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How To Deliver Justice (with KiraMusani

Kenna rubbed her face with both hands. "He knows she is a knight. He even called her hero." Her voice cracked as clearly her heart broke. "Ethel. Seeing those injuries, Calla's lucky to be alive, little along running around demanding to be put to work. It just went from Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon to Attempted Murder." She shook her head. "That's life right there. Ethel, as a friend to the Rhys family, which is just me, Ruby and this unborn... If he won't listen, do what you must to prevent a Regicide. Remember, with the two attempts on you, and the combined other assault charges, against Sapphire and Ruby... That's three life sentences. Attempting to kill Calla is four. Three I might have pulled the trigger on the catapult, but four. All that can be proven?"

She sighed and lowered her head. "If he doesn't want to listen, even explaining he's already got the three life sentences, four counting all assaults put together. You have my permission to take his head. I don't want to see proof, just tell me you had to." She took a deep breath, and said the one thing Ethel needed to hear from Kenna to make her sentencing of Dom official and on record. "Thus I have spoken."
 
Ethel nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know that was not easy for you, but you did the right thing. And I promise, I'll try my best to get through to him, I would rather not need take the life of my mothers oldest living friend" She replied before taking a deep breath and leaving, making her way down to Dom.
 
Kenna couldn't help but smirk. "I'm a few years older than Dom, besides, I think her oldest friend would be Sir Gandalf, who to my knowledge isn't some ancient wizard, but is about the age of Gregor." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Your point is still made, I too, hope you get through to him. For Ruby and the unborn sakes."
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Down in the dungeon, Sunrise was with King Gregor who was having another tete-a-tete with his brother. "Sigmund, I have yet to speak to Amethyst and Olivia, but the allegations I have already heard, including from Cornwall regarding the hanging of the life size dolls of Robin Hood and Crimson Avenger as threats to the villagers, and Calla and my own experiences with you is enough for you to hang by your neck until dead."

"What about Avenger's crimes, eh, brother? She should hang as well." Igthorne sneered.

"What charge worthy of death is there against her?" Gregor asked raising an eyebrow. Igthorne stayed silent, because he knew every charge he could name would have Self Defense, or Defense of Others as Avenger's out. Gregor nodded, "That's what I thought. Kenna wants her for her knights, which would exile her from England. That's punishment enough, wouldn't you say? After all, all her supposed crimes are from stopping you and your treachery."

"Alleged treachery." Igthorne corrected, although most had already been proven.

Sunrise noticed Ethel. "I take Kenna has made a decision? You are to speak with Dom?" If Ethel had anything to add regarding Igthorne's crimes, including seeking the heads of Aurora for being a medical professional and Clair for being an inventor, now would be the time to tell Gregor in the presence of Igthorne.

She would be able to address Dom next, as Sunrise unlocked the cell door, but not Dom's chains.
 
Ethel nodded.
"Right of course, but yes, still an old friend and of course your own connections"

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Ethel had heard them as she was walking by.
"Yes, I am to speak with Dom, and make an assessment on how we move forward with his... treatment. As for this man, don't forget his attempted murder of both the Doctor and the Inventor through hiring my mother to kill them. Hello Igathorne" She teased

As she approached Dom she spoke more quietly.
"Hey, so why don't you explain to me what exactly happened out there?"
 
Gregor looked at Ethel for a moment, before looking at Igthorne. "She brings up a valid point. The woman much taller than every member of court and a bit older did tell us early on that. That's two more counts, this time of Conspiracy to Commit Murder. Hiring a hired sword is also a charge since it has just been proven you had ill intent. And a student doctor, at the time, who never did anything to you, just because she was associated with Avenger. The same goes for the inventor, death by association, brother? Really?"

Gregor shook his head, "This was the last cordial visit, next time we meet, it'll be the throne room, Sigmund, for your very public trial." He left, but not before saying, "Throne room when you're finished, Ethel, for your report on our other guest. Please."

