A Treacherous Decision

After much deliberation a decision was made. The young man was brought before the court. The High Judge glared down at him, this sixteen year old boy whose curly brunette hair came just past the tops of his ears, whose firm jaw was hidden beneath the stubble of hair accumulating on it, and whose eyes portrayed the fiery determination within him.

If one were to observe these two men they would be astounded by the composure the latter was able to maintain, for the High Judge was a man to be greatly feared by all in Carsh-Haltlah. The piercing blue eyes that were the Judge’s were enough to cause a grown man to tremble and become weak in the knees. This, however, was not the case with this boy.

The young man locked eyes with the Judge, his own pale eyes cutting through into the very soul of the Judge. All who were in attendance at this hearing, which was in fact all those who lived within the wall at Carsh-Haltlah, had never anticipated that they’d see such a spectacle.

“Kenden Pohn Allante,” the Judge began, “thirty days prior to this, you were brought before this court with the accusation of treason against you. This act, if proven true, can result in banishment or death. This court saw fit to detain you in prison until such accusations could be proved true or false. You have been permitted to join this court as it examined the evidence arguing both sides. You were offered a court official to defend you in this trial and you refused their services.

"This court has taken into account all that has been said and has reached a decision; we find you guilty as charged. Because you are a citizen of Carsh-Haltlah, and are protected under its laws, you are permitted to make any statements you wish in regards to this decision and try to dissuade this court from its verdict. You may now speak.”

The young man was silent for a moment, and then he lifted his head higher in unabashed defiance and said, “I have committed no crime of treason. If there is to be any in this assembly to be tried of such crimes, it is those who sit upon the Judge’s bench, for that is where the true treason lies.”

Immediately everyone in the room began whispering frantically to their neighbor of their shock at such an accusation being made, for it was a serious act to accuse a single judge of such a crime, but all of them was unthinkable.

“For those of you who have judged me and held me in trial these past weeks,” the boy said loudly, “I know that the decisions you have made concerning the welfare of the people of Carsh-Haltlah, while they seemed to be for their benefit and good fortune, have been made for no one’s benefit but that of your own.

"You have been secretly going against everything the very laws for which you claim I have broken. You have lied through smiling teeth at those who have elected you into this position of power as you abuse the privilege, use it for your own personal gain. You have taken away many of this people’s rights and much of its freedom and you have done so while being as slippery as serpents, so as to deceive this people and keep them in the dark.

"I know of the conspiracies being formed within the highest courts of this system. Conspiracies not only against those inhabitants who live beyond the wall but against the very laws you swore to uphold. I know your true treatment of prisoners, both non-citizens and those living in Carsh-Haltlah.”

One of the Junior Judges stood abruptly, his face red as a strawberry. “You have no proof for any of these accusations! Our fair treatment of all prisoners and those less fortunate than ourselves have always been things this court takes great pride in!”

“Then it is blind pride! You forget sir that I have been over the wall and lived among the poor of this kingdom! I have witnessed their ‘fair treatment’ first hand! You forget that I have been imprisoned and have seen their ‘fair treatment’ as well! Living conditions that cause a man to wish he was a poor pauper rather than a prisoner, food barely suitable for eating if it ever was! The verbal and physical abuse, I have seen it all!”

“You lie, boy! Denounce these crude accusations you have made!”

“I will die a traitor to this people before even considering such course of action!”

The small chatter that had been going on around the sixteen year old now grew into large outcries of fury. Many people stood shouting. “Treason, treason!” Again the young man’s voice rang out above it all.

“All that I am guilty of is attempting and doing my best to restore this kingdom to what it once was; a place of equality, freedom, and rights, of peace and caring, a place where integrity and loyalty would not be called treason!”

The audience’s anger had peaked. There were threats of death flung out at the boy, exclamations of hatred; some people even began throwing things at him. These objects ranged anywhere from paper and pencils to hunks of mud a few people had brought in with them. As each item made contact with the boy, he stood tall without flinching even once.

The High Judge watched and observed this behavior and after doing so stood. The room went silent almost instantly. He removed a thin chain from around his neck and set it on top of his gavel, indicating that it was his intention to speak to the accused on the floor as a civilian.

When the Judge had come down off the bench he stood in front of the young man who was now dirtier than before and whose handsome facial features were disturbed by the red marks turning bruises from the impact of objects. They stared at each other; the formers look hard, while the latter’s remained determined and untainted.

As the court audience watched these two men stare each other down a most peculiar and unexpected thing happened. The High Judge, a man who had much power and authority and whose large stature and known reputation put fear into many, began to tremble. It was ever so slight at first, and then his knocking knees could be seen by all.

After a period of time he finally stood to his full height, towering a good five inches above the young man. Although his body was still shaky he did his best to regain that respectable composure he had lost from looking into those young pale eyes that were so much like his own. No, more like those of the boy’s late mother, which had been filled with such love and kindness towards even the lowest person within the kingdom’s borders. There had been a time when these eyes displayed these same characteristics, but they had dulled over time, at least towards the Judge they had done so.

