Raymond E. Feist - The Serpentwar Saga

Nicholas looked at James. ‘Corwin?’

‘Honest, for the most part,’ said James. ‘What I could find out tells me he occasionally received some Keshian spices without benefit of duty, but that’s not unusual.’

Nicholas said, ‘Why did John Corwin owe you money?’

With a feral light in his eyes, Tom said, ‘Well, truth to tell, You Highness, we was bringing the merchant some Keshian spice, without bothering to call it to the attention of the duty office at the Port Authority, if you see. We was only doing it to support our families.’

Nicholas glanced at the woman who had remained silent, and Erik followed his gaze. She looked at Tom for a moment, then briefly shook her head no.

Nicholas said, ‘What’s the state’s request?’

James said, ‘Thomas Reed is a habitual criminal, a self-confessed member of the Guild of Thieves –’

‘Wait a minute, lord!’ shouted Thomas. ‘I was just making some idle boasts, trying to get some respect from the guards –’

James ignored the interruption. The state asks for death.’

‘Granted.’

With that single word, Slippery Tom was sentenced to die the next morning.

Erik looked at Roo and wondered if the terror he saw in his friend’s eyes was as apparent in his own.

Slowly each man was brought before the bar of justice, and each time at the end of the plea, Erik saw the Prince look at the woman. Each time she shook her head no, save for once, when Biggo was on trial, when she nodded yes slightly. But it seemed to make no difference, for Biggo was condemned to the gallows with the others.

When there were fewer than half to be tried, the scribe called, ‘Sho Pi!’

The Isalani was brought before the Prince, and James recited the charges: ‘Sho Pi, a citizen of Kesh, Highness. Arrested for brawling. He killed a guard.’

‘Your plea?’ asked the Prince.

The Isalani smiled. ‘Plea? I have none. Highness. The facts are as recited.’

‘Then enter the plea as guilty,’ said Nicholas. ‘Have you anything to say before sentencing?’

The smile broadened, and the Isalani said, ‘Only that facts and truth are not interchangeable. I am but a poor student, formerly a monk of the order of Dala. I was sent to find my master.’

‘Your master?’ asked Nicholas, seemingly interested in the story, decidedly different than the run-of-the-mill pleas heard so far today. ‘Who is he?’

‘This I do not know. I was an indifferent student at the monastery where I was trained, save in the art of fighting. I admit to being unworthy of the calling; the Abbot sent me out, telling me that if I had a master he was outside the order, and to seek him in a city where men brawl daily.’ The man shrugged. ‘Often in jest, truth is revealed, and I meditated for days upon what my former Abbot said. Given some insight by hunger, I decided to seek my master in your city, though it was far from my own land. I traveled and worked, and found myself in Krondor but a week ago.’

‘Since then he’s been arrested three times,’ said James.

The man named Sho Pi shrugged. ‘Unfortunately, this is true. I have many flaws, and a temper is among them. I was being cheated at cards, and when I objected, a struggle ensued, and when I pleaded my innocence to your city watch, I was attacked. I merely defended myself.’

‘During the struggle he killed a guardsman,’ said James.

‘Is this true?’ said Nicholas.

‘Regrettably, but in my defense may I say that it was never my intent to kill the man. I was merely trying to disarm him. I had taken his sword from him when he unexpectedly twisted away from me, pushing himself into his companion, who threw him forward upon the sword I was now holding. It is very sad, but it happened.’ He spoke as if he were reciting a lesson, without emotion, not pleading for his life.

The Prince looked at the woman, who nodded slightly. Then he said, ‘What is the state’s request?’

‘The state requests thirty years’ labor in the prison gang.’

‘Granted,’ said Nicholas.

For reasons Erik couldn’t understand, Sho Pi seemed amused at this as the guard escorted him back to the prisoners’ dock.

Two more men were ordered to their death; then, when Erik and Roo were all that were left, their names were called. Sebastian Lender stepped forward with Erik, and James said, ‘Your Highness, we have a special case here. Erik von Darkmoor and Rupert Avery are charged with the murder of Stefan, Baron von Darkmoor.’

‘How do you plead?’ asked Nicholas.

Before either young man could speak, Lender said, ‘If it pleases Your Highness, I would ask that it be recorded that the two youths before you plead not guilty.’

Nicholas smiled and leaned back in his throne. ‘Lender, isn’t it? You used to cause my father no end of irritation. Now I see why. Very well.’ He looked at Erik and Rupert. ‘Do you have something to say?’

Again, before either young man could speak. Lender said, ‘I have here, Highness, documents sworn before the High Constable in Darkmoor and two priests of local temples, under oath, on behalf of these young men.’ He opened a large leather document case and pulled from it a copious sheaf of papers. ‘Not only do we have the sworn testimony of one Rosalyn, daughter of Milo, owner of the Inn of the Pintail; I have a testimony from several guardsmen who were witness to events leading to the conflict, and from Baron Manfred von Darkmoor as to his brother Stefan’s state of mind before the incident.’ He handed them to James, who looked irritated at the need to peruse such a large amount of information in a short time.

‘While my Duke of Krondor looks over these documents, Master Lender, I would be pleased to hear the young men tell what happened.’

Erik looked at Roo and, with a nod, indicated he should begin. ‘It started at the fountain, Your Highness, the one before the Growers’ and Vintners’ Hall in Ravensburg. I was there with some others, just talking, when Rosalyn came looking for Erik. While I was talking to her, Stefan and Manfred, the Baron’s sons, come – came up to us and began talking to Rosalyn. Manfred kept telling Stefan they needed to get back to their father, Otto, who was dying at the time, but Stefan kept talking about “Erik’s girl,” and how she was too sweet to waste on a bastard blacksmith, and things like that.’

Nicholas sat back and seemed intent on the story as Roo recounted all he could remember up to where Erik took off after Stefan, and the ensuing fight. When he was done, Nicholas asked Erik for his story. Erik told it calmly and without any attempt to avoid responsibility for his taking his half brother’s life.

When the story was told, Nicholas said, ‘Why did you run?’

Erik shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It seemed …’ He looked down a moment, then back up, locking gazes with Nicholas. ‘It seemed impossible that I could kill the swine and not be hung for it.’

‘Did you hate him that much?’

Erik said, ‘More than I thought, Highness.’ Inclining his head at his friend, he said, ‘Roo saw it coming long before I did. He told me once that I might have to kill Stefan someday. Stefan and I met only three times before that night, and all three times he sought me out to cause problems, calling me names, insulting my mother, claiming I wanted his inheritance.’

‘Was there any truth to it?’

Erik shrugged. ‘I don’t think so. I never thought much about being noble, or having office. I’m a smith, and I’m the best horse man in Darkmoor – ask Owen Greylock, the Baron’s Swordmaster, if you doubt me. I only wanted a guild badge and my own forge, no more than that. My mother only wanted me to have a proper name. It was her passion that made Stefan fearful. But even if she dreamed I might someday be a noble, it was never any dream of mine. I had the name already.’ His voice lowered, and his tone became almost defiant. ‘That was, at least, one thing my father did allow me. He never publicly denied me the name von Darkmoor, and I’ll take that to the grave with me.’