Alpha Instinct

Chapter 42 - 42:

The courtroom was packed; the commotion of having the great Captain Roland imprisoned was relentless. The air was thick, heavy with the anticipation of everyone there who crowded the galleries, eager to witness the trial of the famous "Devil's Hand," as Roland was known, the once esteemed captain of the Royal Guard, now demoted to sergeant and now accused of treason and conspiracy against the crown. The silence was only broken by muffled murmurs and the creaking of wooden chairs.

In the center of the room, an imposing table served as the stage for the unfolding drama. Judges dressed in their black robes occupied their seats, their expressions serious and impenetrable. In front of them, Roland, escorted by two armed guards, awaited his fate, the Frosteel chains clinking with every movement.

After announcing the start of the trial, Edward sat back down on his elevated throne and observed everything with a cold and calculating gaze. The golden crown that adorned his head seemed to weigh upon him. His blue eyes were dull and icy. "Don't mess with me today, Roland; I'm warning you," Edward thought.

Roland looked at the crowd again, his eyes

The prosecutor was all disconcerted, losing some of his posture. He then cleared his throat with a cough and continued. "What guarantees me that you are not also conspiring against the crown?" Attacked the prosecutor.

"I told you, sir, I hadn't seen Roland in 15 years until I found him bloodied at my door. I didn't even know Commander Belfort, and I barely knew Elizabeth, the owner of the inn, by her name."

The prosecutor got so confused that he bumped into his court wig and dropped it, a desperate action to put it back on. A tragically hilarious scene.

King Edward put one of his hands to his face in disapproval, but an idea hissed in his mind. "This is great. I can say that, without conclusive evidence, he is innocent but guilty of coldly killing Garrick, an army officer."

"That's enough; I'm tired; let Thomas go," Edward said.

The judge looked at the king and, after a brief pause, announced that the trial would be suspended until the next day, when the sentence would be handed down. Roland was escorted back to his cell, uncertainty and apprehension accompanying him like shadows. Concern for Thomas mingled with the urgency of caring for Elizabeth. If Thomas was caught, Elizabeth would die.

Back inside the cell, Roland sat on the floor, leaning against the cold, damp wall, the chains clinking. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He did not know what would happen now; the path ahead was full of dangers. He knew for sure that Thomas's testimony was not in the King's plans, and tomorrow's sentence would be an unknown until it was delivered.