Page 29

Jack placed Chris’s jar into a velvet-lined box. He’d been informed that the court would convene that morning and he should be ready to come when summoned and he would be allowed access to his counsel chambers to finish his preparations. An empty chalice of the pick-me-up drink sat on the side and Jack was already beginning to feel the positive effects.

Ashley gave his counsel robes a quick cleanse as Jack tied his white necktie. At least the warlocks didn’t have the same silly wigs he’d seen barristers wear in British human courts, but the rest of the get-up wasn’t too dissimilar.

“I wish I was able to be there,” Ashley said, helping Jack with his robe. “I know how worried you are about Chris.”

“As far as I can tell, this is a closed court, even to other fae. I imagine having a mythological warlord on trial isn’t the easiest of situations to manage, and I don’t know how the average fae would react.”

“Probably as well as the average warlock discovering Gandalf was real.”

Jack laughed. “Don’t. You never got over not being the one to give Tolkien a bollocking on behalf of the WRC for revealing committee secrets in the guise of fiction.”

“He’s lucky I didn’t find a big pit of lava to shove him in. Fucker.” Ashley did like to hold a grudge.

“You hold onto that anger in case I need you.”

“Just send word and I’ll be there in a heartbeat. I’ll even wear the robe with the sash. Nothing says serious like papal purple.”

Jack hugged him and opened a portal. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it. Chris is in safe hands and I look forward to having you both home.”

He stepped through the portal into a small wood-panelled room where a fae wearing a simple gown was waiting. “Welcome, Counsel Webb. I’m Ritam, your clerk for the duration of the trial.”

“Nice to meet you. I wasn’t expecting admin support.”

“The proceedings will be conducted in fae, and the only reason you’re able to understand what’s been said is the translation charm. Counsel Marqu insisted you shouldn’t be put at a disadvantage.”

“She did?”

Ritam grinned. “Yes, she is rather wonderful like that.”

His clerk had a crush on his opponent, he hoped this wasn’t an omen. “I’m sure if you do a good job she’ll be impressed.”

His wings vibrated. “You can count on me, Counsel.”

“I have a piece of evidence to declare but I don’t want it to be taken from my possession. How do I do that?”

Ritam pressed a button on the desk and a glowing circle appeared. “This will scan the item, catalogue it and inform the judges of its existence. You can leave it in the evidence locker in this room and it can be brought out at your, or the court’s request.”

Jack was naturally suspicious of legal systems, which was probably why he’d made a career out of law and had been good at it. He peered at the gold circle, from what he could tell from its energy, it wasn’t anything insidious. He put the box down and removed the jar. For a moment he hesitated, while Chris’s jar was important as a possession, it was even more important as a piece of evidence, so he held it in the centre of the circle. A low purr and a series of clicks later and the circle disappeared.

Ritam tapped a screen Jack had taken to be a monitor of some sort. “Dragon blood and gold jar,” he said, pointing to a series of characters Jack could identify as fae but wouldn’t have been able to translate them.

The lid of the trunk at the far side of the room popped open. “I take it I put the evidence in there.”

“Correct.” Ritam held out his hand to take the jar. “I can do that for you.”

“No, thanks. I’ve been entrusted with its safety.” He placed the jar, now back in its box, into the trunk, noting there was nothing else in there. “I haven’t seen a list of evidence to be presented by the prosecution.”

“As far as I’m aware, there isn’t any.”

Jack frowned, that couldn’t be right. “Nothing? Are you sure?”

“I don’t know what they would need to present. Your client is to be cross-examined, so verbal evidence from fae history will be given. I suppose you could request the source matter, but I guess they’ll be mythology textbooks.”

Jack was used to trials being conducted in a different way. He would normally be allowed access to the prosecution evidence, in order to be able to review and work on his arguments, but apart from the charges, he knew very little about the fae’s plan.

A bell rang.

“Time to go,” Ritam said, wings vibrating again.

He’d been in stranger situations, with less warning, and he could do this. He held his head high, and followed Ritam into the courtroom with as much arrogance as he could muster.

The chamber was circular, with rows of wooden benches, which were empty and gave the place the feel of a theatre without an audience. He was directed to a lectern where the fae Counsel stood directly opposite. Between them were seven high-back, throne-like chairs. A door to the left opened and seven fae entered, one for each of the fae tribes. Simon was the last to enter.

Ritam handed him a list of names and their tribe in English. Apart from Calanti, who were Simon’s tribe, the only other he’d had direct contact with were the Tasharick, whose Prince Hyax had helped in Simon’s retrieval. Unfortunately, Hyax wasn’t here and instead, Princess Qual was representing her tribe and she had to be Hyax’s sister because of her uncanny resemblance.

Then bringing up the rear came Adjudicator Quint, in all his arrogant glory. He bowed to the judges as they took their seats. Simon’s expression was hard to read. He stood out with his dark hair and silver wings, but he was as regal and beautiful as his peers. If Jack didn’t know better, he’d have thought he was just another fae who didn’t have Chris’s best interest at heart.

Quint took his place behind a lectern in the middle of the room. “I hereby open this session of the court. Have the prisoner brought in to face their charges.”

