Caltris High Council Chambers
Maven was finally dragged back in to the warmth of the High Council Chambers. He was relieved that he was no longer in the cold prison cell and he was still recovering from the icy temperatures with the free air. He had been able to return before anyone had noticed he was missing, but this was no comfort to him. He looked over and still Maddy was not there, and he saw Yalij who had witnessed the rest of the debate that happened while he was locked up. Yalij looked incredibly pale and like he was going to be sick. Maven understood what that meant so before he was dragged to his seat he went to Yalij and pat him on the head warmly as he did Israphel and Dariken and whispered in his ear.
"All is well." Said in the way a father comforts his child out of unconditional love when he knows something horrible would happen. He smiled at Yalij as he sat down in his chair and awaited as the tribunal filed in.
"By the oversight of our Lord Fornt, I hearby declare this Tribunal session open. We find Maven Auryn, the High Chancellor of the Beastling states and Representative of Caltris, guilty of treason and having conspired with an Unbidden. We declare that the Rod of Judgement's discernment of your truth telling notwithstanding, you have threatened the whole of the High Council with Corruption, and the sentence for Corruption and Treason is the Ceremony of Purification." Eryeil Nendis said relishing in her words. So long had she wanted to be the one to declare this sentence upon Maven and his liberal idealistic ways, and now finally his own naive ideas about love, compassion, and equality beyond all had damned him.
She watched angered as his smile did not melt away and as he still kept that quiet serenity that he always seemed to have. That unperturbed calm that seemed to always irk her sensibilities. She just declared him condemned and that he would be killed and still he smiled.
"So it shall be." Maven said as he looked at Eryeil Nendis, "I spoke only the truth. Discerned with the Holy Sword of Judgement no less, and so my life is forfeit, but everyone knows now that the unbidden are reasoned and now the unbidden are protected by Beastling laws. If this is what I have succeeded with this Tribunal and with the end of my career and my life then I am satisfied." Maven said as he crossed his arms.
Then his eyes sparkled with delight as he looked at them "But it is also known that if this discernment was made before my sentencing that I would also be affected by such findings, so then I am both condemned and not condemned! What fun, I would have enjoyed this case myself. What a predicament you have chosen wisely to avoid, Yalij." he said to the High Court. "So am I correct in discerning as well that you will execute me to keep this news from getting out. A rather shrewd act if I do say so myself. However to do it publicly I will have to confess my 'crimes' and in doing so I expose the coverup, so perhaps you will make an exception for me, and execute me in private, or you could let me live, but then expect me to keep my mouth shut about this? A truly difficult position indeed. I don't envy you. " He said as his serene smile turned into mocking smirk.
"You will be sentenced to the Ceremony of Purification, but because you are as popular as you are, we will have to do it privately." Eryeil Nendis said irritated.
"As I suspected..." Maven said with a sigh as he looked at Yalij with a touch of desperation leaking only for a moment. "So it shall be then. 'Every sentient being is responsible for their own words, thoughts, and actions and are obligated by law not to willingly commit harm to another sentient being with greed, hatred, or ignorance as a motivation.' I don't suppose this is greed, hatred or ignorance. You all know very well what you are doing. It shall be done."
