Hieronymous Erde has fainted. You see he has collapsed into the arms of Dallywhimper
(
>>5265860 ),
who is trembling but remarkably still standing.
The twin brother of Dallywhimper, Dallyforth
(
>>5269648 ),
steps forward to defend him:
- This is an outrage! All know that my noble brother furnishes the realm and lends strength to her cannons with his inventions. My brother is no traitor!
The Contessa nods imploringly, her eyes filling with heart-rending fear and hope...
- It is true, O Beauteous Beldame! Think upon what he has done for us, have mercy on them! And think upon La Danse du Farfadet, its beguiling grace and Beauty! Have mercy... I beg of you, Beldame...
When you try to step forward to present the Bearded Totem to the Beldame, and kiss her hand, a phalanx of halberd blades cut menacingly before your face, interdicting your path.
And when you plead that the robe was merely a gift, that you have no association to Langkasuka despite accepting the gift, the wicked Vicomte Varin de Sou screeches with insane triumph:
-The Elf confesses it! A spying Spy I say, the Elf has taken bribes! Bribes, I say, to do the bidding of the devious and crafty merchants of Langkasuka, who imperil the honest trade of our realm! Seize this traitor! Seize Hieronymous Erde and all his conspirators, especially the treacherous dancing spying Spy!
All eyes in the Great Hall turn to the Beauteous Beldame. You can see a small quiver of jealously in the beautiful geometry of her features: that you chose to favour the Contessa over her.
The Beauteous Beldame speaks in her lovely alluring voice :
-Iaye proonounncee thiissse Elfe... aehh trraiiitoorr ttooo-woo thhhee REEEeeeaallm. Allle Elfes aare Uuuggly. Uuuuggly. Uugggggly.
The Maiden Knight Ysentrud steps forth:
-The Edict of the Beldame hereby declares attainder upon the Philosopher Hieronymous Erde and his accomplice Dallywhimper, for the Derogeance of the commission of treacherous deeds by The Elf Traitor. In consideration of the imploring pleas of mercy made by the Contessa on their behalf, the Oath will forego the traditional rites of castigation, that the Condemned be stripped of all their possessions and paraded naked, clad only in their shame through the streets to meet their fate (many Highborn nobles titter nervously with disappointment at this). By the Mandorla and The Odalisque, the Cathedral Of Envy decrees their punishment to be...
>Immediate execution (QM: try this one, hehe)>Thrown into the dungeon>Condemned to the Salt Mines>Exile, transportation 