The White Dragon by Salvador Mercer Read Free Book Online Page B

him?”
    “Yes.”
    “When was the last time you saw it, prior to today?” Galen asked.
    “James put it on when he left with that man.” She pointed at Eric. “Just over a week ago.”
    “Is this something valuable to your man, or to you and your family?” Galen asked. When she simply nodded, he continued. “So it’s not something that he would give up willingly, correct? I mean, it has more than simply monetary value. It has sentimental value, correct?”
    “Talk about misleading a witness.” Lucius could contain himself no longer, having stood and made the outburst.
    “You are not permitted to speak. The accused represents himself.” Galen turned and gave Lucius a glare.
    “I spoke last night,” Lucius responded.
    Corwin held up a hand at the magistrate and then looked at Eric. “May your associate speak on your behalf?”
    “Yes, my lord,” Eric said, placing a hand on Lucius’ arm.
    “Magistrate Galen, perhaps a pause in between questions will suffice?” Corwin said, looking at the man.
    Galen glared at both Eric and Lucius, an act he had become quite proficient at the last couple of days. “Very well, my lord. Can she answer my question, then?”
    Corwin nodded at the witness. “Go on, Mrs. Tolk, or do you need the question repeated?”
    “I’m fine,” she replied. “The necklace is only made from silver, not worthy of note for your nobilities, but it has been in the family for several generations and it is very dear to us and especially James.”
    “So he would not part with it willingly, would he?” Galen asked.
    “No, he wouldn’t,” she responded.
    “Let the record reflect that Mrs. Tolk identified this charm”—Galen held the item up again—“and that it was discovered in a pouch of the accused’s belongings by his bedside.”
    A murmur went up from the crowd, and Corwin had to use his guards to restore order by having them pound the ends of their short spears onto the wooden floor, making a large noise and gaining everyone’s attention.
    “Quiet now,” Corwin ordered. “Do you have anything else for the lady?”
    “No, my lord,” Galen said. “We’ll be giving the family charm back to her when the trial is over.”
    “Very well. Call your next witness.”
    The widow was escorted back to her seat in the hall, and the magistrate called on the owner of the Peak Pub and Inn, Frankel. The old man walked up and took his seat, avoiding eye contact with Eric.
    “State your name,” Galen ordered.
    “Frankel,” the man said.
    “Just Frankel?” Galen asked.
    “Yes, owner of the Peak,” the man said, looking uncomfortable.
    “Master Frankel, please tell us the circumstances under which the accused was brought to your establishment four days ago,” Galen asked.
    Frankel shrugged, looking sheepishly at the magistrate and then finally at Eric, and his facial expression saddened. “Master Eric was brought to my establishment by three of the Kesh and their servants.”
    More murmurs in the hall, but no one tried to stop them. “Go on,” Galen prompted.
    Frankel’s shoulders shrugged and then sagged as in defeat. “They paid top coin for the best room and service for Master Eric and . . .”
    “Continue,” Galen prompted, not having the least bit of sympathy for the old man’s inner struggle.
    After a long pause, Frankel finished. “They called for a death worshipper to heal him.”
    Gasps in the crowd, which had to be somewhat contrived. Everyone had either actually seen the cleric when he was in town or had heard about it. Still, the actual testimony was chilling, and Corwin allowed the outburst for a full minute.
    Galen didn’t hesitate. “You allowed the death worshipper into your establishment?”
    “What?” Frankel looked up in surprise and shock. “No, well, I mean, the Kesh insisted, and I tried to call the local healer, but they wouldn’t allow it. They demanded their own healer.”
    “So the Kesh treated him as one of their own, did they not?” Galen