Four court spear guards in leather brigandines and iron kettle-hats stepped forward onto the dais, their eight-foot bills leveled at Sir Vane’s throat. With practiced brutality, two guards pinned the duelist’s arms behind his back. Meanwhile, the court sergeant unbuckled his gold-trimmed sword-belt.
Court guard Thorn lifted his iron rod from the table. Sir Vane slumped forward against the walnut board, cradling his swollen, purple wrist, his breathing ragged and shallow.
“Record the judgment, clerk,” Court guard Thorn ordered. He wiped a speck of dust from his iron bar. “Sir Vane of House Brand is convicted of armed contempt of the Sovereign Bench under Chapter 4 of the Crown Code.”
The clerk’s quill scratched furiously across the rough parchment docket.
“The penalty is three-fold,” Thorn continued, his voice ringing over the silent square. “First: immediate seizure of all private weapons of arms. These two dress swords are forfeited to the town armory to be broken into nail-iron. Second: a lawful fine of five hundred silver crowns, to be levied against the properties of House Brand and paid directly into the relief locked deposit of the Fourth Commoner Levy. Third: thirty days confinement in the country blockhouse under custody of the town watch.”
