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| Source Image for Basilica Vadisium Trial / Council Hall - Council of Trent |
Image source from web: http://lonelypilgrim.com/2011/10/
Someone is knocking on the cell door. Hard. Then a voice
comes.
‘Robert
Chandler! It’s time for the trial! Wake up and answer or we’ll use force!’
Inside the
dungeon cell, Robert stands up. It seems he has been awake for two hours after
a brief sleep. He immediately answers, ‘Yes, I’m up and about. I’m ready whenever
you are.’
Then come a
flash of light and a clattering sound of locks unlocking. That particular cell
was magically locked with various enchantments and force fields. A mage, two
monks and five guards stand by the door.
‘Hey,
Chris! Wake up! It’s time!’
Kyflynn
tries to wake Chris up. When the latter won’t budge, the elf pokes his waist
with such a jerk that makes Chris leap up in shock. The Valanisian officials
have kept their swords and armors somewhere safe, but that’s not the problem
for them.
There are
only Robert, Kyflynn, Andreas and Chris in that cell, because they put men and
women in different cells.
Here we go again, says Chris in his mind
when they go into Room of Divine Judgment, the trial room of the Basilica
Vadisium. The judges on high platforms, the high priests surrounding the room
give Chris a chill, while Kyflynn looks confident and Robert as indifferent as
ever. Robert, the main suspect is escorted to the lone seat in the middle of
the room while the others join the women on the audience seats.
Pope
Matthaeus who acts as the Head Judge begins the trial and Cardinal Dulvenia
gives a prolonged speech about the case which bores Chris greatly as it’s the
same chronological blabbering he once heard, plus new reports with accounts of
two attacks on Robert and Rael’charon, and MacLair’s involvement.
‘So,’ the
Pope says to Robert. ‘On the charge of murdering Pope Xylen Felicitia, what do
you plead?’
‘Not
guilty, Your Grace,’ says the accused.
‘And the
charge of consorting with pirates, killing the jailers in Vochaux, and
hijacking an Arcadian ship, Le
Partizane?’
‘Not guilty, Your Grace,’ says the accused
once again.
‘Very well,
then. Due to the little time we have, we move on to investigation reports and
presentation of material evidences.’
They begin
the presenting the evidences from the crime scene, including the weapon of
murder, Robert’s kiliji. The owner’s face doesn’t change at all on seeing that
sword, as he knows by doing so he shall eventually get his sword back.
Then comes
Rael’charon, presenting all he has said during his investigation and...
‘There is
something more I want to add. In the crime scene, as the report has stated,
there are two broken vases on the table. The vases are so large and filled with
dirt and plant, with a big symbol of the Right Way behind them. It looks like an
altar for worship, but Vadisians never used large vases and plants in any altar
I know of. Moreover, the vases were RECENTLY procured.
So, my
theory is, the vases were used to hold the sword horizontally, and Pope Xylen
impaled her back on it. Then she staggered a bit, fell forward, and with her
remaining strength she crawled, as though calling for help, then moved no more
in the pool of her own blood.’
Enraged,
the hunchbacked Cardinal Ulbergis with a very long, white mustache bellows,
‘You mean, Counselor, the Most Holy, Late Pope Xylen took her own life?’
‘Yes,’ says
Rael’charon.
Pope
Matthaeus’ anger flares up!
‘That’s
NONSENSE! The wise, respected Pope, whose actions were examples for all
Vadisians would never, in her right mind do that basest of atrocity!’
So, Xylen must be in a messed-up mind, then,
Chris thinks. And I think this Pope
must also be in his right mind to control his emotions and set an example for
all.
As though he can read Chris’ mind, Pope
Matthaeus constrains himself and talks normally again.
‘Nevertheless,
this is still a court of Vadis’ law, and we shall not pass judgments until we
confer and decide upon it. Then, let us proceed by hearing from witnesses.’
The Head
Judge asks Rael’charon to present his witnesses: Kyflynn, Desmond, Agustina,
and himself, explaining about the attacks on Robert, and the questioning that
resulted in King George’s trust in the man sitting in the middle of the room.
Then, the witnesses
from the Basilica Vadisium utter their statements. Female personal guards for
the Pope, some monks and some nuns.
‘Yes, Your
Grace. I saw Robert entering the Inner
Circle by the Pope’s invitation. But, I think he
and the Pope were engaged in an argument,’ Sister Solnii testifies.
Cardinal
Ulbergis comments, ‘What makes you think so? We want facts,
Sister, not mere thoughts.’
The
freckle-faced nun responds, ‘That’s because when I saw Robert come out from the
Pope’s room, he looked so hasty and distraught. That was what I see. And one
more thing, he came in with two swords and went out missing one.’
Rael’charon
asks again, ‘Well, when you saw him coming out, did you see any blood? On his
face, his body, feet, or hands?’
