AnnouBook 2 has now been stubbed and will appear on KU tommorrow. https:///gp/produC235RChapter 66 Verdict

  I walked behind Marcel, who had a fast pace for a librarian. He smelled of sweet perfume as he pranced before us, and the crowded streets parted before him and his escort. We ehe main road that led to the Imperial Pace. The imposing pace approached rapidly as we followed the fident cellor. We reached a gate to the Imperial Grounds. There were fionaries here with shiny steel armor with gold highlights. I assumed these were the Imperial Legiohat served the Emperor directly.

  arcel did not pause and walked between the guards into the grounds. The legionaries saluted him with their right palm ft on their left colrbohis was the Emperor’s salute. Maybe it was because he was sel to the Emperor. I was not going to ask. The fewer questions I asked of the man responsible for the College of Schors, the better.

  Instead of heading to the pace, we took a blue-veined marble paved path to the right through expansive and diverse fl gardens. The kaleidoscope of colors passed rapidly as we got deeper into the Imperial district. I was starting to get nervous but maintained pace. There was a css of nine young children in the gardens. A bald man in blue robes was giving an expnation of one of the fl trees. He was telling them where the tree normally grew on the ti, and that was all I caught as we were past the css.

  We reached a series of modest homes oher side of the vast gardens. Eae was made of pin gray granite and had a small personal garden out front. Short, white marble stones marked off the garden. Marcel walked up the steps, and I followed. The two legionnaire escorts turned and walked away. I paused to watch them.

  Marcel also stopped and expined, “I only have an escort when I leave the grounds. If they thought you were a threat, they would have remained. e inside; my wife should have lunch ready.”

  Ihe stone dwelling, rge windows domihe walls, giving it lots of natural light. The spacious room was both a kit and dining room. A woman eared much older than Marcel smiled, “Ah, I see you found the boy you were looking for.”

  “Damn near had to be Mercury zipping all across the city,” Marcel griped to the woman as he sat heavily at the table.

  “You o get out more anyway, Marcel. Sit, and we eat. I am Sofia. I assume you are legionnaire Eryk.” She smiled as she pced a pot oable. A tray of ft oval bread was soon added to the table. “Help yourself, Eryk. sider my cooking payment for your knowledge.”

  “Don’t be bought so cheaply, Eryk. Knowledge is more valuable than gold. Although, Sofia’s cooking is as well.” Marcel said, smiling at his wife. He took a piece of bread and then scooped a healthy portion of thick sauce with cubed meat aables. I followed his example. Sofia poured wine for everyone and then joined us. The whole friendly atmosphere was a little surprising.

  Marcel asked as he ate, “I read the report Yanis submitted for the trial. What do you remember about the stiant?”

  I chewed and swallowed and made a satisfied groan at the taste to earn a smile from Sofia’s. “He was big, maybe the height of five men. Much quicker than you would expect,” I answered.

  “No. What was he wearing? What did he say?” Marcel asked with i, studying me.

  “I do not think he said anything. Mage Durandus just attacked him,” I replied and tiaking bites, waiting for questions.

  Marcel frowned, “That is unfortuiants are one of the few reasonable giants. How old was he?”

  “I am sorry you are asking things I have no knowledge of. He had a beard that was light brown, if that helps,” I answered and tried the wi was fvorful but slightly acidic.

  “I am sorry. I will try and direct my questions based on your background. Your at, are you from Linshania?” He did not wait for an answer before adding, “The length of their beard usually determines a stiant’s age. They would have certain color beads in it for their life’s aplishments.”

  “I am not from Linshania,” I said carefully. I was slightly worried Marcel may have the Truthseeker ability, so I pnned not to offer any information. “The giant’s beard came to his waist,” I remembered. “He did have beads in his beard…but I ot recall the details. We left the body in the crater. I am sure the beads are still there.”

  “Yes, yes.” He nodded. “Waist…at least a few turies old then.” He sucked on his teeth, sidering. “We are sidering an expedition, but with the Bartiradians so close, it will take time to pull it together. Now, what about the city below the s?”

