Chapter VI: The Trial

Chrono did his best to remain sociable to the girl. After all, he though well enough of her to risk his life and save her. Why, then, would he wish she would disappear and never return?

She had suggested they take a car to Guardia Castle. The idea itself would be reasonable – especially because it was much faster than walking the few miles in. But Chrono brought up the fact that anyone with a brain would recognize her. Sure, there might be other reasons, but that one was enough – for Chrono.

Of course she won the debate, and so Chrono had found himself sitting beside the hyperactive girl, if only beside her for a few moments at a time. He could attribute her sudden burst of energy to nervousness; she hadn't exactly expressed unfettered enthusiasm at hearing she would return home. Or she was glad to be safe in a time period she found agreeable. More than once Chrono wondered if the driver would stop and check the car to see if the lady was all right ("pretty lady," he had said, but that was all, thankfully).

Now they were out of the car, and Chrono couldn't shake the awful feeling coming down on him. Nadia's attitude didn't help, either. The feeling grew stronger as they drew closer to the castle.

"Nadia!" he blurted. "Listen. Um… it's been wonderful… but we're here, and so… I guess this is good-bye."

She was a little puzzled. "Excuse me?"

"We're here."

"No, we still have a ways to walk."

"I mean, this is where I say good-bye."

She looked over her shoulder at the castle. "For now, anyways."

"Whatever."

Nadia bit her lower lip and backed a couple of steps. Then she turned and disappeared into the forest.

Chrono watched until she was completely out of sight. He found himself wondering why he was glad to see her go. At least I can take a few minutes to myself and assess the situation after the last few days… hours. Not that I don't like the girl at all. It's just… she is, in a way – bothersome. That's the word. That's a good word. Of course, now I'm miles from home and Mom is probably a little suspicious… considering I have returned in separate clothes and carrying a sword.

He waited at least ten minutes before catching a car. Silently he mused, hoping the driver wouldn't think to turn around and make conversation. Luckily for him, the driver was a rather drunk looking male, so the chances of intelligent conversation were just higher than a freshly mowed lawn.

Sure, there was a part of him that would miss the girl. But now that she was gone, he felt as if his life were suddenly far less… complex. Good – now what? I guess I'll figure that out tomorrow. After the fair. So the remainder of the trip was spent in guilty reflection and planning of tomorrow's schedules.

He arrived home to meet a very anxious mother. "Hello again, Chrono." She stood from the couch and came to greet him. "I thought you said you would only be gone a little while," she said, pulling him into a motherly embrace (somewhat awkward, as Chrono was at least a foot taller). "It's been nearly an hour."

"…"

"I'm sorry I didn't get to meet your new friend." She pulled away and backed toward the kitchen.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, all right, if you weren't friends, then."

"No. That's fine."

"Do you want dinner? You've been at the fair all day. Or did you eat too much there?"

"No. I'm starved."

"In that case, do you want to help make dinner?" Mom smiled knowingly.

"Do I want to?" Chrono returned the smile, but Mom didn't want to fool around. "All right, let me get dressed first."

"All right. See you in a few minutes this time?"

Chrono smirked, then trudged up to his room. No less than ten minutes later he was back down again. Mom gave him a glance over for approval first. Come on, who's looking? Yes, he looked… passable. The tunic was a little frumpy, and his hair had the fresh electric-chair-victim vivacity. She sighed and motioned for him to come.

"What's for dinner?"

"Well, I decided to see if any stores were open, but with the popularity of the fair, all the vendors put up shop in Leene Square. I was considering going there, but you know how I like crowds – "

"Mom!" Chrono interrupted. "What's – for dinner?"

"Fish."

"Thanks."

With one topic down, Mom wasted no time introducing a new one. "So, where did you say the girl is from?"

"…"

"The girl, Marle?"

"Oh, yes – she, she's from… Porre."

"Ah. She came all the way out here alone just for the fair…"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"No. She's a determined young girl, I'll give her that. Is she staying with relatives, she said?"

"What?"

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me – " Mom suddenly smiled slyly. "Unless…!"

"I don't know this woman, I tell you!" Chrono's eyes bulged playfully out of his head.

"Careful – don't spill the water!"

"I'm being careful – "

"Here, give me that… honestly, it's like you're in your own little world out there."

Chrono didn't bother to respond. He was grateful only that Nadia had been forgotten. Not that he stopped thinking. No, that would have been too difficult. After all – he'd been thrust into incredible peril (always the fault of the girls, too… both Nadia and Lucca – he began to think that was no coincidence), rescued said girl, and promptly brought her to his home. The girl was a little too attached.

