Note: I am SO sorry this has taken SO long to write up. I managed to write it in my History class (how appropriate, huh?) when I was really bored. I hope you like it; I have yet to write up chapter 20 yet, but I will probably get around to it over the summer. So, without any further introductions, here is chapter 19:

xxxxxxxx

452 H.E. Meetings and A Trial of Sorts

The boy looked to see who called his name. Seeing who it was, a smile, large and bright, appeared on his face. Tears filled his eyes as the young woman who had taken him in ran over to envelop him in a large, strong embrace. He hugged Daine back just as fiercely. "I've missed you so much," he cried, burying his face in her shoulder.

"I've missed you, too. But somehow I knew you were in good hands," the young wild mage replied. She put her hands on Lowell's shoulders and gently pushed him backwards so she could get a good look at him. Satisfied that he was safe, she stood, saying, "Come, tell me of your adventures these past months."

Lowell, being the young diplomat that he was, said, "Stories can wait. I need to speak with King Jonathan."

The adults laughed at this. King Jonathan smiled. "Well then, Young Master, step into my office."

Lowell looked at Alex, who nodded and handed Lowell his knapsack, which contained the book and some reports he had composed based on the information he already knew and what Lowell had told him from what he had seen in his vision. Together, Lowell and the king walked into the meeting chamber. The steward closed the door behind them, leaving the others to converse amongst themselves.

No less than a half hour had passed when the doors to the meeting chamber opened and King Jonathan looked around the antechamber. "Alex? Daine? May I please have a word? Numair, Alanna, and George, you too. This matter concerns you all." Lowell left the room as Jon's four council members, who had been there since the start, and Alex, entered the room behind their king. The door closed once more.

Lowell sat alone outside, listening to the muffled sounds coming from behind the thick wooden door. He could hear the deep, baritone voice of the king talk at length followed by, or often interrupted by, an outraged cry from one of the five others in there. Occasionally he would hear Alex's voice follow what the king said. Even more rarely he would hear the four others speak in more civilized tones.

Two hours later, the six emerged. Lowell studied each of their faces. George looked disgusted, Numair looked angry, Alanna appeared confused, Daine seemed amused, and Alex and Jon looked rather pleased at what had passed. "How did it go?" asked Lowell of the six.

"Rather well, I suspect," replied Alex. "We'll meet again tomorrow with the proper people and get this whole matter taken care of."

Lowell was satisfied with the course of actions the king had taken. He didn't know much of how these matters were dealt with, but he knew that Jonathan was a good king and would do what had to be done to exact justice on those who had done wrong. "What is going to happen?" he asked.

Jonathan replied, "Well, when we meet tomorrow with the magistrates, we will decide what should be done. Most likely those involved in the trouble-making will be found, arrested, and brought to trial. Should they be found guilty, only those who have done the worst will be sentenced to death. The others will be imprisoned or exiled. But for now we can only wait and see. Would you care to join me for lunch? I know you must be quite hungry after waiting around for so long. I know I am. You and Alex can meet me by the palace gates in thirty minutes. I have a few matters to attend to first, but I would love to take you to an eating house in the city that is one of my favorites since I was a boy your age, Lowell. My cooks are well enough, but they often make far too much of a big deal of me dining with guests and I am really in the mood for a good home-cooked meal."

Lowell smiled, looked at Alex who approved with a nod, and replied, "We'd like that very much."

"Good! And if any of you others would like to join us, you are more than welcome to." King Jonathan made his excuses and left them.

Thirty minutes found the seven of them gathered at the gates, all of them on horseback. Jonathan had changed into less fancy attire. Had anyone not known him to be the king by his looks, he could have passed easily for a lesser noble or even a wealthy commoner. He explained to Lowell and Alex that he often frequented the city dressed as he was so that he could better get to know his people.

The following day, Jonathan and his council members were seated in the meeting chamber. He had introduced Lowell to his son, Roald, the evening before. The two boys became fast friends. Upon the king's request, Roald was to show Lowell around the palace grounds while he and his council members met with the magistrates.

"We have a problem on our hands, my friends," Jon stated. "A few years ago, a book was stolen by a most awful man. We know this man to be Lord Sinthya, formerly known as Lord Aaron. We now have him in custody for other misdemeanors, but none so bad as this. I propose we question him about this matter and find all those involved."