‘No,
Counselor,’ says Sister Solnii.
‘So all in
this room hear you.’
‘No, I
didn’t see any blood anywhere on him. He broke sweat, all right, but not blood.
No blood at all.’
‘Thank you,
Sister Solnii,’ says Rael. Then, turning to the judges he says, ‘I have no more
question for this witness, Your Grace.’
‘Very well.
Sister Solnii, you may return to your seat,’ says the Pope. ‘Is there any more
witness to present, Cardinal Ryddus?’
Ryddus
answers, ‘No, Your Grace. Sister Solnii is the last.’
‘Then we
call upon the accused, Robert Chandler to stand up.’
Robert does
so, and then the Pope continues.
‘Robert
Chandler, will you swear that all you are about to say is the truth and nothing
by the truth, by Vadis?’
Rob
responds, ‘By Vadis, I swear.’
‘Very well.
Now answer me straightforwardly: What were you doing in the Pope’s Chamber on
the night of the murder?’
‘The Pope
sent for me. She asked me to continue being her bodyguard – on a permanent
basis. I told her I prefer to be a vagabond hunter and refused her offer. We
argued a bit and then she finally gave up trying to persuade me, and I left.’
‘But then,’
says Cardinal Ryddus, holding up Robert’s letter – an evidence. ‘What made you
run away from the Basilica, telling your friends to run away with you too? In
this letter, you said, “The Pope can no longer be trusted!” What is the meaning
of this?’
Robert
answers, ‘Pope Xylen has acted against my will. She insisted on keeping me near
her for her own safety, though she instructed all Champions of Vadis to spread
out, track down and eliminate the Heir of Vordac and his minions.
My friends
and I consented to guard the Pope until we eliminate the threat, then we would
track down and fight the Heir elsewhere. So when she broke the deal, we can’t
trust her anymore. I decided to leave, thinking that she could take care of
herself with so many guards and enchantments around her.’
‘Objection’,
says Cardinal Ulbergis. ‘If Robert must leave, he must do so with the Pope’s
consent. No matter how great his distrust in the Pope was, he should’ve stayed.
Running away is always a cowardly act, generated either by fear or in case,
guilt. That’s your mistake, Robert Chandler. You should’ve stayed if you didn’t
do anything wrong.’
‘To tell
you the truth, I wouldn’t run if my father’s sword wasn’t missing. Something
must’ve addled my mind. I’ve never been as careless as to leave my precious
sword on someone else’s body. I was framed. The minute I realized that, I lost
my trust in the Pope. I got to find help, then...’
‘... You
ran,’ says Pope Matthaeus. ‘Robert, don’t you know about the rule in the court?
Always let the Head Judge speak first, then he will ask for your opinion if
necessary.’
‘If I
didn’t do that, I doubt you would ask me about that subject again and
prejudiced me as guilty. Sorry, but I can’t let it happen.’
‘INSOLENCE!’
the Pope roars. ‘How dare you insult the credibility of Vadis’ Court of Law?
Executor! Give him twenty lashes as punishment!’
The Court
Executor walks to the center, tears Robert’s shirt by the back and starts lashing
Robert with his whip. Robert tries not to scream in pain, but starting from the
eleventh lash, his pain is so unbearable as he screams. Well, it’s better than
being decapitated, though.
Eighteen...
Nineteen... Twenty...
And the
Executor leaves Robert kneeling there, numb with pain and blood all over his
newly-scarred back. Rael didn’t help Robert to avoid lashing, but now he moves
forward. He speaks to Robert loudly.
‘Robert, why didn’t you say it? Why didn’t you
tell them that you ran from Pope Xylen to save her face?’
‘Save her
face from what, Counselor?’ the Pope apparently hears that.
‘Robert
said to me that Pope Xylen not only wanted him as a full time bodyguard, but
also a pet to satisfy her lust!’
‘PREPOSTEROUS!
UTTER NONSENSE! BLASPHEMY! The Most Holy Pope Xylen always lived in chastity!
She even forbade men to touch her fingertip! Touching a strand of her blue hair
could result in excommunication! Tell us, Robert! Did you really tell such
thing to anyone?’
‘I’ve tried
not to disclose it, Your Grace,’ says Rob, ‘But yes, like I’ve said to
Counselor Rael, Pope Xylen tried to seduce me when she couldn’t persuade me.
But since I can’t prove it, I decided not to mention it in this court.’
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| Inspiration source for Medieval Trial with the Pope and the Cardinals - Morewhat.com |
‘But you
did mention it to Rael’charon, although you can’t prove it,’ Father Ryddus
argues.
‘Because
Counselor Rael’charon is my friend. I told him also that I can’t prove it, but
he encouraged me to mention it in trial.’
