Chapter 142: Settling A Sentence

With the dead lined on the castle grounds for burial, the remaining Troivackian soldiers locked away, some of the Knights and soldiers had immediately set off to go help Rollom in the south. The ones to remain did so in order to ensure there were no further issues with the Troivackian captives, and to be sure there were no other surprises.

By sunset, the banquet hall was packed with soldiers, nobility, and servants. Some were seated on the floor talking and laughing heartily, while others mourned together. Norman sat on his throne observing the wide array of emotions in his people. The ones who couldn’t fit in the banquet hall had set up the camp once again outside, and many were delighted to hear that their beloved former cook was in charge of the meal.

When the banquet hall doors opened once again, platters of food magically drifted in carrying salads, golden creamy mashed potatoes, boats of gravy, and then came the meat. How Fin managed to create what looked like meat chunks fried with assorted vegetables in as little time he had, no one knew, but many toasted to the House Witch and his health.

The entire meal wasn’t fussy, but it did bring with it color and warmth to not only the banquet hall, but to the hearts and minds of the survivors; a momentary respite and comfort from the darkness that had swept up onto their shores.

Mr. Howard’s cheeks were already bright red from the ale, and even mage Lee’s son and wife seemed a little on the chattier side that evening. The mage himself was still requiring rest after his fight with Aidan Helmer, but it was assured he would make a full recovery.

As the hours ticked by, and Norman found himself surprisingly still conscious, he felt a gentle presence stir beside himself.

Looking up after a moment, he realized that it was the Coven of Wittica’s leader, Eloise Morozov.

“Your Majesty,” she greeted with a small curtsy before gesturing to the vacant seat beside the monarch in a silent question.

It was normally Ainsley’s seat… the King smiled a little sadly as he felt the pangs of missing his beloved and their children. He nodded nonetheless to signal the witch could sit.

“I have questioned Aidan Helmer regarding his knowledge of the dragon. Asked about where he had been found, and if there were perhaps other ancient beasts still alive that we had been presuming dead,” the earth witch began slowly. “However, he doesn’t seem to be in his right mind. Babbling about his magic, and curses, and then random shouting about beasts.”

Norman nodded. “I am afraid I will not allow him to live to see midday tomorrow, so I hope that you-”

“Sire, I… I know I have no right to ask this, but perhaps even after a month, we might be able to-”

“Speak with the Agua Coven and see if he said anything to them, but he has cost many lives, and ruined several families. He will pay with his life, and there is no amount of pleading or bargaining that can change that. He is too conniving to be left to his own devices for another month.”

Eloise Morozov opened her mouth to try a new angle when Norman cut her off once again.

“Ask the Viscount’s familiar if he knows anything, or if he can find out anything. He is afterall, the mastermind behind most events as of late.”

The earth witch looked caught between a laugh and serious consideration. “Yes… Kraken is without a doubt outside of what is considered a ‘normal’ familiar, but then again… Fin is outside the norm of witches. They suit each other.”

The King nodded, his eyes still moving through the crowd.

“I look forward to our working more closely together in the future, Your Highness.”

Norman cast a wry glance at the woman and nodded. “I thank you for your cooperation. I hope you are fully prepared for working with Lord Ashowan.”

The Coven leader gave a small curious frown, but decided not to comment any further on that topic.

“Can you imagine if there are more beasts like that dragon just roaming around unseen? It all seems so… fantastical,”  Eloise mused more to herself than the King.

“Well, if there are more of them, let’s just hope that Kraken is able to handle them.”

At this, the Coven Leader, and even Norman succumbed to a good chuckle.

*

The following morning, the King of Daxaria sat upon his throne in the official hearing room, and waited with the walls lined with courtiers, and their wives who chose to remain behind during the war to tend to any of the wounded.

No one breathed a word, and the crowd was collectively grim as everyone waited dressed in their glittering jewels and fresh tunics. Some had wounds that were sewn closed or casts, but all of them waited without a word of complaint.

