I approach the straw and join my hand behind my back -First lie... "Those men completely ruined him" yet the body seems quite intact to me-
He doesn't react yet the twitch in his brow doesn't escape my sight, is this the first crack before he crumbles? I hope so.
-I was in shock... My mind was obviously a mess back them so I might have perceived something differently than how it was... As much as you claim to have seen me kill him yet that head injury you have proves my point- he says and some men nods at his words, thinking that I made it all up due to a concussion.
-If you don't believe my words then believe some actual facts...- I take out a wrapped bundle and place it on the table for a later moment to use, the stench alone draws some faces away -... The first thing that I want to being to your attention is this... I haven't even touched it yet for I feared it might damage the body-
I kneel down and decide to reveal my first evidence, the less meaningful one, just so I can build trust step by step... I rise the veil covering the body and point toward its hand -Anyone who's not disgusted by the idea of touching a dead body please come forward, preferably someone who hates me or doesn't trust me-
A man steps forward -Thank you, now come here and try to open this hand- he crouches down and begins to touch the cold fingers but they don't move -Try harder- nothing happens since the body has not only died quite a few hours ago but also fell in an almost frozen lake upon his death
-It's impossible without breaking the fingers- I nod at his words and then pose him a question -They are all intact right?-
-Yes they are-
-Perfect, that means it would be impossible to put something in his hand or take it off right?- he gulps down and finally nods -I indeed-
-Thank you so much, now remove that veil i places in his palm and tell me what he's holding in his hand- he does so and remains silent while taking a few steps back -That... That's...-
I push the man aside and bend over the body -Would you look at that... Excuse my crude method now- I hit the fingers and break them with a loud crack that makes one's spine shivers, then I take what he was holding and rise it up while still looking at it
-A General's sigil, a simbol of his power and origins... One that goes from father to son and shall be wore in display on too of the armour. This one's still covered in blood yet it doesn't belong to General Cai...- I turn my wrist around and show it to everyone in the tent -But to General Wu-
Many men gasps at the sight and begins talking, demanding an explanation from General Wu.
I see his brain's gears moving and he relaxes his face -I gave it to him before leaving him, it was a keepsake... Everyone knows how much that sigil means to a General, it's the same embodiment of our honor. By giving it to him I was promising him that I would've come back with help, I was giving him my word, that's why he kept that close... Anyone else would have done the same-
The doubtful soldiers seems to settle down a bit, what he said is true... Those symbols are really that valuable and can be considered a person's word when they're not around. Almost the same as carrying the Emperor's sigil while carrying out official duties.
He played his turn well.
Time form my next evidence -I really did well by using that as my first evidence afterall... Now let's go with something more relevant- I reach the table and slowly unwrap what I placed there before while talking -You contradicted yourself before... You said they killed him with one fatal wound in his back beside the other small scratches from the fake attacks, then threw him off the cliff... What weapon do our enemies use?-
Some men begin throwing names around -Mostly swords, some spears...- another add more -I saw some use axes while the sand men have machetes or sabres too-
-Has anyone seem the fight with knives?- I ask, a guy tilt his head -We all carry knives but we use them only when we're in a difficult spot and any other weapon is gone-
I nod and finally reveal the weapon in my hand, rising it carefully for everyone to see the blood stained blade and the golden gems in the hilt
General Wu's personal knife... -A General's personal Knife might hold as much meaning as their sigil... Handcrafted by the best blacksmiths in the capital and gifted to them by The Emperor himself. One wouldn't ever want this object to be stained with a comrade's blood-
Silence settles, thicker than it has ever been.
I move back toward the body and open the armor on his torso, turning him around -But on the back there's not a single wound...- I feign shock as I convein this information them turn around the body -But again, General Wu was wounded and in shock so maybe he thought it was the back but it wasn't... Yet this fatal one in abdomen seems small enough to have been caused by such a knife-
I rise it above the body and push it into the now bloodless wound -It fits perfectly-
General Wu exhales deeply -As you said I was wounded and confused, I was trying to fight for my life with that same knife before leaving everything behind and run as fast as I could to call for help... Are you seriously going to accuse of murder based simply on a misplaced knife and a sigil I gave him myself? That's no evidence but simply a well created story frame by using mere coincidences or even twisting reality, is your tongue your only ally Miss Ying? I recall you not being entirely free from your own accusations of betrayal yet-
-I'm not done- I reply coldly
I walk toward him and the tension rises high in the room, he himself unconsciously press himself against his chair as I draw closer.
-General Cai wasn't a stupid man, he set the table for me to solve the mystery of his death and bring the truth to light... Even when facing his end he could still think clearly- I rise my hand and see the man in front of me flinch slowly
I tear off his sleeve and reveal the actual wound, not a broken arm but a deep and jagger cut on his shoulder -I see another lie here-
He twist one eyebrow and laughs alone, after calming down he lock eyes with me -Miss Ying, stop ridiculing yourself... Now it's Gettysburg quite obvious that you were a traitor all along. A wound instead of a broken arm, really? That is your evidence?-
-I'm glad you asked that question, where's our on site blacksmith?- I smile at him while calling the artisan forth with the back of my hand -You were charge of handling General Cai's weapons along the others right?-
-Y yes General-
-So you more than anyone knew about General Cai's Axe... That weapon was an engineering prodigy and we all know how General Cai never separated from it, even during the meetings he would keep it beside him-
-Indeed, I've never saw a weapon quite like it...- At that moment Xu Lei comes forward and pass me said weapon -Examine his injury and see if it matches the axe-
-This is ridiculous...!- Tries to protest General Wu but the doubtful stares that come his way make him immediately shut up
-Excuse me...- approaches him the blacksmith and begins removing the bandages... Each time he tilt his head or touched the skin, the sound of people holding their breaths can be heard.
After a few minutes he bows in respect and turns around -It matches perfectly-
Chaos erupts inside the tent and nobody notices General Wu who grabs my wrist in anger nor do they hear his words -Mark my words, you're next-
I smile at him and lower toward his ear -He might have failed in taking you down with him but he made sure that I will finish what he started as his successor- I whisper in his ear and straighten up, calling for since again.
General Wu appears composed again -So what now? You blame me of killing a companion of mine based on a cut I got in the mist of all that chaos and a corpse you found? It's not like your much more credible than me at this point-
Nobody answer... Nor in my defense nor in his.
But for now... That silence is more than enough.