A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 64: Day 84
WARNING — This chapter contains potentially upsetting material. I will mark the section so you may skip it, if you wish.
The Conclave of Knights of the Realm gathered in the Great Hall in the Haven Keep and was called to order by the Knight-Commander.
Polished steel caught the light from the high windows, and the murmur of nearly a hundred men died away when the Knight-Commander took the dais; torch-smoke and cold stone carried the smell of oiled leather and iron, and the red cloaks of the Crown seemed suddenly thin against so many bare blades.
"Knights of the Realm!" he proclaimed. "Stand for your oath!"
The assembled Knights, nearly a hundred strong, stood as one, drew their swords and held them pointing up, and the Knight-Commander led them in their oath.
We, the Knights of the Realm, gathered to do our sacred duty, promise to act honorably, justly, and mercifully; to speak only the truth; to respect our brethren when we disagree; to be unified in our defense of the Realm from all enemies; and pledge our lives to each other and the Realm. We promise to render fair judgment in all matters brought before us, and to enforce the decisions of the assembly, even if we personally disagree.
When the oath was completed, the business for which they had assembled began immediately.
"Sir Milos, would you present your charges?" the Knight-Commander requested.
"Yes, Knight-Commander!" Milos replied.
He moved forward to stand before his brother Knights.
"Knight-Commander, and my brother Knights, it is with a heavy heart and great reluctance that I bring charges against our King. He has, in contravention of the Law and the Traditions of the Realm, wrongfully executed a young woman named Priscilla from Wickham for High Treason, while knowing she was innocent, and despite a plea for mercy from Count Matthias of Newtown.
"To make matters worse, he, as Lord Mayor of Fulham, issued a Mayoral Writ commuting any possible death sentence for Kranos the Arcane, a wizard who stood accused of conspiracy to kill King Ludwig and Prince Alfred, an act of High Treason. I have the Writ, and swear it is authentic.
"In addition, I have a Royal Warrant proving, beyond any possible doubt, that King Edward had authorized Priscilla to transmit documents to the now-dead Danian spy, thus proving her innocent of the charge of High Treason. The Bailiff will testify to the authenticity of the Royal Warrant and swear that King Edward ordered him not to record it in the ledger.
"These are all provable facts and cannot be refuted, despite denials by the King. If necessary, I can produce a Danian spy who will attest to receiving the Warrant from one of the King's private messengers, with the proper seals intact.
"Finally, I must report that yesterday, Ulf, a free-holding farmer from Wickham, lodged a formal complaint with the Bailiff, accusing the King of the murder of his daughter, Priscilla, whose execution violated both the Law and Traditions of the Realm. That is all, Knight-Commander."
"Thank you, Sir Milos. Who stands with you to make this accusation?"
"Nine Knights of the Realm, sworn and true, including Sir Robert, the Crown Prince."
There were a number of surprised reactions among the ninety-six Knights who were listening to Sir Milos' testimony, though the Knight-Commander remained silent.
"Is that true, Sir Robert, Prince of Nystria?" the Knight-Commander inquired.
"Sadly so, Knight-Commander," Prince Robert replied. "I reviewed the Royal Warrant and spoke to the Bailiff. I also interviewed the Danian prisoner, and although we must be careful taking testimony from an enemy spy, his account matches those provided by every other person involved. It is my judgment he spoke the truth when questioned.
"In addition, I was aware of Count Matthias' request for mercy in exchange for Priscilla's coöperation, which was denied, despite a similar request being granted by my father, as Lord Mayor, to the traitor Kranos the Arcane, who conspired twice against the Throne. I must, therefore, stand with Sir Milos, Sir Gerald, Sir Aidan, and the other six Knights who bring the accusations. The Laws and the Traditions of the Realm must apply to all, including the King."
"Well said, Sir Robert," the Knight-Commander said. "Sir Gerald, you wished to speak."
"Yes, Knight-Commander. This sordid affair is but one more affront to the Traditions of the Realm and attempts by the Crown and others to usurp the rights of the Knights of the Realm. As part of our judgment in this case, regardless of the verdict, we must reaffirm our rights and traditions to ensure justice prevails.
"To that end, whoever is King must take seriously his oath to uphold the Law and the Traditions of the Realm, and we should require written assent to those traditions, including trial by a jury of Knights for all felonies; public trials for anyone accused of a felony; and most importantly, the Knight-Commander shall crown all future Kings as it was in the past, symbolizing that the King is ultimately responsible to the Knights of the Realm, gathered in Conclave."
"Hear, hear!" a score of Knights exclaimed.
"Sir Aidan, please bring in the Bailiff," the Knight-Commander ordered.
Sir Aidan left the Great Hall and returned a minute later with the Bailiff, who was placed under oath, then questioned by Milos.
"Is this your signature on this Warrant?" Milos asked.
"Yes, Sir Milos, it is," the Bailiff replied.
"Is this King Edward's signature, witnessed by you?"
"Yes, Sir Milos."
"Is this King Edward's royal seal?"
