Zerah's statement : the innocence of evil

[Lady Crankenstein]

Zerah’s Statement : the innocence of evil

Looking down at heavy metal chains upon her delicate wrists, she pondered, through tears how did this happen? Locked in this cold place of cold and stone, the air was filled with dust that seemed to swirl as the tiny beam of light shown through the tiny window, high in the cell.
Footsteps were periodically heard outside the massive wooden door from time to time, and each time, her heart sank in fear. This was so wrong, yet had her short life come to this tragic end? Tears began to flow down upon her chained wrists.
Suddenly, the room rang loud with the clang of the bolt, and the huge door swung open, it’s hinges screaming from being forced from their long time rest.
Ice blue eyes widened beneath the golden hair hanging across her face. She sat stripped to her base garments, chained to the floor , unable to even see who was entering behind her. Bruises ached in her ribs and legs, where heavy boots had landed rage and anger. Without seeing a face, a male voice, strong and raspy in tone, perhaps an older man, seemed to fill the room from behind.

“Give us your version, again, and this time, without the tears and pleas…” , it spoke.
She heard the rustling of parchment and a bottle being opened, perhaps for ink, she wondered. Then she heard scratching of could well have been a pen upon parchment.
Her throat was dry as she tried to force the words out, but they barely came.
“Tempus Rule . . .”, she began, hanging her head , weak from the long night being chained in that position. She gathered her inner strength and raised her head and focused upon a brick on the far wall, her tongue dry in her mouth.
“Tempus Rule…”, she began again.
“ Power that cowers, in their hour of doom
Must be rallied to war, by leader, anyone, unassumed.”

“Really? Poetry?”, scoffed the voice as she heard the scratching of the pen. “Can’t wait to hear your prose at your hanging… go on.”

She closed her eyes and saw it all unfolding again, though she had not thought of any of the events that led her here, not the entire night, but instead her mind was occupied of her friends, and those she even had a budding love for. Taking a deep breath, she began again.

“We were sent by Captain Anders as official emissary to Koart to get the gates open, and if possible to discover what could be learned of the so called dignitaries who came, with a sudden ceasing of the shadow menace to this land. Anders told us, that if we did not return, the General would lay siege to the keep, even sacrificing the folk of Koart if needed…. To protect the rest of the cities.
We did meet with Seargant Blacks, who spoke that he did not agree with the occupation of the keep, and even doubted the intent of these dignitaries himself. I also heard , a week earlier, one of the guards speak the same suspicions…. Cormac and Aedin were there and can confirm that.
Yet, the final event, in the chambers, Prince Halrien, spoke to us all as if his words and confessions of his intent were of no matter, even calling the Lord and his guard "Worms", but then I heard why… he intended to kill us all. The Prince told us clearly, that Lord Koart had thrown two things down a well …. A purple chakkram, he called it, and something else, perhaps to make it impossible for man to reach it.
The Prince went on to say that he had already lowered a number of men into the well and they all screamed and suddenly died… and .. added that WE were to suffer the same fate. He wanted this thing, and was already killing citizens and soldiers of Koart to get at it. And yet, these soldiers of Koart, stood by and allowed it, while the Lord himself stood by and allowed it, … as they all would when we were to suffer that same fate.
Tempus Rule “ Power that cowers, in their hour of doom
Must be rallied to war, by leader, anyone, unassumed.”

I did what I was raised to do, what a Tempite should do… I rallied the guards of Koart, whose duty , yes , yes… is to follow their Lord, and to protect wood and stone, … but the sadistic, greed driven murder of innocents . . . is an offense to my Lord.
So, I easily saw that the guards of Koart, who knew their post risked their very lives... The guards were the key to overthrowing this wicked interloper, Prince Halrien, his Dark guards and spell casters. “
She took a deep breath and continued,
“You see, we know , and I will not speak of how, that this thing Prince Halrien is still after, is directly tied to the curse of the shadows you have endured. The powers of Shar herself is behind it all, and greater things, than all of us, hang in the balance.
I saw that Halrien intended to kill us all, when, I … yes… I… a little girl in a room full of powerful men, led by a … sadly overcome leader who cowered in fear as his people were slaughtered…. I… stepped into the gap of leadership… and yes for my own hide… but for all of us as well. It may not have been our job to save Koart, but it was our time!
It was clear to me, that if I could provoke either the guards to attack the forces of Halrein, or, Halrien to attack the guards of the keep . . . we would all either stand in victory at the end, free of this menace and curse of shadows… or die honorable and be with Tempus in glory.
I played upon the frustration , greed and impatience of Halrien, who wanted Lord Koart to reveal the secret defending the … purple magic…thing… chakkram…
I boldly stepped forward and claimed to be able to extract the information Halrien wanted… yet… insisted, as I had to do…to rally the sleeping powers … that Halrien remove the guards that stood in defense between me and the lord.
Don’t you see? When you think about it, what could I do to back up this insane claim I was making? My intent was never to harm anyone, but to save us all. To force the hand of each power to defend their duties… guards of Koart, against the Dark Defenders and casters of Halrien.
It DID WORK! … and yet, I hear that two guards did die in service , and for that I pain, but am also proud of them…Tempus is proud of them.
I did not injure, nor attack a single person of Koart. Yet, I led the way to saving them all. I had to play this as I did… I had no idea it would end as it did… Halrien escaping with Lord Koart in his grasp. Who could have known?
I, alone, stand responsible for igniting and leading the battle for the saving of the men , women and children of Koart, as well as the other emissaries. You would all be under siege at this moment, had I not.”
She rested her arms and let the chains down, closing her eyes again, waiting for fate to fall.