At long last, the doors opened to reveal two guards escorting none other than Aidan Helmer. The former Chief of Troivackia’s military looked disheveled. His face had smudges of soot, and his black eyes had somehow lost their sheen. Now they were matte, and sunken. Gone was his former confidence, and light step. Instead stood a man who had had his very essence burned free of his body.

The two Knights forced Aidan to his knees in front of the King.

“Mr. Helmer. You are hereby charged with the mistreatment of a goodwill hostage, and the subsequent death of a hero of Daxaria. Furthermore, your attempt to abduct a Daxarian citizen during war has only been tacked on, but quite frankly, your death sentence was sealed the moment you returned to our shores and blackmailed, murdered, and tormented my people.”

Aidan said nothing from his position on the ground.

“Do you have anything to say before we lead you to your execution?”

“I do,” the fire witch announced darkly, his eyes finally rising to stare hatefully at Norman.

“Then you will say it to Viscount Jenoure, it was a special request of his as the newly appointed diplomat of the Coven of Wittica.”

Aidan frowned. “Viscount Hank Jenoure died more than a year ago.”

“Ah… I suppose you haven’t heard...”

Norman nodded to the Knights at the doors, who couldn’t contain their smiles as they opened the doors once more.

Aidan didn’t turn to see whoever entered, and instead fixed his eyes on the steps leading up to the dais the King sat upon. That is until a pair of leather boots and bejeweled purple shoes appeared in his line of vision.

Raising his gaze up, the fire witch’s eyes widened when he looked into his son’s cool gaze. He was dressed in a fine black coat with gold threaded designs around the cuffs and buttons. Under the coat was a snowy white tunic, and tan trousers. His hair was washed and swept to the side, and the glint of a gold wedding band on his hand drew his eye next… but only because it was a hand that held…

The hand of Viscountess Jenoure.

“Mr. Helmer, the inheritor of the Viscount house Jenoure, was Lord Finlay Ashowan. Official diplomat between my court and the Coven of Wittica. I believe you have already been acquainted with his wife Lady Annika Ashowan.”

Aidan frowned at the stunning woman standing at Fin’s side. Her dark hair  was swept over her left shoulder, while gold dripped from her ears, and a magnificent purple dress draped over her body. Her dark eyes seemed sharper than he remembered them being in their meeting…

He then glanced at the nobles around him in the room, his thoughts were abundantly clear to Fin.

“This did not happen last night. Everyone here has known for quite some time. I was ennobled and married before I even stepped foot on your ship,” the Viscount’s icy tone made the room grow even more still.

“I thought you were in a sordid love affair with the King’s assistant,” Aidan noted with a raised eyebrow. “At least that was what you hinted.”

“You hinted what-?!” Mr. Howard must’ve been silenced by the King because his exclamation was cut short.

Annika’s dark gaze brightened for a moment, yet when she spoke, her tones were off putting to say the least. “How is your shoulder, Mr. Helmer?”

The fire witch’s eyebrows snapped up, as he suddenly remembered the archer that had clipped his shoulder… and then how he had seen the Viscountess firing an arrow straight into his familiar’s eye.

“I see… that you have gotten somewhat better at hiding your nonsense, Fin.”

“You will address me as Lord Ashowan, Mr. Helmer. Now what is it you wanted to share with his majesty? As the diplomat acting on behalf of the Coven of Wittica, I am who will be handling these matters.”

A glimmer of Aidan’s former cockiness flashed across his face as he smiled. “Call you ‘Lord’? Or else what? I already have a death sentence.”

The cool edge of a blade against the back of Aidan’s neck made him straighten his shoulders fractionally.

“Or else we won’t hear what you have to say,” Fin explained, staring down emotionlessly at the man who sired him.

The fire witch’s lip twitched. “Very well, Lord Ashowan,” the mocking tone was evident. “I wanted to let your King know that without me alive, you will never know just what ancient beasts still live. I know more than you could possibly dream, and with me dead… the war that will fall upon not just Troivackia’s lands, but Daxaria’s… Zinfera’s… maybe even Lobahl’s…”

There was a dramatic pause where the fire witch laughed, a sound that made most people want to cringe away.