“Why do you do this?” he asked in a quiet but firm voice. “Why do you seek to destroy that which we have worked so hard to achieve? Why do you refuse the chance to one day obtain that position to which I now possess? Why make such accusations against your own father? Why, why?”

“I do this because it is right!” the son whispered fiercely. “I do not seek to destroy what has been achieved only the corruption that has come with our success! As for my accusations against you, I will not make exceptions for my integrity merely because it will expose the wrongdoings of those within my family! And as for the position of power to which you desire me to have, I do not want it! I never have! It was always what you wanted, what would make you happy!”

“YOU DISHONOR ME!”

“You dishonor yourself!”

“Foolish boy it is you who have refused to accept the good fortune you have been offered!”

“And it is you who has made this unjust decision! You allowed your desire for success and power to runaway with you and take you into the captivity of corruption! It is you who turned in your son to cover up the dark deeds you have been hiding behind your cowardice by blaming those who are in the right!”
“How dare you treat me with such disrespect!? I have brought you up in this world, caring for you to the very best of my ability when your mother passed on, and this is how you repay me!?”

“Mother would never have treated me as you have! The only reason she died was because you had grown to neglect us and it saddened her beyond reckoning! She died in want of your love, but you were too busy with your ‘important judge’s responsibilities’ to even bother noticing!”

The judge’s hand flew, making contact with his son’s right cheek. The blow had such unexpected force that Kenden stumbled. The court was so silent you could hear a fly buzzing on the other side of the room. This course of action had taken all by surprise, causing them to know not what to do or say.

The judge's eyes were filled with such hatred that even his son, whose determination had dared challenge his father and even frightened him, now feared for the safety of his own life. Kenden had come across many men, both in prison and without it, who had possessed that same look in their eyes. He had even seen his father carry that look prior to this time.

A second Junior Judge stood his shock at such an action taking place within these very walls evident on his face. “Judge Allante that is enough,” he turned to the younger man and said, “You know the laws of this country concerning such actions against ones flesh and blood. If you so desire to press charges this hearing may be postponed, at least it’s absolute decision and penalty if guilt is still found, until justice in this account has been served. Do you wish to take such action?”

Kenden stood his face solemn, the red mark on the side of his face illuminating before the court. He now knew of the single loyalty to justice on the bench; he had overheard his father complaining about him and speaking about disposing of him. “I do not sir,” he said. Murmurs of astonishment brought life back into the room. “I cannot bring such charges against a man I have long since called father.”

Judge Allante turned sharply on his heel and returned to his seat. He returned the chain to its proper place around his neck and said, “Unless the accused has anything more to add to his already stated testimony this court will proceed.” The boy, now turned man, said nothing. “Fine, we shall continue.”

The judge on the far end of the bench raised his hand. Judge Allante nodded at him. “I propose,” began the junior, “that the punishment to be bestowed upon the accused be that of death.”

“Surely not”, “the high judge would never”, “his own son”, these were the responses to the proposal made that came from the court audience.

“All in agreement,” the high judge said, “of said proposal, raise your hand.”

Kenden watched as the hands of the judges went up. Two remained; the man who had offered him a chance to press charges against his father and his father. With outbursts of protest being shouted at him, high judge Allante raised his hand. Never in the history of Carsh-Haltlah had such a betrayal been made.

“All opposed.” The remaining judge lifted his hand.

When such an event takes place, the opposition is required to offer a second proposal. Ten members of the audience, the same number of judges on the bench, are then randomly selected. These ten citizens are required to vote for whichever proposal they believe just, and whichever one receives the most civilian votes was the proposal carried out.

“I propose,” The opposition stated, “that the boy be banished from the land.” He knew full well that the boy was indeed innocent, but there was nothing he could do, for he was not fully aware of whether or not the audience was convinced of his guilt, and he had already been outvoted in the judge’s chambers.

It took nearly half an hour to select the civilians. They were brought to stand before the accused. When all ten were present the high judge spoke. “All of you who are in favor of this second proposal raise your hand.” Without hesitation every hand went into the air. “The vote is unanimous. The accused is hereby sentenced to banishment from the land under pain of death. This court is adjourned.”

In the judge’s chambers judge Allante stopped the opposition. “What intentions caused you to make such an opposing proposal!? The boy was a traitor and a dangerous one too! He should’ve been put to death!”

“He’s your own son!” Judge Fardell cried. “And you not only struck him but you rose your hand against him!”

“You heard the boy! He is no son of mine!”

“You know very well that had he pressed charges you would have been convicted and sentenced to death! Be denouncing his relation to you he spared your life! You could have shown some decency and done the same for him, son or not!” Fardell turned and left the room. The other eight judges approached Allante.

“If we’re not careful,” Judge Bensud, the man who had made the first proposal, said in an undertone, “he’ll discover what we have been doing.”

“Don’t worry,” Allante said staring at the door Fardell had exited out of. “He’ll be out of our way soon enough. Meanwhile, Bensud, I have a job for you.”

Back in the courtroom two guards stood on either side of the lad. As they escorted him towards the door, Judge Bensud approached them. “I wish to speak with the two of you privately,” he said. The three men turned and walked about ten yards and began whispering to each other.

