Holes & Strings

Xylo followed Lafiet, as he walked ambitiously on the road to the castle entrance. Guards did a double-take at the sight of Lafiet and his determined look.

Queen Milayla was in her great hall room, sitting at her vanity, brushing her hair.

The doors of the room burst open and in walked Lafiet. “Milayla!” he called out. “We have to talk.”

Queen Milayla turned around with her eyebrows up. “Lafiet?” she responded.

“We followed your prisoner, Aniraco,” Lafiet continued. “He, and the hooded musición, are working together for a other guy named Veth. Perhaps he is the lawbreaker you once spoke of. They have uncovered what he called the ‘eighth melody type’ and plan to use it for ill means. I’ve seen a fraction of its destruction firsthand.”

“Why would that destruction be a desire?” Queen Milayla asked.

“Veth claimed that the destruction of this world would grant access to what he called the ‘real world,’” Lafiet replied.

“This seems to require my attention, however, you and I have some unfinished business,” Queen Milayla said.

The room went silent as Lafiet looked into the now expressionless face of Queen Milayla.

“You’re kidding me . . .,” Lafiet responded as he looked into the eyes of Queen Milayla.

“Your trial is tomorrow,” Queen Milayla said.

“You can’t be serious, Milayla,” Lafiet said.

“I will address the matters you have brought to me,” Queen Milayla said. “But first, you must be dealt with. Justice is calling for you, Lafiet.”

Two of the queen’s men walked beside Lafiet as he looked at the queen with dismay.

“Don’t you get it?” Queen Milayla asked. “What you did was not some petty offense. When it comes to law, the punishment is the natural consequence for the offense committed. It is about authority. It is frowned upon by all cultures to disobey the authority of your parents. And through history, we see that offending an officer of the law can be quiet costly. How much more costly can committing an offense against a king or queen be? How much more devastating is the consequence of offending my authority?”

Lafiet sucked his teeth.

“Tomorrow, you will see what justice is,” Queen Milayla said.

The queen’s men escorted Lafiet away.

Queen Milayla indifferently motioned the others to go away. “I know you all had nothing to do with Lafiet’s escape,” she said. “There is not a law that required you to turn him in. You are free to go.”

“Can you not give him a pardon, Queen Milayla?” Xylo pleaded.

“That would be corrupt, Xylo,” Queen Milayla replied. “I can’t let a thief go free merely because of the discomfort or inconvenience it might cause. Justice must be served.”

Xylo and the others turned around and began making their way to the exit.

Queen Milayla sat down in her chair, displaying a malicious smirk. “There will be no visiting the prisoner,” she said. “I suggest you all find a place to sleep for the night. There are plenty of places for visitors to stay.”

Xylo and the others regrouped at one of the kingdoms parks. It was a large green field. A few small weeping willows stood scattered about. Children ran through the field with carefree joy.

“This isn’t looking good for Lafiet,” Xylo said as he leaned on a tree.

“That queen is something else,” Zygous said, swinging his legs as he sat high in the tree.

“What are we going to do?” Brandon asked.

“I think the most we can do is wait,” Xylo sighed.

Time sped by. Geese flew in the sky in a V formation as the sun disappeared in the red horizon.

Lafiet sat in the dungeon, this time not chained. He sighed, slowly shaking his lowered head.

“Boy, do you look down,” a voice said.

Lafiet looked up and saw someone else in the jail cell with him. It was Zygous.

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” Lafiet said. “It’s good to see a familiar face, Zygous.”

“How are you doing?” Zygous said.

“I’m hanging in there,” Lafiet replied. “Who sent you in here? Xylo?”

“No,” Zygous answered. “Xylo wouldn’t want me getting you in anymore trouble by sending me in here. I came on my own.”

“You shouldn’t be down here,” Lafiet said. “You guys need the assistance of Milayla. Helping me escape will ruin that.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Zygous said. “You have enough to be concerned with.”

“You’ve come here to watch me lament until tomorrow?” Lafiet responded.

“I’m here so you won’t be alone,” Zygous assured.

Lafiet paused. He lowered his head and said, “Thank you, Zygous.”

The morning sunlight shined across the kingdom. A rooster shouted its call from the top of a building.

Xylo and the others followed a crowd of people.

“There are a lot of people attending this trial,” Brandon said.

“Trials probably don’t happen often,” Xylo said.

Xylo looked ahead of the large crowds pouring from different streets of the kingdom. In the distance was a large square building with taller towers on each corner The building was white and had a gold bell in each tower.

“That must be the courthouse,” Idalene said. “I’m feeling a bit anxious.”

Xylo, Brandon, Idalene, Malica, and Zygous entered the courtroom. It was a large room, with about thirty rows of pews on each side. Columns stood on the four corners of the pews. At the end of the room was a raised desk. In front of that was a place for where the defendant, Lafiet, would stand. On the sides of the room were windows that let the morning light in.

They found seats on the left side of the room. The seats were close to the defendant stand.

The room quickly filled to capacity. Before long, there was nowhere to sit. Those people without seats stood outside, eager to find out the results of the trial.