“It might not be this year, or next, or even in ten years… but mark my words. Your children will see the ancient ones return. You will all live to see each pathetic human life extinguished, because only the truly strong can survive what is to come. I tried to prepare the world for the rebirth of true power, but… I suppose you’ll all be content knowing you’ve brought the sea of blood to your children’s doorsteps. All so that you might kill me.”

Fin stared down at his father’s twisted face and tilted his head to the side as ripples of uncertainty ran through the crowd.

Then after another brief moment of thoughtful silence, the Viscount addressed the courtiers.  

“If they are to come, true strength lies in uniting all we have. Not dividing.”

Then, he turned back to Aidan. “You terrorized my mother’s past, and trespassed on her present. Therefore, the man whose future you stole when you decided to use me in your games, will be the very one to introduce you to your own end.”

Once again, the fire witch was frowning in confusion, when Captain Antonio stepped forward, his gaze sharp.

“Captain Antonio and my mother were to be wed, and she was supposed to have a life where she no longer had to be lonely, and could have someone care for her the way she deserved to be. He will be your executioner.” Fin explained, his grip on Annika’s hand tightening a little as he spoke.

The fire witch didn’t say anything, only glared up at his son.

“Goodbye, Aidan.”

As the Knights dragged the fire witch from the room, everyone could see the fire witch beginning to grow pale as the Captain then moved past Finlay, his eye trained on the former Chief of Troivackian Military in front of him. He only paused for a moment to speak over his shoulder to the redhead.

“Do you wish to see it happen?” Antonio asked gruffly.

Fin’s voice didn’t waver in the slightest when he replied. “No, and thank you, Captain.”

The military man gave a firm nod, then continued out of the room, his deep blue cloak swishing behind him.

Stepping aside to make way for their King, everyone bowed as Norman rose and took his exit to watch over the proceedings of Aidan Helmer.

At long last… it was going to be over.

Never again, would the fire witch cast shadows in their lives.

After a few moments, when it was just Fin and Annika left in the official throne room, the two turned to each other, and embraced.

“There are still the soldiers in Rollom, but… for at least a month… might we hold off joining the army, and simply rest?” the Viscount asked his wife as she tenderly lifted her hand and touched his cheek.

“My dear, by then I don’t think I’ll be allowed to travel. Remember, things will be over sooner if we do not put things off. However, I… I think I should stay behind even if you leave with the King’s next wave of Knights,” Annika pointed out with a small tired smile.

Fin gently reached out to touch her rounding middle, and let out a long breath. “I know. I’ll try not to be gone for too long. I don’t know why I didn’t realize that leading the Knights of the house to aid the battle would be expected…” the redhead allowed a small cheeky smile to touch his face. “Are you sure you don’t want to give up on being a noble and just be a cook’s wife?”

The Lady’s grin warmed considerably. “You’re still a cook, Fin. You just also happen to be wonderfully wealthy with a few more responsibilities thanks to me…”

Dropping his forehead to touch his wife’s, the redhead then drew her closer. “Just a few more hm?”

Annika gave a small ambiguous single shoulder shrug as she feigned looking innocent. Fin laughed.

“To be honest I’m not sure which will be more chaotic… the war, or our twins…”  

At this, Annika gently cuffed the back of his head, making him laugh again before kissing her soundly.

When they pulled apart, Fin held on for just another moment longer, not ready to let her go yet. “Stay safe, and I’ll be home before you give birth. No matter what, I will be there. I promise.”

Annika squeezed him tightly, and buried her face against his shoulder, settling into the space where she belonged.

“You better be back soon… Clara’s already ready to kill me… you’ll need to hold her back when I’m too fat to defend myself…”

At this Fin couldn’t help but succumb to laughter as he held his wife, and enjoyed a rare, wonderful moment of peace.