Uselessly, I made multiple excuses to delay the trial before the court. Everyone knew what the outcome was going to be. After a month, Sir Betan and 4 other knights of the realm came to my house. "Sir Rhombus, I am here to escort you to court for the trial. Please... come with us." he said with a strained smile on his face. I really had no choice at this point. I followed them to the castle where court had been gathered. Leonardo was in chains on one side of the hall. When I entered, everyone's heads turned to me. As the lord of the castle, Count Swifthunt was the judge. "We're so happy that you can join us, Sir Rhombus." he said. I said nothing in response. I was not happy at all. The proceedings went as expected. One of the nobles from the capitol was playing the role of prosecutor. The charges were assault, sodomy and heresy. It was not going to be pretty. Leonardo was confronted by several arguments. Leonardo was able to argue against him on heresy. It was Lord Swifthunt that allowed people to practice their religion freely in Huntston. Being part of the druidic religion was not wrong.
Very clearly, he was pregnant. His flat, toned stomach with a six pack was gone. He had a rounded tummy. A boy being pregnant was all the proof needed. People were then called in to testify. Sir Artur was the first. He was the one who had first pinged him as evil. Artur was also his first target. Artur painted a bleak picture. The next to speak was Higg. Higg hated Leonardo. It was not a secret why. The accusations and retelling of events were true enough. Then the chaplain spoke. He wanted Leonardo to burn the most. He basically gave a sermon why the dryads and other spirits were abominations and needed to be dealt with. Finally, I was called to speak. I stepped forward to address the court. "What would you like for me to say, my liege?" I asked him out loud. "Start from the beginning." Count Swifthunt said to me. I nodded my head. "I have loved my children from the very moment they were born..." I started. Whenever someone tried to stop me, I just spoke louder. "My son was so wrong, but... he's just a boy. I'm begging you not to kill him!" I finished after an hour. He was found guilty.
When the verdict and sentence was passed down, I ran to Leonardo and forced him down on his knees. I covered him with my body as well. "Don't kill my son!! We throw ourselves at your mercy, Lord Swiftheart. Give us some clemency, my lord!" I begged. "Clemency? What is that?" he asked. "Clemency is when an authority grants mercy with a sentence. Leonardo is guilty of his crimes. We wouldn't dare insult you by claiming otherwise. It would be an insult to justice. That doesn't mean that the maximum sentence has to be applied." Count Swiftheart frowned deeply. "You are asking me for a pardon, correct?" he asked warningly. I shook my head. "No! We wouldn't dare ask you for that. Please commute my son's sentence. Give him any lesser punishment you please, but I beg you not to kill him!" I shouted. Lord Swifthunt steepled his fingers as he thought about it. The chaplain stood from his seat. "You cannot seriously be entertaining this, my lord. Letting an avowed heretic like him live is an affront to the gods. Think of young Higg's honor and virtue, stolen by an unfeeling monster!" he yelled.
