From Comes a Dark Heir: Arcania Rising Book One

The sides of the chair bit deep into Stavross’ arms. Splinters in sharp corners dug into his skin. The captain had decided to lock Stavross’ arms by his side after the young man had attempted to escape. Panic had overcome him as they approached the door to the jailhouse. He’d almost gotten away too, but Mith had caught up with him too quickly. Mith had pleaded with Stavross to stop struggling, but something deep inside had forced Stavross to run.

The jail was empty except for Captain Swann, Mith, and Stavross. The calm man in the plain brown robes who’d occupied the second cell was gone. The two guardsmen who’d accompanied the Captain were now standing watch outside, keeping the curious from stealing peeks at the proceedings within. 

Stavross studied the floor. Both men were looking at him, he knew. And he knew they knew. Who had told them? Tasis? Diesha? Or did someone else see him at the widow’s wagon? His accusers would not say. All they’d said thus far was why he was being accused of murder.  Stavross’ worst fears were realized.

It had happened just as the festival was winding down. People were pulling their crops and vegetables from the tables, taking down banners, and folding up the pavilions that had protected them from the hot autumn sun. The widow had needed help getting on her wagon. She struck the reins and her horses lurched forward. Her wagon had not gone with her, however. For some reason, she hadn’t been able to let go of the reins, and the horses pulled her off the seat. She went face forward into the ground. The villagers standing near the wagon had all heard the bone-snapping sound of her neck breaking.

So far, Captain Swann had only told him that someone saw him near the wagon earlier that day. But why did they burst into his home, and take him away in irons if they didn’t suspect him of something? Stavross wished they would say if they already knew. But the Captain was asking questions, not giving answers.

“Well, are you just going to sit there in silence? Now I’ve asked you a question, were you near the widow’s wagon today nor not?”

The panic that had gripped Stavross earlier had died down, at least somewhat. He was able to hear again. The blood pumping through his body had been rushing through his ears so loud he hadn’t heard a single thing Captain Swann had said since the three men had entered the jail.

The villagers they had passed on the way to the jailhouse were almost as shocked as Stavross. Nothing like this had ever happened in their collective memories. Tomerel was a quiet, peaceful village. Bandits rarely came this far south. A few poor farming villages bore slim pickings for stealing, and not worth the trouble of travelling so far. And a murder, well a murder had never happened in Tomerel as far as anyone knew.

Stavross had to think hard about his answer. This was the turning point, the crux upon which his destiny would spin. If he said yes, it would be the first step down the road of confession. Good for his soul, perhaps, but not for his health. If he denied it, and they had witnesses who swore to the truth, he’d be caught in a lie, disgracing both himself and his family. If there were actually no witnesses, however…

“Yes, I was near it.” The words leapt from his mouth before he made up his mind, as if someone else were making him speak.

Captain Swann nodded. His hard stare remained the same.

“And what were you doing there, boy?”

Stavross continued to study the floor. His heartbeat began to quicken again, his breaths deep. He wanted to run, but the chains kept him in place. It was time to put it all to rest.

“Okay, it is my fault. I loosened the bolt on the widow’s wagon. But I only did it because she made fun of Diesha. I didn’t want her to get hurt. She wasn’t supposed to get hurt. Diesha said…” His lips faltered, and his mouth quivered. Where is my father?

“Diesha said what?” the Captain demanded. He bent slightly and lifted Stavross’ chin to meet the young man’s eyes. “Well?”

Stavross suddenly launched into the whole affair. The festival, having a cup of wine with Tasis, his meeting with Diesha, and her affirmation for him. He told them she had asked for this one favor to prove his devotion, and he’d done it gladly. With every sentence he declared his love for the beautiful young woman. All was for her.

Stavross was in tears. Red circles ringed his eyes, and long frown lines ran down his cheeks, making him look ten years older. His panic was gone now, replaced with sadness and anguish. His breath came in short sobs.

Stavross could feel their eyes looking down on him. Unable to look up, he could still feel the frowns on their faces, the suspicion in their eyes. Mother, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.

