomination."
"Their laws state all family members must be punished if they benefited from the crime of any member. Usually such sentences never exceed one year."
The king stood. "Hear my judgment. I shall have your mate and kits brought here to serve their sentence. If I discover your words are true, all will be freed after three years honorable service within my household. Play me the fool and your family will find themselves where you stand now."
The hood went over the hedgehog's head. The routine continued until they reached the last prisoner, a tall wolf who spoke in a cultured voice.
"Why isn't the badger up here with us? When she was captured, your own hares declared her vermin and stripped her of all rights. Then your court spoke of justice and we received a trial, a trial that has placed the rest of us here. Pledge to me, on your honor, she too will stand trial. Then I shall believe your words about justice."
Again the king stood. "Then you shall have it. Within the next four weeks, she shall be tried."
Now all the prisoners stood with their heads covered in a heavy blackened hood. Once more the drummers began a loud drum roll as the four executioners removed the safety pins from the trap doors. Each hare then stood by a lever as they awaited the command of their sovereign.
King Meles raised his paw high and held it, then snapped it down. As his paw fell, each hare threw the lever, which released the trap door beneath the feet of the condemned. Every prisoner dropped below the platform and the slack rope became taut. With the dawn's light shining from behind, the crowd could see the macabre silhouette of the condemned as their bodies hung at the end of each rope. Five minutes later, the guards ushered the crowd out of the courtyard, leaving only the guards and the badger prisoner behind.
Once the royal family returned to their quarters, Resmallim could not contain himself any longer. "Whatever possessed you to speak? Didn't I tell you a king should listen, but not respond? I warned you these prisoners might put you in a compromising position and now they have."
"Such histrionics do not become you. What harm have I caused?"
"For one thing, Lord Narffa will see your actions as interference. We might not like his form of justice, but changes must be done without insulting valuable allies."
"The hedgehog's family will serve a sentence longer than what his courts impose for other crimes, so that should satisfy his sense of justice." Then the badger's stare became hard. "And as King, it is within my rights to commute the sentence of anyone convicted of a crime, be it against a state under my rule or our alliance. Justice without mercy is nothing more than vengeance."
Resmallim scratched the side of his muzzle as he pondered this line of logic. "A technical point, but it does provide a reasonable way of allowing Lord Narffa to claim his form of justice prevailed."
"And just how do you intend keeping your promise to the wolf? My liege, I believe every lord and lady has approached me since word got out about her capture. All expect she will receive whatever verdict you think befits her crime. Such a preordained outcome would destroy the significance of this trial and might result in unexpected consequences."
"Several of these rulers, or their representatives, have bypassed you and pleaded their position to me in private." Then the badger snorted. "All want something in return and each expressed a strong distrust for anyone offering their courts as the appropriate venue."
"Your majesty must understand Tassel represents all badgers, including you. If she can be tried, and convicted, it leaves you vulnerable to those same judges. I know you have disagreed with me on this point, but politicians can twist anything to suit them or their ambitions. We need justice without such complications."
A servant provided a welcomed interruption when he delivered the morning meal. As the king and his mate dined, Resmallim noted how the badger's expression denoted a deep contemplative mood. When the meal ended, King Meles summoned both his scribe and a messenger. Once he finished the two messages, he handed the sealed envelopes to a hare wearing the golden armband of a King's Herald. Before dismissing the hare, King Meles issued his verbal instructions.
Snapping off a sharp salute to his king, the soldier pivoted and jogged through the residence. Once beyond the inner sanctum of the royal family, the messenger continued at the same brisk pace through the Fiery Mountain fortress. In less than a quarter hour, his ground-eating loop carried him beyond Salamandastron's gates. He increased his speed to one he could maintain over a long distance as he set his paws along the road leading to Redwall Abbey.