Chapter 11 - Z
I was back in the courtroom. The set up was the same only the witness stand had someone in it. I'm not going to go into all the witness reports of Calista and I talking or being seen together or just random statements that didn't make any sense. I don't know how many witnesses went up and spoke against me, but only two spoke for me; Sir Therius and some random guy, I noticed, was an old man I had helped. He didn't have much to say do to the fact that he didn't know me, but Therius' was much appreciated. I nodded at him in thanks and he did likewise.
Shortly after Therius was a surprise. General Athstar came into the lower area where I was.
"Sorry I'm late, though I find that I wasn't requested. I have something that can help us in this struggle to determine guilty or not guilty." He gestured towards the doorway behind me. "May I present our greatest witness, the Lady Calista." Everyone was shocked. Including myself. Jiral's face was priceless, though. "What was it you told me?"
She stepped forward. "I asked him if I could go with them. I was told no. When they went aboard the ship, I went with them on my own accord. I endangered myself."
"She lies! She was forced to say that!" Jiral was losing and he wasn't happy.
The crowd was wild with chatter and accusing stares.
"Who are you to accuse this man?" A powerful voice rang through the stone room. It was the Count. Dagran was on his heel. "This man is destined to save us." He held up my right hand, which brought my left with it, and told me to activate my power. The blue glow lit the room. The crowd gasped. "This man has the power of the outsider! Therefore you would be condemning the man who would solve our problems."
"What? NO! I saw him take her!" Jiral was freaking out now.
"Lord Jiral, would you rather have it that your future kingdom be destroyed by its enemy? I'm sure you wouldn't wish your future wife to be in a world such as that." The count had him beat. I smirked as the guard took me out of my bonds. Jiral backed down. "This is cause for celebration!" The count raised his arms and people cheered.
"The others will be let out shortly," Dagran whispered as I passed him on my way out of the room. I was glad just to be out of there. I couldn't wait to go back to the tavern and relax. Maybe take a bath.
"That's good. Can we go back now?" I was tired.
"No. Not yet. Count Arganan has something to talk to us about. I was only able to accomplish all of this by telling him about your hand." He leaned to my ear and whispered, "He's willing to knight us."
I sighed lightly. "Alright." Watch him only want us because of my power.
So I was right. All he wanted us for was my arm. Too bad he couldn't just cut it off. He promised to knight my friends and I if we pledged elegance to him. I'm wasn't excited about that one. He also promised me a chance at Calista's hand in marriage. Um. No.
I was back at the tavern in the main room of the bar sitting at a table alone. I was thinking of how much I wanted to say no and how much my team depended on me to say yes. Lowell sat next to me and passed me a mug of ail.
"Are you still thinking over that offer?" he asked. I nodded, staring at the mug. "Well, don't put too much thought into it. Go off of what you think is best, not what Dagran says or what the Count says is best. It should be easy once you figure the difference."
"What would you do?" I looked towards him but still down at the table.
"It doesn't make the least bit of difference to me. Personally, I like living on the edge. Settling down isn't really my style. Though, it would be nice to be respected as a knight." He smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "Either way, it's up to you." He stood and returned to flirting with the bar maid.
Syrenne caught me later in the night. "Zael, do whatever you want. I really don't care. I don't like that jerk, Sir pretty boy. I don't want to have an attitude like that." She kissed my cheek and returned to whatever it was that she was doing.
I went over to Mirania to ask her opinion. She basically said the same thing as Syrenne, but added that I should think about what Calista wants as well.
I already knew what Dagran would say. "Think of the whole group not just yourself. This could be good for us." I'm sorry, brother, but my will goes against it. The only person left to ask was, to me anyway, the only person that mattered; Yurick.