"That's grudge territory, Sire." Sunrise said after a moment's pause, walking with the king as far as the other cell and Ethel.
-------------------------------------------------

Dom just looked at Ethel. "I'm attacked for talking to my daughter and you ask ME what happened?! "

Sunrise came over and stood just behind Ethel (depending exactly where she was standing). "As I recall that situation, Dominic, you hoisted her off the ground by a good 20 centimetres and ordered her to invent sails for a quicker Navy. You also took away the last of her court season that Kenna overthrew immediately."

Dom yanked against his chains, face turning red, "She's a princess and playing around with toys, or rather inventing toys! She's 16 years old! She needs to put away childish things and focus on bettering the country she's going to be leading! And that means the Navy, if she's going to go around inventing things!"

Sunrise looked questioningly at Ethel. "Communication devices are toys? Are you hearing this?"

Dom yanked against the chains in annoyance. "They are if you sound like a flippin' bird talking through them! Those need to go back to the drawing board, but after improving the means of defending ourselves from the enemy!"
 
Ethel nodded to Gregor and walked away from Igthorn to head to Dom's cell.

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Ethel raised an eyebrow.
"Like Sunrise said, you weren't 'attacked' for 'talking' with your daughter. You were apprehended for assaulting her.

"And as for her invention, she wanted to make a device so you and your wife could talk when away from each other, not a toy to play with! And if you can't see the obvious advantage that instantaneous information traveling from Frontline to backline will be for defences, then you have certainly lost your head for war." She took a deep breath.

"Yes you sound a bit silly in them, the when the message would be, send backup to gate C, then the message is more important then the voice. Besides imagine how it will benefit ships at sea if they can send and revive information through these things, declarations of peace, other ships spotted in your seas to warn the land about." She crossed her arms.
 
Dom made a grimace. He hadn't thought of that, but he wasn't going to tell Ethel's daughter (his assumption) that. "Still seems more like a toy to me. There's no guarantee it'll reach the other ship unless it's almost on top of the other. And how close to land do you have to be, to get a message from shore to ship?" He raised an eyebrow for effect. "I, and most other men, don't need wives or consorts nagging us not to forget such and such at the market. Servants have their lists. They don't need reminded either."

That's not the point of the communication devices, it's just one of the benefits of them. However he had a point, otherwise, but it was woefully misplaced. Besides, he wasn't acting sorry for scaring his own flesh and blood daughter, princess or not, who right now hoped the 'turning into dragon' ability has passed her by.

"So then .. Where does that put you, spawn of Ethel?" He asked, smirking because he thought it would force Ethel to have to return to Kenna with questions, when nothing was farther from the truth. There was the factor of Kenna's unborn child to consider, now.
 
"Well you see Dom, I have been put in charge of whether or not you can see reason, if you can return to the world the rest of your family want you in, or if you are too far gone. And I must say, you are failing spectacularly" She took a breath.

"You are an old friend, of my mothers, so it really would be a shame to need to put you down like a mad hound. A wise man once said, a good King is ready for war, but does not seek it out, and you act as if the war has already started. So I am going to ask you one more time, what do you think might have been wrong with what you did in there?" She asked.
 
Dom shook his head. "You dumb English don't even know your own history. Your Arthur Pendragon was never king, just a military man renowned to a regal extent for his leadership in the 6th century. 515 to be exact. He coined the saying not long after in one of his more famous battles. Every Cordonian knows that, ask Ruby you don't believe me. He said that first, but King Charlemagne of the Franks made that saying popular in the 8th century, after he became king."

He frowned and shook his head. "Young ladies of 15 and 16 need to be thinking more about marriage and put away childish fantasies, and toys. There was nothing wrong with trying to wake her up to her reality. How can she rule with her head always in the clouds? That inventor girl has corrupted her thinking is what happened. Enabling Ruby's fantasies of fancy."

