Revelation of a deception
It was four days a later and Aiden, Beven Triton, Aquata, Zethar and Zale sat on the harbour wall, saying goodbye to Ariel, Vanora, and Candifor.
"You will hear from us within the week, I know the Council will want to act fast once they hear about this" said Beven.
"Two days ago we both sent letters to the Council members baring Cato, calling for a meeting at my house, this will take place tonight" said Aiden.
"How will Triton and Aquata be able to give evidence?" asked Candifor.
"Happens I have a very large pond in the garden, the meeting will take place next to it."
"Candifor please take good care of Ariel for me."
"I will take care of her, good luck" Candifor replied as the group set off.
The journey passed smoothly and the group arrived back at Amethyst City late that afternoon, proceeding strait to Aiden's house. At the given time rest of the Jewelled Council arrived, with Triton and Aquata sitting on rocks on the pond's edge.
"You four had better have a good reason for calling this meeting!" said Evander.
"We have, I suggest you let us all explain, what we have to tell you is shocking" replied Aiden.
Slowly the group began to explain the situation as the Council members listened in utter shock. Zethar then handed them the stolen documents, with all gazing in aw at what they saw. For a while there was silence as they read the documents and took in what they had heard. As they did this Triton, Zethar, Aquata, Zale, Aiden and Beven exchanged nervous looks, all knowing how much hinged on the others reactions.
"As much as I am sorry to say this, these documents are legitimate" said Pavlos.
"They are we can all tell. I am stunned at this but it is not hard to believe. At the time I was Chief Justice, I judged the case, but even I felt that something was amiss. I should have trusted my instincts, but the jury came back with a verdict of guilty" replied Evander.
"It does fit, we all know how much pain Cato and his family suffered at the hands of their parents, but I never though he would do something like this" said Ianus shacking his head.
"None of us suspected Ianus, Cato had been elected Council Head a year before, we all knew how bright he was. Being the third youngest in history we all though he would be fairly open minded" replied Beven.
"Beven is right, and the evidence was damming, no one saw them in the wood" said Pavlos.
"These documents prove that Candifor and Corvinna are innocent of their crimes, this was all a scheme of Cato's, a form of revenge for their parent's action" said Triton.
"And that is not right at all! Children should never be judged for the crimes of their parents! Dam! I hate this kind of behaviour, this is often the thing that makes children follow their parent's path. I am proud that both have not done so, I would be more then happy to annul their exile" said Evander looking at his fellow Council members.
"I second that, Cato cannot be trusted, we have to start formal proceedings against him" said Ianus.
"So we shall, I will deal with this, we have to strike fast and soon. We cannot give Cato chance to escape, he has to be brought to justice for his crimes" replied Evander.
"I can send a message to Candifor and Corvinna, if they came here, would you all be able to protect them?" asked Triton.
"Certainly, they could stay with me, my house is well protected. I will see to it that Cato is arrested within the hour, I will use my authority. There are jails where it takes the power of three Council members to open, he can go in one of those" replied Pavlos.
"Thank you all for this" said Zethar.
"Not at all, we are glad you brought this to our attention. Zale you will go far, I can see a fine diplomat in the making. Aquata I see very intelligent princess in you, you were both brave to do this" said Evander shaking their hands.
With that the meeting ended and the Council took action. As promised Cato was arrested and detained within the hour. With ruthless speed and the utmost secrecy, arrest warrants were sent out for those in the documents, with six being found that very night. For those that were already in jail there were questioned under Truth Potion. All were questioned by the Council that very night, with questioning lasting into the following morning. Alone in his cell, Cato sat in shock, he had no clue what was going on and was now fearful. After the meeting had ended, Zethar and Zale were sent back to Candifor and Corvinna. Down in Atlantica Triton and Aquata retrieved all documents from the original trials.
Within five days of the Council first hearing the revelations, all involved here sat in court. The court was The Jewelled Council High Court, which only dealt with the most serious of cases. In a trail that lasted three weeks, the evidence was given, with reports of the trial featuring in the newspapers. Not for a hundred and seventy three years had there been a case such as this. On the last day all waited to here the jury's verdict, one which included merpople.
"We the jury find Cato guilty on all accounts, we all find both Candifor and Corvinna innocent" said the jury.
Hearing this Candifor and Corvinna smiled widely, glad that the truth was known at last. Cato sat in shock as he waited to hear his sentence.
"I Evander hereby pronounce Cato guilty, and do sentence him to life imprisonment with no chance of freedom. I pronounce Candifor and Corvinna innocent and hereby annul their exile. That exile should never have happened, crimes like this should never happen. Let this case show that children have their own choices, their lives. Even if a person is born to those who use black magic, it does not mean they will follow that path. Let every person be judged on who they are, not on the actions of their parents."
Later that night the Council members along with Candifor, Corvinnan, Marven, Triton, Aquata, Ariel, Zethar, Zale and Vanora sat on the beach talking happily.
"So what will you both do now?" asked Evander.
"We have our land to rule, that is our home and that is where we will stay" replied Candifor.
"We have lived there for a long time, it is our home, the first place we were ever truly happy" replied Corvinna.
"This is our son Marven, we would hope he will be able to go to school here" said Candifor holding his son.
"He is a fine lad, he's going to be a terror in couple of years if he takes after you" said Aiden grinning.
"I hope not. Candifor spent half his time in detention when he was at school. The number of pranks he pulled, he was bloody terror. Naturally made the students laugh, I dread to think what stunts Marven could pull" replied Pavlos.
"I was a joker as a teenager" replied Candifor laughing.
"You were lad, I remember your stand up routine well, had us all in stitches" replied Pavlos.
"So do I, you were very good on stage, you made lots of friends that way." Triton said laughing.
"I did" Candifor as the chatter continued well into the night.