"You admit, sir," the judge frowned down at the defendant, "that you assisted in the kidnapping and disappearance of the child Coral Syrda."

Adron's clear blue eyes met the stare of his prosecutor.

"I didn't assist, sir. I did it myself."

"So you admit that you are guilty."

"With the way you phrased it, sir, yes."

"Do you also admit to murdering Coral's father and uncle, the lords Genkin Syrda and Alsotta Syrda?"

"I did not murder them, sir. I killed them."

"Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"I can't prove anything I'd say, sir."

The judge watched Adron suspiciously for several more minutes. The courtroom was completely silent.

Then the judge hit his desk once with the gavel.

"Sentenced for life in the king's dungeon, for kidnapping the child Coral Syrda and causing her disappearance, and for the murders of the lords Genkin Syrda and Alsotta Syrda. Case dismissed."

Adron was pulled down without a struggle from the defendant's seat by two guards. Each of them grabbed one of his arms and herded him through the packed room towards the door.

Shouts of  "Go to the doors of the Dark One and rot, you halfblood dog!", "Shouldn't have done it, you amphibian!", and similar epithets pounded Adron's ears as he was led out of the courtroom.

The captain of the guard, Cayd, was standing in the doorway, a big brute of a man. He glanced at Adron's guards and nodded once. Adron knew what that meant.

"Wait for me."