The passage of time within the windowless cell was interminable. It seemed an eternity before the guards brought the prisoners out of the dungeon, let them wash, and was presented before the court.
They sat on a bench at the front of the large courtroom. A man in a powdered wig sat behind a large desk set upon a dais several feet above the courtroom floor. A scribe sat off to one side near an empty chair just forward and to one side of the dais.
The adventurers looked around and saw that the courtroom was packed full of spectators. They took note of private viewing box built above the dais and screened in for privacy. Maude assumed that the King was likely observing the proceedings from this lofty perch.
"Your Majesty, lords and ladies, nobles and commoners; let the trial of Brightridge versus Maude's Marauders now commence. The honorable, Lord Highworth, presiding," the bailiff shouted out in a loud clear voice.
"Prosecution, please give us your opening statement," instructed the judge.
A young man in formal robes of office stepped forward and addressed the judge and the assembled spectators.
"My Lord and fellow citizens, today I will prove beyond doubt that this band of ruffians," he said while pointing at the defendants, "willfully attacked the lawful laird of the quaint but lovely town of Duskshire and sacked his Lordship's home. While commencing their heinous crime, they brutally assaulted a score of Lord Preston's hired protectors, vandalized his residence, stole his property to include two of his valuable horses, set fire to his bed chamber, and for some perverted reason, his privy closet."
"That was an accident! I thought he may have hidden jewels down the privy hole and the torch set the lacquered wood of the seat on fire!" Borik shouted in defense.
"Quiet! There is no defense or objection allowed during opening statements, now sit down, sir!" the judge commanded, banging his gavel for order.
"My lords and ladies, I will bring forth the poor man whose home was invaded, his safety and his very life threatened, and his possessions stripped from him. He will give testimony to the terror that he endured at the hands of the defendants. It is my intent that his words sway our esteemed Lord Highworth to find them guilty and sentence them to hang."
Brt
.
Malek elbowed Borik hard in the ribs and glared at him.
Borik lifted his hands palms up in a gesture of helplessness.
"Lord Tarsley, if you please, sir," the judge invited.
"My Lord and fellow citizens, my clients do not deny the terrible
accident
that has occurred to the esteemed Lord Preston. What I intend to do today is show that it was a case of a great mistake brought about by rumors and wives' tales from his Lordship's own people. My clients acted under false information and with the best of intentions. I intend to prove that they are also victims of a great misunderstanding and that, while their intentions may not absolve them of civil liability, it must release them from criminal culpability," Lord Tarsley concluded and resumed his seat.
"Prosecutor, please introduce your first witness," the judge commanded.
"My Lord, I call Lord Preston, laird of the town of Duskshire, to the stand."
The hunched old man entered the courtroom through the ornate double doors at the rear of the vast justice chamber. He strode purposefully towards the witness chair, glaring daggers at the people who had recently disrupted his life.
"My Lord, are you the lawful lord of Duskshire?"
"I am."
"When did you assume lordship of Duskshire?"
"I inherited the responsibility from my father and was confirmed by his highness, King Rayburn forty-three years past."
"My Lord," the prosecutor said, addressing the judge, "I would like to submit Lord Preston's confirmation decree signed by His Majesty, King Rayburn, granting him lawful authority of the town of Duskshire," the prosecutor said, holding up a sheaf of papers.
"Lord Preston, you say your home was invaded and you were forced to flee in fear of your life?" the prosecutor asked his witness.
"That's right. It was shortly after breakfast."
"Did you see the faces of the people who attacked you?"
"Yes, except for the big one, she wore a full helm but I recognize her voice," the old man answered.
"And do you see them in this courtroom today Lord Preston?" the barrister continued.
"Yes, that's them sitting there," the laird replied, pointing a bony finger at Maude's group.
"I have no more questions, My Lord."
"Lord Tarsley, your witness."
The portly defense counselor strode towards the witness bench and addressed the bitter-looking old man.
"Lord Preston, have you ever been involved in the dark arts or necromancy?"
"Of course not, that is absurd!"
"We shall see. Have you ever abducted any of your townsfolk or held them against their will?"
"I have indentured some who have failed to pay their taxes or to work off a minor crime over the years as is my right."
"Indeed, we shall see."
"Lord Highworth, I have no more questions for this witness."
"Prosecutor, call your next witness."
"I call Sergeant
Cooperson
to the stand, My Lord." Maude recognized the gate guard from the manor take the stand. "Sergeant, please describe what you remember of the events of the day in question."
