28
Cole stared at the entrance to the tent and finally scoffed.
"This is stupid…we're getting out of here…"
"Sit down."
Dorhn's voice was commanding, but Cole stood up despite it. The Bodyguard folded his arms from his position blocking the tent entrance.
"Don't you think you've done enough damage today?"
Cole clenched his fists.
"They were selling children! Children! I couldn't just sit by and watch…."
"You never can." Dorhn muttered exasperatedly. "I get it, outsider…things work differently back in your world. But this is how things are run here."
"But it doesn't have to be!" Cole spat, and Dorhn shook his head.
"You have got to give up these dreams…you're never going to change that part of this realm, alright? All you're going to do is cause trouble. Take today, for instance…do you have any idea how serious this is? You attacked traders who were conducting fully legal business and usurped power from the village leader!"
"If she was a good leader she would never have been doing it in the first place!"
"Villagers starve if there isn't food, Cole. And Orphans are the first to die. You may think it's awful…but they've got a better chance in slavery then they do here…"
"So there's a lot that needs to be changed. That doesn't mean that slavery is the only option!"
"Maybe we're sick of you trying to change things!" Dorhn pointed out, his voice rising for the first time. Cole went to say something more when the tent door rustled. Both men turned as Vieri entered the tent, shaking her head in simmering anger.
"You went too far, Outsider. You come here and I let you do your little projects…your planting and your ridiculous hoofer riding…but today you interfered with village business…my business…"
"How can you not see…" Cole started, but the tent door moved again as three dragon masters entered the tent. Dorhn cursed under his breath as Cole's eyes flicked from their fortress insignia to their hardened expressions.
"What's going on?" he asked, tone suddenly low.
"I'm having you arrested for destructive and treasonous behavior." Vierie said in an apathetic tone. Cole whirled on her, glaring.
"I'd like to see you try…" he started, but Dorhn put a large hand on his shoulder.
"She's got the right to have you arrested….if you fight back you're only going to give yourself and Keyda more problems to deal with…"
"I'm getting arrested for being destructive?! You people are beings of destruction! And all I did was defend some kids…."
"All you did was knock out a bunch of innocent traders and destroy an entire tent in the process…not to mention the fact that you used a Dragon as a weapon…which is in direct violation of the Dragon-Oni Union…" Vierie started angrily
"What?!"
One of the dragon masters pulled out some hand cuffs, and Cole glared at him, scoffing.
"You really think those things'll work on me? I'm not going anywhere with…"
Dorhn's hand clenched tighter on his shoulder.
"Cole…seriously…you're just going to escalate things…"
Cole glared at him, and Dorhn sighed, his voice becoming soft enough that only the Elemental Master could hear him.
"Look…you've just got to make it back to the fortress. It's not like Keyda's gonna lock you up…but if you freak out here you're just going to be breaking more laws and make it that much harder for her to legally pardon you…"
Cole didn't say anything as he eyed the vindictive village leader and the three burly dragon masters.
"You freed the kids, alright? And you've got a massive dragon on your side if things go wrong. But now would be a really good time to try to keep the rules." Dorhn pressed, and Cole finally stood down.
"Fine…but you realize how Keyda's going to react if she sees me come back to the fortress in chains, right?" he muttered as the dragon masters approached. Dorhn didn't say anything until after Cole was cuffed and led out of the tent.
"Don't worry, Outsider…I fully realize…"
Heavy Metal figured he had time for a quick stop at the barracks before he had to go find Keyda for this meeting. It was the first one the leaders had done in person since the fevers had broken and he already had a headache in anticipation of listening to Keyda bellyache about having to go to it.
He walked into the room to find a crowd of dragon masters talking in hushed tones with darting glances.
"What is this, the slave's gossiping hour?" he asked, and the guards immediately straightened up, looking nervous and embarrassed at being caught.
"Sorry sir. It's just…." the guard nearest to him looked like he wanted to say something more, but decided against it.
"What? What is it that you're all wasting time talking about?..."
"You were aware, of the outsider's insurgence?"
The words came out in a rush and the guards turned to Heavy Metal to see his reaction. The Captain of the guard blinked slowly.
"Meaning?"
"Well…word is that the Outsider went totally crazy in the village to the south today. The slave traders had come to pick up a haul while he was there…"
Heavy Metal held up a hand for the guard to stop. He had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly where this was going.
"You're certain?"
The guards looked at each other.
"Yes…the village leader sent for a couple of guards to make the arrest…"
Heavy Metal put a hand to his temples, brow furrowed. The headache he had been trying to avoid had arrived full force.
"Arrest?"
The guard shifted awkwardly. "He broke a lot of laws, Captain…with the arrest request from the village leader for insubordination and treason and the complaints from the slave traders…"
"Of course everything's coming to a head now of all times…" he groaned. He turned back to the group of guards.
