have had problems of this nature in the past, this particular episode troubles me greatly. The army was fortunate to capture the assassin before he got away."
The volume of the murmurs increased and Duke Everich watched as Duke Engar's face paled visibly.
"Many times we have had councilors assassinated to create an opening in this Council, but usually it is someone on the outside desiring a seat," scowled Duke Everich. "This time, apparently, the assassin was hired by one of us."
Vocal cries of protest emanated from around the table as each councilor scanned the faces of the others as if they could determine the guilt by sight.
"What scoundrel would do such a thing?" Duke Tredor blurted out. "Is there nothing sacred between us any more?"
"Obviously not," scowled Duke Everich as he dismissed the breach of protocol. "Fortunately, we have managed to extract a confession from the assassin, a man named Herzel."
Duke Engar closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as his hands tightened on the arms of his chair. Duke Everich nodded to the two soldiers standing guard near the door, and they waited expectantly to hear the name of the man they would arrest.
"Not only was Herzel very forthcoming with the name of his employer," Duke Everich continued, "but he was foolish enough to use a dagger with the crest of his employer as the weapon of choice. We have confiscated the dagger and I promise that it will be prominently displayed in this very room as a warning to future councilors. We will not tolerate any more Duke Engars on this Council."
Gasps ran around the table as the soldiers moved swiftly to arrest Duke Engar. Engar did not put up a fight as he was dragged away by the soldiers.
"Councilors," continued Duke Everich as the door closed behind the soldiers, "it appears that we have two seats to fill on this Council. I suggest that you give careful consideration to your nominees. We shall meet here again tomorrow morning following the execution of Duke Engar."
Duke Everich nodded to the councilors and left the room. The previously quiet murmurs in the Council Chamber erupted into loud conversation. Some councilors posed that there should be a trial for Duke Engar while others replied that a confession and the dagger was enough evidence for the execution. During the turmoil, one quiet councilor approached two of the others.
"Duke Tredor," greeted Duke Graves, "Duke Zalski, I think the three of us need to have a talk."
"What about?" questioned Duke Tredor.
"Our choice of nominees," responded Duke Graves. "Your hands came down the same time mine did. I think that a certain young lady who wishes a seat on this Council is charming us all. It appears that she also managed to get to Duke Engar, and I do not wish to end up like him. You should also be aware that Duke Everich took note of our hands going down when they did."
"She is betrothed to my son," stated Duke Tredor. "Why shouldn't I sponsor her?"
"But she is betrothed to my son," countered Duke Zalski.
"I fear she is betrothed to all of our sons," scowled Duke Graves. "That is why we must talk."
Duke Tredor nodded and rose, as did Duke Zalski. They followed Duke Graves out the door and across the street to the Palace Shadow. Duke Graves secured a quiet table in the corner, and the three councilors ordered a meal.
"So she is pitting the three of us against each other," opened Duke Tredor. "We could assure her a seat on the Council and then see who wins her hand in marriage. Her father's wealth could be split among us."
"It is more than that," frowned Duke Graves. "I suspect that she doesn't plan to marry any of our sons. She is just using us. What bothers me is how Duke Everich orchestrated the meeting this morning."
"What do you mean?" questioned Duke Zalski.
"He knew that Duke Engar was the guilty party before the meeting," explained Duke Graves. "Yet he allowed us to believe that we would nominate someone for the Council. Do you think it was by pure chance that he
The volume of the murmurs increased and Duke Everich watched as Duke Engar's face paled visibly.
"Many times we have had councilors assassinated to create an opening in this Council, but usually it is someone on the outside desiring a seat," scowled Duke Everich. "This time, apparently, the assassin was hired by one of us."
Vocal cries of protest emanated from around the table as each councilor scanned the faces of the others as if they could determine the guilt by sight.
"What scoundrel would do such a thing?" Duke Tredor blurted out. "Is there nothing sacred between us any more?"
"Obviously not," scowled Duke Everich as he dismissed the breach of protocol. "Fortunately, we have managed to extract a confession from the assassin, a man named Herzel."
Duke Engar closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as his hands tightened on the arms of his chair. Duke Everich nodded to the two soldiers standing guard near the door, and they waited expectantly to hear the name of the man they would arrest.
"Not only was Herzel very forthcoming with the name of his employer," Duke Everich continued, "but he was foolish enough to use a dagger with the crest of his employer as the weapon of choice. We have confiscated the dagger and I promise that it will be prominently displayed in this very room as a warning to future councilors. We will not tolerate any more Duke Engars on this Council."
Gasps ran around the table as the soldiers moved swiftly to arrest Duke Engar. Engar did not put up a fight as he was dragged away by the soldiers.
"Councilors," continued Duke Everich as the door closed behind the soldiers, "it appears that we have two seats to fill on this Council. I suggest that you give careful consideration to your nominees. We shall meet here again tomorrow morning following the execution of Duke Engar."
Duke Everich nodded to the councilors and left the room. The previously quiet murmurs in the Council Chamber erupted into loud conversation. Some councilors posed that there should be a trial for Duke Engar while others replied that a confession and the dagger was enough evidence for the execution. During the turmoil, one quiet councilor approached two of the others.
"Duke Tredor," greeted Duke Graves, "Duke Zalski, I think the three of us need to have a talk."
"What about?" questioned Duke Tredor.
"Our choice of nominees," responded Duke Graves. "Your hands came down the same time mine did. I think that a certain young lady who wishes a seat on this Council is charming us all. It appears that she also managed to get to Duke Engar, and I do not wish to end up like him. You should also be aware that Duke Everich took note of our hands going down when they did."
"She is betrothed to my son," stated Duke Tredor. "Why shouldn't I sponsor her?"
"But she is betrothed to my son," countered Duke Zalski.
"I fear she is betrothed to all of our sons," scowled Duke Graves. "That is why we must talk."
Duke Tredor nodded and rose, as did Duke Zalski. They followed Duke Graves out the door and across the street to the Palace Shadow. Duke Graves secured a quiet table in the corner, and the three councilors ordered a meal.
"So she is pitting the three of us against each other," opened Duke Tredor. "We could assure her a seat on the Council and then see who wins her hand in marriage. Her father's wealth could be split among us."
"It is more than that," frowned Duke Graves. "I suspect that she doesn't plan to marry any of our sons. She is just using us. What bothers me is how Duke Everich orchestrated the meeting this morning."
"What do you mean?" questioned Duke Zalski.
"He knew that Duke Engar was the guilty party before the meeting," explained Duke Graves. "Yet he allowed us to believe that we would nominate someone for the Council. Do you think it was by pure chance that he
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