Kito paused to look around the room. “The evidence to support these accusations will be presented for us to judge. I call forth the first speaker, Second Guild Ambassador to Elyne, Dannyl.”
Dannyl drew in a deep breath and stepped forward to stand beside Kito.
“I swear that all I speak in this Hearing will be the truth.” He paused. “Seven weeks ago I received orders from the former High Lord to find and arrest a group of rebels who were seeking to learn magic outside the influence and guidance of the Guild.”
The audience was silent as Dannyl told his tale. He had considered for weeks how much he ought to reveal when it came to explaining how he had convinced the rebels to trust him. The entire Guild had probably heard of the Dem’s claims by now, so Dannyl didn’t need to go into great detail. But he couldn’t avoid that part of the story completely.
So he told them he had arranged for the Dem to learn of a “false secret” so the man thought he could blackmail Dannyl. He then went on to describe his meeting with Farand. The Elyne courtiers’ faces grew tense as he explained that Farand had been denied entrance into the Guild after he had learned something the Elyne King wanted concealed. Dannyl explained, for their benefit, that Farand had been in danger of losing control of his powers, and what the consequences would have been if that happened.
Dannyl then described the book that Tayend had borrowed from the Dem. He told how the contents had convinced him to arrest the rebels immediately, rather than continuing to visit the Dem in the hope of identifying more of them. Finally, he finished with a warning that he may not have found all of the members of the group.
Kito turned to Lord Sarrin for a confirmation of the book’s contents, then asked for Farand to be brought forward. The young man was ushered to the front.
“Farand of Darellas, do you swear that you will speak the truth during this Hearing?” Kito asked.
“I swear.”
“Is Ambassador Dannyl’s story true in regard to your part in it?”
The young man nodded. “Yes.”
“How did you come to be a part of Dem Marane’s rebel group?”
“My sister is his wife. He thought it was a waste that I wasn’t able to become a magician. He encouraged me to listen into mind conversations again.”
“And this, I understand, is how you learned to release your magic.”
“Yes. I overheard a discussion about it.”
“Did you hesitate before trying what they said?”
“Yes. My sister didn’t want me to learn magic. Well, she did at first, but then she started to worry that we didn’t know enough and it might be dangerous.”
“So what overcame your hesitation?”
“Royend said, once I started, it would get easier.”
“How long have the Dem and his accomplices been meeting with the intention of learning magic?”
“I don’t know. Longer than I’ve known him.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Five years. Since my sister was engaged to him.”
“Are there any other members of the group who are missing today?”
“There are more, but I don’t know who they are.”
“Do you believe Dem Marane sought to learn magic himself?”
Farand hesitated, then his shoulders drooped. “Yes.”
Dannyl felt a pang of sympathy for the young man. He had chosen to help, knowing that the Dem and his friends would be punished regardless, but it must not be easy.
“And the others in the group?”
“I’m not sure. Some probably did. Some came along just for the excitement, I think. My sister was there because of Royend, and me.”
“Is there anything else you wish to add?”
Farand shook his head.
Kito nodded, then turned to face the hall. “I wish to add that I have truth-read Farand, and can confirm that all he has revealed is true.”
A low murmur followed. Dannyl looked at Farand in surprise. Allowing a truth-read was an indication of how willing Farand was to cooperate.
Kito turned to regard the Higher Magicians. “Any comments or questions?” Heads were shaken. “Return to your place, Farand of Darellas. I now call on Royend of Marane to be questioned.”
The Dem walked forward.
“Royend of Marane, do you swear to speak the truth during this Hearing?”
“I do.”
“Is Ambassador Dannyl’s story true in regard to your part in it?”
“No.”
Dannyl suppressed a sigh and braced himself for the inevitable.
“In which way is it incorrect?”
“He says he made up this story about his secret affair with his assistant. I believe it to be true. Anyone who has seen the two together would know there was more to it than just... just a trick. No one pretends that well.”
“Is this the only part of his story that is incorrect?”
The Dem stared at Dannyl. “Even Dem Tremmelin, Tayend of Tremmelin’s father, believes it to be true.”
“Dem Marane, please answer the question.”
The Dem ignored him. “Why don’t you ask him if he’s a lad. He swore that he’d tell the truth. I want to hear him deny it.”
Kito’s eyes narrowed. “This Hearing has been called to judge whether the law against the learning of magic outside the restrictions of the Guild has been broken, not whether Ambassador Dannyl has been involved in dishonorable and perverse practices. Please answer the question, Dem Marane.”
Dannyl just managed to stop himself wincing. Dishonorable and perverse. No doubt the Guild’s opinion of him—and his story—would change completely if they knew the truth. And the Dem knew it.
“If he’s lied about that, then he could have lied about everything,” the Dem spat. “Remember that, after you’ve put me in my grave. I will not answer your questions.”
“Very well,” Kito said. “Return to your place. I call Kaslie of Marane to be questioned.”
The Dem’s wife was nervous but cooperative. She revealed that the rebels had been meeting for ten years, but assured the Guild that their interest had been purely academic. As the other rebels were questioned, only small details about the group were revealed. They all claimed they had not intended to learn magic, only learn about it.
A short discussion followed in which Farand’s poisoning was considered. Dannyl was not surprised to learn that the Elyne magicians’ investigations had not revealed the poisoner. From the look on Lady Vinara’s face, Dannyl guessed the matter would not end there.
Kito asked for the accused to be enclosed in a barrier of silence as the Guild discussed their punishment. The hall filled with voices. After a long break, Kito called for all magicians to return to their places and for the barrier of silence to be removed.
“It is time to make our judgment,” he declared. He held out a hand and a globe light appeared above it, then floated upward. Dannyl created his own, and sent it up to join those from the rest of the Guild.
“Do you judge that Farand of Darellas is undoubtedly guilty of learning magic outside of the Guild?”
All of the globe lights turned red. Kito nodded.
“Traditionally, punishment for this crime is execution,” he said, “but the Higher Magicians feel that, under the circumstances, an alternative ought to be offered. Farand of Darellas is a victim of circumstances and the manipulations of others. He has been helpful at all times and has submitted to a truth-read. I recommend he be offered a place in the Guild with the condition that he remains within the grounds for the rest of his life. Please change your lights to white if you agree with my recommendation.”
Slowly the lights shifted to white. Only a few remained red. Dannyl breathed a sigh of relief.
“Farand of Darellas will be offered a place in the Guild,” Kito announced.
Looking at Farand, he saw that the young man was grinning with relief and excitement. But as Kito continued, the smile vanished.
“Next: do you judge that Royend of Marane is undoubtedly guilty of seeking to learn magic, and of possessing knowledge of black magic, outside of the Guild?”