\--==Official Submission==-- FROM: General Debinani Rahl RE: Chapter Thirteen - Justice is a Fickle Mistress Justice is a Fickle Mistress: An Official Affidavit I find it strangely ironic that my thirteenth chapter in these Annals is one of such despair. And sadly enough it would appear that I brought it on myself through trust and ignorance. I will vouch for this document, if it ever comes to light, as being my official affidavit on the matter. My discourse begins where my last left off, at the court of Lord British. I was allowed into the conference room to greet British and one of his advisors, one Soltain Grishnac. Apparently, Grishnac was in charge of any matters having to do with frontier territories. We sat, had a light breakfast and had small talk. British remains surprisingly well informed. He asked about the men and the health of Lieutenant Shade. He seems to have heard of our break from the mercenary life and he seemed pleased and somewhat relieved all at the same time to know that the army resting in his back-waters had decided to follow an ancient credo of Justice and Honor before the lure of gold. I can't blame him for that. His question about Shade brought me swiftly to the point. "Shade's dead, as well as most of my men." That's how I started. I had never really had breakfast with such a powerful man before, and I was somewhat hesitant to make the demands that I had to make. I must say, British has a powerful presence. He's a strong man no matter what any of the others may say about him. As you can tell he left quite an impression on me. I had never been able to speak with him up close, Blackthorn sure, but never the Man himself. But I digress. I invoked feudal law concerning an unlanded noble and his liege. British seemed somewhat surprised to hear that the Captain of the legendary Black Rose Society wanted a formal commission and blessing to raise arms against enemies of the people, but he took it in stride. Grishnac however almost burst into flames; the man looked that appalled... infuriated even. British looked me in the eye and stabbed his fork into his fruit like a hardened warrior stabs his blade into the earth and leaned forward and looked me in the eyes. I don't think I've ever been intimidated before in my life until that very moment. We looked at each other... into each other for what seemed an eternity. I don't know what he saw in me, but I saw a hardened warrior trying to do the best for his people that he could. A warrior and leader with a vision of something better. In that moment, Lord British took this single, independent soldier and made a Britannian. I believed in him...and even now that feeling hasn't faded. It's a disturbing feeling. The moment that I started to become uncomfortable under his scrutiny, he immediately relaxed and sat back in his chair with a sigh. "I trust you, " he said quietly, after a moment of thought. "It's not misplaced sir, " I managed to sputter out. I must have looked as shaken as I felt because he laughed and gave me a pound on the shoulder that I can only assume was meant to be a pat of camaraderie. "Very well then, I've heard of your accomplishments as a leader. You may raise your army for the purposes of ending the hostile occupation of Yew. You will receive a Royal commission of General, and your Society will be entered in the record books as the Guard of Stormstone Sound. Their ranking will last as long as the liberation. You will set forth from here to Yew and march your army to the remains of Stormstone Sound with the intent of destroying the evil presence there. Once that is done the army will be disbanded and you will report back to Britain for reassignment. The term of your commission will be three years starting at sunrise tomorrow. And to be completely honest I'd like to take advantages of your abilities at the Royal Academy." "A...General?" I sputtered. "Aye, a General indeed. Now, I must depart. Grishnac will take care of the commission and have it ready for you on the morrow. Good day, General Rahl." I looked to Grishnac. He seemed to have composed himself, but just barely. He gave me a curt nod and hurried out. The rest of the day went without incident. The following day I returned to the palace to find Grishnac sitting in the tiny conference room behind an absolutely massive stack of paperwork. He was all grins and smiles. I thought at the time that British might have spoken to the man about his behavior the previous day. Little did I know. The signing of the commission was done with within minutes and then another subject came up.... "Lord British did much thinking about the state of Yew last night, General, " the man began, "And he wished me to brief you on the decisions he came to." "Okay...." He offered me some mulled wine to fight off the damp and vaulted into a very complex speech of legalese, which I struggled to understand and could not possibly repeat. I found myself getting groggy listening to it all. I finally stopped the man and asked him to explain to me in plain speech what he was talking about. "Freedom, " the man responded, "Freedom and Independence for all of Yew." I blinked several times, trying to wrap my mind around the concept. "What do you mean?" I said "Lord British listens very closely to the pulse of the people. He spent the entire evening looking over export and tax reports and whatnot, and he decided that if Yew were to present enough strength to liberate itself from the invaders, then the people should be free. He felt that as a free nation of people happy to be free would be in the greater good than a part of a nation unhappy with its lot." "I see...." I know what you're thinking...how could anyone possibly believe a word of it? Well, I've been wondering that myself in retrospect. I may not know much of law and politics, but I know that no ruler gives up anything that he doesn't have to for any reason. I had only assumed the cloudiness of my thoughts had been fatigue from the night's battle and a spurious assault of legal-talk, however Society's healer and alchemist seems to think I was drugged. He said it was very probably that Greshnic stuck a certain herb in the mulling spices that caused a susceptibility to suggestion. I don't know much of such things but it could be the only explanation I have that I actually agreed to this nonsense. I spent most of the rest of the day in a haze. I had two agreements in hand when I had expected only one. But I pressed forward. Vengeance still drove me on. And thus I made my proclamation. A proclamation that I was leading an army to burn the fort to the ground and that Yew would be free. And we all know it didn't go over very well in many circles. Well, a few days later Grishnac brought it to British's attention that I was building an Army in Yew with the purposes of breaking the Shadowclan and liberating the territory from the Crown. I don't want to think about the betrayal he must have felt. British made a leap of faith that a lone soldier could do what is right. I don't want to imagine his disappointment in me. As much as I "don't want" I always do though. It creeps into my head right beside the sense of loyalty and pride his probing gaze instilled in me. The charge of High Treason was leveled on my head before the ink on the commission was dry. And thus I've been laying low. I've been living in the rough of the New Lands for over a week now while my men, loyal to the last, work to clear my name. At this point I'm not entirely sure I deserve it. Even if I was drugged, I can't believe I let myself fall into that situation. Perhaps the children will forgive me when this all finally comes to light. Last night wasn't a good night. Fighting between the Society and other groups has started over the issue. Grishnac was slaughtered last night in his bed. So was my dear friend Denis in the Royal Library. So was Cyan Mosvani, RingWielder of Water, and the only friend we had among The Five, who tried desperately to warn us that Lord Spirit's hand was in this plot. All are dead. All killed horribly with some manner of magic. The Court is trying to pin me with Grishnac and Denis' deaths. But I know. I know who's behind all of it now. Lord Spirit just got many more lost lives piled onto the charges I will make him answer to. Signed and Witnessed Debinani Rahl General Captain of The Black Rose Society Amberle Jax Independent Counsel to General Rahl Member of the Esteemed Order of Legalists