Chapter 25 - Julie

The enamored Julie is obsessed with the drawing. She eagerly told William that the Zonians had left murals throughout their underground structures. Recently, a new underground tunnel had been discovered beneath Margaret's Keep, but the central piece of the mural was missing. She believed the drawing he had fit perfectly in that gap.

William replied that the stone slab had snapped into place when he set it into the mural back in the Silverhand's mine, but he had seen nothing significant. The slab seemed out of place, as if it wasn't meant to be there. Instead, it felt more like a warning, like a falling star approaching.

This revelation blew away Julie. "You were able to interact with the mural?" She paused, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Wait, the knights took over the Silverhand estate after Abigail's arrest. That means—" She leaned in. "You broke in, or you're a knight on a secret mission!"

William raised an eyebrow at her assumption. "Or I was just there before the knights took over," he said flatly. Her mind seemed to jump from one conclusion to another, making it difficult to keep up. This woman would be hard to talk to.

Julie laughed at herself. "I can get carried away sometimes. It's why I work alone. Most people don't tolerate my rambling. But thanks for keeping me on track."

Stacks of books lay open around them, referencing murals across the land. Some had crumbled over the years, and intact ones were a rarity. The one in the Silverhand mine had been a remarkable find; now, another had surfaced beneath the Keep. Julie had already done extensive research on the newly discovered ancient tunnel.

"The mural tells the story of the Zonians' struggle against the elements and the hardships of life," she explained. "They were proud and ruthless. Their rigid training and lifestyle made them formidable warriors." She turned a page in her journal, her finger tapping against a section of her notes. "I believe their pride was their downfall. They allowed only the strongest to survive, discarding the weak to keep their bloodline pure. But with such a brutal system, their numbers dwindled. How can a civilization grow when it culls its own?" She sighed.

Julie paused and looked at William with excitement. "That missing centerpiece of the mural… I think it might be a key to understanding their fate." She flipped open her journal and carefully sketched the inscription from the stone slab. "This word here means 'return' or 'destiny.' The Zonians revered their fate if it was in the mural's center. But what exactly was their destiny?" She exhaled sharply, frustrated. "I don't have enough data to conclude yet, but this is a big step."

She turned to William and beamed. "I'm happy we met. I wouldn't have figured this out without you."

William was impressed. Julie's knowledge of the Zonians was unparalleled. He hadn't met anyone besides Ingrid's grandmother who could decipher their language so well. However, he wasn't about to reveal his red eyes to her, especially after Abigail had already drawn suspicion to her in the Royal Court. He needed to be careful.

"I was just interpreting from my own experience," he said casually. "I'm no expert. It's a good thing I found you."

Julie grinned. "Can you believe it? The Zonians, thought to be long extinct, could still live among us!" She sighed dreamily. "One day, I'd love to interview Abigail and ask what it feels like to be a Zonian descendant." Then, her expression darkened. "Though maybe that's not such a good idea. After all, she was part of the Pentalium. And now that the public knows they were behind the plague and the civil war… yeah, probably not the best idea."

She stood and began returning the books to their shelves. William helped her, and they continued discussing their shared interests. When Julie mentioned that she would be returning to study the newly found mural under the Keep, William saw an opportunity.

"The knights stationed there allow researchers to conduct studies, right?" he asked.

Julie nodded. "Yeah, they're pretty accommodating."

"Then let me tag along," William suggested.

Julie looked him over. "Hmm… you are strong," she mused. "And you can carry a lot of heavy books." She smirked. "Alright, you're hired. But you're officially my luggage carrier."

William chuckled. "Fair enough." More importantly, this gave him a legitimate reason to be at the site.

A commotion broke out at the entrance as they stepped out of the library. Four Inquisition agents were forcefully dragging a man. The crowd gathered around, whispering in hushed tones.

Julie's eyes widened. "That's my head researcher, Harold!" Without hesitation, she ran up to the men. "Hey! He has nothing to do with this!"

One of the agents shoved her back roughly. Julie stumbled, but before she could fall, William caught her. The crowd gasped at the display of force. Anger flared in Julie's eyes as she pushed herself upright and grabbed the agent by the sleeve.

"What's your reason for arresting him?!" she demanded.

The agent yanked his arm free and scowled. "Obstruction of justice! Step aside!"

Julie stood her ground. "If he's guilty of researching the ruins under Margaret's Keep, then all of us should be arrested, including me! Are you saying curiosity about history is a crime now?"

One of the agents clenched his jaw. He reached for his truncheon and took a step toward Julie.

William had reached his boiling point. His name carried little weight as a squire, but his reputation did. Before the agent could strike, William moved like a gust of wind, seizing the man's wrist and disarming him quickly. He gently pushed the agent back and stood between him and Julie.

The agents tensed, recognizing that this wasn't an ordinary bystander. One of them sneered. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

William let his cloak shift, revealing his hand resting on his sword. "William Forrester, squire of the Frostholds. I was there when Abigail was arrested." He met their eyes evenly. "Or should I say, battled her."

The agents stiffened. They were thugs working for the Inquisition. They had courage, but they weren't stupid enough to pick a fight with someone like him.

"We're just following orders," one of them muttered. "Arrest anyone suspected of having ties to the Zonians or the Pentalium." He gestured toward Harold. "This one had letters from Margaret before she died."

Harold trembled in their grasp but nodded fearfully.

The agent pulled out a letter. "This was found in his office at Waldebert University. Margaret asked for his help excavating a cave-in beneath the Keep's sewer."

