Chapter 4 Part 4

They stayed at the inn and rested up. It took Avery nearly five days to regain enough strength to heal, but soon after that they were all back in full health. During this time Ultrecht made a quick trip to the dragon’s cave and sealed it magically.
Armegon set his now empty ale mug on the table and sighed contentedly at his empty plate. He looked at the group around the table and grinned. “You know, mistress Sara, I’d say ol’ Zachary here managed to gain a few pounds during his stay here.”
Sara smiled and snuggled up closer to Regald, who put his arm around her gently.
Ultrecht leaned forward and fixed Aremgon with a sharp look. “Yer jest jealous ‘cause they ain’t no one gonna think you was worth while ‘nough ta feed. ”
The sorcerer’s jaw dropped and everyone around the table laughed. “Where’d you learn to do that?”
“I simply took all of the worst of your habits and created a personae,” the Elementalist said with a smile.
This brought a sharp laugh from Avery. “You still missed a few.”
Armegon simply leaned back further and smiled. “You know forest boy, after a fine meal like the one I just ate, not even you can be annoying.”
They traded jibes for a little longer until everyone had finished eating, then the talk turned to the town. They spent several hours discussing options and plans for rebuilding. Finally Regald said, “we still don’t have any sort of sanctioned rulership.”
“How about the neighboring lands?” Armegon asked.
“There haven’t been any nobility over Sidmuur but our own in over two-hundred years. Baron Roth was the last, and he died without an heir. ”
“Well, then you rule it.”
Regald drew himself up as if insulted. “I’m the Captain of the Guard. I have no authority to name myself or any other man as a ruler.”
Avery stood and drew liberator. With exaggerated nonchalance he placed the sword on the table. “I do.” He said quietly.

At noon the next day the citizens of Sidmuur once again answered the call to the city square. On the stage Avery stood with Captain Regald, while Ultrecht and Armegon stood a couple of paces back. When enough people had arrived, Ultrecht cast a spell to make anyone on the stage heard by the whole crowd.
Avery stepped forth, Liberator in hand. “People of Sidmuur. I am Avery, also known as The Forester, wielder of the Dawn of Law. You are no longer to be subject to the whims and excesses of a corrupt system. By the power I hold in my hand I this day set a man to lead you.” He turned to his left. “Captain Regald, step forth and kneel.”
Almost reluctantly, Regald knelt before Avery.
The ranger held the sword vertically before him in salute. “Regald, this is Liberator, the Dawn of Law. By its power you can be named the liege of these lands. Know however that to accept these duties falsely will be your death. Do you pledge to take up the mantle of leadership, to give your life and that of your progeny in service to your people?”
“I do.”
Avery lowered the blade. “Then by the power of Law itself, I declare you Baron of Sidmuur or dead as a false leader.” He touched the blade to Regald's head. The captain started as if shocked, but was otherwise still alive.
“Rise Lord Regald and greet your people.”
When the new baron stood a cheer resounded throughout. Avery let it go on for a minute then raised his hand for quiet. “Thomas and Billy of the Bundled Sheaf Inn come forward.”
Slowly and unsurely both boys made their way onto the stage. Sara stood quietly next to Drew, red-faced and staring at the ground.
Avery stood the two nervous boys together to Regald’s right and took up position behind them. “Furthermore this day, must the truth be revealed. Know all that these two boys are joined to your liege by blood. To be named heirs as deemed fit by their father.”
The crowd cheered wildly. Both boys and the baron stood staring dumbly, then as one looked to Sara. She stood tall in spite of her tears and red face, and nodded affirmation. Regald’s face exploded with joy and he grabbed up both boys in a huge hug. He stood so for a moment then addressed the crowd. “Indeed. It seems my first act as your liege is to make a proposal.” He dropped to one knee and looked at Sara. “Mistress Sara, you have secretly been my hearts love for many years. Today I no longer need fear for my life or yours to affirm my feelings for you. We have been lovers in secret, but today I would ask to be your husband, your lover known to all.”
Sara burst into tears of joy and agreed.
Several minutes of wild cheering took place, Sara came up on the stage to stand with Regald, but he insisted all of her children come up too. Finally he raised a hand for silence.