A long, heavy moment of silence passed in the dimly lit office of Captain Swann’s jail and office. Stavross studied the wood floor underneath him. He counted the nails within each plank as the seconds ticked by.

Captain Swann stood straight up. Even at his full height, the captain was almost a full head shorter than Mith. Swann leaned in close to his subordinate, and Mith bent down to hear his captain’s instructions. He nodded when the captain was finished. With one more glance at Stavross that held a mix of pity, sadness, and annoyance, Mith walked around Stavross and moved quickly out the door. Stavross still could not raise his head.

The room was quiet for the next several minutes. Stavross could hear the guardsmen at the door talking, their voices rising now and again. A crowd must be gathering outside, he thought. Gawkers come to look at the boy murderer. How did it come to this? He only wanted to prove his love for Diesha. He never meant for anyone to get hurt, and certainly not to die. Why did she have to mock Diesha anyway? If she hadn’t done that, perhaps Diesha would have sent him on some other task to prove his devotion. Deep down Stavross knew that path was fruitless. The old woman hadn’t made him do it, and Diesha hadn’t forced his hand.

The door to the jail suddenly opened. The murmured voices of a crowd came rolling through the office. Stavross looked up to see how many had gathered to watch his interrogation, but when he saw who’d come through the door he lost all interest in the gathering outside. Mith was closing the door as the two visitors came inside. Mayor Bodkins walked past Stavross, his face twisted into the most hateful look of malice the young man had ever seen. Rage boiled behind his eyes. Fear returned to the pit of Stavross’ stomach. The visitor that held Stavross’ attention the most remained near the door, her own expression fearful as well. What could she be scared of, Stavross thought?

Diesha looked at Stavross with her beautiful blue eyes as her father conversed privately with Captain Swann. Stavross tried to smile at his love, but his lips wouldn’t form the pattern. He felt better though, just seeing her. She could tell them why he did it; she would profess her love for him at last. Surely the captain would understand love.

The mayor suddenly spat in Stavross’ direction. The young man looked up at their corpulent town leader. Somehow his face had gotten even more contemptuous, his look even more hateful. Mayor Bodkins walked in front of Stavross to stand by his daughter, the man’s eyes never leaving the young prisoner chained to the seat. Mayor Bodkins stood directly behind his daughter, his fat hand closing on her shoulder.

“Diesha,” Captain Swann began, “Stavross here says you asked him to take the bolt out of Lady Saunder’s wagon. Is that true?”

Diesha looked down at Stavross. A thick, lingering silence pervaded the room in those seconds. Stavross could feel each beat of his heart as he waited for his love to come forward for him. She looked behind her quickly, glancing at her father, then turning back to face the captain. And in this moment, Stavross lost his heart.

“O no sir.” Diesha began, tears welling up in her eyes. “I would never ask anyone to do such a hurtful and hateful thing. This is awful, terrible, I’m so sorry for the widow. But I had nothing to do with it, I promise you.”

“Then why would he say you asked him too?” The Captain’s question was blunt, as ever.

“Well, he,” Diesha stole a quick glance down at the young man bound to the chair. Stavross was looking at her, but he hardly noticed, as his world was crashing down around him. Tears began to well up in Diesha’s perfect blue eyes. Stavross had no tears left. “He loves me. He’s always following me around, trying to do things for me and telling me he loves me. Maybe he thinks that I’d love him back if he did something like this for me. I don’t know, but I never would have asked him to do this, I swear.”

Captain Swann looked down at his captive. Stavross sat up straight in the chair. His eyes were locked on Diesha, his mind a confusion of clutter and chaos. Stavross felt as though he had no heart left at all within his chest. He was alive, but he no longer felt a heartbeat within him. He was still having trouble comprehending what he’d just heard. Had she just lied to the Captain? Did she just deny me? Where is my father?

“Well boy, what have you to say now?” The Captains voice was stern.

Stavross continued to look at his lady love, unable to pull his gaze away. Still weeping, she turned and buried her face within her father’s chest. The mayor gazed at Stavross with hateful eyes, addressing the captain with venom in his words.