Jack was surprised the judges weren’t addressed directly, expecting Quint to be dropping titles like they were hot potatoes. There was a witness box to the right of the judges, where a containment field was in place to keep a prisoner in check. A portal opened and Chris stepped through into the box. Jack had seen him yesterday but he was still a sight for sore eyes, and if he did his job then Chris would soon be back in his arms.

Chris beamed as he spotted him but remembered himself and settled on a neutral expression. Jack had done a few last-minute checks, which had corroborated Marqu’s information that there was nothing in fae law preventing him from representing Chris if the nature of their relationship was revealed. He thought it obvious they were in some way entangled but the extent of their feelings might not be so clear, so from an onlooker’s perception it could be a purely physical attraction as Chris was as hot as fuck.

Quint pulled himself up to his full height, and with his wings spread Jack had to admit he was a magnificent-looking bastard. “The court calls the prisoner to confirm their name, and declare their species, and current residency.”

He’d told Chris to keep his answers simple and brief, not to offer additional information and not to speak too quickly. He should act as if he had no concerns about the way proceedings would go.

“I am Chris, I am an elf, and I live at Crofton Hall.”

“For the record can you confirm you have always been an elf?”

Jack tutted. “Objection.”

Quint glowered at him. “This is merely fact-gathering, Counsel Webb. Cross-examination had not started. Objection overruled.”

“No, I can’t confirm I’ve always been an elf,” Chris said, he opened his mouth to continue but snapped his jaw shut before he could.

“Please inform the court what you mean that you can’t confirm you’ve always been an elf.”

“My client has confirmed his species, and that he can’t say he has always been a member of his species,” Jack said. “Further questioning on this angle should be done so under oath and by the prosecuting counsel if necessary.”

He knew he was in the right when Quint’s eyes narrowed. “Very well, the elf named as Chris will be sworn in.” Quint turned to Chris. “Do you have a preference for a holy book or rite of which to swear your answers will be honest and true?”

“I swear on my holar that I will not make any false statements.”

Jack hadn’t realised Chris was going to swear on his holar, but he should have as the holar was a sacred oath for elves and as he identified as an elf it would be odd for him not to have chosen to have acknowledged that tradition.

“You are here to answer two charges that have been deemed of importance to the fae realm. First, that you are the elf known as Christopholous, a war criminal who exerted untold damage and destruction against the fae. Second, that the punishment originally handed down has not been completed and that you should be further sanctioned for your actions. Do you understand the charges?”

“Yes,” Chris replied.

“How do you plead?”

Jack watched Chris as he composed himself, he remembered things from his life before the jar but not in great detail and not everything. Thousands of years ago he might have been able to face off against generals and waves of soldiers but today he was just a nervous elf who’d been put in a position he had no experience of dealing with.

“I admit that I was Christopholous, but I am no longer him, so I plead not guilty of being him today, but guilty of being him before. For the second charge, I plead not guilty.”

“Let it be noted,” Quint said.

Ritam was taking notes by hand alongside a spell recording of the discussions. Another clerk seemed to be doing something similar, and a couple of judges were also taking their own notes.

“Counsel Marqu, I open the floor for your cross-examination,” Quint said. “Counsel Webb, you may interject as admissible.”

The fae system favoured the prosecution, but at least Jack knew Marqu thought it was all a load of bollocks. Jack had several points planned and counter-arguments prepared for all the eventualities he had considered.

Quint stepped away and his lectern slid to the side as Marqu’s clerk, who was almost the female version of Ritam, complete with the same long blonde plait and coppery wings, handed her a leather-bound book.

“The accused has admitted he is Christopholous,” Marqu began.

“Objection,” Jack said. “My client has admitted he was Christopholous, but he is now a different elf, identified as Chris.”

“Noted, Counsel Webb. That is a bold statement and I would call into doubt it could be substantiated.”

She was setting him up but in a good way.

“I wish to let Chris cast a reveal spell so the court can see and feel for themselves that his magic is that of a light elf.” Jack turned to the judges. “Does he have your permission?”

Quint stood. “This is not a performance, Counsel. And neither is it a safe option to let a potential warlord release magic into a courtroom.”

“I am happy for him to do so,” Simon said. “If my fellow judges are concerned I can set up a containment filter so if there is an ill intent Chris’s magic will be shut down immediately.”

The others looked unbothered and nodded their assent. Simon waved a hand and Jack felt the prickle of magic, Simon was not someone to be messed with, Jack could taste his power and he would only get more proficient at using his gifts.

“When you are ready, Chris, please cast a reveal charm,” Jack said.

As spells went, it wasn’t complicated and Chris held up his hand and a gold orb hovered between his palms. The magic was pure, untainted and raw. “I’m sure you can all feel what I’m experiencing. I will not comment further than to say I consider this as evidence Chris is a light elf, a rarity in itself, and we need to consider how he came to be one. Do you have any comment, Counsel Marqu?”

Chris stopped casting his magic, leaving a brightness that took a while to fade.