"Do not disturb the meeting with the leaders…do you understand? We will deal with the outsider's crimes tomorrow…"
"What do you want us to do with him in the meantime?"
"House arrest. Make sure he doesn't leave his room…"
"With all due respect…" one guard chimed in, coming over. "It's beginning to feel like this outsider is being treated above the law…"
"Come again?" the scarred Captain's voice was sharp and the guard's eyes dropped down as he trailed off. Heavy Metal glowered.
"If you feel you must throw him in the dungeons, you're welcome to try…but you will not bring him anywhere near the meeting. Do you understand?"
The guards nodded in reply, and Heavy Metal groaned internally at the spark of resistance in their eyes. This whole debacle could prove to be the end of them…they were going to have to tread very, very lightly.
The Dragon Masters kept a fairly quick pace, and after grumbling about how much better dragon travel was a few times Cole finally dropped it. Apparently the four dragon masters accompanying him home weren't fond of the idea of letting him anywhere near his Guardian, though he knew that the large brown dragon would only require a frantic thought to come to his aide. He allowed himself the think about what the consequences of doing just that…but Dorhn was right about this whole situation. He didn't regret helping the kids but as they neared the fortress the knot in his stomach tightened; this was not going to go over well…
"Keyda."
She turned to see Heavy Metal looking as serious as ever as he came towards her down the hall. She nearly rolled her eyes.
"I'm on my way to the meeting right now…" she complained, but he shook his head.
"There's something we need to discuss before the meeting…"
"There you are!"
They both turned to see the Northern Leader coming down the hallway.
"I do believe there is a lot for us to discuss today…if you would kindly allow us to get started?"
Keyda looked at the patronizing leader and then glanced over at Heavy Metal. The Captain of the Guard seemed to be debating with himself, and he finally sighed. Keyda turned back.
"Fine with me…the sooner we start the sooner it'll be over, right?"
"Couldn't agree more." the Leader said quietly, gesturing for them to enter the office before him.
Keyda took her place at the front of the table and noticed that the other two rulers were already there. The heavy door closed behind them and she noticed that the three Oni were making eye contact. She narrowed her eyes…something was off here…
"Fever Season has ended for another year…" she started. "We had losses here…how bad was the…"
"I lost a third of my slave supply!" the Northern Leader cut in, and Keyda felt physically nauseous as she thought about how many people that worked out to be.
"We suffered high losses as well…" the southern leader said, and the Eastern Leader nodded her agreement.
"I'm sorry to hear …" Keyda started, but the Northern Leader cut in again.
"I've placed an order with the slave traders…and they've been going village to village to fill it…"
Keyda's fists clenched. "I suppose that…"
"But you see, the strangest thing happened today,"
Heavy Metal shifted his position in the corner of her eye; something was definitely up. She looked over at her Captain of the Guard, who was fixing the Leader with a deadly glare. The pompous man hardly noticed.
"It seems that your little 'Outsider Guest' has been getting into all sorts of trouble…"
Keyda's heart began to pound as she glared at the leader.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend that you don't know!" the Southern Leader chimed in. "This is hardly the first time he's gotten too involved in government affairs…It's been this way ever since he's arrived here; he does what he wants and you protect him! Even when he challenges our oldest traditions…"
Keyda stared at the man, anxiety twisting in her stomach. "I assure you, I have no idea what…"
"You can be sure that the Outsider's problem today will be dealt with…but now is not the place…" Heavy Metal cut in, and Keyda whirled on him.
"What's happened?" she asked him, her voice low and angry.
"Keyda…"
"Where's Cole?!"
"Last I heard he was under arrest…" the Eastern Leader pointed out, and Keyda's eyes flashed.
"What?! Under what authority?!"
"Keyda." Heavy Metal's tone was severe, and she knew he was begging her to keep calm. She tried to force the anger down as she spoke through gritted teeth.
"Will someone just tell me what's going on…"
"The traders showed up to pick up an order from the village, and the Outsider beat the traders within an inch of their lives and threatened the entire village with that Dragon of his!" the Northern Leader spat, and Keyda's fists clenched tighter.
"How in ancient's name would you even know…"
"Word travels fast. The question remains, what are you going to do about it?!"
"That really doesn't have anything to do with you…" Heavy Metal pointed out threateningly, and the leader turned to glare.
"I would argue that it very well does! In fact…"
The door pounded suddenly, and everyone turned to look at it. It flew open and a guard entered, bowing quickly to Heavy Metal and Keyda.
"Sir, there's a matter that needs your immediate attention…"
Heavy Metal cursed. "I specifically ordered that all business be postponed until after the meeting…"
"With all due respect, this is a matter of Highest Trial…"
"What Trial?!" Keyda spat, and the guard turned to her.