“Must my daughter bear this mongrel's stares as well as his lies? She’s innocent of any of this, you heard her. The boy’s confessed; now do your duty, sir.”

The captains’ voice was flat, but there was no mistaking the irritation in his words.

“I’ll carry out my duty in my own time, sir. Your child was brought here to make a statement, and now she’s made it. You may go.”

This did not satisfy Blaylock Bodkins at all.

“I’m the mayor here; I have every right to stand in this room. We should hold a trial right now, I’ll get five honorable persons straight away and we’ll deal with this matter expediently. He should be hanged for what he’s done.”

The words should have stung young Stavross, made him fear for his life, but he felt nothing. He stared at the floor, counting the nails again. Twenty six, twenty seven, twenty eight.

“He’s confessed, sir, there’s no need for a trial. And we do not hang someone for anything less than a malicious act. I see no malevolence here. Young Stavross has lived in this village all his life, and I’ve never seen any sort of cruelty from him. This seems to be some kind of joke, or a misguided act of love. Obviously it went wrong, very wrong. But malice, no, I think not.”

Mayor Bodkins looked down at his daughter, nudging her gently. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. She glanced quickly at Stavross. He was gazing back at her. She was still lovely, even through all the tears. Hope flared within him for a moment. Was she going to give them the truth now? Diesha looked away as Stavross’ eyes met hers.

“Well, he, he…” Diesha was trying to force the words from her lips. Her eyes darted back to Stavross, and then she turned away again. She avoided her father this time, burying her face in the corner.

Mayor Bodkins looked down hatefully at Stavross.

“What she means is…”

“She’s nearly a woman grown, and I’ll hear what she has to say from her, not you.” Captain Swann was clearly becoming agitated.

The mayor was equally frustrated.

“Well she can’t speak freely with this vermin in here scaring the wits from her.”

Captain Swann seemed to grow taller. His voice fell, and the icy stare he gave the mayor could have frozen a swift river.

“That’s twice you’ve referred to my prisoner as an animal. This is one of our people, if you recall, not some creature that crawled out of the woods. He’s made a mistake and he’ll pay for that according to the laws we’ve set down. Your child has offered her account, and unless she has something to add, the two of you are free to go.”

The mayor stared at Captain Swann. It was a strange look, Stavross thought, anger and frustration in his face, but fear in his eyes. The air within the jail stood as still as its occupants. No one moved, or seemed to breathe. At length Mayor Bodkins grabbed hold of his daughter, flung the door to the jail open and nearly shoved her outside. Captain Swann watched the mayor shove through the crowd, pulling Diesha behind him. Faces looked into the jail to catch of glimpse of the proceedings. Mith crossed the room and shut the door.

Stavross was numb inside. He no longer had any feelings. No sadness, no joy. I should be angry, he thought. It all seemed to be happening to someone else. Or perhaps this was a dream. Yes, that’s it. I’ll wake up soon, father will be chopping wood outside and mother will be cooking the last of the bacon. Just a dream.

The two men looked down at their sullen prisoner. Stavross raised his head and returned their stares. All emotion was absent from his expression. Something crossed the captain’s face for merely a second. Pity, sadness? It was gone as quickly as it came. The captain’s face was always a stern mask.

“Well son, that’s it.” The captain began, “Since you’ve confessed to this, I’ve no choice but to hand down a sentence. You won’t be executed; I don’t care what his Roundness declares. But your punishment will be harsh, and for that I am sorry. But I have to uphold our laws, and someone is dead behind what you’ve done. Now, you’re almost of an age where you can answer for yourself, but if you’d like your father present, Mith can go fetch him. Well?”

Stavross didn’t move. His breathing was shallow, as were his feelings. Stavross had heard the captain’s words, but it took a moment for his mind to comprehend them, and what they meant. He glanced up at the captain, trying to force an answer from his lips, but the words simply wouldn’t leave his mouth. His eyes answered for him.

Captain Swann looked up at Mith. “Go get D’Vinn.