"While that may be all well and good," interrupted Numair, "that man is capable of evil things. He had nearly as much power in his Gift as I do, given the recent discovery we are of the same lineage. I know that I have power to defy truth spells, but there is no telling whether Lord Aaron has such skills. I propose we question him under the watch of a griffin. Daine, I know you keep in contact with a few griffins who have nested nearby. Would it be possible to request one to sit in judgment for us? It would be a great honor for them to assist us in such a time of need."

Daine nodded. "I agree. I will see what I can do in the way of securing aid from a griffin."

"Thank you, Daine. Any help the griffins can give us will be much appreciated. I should like to speak with them on my own to express my gratitude." Jonathan stood and walked to a rack draped over with sheets of parchment. He filed through them and selected one. He brought it over to the table, placing it face up to reveal a map of Carthak and Tortall in moderate detail. He pointed to various places on the map, explaining the significance of each place in the course of events. "We need soldiers," he said, "to go out after we hear what Lord Sinthya has to say and round-up all we know to be involved. Each shall be justly tried and sentenced. Daine? Will you go ask the griffins for their aid? We shall question Lord Sinthya at nightfall."

Daine nodded, rose from her seat, and left. Jon handed out a few more assignments then dismissed his council and the magistrates. An hour later, he was summoned by a raven to come to where Daine and the griffin were. The griffin, carefully apprised of the situation, was more than honored to assist the king in such a noble task. Jonathan expressed his gratitude and granted the griffin the honorary title of "Royal Interrigator."

Later that evening, everything had been set up. Lord Sinthya sat, bound by spelled shackles on both hands and feet that cancelled magic, on the ground in the stable pasture, surrounded by an entire company of the King's Own. The griffin perched comfortable on an elegant ebony perch, made especially in honor of the griffin himself. Jonathan and his council stood in front of the prisoner, the magistrates seated at make-shift tables off to the side. At his own request, Lowell sat at the end of the magistrate's table in order to witness the proceedings. Count Alex, made an honorary council member, stood with the king and his council.

After the official opening proceedings had concluded, Jonathan and his council began the interrogation.

"What is your full, and true name?" Jonathan asked.

"Lord Aaron of Dunlath," replied Aaron, not wanting to incur the wrath of the griffin for lying.

"Do you know and understand what charges have been brought upon you?"

"Yes. I do." Part of the opening proceedings was the reading of the list of charges of the accused.

Each council member took turns asking him questions, rapid fire: How old are you? What is the date of your birth? How many years of schooling? Where did you study? Where did you reside and how many years did you reside in each place? Did you have any servants? How many? In turn, Lord Aaron answered each one honestly. Alanna was the next councilor to ask a question. "How much income do you make in a year and on average, how much do you spend?"

Offhand, Lord Aaron did not know. He knew roughly how much money was made and spent, but he did not know the exact figure. He began to sweat. "I don't know" was not a smart answer, so he did not want to say so. He did not want to guess and make up a number either for fear of what the griffin would do. Never before had he been question in the presence of a griffin. Finally he decided to take a rough guess and hope that he said the correct number. "I make two million, five-hundred nobles per year and spend one million, fifty." He flinched, waiting for something to strike. Nothing came. Had he just fooled the griffin? He knew he was off by a few hundred nobles, so why had the griffin allowed him to lie? He knew the griffin was not on his side. Did his magic allow him to defy or cancel truth spells? He knew he could defy mage truth-spells, but never had he known he could defy those of an immortal.

The council members seemed to accept his answer and continued to question him. Each time he felt he could get away with it, Aaron lied, just to test the griffin. Not once was he caught. "Do you have any living relatives and what are their names?" asked Lord Gareth the Younger, Jonathan's cousin and council member.

"I have no living relatives. They all passed into the Black God's hands several years ago," replied Aaron with ease.

"He lies."

xxxxxxxx

Note: Well, there's only one thing to say: I hope you liked it. Please review it and let me know what you think. Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last chapters and I apologize again for the long wait. There is a major, yet tiny clue tucked in here somewhere. If you can find it, feel free to email me with your guesses, or leave it in a review. If you are correct, I'll give you a special notice of congratulations in the next chapter when I finally write it.