About ten minutes into his thoughts, Chrono realized his mother was still talking. Something about the dinner. No – she was telling him to get the door. Right. Someone was there. He remembered responding, or maybe grunting something.

"Hello! Chrono! Will you please answer the door!" Mom was in his face.

"Right! Um, sorry." He backed a few steps before turning to the door. Whoever was knocking needed a lesson in patience. And volume control. Chrono turned the latch and swung the door open.

The first thing he noticed was the two men were officials, most likely from the palace. Well, he assumed they were two men, but they looked and dressed exactly the same, so he might have been experiencing some double-vision. But that speculation was cleared up when one of them stepped forward. "Does a man answering to Chrono live here?"

"…?"

The second one gave the first (or was it the first gave the second?) a look of vexation. "Are you Chrono?"

The boy couldn't resist. "No, the lady making dinner. She's Chrono."

The first (or was it second?) official paused for a moment but never smiled. "We do not have any sense of humor, young man. You would be wise to remain official toward us."

"Be polite, young man," the other corrected, then offered, "may we come in for a moment?"

"Sure."

The clones marched in the door. "Ma'am?" Clone Two began.

Mom looked up from cooking long enough for her son to catch a worried glance. "I'm sorry! Hello, sirs, what can I do for you? Would you like some place to sit?"

That brought a hand waving from Clone One. "No, ma'am, we will not be staying for very long."

"We're just here to pick up the boy, Chrono," Clone Two continued.

Both the boy and his mother jumped and gawked in unison. "Pardon?"

"Yes." The first showed no sign of apology. "The boy is wanted by the Guardian kingship. We are here to safely escort the boy."

"What am I wanted for?"

Clone One only glared at him until his counterpart stepped in. "We'll clear this up later, folks. However, you'll still have to come with us." He offered his hand to Chrono, who gave it a brief once-over, then stormed to the door. "No, son, please don't run off. You can run away, but you'll still be wanted. Please, just come with us, and we'll straighten the whole thing out. If you're innocent, you'll be back home in a couple of hours. If you're guilty, then we can all rest knowing we've rounded up a felon."

"Felon!" Mom cried.

"We have a car waiting," Clone one interceded. "Come with us, now, sir. We have no patience." He reached for the boy's hand.

"Wait!" Mom wasn't going to let them out so easily. "Am I allowed to come, too?"

"Sorry, ma'am, but you are not allowed. You may, however, come to the trial. We will reserve you a seat."

"Trial?" But Chrono was already out the door. Clone Two offered a last look of sympathy before Mom was left alone with the fish.

(Note: a car is not necessarily an automobile. A car is simply the storage unit of any moving object, like the car of a train. In this case, a car may be a horse-drawn carriage, as automobiles are not the norm in Guardia.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

All in all, the trip back to the palace was rather pleasant. The two clones really weren't so bad once you got to know them. Or, at least, when you got to know Corny. "It's a short name for Cornelius," he had explained in the car. "And this one here," he grinned, indicating Clone One, "is Benny."

"What's Benny short for?" Chrono had asked.

"A Benny for your thoughts!"

Chrono tried not to dignify that with a laugh, but he failed miserably. "No, I'm serious."

"Benjamin, of course." Corny grinned with Chrono and continued. "Yes, it would seem we got our names mixed up. Sometimes I wonder myself if I got my name right. One night at the castle, I got up and Benny was there. I thought I was looking in the mirror!"

Chrono ventured to ask. "You're twins, right?"

"Fraternal twins, two years apart. Really, it's hard to tell me from him anyway. We're both blond, blue-eyed, and medium height and build. Well, Benny's taller and stronger according to the straight, hard facts, at least since yesterday, but…"

About then Benny had spoken up. "We're almost there. Listen, I know you want to be cordial to the boy, but please – maintain your status. He probably thinks he is being abducted by two hal-wits."

No, just one. We'll leave it at that while there's still a chance.

"Sorry, Benny. It's just the boy looks like he could use some company anyway. What's he wanted for anyway?" Benny only turned away.

Oh, look. We're here.

Benny reached across and opened Chrono's door, indicating he should exit first. Chrono complied, followed by the two brothers. Benny made sure Corny received two steely glares for the price of none. "Please, sir, follow us." Without any more words, Benny marched to the castle. His brother followed suit a little less rigidly. Of course Chrono thought of making a great escape – but he thought better of it and ran to catch up with the clones.

