has never been enforced, at least not that I could verify, until now.'
'You are lying,' Courtenay said, 'there is no law.'
The Speaker continued, 'Oh, indeed there is, Lord Courtenay. It was designed to prevent incidents where blackmail, or deeds of coercion, have been used to encourage the result of an Election towards one result or another.'
'What are you talking about,' Courtenay said.
'You see, my Lord,' Ysabel said, 'it seems that any Elections held since the children were taken are declared null and void under the law.' She smiled. 'Which includes the one that offered a vote of no confidence in my rule.'
Courtenay's face reddened.
'And not only that,' Ysabel added, 'it would seem that you do indeed have a history of crimes against the state stretching back for quite some time.'
'That is untrue.'
'Oh, but it's not,' Winterburne said, as he stepped out from behind Ysabel's men. 'And as well as blackmail, and treason in this country,' he said, 'you can add, deception, treason, and murder in the Empire.'
Courtenay's face froze.
'Good God!' he said, as he saw Winterburne approach across the chamber. 'How in heaven's name did you come to be here?'
'It was easy when you know the right people. Such as Dieter Conn.'
Courtenay looked puzzled.
Winterburne bowed with a flourish. 'Richard Smyth, at your service.'
'No!' Courtenay shook his head. 'I do not believe it.'
'You see, Courtenay, you are not the only one that is able to play out an act.'
'So it would seem,' Courtenay said, 'although it pains me to say so. I see that you have taken to wearing women's dresses now, though, Winterburne?'
'I would have come here naked, My Lord, if it meant that I could see you brought to justice.' Winterburne looked across to Ysabel, who had a grin on her face. 'No offence, Your Majesty,' he added.
'None taken, Captain,' Ysabel said.
'Well, aren't we all one big happy family, at last,' Courtenay said.
With a swift flick of his wrists he pulled out a knife from the sleeve of his robe, diving at Ysabel, but before he could cover the ground between the two of them the guards around her had brought him down with the shafts of their spears. He looked up at their faces. A steel point had been directed at his head.
'No,' Ysabel said, 'do not kill him. It would be wrong to deprive the executioner the chance to earn a day's pay.'
Courtenay looked up from his prone position.
'And there was me thinking that the Commonwealth took pride in having an impartial system of justice. It seems that you have already declared me guilty.'
'Perhaps I have, My Lord,' Ysabel said, 'but you seem to forget that I am not entitled to vote on the matter. I can, however, express a personal opinion at any time I like.' She smiled. 'But, I'm sure your trial will be impartial.' She waved her arm around the Electors. 'And, if I know these good people it will be fair too. You will be given a hearing, as is your right.' She looked over at her guards. 'Take him away,' she said.
The guards approached Courtenay and bent, grabbing him by the arms, dragging him towards the exit that would lead through the Palace to the dungeons.
'It's not over!' he called. 'You'll see!'
Away in the corridor, Courtenay's protestations could still be heard, but even then they faded away.
Ysabel turned to Winterburne and the others. 'My kingdom cannot thank you all enough for the way that you endangered your lives in the ways you did. And, I will be eternally grateful for my own life.'
'It is no more than any man would do when placed in the same situation.' Winterburne looked back at Rampton and Marek. 'I'm sure we all feel the same.'
The others nodded.
Duchess Rennick approached Winterburne and Ysabel. 'Am I to understand that these are the men than ensured the release of the children?'
Ysabel nodded. 'It was as if the young ones were their very own, Kaitlynn.'
'I am so grateful. We are so grateful,' the Duchess said. She turned towards Ysabel. 'Your Majesty, I am so sorry that things happened the way they did, but I saw no other way.'
'Evidently, Kaitlynn,' the Queen said, 'it was the right thing to do, or else we should have been looking at many more deaths than is the case. For a start, most likely we would not be standing here as we now are.'
The Duchess curtseyed. 'You are most gracious, Your Majesty.'
'Go, see your families, for you will be needed in due course.'
The Duchess curtseyed one more time and then left the pair and they were alone again.
'May I ask,' Winterburne said, 'what will happen to Courtenay now?'
'There is no more serious a matter as treason, Captain, and one dealt with by the full Council of Electors.'
'How soon will the trial be?'
