Snippet #1955330

James could feel himself growing angry and he clenched one fist under the table, where no one could see, digging his nails into his palm to try and maintain his calm visage. He wanted to leap across the room and throttle Rivera for her insolence and stupidity, could she not see that she was only making things worse. Before her tirade the council had been split down the middle and could have gone either way but now...James could see many of the men shaking their heads at her behaviour. In their mind she was only serving to prove herself guilty with her behaviour, they had expected a calm woman who answered their questions clearly and without hesitation. Instead they got a woman behaving like a child or worse insulting those in the room as she had. He would have been angry with Emmanual as well except that Emmanual had had a point, Rivera was being incredibly stupid and he had expected more from her.

Damn the woman! Could she not see how hard this was for him? Could she not see that all he wanted to do was cancel the whole thing, call his brother home and proclaim her innocent on the spot? She wanted him to judge her on the relationship they had had as children and yet equally expected him to behave as a King. She could not have both and ultimately he was King now and had to act like it. If he allowed her to go free without a trial then it would become known that if you were close to the King or his family then you were above the rules and that was not how he wanted to be remembered. What angered him more than anything was that she had been the one to give him that advice when he was still a Prince and she training to be a knight. Clearly she believed he should keep that rule for everyone else but not for her but in that she was going to be disappointed.

"Quiet!" James barked at Rivera and Emmanual both. "Sir Talimir I asked you here so that you could answer the charges against you. Instead you behave like a foolish child having a tantrum. Yet that is your choice and you have now made it, I will remind you however that our decision has not yet been made and your words could have made a difference."

James was silent for a moment as the anger drained out of him, he felt suddenly bone weary as though he had aged a decade in the last few hours. He looked at Rivera and the sadness and struggle was evident in his eyes.

"You will be escorted back to your cell, the next time you are summoned will be to hear our verdict. If found innocent then you will of course be free to go. If found guilty you will be sentenced as I see fit." James nodded to the guard who bowed and gestured to the door, James waited until Rivera had been escorted out before turning to regard the group.

"Gentlemen, all of the evidence has been examined and the witnesses interviewed, and I for one tire of this business. Are you ready to make a judgement or do you need more time?"

He was oddly relieved when the men shook their heads, clearly they wanted this business done as soon as possible and he could not blame them. He settled down to deliberate the matter intending to not leave the meeting until a verdict was found.

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Katherine sipped her drink and eyed her cousin and brother over the rim of her tea cup. For a man who hated verbal sparring she thought her brother was doing rather well. Of course if the conversation continued much further then she may well have to aid him somewhat but then that was why she was present after all. They made such a good team, with him being the mind behind the military strategy and running an army and she being the mind behind the political manoeuvring they also did. It was why he had asked her to go to the Coronation ball and she could not help a sense of pride that he acknowledged her skills in that area. What with their parents never really paying her much mind it was always nice to be recognised for your accomplishments.

She listened as Henry mentioned the Luxor fleet and watched her cousin carefully for her reaction. She was clearly taken aback by this information and Katherine filed that away for future reference. She almost laughed aloud when Gwendolyn mentioned how easy they would be able to reach the capital from Point Yorkpoint. She doubted very much it would be as easy as the chit said it was and wondered if her young cousin was more astute than many thought she was. Katherine leaned back in her chair slightly and smiled at Gwendolyn,

"Oh come no Cousin do not be so modest, I am sure your brother's men could handle anything the Luxorians threw at him. " She said with a laugh.