Chapter 19 - The Trial of Stone and Silver
The Grand Crypt of the Imperial Palace was an awe-inspiring chamber of black granite, white marble, and blazing golden chandeliers. Hundreds of high nobles, foreign ambassadors, and imperial generals dressed in black mourning robes filled the balconies above, watching the solemn funeral ceremony below.
At the center of the hall stood Lord Commander Vael—a tall, imposing military commander in dark silver armor, flanked by fifty elite Imperial guards.
Beside him sat the high stone sarcophagus holding High Empress Valeria. The Empress looked peaceful, her hands folded over her golden chest, her skin pale and still under the candlelight.
"People of the Empire," Lord Commander Vael’s booming voice echoed across the massive hall. "Our beloved Empress Valeria has passed into the arms of the ancestors. As Lord Commander of the Council, I declare the Regency active until the rightful heir is crowned!"
Priests raised their incense burners, preparing to swing the heavy, ten-ton granite lid into place over the sarcophagus.
"STOP THE BURIAL!"
A clear, powerful voice shattered the solemn silence.
The high nobles gasped, looking down from the balconies in utter shock.
Stepping out from the dark archway of the lower catacombs came Princess Aurelia of Oakhaven, dressed in her royal silks, walking side-by-side with Elara Veyne. Behind them came Captain Vance and six guards, dragging two heavy iron transport boxes wrapped in chains.
"Guards! Seize those intruders!" Vael roared, drawing his gilded sword. "How dare you defile the sacred funeral of the Empress?!"
"Touch us, and the entire Empire will see who you truly are, Vael!" Aurelia yelled, her voice commanding the entire hall. "I am Princess Aurelia of Oakhaven! Six months ago, your conspirator Lord Aris tried to bury me alive! And tonight, you are doing the exact same thing to our High Empress!"
Murmurs of shock and confusion rippled through the hundreds of nobles on the balconies. Imperial generals looked at each other, hesitation creeping into their eyes.
"Nonsense! Traitorous lies!" Vael screamed. "Execute them on the spot!"
"Look at the prisoners inside these boxes before you draw your steel!" Elara’s voice cut through the hall like a razor.
With a sharp kick, Elara struck the latch of the first iron box. The iron door fell open, revealing Lord Regent Aris, bound in heavy chains, looking pale and terrified. With another strike, Vance pulled open the second box, revealing Dr. Malachi.
"Lord Aris?!" an elderly Imperial Duke shouted from the balcony. "He was supposed to be on a diplomatic mission in the West!"
"Lord Aris was captured in Oakhaven running a secret laboratory that manufactures deep-sleeping toxins!" Elara announced, stepping up to the High Empress's sarcophagus. She looked down at the pale Empress, then pointed directly at Dr. Malachi. "The Empress is not dead! She has been poisoned with bitter almond extract and subterranean lotus!"
"Lies!" Vael lunged forward with his sword, aiming directly at Elara’s neck to silence her.
CLANG!
Captain Vance stepped in front of Elara, his broadsword blocking Vael’s strike with a shower of bright sparks. "Touch the grave-digger, and I'll take your head, Commander!"
"Look at the Empress's fingernails!" Elara shouted to the high lords and generals above. "Look at the purple bruising under her skin! Look at her lips!"
Several brave Imperial generals broke rank, pushing past Vael’s guards to look inside the open sarcophagus.
"By the gods..." General Torin, the commander of the Imperial Garrison, gasped. "Her fingers... they are twitched with minor convulsions! She's breathing!"
"She's alive!" Aurelia shouted. "Vael poisoned her so he could claim the Regency!"
"Traitor!" General Torin roared, drawing his broadsword and pointing it at Lord Commander Vael. "Imperial Guards, disarm Vael immediately!"
Seeing his conspiracy completely unraveling, Vael let out a desperate, insane scream. He shoved General Torin aside and pulled a dagger, lunging directly into the sarcophagus to slit the unconscious Empress's throat before anyone could stop him.
"NO!" Elara screamed.
Elara threw her entire body across the sarcophagus, covering the High Empress with her own back.
Vael’s dagger struck deep into Elara’s shoulder. Pain flared through her body like liquid fire, but she held her position, her arms wrapped tightly around the Empress, refusing to let him strike again.
"Get off her!" Vael shrieked, raising his blade for a second strike.
THUD!
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General Torin’s heavy broadsword ran Vael completely through the chest from behind. The corrupt commander gasped, dropping his dagger, and fell backward onto the marble floor, dead before he hit the ground.
Elara collapsed across the Empress's chest, her blood spilling onto the golden robes of the sovereign, her vision fading into darkness as Aurelia’s frantic screams echoed through the hall...