“Calm down, everyone,” Queen Milayla said to the people as she walked up to the high desk’s seat.

One of the queen’s men escorted Lafiet to the defendant stand.

The room grew silent.

“Trial is now in session,” Queen Milayla announced. “This is the trial of Lafiet, who has committed a crime against me, breaking my kingdom’s law. The defendant, Lafiet, son of the well known nobleman, has stolen one thousand diamonds from me.”

The crowds in the pews whispered to one another.

“Speak whenever you please, Lafiet,” Queen Milayla. “You show respect to me and I’ll show respect to you. Now, tell us why you have down this.”

“I was to be paid by you for my services in a few weeks,” Lafiet said. “I took what was going to be paid to me.”

“Right, right,” Queen Milayla started. “As it is known, when it comes to offenses, the laws of the kingdom are summed up into one. If a defendant wants to plead guilty, I pass sentence. But we have those that claim they can’t discern the difference between good and bad. Some claim to not be able to reason or that right and wrong are relative. For these instances, the defendant can stand by what he did if he claims he believes it was right. If he feels this way, I appoint individual to treat him in the manner he believes is right. In short, what you do to others will happen to you. That sums up the laws of this kingdom. In this particular case, Lafiet would be stripped of all his money, money that he would eventually use or pay others. I’ll give more depth if that is your plea.”

“No,” Lafiet said. “I think myself reasonable to stand by the truth. I made a mistake, and didn’t acknowledge my actions for what they really were. I am guilty of that offense.”

“Lafiet,” Queen Milayla said. “For your crime against me, you are being fined one-hundred-thousand diamonds. It is a one-time and limited time payment. If you can’t pay your fine, you will be sentenced to life in prison.”

The crowds gasped and small conversations broke out.

“That’s not right!” Lafiet shouted.

“That is justice,” Queen Milayla. “I see that you can’t pay this fine. No amount of apologies can save you from what you deserve.”

Queen Milayla stood up. “Anyone can pay this fine,” she said. “You’re eligible—that is, if you can pay it.” A malicious smile appeared on her face.

Lafiet held his head down as the people conversed.

“Poor thing,” some people said.

“I feel for him,” other people said.

Lafiet looked up at Queen Milayla. She peered down at him and made eye contact.

“No one can pay that, Milayla,” Lafiet said. “It’s so like you to hide how you are behind justice.”

Suddenly the doors of the building blew open. Everyone looked to the open doors. A silhouette of a man began walking in.

The room was silent as everyone observed the man proceed through the isles. It was Lale, Lafiet’s father. He was walking with a large bag in hand.

“I’ll pay his fine,” Lale announced.

Queen Milayla’s grin slowly began to fade.

Lafiet turned around. His eyes were widening.

“What are you saying?” Queen Milayla asked.

Lale held the bag in his hand up as he walked before the high desk. Queen Milayla motioned for one of her men to retrieve the bag.

Lafiet looked at his father, worried, anxious, and confused.

Lale kept his attention on Queen Milayla.

The bag was brought to Queen Milayla. She looked at it and dumped what was inside out on her desk. Thousands of gems came out.

The gems shined in the light. The man who brought Queen Milayla the bag stared with big eyes. “Queen Milayla,” he said, “some of these are worth more than diamonds. I’ve never seen so much money come from a single person before.”

Queen Milayla began gritting her teeth. “How did you do this?” she asked.

“I have sold all of my goods, all of my riches,” Lale said. “All of my gold awards and plaques are sold. I have even sold my home. I’ve done all this so that his fine can be paid.”

The people in the pews were in quiet awe.

“So, that’s how it is,” Queen Milayla said, clutching her fist.

“I do this gladly,” Lale responded.

Queen Milayla turned her attention to Lafiet. His eyes began to water.

“Let the audience shout for joy!” Queen Milayla announced. “You have been saved, Lafiet. Your fine has been paid in full. You are a free man.”

The crowds of people in and around the courthouse cheered, a roar that could be heard throughout the kingdom. An applause followed.

Queen Milayla sat down and quietly banged her fist against the desk.

Xylo and the others jumped for joy with smiles from ear to ear.

Lafiet slowly dragged himself off the stand. He fell to his knees as his father approached him with open arms.

Lale embraced Lafiet.

A single tear rolled down Lafiet’s cherry-red cheek as he rested his chin on his father’s shoulder.

“Why?” Lafiet asked. “Why sacrifice everything, everything you’ve worked for, just for me? I ignored you. I showed so much spite towards you.”

“I know you never understood my way of going about things,” Lale said. “We don’t live in a perfect utopia where wrong, evil, and pain don’t exist. I’m aware you weren’t sheltered from pain when you felt I should have been there to do something. But I want you to know that never changed the facts.”

“But, dad,” Lafiet continued. “I don’t deserve this from you. Why? I could never repay you.”

“I love you, son” Lale responded. “That fact will never change. You owe me nothing. This is my free gift to you.”

Lafiet began sobbing on his tearful father’s shoulder as the crowd continued cheering.