Chapter 16: The Royal Commission

Rill Boismortier; the eighteen year old captain of the Aqua Deer, stood awkwardly in between the angry beings of Yami and William. The young captain knew that these two in particular knew what it was like to be looked down upon by the upper circles of power, and so to aide with one another in this case; over a boy being accused as a traitor to humanity, or an incompetent human by the king the vice royals, was a serious moment. A mockery of justice. A display of their prejudgements towards anyone who wasn't born like them.

Rill could see why Dorothy stormed out of the room followed by Charlotte, and he suddenly regretted not following them outside. They like him were middle ranking nobles, accepted by the citizenry as more like them and tolerated by high nobility as having halfway decent standards.

Opposite him, Yami and William stood opposite captains Geldre and Jack, whom usually indifferent to royal prerogatives and summons, were intently staring at the young sixteen year old boy kneeling before them. Geldre and Jack were always the most gung-ho when it came to defending the border against with Xadia. Both the Praying Mantises and the Purple Orcas squads were associated with the Rogues; and brought back many magical creatures for dark magic experiments for furthering humanities magical hopes and aspirations. Moreover, the current monarchs of the five human kingdoms saw it as the work of the squads to better humanities chances of defeating any elven threat. By any means necessary.

And yet Rill, knew that together, if they put aside their personal grudges and ambitions for their squads; Jack, Yami, Geldre and William, with the support of Dorothy and Charlotte could defend this boy. Seeing as they all did want a better direction for their Pentarchy.

Being the son of a noblewoman from the societal middle ground of Katolis, meant that Rill was accepted by the high nobility for having a decent enough education and good social skills, and also by the commoners for possessing empathy and compassion for his fellow human citizens and not being rude, arrogant and conceited like the upper nobles.

Still, he found it difficult to truly find his place as he felt like he; and other middle and lower nobles, were the middle ground to whom the ordinary citizens went to in order to get royalty to listen to and approve improved living standards for them. The royal family, their cousins and even the military hierarchy didn't like to be in the same room with someone who lived in the countryside. Regardless if the idea was beneficial to any aspect of Katolis's betterment, and it this same thinking, class, that was rampant in the other kingdoms as well.

As a result of all the many people that came to him asking him to proposition the interior capital for improvements for the civilians of Katolis, Rill suffered from bouts of depression; which caused his mother endless worry. And, aside from his mother's love, the one thing that kept him going strong was his picture magic. Having the ability, and the opportunity, to create beautiful art from his minds eye to distract himself, other citizens from their hard lives, created by the apathy and disdain of the central government towards them, was hugely important to him.

As Rill stood in between Yami and William, he noticed the eyes of Crown Prince Harrow looking at the shackled boy before them all, there was something akin to a prolonged sadness at the situation in both sets of eyes. And it sparked hope in Rill that for the first time in Katolis's history, there was an heir to the throne who was actually in disagreement with the king, and whom was on the people's side. Casually looking towards Yami, Rill noticed that the captain of the Black Bulls had come to that realisation too, and was half smirking half grinning. "Rill", he heard William Vangeance whisper beside him, "keep your focus on the king, don't give him any reason to think that we're taking sides. As captains we serve and protect the Pentarchy, and the royals count as well". Remembering the situation before him, the young captain stood straight and tall and kept up his mask of neutrality.

"What say you? Boy!" King Svengauld yelled, slamming the tip of his cane down on the marble floor. "Who are you really? Why were you in Xadia, and how did you survive? Answer me!" General Aurelius stepped forwards and grabbed the young boy by his hair and pulled him upwards making him gasp in pain, "you will answer his majesty", he muttered before abruptly dropping the boy back on to the ground. Pushing himself back to his knees, the boy spat blood from his mouth onto the ground before speaking. "My name is Zeren, I was travelling with my parents from Del Bar to Evenere when our ship was caught in a storm and sunk. When I awoke I was alone and inside a cell guarded by Moonshadow and Skywing elves".

Zeren stopped speaking as he told his practiced and well versed story that Juri and Eris had helped him come up with, even now thinking about them and how far away he was from his home and family; hurt. "Unchain him", a voice spoke, soft and empathetic not the hard gravelly sound that he'd heard before. Looking up, he saw a tanned skinned young man whose hair was done in long braids and wearing a small circlet of gold atop his head; and in his hands was a cup of water and a small loaf of bread.

Hope flashed across Zeren's eyes as he looked into the kind eyes of this young man, as he then felt his hands becoming free from the metal shackles on his wrists, allowing him to ease some of the discomfort he had been under. "Do not make any sudden moves boy!" He heard the general mutter behind him, as took the shackles away.

Kneeling down in front of the teenage boy; the young man, Crown Prince Harrow, handed over to him the cup of water and loaf of bread with a smile of genuine kindness and humility that Zeren hadn't seen so far in anyone present in this room. The immediate looks, from the king and the two others on either side of him, had been contempt and mistrust.

"Zeren", the Youngish man asked, as the boy began eating the bread sparingly, whilst conserving the water. "Please forgive my father for his abrupt words, he means no ill towards you. We are just curious as to why elves, who usually kill us humans without so much as a second look, would return you alive and unharmed". Placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, Harrow knelt down and gently patted in a comforting manner. "You're clearly upset about loosing your parents at sea, and for that I am humbly and profoundly sorry for your loss. But could you explain what happened when you were found by the elves".

Taking a deep breath, Zeren began to further explain his half truth and half lie story. "When I awoke, I was told that I had been taken to Lux Aurea where I would be held until the sunfire elf queen decided wether I would die or returned home. I think because they saw me as a child, they were easier going", he explained between drinks of water. Out of the corner of his eyes, Zeren could see three of the captains present had looks on their faces that indicted sympathy for him. Also, not noticed by them or the king was that these three captains were showing that they agreed with the Crown Prince against the kings hawkishness. "You're saying being a child saved you", a silver haired man with a braid in front of his face stated, walking down from the dais. "Please, don't try to kid us. If the elves let you live then clearly they wanted something out of you..."

"Nozel! That's enough", Harrow interjected loudly. "I told you to keep quiet. You, and Fuegoleon, may be my cousins but you are not crown prince and the mere fact that father allows you to stand beside us on the dais is supposed to remind you of that fact. It is courtesy not a right. You may leave the throne room now". A stunned silence engulfed the room, as every eye went straight to the angry face of the Crown Prince and the startled Nozel Silva. Bowing his head, and announcing; "forgive me cousin", Nozel walked down the steps of the dais past his fellow, remaining, captains and out of the throne room. From beside the throne, Fuegoleon Vermillion took it upon himself to depart the dais and take up a position next to Yami and Rill; to their respect.

"Thank you Fuegoloen", Harrow spoke, "I'll apologise to Nozel when I see him but for now I want you all to know I take no pleasure in admonishing any of you. Not even my own family". Walking back to the throne, and bowing his own head to his father, Harrow uttered the phrase "Semper Fedillis", before the king placed a hand on his sons shoulder. "Rise my son", Svengauld responded, his eyes drifting over to the still kneeling boy. "The boy is an orphan then... Captain Vangeance" he called out, making the aforementioned man step forwards and kneel before the king. "Take the boy and train him within the Golden Dawn squad. And when you deem him ready, bring him back to the castle, and he will become Harrow's charge".