A Dragon’s Tale

Rachel paced back and forth in her cell trying desperately to figure out how to get out of their current predicament. There was no evidence to prove they were innocent. Alana had been covered in Beth's blood and Ethan... well the prejudice against dragons was widespread. She had no reason to think it would be different in Arcanum.

Rachel took just a moment to savor her exquisite freedom to think whatever she wanted. At random times she had thought things like "my dad is an asshole" or "Lord Delmar is evil" just because she could. There was still no compulsion from the will-breaker ring.

However, that wouldn't help here.

She could tell it was almost sunrise from the light that streamed in through her window. Sure the window was eight feet in the air and had inch-thick steel bars, but it was fresh air. Since it was almost dawn, she assumed their trial would begin soon. They always dealt with high-profile murders quickly to keep the public calm.

The question was how to mount a defense.

Nearly an hour of brainstorming later, a guard opened the door to Rachel's cell. Ten minutes later, Rachel found herself in the courtroom.

It was a dark circular room about fifty feet in diameter. The only light was from torch sconces placed around the room. In the center of the room was a pit about four feet deep for the accused. Around the pit were dozens of desks and benches occupied by grumpy-looking old men in formal robes.

Rachel and Alana were chained hand and foot, but that was nothing compared to Ethan. He was strapped to a hand cart by thick leather straps. The straps made it impossible for him to move and a steel muzzle had been attached to his snout. He didn't look happy.

"Hi." Alana said to Rachel. There was a strange contrast of both sadness and cheerfulness about the wood elf.

"No talking." One of the guards said, and he hefted a wicked-looking truncheon in his hand to emphasize the point.

Alana nodded, then glanced at Ethan. A moment later, he made a sound that resembled a half-hearted laugh, but with the muzzle it was hard to tell.

"What?" Rachel mouthed to Alana.

"Later" she mouthed back, then nodded her head towards the guard with the club.

"Order in the court." An important-looking guard called and the rumbling of dozens of conversations quieted down.

"All rise in honor of Supreme Magistrate Haglath." He said.

Everyone in the court stood up. A door opened behind the highest desk in the room and a man walked in.

Supreme Magistrate Haglath looked like he had been born with a frown on his face. The age lines etched into his skin told of a thousand displeased expressions that had been carved into his face through countless repetitions. His hair was gray and his eyes were cold, ruthless, and calculating. His robes were perfectly clean, not even a hint of lint or dust. Rachel had seen judges like this before in her father's court.

They were in trouble.

"You have been convicted of murdering a fine young woman of this city." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "What have you to say in your defense?"

It was now or never.

"I say how dare you." Rachel said in her loudest and clearest voice. Immediately hushed whispers broke out among the men in the benches.

"Keep a civil tongue or I'll have the guards cut it out." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. Something told Rachel he wasn't bluffing.

She continued unfazed. "I am Rachel Delmar, daughter of Lord Delmar; the great lord of the middle plains, sovereign of the eastern mountains and master of Lake Tivere; long may he reign."

"Long may he reign." The old men in benches chorused together.

"What gives you the right to treat the daughter of a Lord so?" Rachel continued. "Is Arcanum trying to provoke Lord Delmar to war? If so, you are doing an excellent job."

Again, there were hushed whisperings throughout the courtroom.

"A crime is a crime, even if perpetrated by a Lord's daughter." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "Further, Lord Delmar has officially disinherited you. You are no longer his daughter, nor does the protection of the Lord's Council apply to you. You stand before us as a common criminal, and common criminals would do well to watch their tongue. I will not warn you again."

Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out. That had been her only plan to get out of this predicament alive.

"If it would please your honor, I would beg your permission to speak." Alana said. Rachel raised an eyebrow. That was a very well-put-together request for a hermit who lived in the woods.

"You may." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said.

"I would have the court know that the woman who was murdered is-- I mean was, our friend." Alana said. "We were set upon by thieves who sought to claim this dragon's gold for their own. It was the blade of a thief, not our blades, nor the claws of this dragon who killed her."

"What proof do you have of this?" Supreme Magistrate Haglath asked.

