The man's interrogation was made a public affair.

Esfandar had mandated it be so, under Karim's advice.

"The people need to see you mete out justice, not merely vengeance," Karim had insisted. "Let them see it for themselves."

It had been sound advice, and Esfandar had followed it. Yet however often Karim's wisdom proved true, he wasn't infallible. Esfandar prayed to the gods that this wasn't one of those times.

The trial took place in the Hall of Public Audience. It was an open space just outside of the palace walls, specifically designed for events and displays such as these. Esfandar's throne was on a raised pedestal in the very front of the space, from which he could look down upon the proceedings.

Seats were strategically placed along the side of his own throne, as well as at the base of the pedestal. Esfandar's highest generals and most trusted advisors sat on the pedestal next to Esfandar. Many of his most skilled commanders were amongst them, and Karim sat comfortably in a chair to Esfandar's left, his robes still fine and expensive, but seeming less ostentatious than usual.

The seats on the lower level were occupied by minor officials, lieutenants, and administrators. They were all valuable players in Esfandar's campaign, worthy of recognition but still needing to be reminded of their proper place in the hierarchy of things. Esfandar had allotted the seats in the very middle to go to the former lords and councilmen of Shiraz, Councilman Yaza Benatim foremost among them. The old man scowled up at the throne, his white brows furrowed. Esfandar frowned in his direction- the old man needed to do a better job at hiding his true thoughts.

Gita was not there in her usual place to Esfandar's right. She'd insisted that she needed to lead the security of the affair, and so she was somewhere down amongst the common people, keeping order and calm with his other soldiers.

Esfandar calmly scanned the crowd, trying not to show that he was really scanning the crowd for her. The flip of her braid, the flash of her daggers, the intensity of two dark eyes.

His eyes lit up as he saw the back of a woman whose hair was covered by a headscarf in the same deep shade of purple as the one Gita had purchased from the merchant the other night, but when she turned around it was a stranger. Esfandar leaned back, scolding himself for his naïve efforts. Of course she wouldn't be wearing such an accessory here, when she was at work in her capacity as his lieutenant.

He instead focused his gaze on the man bound and chained below him. The man was on his knees, his hands bound by heavy iron chains in front of him. He had tangled white hair that fell down to his shoulders, and a tattered beard to match. He didn't scream or cry or plead, only stared at the perfectly smooth white marble floor with an absent expression. Perhaps it was his way to cope with his dire situation, to pretend that he wasn't here at all.

Esfandar raised a hand in the air, and the Hall of Public Audience quieted at once. Esfandar lowered his hand. The prisoner still did not react.

"You have been accused of treachery and rebellion against the empire and of doing harm to the city of Shiraz and its citizens," Esfandar announced. His voice echoed loud and clear over the open pavilion. "You have been caught red-handed poisoning the wells in the bazaar in an attempt to sabotage your own people and government." Esfandar straightened in his throne. "Do you wish to speak before the evidence is laid before you?"

The man didn't move. He continued to stare blankly ahead. Esfandar considered whether the man had truly lost his mind in the fear of his impending fate or if it was perhaps an act of defiance. He couldn't tell for certain, and decided to continue on as normal.

"Bring forward the witnesses," Esfandar commanded.

A soldier immediately came forward, tugging along a graying, middle aged woman by the arm. The woman came forward with extreme reluctance, her wide eyes darting about her in panic, from the mass of people all staring at her, to the soldiers lining the walkways, swords and spears held expertly in their hands. At last, her eyes landed on Esfandar himself, seated high above her on his throne, and she started to tremble.

"Who is this man?" Esfandar asked her, nodding to the prisoner. "How do you know him?"

"I-I..." The woman seemed to fumble with the words in her mouth. "H-he is Priest Hamid," she eventually got out. "He is a good man, a pious man. He preaches the word of the gods, of Mithra himself. He would never poison anyone..."

The woman trailed off.

Esfandar nodded to another soldier, who walked forward leading a man behind him. This one was a few years younger than the woman, clearly willing to be giving his testimony. He had a thin, wispy mustache on his chin and small, piggish eyes.

"This is indeed Priest Hamid, of the Arani sect of priests," the man said, pointing to the prisoner. A low murmur started through the crowd as the people took in this information.

Esfandar already knew exactly what every witness would say of course. He'd had his men find out the truth from them the evening before. Now, the only important thing was making sure the public saw the same things.

"Thank you for your witness, citizens," Esfandar said. The frightened woman and smug man were led away by soldiers in orange turbans and bronze breastplates.