This proved that he wasn't having flashbacks of the war, he had been scarred, yes, and wanted his daughter to 'stop dreaming', which caused the opposite thing to happen; it's what caused Ruby to think more of science and the inventions, just because, especially since Clair, Aurora, Dr. Phillip Arden, Olivia and Avenger were encouraging her. Kenna was still trying to see where it all would lead. This also proved he should be nowhere around Aurora or Clair, two ladies who have made a name in a long thought of as a man's field. Invention and Medicine, both scientific genres.
 
Ethel sighed.
"The whole idea of kings is nonsense, self-appointed special people who craved power and control over all those around him. Previously who had the biggest stick, now much more complicated."

Ethel stood up, taking a breath.
"Very well, I see your mind is set, I'll go talk to your wife about your release, for now..." She turned and grabbed a tray of food that was just outside the cell, out of sight until now.
"Eat up"

She left with that, but not fully, as she waited outside the cell out of sight to ensure he ate the food, as she had mixed in some poisons she had long ago discovered would put dragonkin to sleep before having them die as they slept.
"You would not likely find yourself making the inventor build anything for you, as you would not recognize her abilities. But you are still a danger as a warmonger, and the Inventor is much too willing to please for me to trust her ever wanting to win you over." Ethel thought to herself.
 
Sunrise had not seen Ethel do anything with the food, because his priority was watching Dom if he made a move towards Ethel. He glanced at her, as she sent the tray towards Dom and headed out.

As Dom tore into the meat (but nothing else), Sunrise approached Ethel. "I thought Kenna was clear because of the assault on Avenger, the princesses and double assault on you?" He whispered. "If you go talk to her, she's going to go with life in the dungeon, even though it breaks her heart, to keep him away from Ruby and the unborn."
 
Ethel didn't go far and stopped out of sight and earshot of Dom.
"Don't worry, he won't be going near her, or any of them again" She whispered.
 
Sunrise (like other citizens who weren't physicians) raised a confused eyebrow. "Since you will need a physician present to make sure he's dead, after the fact, are you keeping it in his country and getting Arden or Service? Bristol is the royal physician for Dunwyn would be the only other choice you would have for keeping it away from speculation from the people, both in Cordonia and England. They have to make a proclamation about cause and time. I'll help you set up the meeting you need with Gregor and Kenna."

He shook his head. "Geez he really tore into the boar meat, but hardly took maybe two bites of his steamed vegetables. Didn't touch the Cordonian Apple Pie at all. Ah, he just drank the water. Was beginning to think he wouldn't touch it, either. Since you're so sure, should I fetch one of the Cordonian physicians, and which one?"

Ethel knew Aurora pretty well, by now, but only had a little conversation with Dr. Arden, who, really hadn't been too rude except to his own protege, at dinners. It could be time to give Arden the benefit of the doubt. He was the royal Cordonian physician, after all.
 
She paused looking toward the cell.
"I'll give it some time first, and as for the Physician, I am not sure either of them is too familiar with Dragon Kin, perhaps I can get them both to examine him. See if they come to the same conclusion, it could be a test for her and him." She replied calmly, turning to look upward.

"After that I will need to talk to Kenna and Gregor, what about you? what are you going to do? Oh and about the meat, yeah Dragon Kin are practically carnavirus"
 
Sunrise chuckled. "Gregor assigned me to you, just needed me to confront Igthorne. Tuxford is busy getting ready to plan yuletide activities for both the castle and the knights, Amethyst has to guard Cinnamon, and possibly Clair, Ruby and Avenger until farther notice. I'm at your disposal, milady, whatever help moving forward you need." He saluted. "Let's go upstairs for now. I thought I saw one of Amethyst's few men (this would tell Ethel most of Amethyst's knights under her were women) on guard duty down here."

When they reached ground level again, Ethel wouldn't have to go far to find Phillip Arden, Benjamin Monroe, and Aurora Service in a discussion regarding Clair's medical inventions, with Aurora explaining the blood pressure cuff. The Cordonians (Phillip and Aurora) had their stethoscopes draped around their necks, but there was no sign of Bristol, mainly because he would be with Gregor because of the King's latest talk with Igthorne. Kenna would be in the study, not far from the steps to the dungeon (and the panel of physicians), reading a book.
 
