today. Ara Lantec, elegant as always in graceful robes, perfectly coifed dark hair, and lovely gray eyes, beamed at Kien. Beside her, Kien’s sister, Beka, settled herself. As elegant as Mother, but obviously pregnant, Beka threw Kien a sparkling smile. Kien grinned.
Until Father lifted a commanding eyebrow, silently reminding Kien to be dignified and serious. Father ought to be glad he could smile. Kien exhaled, seeking calm. “Infinite? Help me, please.”
The trial judge entered the chamber, imposing in his black robes, his lined face austere. Kien wondered if he himself would ever preside over a criminal court. Not likely after this trial.
At least this chair was cushioned. No doubt he would remain in this seat for most of the day. Attempting to look pleasant, Kien watched the lead prosecutor approach. The man cleared his throat and raised his rich voice until it seemed to rebound from the very crest of the magnificent dome above. “Kien Lantec, remember you are sworn to speak the truth.”
“Yes.” But don’t volunteer anything, Father’s advisors had cautioned—as if Kien knew nothing of the law.
The first few questions were mundane and expected.
“Kien Lantec, what office do you hold?”
“I am serving as a military judge-advocate under the command of General Rol.”
“What other duties have you undertaken for the Tracelands?”
“I served as ambassador to the country of Istgard and wasimprisoned there following the massacre at Ytar. I also fought as a volunteer in the battle of Ytar the next spring.”
Murmurs of surprise and agreement lifted from among the audience. As if the Tracelands had forgotten he’d been imprisoned and nearly died for his country. The lead prosecutor looked irritated. “Were you present at the fall of Parne?”
“Yes.”
“Did you indeed go into Parne under questionable circumstances as Commander Selwin testified?”
“Subordinate Commander Selwin forgot to mention that I entered Parne off duty, as a private citizen, to rescue Ela of Parne, whom I love.” There. Let his love for Ela be recorded forever in the Tracelands’ archives.
The prosecutor grimaced, then recovered. “You entered Parne knowing there was an order to execute any Parnians who resisted being removed from their city?”
“No.” As the prosecutor gaped in obvious protest, Kien raised his own voice. “Subordinate Commander Selwin misunderstood the order, though he personally heard the king speak it, as I did. The king’s orders were to kill anyone who lifted weapon s against allied soldiers. I, too, was uncomfortable with the order, given Parne’s circumstances.”
Beyond the prosecutor, Kien noticed Selwin’s pale fingers tapping restlessly against his black leggings. Nearby, the black-cloaked General Rol, Kien’s imposing silver-haired superior and mentor, was scowling at the man. Within those two answers, Selwin was revealed as, at best, untrustworthily forgetful. At worst a deliberate liar specializing in omissions. And in each question that followed, whenever Selwin’s testimony was mentioned, Kien solemnly repeated, “I regret that Subordinate Commander Selwin misunderstood.”
At last, the lead prosecutor dropped all mention of Selwin. “Did you, Kien Lantec, obey the king’s order, which was supposedly inspired by the Infinite?”
“I obeyed my own conscience and instincts, sir. While retrievingEla of Parne from a life-threatening situation, I defended myself against one man when he attacked me with a sword.”
“Did you kill him?”
“Yes, sir. I have the right to defend myself.”
“Are you a follower of the Infinite?”
“Yes.” The circular chamber buzzed with comments. Some of the onlookers sneered.
The prosecutor smiled, remarkably bland. “And do you believe the Infinite’s commands supersede any commands given by your own government?”
“A man must follow his conscience. If the Infinite’s commands override others, then I obey
Until Father lifted a commanding eyebrow, silently reminding Kien to be dignified and serious. Father ought to be glad he could smile. Kien exhaled, seeking calm. “Infinite? Help me, please.”
The trial judge entered the chamber, imposing in his black robes, his lined face austere. Kien wondered if he himself would ever preside over a criminal court. Not likely after this trial.
At least this chair was cushioned. No doubt he would remain in this seat for most of the day. Attempting to look pleasant, Kien watched the lead prosecutor approach. The man cleared his throat and raised his rich voice until it seemed to rebound from the very crest of the magnificent dome above. “Kien Lantec, remember you are sworn to speak the truth.”
“Yes.” But don’t volunteer anything, Father’s advisors had cautioned—as if Kien knew nothing of the law.
The first few questions were mundane and expected.
“Kien Lantec, what office do you hold?”
“I am serving as a military judge-advocate under the command of General Rol.”
“What other duties have you undertaken for the Tracelands?”
“I served as ambassador to the country of Istgard and wasimprisoned there following the massacre at Ytar. I also fought as a volunteer in the battle of Ytar the next spring.”
Murmurs of surprise and agreement lifted from among the audience. As if the Tracelands had forgotten he’d been imprisoned and nearly died for his country. The lead prosecutor looked irritated. “Were you present at the fall of Parne?”
“Yes.”
“Did you indeed go into Parne under questionable circumstances as Commander Selwin testified?”
“Subordinate Commander Selwin forgot to mention that I entered Parne off duty, as a private citizen, to rescue Ela of Parne, whom I love.” There. Let his love for Ela be recorded forever in the Tracelands’ archives.
The prosecutor grimaced, then recovered. “You entered Parne knowing there was an order to execute any Parnians who resisted being removed from their city?”
“No.” As the prosecutor gaped in obvious protest, Kien raised his own voice. “Subordinate Commander Selwin misunderstood the order, though he personally heard the king speak it, as I did. The king’s orders were to kill anyone who lifted weapon s against allied soldiers. I, too, was uncomfortable with the order, given Parne’s circumstances.”
Beyond the prosecutor, Kien noticed Selwin’s pale fingers tapping restlessly against his black leggings. Nearby, the black-cloaked General Rol, Kien’s imposing silver-haired superior and mentor, was scowling at the man. Within those two answers, Selwin was revealed as, at best, untrustworthily forgetful. At worst a deliberate liar specializing in omissions. And in each question that followed, whenever Selwin’s testimony was mentioned, Kien solemnly repeated, “I regret that Subordinate Commander Selwin misunderstood.”
At last, the lead prosecutor dropped all mention of Selwin. “Did you, Kien Lantec, obey the king’s order, which was supposedly inspired by the Infinite?”
“I obeyed my own conscience and instincts, sir. While retrievingEla of Parne from a life-threatening situation, I defended myself against one man when he attacked me with a sword.”
“Did you kill him?”
“Yes, sir. I have the right to defend myself.”
“Are you a follower of the Infinite?”
“Yes.” The circular chamber buzzed with comments. Some of the onlookers sneered.
The prosecutor smiled, remarkably bland. “And do you believe the Infinite’s commands supersede any commands given by your own government?”
“A man must follow his conscience. If the Infinite’s commands override others, then I obey
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