PATH OF CHANGE By Seth Campbell Part Five The guardsmen lead me and the mob leader back into the city's walls and up to the center. The center was a citadel built upon an earthen mound with two wings, one on each side, and a set of stables in the rear creating a courtyard. We were both lead into the east wing of the front, bypassing the system of anterooms that befell those entering through the main entrance. We were lead down the hallway by only the Captain of the guard with two guardsmen flanking from the rear, one for each of us. We passed through a small foyer and entered one of the two meeting halls. (The other one was for meeting with Viziers) It was a large room with curtains sectioning off areas so people could meet with government officials in privacy. We stopped just outside one of the sectioned-off areas as the captain turned around to face us. "The Viceroy will speak with you, first." He directed his stern voice towards the man beside me. He did as he was told and entered. What felt like an unusually short amount of time, he exited the curtained area with no expression on his face. The Captain then turned to me. "The Viceroy will see you now." I nodded in recognition and made my way into the private meeting area. Inside, it was quite cool. The curtains were white and only went up about eight feet. Covered candelabras kept the place well lit. In the center was a table and two chairs, each on opposite sides. In the one across the table from me sat the Viceroy of the Eleventh City. "Please sit." He directed his hand to the empty chair that was directly in front of me. I sat down. "Let me just get a few things out of the way," I wasn't liking where this was gonna go. "First, I have nothing against you and in fact side with you wholeheartedly." I did not see that coming. "But the fact is that emotions run high and my word alone won't be sufficient to quell the outrage." "Viceroy, -" I began to state my case. "Please just call me Calvin." "Calvin," I resumed. "I'm ready to bear full responsibility." "And of that I commend you for your sense of duty." He seemed to be trying to reassure me. "But that won't be necessary. While I don't carry the authority and respect to put this destructive conflict to a rest, the Council of Mages does." The Council was the chief governing body of Niedethel. It consisted of the Viziers of each of the ten great cities, the Viceroy of the Eleventh City, the High Priest of Faihu, twenty additional Archmages, and was headed by the Wizard. Mastery of the magical arts was a prerequisite for being a member. This rule was born as a response to the ban on magic under the Emperor before the Revolution. "Now, if I summon the Council," Calvin set his hands on his desk. "It will take time for them all to get here. So you'll have time to surmise your defense argument." I immediately knew I wasn't gonna enjoy this. "Ugh..." I sighed with the realization of how much work this was all gonna be. I just wanted all this to go away. "Great, Homework." I lowered my head in pain, remembering my assignments at the Academy and burying my purple face in my claws. "During the intervening time," Calvin resumed. "You will stay under house arrest with a garrison standing guard outside your flat." I looked up, both relieved and partially annoyed. "So you will be safe, I hope." How reassuring of him. "Well," I took a deep breath. "I should probably get started as soon as I can." Calvin gave me a reassuring nod of condolence. "And by the way," I paused as I got up out of my chair. "Not to be nosy or anything, but what are you guys doing with the other guy?" I pointed to the exit to signal where the mob leader exited earlier. "He will..." Calvin bit his lower lips trying to find the right words before smacking his lips in conclusion. "He will be punished thoroughly and permanently," He spoke darkly yet nonchalantly. I shouldn't have asked. "We will make an example out of him." I really shouldn't have asked. "Well then," I tried so very hard not to say what I was thinking: that I had just become deathly afraid of him, but I held my tongue. "Thank you, Calvin." I got all the way up. "I know the way out." "A guardsman will escort you home." He started writing something down on a piece of paper as the guardsman enters to await orders. "Ah, please escort Mr. Meyers back to his flat and see to that he is both safe and does not leave until his trial." The guardsman nodded without emotion while Calvin completed whatever it is that he was writing. "And see to it," he gave the paper to the guardsman. "That the two men Adrian Fiedel and Clement Taylor are returned from the Seventh City with Vizier Silias." My heart just dropped yet again as I was lead out of the private area and back down the side hallway until I was back outside. On my way back home a million thoughts were rushing through my head. Calvin said he sided with be but yet he was going to do gods know what to the mob leader and was gonna make Adrian and Clement come back with Silias, who had a reputation for being kinda not nice. As I passed the Academy, I remembered that I also had to form a defense argument to plea before the Council. It may be boring and painful, but I wouldn't be going anywhere so I wouldn't have anything better to do. I arrived home and was directed inside by the guardsman. Shortly after we arrived, other guardsmen arrived as well to stand guard. (Obviously) One of them carried a burlap sack. After a few seconds, I realized that it was the sack I left behind at the windmill. "I've been told this is yours." He gave me the sack. "...Thank you," I took the bag and began to enter the flat, knowing I wouldn't be leaving it any time soon. Once inside, I looked around just as he did before he left, sack once again in tow. "You are allowed to have visitors." I turned around to nod at the guardsman in acknowledgement. I guessed being locked inside my home wouldn't be that bad. "Thanks." The guardsmen closed the front door, sealing me in. I immediately sat down in my chair to relax for a while before getting to work. Over the next few days, while waiting for the Councilors to arrive, I split my time between cementing a legal defense and reading up on whatever I had lying around. I soon got bored with both. After a couple of days, I gave up on leisure reading and focused entirely on plowing through drafting my defense and editing it with additional research, mostly on arcane legal procedure. (Which incidentally involved a copious amount of reading) Even then, I finished my work relatively quickly. And I couldn't go get a different book. (The Guardsmen though were nice enough to get me one when they delivered food) So I just began writing whatever what was on my mind, a pastime I hadn't partaken in since I was in School. Mostly all of what came out was random stuff, mostly about how weird Calvin was. Aside from fetching me food and books, the Guardsmen were nice. I never had a conversation with any, but they said they couldn't because of their jobs. And I respected that. A week into my house arrest, I was graced by the chief Guardsman entering my flat late in the evening. "Cecil Meyers," he began. "I am tasked with informing you that the Council of Mages has arrived in the Eleventh City and you will stand before them tomorrow." I was both troubled that I would soon stand trial but relieved since either way, it would all be over. "Your two friends will be arriving here shortly," my introspection was rapidly cut short. "No charges will be pressed but they will be sequestered in this domicile until your trial concludes." "Thank you." My heart relaxed. At least they would be safe. I nodded to the Guardsman as he nodded back and exited. I slumped down in my chair to wait for Adrian and Calvin, but my front door opened before I could even relax and in they came. "Guys!" I embraced them before they were even in all the way, much to their surprise. After a whole three seconds, I let them go. They didn't seem that upset with it. "Do not ask us how our trip was." Adrian uttered as Clement shuddered in agreement. "That bad?" "I thought I said not to ask." Now Adrian was upset. "So," Clement turned towards me. "Your trial's tomorrow." He seemed just as troubled as I was. "Yeah," I tapped a table with a couple sheets of paper on it. "I've got my defense argument right here." They both seemed content. "Well since there's nothing else to talk about," I looked directly at Adrian and talked in a funny voice. "Or at least nothing that is permitted to be spoken about," I pulled my gaze away and resumed talking like a normal person. "Let's just have dinner and go to bed." We did that.