Tribunal
Ellyn stood before the court with her limbs quaking so much the chains on her arms clanged. Today was her tribunal day. If she couldn't convince the court she wasn't responsible for the queen's murder she'd be put to death. They might just put her to death anyway for being with Oliverara.
The tribunal room felt warm. In reality it was cold, but not as cold as her cell had been, so her skin prickled at the influx of heat. Sweat dripped down the nape of her neck and soaked the flimsy white outfit she'd been given to wear. The shirt was cream and looked like it'd be soft, but instead the fabric scratched in all the wrong places. Instead of long pants she was forced to wear knee length shorts that might as well have been nonexistent. They gripped her like a second skin and plainly showed her grey hued body underneath. The tips of her fingers were red and tender; the heat of the room touching them made tears dance in her eyes.
Ellyn felt like she was a cow at an auction. The court was made up of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the houses plus some high ranking military officials. She let her gaze go over each of them. She had served with every single one over the years. Thankfully most of them avoided looking back at her. Their eyes never touched her body and Ellyn was eternally grateful that they weren't going to strip her of her last dignity. The patriarchs and matriarchs didn't give her that luxury. Their gazes danced up and down her like she was a platter of food they were selecting from.
She was starting to hope they'd just execute her on the spot.
"All rise for His Majesty, the Crown Prince of Norta, heir to the burning crown, Maven Calore!" A stoic voice drawled beside her like it was announcing what was on the menu instead of the arrival of royalty. The whole room rose to their feet and bowed their heads as Maven swirled into the room in a shockingly over-the-top display of black. His suit was crisp like it had just been made and it hugged his boney boyish frame with ease. Hooked around his shoulders was a cape made of black satin and trimmed in hues of orange. It flowed to the floor where the bottom appeared to have been dipped in silver. As he walked it levitated off the ground and gracefully flapped. On his head was his father's crown, dyed a sickly black color with the tips sharpened to spikes. Red paint had been dripped over the points as if they were battle spears instead of ornaments. Knowing Maven it could have been real blood. The final touch was the splash of black eyeliner ringing his eyes and the pale white lipstick across his lips. Maven Calore appeared as an undead spirit instead of a king.
"You may sit," he rasped. His one hand fiddled with the silver promise ring on the other. Ellyn briefly wondered who he was engaged to, then reminded herself that she didn't care. Making the king comfortable had been removed from her list of duties the moment he had cuffs put on her wrists. "Today," Maven began as the council sat, "we have before us a grave trial. One of our esteemed Colonels, someone who both I and my late father held in high esteem, has been accused of not only fraternizing inapproprietly with one of her fellow soldiers, but also of assisting in the murder of our late queen. Colonel Ellyn Macanthos, how do you plead to the charges of homosexuality and assisted murder?"
Ellyn hadn't expected to be addressed so soon. "Uh, not guilty. To both charges."
The council's eyes switched between her and Maven as he approached her. Ellyn fought the desire to recoil, but even if she hadn't the chains attaching her to the floor would have prevented the act. Maven had on a smile of sadistic pleasure as he spoke. "Then explain, Colonel Macanthos, how Samson Merandus was able to find memories inside Oliverara Samos that prove not only were you two having intimate encounters, but also that you were at the scene of my mother's murder. Both of which you failed to mention."
"I was at the scene of the queen's murder in body, but not mind," Ellyn contemplated how to word what had happened. "Elara Merandus was using her abilities on me during the battle in an attempt to capture General Samos. We fought and during the fight General Samos pinned me to the ground and drove her knife through the queen's chest. I was not in control of my body during the queen's murder." She finished and saw a few council members nodding. Maven was glaring at them.
"So you weren't in control during the murder, but what about earlier in the day? When you and General Samos shared a bed? What about even earlier when you and General Samos shared a room in the Archeon bunker? Or the hundreds of memories General Samos has of the two of you in intimate moments throughout the years?"
"Those are fake." Ellyn wanted to vomit as she said the words. "General Samos has been obsessed with me since she joined the army. She has imagined a relationship where there was none. We on occasion had to sleep in close quarters while in the field, but beyond that I have never had, nor wish to have, a romantic relationship with her." She spoke with more strength than she felt and locked her eyes on the far wall to keep herself steady. One false crack and it wouldn't be convincing. All she had to do now was hope Samson Merandus didn't show up and tear her carefully fabricated lie to the ground.
Maven stepped onto the platform and stood inches from Ellyn's face. "So you're claiming that you have no romantic or sexual relationship with General Oliverara Samos? That she's crazy and has imagined these encounters with you?" Ellyn nodded, but Maven motioned for her to speak. "We need to hear you say it Colonel."