"The village leader invoked the law of Highest Trial, wanting justice for the…"
"Highest Trial is reserved for actions of high treason," Heavy Metal pointed out, his tone firm.
"The accused has attacked the Hierarchy, threatened a village, and broken the Dragon-Oni Union…"
"This is not the time…" Heavy Metal tried, trying to get the guard to take the hint and leave. However, during the discussion the other leaders had stood.
"I disagree…I feel like this is a perfect time for a trial…why, we're all here for it, aren't we?" the Northern Leader pointed out patronizingly. "You were eager enough to invoke the Trial for Warrack…"
"We are not having a trial!" Keyda yelled, finally speaking. She had realized by this point that Cole had witnessed a slave trade…and she had no doubt at what his reaction had been. She clutched the edge of the table tightly as the rest of the room looked at her.
"With all due respect, the Highest Trial has been invoked…and it seems that three of four leaders have already voted to have it..." the guard said carefully.
"For ancient's sakes, bring him in already…" Heavy Metal hissed, his tone having become more resigned. Keyda turned to him and he clenched his jaw.
"We have to follow the laws, Keyda…" he said, but she could see the anger burning in his eyes as well. She opened her mouth to argue further when two other guards shoved a cuffed figure into the room. Cole caught her expression and held his cuffed hands up.
"I'm ok…Keyds, I'm fine…"
Heavy Metal's hand came down on her shoulder and she could hear him murmuring as the other leaders jeered.
"We have to ride this one out…but for the sake of this nation, you have to keep your temper…"
Anger boiled within her as she looked around the room at the smug faces…she realized how much she hated them all.
"I'll start the accusations, if I may…" the Northern Leader preened. "Outsider, you are charged with treason for attacking a village with a dragon against the dragon-oni union…"
"He didn't even touch anyone! And besides…he was defending me!" Cole argued, glaring at the leader. "What exactly is going on right now….I'm on trial?! I was told I was under arrest… do I even have a lawyer or something or…"
"The accused does not have permission to speak!" the Leader roared back. Keyda went to move, but Heavy Metal's hand on her shoulder clamped tighter, trying to remind her to stay calm.
"I would like to bring up that the Outsider was charged with stealing not too long ago, if I remember correctly…" the Eastern Leader pointed out. "And yet, it seems that he was never punished according to the law,"
"That matter was resolved weeks ago." Keyda said, barely suppressing her hatred. "There's no point in…"
"Resolved? Or ignored? I think we as leaders really need to ask ourselves if this outsider has been treated with the same amount of…"
"You wanted a Trial." Heavy Metal cut in. "So stick with it; you are all getting off topic."
"The Outsider attacked innocent traders in an effort to overthrow our society!" the Northern Leader yelled, pounding a fist on the long table. "If he was being treated correctly we would be organizing an execution for tomorrow…"
"ENOUGH!"
Keyda's scream echoed off the walls of the office and the other leaders turned to look at her. She glowered at them, eyes blazing.
"This has gone too far…it feels like you all have forgotten your place..."
"Or perhaps you have forgotten…."
The Northern Leader was cut off as her fists started blazing deep purple.
"I am the Ruler of the Oni…and I don't believe the Baron or any other ruler was ever treated the way you all treat me!"
"You aren't…"
"Shut up!" Keyda yelled, cutting off the Eastern Leader. "At the end of the day, isn't it my word that is law!? You come in here every month pushing and arguing and trying to wear me down and force me to do what you want…and I'm sick of it! I'm nobody's puppet…do you all understand?!"
Her question was met by silence as they all looked at her, wary and angry. After a few minutes the Northern Leader gestured towards Cole with disgust.
"So…what, your eminence? You're just going to let him go? You would put this…this treasonous outsider over the laws and traditions of your own nation?!"
Keyda clenched her jaw, not looking at Cole as she stared down the argumentative leader.
"What I decide to do is my decision…not yours. In fact, there's nothing more for you all to do here…get out."
"This is wrong," the Eastern Leader said quietly. "You can't keep treating this Outsider like he's above us…"
"You might as well get used to it...because soon enough he will be." Keyda hissed. She saw Heavy Metal shift in alarm but she ignored him. The other leaders looked just as shocked and irate.
"What are you insinuating?" the Southern Leader asked angrily. "Are you…are you suggesting a binding arrangement?!"
She could feel everyone in the room tense, and she was clenching her jaw so hard that it ached. She didn't know what she was thinking, saying that…she was just so sick of everyone targeting him. But as she glanced around the room she knew everyone's eyes were on her, waiting for her answer as the tension built. She could see Heavy Metal's disapproving look from the corner of her eye, but she held her head high.
"Yes."
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