Charges

(Adam the mage’s POV)

I don’t even feel elated to see that the hero party survived the horrible curses placed on them during the battle with the Demon Lord army, even though I saved them from dying with a huge sacrifice. I admit that I felt regret later, but when I saw Ester the cleric, maybe that’s the only thing got going for me. The hero has an especially smug look on his face, and I don’t like that.

“Adam, the mage from hero’s party. Guilty for dereliction of duty during the subjugation of the Demon Lord army’s attack. Under the kingdom’s law, he is subject to have his eyes gouged, all fingers and toes plucked, and finally quartered with horses. His immediate family will be sold off to slavery and his parents stoned to death. Distant relatives up to three generations will be ushered out of town and live in the wild“ (Royal court announcer)

Wait, wait, wait, I didn’t agree to join the military for just 5 silvers a month to be subjected to such harsh punishment when I erred in my duty. I’m unjustly accused without proper proof. I remembered that the most of severe punishment is just decapitation of the said soldier and it doesn’t involve their family members.

“This is unfair, I did my job well and I res…buhh” (Adam got his face punched)

“Silence, convict. You have no right to speak. Even I suffered from your actions. Show at least a bit of consideration!” (Hero)

Ester the cleric’s face turns pale when she heard my verdict. But she just shows a face of powerlessness in my direction and remained silent. I won’t accept this judgment silently like you do.

“What … about the hero” (Adam)

“The Hero and his party did excellently by killing the Demon army general. They managed to drive the enemy to a corner but due to the absence of a key member in the military operation strategy, the demon army managed to regroup and push back our troops.

“You sure this is …what transpired?” (Adam)

“This story is correlate with what the hero and the generals reported” (Royal court announcer)

“Isn’t … the credit (of defeating Demon Army) shared among all party ..members?” (Adam)

“By golly. You have the guts to say that after what you did?” (Main General)

“Because …what transpired is different. I beg to ..ghhh.. differ….aahh.. my Lord” (Adam, enduring having his index finger broken and shoulder dislocated)

“Pardon my Lord” (Hero)

BAM, BAM, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, Step, step, step.

My face is all bloodied, and the hero wiped his clenched fist with a cloth given by the Scout and throw it on the floor near me. My jaw is hurting. No word can come out of me now, just some soft inaudible huffing.

“I think he should be VERY satisfied now with this answer” (Hero)

“Take this bloody mess to the torture chamber” (Main General)

The King just sits there silently while his subjects passing judgments around. His face is a youngish 30-year-old look, and he just puts up a poker face. I remembered he gave very eloquent speech to inspire the people to join in his military crusade. What is he thinking now?

“Wait a moment. We must be fair, or else the people may talk behind our back that the kingdom and hero are cruel. Okay how about this? Crawl under me like a good dog, bow to me three times, and we will consider a pardon, heh” (Hero said while smirking)

“…..” (Adam, giving death stare at the Hero)

“Okay, he rejected the NICE pardon offer. Let’s bring all our soldiers and go to his house. I heard he has a sister. I think we can have a nice party over there” (Hero)

That is taboo. Really a taboo action. Unforgiveable. My parents and family are dearest to me.

“……mhhm….mhhhm” (Adam)

My mouth is swollen. I can’t even utter a proper word anymore. I slowly crawl my body to go underneath Aaron, the hero.

“Heeh? You think this is acceptable? You think you can take back what you have casted out before?” (Hero)

I plead him with my eyes, and he shows a delighted smirk. Aaron then asks for permission to unsheathe his sword in the throne hall from the king. He points the tip of the blade at me, then in an instant, slash off an arm at the wrist on one of the corpse on the ground. My eyes flinched for a moment, and I thought I was the receiver of his attack.

“After cutting off the hand, you think you can reattach it back? Except for Ester, who else can attach it back? Once gone it’s gone man”

I know there is other clerics capable of attaching back a severed hand, but the narrow mind of the hero can only see Ester as the only capable healer. Anyway, I must

“Please give him another chance. Help him please, Aaron” (Ester pleads to Aaron)

“You know what to do tonight, right? Since you owe me a favour” (Aaron whispers to Ester)

“…Yes. Don’t let our party member die in vain” (Ester)

“You are a truly lucky man. Someone in the party pleads for you to be spared. Okay, in order to mete out proper judgment and uphold the king’s honour, you would need to lick my boots clean, crawl under me, and howl like a dog three times. After that, you would have to lick the shoes of the king clean. Do that and we will consider about pardoning you. Your performance is important.” (Aaron)

The royal guards stopped pressuring their pike on my shoulders. Aaron smirked and walks over to a far corner. I have to grovel over the dirt and blood on the floor with my hands tied to the back. I slowly move to avoid knocking over the bodies on the floor. They are people that I can look up to when they are alive. I reached the location Aaron is, and did what was asked for. Aaron smirked across his face from one end to another. He twitches his leg around to make it difficult to reach, but this doesn’t matter. Family is important. I cannot let them die for nothing. I can sacrifice my honour, my life for them.

“Whhhm, Whhhm, Whhhm” (Adam)

With Aaron done, I move towards the king. Aaron got up and step on my back. I ignore it, and slowly and surely, drag my body towards the king. He still has this poker face on him. What honour this man has? I keep this to myself, and lick the shoes of the king.

“Whhhum, Whhhum, Whhhuum” (Adam)

“Heh, what a coward. I thought you have more honour than this. You are just a piece of shit that would do anything to survive. Don’t come near me. Drag him out and cane him a hundred times before you release him. Do you agree with this punishment, my lord? Even though he is a useless bastard, he was once my party member. I hope you can show mercy for him and overlook my blunder of allowing him into my party. This way, my party members will also feel better at heart.” (Aaron the Hero)

“Don’t speak ill of yourself. It is my error in delivering a rotten subject during the selection of warriors to aid the hero’s party. He may have some talent, but his bad conduct is unforgivable. What do you think, Royal lawmaker?” (King)

“Yes, this is acceptable. The mage in hero’s party is pardoned. But he is a disgrace to the party, and will no longer be part of the party or the kingdom’s military. He must swear to secrecy of any palace or political knowledge. If found guilty again, will be punished with the most severe punishment.” (Royal lawmaker)