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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 0:02:54 GMT -5
Shade's face never changed expression once as she listened to Shinji. She was beyond him being able to anger her. He was an arrogant fool and in her opinion, the emperor was showing the patience of a saint even allowing him to speak. Of course, she would have just killed him outright, so there you go.
Thrade wasn't as even tempered. Her eyes were flashing with anger and narrowed into emerald slits as she glared at the insolent former governor. Cezir, perched at one of the windows, stirred restlessly in response and Shade had no doubt the other animals around the palace were doing the same, reacting nervously to the druid's anger. She laid a hand over Thrade's and squeezed lightly in warning. Thrade gave an almost imperceptible nod and relaxed a bit, forcing herself into calm.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 1:12:58 GMT -5
Shinji snorted and rolled his eyes, showing a great disrespect for not only Lei Shen, but to the emperor as well. He muttered something regarding Lei being a pet.
“I am a fair man. I have allowed you to plead you case and you have done so.” The Emperor gave him a hard stare, narrowing his eyes. “However, despite your defense against the charges named you have given us no justification that your actions were innocent or judge worthy. Therefore, as my right as Emperor I strip you of your title, your status and your properties. You are therefore exiled from Nihon forthwith and are exempt from citizenship in the future.”
“Banish me! Is that all you can do, you spineless fool?” Shinji spat. “You deny me at least an honorable death and instead strip me of everything I am and send me packing?”
“You deserve no honor, and you will receive none, for as long as you shall live.”
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 1:33:27 GMT -5
Shade smiled in satisfaction and leaned back, shooting Thrade a grin.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 1:47:14 GMT -5
Lei also nodded firmly at the Emperor, not daring to smile in happiness, for this was a serious business and many eyes were watching him. This was not the place for emotions to rule the mind for it was justice not personal feelings that was served here.
But the emperor was not done. “As for the other prisoners…” he focused on the remaining prisoners at war. “You all know what you have done, the sins you have committed. But you have been misled. There can be no glory from pillaging and murder, and your sins will return to you tenfold. That is why we are gathered today here in this court. Do any of you deny, like the former governor, that your actions were incorrect? Shall I allow you to reflect further on your sins in my prison?”
The prisoners cast down their eyes. Now that their leader faced a fate worse than death in their culture, the fight had left them. Prison was not a place that men liked to dwell within, and each and every one of them felt a tingle of fear at the prospect. No one defended their actions as right, not a single one.
“Men such as you rally under a banner as soon as you see the glint of gold in your future. I ask that you become greater men, that you live for something greater than seizing another man’s riches and killing another because they may anger you. Consider yourselves, at this moment, as good as dead. What shall you do to have a second chance at life? What would you become to find contentment in this world? True contentment.”
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 2:38:53 GMT -5
Now Shade was watching intently, her head cocked, for this was something truly new to her. In her culture, they would have died. Thrade was smiling now, nodding. If there was any doubt....not that there possibly could be....who the real true leader was between the two men here, it was laid to rest surely.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 2:45:12 GMT -5
The emperor’s eyes roamed over their faces, full of regret and shame. Some even looked up with a renewed hope in their eyes, one blinking back tears. Something within each and every man had changed. They may not have acted as honorable men, but they did not wish for death, honorable or not, as Shinj insisted for himself.
Emperor Haru looked hard and long into their eyes until he was sure that they had repented. It was not clear if they would continue down a path of destruction or not, but he was willing to give them the chance, as Lei had shown faith in the men who did not wish to end it all on the battlefield not weeks ago.
“You are all pardoned on your charges in light that you have simply been misled individuals. If you indeed wish to leave with some good advice, a thought to meditate on, do your best to find happiness. You will not find it in the bottom of the cup, or with another man’s coin purse. It may be temporary happiness, but you are not better men for it. Because I give you new lives, do your best to honor this day, and be blessed. May the gods guide your fate, and may I never see you standing before me again. Or gods, help me, I will not hesitate to give out a harsher punishment.”