  “We did not see it. Just Durandus’ saw it with his magic. He told me it was a city for the giants, but his power was not strong enough to explore it.” I replied and started eating again, hoping he had fotten his line of questioning about where I was from.

  Marcel went into another room and came back with a long rolled-up part. Sofia rolled her eyes at his excitement but cleared the table as he unrolled the map. He unrolled the map, and it looked like the Telhian Empire. Marcel eagerly said, “Now, where was the giant digging.”

  It took me time to find Macha and the roads we patrolled. I guessed on a spot off the road, “Here. Or about here.” They both looked at it, and it was Sofia who spoke.

  “It could be the city was submerged and silt built up over time. Look, mountains surround the s, making it a perfect bowl,” Sofia ented.

  Marcel grumbled that he had not noticed first, “Never marry anyone smarter than you, Eryk. Not only will she aloint out your mistakes, but she solves riddles before you.” He studied the map. “That does fit with the myth of the City of the Titans, Atntium, being buried by a great flood.”

  “Titans?” I asked, fused.

  “The giants.” Marcel answered distractedly, studying the map, “Before elves, dwarves, humans, and orcs, the giants ruled all of Desia. They had one great city that was lost when they challehe gods.”

  Sofia chuckled, “He tries to romanticize it. The giant races ruled over all the others. It was not the gods but a great war among the storm, frost, fire, and cloud giants decimated their poputions. They are just like us smaller folk but only bigger,” she chuckled.

  Marcel griped, “That is simplifying the histories, Sofia.” He turo me, “The giants destroyed all their cities in the war. Only the capital, the greatest city in all of Desia, Atntium, remaihe myth goes all the iant s baogether against the stiants. Having lost the war, the stiants were exiled from the capital city. Iribution, the remaining stiants summoned a massive and fierce storm that drowned all the iant races in Atntium.”

  Sofia added, “Marcel believes powerful artificed items were buried with the city. He has been searg for it his entire life. He told all the children he has ever educated in the S the tale, hoping one day one of them will help find it for him.”

  “Well, it worked! Yanis found him.” He poi me, not taking his eyes off the map. Sophia shook her head and sipped her wine. Marcel kept trying to dig details out of me, but I had very little to offer him, but I answered holy.

  After patiently answering all his questions for two hours and through two more helpings of stew and fsses of wine, I eventually got bold enough to ask, “arcel, is there anything you do to help Mage Castile with the Ducal Tribunal?”

  “Ducal Tribunals are alolitical. And I do not bee involved in politics,” Sofia Marcel’s statement. I decided not to press further and answered his questions as he ferreted everything he could from my memory.

  He finally stood, “Legionnaire Eryk, thank you for your time. You ehe wine, so Sophia, why do you not give him a bottle?”

  As he walked me out, he expined, “At the bottom of the steps, wait for an Imperial Legioo escort you off the grounds. They do not take kindly ters wandering the grounds.” He csped his wrists to mine in a handshake and handed me the bottle of wine. “Is that at from Gongshuia?”

  I had hoped he had fotten about my at. I did not get the feeling he had the Truthseeker ability during the questioning. I supplied to ease his curiosity, “I am from a tiny vilge in Tsinga. I joined a caravan transp Tace wood. Made the mistake of sleeping in the wrong pd found myself scripted.”

  He nodded, “Ah yes, I hear it in the uones. Must be the eastern provinces of Tsinga,” he deduced. I nodded, agreeing with him. “Well, if we have a ce to talk again, I would love to hear your impressions of how the Telhian Empire is perceived further afield. My primary service to the Empire is researg the political climate in all of Desia and advising the Emperor.”

  I almost told Marcel I was just an uneducated vilger but held bad nodded, “Thank your wife for the wonderful meal.” I turned, and two Imperial Legionaries were waiting for me at the end of the walkway. I was a little spooked as they had not been close a few seds ago.

  Instead of walkihrough the gardens, they walked me to a closer access point to the Imperial Grounds. Four Imperial Legionaries guarded this small door in the wall. I ushed out into the streets, and the door was barred behi kind of felt like I was the trash being thrown out.