“Gladdened as I am to have begun with a joyful business, I must now bring before you justice.” He gestured to some of his men. “Bring forth the prisoners.”
Seven men, one of them a bound and gagged Kiron, were brought to the stage. “These are all that remain alive and in custody of the crimes against our land. All of you know the horrors brought down on us by Baron Roth and Captain Krell.” The new baron paused then went on, “both are now dead. However these remain to answer to their crimes. I now ask The Forester to bring us the truth.”
Avery nodded his agreement and stood before the first six prisoners. “You are all accused of crimes against your own people. You will speak the truth of your own volition or you may be forced. But the truth will be known and stand. Understand that confession may lessen your punishment.”
One man stepped out of line and knelt. “I am not guilty, I will be tested.”
Avery touched him with Liberator. “You have a crime. What is it?”
The prisoner struggled and fought against the power that held him, but finally screamed out, “I am guilty of rape, murder, and theft.”
Avery stepped back. “Believe it or not, he chose to be tested. It will be harder for those who do not.”
The third man in the line dropped to his knees. “Test me then.”
Again the sword made contact. Avery turned to the baron. “This man truly is innocent. He was part of the Dragon’s Breath, but has not committed any crimes.”
Regald looked at him. “What is your name?”
Garren My Lord.”
Then stand Garren. You are free to go. The Dragon’s Breath are disbanded, but if you still wish a post, the city guard could use the help.”
Uh, yes milord. That would be great.”
Regald smiled. “Then report to the barracks after we finish here.”
Garren bowed and stepped off of the stage.
The remaining four men broke and submitted to Liberator. Their crimes were listed and they were removed from the stage. Finally Avery stepped back as Ultrecht moved up.
Baron Regald proclaimed, “It has long been the tradition among mages that they discipline their own. I feel this to be only right. Who better to mete out punishment to a mage than another mage?”
Kiron stood white faced in front of a very hostile crowd. He flinched when Armegon moved up behind him and removed the gag.
Ultrecht raised one hand and the angry mutterings silenced. He glanced at Drew, the brewer stood stiff with fear and rage. He shook his head and addressed the people. “A few of you know me, but all of you know the mage Kiron. I wish to relate a witness account of the one crime I saw committed by this man, but I also want you all to know I do not lie.” He turned to Avery. “Use the sword.”
Avery hesitated, but stepped forward and laid the blade gently on Ultrecht’s shoulder. The mage stiffened, but his voice held strong as he related the story of how Kiron had raped Drew’s wife, passed her to his men and then fed her to the dragon. He did not spare his own feelings. He knew he might have done something to help, but did not for fear of tipping off the dragon. By the end of his tale, Drew was standing hunched over with great wracking sobs, his grief openly shared by nearly everyone present. He raised his head slowly and asked, “My Lord Baron, may I come up on the stage?”
Regald nodded, and Drew came up slowly. He faced the crowd. “Many of you have lost loved ones over the years that the mage has been among us. I suspect that all who have been taken by him have met with a similar fate as my wife.” He turned to Regald. “I ask of you my lord that this man be forced to tell of his crimes.”
The baron looked to Avery. The ranger did not need to be asked, he simply laid the sword across Kiron’s neck. Pain and shock showed on his face and he struggled against the swords power, but to no avail. At last he screamed out, “It’s true, those that did not die by the dragon, died by torture. But all were bent to my pleasure.” The truth released, the mage slumped only held up by Armegon’s firm grip.
Drew nodded and turned to the crowd. “My wife, my sister. How many of you lost loved ones to this man?” He turned back to Ultrecht. “Our lord said that you would mete out his punishment. I would ask that you allow us a voice in the decision.”
Ultrecht stood and thought. When he looked up he said to the assembled people, “all you who know you have lost women to this man, come forward.”
Several men in the front ranks began falling back yelling “Clear a space!” Finally it was forty-six people that came up. Mothers, fathers, husbands, siblings, and grandparents, they all stood looking up at him. Ultrecht looked at Drew and said, “you may converse. You have ten minutes to talk among yourselves. At that time I will consider your words.”
Drew immediately jumped down and started a heated discussion with the others. Avery approached and whispered, “Liberator finds their feelings just. I must support their decision.”
