Chapter 29 - The Trial of Muenda.
Three days had passed, and it was time for Muenda to face justice.
“Court in session,” said the clerk to the Elder, “all rise for the Elder.”
The other High Elders stood as Llewellyn entered the chamber and sat in his chair. Over to the side was Muenda, shackled hand and foot in cold iron and still enclosed in a cold iron cage. Next to him stood the jailer, over eight feet in height, powerfully built and dressed in black. He was more than a jailer, he was also a senior wizard guard, powerful in magic and strength. He towered over Muenda even though he was just shy of six foot in height. Muenda glowered at him and then glowered at each person present in turn.
“Muenda Mwita Osei, also known as the Master, you are charged here today with crimes against the state and the murders of the High Elders Traveon Baughan, Brangwen Binnion and Trevonn Brice. All charges singularly and corporately carry a maximum penalty of instant death. How do you plead?” the clerk asked.
“I do not plead, it is you who will plead to me for mercy, for when I get out of these ridiculous bangles, I will not be merciful to any one of you. But your deaths will not be instant, you will all suffer greatly.”
Llewellyn intervened, “Nice speech Muenda, but don’t forget we have captured you twice now, you will not escape again, so we ask you again, how do you plead?”
“No comment,” Muenda replied, “Except, I will be gone in seven days from now and if you dare to chase after me, I will destroy you and your pathetic council before laying waste to your entire land. Not a single blade….”
“Yes, we know, not a single blade of grass or even an ant will remain. You told us before,” said Llewellyn feigning boredom.
“But this time I mean it,” he said raising his voice.
“That is all very well, but we are not going to have a long and drawn out trial, it would last more than seven days.”
There were murmurings of discontent amongst the other High Elders, they did love their trials and all the bureaucracy that went with it. They could keep the introductions going for two days without trying.
“This court finds you guilty of crimes against the state. You will be sentenced in two days after the Elders have been consulted.
The iron cage disappeared below to the dungeons again with the Nephilim guard hanging onto the chain as it descended.
There was instant uproar in the Chamber, High Elder Lintang Ananas of Dolydd, although new to the council, led the attack.
“Elder of Elders, this is very much out of order. How can we find a man guilty without first hearing the evidence against him and then his defence?”
“Do we really have to hear all that you have seen and heard? Several of you witnessed the deaths of High Elders Traveon Baughan, Brangwen Binnion and Trevonn Brice, do we have to relive it now? All of you saw and watched the battle between us and Muenda’s rebel forces, well most of you, obviously not those who fled the battlefield at the first sigh of danger, High Elder Lintang Ananas,” Llewellyn said pointedly, “or do you wish a trial so that you may hear all that you missed?” Llewellyn said with much irritation.
“I had to flee; I was thinking of my family.”
“And what of my family? They were all in the front line of the battle, my wife Gwen, my two sons Jonathan and Thomas, as well as my newly fostered daughter Glynda. But some of you were not there long enough to notice!” now even Llewellyn was shouting, and very red in the face.
Lintang Ananas sat down with a shocked look on her face.
“Any more objections, points of order or precedencies from any of you.”
They all sat shaking their heads and looking like a group of school children who were in front of the headteacher for smoking behind the bike sheds.
“Then we will adjourn until nine in the morning, two days from now.”
“Court will rise,” the clerk said, “court adjourned until nine o’clock on Thursday.”
Two days later, they all assembled again to hear the sentencing.
“Court in session,” said the clerk to the Elder, “all rise for the Elder.”
Llewellyn walked in and sat in his seat.
“We have not discussed your sentence in council, I was both judge and jury in this case and so it will be me who decides the next move. Muenda Mwita Osei, you have been found guilty of crimes against the state and the murders of the High Elders Traveon Baughan, Brangwen Binnion and Trevonn Brice. These charges carry a maximum penalty of instant death. However, no one has been sentenced to death in this court for over a thousand years and tempted as I am, I have no intention of breaking that tradition. You will now spend the rest of your days incarcerated in the dungeons of Blaenoraid Castle until your death by natural causes. There will be no remission or parole or chance of appeal.”
“You, Llewellyn the foolhardy, will rue the day you did not kill me while you had the chance. Five days from now, I will be gone from this place. The next time we meet, I will not show the mercy I have shown before or return the mercy you have shown me today. You will die. You will all die.”
Muenda was then taken back down to the dungeons to rot.
Four days later, Llewellyn ordered that the guard be doubled, and a constant twenty-four-hour watch be kept on Muenda. Also, either he, Flintock, Gwen, or Faraji was to be down in the dungeon area for at least the next two days. He did not know why, but he had a feeling of great unease about him.
Day six came and day six went without incident.
Day seven came and Muenda disappeared.
The alarm was raised. Flintock was on watch but never saw it happen. The cell was still locked when they entered, but empty, the cage was still locked with the manacles laying inside, also locked. The only difference was, they looked different, slightly yellowish in appearance.
Faraji spoke, “Alchemy!” he exclaimed, “alchemy, he has changed first the manacles, then the cage, and I expect, if we are able to check, the cold iron bars running around the cell to a low grade gold alloy. Not enough for anyone to notice at once, but enough for him to apparate away from here. My brother is far cleverer than even I thought. I hate to say it, but this is genius.”
“But alchemy does not exist,” Llewellyn said, “surely it’s just a myth.”
“No, and here we have the proof. He has turned base metal into gold. Fairly worthless gold, but he changed the composition just enough to stop the cold iron from holding a spell. Genius.” Faraji said again.
Jon, Tom and Glynda burst in through the door.
“What are you doing here?” Llewellyn asked sharply.
“We heard he was gone, we came to see if we could help,” Jon answered.
While they were talking, Glynda reached out as if to grab something and disappeared.
“Where’s she gone?” gasped Tom in fear.
“She’s grabbed his astral thread and gone after him,” Faraji answered.
“Why didn’t you stop her?” Tom said in a panic.”
“How could any of us? She was too fast,” Faraji replied.
“Quick, we must follow.”
Faraji groped around in the air, a look of panic came over his face, he started flaying his arms about frantically.
“She’s gone taken and his thread with her, and somehow not left her own. She could be anywhere.” Faraji said solemnly.
“NO!” shouted Tom.