William scoffed. "That's it? That's your proof?" He crossed his arms. "So, if I were a gardener and Margaret asked me to spruce her flowers ten years ago, I'd be a Pentalium sympathizer too?"

Silence. The agents had no response.

Eventually, they relented. Harold was released, and the agents disappeared into the crowd.

Julie and Harold turned to William, their gratitude evident. "How can I ever repay you?" Harold asked.

William smirked. "Promote me from 'luggage carrier' to 'research assistant'?"

Harold blinked, then chuckled. "Consider it done."

Julie giggled. "You're not so bad, William."

With Harold safe for now, William knew their fight was far from over. The Inquisition was tightening its grip. The Royal Court's upcoming session would be proof of that.

William accompanied Julie and her research team back to the Capital, where they needed to buy new equipment for their excavation at the Keep. While there, they learned that the Royal Court would resume its session regarding Abigail's case. Intrigued, William attended the hearing, and Julie tagged along, hoping to glimpse what a Zonian descendant might be like.

The Court was packed with more attendees than usual, all eager to hear from the Inquisitor and learn of his progress. The King and the Princess were present as well. Sitting near the jury, William noticed the Princess with her disheveled hair and exhausted eyes, evident signs of sleepless nights. He suspected she had been working relentlessly to bring Abigail down.

The session began when the Inquisitor had Abigail brought before the people. He demanded she reveal how the Pentalium had infiltrated their society, who the remaining members were, and whether she was their leader. Abigail stood motionless, refusing to answer. Her silence angered the spectators, who jeered at her.

The Inquisitor then asked if she would cooperate in exchange for her freedom and the chance to live as a free citizen. At this, Abigail finally spoke, scoffing at the very idea. She said that if she were released, the citizens of the Kingdom would tear her apart within minutes. Her cell was already the safest place for her, away from the daggers lurking in the shadows.

With no response of value, the Inquisitor declared that Abigail would remain imprisoned until she chose to reveal everything she knew. The crowd mocked her, calling this a fitting punishment.

Having had enough of her silence, the Inquisitor turned to a bailiff and ordered the special witnesses to be brought before the Court. Moments later, bloodied and battered individuals were led into the chamber.

"Witnesses brutally beaten up? What kind of madness is this?!" Rolfe's voice rang out from the crowd. William spotted the knight standing beside Duke Lenato.

"Silence, young Einherjar. I am doing your family justice." The Inquisitor's fiery gaze burned into Rolfe. The Duke quickly pulled his son back down into his seat, a rare expression of fear showing on his face.

The Inquisitor instructed the witnesses to state their names and occupations. They came from different families and social statuses across the Kingdom. At first glance, none of them seemed connected to the Pentalium. That changed when the Inquisitor asked them to describe their past roles that had aided Abigail and Margaret. A blacksmith who had forged weapons for the Silverhand during the civil war, a merchant who had helped Margaret distribute the plague-ridden wine, a maid who had been paid to set fire to the Einherjar's mansion, and others whose past work had contributed to the safety and operations of the Pentalium.

Julie covered her mouth in horror. She had never seen so many people drenched in their blood. A shiver ran down her spine as she realized that if William had not helped Harold, he might have been standing among them, mistaken for a supporter of the Pentalium.

The Inquisitor stepped forward to address the jury. He openly admitted to being a brutal man. The Inquisitor acknowledged raiding homes, coercing people into surrendering their records, and using force to loosen tongues. But he argued that his methods had produced results. He assured the Court that he did not kill without due process and that he only condemned those with undeniable proof against them. This promise, he declared, is still being honored before his friend, the King.

The crowd applauded his words. Disgusted, Rolfe spoke up, arguing that the brutality of these interrogations may have clouded the witnesses' minds. He insisted that some of them could be innocent, falsely accused, and beaten until they confessed to crimes they had never committed. The Inquisitor countered by presenting a report to the King, who read it aloud. It contained records of letters, payments, receipts, and business dealings between Margaret, Abigail, and these witnesses. The Princess pointed out that the documents were old, crumpled, and bore handwriting consistent with Margaret's and Abigail's. She assured the Court that these details confirmed their authenticity, eliminating any possibility of forgery.

Julie whispered to William, her voice trembling. "How can people accept this? They are cheering for bloodied prisoners as if it is some great spectacle."

William, watching the frenzied audience, spoke calmly. "People are hurting. They have suffered for years under the Pentalium scheme. They are desperate to see justice done, no matter the cost."

The Inquisitor then turned to the Court and asked for their cooperation. "If you are innocent, you have nothing to fear. If you resist, you have something to hide from the Inquisition. And we have the right to take you and investigate further. If you are guilty, you shall be judged before the people." The room erupted into applause once again. While the commoners and jury seemed to favor his words, many knights in attendance were visibly unsettled.

The Inquisitor continued, his voice heavy with authority. "Let the Inquisition do its job. Any resistance that hinders us…" He paused, scanning the crowd. His eyes landed on William, and a sneer curled at the corner of his lips. The Inquisition had not forgotten the young squire's interference in Harold's interrogation.

"…will be met with extreme prejudice." His gaze remained locked onto William.

William clenched his fists beneath the table, his blood boiling. He fully agreed with Rolfe's outrage. The Inquisition had overstepped its bounds. He knew he was just a squire, but Rolfe was a knight, and he had the standing to voice his dissent. Around the chamber, William noticed other knights exchanging uneasy glances, their expressions mirroring Rolfe's defiance. Though none of them spoke up, it was clear they did not approve of what was happening.

But in the city's dark corners, unseen figures of the Pentalium moved. The daggers would soon come out from the shadows, and the Kingdom would face the reckoning of their enemy.