CHAPTER 26 – FIRST TESTIMONY


    “The Tribune will now call upon the perpetrator and defendant, Prince Mitakahn Arkenoir, son of Theomitus.”


    Mitakahn rose from his seat and walked to the chair which sat adjacent to the Prestigent Bench. The Tribunal member closest to him stood up and recited, “Swear unto your crimson pledge of honesty that you may do no harm or tell no lie under the scrutiny and penalty of the king’s law.”


    “I solemnly swear.” Mitakahn took the oath.


    Demeter stood back up and slowly made his way over to Mitakahn. A smug smile stretched across his face. “Compelling argument…” he said.


    “Is that your first question?” retorted Mitakahn. The audience began to stir.


    Demeter had a question ready for him, “Prince Mitakahn, did you admit to a kingdom council that you would enact the named heir bylaw in the event of an enemy invasion?”


    “Yes. I did.”


    “On what grounds?”


    “I did not pose the question, so I did not choose the parameters.”


    Demeter knew that Mitakahn temporarily had him. For he knew full well that he was the one who posed the question back during the council and if pushed enough on the subject Mitakahn would reveal it and this line of questioning would be dismissible.


    “Do you…prince…believe that you are subject to the same laws of nature as everyone else?”


    “Yes, I do.”


    “Then how do you explain the fact that you have been contacted by the gods through your dreams to warn us all of impending danger? That does not sound like the standard laws of nature to me…”


    Mitakahn was careful not to admit to trespassing through the Ignaleos Cor. “I did not ask for these dreams; I cannot explain them.”


    “So, you admit that you are above natural law and humanity?”


    “I did not say that.”


    “Well, it must be one or the other, Prince. Either you renounce the dreams as prophecies, or you renounce your mortality…”


    “I will not renounce my dreams nor go back upon my principles just to escape persecution.”


    “There you have it, may the court recognize that the prince claims to be beyond mortality and better than everyone else.”


    “Prestiges!” screamed Galastad.


    “That is not what I said!” argued Mitakahn.


    “Not in so many words.”


    “I believe I am mortal. If you cut me, I bleed. If you execute me, I die.”


    “Well don’t jump ahead of yourself, prince. We still have a couple more questions…” Mitakahn reflected Demeter’s pompous smile back at him. Demeter was thrown off his swagger for the moment. How could the prince smile after such an obvious death-threat?


    “Do you believe,” Demeter continued, “that you were given these dreams for a reason?”


    “I know where you are going with this,” admitted Mitakahn.


    “Please answer the question, Prince.” reinforced Demeter.


    “…Yes…yes, I do.”


    “Is it because you are a prince?”


    “Perhaps. It is unclear.”


    “Is it because you went to that exclusive academy?”


    Mitakahn’ heart skipped a beat. Does he know?


    “No. I don’t think so” This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    “Then please tell us all…why you were chosen out of all the citizens of this nation to be entrusted with the message of the gods.”


    “I don’t think I can answer that”


    “Please try…”


    Mitakahn looked at the Tribune Prestigent. They all nodded their heads to hear his answer. Mitakahn looked at Galastad, he gave him no outlet. He had to answer the question. He had to fall into Demeter’s trap.


    “I don’t know…I guess I believe…that I have seen great tragedy and in my heart I know that I have gone through the worst so I can remain level-headed in the face of any other tragedy.”


    “So, you are saying,” rephrased Demeter, “That because your father died, you have seen enough tragedy that the gods deem you fit to warn us all of suspected danger? I’m sorry but I don’t believe it. Many people’s parents die early on in their lives, and they don’t see the future, not to mention your mother and brother who have dreamed nothing and coincidentally are not here with you.”


    Mitakahn stirred in his seat with that last comment.


    “Please prince, try to come up with a better reason I know you have it in you…”


    Mitakahn gave Demeter a cold, vicious look. The worst in him had come out, and it was getting to Mitakahn. He decided not to hold back anymore. It was really no use. The damage was done. His conviction was probably selected already. What was the point in pretending anymore?


