Free Spellscribed: Conviction by Kristopher Cruz

number of men." Weldom's tone was harsh.
    "I wasn't made aware that I was to be held responsible for their well being." Endrance replied. "Or I would have taken them into my home, and treated them as guests of the Holy Circle."
    Weldom rolled his eyes. "You seem more clever than I initially estimated." he observed. "I'm sure this was calculated to help prove your innocence."
    Endrance held out a hand before Joven could open his mouth to object, knowing he would speak out. Weldom took notice of the marks on his hand.
    "You're spellscribed too." He observed. "Who did that?"
    Endrance looked at his hand, waggling his fingers. "Not sure." he replied. When he did, he felt a strange pulse in the tingling sensation around him. "I was tattooed when I was an infant. Is that a spell to determine my honesty I feel around us?" he asked.
    Weldom paused for a second. "You're also more perceptive than I estimated." he replied. "That's good. You will be tried more thoroughly."
    Endrance frowned. "I mean you no disrespect, but what interest does a High Magus have in a trial of a lowly, newly minted wizard?"
    "I keep my interests my own, wizard." Weldom snapped. "and we're not so uncommon that this wouldn't be the talk of our order. Do you have any idea the last time we had to put a wizard on trial?"
    "The last time Kaelob filled the Arch Mage's chambers with cheese?" Endrance supplied, "Twenty... seven years ago?"
    "Cheese?" Tanya whispered to Selene, who shook her head.
    Weldom waved the answer off. "No, that was an internal matter." he replied. "This is the first time we've had to put a mage on a cooperative trial with the kingdom in eighty two years."
    Endrance blinked. "Wait... a cooperative trial?" he asked.
    Weldom raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you didn't know there was a difference?" he asked. "That's rich. Now, we can't just take care of this internally. We have to work with them, try not to step on the high king's toes, and all because you had to kill one of the magistrates."
    "Whoa!" Endrance cried. "I didn't kill a magistrate! I didn't kill any humans that night!"
    Weldom gave him a level glare. "I suppose that's what this trial's all about." he muttered.
    He looked around. "Well, are you going to resist?"
    "Resist what?" Endrance asked.
    "I'm taking you under my custody." Weldom said matter-of-fact. "So come on, let's go. Ezeilo, you and your men are released from duty."
    The three couldn't ride past the mage faster. Endrance didn't begrudge it; they had gone through some rough stuff just doing their duty.
    "Well, lead the way." Endrance supplied. "I'm under your custody now."
    Weldom pointed at him. "Get off the horse. Take only your spellbook and what you're wearing."
    "What?" Joven demanded.
    Weldom looked at the bodyguard. "I'm taking him directly to the tower. You can see him when you catch up. The trial will commence in one month, which I suspect will be long and tedious."
    "Take him directly?" Joven asked, his hands clenching on the reins.
    Weldom rolled his eyes. "Yes, I will teleport the two of us to the city tower, and there he will be inspected and then locked up where we can make sure he isn't... tampered with."
    Endrance heard the creak of a bow being drawn. He held out his hands to either side of himself. "Stop!" he shouted, commanding. "This man is a High Magus. He is the most powerful mage in their satrap, and he is not someone you or I can fight!"
    Weldom raised an eyebrow as Tanya put an arrow back in her quiver. "Well, you have more command of these simpletons than expected."
    "I seem to be exceeding your expectations quite often." Endrance replied angrily.
    "Not difficult since I didn't expect much from an apprentice of Kaelob." Weldom shot back.
    "I-I have to go with him." Joven replied. "I'm his bodyguard."
    "Which he no longer needs." Weldom retorted. "And as we are dispatching a temporary replacement for him to Balator. Do not say that the Holy Circle of Magi leave a job unfilled."
    "What?" Joven asked, his eyes