Esfandar nodded to another soldier, who stepped forward. In his hand, he held the glass vial of yellow, infectious liquid that Esfandar and Gita had apprehended Priest Hamid with.

"Your majesty, Priest Hamid was caught with this vial of poison diamond-back venom last night, attempting to poison the bazaar well with it."

"And you have confirmed it is the poison you say?"

"Yes, your majesty." The soldier gestured to the line of soldiers to his left. The line parted and a young boy walked through, leading an irritated old goat by the neck with a thin rope tied around its neck. The goat bayed in annoyance as he was lead forward. The boy looked nervous, his steps careful and unhurried.

He quickly handed the rope to the soldier. His wide, innocent eyes glanced up to Esfandar for a brief instant before he dashed away back into the crowd of peasants. The soldier turned to the crowd once more, holding the vial high above his head where all could see it. Then he leaned down and poured the contents of it into the goat's mouth.

The goat huffed and screeched as the liquid crawled down its throat. The soldier backed away from the animal. He let the rope drop to the ground, but the goat didn't try to run away. It merely stood in place for one moment, its legs trembling and its mouth foaming. It let out one last half-hearted bleat and then tipped forward, dead.

The murmuring of the crowd increased an octave, the sound of worry and concern coloring their tone.

There were only two witnesses left.

A soldier nudged a hunched over old beggar forward. Surprisingly, he looked the least scared of all the witnesses so far, throwing a wide open grin to Esfandar before glancing at the chained man to his left.

"He was there last night, yes he was," the beggar affirmed. "Started rumbling around, checking to make sure no one was watching him. Then he went over to the well."

"Thank you for your testimony," Esfandar said. The beggar only smiled wider before giving a short bow and backing away.

Efandar turned for a moment towards the man, priest Hamid.

"Any words in your defense?"

He did not answer, preferring to stare ahead into the distance. Esfandar didn't mind it one bit.

"Then it is time for the last witness." He loosened the tension in his shoulders and tried to completely school his features. "Lieatenant Gita of the western Kalla tribe, step forward."

She emerged from the midst of the crowd, her steps light but her expression as hard as stone. Her braid hung down her back the same as always, her dark eyes and brown skin seeming illuminated by the sun's rays. Yet somehow, she looked different. Esfandar pushed away the thought.

"Lieutenant Gita, recount your testimony."

"I caught him next to the well, withdrawing the very same vial from his cloak, your highness," she said, her voice loud and strong. "I arrested him and brought him here, where he stands trial before you."

The crowd once again burst into muffled, but intense noise. Esfandar nodded and Gita bowed.

"The evidence is clear," Esfandar announced. "Priest Hamid of the Arani sect is guilty of poisoning the wells in the city. He cannot be allowed to walk unpunished for his crimes. And neither can his coconspirators."

The crowd's noise grew louder but Esfandar raised his voice to be heard above them.

"Priest Hamid is sentenced to hang for his crimes against this city and its people." Esfandar declared. "But we also cannot allow these criminals to continue poisoning our city." Esfnadar paused here. "The Arani are henceforth banned from preaching and acting in Shiraz. Any caught spreading their vicious lies after the next full moon will be expelled from the city."

At this, the crowd burst into an uproar. Startled and affronted voices mixed with angry and panicked ones. Esfandar only continued to sit straight upon the throne and gaze out over the raucous crowd with a neutral expression.

The investigation had proved his fears once and for all- the Arani, a sect of the Azar-Atash that preached the coming of a great savior, had thrown their full support behind Soraya, believing her to be the savior spoken of in their scriptures. They had been turning the entire city of Shiraz against Esfandar and his army, fomenting rebellion and resentment amongst the people.

Esfandar could not allow such rebellious trends to continue unabated. It was a calculated risk, publicly banning the Arani in the city, but one that Karim had advised him to take. The people were already against him- their anger at him for banning the Arani would make little difference in the hatred that they already held for him, and he could deal with it accordingly.

But if the Arani succeeded in turning the people of the city into supporters of Soraya... That would pose a greater problem. If Soraya's armies were to march into Shiraz tomorrow, the people of Shiraz could not be allowed to help her, otherwise there was a very real danger of defeat.

Soldiers made sure the crowd stayed in its designated space in the hall, not allowing any angry peasants to rush forward, though some clearly wished to try. Esfandar felt a small spark of hesitation in him at the sight. He quickly shoved it away.

"This is for the protection of Shiraz against traitors and villains," Esfandar announced. "May the city prosper under the guidance of the gods."