The Warlock Senator (Book 2) (18 page)

“Here, here!” someone shouted from one of the balconies. “For the record, I objected to starting the tribunal without the Keeper of Secrets.”

“Senator Mickelson, hold your peace,” the senator at the pulpit said. “The senate voted to speed up the tribunal in order to avoid political ramifications, and the vote was in accordance with the law as it currently stands.”

“What political ramifications?” Erik asked. Al nudged him.

“Don’t speak too much,” Al cautioned.

“Senator Bracken thought that holding Lord Lokton might result in revolts in the streets,” Senator
Mickelson said.

The old senator at the pulpit motioned for Senator Bracken to come up to the pulpit.

“Was I wrong to be careful?” Senator Bracken asked. He pointed to Braun. “This man here threatened city guards, and was found trying to sneak into this very building. What more proof do you need?”

No answer was given.

“I am here now,” Erik said.

Senator Bracken turned a steely gaze to him. “So you are.” He tapped his knuckles on the pulpit. “Perhaps you can be of assistance then, Keeper,” senator Bracken Said. “I was about to call the tribunal’s vote.”

“The trial is over?” Erik asked.

Senator Bracken looked at him for a moment, studying him carefully. “Perhaps I should remind yo
u that the law allows the senate to accelerate the tribunal if there is sufficient reason to warrant such measures. But, do not worry, the senate understands that you put forth your best efforts to answer the summons we sent, and we find no fault in you for missing the hearing. However, in light of the fact that you did not witness the evidence presented, nor hear any of the testimonies given, it seems you may not wish to vote in this matter.”

“Or we could run through the evidence again,” Erik said. “For I wish to vote.”

Senator bracken sneered down at him. “There is no provision in the law for such a request, Keeper,” Bracken said.

“Be quiet,” Al whispered harshly.

Erik shook his head. “It is my job to ensure protocol is followed,” Erik said. “How is it that these prisoners have come by the bruises on their faces?”

Bracken turned to the other senator and stepped back from the pulpit. The old senator stepped forward and gripped the sides of the pulpit with his leathery, liver-spotted hands. “While normally it is your duty to ensure protocol is followed when summoned to a tribunal, you have no such authority when you miss the hearing.”

“You changed the date,” Erik growled.

The old senator rapped a stone sphere onto a metal disc. The jarring sound echoed through the chamber. “All that has been done is in accordance with the law and the protocol. We have finished the hearing and now it is time for a vote. If you feel so strongly, you may cast your vote along with us, but I would advise against it as you have not been present for the entire proceeding.”

Erik bristled and wiped away Al’s relentless elbow. “This isn’t right,” Erik whispered to Al.

Al nodded. “We can still ask the king for a review, just keep calm.”

Senator Bracken made his way back to the pulpit and looked at them both for a moment before turning his attention to the balconies. “All of those who believe Lord Lokton is innocent, please raise the white flag on your balconies.”

Senator
Mickelson was the first to display a white flag. Three others slowly followed suit. Each flag drew Bracken’s ire visibly. The senator’s face grew red and he tapped his knuckles on the pulpit before continuing.

“Something is wrong,” Erik whispered.

“Quiet!” Al responded in a harsh whisper.

Erik couldn’t shake the feeling. Something was terribly wrong. He searched the room and tried to scan for anything that might be out of place. He couldn’t find anything.
The stone sphere smacked against the metal disc one time, ripping Erik back to the present.

“Those who find Lord Lokton guilty, please present your vote
by raising the black flag.”

Thirty
black flags appeared over the front of each balcony. A wide smile pulled the corners of Bracken’s mouth out toward his ears. He nodded, satisfied at the outcome. Then he added his own black flag, displaying it proudly over the front of the pulpit.

“Lord Lokton, you are hereby found guilty of inciting rebellion. You are
forthwith deemed a traitor, and sentenced to death.”

“No!” Erik shouted.

“Shut it!” Al pleaded, but it was too late. Erik was walking forward to the pulpit.

“Interesting,” Bracken said. “So, does this plot go beyond a nobleman and his retinue then?” Bracken swept his arm out to the floor and pointed to Erik. “Fellow members of the senate, what think we about this?”

The room was silent.

“I am no traitor, neither is that man there,” Erik said. “Your trial is a sham. You have no proof of anything.”

“Oh but we do,” Bracken shot back. “You would have seen our evidence had you been more diligent in answering our summons. But I wonder whether you would have accepted the proof? For now it appears that you have thrown in with him.”

“This is madness,” Senator
Mickelson shouted out. “The Keeper has only acted in the interest of the kingdom!”

“And yet, he holds himself above the kingdom,” Senator Bracken retorted. “Isn
’t that right, Master Lepkin?” Senator Bracken walked out from behind the pulpit. “At Roegudok Hall, you recently told me that you were autonomous from the senate, and from the kingdom as a whole. Could it be that you think yourself capable of taking the throne for yourself.”

“I do not want the throne,” Erik said. He tried to think of something quick to say that would help him out of the predicament and still give him the chance to save his father. “I want only justice. A fair trial, held in accordance with th
e law. Even your fellow senator said there was a protest against the way this tribunal was conducted.”

“You want justice?” Bracken repeated.

“Yes,” Erik said.

“You would see justice done in all circumstances?”

“Of course,” Erik said.

“As you are aware, a formal protest may be overcome with a senate vote. I had all the requisite votes to proceed with
accelerating the tribunal despite senator Mickelson’s protest. That means that this tribunal was fair, and in accordance with the law. Now, if you want
justice
I have one proposal that will satisfy both of us.”

“What is it?” Erik asked.

“The sentence stands. It is a lawful verdict, reached by majority vote of this senate. If you want justice, then use your sword to take this traitor’s head.”

