Part 26 (1/2)

And-finally,” said Derek in a low and measured voice, ”I accuse Sturm Brightblade of cowardice in the face of the enemy.”

A low murmur ran through the a.s.semblage of knights gathered in the castle of Lord Gunthar. Three knights, seated at the ma.s.sive black oak table in front of the a.s.sembly, leaned their heads together to confer in low tones.

Long ago, the three seated at this Knights Trials-as prescribed by the Measure-would have been the Grand Master, the High Clerist, and the High Justice. But at this time there was no Grand Master. There had not been a High Clerist since the time of the Cataclysm. And while the High Justice-Lord Alfred MarKenin-was present, his hold on that position was tenuous at best. Whoever became the new Grand Master had leave to replace him.

Despite these vacancies in the Head of the Order, the business of the Knights must continue. Though not strong enough to claim the coveted position of Grand Master, Lord Gunthar Uth Wistan was strong enough to act in that role. And so he sat here today, at the beginning of the Yuletide season, in judgment on this young squire, Sturm Brightblade. To his right sat Lord Alfred, to his left, young Lord Michael Jeoffrey, filling in as High Clerist.

Facing them, in the Great Hall of Castle Uth Wistan, were twenty other Knights of Solamnia who had been hastily gathered from all parts of Sancrist to sit as witnesses to this Knights Trials-as prescribed by the Measure. These now muttered and shook their heads as their leaders conferred.

From a table directly in front of the three Knights Seated in Judgment, Lord Derek rose and bowed to Lord Gunthar. His testimony had reached its end. There remained now only the Knight's Answer and the Judgment itself. Derek returned to his place among the other knights, laughing and talking with them.

Only one person in the hall was silent. Sturm Brightblade sat unmoving throughout all of Lord Derek Crownguard's d.a.m.ning accusations. He had heard charges of insubordination, failure to obey orders, masquerading as a knight-and not a word or murmur had escaped him. His face was carefully expressionless, his hands were clasped on the top of the table.

Lord Gunthar's eyes were on Sturm now, as they had been throughout the Trials. He began to wonder if the man was even still alive, so fixed and white was his face, so rigid his posture. Gunthar had seen Sturm flinch only once. At the charge of cowardice, a shudder convulsed the man's body. The look on his face...well, Gunthar recalled seeing that same look once previously-on a man who had just been run through by a spear. But Sturm quickly regained his composure.

Gunthar was so interested in watching Brightblade that he nearly lost track of the conversation of the two knights next to him. He caught only the end of Lord Alfred's sentence.

”... not allow Knight's Answer.”

”Why not?” Lord Gunthar asked sharply, though keeping his voice low. ”It is his right according to the Measure.”

”We have never had a case like this,” Lord Alfred, Knight of the Sword, stated flatly. ”Always before, when a squire has been brought up before the Council of the Order to attain his knighthood, there have been witnesses, many witnesses. He is given an opportunity to explain his reasons for his actions. No one ever questions that he committed the acts. But Brightblade's only defense-”

”Is to tell us that Derek lies,” finished Lord Michael Jeoffrey, Knight of the Crown. ”And that is unthinkable. To take the word of a squire over a Knight of the Rose.”

”Nonetheless, the young man will have his say,” Lord Gunthar said, glancing sternly at each of the men. ”That is the Law according to the Measure. Do either of you question it?”

”No...”

”No, of course not. But-”

”Very well.” Gunthar smoothed his moustaches and, leaning forward, tapped gently on the wooden table with the hilt of the sword-Sturm's sword-that lay upon it. The other two knights exchanged looks behind his back, one raising his eyebrows, the other shrugging slightly. Gunthar was aware of this, as he was aware of all the covert scheming and plotting now pervasive in the Knighthood. He chose to ignore it.

Not yet strong enough to claim the vacant position of Grand Master, but still the strongest and most powerful of the knights currently seated on the Council, Gunthar had been forced to ignore a great deal of what he would have-in another day and age-quashed without hesitation. He expected this disloyalty of Alfred MarKenin-the knight had long been in Derek's camp-but he was surprised at Michael, whom he had thought loyal to him. Apparently Derek had gotten to him, too.

Gunthar watched Derek Crownguard as the knights returned to their places. Derek was the only rival with the money and backing capable of claiming the rank of Grand Master. Hoping to earn additional votes, Derek had eagerly volunteered to undertake the perilous quest in search of the legendary dragon orbs. Gunthar was given little choice but to agree. If he had refused, he would appear frightened of Derek's growing power. Derek was undeniably the most qualified-if one strictly followed the Measure. But Gunthar, who had known Derek a long time, would have prevented his going if he could have-not because he feared the knight but because he truly did not trust him. The man was vainglorious and power-hungry, and-when it came down to it-Derek's first loyalties lay to Derek.

And now it appeared that Derek's successful return with a dragon orb had won the day. It had brought many knights into his camp who had been heading that direction anyway and actually enticed away some in Gunthar's own faction. The only ones who opposed him still were the younger knights in the lowest order of the Knighthood-Knights of the Crown.

These young men had little use for the strict and rigid interpretation of the Measure that was life's blood to the older knights. They pushed for change-and had been severely chastened by Lord Derek Crownguard. Some came close to losing their knighthood. These young knights were firmly behind Lord Gunthar. Unfortunately, they were few in number and, for the most part, had more loyalty than money. The young knights had, however, adopted Sturm's cause as their own.