"None, but the heartfelt plea of a woman who just lost a friend." Alana said. "I'm sure the guards testified that my dress was covered in her blood. I know a little magic and was trying to heal her."

Supreme Magistrate Haglath looked down his nose at them and Rachel could almost see the wheels turning in his head. If he let them go, then he would have to conduct a city-wide manhunt for the real killers. If he executed them, he would be praised for bringing swift justice. Rachel didn't need to be a prophet to know which one he would choose.

"You have presented no evidence, therefore this court's decision stands." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "You are hereby sentenced to death by beheading. Sentence to be carried out at sundown."

Supreme Magistrate Haglath raised his gavel and swung it down at the bench.

But it never hit.

It stopped mere inches from the desk like it had hit something solid.

"One moment please." A voice called from among the old men on the benches. The voice sounded ancient, like the one speaking was barely healthy enough to get the words out.

"Elder Goman." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said, and his face showed his displeasure. "You have something to add?"

"Yes." Elder Goman said. "Let me just get to my feet. Please help me my dear."

An incredibly beautiful woman -- who couldn't have been older than twenty -- rushed next to a frail-looking old man. His hair was thin and grew in patchy white wisps. His beard was long and looked to have bits of food in it left over from breakfast... or possibly longer ago. His face looked like it had seen a thousand years pass. His eyelid drooped and his hand shook on the well-worn cane he was holding.

It took almost ten seconds for the woman to help him to stand up. When he did stand, he leaned on his cane and the desk for support. He looked like he was on death's door and would keel over dead at any moment.

"Members of the court." Elder Goman said, and his voice made him sound even older. "I have stood up here today to talk to you about... About..."

Elder Goman raised his hand as if to emphasize a point, but then dropped it.

"What was I saying?" He 'whispered' to the woman who was helping him. However, he clearly didn't know how loud he was because the whole chamber probably heard him. The woman whispered back, then Elder Goman seemed to remember.

"Oh yes." He said. "This dragon and these two exceptionally lovely ladies are... are..." He looked unfocused for a moment, then continued. "Oh right, they are accused of murder. But murder is a serious crime. A serious crime murder... yes. Serious."

Elder Goman swayed on his feet for a moment and his eyelids drooped along with his head. The woman gave him a gentle nudge on the side and he perked back up.

"Right, and the people want justice." Elder Goman said. "But justice isn't justice unless it is... Is Just. Right... Justice must be just. Therefore, I propose we make it just. "

"They killed a woman so we return the favor." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said through gritted teeth. "That sounds like justice to me."

"Yup, correct it is." Elder Goman replied halfway through a yawn. "But, they want to prove their innocence, so let's give them a chance shall we? Yes, chances are good."

"Trial by combat." Rachel said under her breath. Her father had banned the practice in his domain decades ago which is why she hadn't thought of it. But here in Arcanum it was still legal...

"I'm afraid the council has already made its decision Elder Goman, but thank you for your input as always." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said, though he was so insincere a five-year-old wouldn't have believed him. The Magistrate raised his gavel again to pronounce the sentence, and Rachel figured it was now or never.

"I demand trial by combat." Rachel said loudly just as the Supreme Magistrate was about to swing the gavel down.

The look on his face was pure murder.

* * *

Beth followed Gabriella through the streets of Arcanum, marveling at how strange it was that everyone and everything that touched her simply passed right through. Occasionally, someone would look like they'd felt something, but invariably they would shrug and return to what they were doing.

"Where are we?" Beth finally asked looking around at the purple world around them. The bright, white-robed woman she followed was the only thing that wasn't some shade of purple.

"Arcanum of course."

"I know that, but this is... is this the astral plane?"

Gabriella stopped and turned to face her. "That's a complicated question to answer."

"We appear to have plenty of time."

"Appearances can be deceiving." The luminous woman replied. Then she cocked her head to one side as if listening to something before speaking again. "Would you say that water is wet?"

"Of course."

"But that doesn't tell the whole story does it? For water can also be solid if it freezes and vapor if it boils. Likewise, calling this place the astral plane is not wrong, but also doesn't tell the whole story."

"Then what is the whole story?"