"I had charge of the gates with instructions that My Lord not be disturbed. I seen that dwarf there dressed all flashy and strange like," he described as he pointed at Borik, "and that elf there dressed, well, pretty much the same as he is now, approach the gate. They said they was mummers and wanted to put on a show for the amusement of Lord Preston. Well, I know that milord is not a man amused by anything so I ordered them to be off. But instead of leaving they start
dancin
’ around all weird like. The elf made little balls of light fly around and the dwarf was, well, I think he was supposed to be
dancin
’, but it looked like he was, well, I don’t think I can say in such a place as this what it looked like he was
doin
’. I shouted at them to take their foolery away or my men and I would remove them by force. The dwarf started cursing me and calling me foul names, saying that my mother copulated with a bugbear and that I was what was pulled out with a wire hook but was too stupid to die."
Angry mutters filled the courtroom behind them.
"Go on, Sergeant, then what happened?"
"Me and several of my men charged out the gate to drive em off, but we suddenly came under an enchantment, probably from that strange elf, and then the next thing I knew I was trussed up like a pig fit to be roasted next to my men. A couple hours later some of the townsfolk came by and cut us free."
"Thank you, Sergeant, I have no more questions."
"Your witness, counselor."
"I have no questions at this time, My Lord," Lord Tarsley responded.
"Next witness if you please," the judge instructed.
"My Lord, I call guardsman first-class
Ireson
to the stand," the prosecutor continued. "Guardsman, please tell us what you recall of the events on the day in question."
"My Lords, I was responsible for the security of Lord Preston and the inside of his manor. I was walking my usual rounds when the kitchen staff burst into the sitting room screaming about intruders. I sent several men into the dining hall from which the staff had emerged and held several of my guards back in the sitting room to take up positions with crossbows to intercept anyone that may get past my men. I heard sounds of battle as my men engaged the intruders. A few minutes later that lot there burst through the door. Me and my men fired our crossbows but they ducked aside and charged us. We fought a retreating battle up the stairs, but the intruders overmatched us and brought us down. The dwarf tied us up and gagged us as the other three burst into Lord Preston's chambers. I heard an awful scream then heard my Lord running past with them following. They looted the house and set My Lord's bedchamber on fire."
"Objection, My Lord, mister
Ireson
was blindfolded at the time and had no way of knowing who ran past, he never saw my clients remove anything from the manor, or set anything on fire," Lord Tarsley defended.
"Sustained, the witness
assumes
it was the defendants given the circumstances and what he personally witnessed previously. You may proceed."
"I have no more questions, Your Honor."
"Defense, you may cross examine."
"Sir, did you or any members of the guard or household suffer any serious injury?"
"No, My Lord."
"Thank you, no more questions."
"Prosecutor, call your next witness."
"The prosecution calls no more witnesses at this time, My Lord."
"Defense counsel, you may call your witnesses at this time."
"Thank you, My Lord. Defense calls Miss Appleton to the stand." The attractive barmaid took a seat in the witness chair. "Miss Appleton, you were the first to speak with my clients regarding Lord Preston, what did you tell them?"
"I told them that Lord Preston was an evil man that oppressed his people with outrageous taxes, worked them like slaves, and held them against their will."
"Objection, My Lord, the court has already established that Lord Preston acted within his rights to levy taxes, indenture debtors, and punish any violation of the law."
"Overruled counselor, Miss Appleton is merely stating what was said not establishing legalities."
"You also stated that you believed he practiced evil magic and has lived an unnaturally long life," Lord Tarsley continued.
"Aye, m'lord, he has been laird of Duskshire as long as anyone can remember."
"Very well, I have no more questions," Lord Tarsley said as he finished with his witness.
Lord Highworth called the prosecutor to rebut the witness.
"Ms. Appleton, how old are you?"
"I'm twenty and three, m'lord."
"Lord Preston is seventy-four years old and has been laird for forty-three. Do you think that that may be why he is the only laird you and most all of your friends ever recall?"
"Um, aye, I suppose that makes sense, milord."
"No more questions, My Lord."
"Counselor, your next witness please."
"I call Mrs. Tatum to the stand, My Lord."
The old crone from the inn shambled up to the witness stand holding her head as if she were royalty herself.
"Mrs. Tatum, you told my clients that you knew of several people, including children, who have disappeared and that you believe that Lord Preston was involved."
"Aye, I know for certain he done took them. He took my boy, Percy, and my friend
Shandra's
boy!"
The assembled onlookers started to mumble amongst themselves.
"You also claim that he is a vampire."
"Aye, he dresses all in black all the time and never comes out during the day."
"Interesting, you also recall that many years ago that he had a wife and child but they disappeared around the same time that he cloistered himself within his manor and that screams were heard emanating from the house at the time of their disappearance! Is that so, Mrs. Tatum?"