2025-01-23 17:00:47Luthen woke up confused. He looked round and could see nothing but fires, bodies and rubble. His clothes were dusty and he smelt of smoke. However around him there was no sign of stone. He stood. He felt the pounding headache threatening to crush his skull.
What happened here?He remembered something. It was a blur of sounds, smells, voice, feelings. Nothing clear. The limited edition card. The restaurant. The explosions. The girl. Maron. He did not remember the strange force that came out of him though.
His eyes widened and he started to look amongst the rubble. All the while the headache did not let go. However, his focus was on finding his friend.He searched till he found a piece of Maron’s torn shirt held down by an enormous piece of rubble. His favourite shirt.
He could not lift the stone but there was a pool of blood around.
His hands were red, stained by the blood.
The emotional pain he felt was like a spear stabbing his heart. He let out a roar of anguish.
The headache increased in intensity. He fell to his knees and clenched his feet.
The smaller stones around him started rising up. But the tears in his eyes did not let him see.
He tried to shout again. He started but cut straight in the middle. The pain from the headache finally knocked him out cold.
The stones dropped.
*******
On a building top unaffected by the explosions some distance away, stood two cloaked figures.
One of them lifted his hands to his communicating device on his ear and spoke in a male voice.
“The Shard has Awoken. Mission successful.”
The reply came through “Good. No further action is needed. Leave him be”. Voyne removed his finger from the comms device. It was coming together. It was good to have reliable subordinates. His plan was in motion. He took a sip of wine and checked the time. It would be time for the final part of the trial soon.
But he wasn’t worried about the verdict. It was already in his favour.
*******
The cloaked figure communicating with Voyne and watching Luthen, turned to leave.
“We have some luggage, Johann.” said the other cloak referring to the body of a person they had pulled from the debris earlier during the explosion.
Johann, the cloak that was communicating earlier paused and let out a sigh. He didn’t know why she saved this one. Females.
“Deal with it.”
“I sense strong soul energy from this one.” She kicked the body lightly. “He has Awoken too. He could be useful.” She protested.
The male cloak sighed again. He did not want to go on a mission with her. Now she is telling him to carry a stranger to their base. Well, it was not like he could refuse.
“Fine.” He forced out
The male cloak turned back.
*******
Renée came to the house where Voyne was hosted in the late morning. She had skipped the hearing of the past two days by coming late and was planning to miss the trial again today. She did not want to be around when they passed the verdict on Voyne.
They may think I am part of them and punish me too.
Fortunately for her job, Voyne hadn’t said anything about the past two days.
She hoped he had already left. She wasn’t so lucky today.
She met him in the parlor, attended by his followers.
“Good morning, Renée.” Voyne said. “You could not have come at a much better time”
He looked prepared for the trial. She wished she had come a few minutes later.
“You are coming, Renée.” he said not leaving room for an argument.
“Yes Archbishop.” Just like earlier, she knew she had no choice.
“May I follow, First Priest?” Viven asked. Voyne refused.
They entered the car that would transport them to the trial
Voyne kept humming throughout the journey.
*******
At the Hause Noblesse, the seat of the Nobles.
They arrived at the building and were directed to the trial hall.
The hall seats formed a circle. Seven specially decorated seats were arranged at equal angles from each other, with the other seats filling the space between them. Each seat was equally spaced from the other.
The Great Circle of Nobles.
Men and women arrayed in official but expensive clothing, huddled in groups outside the Circle, discussing law or just gossiping.
Voyne took some time to introduce the Nobles, unsettling Renée
Why is he in a good mood?
“......Over here are the members of the Seven Great Nobles; Archdukes Huften of Frenen, Manning of Garth and Soran of Pilys. On that side are the rest; Juggen of Gralan, Orrbi of Kalern, Revner of Dabim. And I haven’t seen the Archduchess Klare yet. Oh there she is! She rules Osyna and leads the Circle.”
He definitely is talking too much. Renée thought
“ ….. That is the High Noble……” Voyne continued introducing.
“…..And that lovely lady over there is Duchess Sophia Augusten. I believe she is here instead of her father, the Grand Duke. He probably had some matters to attend to.” Voyne told Renée with a mischievous grin. Renée thought she heard some stress on the word ‘matters’.
Is he interested in her? She asked herself. Voyne had started to walk towards the Duchess. A conversation?
The Duchess had her back towards them, talking to other dignitaries.
“Fine afternoon, isn’t it, Duchess?”
The Duchess turned. Renée had to admit it. She was heavenly.
“Fine one to send you behind bars.” she spat.
“Ah, justice wouldn’t be served then.”
“You would have this court believe in a myth? What’s next? Children’s stories?”
“I assure you the Shards are real.”
“If you came to meet me to lobby for you to get a lesser punishment, I am afraid I do not need anything you can offer.”
“Not even evidence?”
“If you had evidence, you would have presented it yesterday or the day before. No, you do not have any evidence. All I see is a man trying to achieve influence and power by corrupting society.”
Voyne laughed heartily.
Then with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and looking round the hall, he asked
“Where is the Archduke? He was here for the previous proceedings.”
“Some important business happened at home. He had to leave to take care of it”
“Yes, of course. I heard about that. Horrible, that was. Extend my condolences. Really terrible incident.”
“Huh? What happened?” Sophia was confused. Voyne had gone.
He went towards the defendant’s box
“Goodbye, Mother.”
Only Renée heard it. She did not know who he was speaking to or about.
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