‘Permission
to speak, Your Grace,’ says Rael’charon.
‘Granted.
Go on, Counselor,’ says the Head Judge.
‘I’d like
to call Sister Solnii to the witness booth once again,’ says the elf. ‘I have a
few more questions to ask her.’
The request
is granted at once, and as Sister Solnii sits in the booth, Rael’charon asks,
‘Sister Solnii, when you saw Pope Xylen’s body, what was she wearing? What else
was on her except the sword?’
‘She was
wearing her night gown, Sir,’ says Solnii. ‘Her favorite thin, silk aquamarine
gown. But honestly, I didn’t like to see her in it.’
‘Why?’
‘Because
she turned into somebody else, not the decent-looking Pope we all revered, but
rather like – Vadis forgive me – a courtesan. Her behavior was strange, too. I
once found her caressing herself in her room, and she made me swear not to tell
anyone about it. Her beauty treatment was also extreme: milk bath, skin care
using rare materials, and expensive cosmetics.’
Cardinal
Ulbergis cuts in, ‘You have been given one question, but you talked so much
about your mistress’... peculiarities. Do you realize the outcome of your
blabbering?’
‘I do, Your
Grace. I am being disloyal to the Holy Mother, and deserve punishment from
Vadis. But if my sacrifice can save a man from being wrongly prosecuted, it
will bring peace to my soul.’
The Head
Judge dismissed Sister Solnii back to her audience seat, and addresses the
prosecutor, Cardinal Ryddus, ‘Has the prosecutor prepared his final argument?’
‘Yes, I
have,’ says Ryddus.
‘And has
the defendant prepared his final argument?’
‘Yes, I
have,’ says Rael.
‘So, the
Court now calls for the prosecutor to deliver his argument.’
Ryddus
begins, ‘Holy Father, esteemed Judges and defendant, and everybody present in
this court, we’ve just seen the most excellent effort to convince everyone that
this man, the accused, Robert Chandler didn’t commit the crime of murdering
Pope Xylen Felicitia. Some of the witnesses, especially Sister Solnii, stated
that Robert met, and quarreled with the Pope. Then he came out missing a sword
and ran away, telling his friends to do the same because “the Pope can’t be
trusted”. Then, he was arrested in Vochaux, escaped from prison, hijacked an
Arcadian ship with help of the pirate Sheena Mekh’ta. Then, he resisted arrest
from our agents, luring them into duels and defeated them.
So tell me,
are these not the acts of crime? The acts befit the Heir of Vordac? The
witnesses may claim that MacLair was behind the recent attacks on Robert, but
isn’t it possible that Robert is in league with MacLair himself? All evidences
clearly point that Robert murdered Pope Xylen Felicitia with cold blood,
without doubt.
Therefore,
I recommend the court to pass on punishment according to the laws of Vadis.
Robert must pay his crime, and the penalty is death. That will be all.’
‘Thank you,
Brother Ryddus,’ says the Pope. ‘Now the court calls for Counselor Rael’charon
to present his defense.’
Rael steps
forward and stands confidently near Robert and speaks with loud yet gentle
voice.
‘Your
Grace, the esteemed Judges, Prosecutor, and dear audience. As we can see here,
we are led to believe in material evidences and everything our eyes can see.
This is rather disturbing, since material evidences can be used to bend
justice, cover tracks and make a scapegoat out of others. Vadis himself
realized it. Written in His Holy Scripture, Imla
Vadis: “Matters, mutters and magicks can be altered, but the truth always lies
in heart.” Then, in his other words, “Behavior
is the reflection of the heart.”
In this case, according to the witnesses,
someone has mesmerized Robert, took his sword and used it to kill the Pope. The
broken vases and trail of blood were fabricated as signs of struggle. But what
of Robert’s behavior? A witness you presented here, a warden from Vochaux
claimed that Robert just knocked the jailers out. Many guards Robert fought
claimed so. Sheena hijacked a ship, yes, but Robert was only a passenger. He
fought Adler and Hernan and spared their lives. He ran away from Valanis to
Lore. It was all because he knew he was being framed. He ran to save the Pope’s
face and to seek help – my help. And after I consented to help him, he went
back here, all prepared.
If he
indeed killed the Pope, he wouldn’t be as foolish as to leave his possessions
or marks of his identity in the crime scene, and he would not run, but stays on
and played the hero instead. Knowing full well of his behavior, Vordac would
disown his heir on any sign of foolishness and disobedience, and left him
soulless. Moreover, if Robert killed the Pope as a minion, he would end up
dead, silenced by the Heir, MacLair, or other minions.
All in all,
we recommend the court to free Robert Chandler of all charges. Let us not pass
judgment with eyes, but with heart. Eyes can deceive you, but heart holds the
truth. Vadis once said, “My worldly being
will be gone, you will not see me anymore. However, if you believe, you
will find that I’ll still be around, watching you with Mother Enia, and
bringing balance to this world with Father Adair. I’ll be by your side from now
on until forever.” May Vadis and Enia bless you and bring you true
justice!’