“No, Counsel Webb, I think you have made your point. Unless you feel it necessary, I do not think it worthwhile to regurgitate the mythology surrounding Christopholous. We are all aware of what is written, but there are no first-hand accounts, and even though your client admits he was Christopholous he cannot be asked to ratify the legends.”

Jack had been concerned Chris might be forced to listen to the crimes Christopholous had been previously sentenced for, which would have been tantamount to fairy tales and had no place in a court. “I agree, if the court is so amenable, I believe it is the second charge that is of importance. My client does not deny who he was, but that he has served his punishment.”

“Agreed. The punishment is also part of the legend,” Marqu said. “I will continue with my questioning starting there.”

“I would like it minuted that the original punishment was deemed appropriate,” Jack said. “The charge my client is answering to is whether the sentence was completed, not that additional punishment should be applied.”

He knew how charges could bleed. Words were powerful and it was an important part of his role to ensure Chris was not hit with additional charges or treated unfairly.

“Ritam,” Marqu said, “if you would be so kind.”

His clerk perked up at being addressed directly and Jack thought Marqu knew she had an admirer.

“Done, Counsel,” Ritam said, a little on the squeaky side.

Marqu turned her attention back to Chris. “Can you describe in your own words the punishment you received? As we stated, much of the existence of Christopholous has been treated as mythology, and the written record of your original trial is lost to history.”

They’d discussed this as a possible question, and Jack was glad it had been framed in such a way that gave Chris the chance to offer his side first.

“The magic I’d developed as Christopholous was not something that could be dealt with easily. I was as close to immortal as I could be, but the leaders of the tribes found a way to strip away my substance to nothing more than an echo and imprison me in a jar. The jar had to be made from dragon’s blood and the leader of the Calanti tribe had a darker edge to their magic and was able to seal me in the jar with gold.”

“And were you given a term to serve?” Marqu asked.

“Not in absolute years. The jar would only release me if true repentance was born from centuries of change and I had no malice and was pure. My existence from then on would be fuelled by love, and once I was capable of love I would be whole.”

“I see, and would you consider yourself whole?”

Chris nodded. “I was a spectre for many centuries, tethered to the jar. I started as barely anything but over time I became more sentient and corporeal, and within recent months I have completed my punishment, became fully corporeal and no longer tied to my jar. I am free.”

“I see.” Marqu referred to her notes. “Counsel Webb has lodged your jar as evidence. I will have the clerk pass the jar to the judges for their examination, while that happens, I am aware of an additional element of your punishment that you have yet to mention. I am referring to you being bound to someone in case you might merge repentant but could revert to your old ways.”

“That is correct.”

“Now, I can see you are free of your jar, but I have not seen any demonstration that you have been bonded to anyone. Am I correct in my assumption?”

“Yes,” Chris said. “I would have thought you could have sensed that during my reveal spell.”

Jack didn’t have any arguments for this. Chris was free, untethered from his jar, and the safety net the fae had put in place had not happened. Perhaps he could find a way to suggest the bond wouldn’t be needed but it would not address the original conditions attached to Christopholous’s sentence.

“So you have not finished your sentence.” It was not phrased as a question, and Jack knew she was technically correct.

“I am repentant, the elf I am today would not do what Christopholous did. I have spent centuries not knowing who I was, but I know I am not him any longer. My magic is different, I am different. I will do anything to remain who I am today.”

“Anything? Including being bound to someone?”

Chris smiled, his gaze resting on Jack. “The right someone, one who I could never harm and they would ensure I would never hurt anyone.”

Jack cleared his throat. “My client is remorseful for who he was. The only thing I believe is open is whether it is even necessary to enforce the bond. The requirement is part of a myth.”

“A myth the accused has confirmed as true.” She turned to the judges, who were still passing around Chris’s jar. “Your Excellencies, given what you have heard, directly from the accused’s mouth and his counsel, I consider my cross-examination to be complete. Unless Counsel Webb wishes to offer up further evidence or arguments, I would suggest the bench retires for deliberation.”

Jack could reiterate the points he’d made, but there was nothing new he could say, based on what he’d heard, he could only see the judges’ findings go in one direction, having said that, he was relying on the judges not being arseholes. “I have nothing further to add. My client and I thank Counsel Marqu and the judges for their time.”

Quint stood. He didn’t look happy, but if he had been expecting some dramatic showdown he didn’t know Marqu well, nor did he understand the premise of the case. “Let the prisoner be taken to the holding chamber, his counsel may meet with him there.”

All things considered, the sitting could have gone a lot worse. Chris was led away back through a portal and Jack bowed as the judges filed out. Ritam flew up to him grinning. “Wasn’t that exciting!”

“I wouldn’t say it’s been one of my most thrilling of cases.” It dawned on him this might be Ritam’s first experience of being a clerk. “Have you done this before?”

“No, I’m here because my mother is Queen Adianne of the Bellindine tribe.” He grinned. “I couldn’t believe my luck when she said me and my sister could help.”

He should have known the court was not operating as normal, the hearing was behind closed doors and that would have meant the clerks as well. It did mean Ritam, being a bloody fae prince, had more chance of shagging Marqu.

“I best go check on Chris.”

Ritam opened a portal. “This way.”