    Mitakahn answered, “Have it your way councilor… Between my bloodline, my schooling, and the events of late concerning my father’s death, I believe that I have been put on a path far from the rest. Perhaps the gods talk to me because they know I will listen. Not deny, or try to use them for personal gain, but listen with an open mind and an open heart. Perhaps the gods give me these dreams because they know that I would do anything to understand why my father was taken from me. Perhaps I have these dreams because I have nothing else going for me anymore.”


    Besides that last note, Demeter had everything he was trying to pry from Mitakahn and quickly cut him off, “You heard it, folks. There is no need for me to ask any more questions. Prince Mitakahn feels that he is above everyone else here today. His pretentious attitude towards himself and others leave much to be desired. Perhaps… he thinks he is so special that he is entitled to the crown, the throne, and the control of the kingdom…Rulers shouldn’t be entitled to their rule, they should earn it for themselves.” Demeter paused to let his words sink in, “the state rests.” Demeter went back to his seat and sipped on his water with a self-righteous air about him.


    Galastad stood up, preparing to cross-interview Mitakahn. He had registered the tone of Mitakahn’s last response and realized he knew it was over. There were only two things left to do…


    “Prince Mitakahn, do you believe that there will be an attack on our nation?”


    “Yes I do.”


    “Where exactly?”


    “The shores of Caliber, by a fleet of dark ships.”


    “Why do you think this?”


    “I saw it in a series of dreams…”


    “Why do you think it was different from any other dream?”


    “Because while I was in the dream I was conscious of what was happening. It all felt real. In ordinary dreams I feel, and… I hope you all can agree…that I am a puppet… of sorts… being pulled around by my strings with no control.”


    “I can agree with that.”


    “In these dreams, I was able to identify that I was actually in a dream. In every other dream in my life I have been under the guise that it is reality. A biological trick to keep us asleep, I guess.”


    “That being said…if the kingdom was attacked, let’s say…tomorrow…would you take the throne of Pride Lorde and lead our Nation to victory?”


    “I would never. I both love and respect my brother, and the throne is his responsibility,” Mitakahn concluded, “Even if the nation was under mortal peril, I would do everything I could as a prince, but I would not become king unless forced. It is not my destiny.”


    “Destiny. So, you agree that destiny both gave you these dreams and made you the second born and therefore not the heir to the throne.”


    If there was anything Mitakahn hated in his life, it was hearing those two words. He cringed and tried to remember what his answer to the governor’s question was, “Yes I do.”


    “Seems a bit of a contradiction, can you clarify it for us?”


    “I believe that my older brother, Axion’s journey is to become king. My journey, concordantly, has to be something else to derive meaning, significance. I think these dreams are the beginning of a path that will lead me to my destiny and rightful place in this world.”


    “So, the dreams are evidence that you do not want to be king?”


    “Correct.”


    “According to the governor, the dreams are evidence that you want to become king and seize power over the kingdom for yourself.”


    “I think the governor is looking for a reason to abolish the royal blood line.”


    “Prestigents please! This is getting hostile.”


    “Agreed. Councilor…get to the point.”


    “My client has admitted, under oath, that he has no intentions on taking the throne for himself. He merely has a feeling that our kingdom is in trouble and seeks to warn us. Let’s say we prepare for the worst and call the army to Port Caliber. If there is no danger…there is no harm done. If there is danger at our doorstep, then we all owe Mitakahn our lives. There are no ulterior motives or hidden agendas here. Well… I should say on Mitakahn’s behalf.” Galastad leered at Demeter as he rounded up his cross-examination with a quick jab at the state and Tribune, “The defense rests. You may step down, prince.”


    Mitakahn returned to his seat with Galastad and Cipher, who leaned over and said to him, “I hope that worked.”


    Galastad commented “You did well, I’m proud to represent you.”