Ultrecht raised an eyebrow in surprise and whispered back, “What if I can’t?”
“If it’s within your power, you must. I'm sorry. I think I know what is coming.”
Drew came back up on the stage after only eight minutes. All of the faces below were set with a terrible purpose. He bowed before the Duke and then again before Ultrecht. “Master Ultrecht. First to you a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you know what it was that the mage did to that thief at our last meeting here?”
“Yes. It was an illusion of a terrible kind of magic. One that the reality of would be beyond his skills.”
“Would such a thing be beyond your skills?”
Ultrecht’s stomach knotted. “No. ”
“Then that is the punishment we request for him.”
Wide-eyed Ultrecht spun on Avery. Tears stood out in the rangers eyes, but he only nodded resolutely.
Shaken he turned back to Drew his voice hard as stone, “So be it, but all of you must stay and watch.”
Behind him Kiron, shouted, “No! You can’t!” and struggled against Armegon’s grasp. Finally the sorcerer cast a binding on him and left him standing. Unable to move Kiron began screaming and wailing in terror.
Ultrecht stood heavy hearted and looked to Avery again. His friend was openly crying, but the steel presence of Liberator held him unflinchingly in the grip of final justice. He said aloud, “This is a spell of vengeance. I will need some tar and a lock of hair from each person who seeks this punishment. ”
A murmur went through the crowd, and soon enough a bucket of tar was passed to the front. Drew had drawn a knife and cut a lock of his hair. In minutes a fair sized pile of hair lay on the stage, donated by many more than just the families involved. It seemed that a lot of people felt the mage deserved a horrid fate. Ultrecht looked at Avery and whispered, “Does that damned piece of steel understand what is about to happen?”
Avery nodded and whispered back, “Vengeance is a two edged blade. Liberator understands fully how this will cut. Only the creator can mete justice unscathed.”
Ultrecht looked back at him with ice in his eyes. “So what did I do, to have to be the point of this blade?”
“You started this path with only self interest. Your single purpose touched on the lives of many to both weal and woe. Now you stand at the heart of a moment, one in which lives will find a new direction. This goes beyond justice into the realms of the creator’s plan.”
Ultrecht looked down at the stage for several long seconds. Resolutely he collected the hair and tar. He took a few seconds to stir the hair into the sticky black goo, then stood and pulled in as much power as he could muster. He shaped the power in his mind and spoke aloud to Kiron, “All here that seek your death, as well as your eternal torment now join with me in meting out your punishment.”
Throughout the crowd, all those who donated locks of hair became stiffly attentive, unable to leave, or even tear their eyes away. Armegon moved to the far side of the stage and turned his back.
The doomed mage gibbered in terror and begged for a sword. “I’ll cut my own throat! Look, please! I’ll pull my own guts out!” His screams became mindless in his fear. A few less hardy folks in the crowd began to shift nervously.
Ultrecht began the preamble of a spell he’d cast only once before. The last time had been only against a nonliving subject in the pursuit of a formula that would extend life indefinitely. His research had been a dismal failure, leaving him with nightmares that persisted for months. He pitied the people that were about to join him in this experience.
The master Elementalist held his hands apart and a terrible blackness began to form in the air between them. Kiron screamed until his throat bled. Inky tendrils formed and groped towards the condemned mage teasingly, as if some awful intelligence were toying with him, reveling in his agony.
Suddenly two of the tendrils lashed forward. One struck his forehead, one his chest. Kiron’s screams redoubled, until it seemed his lungs must collapse. All those that had contributed to the spell felt his mind try to slip into insanity, only to be fixed to this dismal reality by the black tendril in his head. After an indeterminately long time, a supremely awful presence from some unimaginably terrible place thrust forth its ancient and long grasp and ripped the very essence of Kiron down into a darkness beyond naming.
Ultrecht clapped his hands together, ending the most terrible spell he’d ever cast. Throughout the crowd people fainted and vomited in reaction. A withered husk was all that remained of Kiron.

That night Ultrecht drank until he could no longer even think. Avery stayed close and waited. Eventually he and Armegon put their friend to bed. Before they left the ranger touched Ultrecht’s forehead.
