The royal vessel sliced through churning waters of the southern channel. Flanked by two heavily armed warships, the Elsemer flag — bearing an owl's head — flapped proudly in the horizon of storm-heavy skies.
At the bow stood Queen Abigail. The wind whipped her silken skirts and short blond hair — as she fiddled Leonhart's crown now in her hands. She stared it, lost and uncertain.
"You called for me, your majesty." The Royal Sealbearer arrived. He was a bald boy barely in his teenage.
She looked the crown still. "His power kept tides in check. Who could possibly carry the burden of his legacy?" She said almost to herself.
"Your majesty?" The Royal Sealbearer called again.
She turned. Crown still in hand. "I understand the Sealbearer rune is the most important to military structure. Enlighten me as to its limitations and weaknesses."
"What? Er…. Pardon me, your majesty… I—" the Sealbearer stuttered.
"It isn't unusual for a non-runecaster to take interest in Runecraft logic, is it? Speak freely."
"Uh… well. As you know, a Sealbearer can send instantaneous message across vast distance. One limitation is only other Sealbearers can receive the broadcast. Another is distance. The more skilled the Searbearer, the more distance they can broadcast a message. The greatest weakness of the rune is that you cannot dictate which Sealbearer receives your broadcast. You could dictate the range of a broadcast, but that means every Sealbearer within that range — friend or foe — can listen."
"A universal weakness is but a strength." She said. "I need you to send a message, Sealbearer."
The conversation was shattered all of a sudden — by a raw scream from the crow's nest.
"Sails! Black sails on the horizon!"
Abigail's eyes narrowed as jagged, obsidian-painted hulls crested the swell. One, then five, then a dozen — a swarm of pirate vessels, moving in a predatory formation toward them.
"There are too many," the Sealbearer muttered, his voice trembling.
Elsemer soldiers scramble about on deck.
A bodyguard rushed to Abigail's side, his hand already white-knuckled on the hilt of his blade. "Your Majesty, get below! Now! For your safety!"
She turned to the Sealbearer with a single command. "Alert Elsem!"
Execution ground
Back in Elsem, the air in the execution yard was tense. Brimmah still knelt at the gallows, the shadow of the axe looming over his neck. Only Satorii's protest now stood between him and the blade.
"He deserves trial!" Her voice rang. "Unlike Harry, he has confessed to nothing. To kill him now isn't justice — it is murder based on mere allegation."
Uneasy silence settled amongst the councilmen.
Headmaster Esq stepped forward with a face annoyed and malicious. "Why should the High council waste our time on that? The traitor is an undeserving Knyyt and belonged to no Sect."
"Undeserving, you say? Do you mean to deny his victories in the tournament or challenge king Leonhart's decision to make him a Knyyt?"
Esq faltered. He stuttered. "This — this is about his treason not any of that. Carry on, executioner!"
Before the executioner could react, a messenger burst into the yard with urgent news. "The Royal ships are under attack! The queen is under pirate attack in the southern channel. She calls for aid!"
General Schar stood immediately, his chair clattering back. "Assemble the navy at once! I shall take command myself." He ordered the messenger as he too hurried towards the exit.
The other military general on the council, General Tobii, fumed at this command. He couldn't contain his outrage. "Wait!" He barked — stopping Schar. "The navy is under my command. Mine!"
Boren intervened before the tension between both generals could escalate. "I do believe the Queen's life takes priority over permissions this very moment, General Tobii. However, haste makes waste, General Schar. Let this council meeting reach conclusion before you storm out acting on your own."
"I have no patience for debates!" Schar replied. "I was absent to protect my king when he needed me most. I shall not delay when his widow requires me!"
Satorii seized the moment. "Then defer Knyyt Brimmah's judgement." She suggested. "Since he's claimed to be an Elmerian spy then let the Queen herself rule his fate."
"She may not even survive the hour!" Esq scoffed.
Restless, Schar looked to Brimmah at the gallows one last time. "Then his life is tied to hers," he declared. "Postpone the judgment. If the Queen returns, she decides. If she does not... do what you may. This meeting is over!"
The executioner lowered his axe with a frustrated grunt.
Satorii let out a shallow, shaky breath of relief as the guards hauled a dazed, blood-streaked Brimmah past her towards the dungeons.
Brimmah glanced back. While other councilmen had scattered from the yard, Satorii remained. Why did she save me? He wondered in disbelief.