Chapter 37 #4
The tribunals did not need to know all that.
Telling them they had taken four days instead of the usual two to travel between Bevenna and Castereina would only bring attention to what had happened in that lapse of time—and to the true status of their relationship.
The one they had just concealed behind a clever half-truth.
So Semras lied.
“Inquisitor Velten came to Bevenna to requisition my expertise with plants. We arrived in Castereina after a two-day trip, and then I was immediately brought to Torqedan’s home.
The inquisitor watched me collect fluid samples and examine the corpse.
” A shudder took her; she still remembered the ghastly sight of the deceased’s body.
“I used these to identify the willow bark concoction and comfrey ointment Torqedan swallowed before his death.”
Cael circled around her. “Tribunal Torqedan consulted an apothecary about the properties of comfrey. In their correspondence, they informed him it was used to treat pain, inflammation, and the swelling of muscles and joints. Is that correct?”
“It is.”
“How, then, can a plant with such medical properties kill someone?”
“It’s in the dosage. Like with many other medicinal plants—and especially with the prickly variety of comfrey—toxicity can build up within the body if a remedy is administered wrongfully.”
“Administered wrongfully, such as?” Cael closed in on her.
Semras stared him down. “Such as swallowing an ointment meant for topical use.”
“We already know all about this,” Tribunal Whitmore whined. “Why make her repeat it?”
“Indeed, we do,” Cael replied calmly. He turned toward the presiding judges.
“So must have the murderer. Then, Honourable Tribunals, why would Inquisitor Velten have consulted an herbalist to tell him what he allegedly knew already? Why go fetch a woman days away just to confirm the victim died as intended? And if he did it to frame her for his crime, then why forge another witch’s letter too? ”
Cardinal Velten raised his eyebrow. “Why indeed? I am curious about your opinion on the matter, Honourable Tribunals.”
Pajov shifted in his seat. Whitmore pursed his lips, and Garza …
Tribunal Garza’s dark glare pierced right through Semras. “A woman, two days away … from Bevenna to Castereina?” he muttered to the other tribunals. “… It does not make sense.”
A smile bloomed on her lips. Excited, she glanced at her Wyrdtwined.
But his eyes, fixed on the tribunals, were nothing like her hopeful ones. Worry had darkened his icy irises into two stormy pools.
Cael spoke up. “All this confirms the findings of the autopsy requested by Inquisitor Velten.” He stared at the jury, gaze moving from one man to the next.
“As you can see, he duly observed all the usual processes during his investigation. There is yet no reason to believe that he has sabotaged them to conceal information either. I believe, Honourable Tribunals, that this has cast enough doubt on his guilt—at least enough to suspend the accusation until further investigation.”
The tribunals whispered gravely among themselves.
Sitting silently among them, Cardinal Velten cast his attention on Semras. With one eyebrow raised questioningly, he glanced between her and his son, then stilled. He hummed, an amused smile spreading across his lips.
Face flushed, Semras shuffled on her feet.
Tribunal Garza stood with gravitas. “I understand now. With the timing of the witch’s arrival in Castereina, it is made quite plain that Inquisitor Velten did not commit this crime.”
Semras slowly furrowed her brow. What did their travel time have to do with proving Estevan’s innocence?
“Indeed, Warwitch Leyevna’s involvement in this matter is limited to the creation of the ointment itself. She was not behind this odious murder.” Tribunal Pajov rose from his seat. “For once,” he added under a shaky breath.
Tribunal Whitmore observed his colleagues, then nodded once and joined them standing. “All this reveals a new angle to the matter, one not yet brought up in court. Inquisitor Velten?” he called.
Estevan stood straighter, but no joy filled his eyes. Semras glanced around the room, confused. Even Cael seemed tense.
“This Anderas bleakwitch you have recently arrested up north …” Whitmore said, adjusting his glasses, “you have not reported her death, have you?”
“… I had no time,” Estevan replied. “I had a murder to solve—the murder of the tribunal who should have received that report, may I remind you. It was not high on my list of priorities.”
Garza eyed him. “Who bore witness to her death?” The question stunned Estevan, and the tribunal repeated it. “Who can testify the bleakwitch was duly executed?”
A shiver of dread ran down Semras’ spine. Something felt wrong, terribly wrong. “I saw the report on his desk—”
“Wait until you have been addressed before speaking, witch,” Tribunal Whitmore sneered.
“Sir Ulrech var Hesser did,” Estevan answered. “He joined me from Castereina after Sir Jaqh’s demise, a few days before her capture. He was present when she burned at the stake. The locals also assisted to the—”
Whitmore scoffed. “Your loyal Venator knight is no neutral party. As for the locals, they are weeks away and cannot confirm your words.”
“And even if they were, how could they? When the bleakwitch in question stands here among us?” Garza said, pointing his finger down.
Directly at Semras.