As the three men spoke someone walked up behind Kenden. He turned to find a girl, about his age, with thick fiery hair and bright green eyes staring at him. HE turned more fully so that, although he was a good five inches taller than her, they could look into each other’s eyes. After a moment or two the girl wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest. Kenden put his arms around her as her body trembled with sobs, leaning his cheek on her head.

“Shh,” he told her gently. “It’s alright.”

“How can you say that?” she asked quietly. She lifted her head to look at him. “You’ve been banished. I’m never going to see you again. Can’t you see how much this is tearing me apart?”

He stared at her astounded. “I thought…”

“I love you,” she said, her green eyes searching his. “I know what I told you before, all those months ago, but it’s not true. I didn’t want to believe what my heart was telling me because it contradicted all that my mind said. What it said about our different social statuses, about our differences in family, and about how much I am not good enough. But I don’t care anymore. I wanted to see you before now for so long, but there was always something that came up. Either I was too busy to see you, or you were too busy to see me. Then you disappeared for two months, and another you spent in prison. I love you Kenden, oh how I love you!”

Kenden was too stunned to speak. He felt as though a great burden of sorrow had been lifted, regardless of his present state. Finally the tears came to his eyes. “And I love you Arna Kemern,” he managed to say as he choked back a sob. He pulled her in tight and let his tears fall into her hair. “I love you.”

The three men were now on their way back over to him. He realized there was no time to waste. He pulled her away for a moment and began whispering to her.

“Listen,” he said. “The judge who spoke out against my execution is in danger.” At her confused look he added, “I can’t explain it now. I need you to do whatever you can to protect him. Get him to the outer wall by midnight tonight and I’ll take him with me into hiding.”

“You want to come back so soon?”

“Yes, they won’t be expecting it. Normally I would take my time to plan things out, but at this point I feel the element of surprise is needed.”

“Alright, but what are you going to do about your father?”

Before Kenden could answer her the guards had returned.

“What are you doing here?” they asked Arna harshly.

“She’s saying goodbye,” Kenden replied coldly.

“Well, we are taking you now whether or not her goodbyes are finished.”

Arna grabbed Kenden’s hand. “Goodbye,” she said, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“Remember me,” he told her. She nodded, understanding fully what he meant.

Once they were past the out most reaches of the kingdom Kenden and his two escorts stopped to rest. Kenden went over the events of the day, his mind already buzzing with his plans to form an army with those outside the wall, of possible ambushes and attack plans, and so on.

There was a breaking twig behind him and he turned. One of the guards was standing behind him, sword raised. Just seconds before it hit Kenden moved out of the way. The second guard then came at him. Kenden jumped up and tried to run but one of the guards gashed him in the back of the leg causing him to fall over. Gasping from the pain of his wound he took hold of his injured leg with his bound hands, applying pressure to it as blood seeped through his fingers.

As another blow came for him Kenden lifted his arms to block it, causing the blade to cut through the ropes around his wrists. Realizing he was free Kenden stood quickly and hurried away from the two men limping along as his leg seared with pain. He found a place where the shrubbery had grown thick enough that he could hide in it without being seen. He hastily crawled into it and listened to his heart pounding as the guards stood just inches from his hiding place, searching frantically for him. He lay stock still praying they would not find him. Eventually they gave up and ran off in another direction.

Kenden pulled himself out from beneath the shrubbery and headed in the opposite direction. Not long after he came to the edge of a river bluff. Although it was not that high up, falling off of it in a certain way could cause one to land on the dangerous rocks below. Kenden crouched over trying to catch his breath, his leg beginning to go numb.

“Gotcha!”

Kenden turned and to his horror the guards were standing there. They had waited nearby as he pulled himself out from the shrubbery and then followed him to the bluff. The two men approached him, swords drawn and ready to strike. Kenden stepped back but by doing o he lost his balance and fell of the bluff.

The guards hurried to the edge and looked over. They could hear the river’s violent current as it passed over the rocks. There was no sign of the prisoner.

“River swallowed him right up,” said the first guard.

“What do we tell Bensud?” asked the second.

“What do we tell Bensud? Why, we tell him the task is done, that he need not worry about Kenden Allante anymore.”

The men left satisfied that their task was done.

Below on the river bank however, about 100 yards from where he had fallen off the bluff, Kenden pulled himself out of the river. He lay against the rocky ground, eyes closed, breathing even and body aching all over. He remained unconscious until nearly an hour before sundown. When he awoke he slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position. His head began to spin and as Kenden placed a hand over his forehead he felt a cut across it.

Kenden stood. His leg was now numb from his ankle to his knee. He began to climb up the side of the bluff, dragging his leg behind him. As he did he became more aware of how vital it would be for him to maintain a low profile. The judges, his father included, would believe him to be dead, which would give him all the advantage. He would fashion a new name, perhaps cut his hair, although not quite as short as it had been when he was captured by his father and the judges three months ago.

His mind running once again and processing all that he would need to accomplish his newly acquired mission, Kenden continued his climb to the top, unsure of how everything would pan out, but all the more determined to see it through to the end and to win.