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 3:55:45 GMT -5
"Shade," Thrade's voice was quiet so only she could hear. "You can't track Shinji down and kill him after the trial."
Shade started a bit, then shot her a glance. How had she known she'd been thinking that?
Thrade shook her head firmly. "You have to let the emperor's sentence stand. He knows what he's doing."
Shade frowned a little bit but when Thrade poked her, she nodded reluctantly.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 23:00:21 GMT -5
Emperor Haru nodded to the Imperial guards who withdrew their spears and stepped forward to unbind their hands. The men rubbed at their chaffed wrists and when it was clear that they were truly free, they stood at attention and bowed very low in respect to the Emperor. Without a word between them they started to hasten towards out of the court grounds so that they may be free men. Emperor Haru watched them leave and hoped in his heart that his words carried some weight into their hearts.
His eyes hardened as they drew back down to the former governor’s face, whose eyes in turn were full of malice and hate. “You will be taken by force to the port of Shimonoseki where you will be transported to the great continent West of Nihon and exiled. The gods will design your fate alone for I will be no part of it. You will face the unknown alone and without assistance. Now, take him away from my sight.”
The same guards who freed the prisoners lifted the former governor roughly onto his feet by catching up his bound arms and practically dragged him away in order to transport him by wagon to the southwest, where a ship designed to transport undesirables and criminals would ship him off to his banishment. He received boos and jeers and was pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables and so he was shamed.
Soon after, the Emperor withdrew into the palace and his council after him. Lei stood alone near the throne as the courtiers and common folk dispersed as the trial had been completed. He stepped forward to join his wife and Shade as the court emptied.
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 23:02:35 GMT -5
"If the emperor had drawn a sword and cut the fool's head off, I don't think anyone would have blamed him," was Shade's only comment.
Thrade slid an arm through Lei's silently.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 23:05:31 GMT -5
“Emperor Haru exhibited a great amount of self control,” Lei smiled agreeably. “But I do agree that death was too merciful and end for the likes of Shinji. What a man does in this life will return tenfold, and I very much hope that he finds nothing but misery in the future, for he has designed his life around the misery of others for his own selfish gain.”
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 23:09:25 GMT -5
Shade, far more of a pessimist than Lei, hadn't found that bad men always got what they deserved but didn't see a point in saying so.
"You'll stay the night at least, won't you, Shade?" Thrade said anxiously.
"I ought to get going as soon as possible," Shade said. There was a noticeable hesitation in her voice. She wasn't looking forward to returning and it had more to do with the fact her memories of Hiroshi leaving were still raw, though she wouldn't admit it.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 23:12:41 GMT -5
Lei looked to Shade, sorrow crossing his face. “If you must, Shade. But I should think that you should take at least one last meal with us before you depart.” They would be able to part on happier terms with lighter hearts, as standing in the midst of the court was rife with negativity. “But, of course, the choice is your own.”
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 23:13:58 GMT -5
Shade picked up on that. If anything, her friendship with Lei and Thrade had taught her one didn't need to rely on negativity all the time to survive. "All right."
Thrade breathed out a sigh of relief.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 25, 2012 23:17:42 GMT -5
A grin spread across Lei’s face. “I know of an excellent restaurant where we may have a good feast. There is no harm in filling your belly with good things, especially since one tends to eat poorly when traveling. And you have so far to go.”
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Post by KD on Jul 25, 2012 23:22:20 GMT -5
"Not so far with my method of traveling..." She shrugged, but she didn't argue. After all, he was right about the food. She grinned. "Too bad I didn't dress more inappropriately, if I'm going to cause a scandal among the elite, I might as well do it to the maximum."
"Excuse me," Thrade said primly, "I cause the scandals around her. Or at least incite most of the gossip." She squeezed Lei's arm, looking up at him and smirking. "And receive many angry glares from women hoping to have snatched you up."
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