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" Dad ! »
I rushed to my mother screaming.
" Let her go. She did nothing.»
" Enough ! Liamon exclaimed. Last night someone broke into the Duchess' room and stabbed her multiple times. She is between life and death. If she dies…”
I felt an icy chill wash over me at his words. How had Dalanne done it? It was one of her ploys.
" It's a trap ! This is what Dalanne wanted! »
The count's face hardened before my eyes.
“My daughter would have stabbed herself then? Duke, control your son or I fear I'll lose what little control I have left. »
“Taylor, remember what you promised me. »
I looked at my mother. She had spoken for the first time since her arrest. On her cheeks, tears had begun to flow profusely.
“But you are innocent! »
“My little elf, your father will see that justice is done. Keep your head up. Difficult times are ahead. »
Her last words before the soldiers took her away.
My father gave me a pained look and jumped when he met my eyes. I didn't know what he had just seen there, but I saw fear on his face.
For the first time, I oscillated between love and hate for this man and his impotence. He was the duke and yet he had let the woman he supposedly loved be arrested. Was that all the love he could give us. A guilty and hidden love. My mother was now paying for this game.
He looked at me as if to say something then left the room without saying a word.
I was in no way surprised.
" Mother… "
When I attempted to leave the tower to find out what had happened to my mother, I realized that I had been taken prisoner of the tower.
They say that the seasons pass quickly and that the older you get the faster they follow one another, but this idea only belongs to humans. They have such short lives that when they see the end approaching they cling to life and see it disappear more quickly. I was no longer human and therefore time should have no hold on me, but as the days passed without news, I became a lion in a cage and my room had suffered. The torn sheets had become victims of the anger I felt toward Dalanne, her father, and Liamon. I had constantly forgiven my father for his helplessness, but as I imagined my mother languishing in the dungeon and being taken to the executioner, my anger towards my father blossomed like weeds.
I spent half my days sitting outside the closed door hoping to hear the familiar creak that accompanied my mother's return to her quarters. But my hopes had turned out to be in vain.
Then winter gave way to spring and the door opened.
" Dad… "
The elf standing in front of me was no longer the same. He had never seemed so downcast to me. He didn't dare look me in the eye and was playing with his coat as if it would protect him from something other than the cold.
“Taylor, your mother…”
" What ? I exclaimed
“Dalanne survived, but the Count refuses to drop the case and no new element has come to light that could exonerate him. The sentence will be announced today. »
"You...you're not going to sentence her to death. »
“The…the evidence is overwhelming. I know she's not responsible. It was the duchess who orchestrated everything, but it is impossible for me to help her. he said before collapsing in front of me
I looked at this tearful man in front of me and felt nothing but contempt. Wasn't he a duke, how could he have let it get this far. If he wasn't going to do anything, I was going to free my mother.
“If you do not have the courage to stand up against this injustice, I will take care of it myself. My mother will not die. »
"I was expecting this response from you, that's why I didn't come alone. At the same moment two soldiers entered the room.
“They will escort you. I'm sorry my son. When I fell in love with your mother, I knew that the only future I could give her would be that of a woman hated for her status. But we were madly in love. I do not regret having loved your mother, nor that she gave me such a treasure. I know you will never forgive what will happen today. But I hope that one day you can understand my actions. »
I walked with heartache, staring at my father's back, hoping against all odds that he would turn around and become the elf who raised me.
To my amazement, the guards escorted me to the dungeon. A pestilential smell escaped from the closed doors. The two guards placed in front of them were equipped with masks. Even if it would have been easier to clean the place. They preferred to leave the prisoners in the most total destitution. First I heard the moans.
"Hey, little elf, you're so cute, you wouldn't want to come in, I'll be very nice to you." »
I jumped when I saw an emaciated face clinging to the bars of a cell. He was a human, at least the little I saw of him let me think. He had half of his face burned and looked at me with a toothless smile that made me shiver.
“Go back to your perverted hole. He's the duke's son! said one of the guards.
The man looked at me in astonishment and fear before disappearing into the darkness of his cell.
The cells went by and each time I expected to see my mother's face. Then we came to a door down the hall.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“A cell for our distinguished guest. said a soldier with a sneer before unlocking the door.
I slowly entered the room. The cell was not luxurious, but differed greatly from the other cells, a wooden bed was attached to a wall on this one had been placed a jute mattress filled with straw, a chamber pot. This was all the luxury to which a distinguished guest was entitled.
But my attention quickly went to the woman who was lying on the bed. She had lost weight and looked sick.
" Mother ! I exclaimed before rushing towards her.
An ungainly cough answered my call.
"Taylor.. Taylor is that you?" she said in a weak voice before extending her hand to me.
"Oh mother what did they do to you" I said before kneeling beside her and taking her hand.
"Don't worry my little elf. Everything will be alright. she said in an attempt to reassure me.
I felt betrayed once again by Liamon. I was so convinced that he would take care of the woman he had fought to marry and even now that I had found my mother she was only a shadow of her former self.
Her delicate hand was no more than a skeletal hand covered in thin skin that I was afraid to tear with a single caress. Despite her condition, she seemed to be at peace. It was incomprehensible to me. Yet there was a clarity in her eyes, it was as if she hadn't given up hope. She still believed in Liamon and the very thought made me wince.
“They are going to judge you today mother. »
I would have liked to free her and while my steps had led me to the dungeon, I had thought of dozens of plans. But now only being able to see the terrible state of my mother, I knew that whatever plan I would choose, there was little chance that she would survive.
“Don't cry little elf, your father will always protect us. I hadn't realized the tears were rolling down my cheeks and my mother gently wiped them away with her trembling hand.
