"The same Kaine gold presented before this court funded the pirate attack on Her Majesty's vessels along the Saltless." Boren announced.
Gasps and murmurs stirred. Heads turned toward the Kaine gallery.
Isla Kaine quickly called to young Bard. "Go back home right now!" She instructed.
"Nonsense, mother." Fredder rose from his seat. "I attended court trials at four. Let the boy learn something here."
Below, Master Leef objected sharply. "This is absurd. Notes may be forged. Gold may be counterfeited. Especially when the despicable Serpent Guild is involved."
Fredder descended slowly toward the balustrade overlooking the hall. "No no, Master Leef," he said calmly, "That is genuine Kaine gold. It isn't something to be easily counterfeited."
The chamber quietened.
Boren glared up at Fredder. "Is that a confession?"
Master Leef quickly interjected. "Lord Kaine—"
Fredder silenced him with a palm. He rested both hands upon the stone railing overlooking the proceedings below. The entire hall awaited his answer.
Instead, he asked, "How many members of Whyteleafe Sect remain on the High council now?"
Boren hesitated, confused by the question just like everyone else. "What pertinence has that to this trial?"
"Fredder!" Isla called quietly. "Enough."
Fredder ignored her. He raised his voice and continued, "For generations now, Elsem's High council maintained eight seats. Half of those seats reserved for Whyteleafe men. One reserved for the Dravanes. Another for the Yorke general. And the last two are appointed to worthy noblemen from any Sect. That was the noble structure."
General Tobii Yorke stood near the base of the throne steps amongst the Crown officers overseeing security for the proceedings. His expression hardened faintly.
"Under King Leonhart's reign, the Crown wisely expanded representation beyond the old noble structure. Aside from accommodating Kaine Sect, men such as General Schar and Valda Wisteria were granted voice despite lacking noble birth."
Tobii's jaw tightened.
N"As consequence of those reforms, Dravane Sect got shoved off the big table. Even the Yorkes did not go unscathed — if you think about it."
Tobii finally spoke out, "Get to the point already. This is a royal court not—"
The Queen's voice followed, sharp and immediate. "General Tobii, do not break court decorum." She reprimanded. "It is a right of the accused to defend himself as it is our responsibility to listen through it."
Tobii bowed his head in concession.
Abigail turned back to Fredder. He continued while the room listened. "Through Leonhart's reforms, the four Whyteleafe seats remained untouched. Well… at least until Harry and Rudeus Whyteleafe each kicked their respective buckets"
"Insolent boy!" Boren reacted. He turned to Abigail; his old face squeezed in a frown. "Your Majesty, he now mocks the dead.
Abigail ignored him. Not even a glance. Her eyes remained fixed on Fredder — still patiently waiting for him to reach his point.
Fredder watched her deadpan face with faint amusement before continuing as though uninterrupted. "I do wonder whether anyone advised Leonhart to reduce Whyteleafe representation on the council instead of removing others entirely."
Complete silence followed. At this point, some have begun to quietly suspect Fredder's long speech might not even be leading to a point at all, but mere provocation.
"Lord Kaine." Abigail's tone remained composed though her fingers tightened subtly against the throne's armrest. "Charges and evidence against you continue to mount while you have not spoken a single word to address the matter at hand. Even the council itself did not know the route my fleet would sail during my return to Elsem. Yet this note describes the attacks with disturbing accuracy."
Her gaze sharpened. "How do you plead?"
Fredder inclined his head slightly. "Forgive my impertinence, my Queen. I merely wished to point out an important observation as I construct my defense."
He descended the stairs from the gallery level into the center aisle itself.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Every eye followed him.
"Truthfully," He continued, "We all know the Crown would have survived perfectly well without someone like Esq Whyteleafe occupying a council seat."
The hall froze.
From the right gallery, Esq almost couldn't believe his ears. Shocked and outraged at the same time. However he maintained a nobleman's decorum and held quiet while shooting a scowl towards Fredder Kaine.
Fredder didn't stop there. He continued in the same unbothered tone, "Certainly Esq Whyteleafe is a knowledgeable Runemaster. But in terms of wit…"
A pause.
"I suppose we each possess our strengths and weaknesses."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
People stared at Fredder in disbelief. Then stole glances at Esq in anticipation of his reaction.
Esq's expression hardened. He met Fredder's stare from below. Neither man looked away.