But this was Derek Crownguard's master stroke, Gunthar thought bitterly. With one slice of his sword, Derek was going to get rid of a man he hated and his chief rival as well.

Lord Gunthar was a well-known friend of the Brightblade family, a friends.h.i.+p that traced back generations. It was Gunthar who had advanced Sturm's claim when the young man appeared out of nowhere five years before to seek his father and his inheritance. Sturm had been able, with letters from his mother, to prove his right to the Brightblade name. A few insinuated this had been accomplished on the wrong side of the sheets, but Gunthar quickly squelched those rumors. The young man was obviously the son of his old friend-that much could be seen in Sturm's face. By backing Sturm, however, the lord was risking a great deal.

Gunthar's gaze went to Derek, walking among the knights, smiling and shaking hands. Yes, this trial was making him-Lord Gunthar Uth Wistan-appear a fool.

Worse still, Gunthar thought sadly, his eyes returning to Sturm, it was probably going to destroy the career of what he believed to be a very fine man, a man worthy of walking his father's path.

”Sturm Brightblade,” Lord Gunthar said when silence descended on the hall, ”you have heard the accusations made against you?”

”I have, my lord,” Sturm answered. His deep voice echoed eerily in the hall. Suddenly a log in the huge fireplace behind Gunthar split, sending a flare of heat and a shower of sparks up the chimney. Gunthar paused while the servants hustled in efficiently to add more wood. When the servants were gone, he continued the ritual questioning.

”Do you, Sturm Brightblade, understand the charges made against you, and do you further understand that these are grievous charges and could cause this Council to find you unfit for the knighthood?”

”I do,” Sturm started to reply. His voice broke. Coughing, he repeated more firmly, ”I do, my lord.”

Gunthar smoothed his moustaches, trying to think how to lead into this, knowing that anything the young man said against Derek was going to reflect badly upon Sturm himself.

”How old are you, Brightblade?” Gunthar asked.

Sturm blinked at this unexpected question.

”Over thirty, I believe?” Gunthar continued, musing.

”Yes, my lord,” Sturm answered.

”And, from what Derek tells us about your exploits in Ice Wall Castle, a skilled warrior-”

”I never denied that, my lord,” Derek said, rising to his feet once again. His voice was tinged with impatience.

”Yet you accuse him of cowardice,” Gunthar snapped. ”If my memory serves me correctly, you stated that when the elves attacked, he refused to obey your order to fight.”

Derek's face was flushed. ”May I remind your lords.h.i.+p that I I am not on trial-” am not on trial-”

”You charge Brightblade with cowardice in the face of the enemy,” Gunthar interrupted. ”It has been many years since the elves were our enemies.”

Derek hesitated. The other knights appeared uncomfortable. The elves were members of the Council of Whitestone, but they were not allowed a vote. Because of the discovery of the dragon orb, the elves would be attending the upcoming Council, and it would never do to have word get back to them that the knights considered them enemies.

”Perhaps 'enemy' is is too strong a word, my lord.” Derek recovered smoothly. ”If I am at fault, it is simply that I am being forced to go by what is written in the Measure. At the time I speak of, the elves-though not our enemies in point of fact-were doing everything in their power to prevent us from bringing the dragon orb to Sancrist. Since this was my mission-and the elves opposed it-I therefore am forced to define them as 'enemies'-according to the Measure.” too strong a word, my lord.” Derek recovered smoothly. ”If I am at fault, it is simply that I am being forced to go by what is written in the Measure. At the time I speak of, the elves-though not our enemies in point of fact-were doing everything in their power to prevent us from bringing the dragon orb to Sancrist. Since this was my mission-and the elves opposed it-I therefore am forced to define them as 'enemies'-according to the Measure.”

Slick b.a.s.t.a.r.d, Gunthar thought grudgingly.

With a bow to apologize for speaking out of turn, Derek sat down again. Many of the older knights nodded in approval.

”It also says in the Measure,” Sturm said slowly, ”that we are not to take life needlessly, that we fight only in defense-either our own or the defense of others. The elves did not threaten our lives. At no time were we in actual physical danger.”

”They were shooting arrows at you, man!” Lord Alfred struck the table with his gloved hand.

”True, my lord,” Sturm replied, ”but all know the elves are expert marksmen. If they had wanted to kill us, they would not have been hitting trees!”

”What do you believe would have happened if you had attacked the elves?” Gunthar questioned.

”The results would have been tragic in my view, my lord,” Sturm said, his voice soft and low. ”For the first time in generations, elves and humans would be killing each other. I think the Dragon Highlords would have laughed.”

Several of the young knights applauded.

Lord Alfred glared at them, angry at this serious breach of the Measure's rules of conduct. ”Lord Gunthar, may I remind you that Lord Derek Crownguard is not on trial here. He has proven his valor time and again upon the field of battle. I think we may safely take his word for what is an enemy action and what isn't. Sturm Brightblade, do you say that the charges made against you by Lord Derek Crownguard are false?”

”My lord,” Sturm began, licking his lips which were cracked and dry, ”I do not say the knight has lied. I say, however, that he has misrepresented me.”