Corinne's Trial

Some hours later, you approach the door to Corinne's cell which is guarded by Sir Magnus. Trina walks at your side and Master Sanjay behind you. Corinne looks up as you approach, then away.

"Corinne," you say to her. "Before anything else is said, know this: it has already been decided that you will not face execution."

She seems to relax, just slightly, as if letting out her breath.

"I have brought the healer, Master Sanjay. Will you permit him to examine you, to ensure that you are not injured in any way?"

She nods just slightly, and the cell door is unlocked so that he may enter. Sanjay goes to kneel before her, whispering soft and reassuring words. You and Sir Magnus turn your backs, to offer her privacy; Lady Trina directs her eyes to the wall but remains facing the cell. After several minutes, Master Sanjay stands and rejoins you.

"Her right hand is tender and swollen, Sire," Sanjay says. "Aside from that, she is unharmed."

You feel slightly guilty, as the hurt was doubtless caused by you slapping the knife away from her grasp; in the heat of the moment, you did not strike gently! But of course, it would have been far worse had you not done so. "Thank you, Master Sanjay. Magnus, please escort the prisoner to the interrogation room. Do not fear, Corinne; you have been absent from Elyssia for some time, but we still use neither the whip nor the rack."

Soon you are settled into the small room. Corinne is led to sit at the stone table across from you, and Sir Magnus remains standing just behind her. Trina sits at your left, and Master Sanjay on your right.

"Corinne," you say to her, "you are entitled by Elyssian law to a hearing before the full court. However, I would prefer to handle this matter without spectacle, and I give you my word that my judgement will be merciful. What say you?"

"So be it," she whispers.

"Master Sanjay, you will serve as counsel for the accused."

"Yes, Sire."

"This court is hereby convened. Corinne, daughter of Samson, you are charged with the following crimes: returning to Elyssia in defiance of a sentence of banishment, abducting the King and one of the Sworn Protectors of the Crown, threatening the life of the King, and the practice of sorcery with evil intent. Do you deny any of these charges?"

She shakes her head slowly from side to side.

"Sire, I speak for the accused, and in my capacity as a healer," Sanjay says quietly. "It is my learned opinion that the Corinne suffers from a sickness of the mind, and that her judgement may not be sound. Therefore, I ask that we hear from witnesses and examine the evidence at hand before we accept any confession on her part."

Of course you already knew this, but it is Sanjay's duty to remind you of it nonetheless. "It will be taken into account," you say. "Lady Trina, you were witness to the events in question. In your own words, please inform the court as to what took place."

Corinne flashes a deadly glare at Trina, but says nothing as Lady Trina relates the events of the afternoon. Trina leaves out what you and she had been doing immediately before your abduction, but that is not truly relevant. Her summary is brief, in part because of course you were also there and it's not like you actually need to be informed.

"...and then, Corinne tried to turn the blade upon herself, but the King struck her hand to disarm her. We took her into custody and returned to the castle. I have spoken, and spoken true."

"Thank you, Lady Trina. Master Sanjay, do you have any questions for this witness?"

"Just one question, Sire. Lady Trina, it would seem that you were not present when the accused is said to have used sorcery. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Master Sanjay."

"Thank you, my Lady. Sire, as you are in the unusual position of being both witness and judge, I would like to ask you a question as well."

"By all means, Master Sanjay."

"Did Corinne use sorcery upon you, or did she merely attempt to do so?"

"Her attempt did not succeed."

"Sire, I submit that it did not succeed because Corinne did not, in fact, use sorcery at all. She may have believed that she did, but as she is accused of actually using sorcery, the charge should not apply."

Corinne looks up, surprise evident on her face.

"Master Sanjay, you may have missed your calling as a Counselor of Law," you tell him. "The charge of sorcery is hereby dismissed. Do you have anything else to say?"

"I wish only to reiterate that Corinne is not in full command of her own mind. Just as she believed falsely that she had magical power, she may also have believed falsely that her actions were not evil. I therefore beseech Your Majesty to show mercy when passing sentence upon her. I have spoken."

"Thank you, Master Sanjay. The King has heard all you have spoken, and I am ready to pronounce judgement." You stand up, and the others at the table follow; Corinne requires a nudge from Sir Magnus before she does, and when she stands she keeps her eyes directed downward. "Corinne, daughter of Samson," you say to her, "there remain three charges against you: returning to Elyssia following banishment, abduction of the King and one of the Kingsguard, and threatening the life of the King. As the facts concerning these three matters are indisputable, I must find you guilty on each count. Do you have anything to say before sentence is passed?"

Corinne remains silent, unmoving.

"Corinne," you say to her, in a gentler voice, "after I leave this room, it is very unlikely that you will see or speak to me ever again. If there is anything you want to say to me, this will be the last chance you have in your life to do so. I will listen to your words now. It is the least I can do... for I am also guilty of a crime, not one against the kingdom or its people, but against your heart. I spoke words of love and passion to you which were untrue; I offered myself to you under false pretenses, and led you to believe that a lie was real. I did what I had to do in order to save my own life and that of Lady Trina, but I am ashamed nonetheless." You take just a moment to look at Trina herself, as this is the first chance you have had to express that what she saw in the church was you acting out of necessity, not passion. But, her eyes tell you that she needed no explanation... that she knew the truth in that moment. "To atone in part for this ill deed," you continue, "I am offering you the chance to speak for yourself, without fear of consequence. As King, I must judge you upon your actions already taken, but nothing you say now will make me pass harsher sentence. Speak, if you will."

Corinne does not speak... but as you are about to announce her sentence, she finally stirs, and looks up at you. "I knew," she whispers. "I knew in my heart that it was untrue... that you never loved me."

"Then, why did you unlock my chains?" you ask.

"Because if the illusion was all I could have, then I wanted to have it," she says. "Because even if you were still the man you were before... then you would be the man you were before. I knew you would be kind to me, as you always have been. If I could not have love... then at least I could have that." She takes a deep breath, and her next words are in a small voice, a child's voice. "I have to go away again, don't I?"

"I am truly sorry," you reply. "But I cannot trust you to stay your hand when the madness overtakes you, and I must defend and protect the people of Elyssia... even from one of their own."