Ethel nodded and leaned against a nearby wall with her arms crossed.
"Very well, we wait for a little while longer, it's a physician's duty to save every life they can. Thanks to how I needed something with no smell or taste, so it would not be detected, and something with at least a painless method, it's not foolproof and can be treated if they get quick enough access, so we wait" She of course whispered all of this.

Once they went up Ethel would find them not far and cleared her throat.
"The prisoner seems to have fallen unconscious, you should all probably take a look at him" Of course, Ethel had gone in and ensured that he was dead first, the last thing she wanted was him faking and coming back to attack one of the doctors and take them as a hostage or something in order to escape.
 
Sunrise nodded. "You took what Kenna said to heart, then. If I recall, just before Gregor had me go with him to confront Iggy, she was going on about how you're a friend of the Rhys family just because of your mother. And not to go into how if it came to... Well, what even I saw as you having no choice. Just say the deed is done." He had whispered back in the dungeon.

After he watched Ethel check Dom one more time, they made their way to the main (read: ground) level.

Aurora raised a skeptical eyebrow at Ethel's news. "No offense, old girl, but prisoners don't get a whole lot to eat anyway. You were just down there. Have you seen how thin Igthorne has gotten from a few months? Dragonkin are notorious gluts. Sometimes having to eat at least half their body weight a day."

Arden scolded his student. "Get back in those books, young lady. If they don't get enough to eat, they shut down non-essential body functions and do what many animals do during these colder times." He looked at Ethel. "Probably what you saw, him deciding to take a seasonal nap. Aurora and I will check in on him in a few minutes (so count on another half-hour). Considering what he's down there for, we don't need to rush, but thank you for alerting us, Ethel." Back to Aurora, he hissed, "And you just won the spot of giving a second opinion, unless YOU want to examine him first!"

Monroe put his hands up on mock surrender. "I'm not going to get in between a mentor/student argument. Especially regarding medicine. Have at it, you two, he's a Cordonian criminal anyway."

It would be another hour, before the Cordonian Physicians would be back up from the dungeon, with the sad but relieving news. Dom had died peacefully in his sleep, but Arden and Service were at odds with each other as to what. Arden was already jumping on the natural causes, but especially the cooler and wetter air of England being at least a cause, but Aurora, being the medical student she was, wanted to run tests on the food, saying"suspicious", which although not wrong, would fly against Kenna's own orders to Ethel about not wanting to know how, if she had to kill Dom.

Sunrise would plan the meeting for Ethel between the regents for tomorrow; Aurora had to sleep on it until daybreak.
 
Ethel nodded, but she not only knew dragonkin well, but also her craft well, she had to take out many would-be dictators and the like in her days, and with dragonkin, in her current less muscle dense form, poison was the way to go. She would not share that with Kenna to respect her wishes to remain oblivious to the means by which he met his end, but this wasn't her first proverbial rodeo.

As Arden and Aurora spoke Ethel mostly stayed quiet, It was no issue for her that they waited. She knew all about dragon-kin and their appetite, though she didn't know Arden knew, so she had made sure that everything was done before informing them. Either way, this would add a buffer for her, more credence to his death that the medical professionals didn't see him immediately when his illness was reported.
"Whatever you think is best Doctor"

Ethel had only poisoned the meat, though when given an extra hour decided to be extra thorough and also replace the non-eaten meal tray with another, disposing of the old food and the washing the old tray, though claimed it was her own food. After all she didn't know if this new device the doctors had would reveal more then previous ones, could it see poison that was never there simply from it's proximity? She had no idea and was grateful for the extra time to compensate.
"Perhaps Doctor you should ask Kenna before taking any further steps? Though I would simply ask if she wants you to investigate further into his death, you shouldn't take a stance on anything specific till you have proof right?"
 