You evil bastard, Ellyn's mind growled. Her throat burned like rough fingernails had been scratching it for hours, but Maven wasn't going to end this until she gave in. "I-I have no romantic or sexual relationship with Oliverara. She imagined the whole thing. She's good at lying, afterall, she's lied about being Silver her whole life."
Maven moved back and nodded to the Arven next to her. "Take her back to her cell while the council deliberates." The Arven unhooked Ellyn's chains and led her off the platform. She gave a quick confident look at the coucil, seeking out the military members she hoped would back her up. Without Samson ever showing up to poke at her mind she had a shot at making it out of Whitefire innocent. As Ellyn was being led back down to the dungeon she caught a glimpse of silver and black in the balcony above the council room.
She stared harder at the space as the curtains were peeled to the side. Two figures made their way down the side exit, both clad in matching colors but only one wearing chains. Ptolemus and Oliverara.
The wooden door leading back down to her dark cell slammed shut and Ellyn finally let herself shed a tear. Not for herself and not for her fate which sat in the hands of people who didn't care. No, she silently cried for the words she'd said, which, although necessary, she knew had been like knives through Oli's chest.
Ptolemus led Oliverara back down the secret balcony entrance to the prison. How he'd convinced her Arvens to leave and let them be alone she didn't know. Even if she had the urge to fight her brother and escape from the heart of Whitefire, she didn't have the strength. In only two weeks her body had deteriorated from a powerful machine of muscle to that of a scrawny teenager. Her hair was growing exponentially fast and could almost be considered a pixie cut as it ended right under her cheekbones. She could feel her body breaking down every second that passed without a way to train, enough food to eat, or any water to drink. Plus the daily blood harvesting took the fight from her, besides making her appear as pale as a Silver. Her powers weren't responding either. Half an hour she'd stood with Tolly in the balcony and only a small flicker of energy could be felt.
The Arvens retook their hold on her mind as Tolly let her into the cell. "I'm sorry you had to hear that Oli," he whispered. "I didn't think it would go like that."
"She's fighting for her life Tolly. She loves me; I know she didn't mean what she said."
Her brother nodded and locked the cell door. He paused and his mouth opened a bit to speak. Oliverara sat on the floor waiting for the words, but Tolly changed his mind and left. Not even a goodbye; he just left.
And that hurt worse than anything Ellyn could've said.
The council deliberated for an hour exactly. Ellyn usually sat calmly within her prison, but this time was different. She paced the whole hour while knawing at her fingernails. They had grown a lot since she had been locked up, her hair as well. She kept swiping the blonde locks from her eyes while the strands on the back of her neck stuck to the sweat soaked skin. To say this was nervewracking was an understatement.
Her Arven escort appeared and rapped on the metal bars. The sound rang through the empty dungeon like a schoolbell. "They're back with a verdict," was all he said. Like it wasn't her life in the balance.
The tribunal room felt colder this time. The stares from the council felt less friendly. The smile on Maven's face was more sadistic, if that was even possible. The only thing stopping her from bursting into sobs was her pride. The council was going to kill her, and she intended to go with dignity.
"The council has made a decision," Maven announced with bravedo. Ellyn didn't know why; everyone already knew the outcome. "Colonel Ellyn Macanthos the council has found you innocent of the charge of assisted murder, but guilty of the charge of homosexuality."
Ellyn's knees went weak beneath her, but with joy not horror. Guilty of the lesser charge. A council with Maven on it had found her guilty only of the lesser charge! Her Arven extended his arm and held her up a bit as she regained her composure. She was going to be alright. She was a high ranking official, she'd get jail time at most and maybe demoted. But otherwise she was going to be alright!
"Due to your status as a decorated Colonel," Maven had paused until she steadied herself, "the council has decided to give leniency with its sentence. Despite my objections, we are offering you ten years jail in exchange for your resignation from the army, as well as your renouncment of your title and awards. Should you wish to keep your title and medals the sentence is uped to twenty years with a dishonorable discharge. Which would you prefer Macanthos?"
Ellyn paused. Give up her title and medals? The things she'd given her time, blood, and sweat to earn? But in return she'd get to keep ten years of her life. What good would her name and awards do when she was spending the majority of her life behind bars? "I'll take the ten years," she said confidently. "I'll renounce my title and awards. I thank the council and your highness for your leniency."
The members acknowledged her thanks and stood to leave, but Maven stayed rooted to his spot staring her down. "You got lucky Macanthos," he said quietly when they had all filed out. "I'll be sure to tell Oliverara the good news."
