Usul waited patiently for the Councils response to his defence. After much time had elapsed still without a response, he then became impatient.
..... They spoke amongst themselves.
Usul faced the Vice-Marshal who sat on an identical pedestal directly opposite, the other side of the hall. The Council members sat upon a balcony at the farthest end, looking down into the chamber at their accused and accuser. Following Usul's opening statement; the Council members now with backs turned; debated and discussed the words they had heard.
..... The low sounds of murmuring from the balcony continued.
Day turned to night as the last of the evenings golden light slowly faded to dusk. A maid entered the chamber, moved fluidly without sound and begun giving life to the night lanterns. They filled the chamber with their orange glow casting flickering shadows upon the walls. Usul now tired and drained, drifted off into an awakened sleep. Mesmerised by the dancing shadows, he pictured each distinguishable shadow and imagined them each a character in a scene. The scene was of a battle at the walls of Old Cathay, a moving scene of flickering shadows and imagination brought life to cherished memory as it played out in his mind.
He jolted uncontrollably when he realised he was drifting into sleep. Thesseus opposite yawned, then gave himself a gentle slap to the face in an almost fruitless attempt to keep awake.
.... Yet they continued to debate in whispering tones.
When Usul awoke again, the morning light of dawn had filled the chamber. The maid entered again. With the same graceful movements as the previous evening, she begun extinguishing the night lanterns before opening a window. A cool gentle breeze could be felt, carrying with it the smell of early morning meadow. The standard dawn chorus began of the goats bleating. First a few, then a few more...until all herds of goats could be heard yelling in their droning exodus of Bleeeeehs!
The sound awoke Thesseus. From bent over, he thrust himself upright; looked around in a panic, left, right, up, down, left and right again; then realised. He slowed his heavy breathing and composed himself. After rubbing his eyes, then run fingers through his hair, he looked up at Usul opposite. Usul grinned. The Vice-Marshal frowned, then shot his gaze to the balcony.
Movement of hand gestures could be seen, whilst shockingly the councillors were still debating quietly.
Thesseus turned to Usul again, who simply shrugged his shoulders gesturing his own bewilderment.
Suddenly Usul smirked. Thesseus pondered the meaning of Usul's sudden amusement. Then realised what was about to happen. He watched Usul get out of his chair elegently without sound, placed his Marshals drape upon the place where he had sat. Usul climbed down from the pedestal, looked at Thesseus and offered a friendly nod and gentle bow, before tip toeing quietly through the chamber door that the maid had left ajar....Usul was gone.
