The second vote was cast. Jagón did not flinch. He expected as much from that particular judge.
A gorgeous blue and white dragon, Cerula Cascus, spoke from her seat next.
"As much as I dislike the thought, I am inclined to side with Logos here. Jagón, we fought vigorously against the humans to protect our home. I didn't help level entire kingdoms only to allow the same poisonous species to integrate itself into our own lands... And further more, there's that shield to consider, correct me if I'm wrong, but is that not the Pea-" The dragon was cut off by King Alocer himself.
"Stay your words, Cerula. We will not discuss that matter yet."
The dragon only nodded once in resignation. She looked back towards the kneeling panther, and with a somber look, spoke again.
"I am sorry Jagón, we have fought too long and lost too many to allow any one of our personal wishes to outrank our duty to protect this land. Where one human rises, more always follow. I vote we execute the human, however, I believe Jagón has committed no crime against his king, and should be freed."
With the third vote cast, Aster's hopes of survival were looking more and more slim, He found some comfort that his father may at least escape the same fate, that is, until Jagón spoke up, looking directly at the dragon unflinchingly as he did.
His father was at war, even here.
"I should clarify something, should Aster be declared guilty, I will personally dispatch of him myself, as such is the nature of the agreement... But make no mistake, Cerula, his fate is intertwined as my own. I will take my life afterwards should this council decide my son must die."
Aster's heart ached at his father's words, he never wanted to drag any of his family into this.
Just a short distance away, behind Prince Tyfin himself, a younger panther clenched his jaw as his father made such an unsettling statement.
It seemed his father was still prepared to throw away everything for the human, something that always brought disgust to Talan.
Cerula nodded in understanding of the warrior's resolve, but still reiterated her vote, citing a possible human repopulation as her reasoning. Aster wasn't sure what came over him, but the boy finally spoke out of turn.
"I am the last of my kind, I have no delusions on that fact. As such, I will never bear any children, and I have accepted that as part of my future. If you find that impossible feat is what makes you wary, then geld me. I have no use for that part of myself anyways."
A few hushed comments filled the mostly now-quiet room as the beastmen weighed the boy's steely words.
If Aster still had memories of his previous life—his life as Chuck, who never had the chance of experiencing real sexual pleasure—he would've rather died a virgin than live castrated.
Alas, he didn't. And due to the completely caged upbringing of his new persona, he had no use for that part of his body...or rather, he hadn't found a use for it just yet.
Castration was a punishment for rapists and the like, so they would forever bear a reminder of their crimes.
Most males would choose death first before ever considering it, let alone suggesting it. Jagón disliked the idea of his son being cut, but if it meant the boy could live...
The silence of the court was soon interrupted from a sound coming from the playful calico cat, Alice.
"Hehehe!!"
She was shrilly laughing, seeming so very out of expectation to Aster. After all, not many in the kingdom hadn't heard of the power behind the Almighty Alice, "The King's Cannon."
The mage only howled on, clutching her stomach in mock fashion as she relentlessly insisted on continuing the uncomfortable laugh far longer than necessary.
Eventually, she stopped, and finally began to elaborate on what was so funny. She was peering down at the boy through one eye as she spoke, a delighted smirk on her face as her tail twitched behind her.
"Here we have a boy, a human no less, with more balls than pretty much anyone here today considering where he is right now, telling you to chop them off if you feel so intimidated by them. Hahahaha!!!"
Her painful laugh rocked back into the platform, even louder than before.
Alice wasn't worried, she had a philosophy for this kind of thing... The philosophy being she can say or do whatever she wants to if nobody can stop her, and even among the esteemed names present, not many would dare to try their luck against the mage. Even King Alocer knew it was only by the cat's choice that she served beneath him.
Finally, her creepy laugh distilled once more before she picked back up where she left off, now gleaming at a taken aback Aster.
"I personally eliminated THOUSANDS of your kind, quite easily I may add. Should you ever step out of line, I would burn you alive with a smile on my face as your bones turn to ash and scattered to the winds of Alora... You are no threat to me, or any other beast here today. To imply otherwise is laughable."
She began looking around, speaking to the other warriors gathered around. "Are any of you seriously telling me that ANY beast present at this time would struggle to kill this weak, human cub? Is this what the great knights of Alora have been reduced to? Fearing a child could possibly derail our entire way of life?"
The cat paused. Nobody answered.
"Well, in that case... I vote there were no crimes committed here today."
She paused again to give Aster a wink before adding, "And you can even keep those giant balls of yours, Human."
She emphasized the statement by bringing her hand down to her groin area and making a crude, fondling gesture towards the imaginary testicles hanging there.
***
[Author's note: So far so good in my opinion. Feel free to drop a comment or two on what you think. There'll be a more stable mode of release as the book pregresses. But above all, keep the support coming.]