(I'm assuming Ethel asked Aurora in the morning)The next morning Dr. Arden, Dr. Service and Ethel would need to be at the throne room and go in together.

"What did you do to get here at the arse crack of dawn, Aurora? Sleep down here?" Arden teased good-natured.

Aurora just gave a smug look as she looked at Ethel. "Five minutes or less before our meeting when he shows up, and he asks if I slept down here." She sobered as she sighed about Ethel's question. "Last night was the first time I even examined Dom. You saw what happened the first time. And with my own stethoscope, yet. I went in expecting to wake him up, and was suspicious with Arden moved him around without even a growl. Like you two, I'd only be reporting my observations, taking into the effects of my previous experiences and attempt to examine him."

Arden shook his head. "That's your first mistake, Aurora. You need to treat every experience, even amongst your own patients, as the first time you're seeing them, because, technically, it is with whatever is ailing them this time. Besides, haven't I even heard YOU say the weather this year is particularly... What was the word? Raw? That's why I'm saying he froze to death. Cold and damp the leading cause. It was frightfully cold down there." He put a hand on Aurora's shoulder. "State your observation, and then, as Ethel asked, ASK Kenna if she wants it investigated farther." He then whispered for Ethel's hearing only, "Methinks the lady doth protest too much."

The doors opened and Gregor bid them to enter.
 
Ethel was up and ready with Aurora definitely not going to miss anything as the events proceeded.
Ethel looked between the two raising an eyebrow at Aurora's statement.
"Dear, I hate to tell you, but you are a women In a man's field, you are going to need thick skin, if a comment like that is bothering you, then best be prepared for much worse"

Ethel nodded.
"You would do well to head that advice, don't presume anything, I am no doctor, but I know how assuming something and not at least double verifying that presumption can lead to a lot of mistakes" She added before the doors opened and they entered.
 
Aurora scoffed. To Ethel , she whispered, "I was making fun of Arden getting down here way after us, and within five minutes of the appointment with King Gregor of Dunwyn and Queen Kenna of Cordonia, saying I had to have slept at the doorway to be here on time." She still had a smirk as she gave to her mentor, as well as she got from him. "Y'know, teach, my mom had a saying. If you have to make fun of someone being early, you're trying to distract from you being late."

Arden chuckled. "Touché, Doctor. That's quite the old Stormholt saying."

Inside, Gregor had the physicians go first in regards to what they learned when Dom was examined.

Dr Philip Arden: "It's my expert opinion that he wasn't expecting it to be so cold this far north although it's the beginning of December, being in the dungeon for disruptive behaviour and attacks on even his own daughter, as well as how little a prisoner facing a possible long sentence would eat. As a dragonkin, he prepared for a seasonal nap, that turned into his body shutting down, from cold, damp, and lack of sustenance."

Kenna raised an eyebrow and nodded to Aurora. "Alright, Dr. Service, as the second physician to check the body, what is your medical opinion? Just facts, first."

Dr. Aurora Service: "Having the same information as Arden, I originally came to the same conclusion, but I would like to do a full rundown on what transpired. A dragonkin anatomy is similar enough to human, that I am unable to wrap my head around cold and dampness being the leading cause of death. He was actually a little more dressed for the weather than Igthorne, who although gaunt from lack of sustenance, he's not suffering the same ill effects of the weather."

Kenna whispered something over to Gregor, who whispered something back, causing her to nod. She looked at Aurora. "Are you saying he might have had a better chance of survivability in the tower instead of the dungeons, which admittedly ARE much colder and danker being underground. Might I remind you, Doctor Service, he nearly killed Ethel and Dame Calla, the latter with his tail, and the former with his fire breath? He also scared Ruby, his own daughter, and near gave her a heart attack while verbally assaulting her. He also physically tried to attack the Grecian princess, Sapphire. Violent dragonkin always go to the dungeon, below ground, just like violent humans, like Duke Igthorne."