Armegon look at him oddly, “What was that?”
“It will let him sleep without dreaming.”
“Oh. Good idea I suppose. He’s gonna be miserable enough tomorrow anyway. ”
Avery stumbled against the wall and grabbed it to steady himself. “No, I took care of that too.”
Armegon took the ranger by the arm and helped him back downstairs. “You really shouldn’t let that sword have so much control.”
“It’s not actually like that. You see it knows only justice, but justice without compassion is in its own way not any better than evil. Today, the town learned a valuable lesson.” They arrived at a table and sat. “They learned the difference between justice and vengeance. They have all suffered. They do not need to add to that by causing more. ”
Armegon thought about it. “And the dragon?”
“The dragon was a different case. It was a great and malignant power, but terribly limited by its own nature. Liberator merely gave it the realization of all the pain it had caused.”
“Now that must have hurt.”
“No doubt. I’d be willing to bet it never eats another sentient being. ”
They sat quietly for a bit. Then Avery asked, “why do you think he went to so much trouble and pain to recreate a set of chimes?”
“Well he just recreated one. The others he’s just going to recover.”
“Ok. But my point is: what would make him so single mindedly driven?”
“I’m not sure. But you know he’s always been very task oriented.” Armegon chuckled and went on, “how he can accept some of the things he does just to complete a project, I’ll never understand.”
“Perhaps that’s his strength.”
Armegon took a long drink from his wine. “Well it sure isn’t mine. I know I sure as blazes wouldn’t apprentice myself to a bloody dwarf just to learn metallurgy. ”
“I’m not sure that would work for me either, but he probably learned well.”
“And what did he call the one we made?”
“The chime of Twin-Kleare.”
“And he doesn’t know the names of the others?”
“Not that he’s mentioned.”
“Then what’s the deal?” The sorcerer finished his wine. “I’m sure it has a meaning to him. And that means it probably has a meaning to us.”
Avery nodded in agreement. “I supposed we'll have to wait and see.”

Ultrecht slept through the entire next day and night. When he finally awoke he found himself very hungry.
“Nice to see you again. ”
He looked to his left to see Avery sitting in a chair across the room.
“Well, if you’re wondering if I’m mad, I’m not.” He stood and began dressing. “I’ve never really agreed with Armegon’s view of how justice should be served, but I never questioned his good intentions.” He stopped and looked directly at the ranger. “If you didn’t believe I knew the difference between justice and vengeance, then believe it now. You and I are more alike than you probably realize. Both of us are driven well past the point that others find insane.”
He continued dressing, but said quietly, “We do have a difference in acceptance though. People who don’t meet up with your standards of right and wrong are met with an unbending unchanging force. I find that new situations often require new answers.”
Avery was stung, but he couldn’t fault Ultrecht’s feelings. People usually considered the mage to be cold and unemotional, but Avery knew better. The man merely thought about his actions before he did them. “Then you really aren’t mad?”
“Avery, I have a very good memory, but I can’t recall a time that I’ve been angry and didn’t regret it somewhere.”
The ranger smiled, relieved. “Well then, how about some breakfast?”
“What’re you still waiting here for?”

After breakfast they spoke with Baron Regald about the dragon’s treasures.
“The largest part of it belongs to Sidmuur,” said Ultrecht as he sipped his tea.
Regald nodded. “True, but I nonetheless want you three to take what you want of it first. After all without you, we would still have none of it.”
Avery spoke up. “Then why don’t we just go and look? We can then make our decisions based on what we know to be there.”
They took a couple of wagons and several trusted guardsmen and went to the cave. It took several hours to get a sense of things, but among the riches they found a box containing the chimes. The three friends each claimed a bag of coins at the insistence of the baron, and Ultrecht collected the chimes. Avery raised a couple of eyebrows when he claimed a small pouch containing five dice carved from semi-precious gemstones. He winked. “For a gnomish friend of mine.”
They stayed for the wedding. The whole township seemed to be in attendance. Sara was probably the most glorious bride in all of history, especially since Armegon and Ultrecht were competing to ensure it.
Drew, along with Emma gave the bride away and Ultrecht stood for Regald. Once the celebrations were over, they quietly departed after the inevitable good-byes.