"That I'm going to jail and have lost my honor?"
"That even a council of morons could tell you were lying about not loving her." His sudden sympathetic tone made Ellyn freeze up. Was Maven Calore attempting to be comforting? "I know what it's like to have to deny your affections for someone." That was all the king offered before he turned and stalked away with his billowing cloak. Ellyn struggled to process the interaction as she was lead back to her cell.
"Few more nights then you'll be transfered to a Silver prison upstate," her guard gruffly muttered. "You come from old money so I'm sure your family will make suitable arrangements for you. Ten years will go by quickly Macanthos." Then he left. Ellyn rested her head against the cement wall with a gentle sigh. It already felt wrong to not hear Colonel before her name, but it was worth it to retain some of her life.
For the first time since her arrest, Ellyn actually slept.
Maven's presence settled over Oliverara's cell like a ghost in a cemetary. The drop in temperature startled her senses and jolted her awake. She'd been sleeping so well too. "What do you want you Silver bastard?" She hissed. Her Arvens tightened their grips on her mind till a headache roared to life. Elara's evil whispers grated like nails on a chalkboard in retaliation.
Maven ran a hand through his fluffed hair and closed his eyes. "I'm in no mood for your mouth today Samos. I have good news for you, but if you want to keep being a bitch I will gladly leave."
Oliverara sat up and bent one leg to rest her arm on. "Fine, talk."
"Ellyn will serve ten years on the charge of homosexuality. She will resign from the army and renounce her title and medals."
Oliverara bolted to the door and lashed out to Maven's throat. "Ten years!? She'll be over 40 when she gets out! And she won't even have her name? How can you make someone throw away their honor and valor like that?!" Her fingers dug into the sides of Maven's neck and he nimbly stepped out of her reach.
"It was either this or twenty years with a dishonorable discharge. Her family's reputation would've been tarnished beyond repair. At least this way she won't be disowned. This is the best offer she could've gotten Samos, you know that. Plus, it means that despite such a well crafted lie that she presented, the council couldn't believe that she didn't have feelings for you." The words drifted through the air like the sweet perfume Evangeline wore to galas. Despite those words coming from Maven Calore of all people, they were actually comforting to Oliverara. Maven waited until she had moved back from the bars to continue. "Besides that, I have some more good news. It's about your blood."
"You already told me that it's working as a cure," Oliverara huffed. "What now, you're gonna put me out of my misery to have all of it?"
Maven smiled thinly and shook his head. "No. I have a chance to help you. Help you make it out of here." Oliverara felt her eyes widen with shock. Was this some type of twisted joke? Or fever dream? Maven laughed at her surprise. "Don't fear, I have a selfish motive for this. The healers have been studying your blood and they isolated the genetic codes within it that alter blood color. Oliverara, you have the same newblood genes that Mare and the others do, but with an extended code. Those extra genes are due to your heritage because they match the genes of a Silver."
Now he paused and checked to make sure she was still listening. "The healers believe that if they can replicate those genes they can implant them back in your cells and cause your body to keep reproducing them. After a couple months of this replication, they believe-" Maven stopped and cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"What Calore? Spit it out! What do you want to do to my blood?"
Maven held up his hand and shook it. "No, this is your decision to make Oliverara. I urge you to consider it fully. This is the most pivotal moment of your life, and I hope your brainless Red instincts don't toss it aside."
Oliverara clenched her fists and brought blood to the surface of her palms. "Maven-"
"I am marrying Iris Cygnet of the Lakelands," Maven blurted out. "I do not trust them within an inch of my life. Samson has returned to his family's house and I am without a competant guard. I need you to be my right hand Samos. Guard me with your ability and keep the Lakelands from whatever nefarious plot they're unfoiling. If you accept this offer I will vacate the charges of murder and conspiracy, and you will earn your freedom once the Scarlet Guard is vanquished. But in order to be my guard you must go through with the surjury the healers have set up."
Oliverara's head was shrouded in fog. The cell filled with a million colors all at once as sirens went off in her ears. Had she heard that right? This was a dream. It 100% had to be a dream! "Wait," her common sense was catching up, "what surjury? What does this have to do with my genes?"
Maven motioned to her arm where bright red veins were on display. "The healers believe they can make your body produce a different genetic code for blood. So if you want to be my guard and earn your freedom, they will change your genetics to better suit your undeniable abilities."
He stepped right up to the cell door and extended his pale hand through one of the gaps. "So General Oliverara Samos, do you want to be a Silver?"