Aurora grimaced. "It still seemed someone that healthy succumbed to the cold where no biting wind could get him, especially since the tower windows are barred and the glass made of the strongest known to man to this date."

Kenna sighed. "Investigation denied, Doctor. You're not giving me enough substantial evidence to support your claim of 'suspicious death', seemed straightforward to me, especially when you agreed with Doctor Arden at the onset."

"The physicians are excused, while we hear from Ethel, leading up to and including the reported incident, which you both have on record as Ethel reported it to you immediately upon coming up from the dungeons." Gregor stated.

The doctors were thereby excused, leaving the three to confer.
 
Ethel walked in once she was called.
'Well it was pretty standard, we placed him in the cell, and let him sit for a little. I tried to talk some sense into him but he seemed to only go further down into his warhungry mindset, so I left him a meal and left him in there. Eventually, we realized he had been asleep for a long time, so carefully checked on him in case it was a trap before calling his death at the recorded time" She explained.
 
Gregor shook his head with sadness, as Kenna sighed and gave Ethel a curt nod.

"Thank you, Ethel, please see if the other ladies are up, and bring them down for breakfast. Make sure they are dressed and ready for the Yuletide parade." Gregor finally said as he dismissed Ethel. He and Kenna spoke quietly for several minutes about what had happened to Dom, especially after about the last decade, always around Christmas, before they, too, would leave the throne room.
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Cinnamon had been so used to early mornings at the bakery, she had been up well before the sun. Calla's old lady-in-waiting had stayed on to help her replacement with learning her duties and getting her dressed, as Cinnamon had to wear an actual gown, in Dunwynian blue and gold, for the parade, to show her new station.

Next door, Ruby also woke up early, from her preferred perch of the princess seat (which could pass for a bed) and would get Clair up at the appropriate time. "Clair, as a princess of Cordonia, I have to be really dolled up today for the parade. Fancy gown, signet ring, necklace, tiara... Dressed to the nines, as it were. Could you please help me get ready? As an investor, you can be in either a to the floor dress, or a pantsuit of your new house colours, at least you have a choice."

Kenna had just delivered the dress and suit to Clair's parents, but hadn't gotten to Ruby and Clair's room yet with Clair's two choices of outfits. If Clair did go with the pantsuit, she'd be in the minority of the ladies who did. Ariel Mendez, Olivia Nevrakis and Cassandra of Amazona in her warrior pants look, were the others; even Amanda Butcher wore a dress.
 
Ethel nodded and gave a warrior's bow.
"Will do"

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Ethel walked outside their doors and called out.
"Up and ready for breakfast all! get dressed and ready for the Yuletide parade"

Clair woke from Ruby.
"Oh umm, morning, hmm, oh well in that case I will use the pantsuite. and of course, I'll help. Though I am not super good with the fancy clothes." She sat up rubbing her eye.

Clair's mother would bring both outfits to their room, gently knocking on their door.
"I have your clothes for today Clair"
 
Ruby smirked. "Mostly, you just have to tie my corset, help me into my gown, make sure it doesn't pinch me zipping it up, and drape my necklace around my neck from behind, and clasp it in place. I do most of this stuff on my own, it's just certain things, regarding reaching behind me, when I have to look fully regal..." She sighed, before stretching out her arms for Clair to help with the most problematic clothing, which she normally didn't wear. "I especially need help with this blasted corset. Normally I don't bother with them, they're such a right regal pain in the arse!"

At that moment, Mrs Handler had arrived, having relieved Kenna of bothering the girls, which the queen was so grateful for the extra hand, she gave Mrs Handler a kiss on each cheek, right in front of Sir Handler. "From one mother to another, I can't thank you enough, Mrs Handler." She had said.

Ruby, her back still to Clair, had heard Clair's words. "I'm sure the dress and necklace won't be too much of a problem, my dear Clair, but if not you, who can tie this blamed corset?"

Would Clair's mom help the frustrated princess, who was currently holding the corset still.

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(In case you aren't sure)
 
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