The History of Alliliel
Part IX
The Seneschal General stared hard into the Squire Captain’s eyes.
"Disheveled, unkempt. You have the air of one suffering from a sour stomach or perhaps too much strong drink, Wildimir."
"He’s not ill, General. I would know instantly if it were so," said Alliliel.
"Three hours late for reveille, absent without a dispensation, attempted bribing of the gate watch, these are all serious offenses, Squire Captain. Squires have been dismissed from the Academy for committing just one of these errors. You will have to explain this behavior before the Squire’s Council of Honor; unless you have some suitable explanation for your actions."
Wildimir stood in his wrinkled and soiled clothes, and did not speak.
The old Paladin looked away with disappointment.
"This will not end well for you Wildimir, if you do not tell us why you were absent and what you have been doing."
"I... I have no excuses."
"Very well, Squire Captain. Leave us. We will assemble the Squire’s Council after the noon meal. I recommend that you obtain a fresh uniform before then."
"Yes sir," said the young man as he left the elders to their deliberations.
"What do you say, Alliliel? You are responsible for him and paying his bill."
Alliliel sat down across the desk from the Paladin.
"This is most disturbing. I must make a report back to Felwithe. Master Yeolarn will be displeased. It is possible that they will no longer support and sponsor him. What will become of him in that event, I do not know."
"He has no place to go. I expect he might leave Freeport altogether, as many of the dismissed Squires do."
"We brought him here provide him shelter from the world, when it had taken his parents from him. Casting him out might be fatal. He does not know much of the world, General."
"Aye. But this is not an orphanage, Governess. We have no room for charity cases. The other Squires will judge him. If the past is any guide, they will not abide his behavior." He paused a moment, looking out the window, "And I must say Alliliel, I would not abide it either. A Paladin’s soul must be pure and clean. We have removed Squires for far less than this, no matter who their sponsor was. The Twins have mercy on him, but by the time the sun sets, he will be cast away from us, I expect"
Alliliel looked at her hands on her lap, and said nothing.
---
The drums beat loudly from the ramparts of the Temple. The Squires had marched from their noon meal and stood arrayed on the parade field, gleaming and bright in their silver and white uniforms.
Squire Adjutant Yalassa stood at the lectern on the dais and read the Order of the Hour.
"To all who shall see these presents, greetings. The most honorable Brigade of Squires, in service to the Twins, stands assembled for the General’s will and pleasure."
Seneschal General Terrilor saluted the Squire Adjutant, "Carry on."
The girl turned to face the Brigade of Squires.
"His Excellency, the Seneschal General Terrilor, honored Knight of the Twins, calls forth the Squire’s Council of Honor to here the case of Squire Captain Wildimir."
The eight Regimental Captains marched from the Parade Field and took their places on the dais with the Seneschal General. The Squire Adjutant continued, "Squire Captain Wildimir, come forth to stand for judgement before this most honorable Council."
Wildimir came from the gate and stood before the dais.
"Squire Captain Wildimir, reporting as ordered."
Yalassa continued, "Squire Captain Wildimir. The charges against thee are listed on the docket as follows. One, that Squire Captain Wildimir did secret himself away from the barracks to an unknown location during night the last. Two, that Squire Captain Wildimir did not have a dispensation from Reveille this morning and was absent for a time of about three hours. Third, Squire Captain Wildimir did attempt to bribe the gate watch, thereby attempting to subvert an honorable Squire."
Audible gasps swept through the ranks of the Brigade.
Yalassa focused on the young man below, "What say you, Squire Captain?"
Wildimir steeled himself. "This Squire has no excuses and begs for the mercy of this Honorable Council. May the light of the Twins bless us."
Yalassa raised an eyebrow and turned to the General, who nodded once.
"It is well, Squire Captain Wildimir. Retire from the field, and we shall consider thy plea."
---
Alliliel drank from the cup and looked over its rim at Wildimir.
"If you had told us what happened, I may have been able to intercede on your behalf, Wildimir. But you have kept secret this thing. I know you were sneaking about at night, but as long as your studies had kept up, I was content to let you have your boyish nocturnal adventures. I see now that I was in error."
They sat in the cloakroom off the Parade Field, waiting for the drums to call the Squires back to order to hear the decision of the Council.
"It is nothing honorable or worthwhile I was doing. I... I would be ashamed."
"Wildimir! There is no shame in being imperfect. There is shame only in failing to strive for the goal of perfection. Do you not know this? Have you learned nothing else in your time here? Errors can be tolerated, but secrets in the dark will stain your soul, and for that... for that Wildimir, they will remove you from the Brigade. You know that, don’t you?"
He looked down and put his face in his hands, "I know. I know. Can you speak on my behalf, ask for mercy?"
Alliliel took a breath. "I cannot help you now, Wil. You are caught in a maze of your own making. Besides, you must understand that everything they have said is true! You have not denied that you attempted to bribe the watch. You will ask for my help now, after you all but admit that you have brought dishonor on yourself? Wildimir, I have been your patroness for as long as you have been here, but I must say that you have shamed me with this behavior. Sneaking out for a bit and being late is only a minor infraction, but you let it spin out of all control by trying to bribe another. This is a matter of soul now, not just behavior," she paused and her expression softened, "Wil, I recommend that you pray for guidance and repentance. I do not know what will come, but you can meet it with some form of dignity, if you can find it in your soul. Be well, Wildimir, for if the Brigade removes you, we will never speak again."
The cleric looked at the young man for a moment, and he did not speak.
Turning around, Alliliel walked out and closed the door behind her. Wildimir waited in silence.