Presenting Charges

"Presenting: Lady Kirasiel Celes, Head of House Celes; Lord Avery Odestag, Head of House Odestag, and companions; Lord Ahsch Odestag, and companions; Shepherd..." The herald paused, cleared her throat, and resumed, "The Shepherd, of the Children of Kakais; High Priestess A'uro, of the Order of Utsus; and Hierophant Marus, of the Faithful of Bikulla."

All told, there were 14 in Ahsch's party, with Ariin, Mahat, Rwnil, Dorin, Butler, and the three angels being included as 'companions' for either the Dominant Mage or his wife. The eleven members of the Ruling Family - the King and his ten wives - maintained their neutral looks, though Threefold Senses revealed some annoyance - either at the size of the group, or at the suddenness of the meeting.

The group came to a stop in the middle of the circular, tall room - each member of the Ruling Family sat in a ring around the chamber, easily twenty feet up. After they all took a knee, Ahsch, at the head of the group, raised his head. "Your Grace, we come before you for two purposes, though the circumstances are... complicated, I'm afraid."

King Tien Solan's eyebrows raised slightly. "Am I to assume that is why you requested the presence of Lord Byrdrek Fel'len and Lady Fauna Odestag, as well as a representative of the Church of Irzton, and one of the Royal Inquisitors?"

"It is, Your Grace."

"Very well," he said, then turned to one of his wives, "How soon..."

The doors opened abruptly.

"Your Grace, whatever charges that... 'Lord' made against us, surely you..."

Everyone turned to regard Fauna, who led the three enemies of House Odestag and the Order of Enochiel. She stopped short, going pale and staring at Ahsch. Then, she slowly pointed at him, her hand trembling slightly. The tall, stocky man behind her in royal clothing schooled his expression better, though his eyes went wide.

"Y-You're dead!" Fauna gasped. "They scraped your corpse off the ground!"

Ahsch smirked at her. "I got better." Fauna just gaped, her mouth opening and closing for a moment.

"Lady Fauna Odestag, you would do well to remember your place within these chambers," the King warned before turning to Ahsch. "And you, Lord Ahsch Odestag, may be required to explain what you mean," the King said, a hint of warning in his voice.

"Perhaps after the original purpose for our audience is closed out, Your Grace? I am... willing to explain myself to you, however, the subject is... sensitive."

King Solan's gaze narrowed slightly. After a moment, his eyes darted up to one of his wives, lingered for a moment, then came back down to Ahsch. "That is acceptable." Then his gaze shifted first to Avery, then Kirasiel. "Though I must say, I am surprised that either of you are allowing a common-born to speak on your behalves."

Kirasiel blushed, ducking her head further. Avery met the King's gaze. "My husband may not have the pretty words or silver tongue of a royal, Your Grace, but he has something far more important."

A moment of quiet. "Which is?" one of the Queens asked, her voice slightly irritated.

Avery smirked. "Honesty and authority," she said to the King.

Another moment of quiet. "Intriguing," the Ruler of the Kingdom of Starlight said before turning to Ahsch again. "In your request for an audience, you claimed to have evidence of treasonous activities being performed by royals within the Kingdom, as well as a more personal plaint against the Church of Irzton and the Order of Orror. Is this correct?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"I trust you will not object to addressing the former of your charges first."

"Of course not, Your Grace."

"Then speak, Lord Ahsch Odestag."

"Your Grace," the hrafthi agreed. Then he took a breath, and stood. "Earlier this morning, House Odestag, with the permission and support of Lady Kirasiel Celes, Head of House Celes, struck against sixteen safehouses and the headquarters of an unnamed organization of assassins operating within the Capital. It was they who assassinated myself, and we believed that they were involved in the deaths of the former Lord Celes and his two immediate heirs.

"In the course of our attack, we came into possession of documents proving both of these claims, as well as the identities of their employers, which we were already aware of in the case of my assassination, and suspected in the case of the House Celes deaths: Byrdrek Fel'len and Fauna Odestag." With a gesture, he had Ariin step forward and hand off the documents, which he then held up towards the King. "The documents are here, Your Grace."

"This is absurd!" Fauna screeched, stepping forward. "Surely you all must realize that that creature-" she began to point towards Avery, but a sudden pressure of Mana brought her short.

"You have already been warned once about your conduct, Fauna Odestag," the King said icily. "Do not make me remind you a third time." Bowing deeply, the woman backed off, and King Solan eased off the pressure, then looked back at Ahsch, or more specifically, the documents he held. With a nod, another of the Queens cast a spell, and the papers teleported up to the King. He spent a few moments glancing through them, then looked back at Ahsch. "You claim you were already aware of the identity of who ordered your assassination. How?" he asked, his voice deadly cool.

Ahsch swallowed heavily. "As those present may already be aware, I am known as the Prophet of Enochiel, a new god who established a Temple nearby. Enochiel is a god of bonds - the essence of things that ties them together. This includes relationship between people, and as I fell to my death, I was able to sense the bond between my assassin and his employers - Byrdrek Fel'len and Fauna Odestag. My mentor, Rwnil, was further able to sense the bond between my assassin and his comrades, and identify their hideouts."

The King nodded. "Continue."

"Further, based on what occurred during my assassination, we suspect that a Godslayer was involved. I recall it still being impaled in my chest as I... died. However, it was not found on my corpse, meaning it was most likely removed before the investigation could begin. When I recently met with the Shepherd of Kakais, she informed me that she had information that the Church of Irzton was in possession of a Godslayer, contrary to the inventories they submitted for their vault."

The icy gaze of the King shifted to the Shepherd. "And how, exactly, did you come into possession of this information?"

"A soul told us, Your Grace. I am willing to submit to memory probing should you deem it necessary, as well as supply a more thorough report on the event."

The King held her gaze for a long moment before nodding and turning back to Ahsch. "Seeing as you have already included three of the four you requested be present, I can only assume you intend to levy accusations against Our Inquisitor next?"

"That is correct, your grace. On the word of Kirasiel Celes, the inquisitor who led the investigation into my assassination accepted bribes from Byrdrek Fel'len and Fauna Odestag. Should..." Ahsch paused, frowning.

"Lord Odestag?" the King prompted.

That feeling of gnosis had returned, and Ahsch spoke with certainty. "Should Your Grace wish, I am able to ensure any questions you have for anyone present are Bound to Truth. The danger of memory probing is not strictly necessary."

King Solan frowned slightly. "Why do you only now offer this... 'gift?'"

Ahsch smiled sheepishly. "I only just now learned that I was able to do it, Your Grace. Such are the fancies of gods, I can only assume."

The King sat back, staring at Ahsch intently. The hrafthi swallowed, but held firm. "If such is your claim, then let us test it." He looked further back. "Inquisitor Jarsi, come forward."

The inquisitor was a large, powerful cow-woman, and her glare at Ahsch made him suppress a shudder. "I obey, Your Grace."

"Lord Ahsch Odestag, proceed," the King invited.

Bowing his head, Ahsch summoned forth his divinity, and sent it coursing through his bond magic. With a deep breath, he created the link between Jarsi and the concept of Truth, a one-way bond that meant she was incapable of lying, even by omission, though she would be able to simply not answer. After a moment, inspecting the bond, he looked up. "Whenever you are ready, Your Grace."

"Inquisitor Jarsi," the King began without hesitation, "Are the charges that Lord Ahsch Odestag presented true?"

"Of course n-" The cow-woman's eyes flew wide, and she looked at Ahsch with fear. "They are n-" she tried again.

King Solan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Inquisitor Jarsi, complete your next sentence."

Her face was pale, and her eyes wide. Bowing her head, she sighed in defeat.