"How can you still believe in him! He abandoned us, look at you mother! look at you!" I exclaimed
“He will help us my son, don't doubt him, he loves us more than anything. »
At that moment other guards appeared at the door with a wheelchair between them.
" It's time. »
I stared deathly at them laying her down in the chair, and as I contemplated killing them all, I met my mother's gaze, who shook her head.
Don't do that, she urged me.
My mother knew me so well.
The walk to the hall of justice seemed endless and yet too short. Was this really the last time I would see my mother.
As we approached the Hall, I felt like a coward. I promised myself to protect her...
The Hall of Justice was full when we arrived. I felt the hateful stares immediately upon our arrival.
“Murderer! »
“Murderer! »
Vile words reached me one after another punctuated by Ilawen's snickers. He thought he had won.
My mother was seated opposite my father who was presiding over the trial. At his side the Count and the Duchess were seated. A glimmer of satisfaction clearly visible in their eyes.
Liamon silenced the room with a wave of his hand and the trial began.
“We are gathered here to determine the guilt or innocence of Elanore Woodskin third wife of the Duke of Woodskin. This elf is accused of attempted murder of the Duchess Dalanne, first wife of the Duke of Woodskin. We will first hear the testimony of the victim. Duchess Dalanne…”
It was with nonchalant grace that the Duchess rose.
“My son Ilawen had just successfully completed his first summoning… she began giving her son an affectionate look… the banquet had barely begun when my husband's third wife attacked me for no reason. I had simply asked her if she had enjoyed the festivities and if she saw the spectacle of her table well. You see we didn't have enough room at the main table to accommodate her and her son. I felt terribly sorry about it, and wanted to make sure everything was okay. But I don't know why she got angry. My husband the duke in his great leniency only asked her to stay a few weeks in her apartments. This would certainly have allowed her to calm down. I was certain that we could find a healthier relationship in the future. But during the night I was awakened by severe pain…. »
I was stunned by the amount of lies that could come out of this woman's mouth. She had knowingly excluded us from the main table and passed it off as a simple organizational error. In the eyes of the public she gave an angelic image that of a noblewoman who deserved her title and the honors that accompanied it. As for my mother, weak as she was, she offered a spectacle which, if it gave rise to pity, offered no sympathy.
“She was above me, her dagger blade gleaming in the dark ready to fall on me and take my life. My screams of terror saved me. My dear Baltus rushed to my bedside but this madwoman had already left through the window. »
A servant advanced towards my father, he held a cushion in his hands on which the dagger had been placed.
My father delicately took the dagger and showed it to the Duchess.
"Was it that dagger?" he asked Dalanne.
The elf trembled at the object and put a mask of terror on her face.
“Yes, it is that dagger, I will never forget the weapon that caused me so much pain.”
My father looked solemn.
"Count Adren, is this the dagger found in Elanore's room?" »
“Yes your grace. There is no doubt that it is the same dagger. She was also covered in blood when we found her.” he declared
"Thank you, Count Adren, Duchess you may sit down. I know your wounds are still hurting you." »
"Thank you, my husband." she said before sitting down slowly.
Liamon turned back to my mother, her gaze still unreadable.
“All the evidence is overwhelming Elanore, do you have any evidence that could prove your innocence? he asked
Was he asking or praying ?
" I do not have any." she simply said
Dalanne's face lit up. The Count rose without delay to address the Duke.
"She confessed her guilt, I demand the death penalty for her barbarity." he said
" To death ! To death ! cried the crowd
My father closed his eyes and sighed, his hands shaking before freezing.
"As no evidence has been brought to court to prove the innocence of the accused, and as everything suggests that in an act of madness Elanore Woodskin committed an irreparable act and attempted to murder the Duchess, I sentence the defendant to…”
Are you going to let them? You know she's innocent.
Of course not. Get ready. When he has pronounced the sentence use your tornado. Even if I should be dishonored and pursued in all realms, I will not abandon my mother to these vultures.
as you wish
I sensed approval in her response. They left me no choice. There were only two people who were important to me in this room and if he pronounced this sentence, there would be only one left.
“I sentence the defendant to…”
His words were drowned out by the screams.
" Wait ! Wait ! shouted a soldier
I had never seen one like him in the duchy. But he wore a helmet with a purple feather and held a letter in his hands.
“By order of the queen, wait! »
The Queen ?
I looked up at my father. He looked relieved, but why. Likewise the Duchess and the Count both seemed to have swallowed a slug and looked irritably at the soldier who was trying to catch his breath but dared not hurry it.
When the elf was less out of breath he turned, open letter to the assembly.
"We, Her Majesty Andressa Hornwood, Queen of the Horned Forest, Sovereign of the City of Fallia, Commander of the Armies, First Judge of the Realm, having learned of the attack on the Duchess of Woodskin by the third wife of the Duke of Woodskin, and for the sake of justice we decided to temporarily remove the Duke of Woodskin's judicial power, judging that the very act of having to condemn his wife would be inadequate. We have decided to try this case in our capacity as the first judge of the kingdom.
After having access to all the elements of the investigation, we declare in our capacity as sovereign and judge the defendant Elanore Woodskin guilty, “
No !
“And condemn her to eternal exile in Outcast County. Until irrefutable evidence can overturn this judgment, Elanore Woodskin will be prohibited from entering the Horned Forest, otherwise she will be immediately executed. »
I would never see my mother again, I thought. At least if she reached this county she would be alive and free. Unfortunately I knew very little about this county and the information was not very encouraging. “In order to ensure that this sentence is respected, an overseer will be appointed and will accompany the third wife in her exile.
We hereby declare Taylor Woodskin the fifth son of the Duke of Woodskin, Overseer of Elanore. In order to carry out his new responsibilities with dignity, we grant him the title of Count and grant him the governance of the Outcast County. »