'It depends on how long it will take to collect the evidence together. In this case,' she grimaced, 'I should think it could happen immediately, although most likely tomorrow.'
'Can the result of the vote be in any doubt?'
'We shall see,' Ysabel said. 'It is important, for the sake of history, if nothing else, that we are seen to do the right thing.'
'Of course, Your Majesty.'
'Now, though,' Ysabel said, 'there is the not so insignificant matter of the calling off of my armies to attend to. I expect they are causing my good friends in the Empire more than just a little angst.'
Winterburne smiled. 'The Emperor will be relieved.' Then a thought crossed his mind. 'Your Majesty,' he said, 'may I ask another question?'
'Of course,' Ysabel replied. She smiled at him, 'I should think you've earned that right many times over. What would you ask of me?'
'The officer,' he said, 'back there in the corridor. What was it that you said to him to convince him to join us?'
Ysabel looked across the space between them, silent. Then she smiled. 'It was quite simple in the end, to be honest.'
'Simple?'
'Yes. I offered him a vision of the future, Lord Winterburne.'
He frowned, a question already forming in his mind, but Ysabel seemed to anticipate what is was that he would ask her next.
'It was a vision of the future, somewhat like that one we have glimpsed at times in the last few days. One of co-operation, understanding, and more importantly, one of peace.'
They walked together a little further across the Hall, before Ysabel stopped and spoke again.
'Then,' she added, 'I reminded him of a different future. A future towards which Courtenay had already committed us. That other vision included death, destruction, and a path littered with tears and desperation for a great many peoples on both sides of the border between our two countries.'
In that moment, Winterburne began to understand why Ysabel had commanded the respect of not only Emperor Frederick but that of all her people.
'But how did you know that he would choose the right path?' he asked. 'Or, that despite your words, he would not still have us thrown in the dungeons to await our deaths?'
'I didn't know, Captain Winterburne,' Ysabel replied, smiling at him, 'but I hoped.'
She slipped her arm around his, and they walked on.
49
The Tenth Day of Fall,
Imperial Year 2332
Winterburne watched as the Speaker stepped forward into the Audience Chamber and glanced towards Rampton and Marek. His heart raced in his chest and he felt the full force of the trepidation that had crept up on him as the time of the trial edged closer.
Rampton smiled back at him. 'Do not be concerned,' he whispered, 'there can only be only one result.'
'I hear what you say,' Winterburne replied, 'and in any sane world you would be right, but the man is so slippery, so devious, that I fear he will find a way to escape the clutches of justice even though he would seem firm within its grasp.'
Marek said, 'I have spent a great amount of time in this country and watched their ways, Captain, they will do the right thing. This time
I believe he has met his match. He has fooled many people over the years, but now he is fooling no one.'
The doors opened and Ysabel flowed into the chamber. Her face was emotionless. This was Ysabel the Queen, Winterburne realised, not the ordinary woman that he had met during the days gone by. Now, she was serene and regal and in full sail, and as she took her seat on the throne it was as if it had been made only for her.
The Speaker waited for Ysabel to settle, and then raised his hand. Winterburne heard a click as the other door to the chamber opened and Courtenay was dragged in, held between two guards. They were led by two more men, and followed by two others, there had been no chances taken. The metal links of the chains that bound Courtenay's hands and feet rattled as the group proceeded.
The men dragged Courtenay to a spot in the centre of the chamber, midway between the Queen and the Electors, and then they all formed a circle, looking inwards towards the prisoner so that he could not escape, spears ready to thrust downwards should they need to.
Courtenay looked tired and his eyes were black and drawn but even so behind them, Winterburne sensed a defiance, a strength of will that would not easily be broken.
'Today, Your Majesty, Your Graces,' the Speaker said, 'the order of business provides us with but one question to answer.' He paused for dramatic effect, and had timed the pause to perfection. 'Is Lord Courtenay,' he pointed in the direction of the prisoner, 'guilty of treason?'
The man stepped across the hall towards the Queen, and then stopped. 'Your Majesty,' the Speaker continued, 'as you know, it is usual for the Crown to offer a prosecutor to put the case against the accused. Is there such a nominee?'
'I will speak for the prosecution,' Ysabel