T Southwell - The Queen_s Blade

Kerrion walked over to his brother. "Lerton, I would like you to meet the assassin who killed our father."

Lerton closed his mouth, shaking his head in mute denial. Kerrion looked at the stunned judges, and a hush fell over the assembly. "My Lords, I present to you the Jashimari assassin, Blade. Also known as the Invisible Assassin, the Silent Slayer, and most recently, the Queen's Blade."

The eldest judge cleared his throat, staring at Blade. "You admit to killing King Shandor?"

Blade shrugged. "I do."

"You acted on the orders of your queen?"

"Yes."

"What were they?"

Blade glanced at Kerrion. "To assassinate King Shandor and bring his son Kerrion to her, unharmed."

"For what reason?"

"She wished to talk of truce."

The judge shot Kerrion a doubtful glance. "And he refused."

"He did."

"So she released him."

Blade nodded, clasping his hands behind his back.

"And now she sends you to testify on his behalf, even though he would not co-operate with her. Why?"

"The same reason that she released him. She wishes to deal with a Cotti King whom she perceives to be honourable and intelligent, not a devious, lying one, such as Prince Lerton would make."

"Our realms are at war," the judge pointed out, glancing at Lerton. "What difference does it make to her?"

"She still wants peace."

"But Prince Kerrion refused."

Blade shrugged again. "I am an assassin, not a politician."

"And a dead one!" Lerton shouted, recovering from his stunned stupor and stabbing a finger at Blade. "He murdered King Shandor, he must die!"

Kerrion stepped between them. "He has been granted amnesty."

"You would protect your father's murderer?"

"By coming here, he has saved my life. Had I not offered him amnesty, he would not have come forward, and I would be facing the gallows because of your lies."

"They were not lies!" Lerton protested, glancing at the judges. "The evidence against you was damning. No one believed this man existed. If you could call him a man."

"I have to keep my word. He is free to go."

The senior judge nodded. "Unfortunately, he has the right of it, Prince Lerton. We cannot charge him with a crime for which we have already agreed to pardon him. At your urging, I might add."

"He is dangerous!" Lerton cried. "You cannot let him remain free."

"Nor can you lock him up when he has committed no crime other than the one for which he has been granted a pardon," Kerrion stated.

"He is a Jashimari!"

"One who has done me a great service, and has thereby earned his freedom. Since I am no longer accused of any crime, I will soon be King, and he has my protection so long as he obeys the laws of our land."

Lerton's eyes grew cunning. "He might have been sent here on the pretext of saving you, in order to assassinate someone."

Kerrion shot his brother a surprised look. "He did not need a pretext to come here. He arrived undetected in my rooms last night, and offered to testify for me if I was able to grant him amnesty. Had he wished to assassinate someone, he could have done it then. One thing is certain, he was not sent to assassinate me."

Lerton paled, stepped back and shot Blade a hunted look. His snake hissed and coiled more tightly around his neck. The assassin smiled and gathered up his disguise.

Kerrion turned to the judges. "My Lords, what is your verdict?"

The senior judge stood up to address the throng. "We find Prince Kerrion innocent of King Shandor's death."

As if released from a trance, the audience burst into a hubbub. Some members turned to each other, others rose and left to carry the news far and wide. The judges filed out through a door at the back. Lerton returned to the clutch of brothers that awaited him, vanishing into their midst as they drew close to listen to him.

Blade glanced at them, then at Kerrion. "Perhaps I should get rid of a few more of them."

The Prince gave Blade a push towards the door. "Try to control your bloodlust, Blade. They are still my brothers."

Back in Kerrion's rooms, Blade dumped his burden and perched on the edge of the desk to pour a cup of wine. Kerrion went to the window and stared out, his hands clasped behind his back. Kiara flapped to her perch and preened herself.

"Did Minna send any other messages with you?"

Blade tasted the wine and grimaced. "Not really."

"Is there any way I can repay her?"

"Make peace."

"I cannot do that." Kerrion turned to scowl at him.

"Jashimari cannot fight two kingdoms and survive. The Contara will overrun us, and you will descend like vultures to feed on the spoils."

"That was Lerton's plan."

Blade sipped the wine. "And you approve of it."

"No!" Kerrion gestured. "It is dishonourable. I have inherited a war that I have no wish to continue, but cannot end without being overthrown." He paused. "If she surrenders to me, I can promise her fair treatment. I will ensure a peaceful occupation, offer her protection and banish the Contara back to their land."

"She will never surrender, not to you, or anyone else."

"Then the Jashimari will be wiped out."

"You will continue the war against your daughter?" Blade enquired.

"She will not take power for five and twenty years, but then no, I will not."

"Jashimari will not outlast the spring, and when Jondar falls, your daughter will be at the mercy of the Contara. Why not end it now?"

Kerrion sighed, rubbing his eyes. "If only I could. My nobles will not agree to end the war against Minna-Satu, but they too will not wish to fight against a Cotti Queen."

"Half Cotti."

"What if the child is a boy?"

Blade shrugged, frowning at the sour young wine in his cup. "Shamsara predicted a girl, chances are, he is right."

"The Idol of the Beasts should not be interfering in politics. It is not his place."

The assassin put down his goblet and stood. "Have you any messages for the Queen?"

Kerrion shook his head. "Only my offer of peaceful occupation. No slavery, no atrocities, no massacres."

"Only oppression."

"I cannot do any more than that."

"You are the King," Blade said. "Or are you just a puppet?"

Kerrion's frown deepened. "I am no puppet, but the nobles wield a great deal of power, and have fifteen princes to choose from. If I try to end the war, they will turn the people against me, accuse me of treason or cowardice or something. I have no hope of support from the armies, they exist only to do battle. Without a war, they will be jobless and destitute.

"You saw how close I have already come to the gallows, and for no other reason than that my younger brother wished to get rid of me. It is well known that he was my father's favourite, and that he wanted Lerton to inherit the crown. I am not well liked because of that, my claim to the crown is only upheld because I am the first born son. Perhaps, over the course of a few years, I can make powerful friends and talk to them of the disadvantages of war, but I cannot call an end to it the moment I am crowned."

He turned away and bowed his head, his shoulders hunched. "If I am overthrown, the next in line will see to it that my daughter does not survive. I have to be King to ensure her safety. If I am King when Cotti invades Jashimari, I will protect them both, I swear it. I shall not allow any harm to come to Minna-Satu."

Kerrion's voice deepened. "Usually Cotti warriors take little notice of women. They are inconsequential, and if captured, spoils of war. But the fact that the child is of royal blood, both Minna's and mine, will ensure her death, should I be ousted.

"I suspect that Minna knows this, which is why she sent you, her most valuable ally, into the jaws of death to redeem me. Minna's child can only bring peace between our kingdoms if she is the daughter of the Cotti king. Even so, we would face another five and twenty years of war, if Jashimari could last that long."