((<_<
>_>
::revives the story:
)
The Year 1055 in the City of Doma
The room was busy, bustling with dozens of aids and representatives of various and sundry Lords, and other political entities who had taken a sudden, and almost unnatural interest in the proceedings revolving around one Thomas Dumat. It’s odd, how calm and rational discussion can attract almost no attention, but as soon as fingers are pointed, and accusations start flying, everyone and his cousin wants to know what is happening, and who comes out on top. All of this was perfectly fine to Sethrik Durron. His plan depended almost entirely on what he was about to do being seen by many people.
At the moment, he was sitting next to his old friend, the same man who was the center of attention right now. Dumat let out a sigh, folding his arms across his chest, his expression speaking of the late hours he had put in the night before trying to come up with a way out of his current predicament. Sethrik leaned over to his friend and whispered, “Cheer up my friend. If this isn’t what you’re meant to do, I’m sure something else will present itself to you.â€
Dumat replied by sinking deeper into his chair. “This from the man who so stubbornly insisted just yesterday that I not give up all hope on my dreams. Has your opinion changed so suddenly?â€
“No,†Sethrik shook his head, “I’m just trying to keep you from slipping into deep depression. After all, the situation isn’t entirely lost until it’s over.â€
“Oh?†Dumat inquired. “What are you planning to do, make one final plea for my innocence based solely on my character in the past? I doubt you will meet with much success.â€
“Have a little more faith in your friends, Dumat. After all, isn’t faith your strongest point?â€
Dumat sat back up upon hearing that. “Wait a minute, Seth, you’re not actually planning to do some-â€
“They’re starting,†Sethrik announced, cutting Dumat off.
And indeed they were, a large bearded man in cleric’s robes having just approached the podium in the center of the room. All around him, people at their tables fell silent, preparing to listen to the words of this holy man. As Sethrik recalled, he represented the god of neutrality, who’s name he could not remember.
“My friends, today we are here once again to hear the words of Brother Dumat, and Brother Lucious. Yesterday, Brother Lucious began bringing strong accusations against Brother Dumat, and today we are here to listen to the rest of his words, and then Dumat’s defense. Brother Lucious, if you are ready…â€
The man gazed about the room for a moment, and then came to an abrupt stop when it became obvious that the cleric known as Lucious was not, in fact, present. “It seems,†he announced, “that Brother Lucious is not with us today. Therefore, if there is no one present who wishes to continue to present the evidence of the accusers, we are prepared to listen to Dumat’s defense. Are there any to speak for the accusers…?â€
In answer to the question, a single man rose from his seat. Sethrik Durron folded his hands in front of him, holding a large packet of papers in them, and said “I will.â€
Every man in the room looked over at him, and immediately whispering began. Without exception, every man in the room recognized him as the one who had worked as Dumat’s aid for the past three years, and traveled with the visionary for two years before that. Was it possible, the question seemed to be, that he had decided to bail out when possible?
In the midst of all the commotion, Dumat turned to give an incredulous look at Sethrik. Seeing it, the actor used the current commotion about him to cover him as he whispered, “Faith, Dumat, have faith.â€
Then Sethrik began to walk down to the podium, papers in hand, gazing back and forth at the people in the room. He recognized what was happening here. The accusations against Dumat had turned this holy meeting of clerics into an ad-hoc trial. Every man in robes there was now a member of the jury, and it was his duty to convince them of what he had to say.
As he looked about the room, he caught sight of Lord Xahn, sitting in a far corner of the room. As he suspected, the man had come to gloat in his victory, even though the stage hands for this performance had assured that his support would not be present in this act. And so, Sethrik was smiling as he turned to stand in front of the men in that room. “My friends,†he announced, “I am here to tell you about the case the accusers of Thomas Dumat have prepared. I am here to tell you
all about it…â€
((OK, 'nother new part. School has been owning me lately, but right now I'm on spring break, and I hope to bring this portion of the plot to a close this week. So look for more sometime later.)) <p>
Victory to the strong of will
Death to pretenders</p>