The
Pope concludes, ‘Very well. Now the three of us will confer upon this matter in
a separate room. We shall come up with a verdict when we are done. Please
remain on your seats.’
Now comes
the hardest part: Robert, Rael, the witnesses and the rest of the audience are
waiting for more than three hours for the three judges: Matthaeus, Dulvenia and
Ulbergis to reach the verdict. One may go to the bathroom in turns and under
heavy guard. The trial must end today, no postponing. Everybody is waiting
there with mixtures of anxiety, worry and boredom. Will the judges see things
with their hearts? Or strictly by the book and through tamper-able evidences?
You may wish that the fingerprint system was invented that time, so everything
would be much simpler.
Nearing the
fourth hour of waiting, the judges come in from the back door and climb back to
their high platforms. The Head Judge looks very irritated yet keeps himself
composed as he starts talking loudly.
‘Holy Court
of Vadis, brothers, sisters in Vadis. We, the judges have conferred, summarized
the facts and testimonials we’ve gathered, and now we’ve reached the verdict.
The accused please stand up from your seat.’
Robert
stands up, and the Pope continues.
‘Robert
Chandler, we’ve acquired evidences that you’ve killed the Pope, yet behavioral
facts stated that you wanted to save the Pope’s face and find help instead.
Your presence and cooperation here put some weight off the charge, but your
resistance to arrest and your act of piracy are disturbing. So, by putting
Rael’charon’s crime scene theory into account, we’ve concluded that someone
very powerful must’ve addled Robert’s mind, stole his sword, killed the Pope
with it and went away, unseen and undetected. We can assume it was MacLair, but
he has paid for his other crimes with his untimely death.
Therefore,
we declare Robert Chandler free from the charge of murder of Pope Xylen
Felicitia on grounds of insufficient evidence.
However, on
his acts of jail break and consorting with pirates, Robert is found guilty and
therefore, his hunting license is revoked, permanently. He will be banned in
all hunter guilds in the entire Continent of Aurelia. He may hunt for his
needs, but neither mission nor money will he get from hunter guilds.
About the
accusation of being an Heir of Vordac, Robert’s aura and behavior don’t show
any sign of it. However, people may come and check upon you from time to time.
Should anyone proves that you’re really the Heir, all Aurelia will fight you
until the Dark Overlord perish completely. Robert’s sword will be returned to
its rightful owner.
Thus spoken
and stated by the will of Vadis, the Almighty, the Right Way.’
After
delivering their verdict, the judges descend from their platforms and leave the
Trial Hall through the back door. Some of the witnesses and audience also leave
the room, leaving Robert in the center, still standing there. His face shows
neither happiness nor relief, just as cold and expressionless as ever.
Robert’s
friends come forward to congratulate him.
Seeing
Robert’s face, Rael’charon pats his shoulder, saying, ‘At least it’s not a
total loss. Anyways, you are a Knight of Order of Lions now, not a monster
hunter anymore.’
Carolyn
adds, ‘Are you being sad because we can’t hunt together anymore?’
Robert
shakes his head, saying, ‘I’m happy, sad, angry and relieved at the same time.
How can I express them altogether? I owe Rael’charon my thanks for helping me
all the way here, and you all for testifying.
Looks like
I’m going to miss you all. I’m going back to Lore to serve My King and country.
Chris, you also have duties as the Prince of Arcadia now. Be strong, be wise,
be just, and be careful. Always discipline yourself in your sword training,
because from the first time we met I knew you will exceed me, Your Highness.’
‘Oh,
shucks, Rob. For me, you will always be my good teacher,’ Cristophe replies.
‘Carol,
your magic is much advanced now, with Aegis the Thunder Bird on your side. You
also talk less and act more, and always resourceful. For that, I admire you.’
Carol
blushes on hearing that, replying, ‘And I to you, Rob. You have undergone such
hardships and now Vadis smiles upon you.’
Robert nods
and turns to Iris. ‘Iris, you are less show-off now and more serious. Maybe
love has changed you.’
Iris just
nods and stares towards Chris, but her face looks gloomy.
‘Father
Andreas, please watch over them all for me.’
‘Aye. Will
do, laddie,’ says Andreas.
Kyflynn
says to Rob, ‘I, Desmond and Tina will be going with you to Lore. I think more
exciting things will happen by staying in the same city with you. If you should
need us, just call upon us, and we’ll gladly help you.’
‘Thanks,
Flynn. Now I know that I can trust you,’ Robert replies. ‘Well, this is the
point where we go separate ways. Take care, my friends, and may Vadis watch
over you.’
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