"It is, Sir Milos."
"Did King Edward instruct you not to record this Warrant in the public ledger where all warrants and writs are registered?"
"He did, Sir Milos."
"Thank you for your truthful testimony, Lord Bailiff. Knight-Commander, with this testimony, I see no need to defile this Conclave by bringing in a Danian spy."
"I agree, Sir Milos," the Knight-Commander replied. "Sir Aidan, please escort the Bailiff out."
Once the Bailiff was shown out, the Knight-Commander extended an invitation to the King to speak, and Prince Robert left to inform his father.
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"The Bailiff authenticated the Warrant, and Sir Milos submitted the Writ you issued as Lord Mayor commuting, in advance, any death sentence against Kranos. Worse, Ulf lodged a formal complaint of murder against you. The Knights will vote overwhelmingly to declare the Throne vacant; it would not surprise me if the vote is unanimous. I also believe they will vote to convict you of murder. Father, they mean to hang you, and I do not see a way to prevent it."
"You know the circumstances with Kranos, and it was necessary, but I suspect that information will fall on deaf ears."
"As will any plea for mercy, given your rash actions with Priscilla. I still do not understand, Father. Your actions would make sense if the Warrant were authentic, but you insist it is a forgery. This entire fiasco could have been prevented by listening to Count Matthias or holding a trial before a jury of Knights."
"Leave me, please."
"What do you propose to do?"
"It is better if you do not know."
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"The King declines to address the Conclave, and continues to protest his innocence," Sir Robert reported when he returned to the Conclave.
"Sir Aidan," the Knight-Commander said. "There is sufficient evidence to take the King into custody pending the outcome of this tribunal. Take a contingent of four Knights and do so."
"At once, Knight-Commander!" Sir Aidan declared firmly.
Sir Aidan tapped four Knights close to him, and they quickly left the Great Hall and proceeded directly to the Royal quarters, ignoring the protest of the guards. Faced with five Knights, with swords drawn, they did not physically resist. A search of the Royal quarters did not turn up the King, so the Knights confronted the Queen.
"I do not know where he is," the Queen declared, "but he is not here, as you can plainly see. I will make the outrage of the search of my bedchamber known to all!"
The Knights, frustrated in their search and with her lack of coöperation, returned to the Great Hall, leaving Sir Lancel to stand guard over the Queen.
"He is not to be found, Knight-Commander," Sir Aidan reported. "I believe he has fled."
"Knight-Commander," Sir Gerald said. "As I see it, refusal to address the Conclave and attempted flight are an admission of guilt by the King. I propose we vote as a Conclave, then take up the declarations reasserting the ancient traditions."
"Knight-Commander," Sir Milos said, "it pains me to say that I agree with Sir Gerald. Having brought the charge and having presented the evidence, I propose Edward be deposed for grave injustice and failing to honor the rights and responsibilities of Law and Traditions of the Realm, and that the Throne be declared vacant. Further, I propose that once deposed, the King be declared an outlaw, and any person may apprehend him and bring him to justice before a proper jury of Knights."
"Hear, hear!" dozens of Knights exclaimed loudly.
"We will vote by secret ballot," the Knight-Commander declared. "Each Knight shall step forward and place a token in the right box if you agree with Sir Milos and Sir Gerald; if you disagree, place the token in the left box."
Starting with Sir Milos, each Knight approached a screened table with two boxes. He was handed a token by the Knight-Commander, then, hidden from view, placed it in one of the two boxes. Once Sir Aidan had voted, he went to relieve Sir Lancel, so Sir Lancel could vote, which he did, then returned to his duty, allowing Sir Aidan to rejoin the Conclave.
Fifteen minutes after Milos had dropped his token in the right-hand box, all ninety-six Knights had voted. The Knight-Commander voted last, then brought the boxes to a table all the Knights could see and opened them.
"There are but six tokens in disagreement; therefore, Edward is deposed, the Throne is declared vacant, and Edward is declared an outlaw. In accordance with my traditional rights, I name Sir Malcolm, Lord Mayor of Fulham, as Regent until such time as the Crown Prince assumes the throne."
The vote to reclaim and restore the traditional rights and privileges of the Knights was public and was passed by unanimous consent.
"Knight-Commander," Sir Milos said. "I have one other request for the Conclave."
"Speak it, Sir Milos!"
"I request the Conclave revoke the provision of the Peace of King Henry forbidding a sorceress from being Queen. Before the Mage Rebellion, there were a number of beloved Queens who were sorceresses. Importantly, Princess Miri is loved by the people, and they will not object."
"What of the High Priest?" Sir Geoffrey asked.
"His predecessors used the Peace of King Henry to subvert the traditional rights and privileges of the Knights, and spread a new teaching that declared magic to be evil in all circumstances. From the first King of Nystria, there has always been a Court Mage, and that role is currently filled by Princess Miri. Can anyone truthfully accuse her of any evil intent?"
A number of Knights rose to speak for both sides of the argument, but when a vote was held, Sir Milos' proposition was approved by a significant majority.
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