Gabriella resumed walking. "What do you think this place is?"

Beth looked around as she fell in step behind her, trying to remember everything she'd read on astral projection. Unfortunately, that wasn't much because it was such a rare skill. Everyone seemed to agree the astral plane was a place where the mind could go, but few knew anything beyond that.

"Isn't this where the mind can travel free from the body?"

"Can you use magic here?"

Beth frowned, and tried to move her mana around. It worked, though it felt strange, like it was both easier and harder at once.

"I guess I couldn't use magic if only my mind were here." She reasoned. "But if I don't have a body, then the only thing left is... spirit?"

Gabriella beamed and clapped her hands together a few times in mild applause. "Well done young one. This 'astral plane' as you call it is merely a place where mortals may dip their toes into the shallowest level of the spirit realm."

"So, am I dead then?"

"That very much depends on how you define death doesn't it?"

"So, I'm not dead?"

"What is death?" The luminous woman asked.

"It's when your spirit leaves your body, right?"

"Did Ethan die when he walked the astral plane many nights ago?"

Beth frowned. "I don't think so, but his spirit definitely left his body."

"Then perhaps you need to rethink your definition of death. Come, through here." Gabriella led Beth through the reinforced door to the lower levels of a small keep. It was well guarded by dozens of Arcanum guards and defended by both archers and many ballistae.

Walking through the door was interesting. Beth briefly wondered if she could stop mid-way through the door and examine the wood from the inside. However, Gabriella seemed to be in a hurry, so instead she made a mental note to try that later.

The luminous woman led her through a winding, twisting series of passages adorned with prison cell doors. They walked for some time before she led Beth through one door that was a little larger than the others. On the other side was Ethan, strapped to a small hand cart and muzzled. But that's not what caught her eye.

There was something around Ethan's head.

It was dark and shadowy and its color -- or lack thereof -- was like the tendril that recently held her. It looked like the blackest night and was utterly devoid of light.

It was some kind of cloud, or perhaps a dark halo, that sat just above his head. Little wisps of the halo had reached down and latched onto Ethan's head, like some dark plant or creeping vine digging roots into solid rock. Despite this, it appeared they had difficulty gaining full purchase against the dragon's head, like he was fighting them. Every so often, a pulse of darkness traveled down the wispy vines, strengthening and thickening them.

There was something truly evil about it; just looking at it made her shiver in disgust and revulsion.

"What is that?"

"The results of Lord Delmar's 'gift' to the happy couple." Gabriella said with a cold fury that was startling. The light around her shone just a little brighter and in a more menacing way. Beth would've been absolutely terrified if that wrath was directed at her. Then Gabriella turned toward Beth and the menacing aura faded instantly, replaced with the same comforting warmth and light as before.

"Was the gold cube enchanted?" Beth asked. "I thought you couldn't enchant metals."

"And what makes you think the cube was solid gold?"

It occurred to Beth that pouring some gold around a bit of wood, bone, or dragon steel wouldn't be hard.

Gabriella indicated the dark halo. "This is what my Lord wishes you to take care of."

"Me? What can I do?"

"You can remove Saidow's influence from your husband."

Beth felt her jaw drop. What could Saidow -- the chief of the fallen angels -- want with Ethan?

"That is not for you to know... yet." Gabriella replied to her unasked question. "My lord merely wishes you to remove the enchantment."

"How?"

The luminous woman smiled gently and put a comforting hand on Beth's shoulder. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because my Lord wishes you to figure this out for yourself." Gabriella then sat down on the floor and closed her eyes as if meditating.

"I... I don't... How?" Beth fumbled for the right words to say. How in Illuminar's name was she supposed to remove that shadowy halo from Ethan? She didn't have the first clue about fighting enchantments or spells. She had a lot of book learning, but they didn't describe how to do anything. She certainly didn't have experience fighting Saidow's minions.

"Can you help at least?" Beth finally asked.

"No, I'm afraid my Lord has entrusted this task to you, and you alone."

"Can you offer advice?"

"I'm sorry, my responses are limited. You must ask the right questions."

Beth frowned. "What's the right question?"

"That my dear, is the right question."