4th Day of Needfest, 565 CY
Baronial Residence, Willip, Furyondy
This is not going well, thought Aslan.
The chamber of the Lord Magistrate was crowded, and more unstructured than the paladin had imagined it. A crude fence of wooden planks divided most of the room in two. Aslan and his friends were in one side, along with Sir Charlt and several soldiers and servants. The other was packed full of common folk, merchants and their families, all witnesses to, and/or victims of, his and Elrohir's horrible crimes. Only a number of guards prevented an open riot from erupting, and it still seemed a distinct possibility. It was little different from the procession from the city's outskirts to here. Despite the route being at least partially cleared beforehand, enough rotten fruit, mud and stones had come hurling their way to let the party know that their earlier goodwill had pretty much evaporated like water in the Sea of Dust.
Seated behind a long table on a raised platform in front of them, sat the Lord Magistrate of Baron Chartrain of Willip. With the Baron himself currently visiting Chendl, the kingdom's capital, the Magistrate wielded the Baron's authority in "canon law," as he described it. He was a ruddy man around fifty years of age, who managed to give the appearance of bulk without being either muscular or obese. Of course, under the voluminous robes of office he wore, it was hard to determine. He wielded a short ceremonial mace with which he repeatedly banged on a well-worn spot on his desk. He did so again now, again warning the accusers to be quiet, and achieved a small reduction in the tumult.
On either side of the Lord Magistrate stood a cleric of Heironeous. One was a stern-looking man in his early forties. He had been introduced as Ethelred, second-in-command of the Church of the Archpaladin in the city. Opposite from him was a female priest, possibly in her early twenties. Aslan thought her name was Jinella, but he hadn't heard quite clearly enough to be sure. She seemed more curious than anything else, acting as assistant while Ethelred cast spells to verify the veracity of the citizen's tales of woe. To every one of them, he said, "I detect no untruths," and glared at Aslan, who had decided the stoic approach was the best one at present. He and Elrohir would have their say soon enough. Their words would also be seen as true.
"Now then," the Lord Magistrate continued, laying the mace back down on the table and folding his hands in front of him expectantly. "You two- speak your story."
Elrohir had just opened his mouth when a loud voice came from his right.
"Praised be the Invincible One- justice at last will be served!"
It came from a non-descript middle-aged man who had just entered through a side door leading further into the Baron's villa. His clothing was more notable than he was- a colorful tabard with fringe and tassels attached, bearing the likeness of a sailing ship with a large crown attached to the mast. He wore a bright orange cloak and several silk pouches on a jeweled, leather belt. On his face was an intense hatred directed at Elrohir and his party.
"The Socman Atlanter," Aslan declared.
Atlanter irritably slapped one of his elaborate epaulets, never taking his eyes off the paladin. "Address your betters correctly, you cur! I am now a Sea Emissary, and I act now as a direct representative of my masters, the Great and Honorable Sea Princes!"
A hand gently clamped on Atlanter's right shoulder.
"If it pleases your Eminence, we are here merely to observe. All will be handled through proper channels." Such was the mild appearance and gentle demeanor of the white-haired LaSalle Main, Lord Mayor of Willip, that his entrance alongside the Sea Emissary had gone momentarily unnoticed. The two men slowly walked towards the table in front.
Atlanter smoothly switched to a more refined manner. "Of course, your Honor. I meant not to interfere. I beg your pardon, I simply could not contain my joy at knowing that the deceitfulness of these reprehensible individuals will not escape the piercing eye of the Lord Magistrate," he finished with a slight bow to the judge, as they arrived. Servants quickly brought two chairs for the aristocrats, who seated themselves next to the Elrohir party.
For his part, the Lord Magistrate seemed neither flattered nor patronized. He nodded curtly to the officials and then returned his steady gaze to Elrohir and Aslan.
"Speak."
And so they did. Argo, Talass (not-very-subtly displaying her holy symbol) and Cygnus all vouched for their compatriots. Ethelred seemed somewhat surprised- though no less grim- as he announced likewise, "I detect no untruths." The noise of the crowd to their left abated still more.
"Our mere presence here should be proof of our innocence!" Elrohir announced. "After all, we came here of our own free will. Certainly, you could not have apprehended us by force!" The noise level of the crowd rose again, while Aslan, Cygnus and Talass groaned. Atlanter smirked again as the officials glowered, while Argo spoke quietly to Elrohir.
"You do not help your cause, my friend"
Elrohir seemed about to retort, then fell silent again.
Aslan stepped forward.
"My Lord, I am a paladin, a holy man of my god, and of my cause," he began.
Atlanter sneered but said nothing.
"If I were guilty of the charges brought against me, Asgard's own retribution, more severe than any this court can impose, would be visited upon me. I ask that your servant of the Archpaladin use his blessed power to view my soul, and determine its composition."
The Magistrate looked over at Ethelred, who considered this, and then nodded over to Jinella. She raised the silver lightning bolt she held in her hands and peered intently at Aslan. A smile slowly crept onto her face. "He is holy, my Lord!"
"Meh!" The Sea Emissary stood up, gesturing dismissively. "Divinations can be deceived through dark magic, or at the least, be used to cloud the minds of men. So what if these two think they are innocent? The evidence clearly shows otherwise, and with Aslan's terrible powers, we cannot take the chance! They must be-"
"We?" The Lord Magistrate asked loudly. "Have you renounced allegiance to the Sea Princes, your Emissary, and pledged yourself body and soul to King Belvor of Furyondy? I will decide this matter, and I speak for the Baron of Willip!"
Atlanter managed to shrink on his chair without using any magic at all.
The judge turned back to Aslan and Elrohir. "A most vexing case, indeed. I shall consider all I have heard and render my judgment tomorrow. In the meantime, the two are you shall be sent to the-"
"If I may, Lord Magistrate," began the soft voice of the Lord Mayor. All eyes turned to the elder official. "I humbly request of your Lordship that Elrohir and Aslan be remanded to my custody, where they shall stay at my house until sent for by you. I shall accept full responsibility for their actions, including their punishment, if they should flee justice."
The room grew quieter than it had been yet. Atlanter was whispering to LaSalle, who seemed to have gone selectively deaf to his voice. The Lord Magistrate considered. He did not seem to relish the idea, but finally nodded. "As you wish, your Honor." He banged the mace on the table. "This case is recessed. Next!"