The castle now was in much the same condition as the castle four hundred years back – except for some "upgrades" that included extra square footage and new décor. At least that was the impression Chrono had from the outside, because he didn't make it more than two feet in the front door when he was accosted by none other than the Chancellor.

"It's you!" the old man shrieked. As far as the Chancellor image – this one had it quite well. His physical features said nothing but old and rich: short, stubby white beard, pupil-less eyes, and a bald head (under a nice, big, skin-covering hat). "You're the one! The red-topped one! Guards! Come apprehend this man!"

All at once ten men came out of the stonework. Two gruff, burly men grabbed each of Chrono's arms. "Hey, (oomph) wait!" he shouted. "What's going on?"

"You're under arrest, young man!"

For what? Trespassing? Not combing my hair? Wearing plaid and polka dots at the same time?

"Milton – take him downstairs."

"Oh, er… sir Chancellor?" It was Corny. The officer seemed a bit nervous with the thought of downstairs. "The boy doesn't even know what's going on. You could at least read his rights or something."

"My brother is correct." Benny. "And, according to law, a criminal may not be jailed at all without being informed of his crime. And then, he is only to have a holding cell until he is given a trial." The other guards nodded their approval.

"Fine then." The Chancellor seemed flustered. "Sorry, I was a slight hasty, er… take the boy to a cell. Do you have anything to say, boy?" The last sentence came more as rhetorical than a legitimate question.

"Yes I do! What am I being arrested for?"

All of the guards avoided eye contact except the burly man clutching his right arm. "Listen," he hissed, "the princess disappeared, so did you, you both reappeared six hours later. Get it?"

Kidnapping?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fifteen minutes later Chrono found himself in the luxurious "cell." He could get used to this place (secretly he hoped the trial wasn't for another month). The cell came with all the "conveniences" of home life – plush furniture, ample lighting, carpeted floor, a writing desk with pens and lots of paper, soft downy bed, and lots of living space. "It's in case you want to write your loved ones while in prison," Milton had said as he carefully dumped Chrono into his new habitation. The boy felt the statement should have continued, "or your last will and testament."

In less than an hour, Chrono had accustomed himself to his cell life. Really, the only reason they called it a cell was because he was not allowed to leave at his discretion. His meals would be served to him personally. Visitors were allowed full access to the room, escorted by guard, but they were not allowed to bring anything with them unless it was unwrapped before they left. Oh yes, and if Chrono had any needs, he need only push this button on the wall. Within minutes, some lackey would be in to serve his latest need.

It was this last trick Chrono employed most skillfully. He especially found it enjoyable to ring that bell whenever the Chancellor was present and watching. When the lackey came in, Chrono would gripe and whine as loud as he could (in case the Chancellor was a "slight deaf"), and the lackey would carefully and kindly cater to his every whim. He could just see the old man's rage lighting his hat on fire.

He had plenty of visitors. His first had been Nadia, who apologized profusely for telling her dad she had been with him all day (while never telling where they actually were), and she left without so much as looking in his eye. Occasionally, members of the castle dropped by to say hello. Most of them assured the boy that they really didn't know what he was accused of and that he had nothing to worry about because the accusations could be nothing but shaky. After all, nobody could prove anything because the only people who knew where Chrono and Nadia had been weren't talking. Then came Lucca with his mother. Of course he received the usual "I'm so sorry, honeys" from Mom, but Lucca was another matter entirely. "I see this is another fine mess you've stumbled into this time." Oh, Lucca. What would he do without you?

Finally Corny had come in. "Hello again, Chrono." He sat himself on the plush sofa and sank so far Chrono was sure his rear end could be seen sticking out of the ceiling of the kitchen. "Oomph. Never mind," the guard grunted. "Can you help me out here?" He laughed, then sort of wiggle-launched himself out of the chair. "Forget it."

"So," he continued. "First, I would like to apologize for everyone here. We were supposed to begin the trial by tomorrow, but we had some trouble with your lawyer."

Lawyer? I must have done some serious kidnapping.

"Seems he was not recognized at the gate and hasn't been allowed in. We've cleared the mess up, but we'll have to wait until he comes back tomorrow."

Lawyer?

"Until then, you'll have to stay here. Is that all right?"

Chrono sighed his approval and sank himself into the opposite couch. "What do I do until then?"