Erik’s heart fell into his feet. His hands went numb and his throat dried out. He looked to his father’s silent, waiting face.
He swore he could see Tukai’s ghost standing on the dais, laughing with his wicked grin.

Erik shook his head.
“I will order a review of this tribunal,” he promised.

Senator Bracken pointed and shook his hand. “You refuse to carry out justice?
Why would you stall for a review when the verdict was reached by the vast majority of senators present? Are you a traitor, or do you serve the king?”

“There is only one way the Keeper can prove himself loyal to the king!” another senator shouted from the right side of the room.

“Enact the sentence or you will stand trial beside the traitor!” another shouted.

“Oh laddie,” Al sighed.

Erik glanced around the room. He could see the senators shouting, pumping their fists in the air or spitting on the ground in his direction, but he could no longer hear them. Something pulled at his heart, warning him of an unseen danger. He hadn’t identified it yet, but he was searching, scanning each balcony. He called upon his inner power as he tried to discern the truth of the matter.

All became clear as his eyes returned to Senator Bracken. The man’s white robes turned dark, the skin on his hands aged and gnarled. His face withered and wrinkled beyond what it had been, and his eyes became black as death.

Erik drew his sword. The heat of his anger coursed through his right arm, down to his hand until the blade itself awoke with a white hot sheath of living fire that swirled over the blade.

“I see the truth,” Erik said. “Reveal yourself, warlock!”

“Warlock?” Senator Bracken repeated. “He throws blame from himself by casting spurious accusations! There are no warlocks here, only loyalists and traitors.” Senator Bracken motioned to someone that Erik could not see. “Kill them both,” he said, pointing to Lord Lokton and Braun.

A large, pot-bellied man strode into view from the side of the dais
carrying a large, oversized axe in his hands.

Erik rushed forward. “Stop!” he yelled.

The executioner maintained his gait and moved to put himself in line with Lord Lokton’s neck.

Lord Lokton closed his eyes and held his head up slightly. “I am no traitor,” he said defiantly.

The executioner was upon him. He raised his axe high above his head.

Erik threw his sword. The flames hissed as the blade whirled through the chamber. Senators gasped as they watched the sword spin end over end until it cleaved through the large axe, dropping the massive blade on the dais. The executioner staggered backward and dropped what was left of the axe’s handle.

“You have shown your true colors,” Bracken hissed. He waved his left hand and sent a blast of air into Erik, knocking him backward several yards.

Erik landed hard, almost knocking his shoulder out of socket, but he grit his teeth and forced himself to stand back up. He could feel blood starting to seep from his recent wounds, but he paid it no mind. “And you have shown yours, warlock,” Erik said.

“Using magic does not prove I am a warlock,” Bracken retorted.

“Reveal your true form,” Erik said. He waved his hand, calling upon his power to dispel Bracken’s magic.

The shouting ceased and all eyes turned to the pulpit. Senator Bracken’s spell dissolved, revealing his true form for everyone to see. The warlock sneered and gave a slight nod of his head. “You are more intuitive than I would have guessed,” he said. “I would have thought that only the boy could have…” the warlock’s words caught in his throat and he stared hard at Erik. His eyes widened suddenly and his mouth fell agape.

Erik realized that somehow the warlock had looked past Lepkin’s body and discovered his identity as well.
Erik turned his gaze to the balconies. “The warlock must be brought to justice!” he yelled. As he scanned the balconies he used his power to ascertain which senators he could trust. Many of the men were already scrambling for the exits, obviously wanting no part of what was to come.

The warlock
raised his fist high above his head. “All hail Tu’luh the Red, and Nagar the Black, the true prophets of our time!” He turned his attention to Lord Lokton. “Your house shall be no more!” he shouted.

“No!” Erik yelled. Again he started to rush forward, but this time something else awoke in his body. With each step his leg seemed to grow exponentially, his arms too. He felt the fire of his rage burn within his chest as it had with the Blacktongue assassin back by the stream, but this time no light erupted from within. Instead, he felt his body expanding, growing, breaking and transforming. Pain tore through him for an instant, and then it was as if he were towering over the warlock, lookin
g down on the evil man as though he were no larger than a mouse. The warlock looked up with a shriek of horror and turned his spell up to Erik. The blue blast of lightning scorched Erik’s face and neck, but he withstood the blow and roared back at the warlock.

Erik’s roar shook the entire chamber, and it was then that he felt an immense power running through his chest. He opened his mouth and a stream of fire flowed out to engulf the warlock. Erik could hear shouting and crying as the senators scrambled around him. His hearing seemed more acute than normal, allowing him to hear every leather sole’s scrape against the stone floor and every heated, quickened breath from each person in the room. It allowed him to know everyone’s position in the chamber without turning his head.

Out of instinct he reached out with his right hand and snatched the executioner up just before the man could bury a sword in Lord Lokton’s back. Erik turned to regard the now puny man and crushed him between his sharp talons.

He discarded the executioner and turned back to the warlock, who was still alive, using a magical shell to keep Erik’s flames at bay. Erik let his instinct take over. He snapped down with his massive maw and crushed the warlock’s defensive shell with his mouth.

Somehow, the warlock escaped out to the side but Erik swung his heavy, spiked tail and caught the warlock through the chest. The man gasped and twitched, then he slid down the wall to the floor in a heap of blood soaked white robes.

Erik could hear Al’s approach as the dwarf went to work on the chains that bound Braun and Lord Lokton.
The clicks and scrapes of the locks almost echoed they seemed so loud. Erik turned to cover his friends. A few senators had already escaped the chamber, but others seemed frozen in place. While some of the senators who had sided with the warlock appeared to have been manipulated or tricked, many of them held evil intentions within their hearts. Erik’s wrath was quick to punish the crooked senators.