  I was in the upper city on a side street. I followed the Imperial pound wall back to the main street. From there, I was able to get myself back to the Magistrate’s Hall. Out of sight of anyone, I moved the bottle of wio my ste as I walked the halls to the Venus Room. When I arrived, the double-blue doors were open. The hallway and room were empty.

  I was stunned for a moment before finding a white-robed magistrate, “Is the Tribunal finished in the Venus Room?”

  He nodded immediately, “About an ho, the dukes left the building.”

  He was going to keep going, but I stopped him, holding his arm. He looked at me, waiting patiently, “What was the decision?”

  He looked fused, “I believe the mage was found guilty.” He sized up my appearand -cut face, “I bring you to records if you want to know the specifics?”

  “Please do,” I nodded with a pit in my stomach. I was sure Konstantin would have the details as well. I followed the Magistrate through the building and into the basement, where a sprawling library was located. Dozens of white and yellow robes individuals weaved through the shelves of books and scrolls. My guide stopped a white-robed young man, and he rushed off.

  “I will leave you here. Magistrate Marcus went to retrieve the records. He will help you, legionnaire.” He bowed a.

  The young Marcus returned a short while ter with a scroll. He ha to me, “Please be careful with it. It has not yet been transcribed into the histories.”

  I unfurled the scroll and read it.

  Ducal Tribunal of Mage Castile Duval

  Sitting Dukes: Duke Vito of Camalmia Province, Duchess Victoria of Sobra Province, Duke Octavian of Sacegoes Province

  Charge One brought by Duke Octaviareating from the field of battle. Vote: Guilty 3-0, punishment: ten years of additional service without annual wage from the Emperor

  Charge Twht by Duke Octavian: Willful of Empire Resources. Vote: Not Guilty 2-1

  Charge Three brought by Duke Octavian: spiracy to the death of Mage Gregor. Vote: Not Guilty 2-1

  Charge Four brought by Duchess Victoria: spiracy to the death of Master Mage Durandus. Vote: Not Guilty 3-0

  Charge Five brought by Duke Ocativan: spicacy to the death of Dispt Mage Santino. Vote: Not Guilty 2-1

  Charge Six brought by Duchess Victoria: Improperly holding a Tribunal of Mage Durandus’ Death. Vote: Not Guilty 3-0

  I read the dot twice, and Marcus asked, “This is the summary. I gather the reted dots if you wish, legionnaire.”

  “No,” I rolled up the scroll with the Imperial Seal on it. “Where is Mage Castile then?” I had actually thought when I heard she was guilty, she would be executed.

  Marcus turned and found someone I reized as having stood guard on the door. He went and asked him and theurned. Marcus informed me, “Mage Castile left with her legio the Tribunal’s clusion.”

  “Thank you, Marcus.” I turned and found my way out of the maze-like building. I was soon ireets and heading toward the Eastern Legion Hall.

  AnnouSpecial thanks to my patrons for supp my writing on Patreon. You keep the words flowing and give excellent feedback.

  Seraphim Tier: Kingpin, Kompass, Christian Mordal Andersen, SubJef, TechMagic, Allen Walker

  Long Term Supporters (Alphabetical, Updated 10/9/23): Allen Walker, Adam Sawyer, Alexander Saridis, Asibo, Avery Duval, Bigght, BlodWedd, Borindak, Brandon, Brandon Anderson, Christian Mordal, CJ, Cody, Cody Landis, Curdin, DANTE, David Zimmerle, Dom, Dustin, Dylzoprenia D robinson, Erin, Exchao, Gideon Stern, Isaac Wheeler, jacob Hixson, jared ference, Jeffrey Iverson, Jim Hall, John DeWarr, Jordan, Jostein Andersen, kingpin09, Kompass, Logaersen, Louis Leet, lucas rodger, M K L, Marjecture, mark m??llegaard, Martin Lange, Michael Masters, MrX, NaughtyPaws, Paul Panzer, Pizzaranger, Premium_Marzen, Rd Zg, Recursive, Robert Magdaleno, S, Sean Otto, Shade, Silver Beard, Stefan Strindin, SubJef, Thomas Dey, Timothy Felker, Vd, WhiteWatcher, Xerias, Xultanis, Yeraiha