A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 584 The Vote - Part 5

Oliver stared at the man in wonder. Of all the surprises, to think, he'd see Lombard here, dressed as he was when Oliver had first met him. Even the loss of Lombard's arm didn't seem to do anything to cut into his authoritative appearance.

The Ministers of Logic and Information glowered at him, but Lombard thoroughly ignored them as he drew up to the bottom of the steps, and bowed to Hod with his helmet grasped under his arm. Hod nodded his appreciation. For General Tavar, Lombard gave a crisp salute. Tavar acknowledged it in the same way that Lombard had acknowledged the salute from the guardsmen.

"As I said," Hod went on, a smile on his lips, "we have proper leeway."

"Leeway for what, might I ask, Minister?" Tavar said, a frown on his lips. He didn't seem to have caught onto whatever Jolamire and Lazarus had.

"The motion ended in a draw, did it not?" Hod went on. "And the proper protocol for a draw would be to bring in the next Lord on our registry, would it not?"

"It would," Tavar agreed. "Though such a thing has been disputed, because of the potential unfairness... Still, I see no reason to rid ourselves of that option. The registry of Lords is randomized, after all. One's position in the call-up cannot be changed, unless in the most extreme of circumstances."

"Indeed," Hod agreed. "Lord Blackwell was fifth on the registry. He was meant to attend the Trial today, but for obvious reasons, he could not. For a trial, the Lord has to be physically present, but for a tiebreaker vote, it would require far too much time if that were the case – one can cast their vote by letter."

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With all bearing witness, Tavar pressed both his thumbs against the seal and cracked it. He unfurled the parchment. He could tell from the scent of it that it had been written in a war tent. A nostalgic smell. Leather and armour oil, grass and sweat and smoke. The scents of war.

He almost had to pull himself back from the nostalgia in order to read it.

"On the trial of Oliver Patrick," Tavar read aloud, "Lord Blackwell expresses that he finds the defendant not guilty, regardless of circumstance. This letter makes it quite clear that Lord Blackwell's vote is to always be cast in the favour of Oliver Patrick's innocence, no matter where the contents of the trial might lead..."

It was a rather bold thing to put into a letter. The trial could have taken a turn halfway through, and pinpointed some other aspect of Oliver's life, and Lord Blackwell's vote would have meant something different. But in there also lay the letter's strength.

None could protest that the vote wasn't specific enough to their circumstances, that it would be ill will against Lord Blackwell to use it without having sent him the transcript of the trial first.

It was hard for Oliver to fathom how many people had really and truly stuck their necks out for him. He was still half risen out of his seat. What did this mean? Was this it? His heart beat its anticipation.

They waited for Tavar to say it but from the looks on Jolamire's and Lazarus' faces, it was all but confirmed. Hod's own expression softened, back into how people were used to seeing him, that playful expression, where his eyes seemed to be seeing a different world to they – a world where life was but a joke.

"Then... Unless anyone has any further complaints that they might make," Tavar said carefully, eyeing the row of Lords that stood in front of him. They shifted uncomfortably, but none could find good strong grounds in which to dismiss the vote. How could they? How could one expect to outmanoeuvre the Minister of Logic? "Then, I suppose, we have concluded this trial.

With six votes against five, Oliver Patrick retains his innocence and shall be freed without restriction."@@@@