For this Trial, a raised platform of earth and stone was built on the south side of the Training Ground, with a long table placed on top.
The three judges seated behind the long table were Governor Garlan Tyrell, Lord Tywin Lannister, and Commander Robar Royce.
Lord Tywin and Commander Robar Royce sat on either side, the former wearing a bright red Cloak over his leather armor, and the latter dressed in the gleaming White Armor of the Kingsguard. Garlan was seated between them.
The Soldiers guarding the platform were all Highgarden guards wearing the Golden Rose, fourteen men in two rows.
This was enough to show who was the main figure among the three judges.
Garlan sat silently in his seat, his hands clasped under his chin, observing the surroundings and mentally anticipating the scene of the Trial later.
It was easy to see that today's Trial was not very formal.
The prisoners awaiting Trial in the distance included Lord Matus Rowan, the surviving descendants of the Oakheart Family, and Vassals from Goldengrove such as the Lords and Knights of House Osgrey and House Webber, and so on...
There were so many and such prominent Nobles to be tried, yet there were no spectator seats or jury, nor were there witnesses waiting to be summoned.
Or rather, the vast crowd surrounding the Training Ground, packed shoulder to shoulder, were the audience and witnesses.
The Soldiers of the Westerlands, the King's Royal Guard, and the Soldiers of the Reach who had received "Divine Grace" and were gradually gathering, they all knew the "crimes" committed by the prisoners.
Thus, the judges had a much easier time.
There was no need to laboriously prove the prisoners' guilt or engage in lengthy and tedious debate and argumentation. They only needed to give appropriate punishments.
Even if the punishment was too heavy or too light, there was no need to worry about protests. After all, they had won.
It was also because of the victory in the war that Garlan was able to sit here and judge great Nobles like Lord Matus Rowan.
According to custom, to deal with the esteemed Lord of Goldengrove, if not the King himself appearing in court, at least his Liege Lord, Duke Mace Tyrell, should personally pronounce the sentence. However, now there was only the Second Son of Highgarden and the Duke of Casterly Rock from the Westerlands, who were not under the same command. Robar Royce was even more of a placeholder.
"Cough cough~" Robar Royce coughed twice and turned to look at Garlan beside him.
The Information conveyed by this Knight of the Vale's eyes was very clear. Garlan nodded downwards.
A white-haired Monk walked to the front of the platform.
Normally, the Trial of a Noble should begin with a prayer by a Bishop asking the Father to preside over justice.
But Old Oak only had one reclusive Monk who served the "Smith" of The Seven.
So the old Monk was dragged out of the Sept, briefly abandoned the Little Gold Metal Hammer hanging around his neck, and instead held the Seven-Pointed Star and Aegon's Code in his hands to pray to the Father for justice.
After the prayer, the Trial began.
The Master of Ceremonies read out in a loud voice, calling the first name: "Harris Crane!"
The Training Ground fell silent.
A haggard man walked step by step towards the high platform. He was still wearing his formal Armor from the battle, but his Sword and all other weapons had been removed.
A Light Screen revealed the prisoner's guilt to the three judges and tens of thousands of spectators.
Harris Crane, as Lady Aven Oakheart's Captain of the Guard, abandoned his post at such a dangerous moment to go to the City Walls instead of guarding his Liege Lord, causing Lady Aven's death and bringing shame upon Old Oak.
"What serious dereliction of duty!" Judge Robar Royce sternly reprimanded.
At this moment, Soldiers carried in a stretcher, covered with a tightly drawn Black Cloth, but the uneven marks were visible beneath the Black Cloth.
Garlan immediately thought of what was under the Black Cloth.
Whoosh~
The Black Cloth was lifted, exposing the contents of the stretcher to the sunlight. Sure enough, it was those things.
The spectators around the Training Ground stirred up a commotion!
Garlan gazed deeply at the Light Screen. The Light Screen interface showed a closer, clearer view, as if he had suddenly walked in front of the prisoner and the stretcher.
It was as if he could reach out and touch Lady Aven's remains.
Even worse, the Second Son of the Oakheart family was pressing down on Lady Aven, and there was a mess between the two corpses. It was a sight that was hard to forget after just one look, and particularly impossible to remain calm about.
Tens of thousands of people were sharing this image.
"What a heinous crime!" Robar Royce pounded the table in anger, the vibration reaching Garlan's elbow.
Garlan turned his head and looked to the left. Lord Tywin was as calm as a Rock.
Robar Royce, however, was as fiery as Fire: "Harris Crane, were you not aware of this at all!? You actually let this scum succeed so easily?!"
The prisoner below stared blankly at the tragic scene beside him, his mouth wide open, but not a sound came out.
He was finished. Garlan looked at the prisoner with sadness.
Ser Harris Crane, undoubtedly from House Crane of Red Lake, northeast of Old Oak. He should have had a respectable Life, dying as an upright Knight.
But now, everything had changed.
Who would ever trust such a notorious Captain of the Guard who let his liege die in such a terrible way? Even if he could stubbornly survive, the stain would never be washed clean.
"Ser, how do you plan to deal with this fellow?" Robar Royce asked Garlan.
Garlan was slightly surprised.
Even if I am the so-called "Governor", there's no need for me to endorse everything, is there?
But Garlan still pronounced the sentence: "Ser Harris Crane, you have severely neglected your duty as Captain of the Guard and betrayed the King as a Knight. The evidence is conclusive. You are sentenced to exile to The Wall, to take the Black, effective immediately." There were sentencing suggestions on his Light Screen, and Garlan decided to read them all.
Two soldiers stepped forward and restrained the prisoner. Harris Crane didn't utter a word until he was dragged out of the Training Ground.
The Master of Ceremonies then called the next name: "Denys Oakheart!" Lady Aven's eldest son.
Another wave of uneventful discussion.
Garlan still delivered the verdict: "Denys Oakheart, as the heir of Old Oak, you betrayed your Liege Lord and instigated war. As a Knight, you defied the King, robbed Caravans, and endangered the people. The evidence is conclusive. You are sentenced to decapitation, to be carried out after the Trial."
The soldiers indifferently dragged the prisoner away.
Denys Oakheart was more energetic than the previous individuals. Not only did he curse incessantly, but his eyes were also filled with resentment and curses. As expected, his curses were mainly directed at the presiding official from Highgarden, Garlan Tyrell.
The Master of Ceremonies continued: "Torgon Oakheart!" Lady Aven's third son.
The crowd watching grew denser and wider. The soldiers of the Reach stood far away, but could clearly see the expressions and fates of each noble lord through the miraculous Light Screen.
Some were sentenced to exile, from then on donning Black, abandoning all their former honor, rights, and titles, leaving only a name and a body;
Some were sentenced to death, to be executed as soon as the Trial concluded, ending their Life under the sharp blade;
Some were sentenced to fines;
Some were sentenced to fixed-term or life imprisonment...
The last one: The Lord of Goldengrove, Lord Matus Rowan.
Garlan remained merciless: Decapitation.
The Trial ended.
People watched Garlan Tyrell descend from the high platform and draw his Longsword.
...
After taking the heads of the Oakhearts, Garlan faced the last person. "Lord Rowan, do you have any last words?"
The Lord of Goldengrove slightly raised his head: "May Highgarden prosper like Goldengrove."
Garlan's expression was calm as he raised his Longsword high.
Slash
The head fell in the twilight glow, as if foreshadowing the demise of Goldengrove.
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com