The bell rang.

  Men and women of Wayfarrow retook their seats as the court proceedings resumed. More than a score sat in the viewing gallery, come to support one side or the other, or simply for entertainment… well, more for one side, and mostly entertainment.

  It left the vast room feeling almost empty.

  The prosecution sat down across the aisle, a local [Advocate] working on behalf of [Lord] Entoll talking with [Watch Commander] Amit, a handful of witnesses remaining in the rows behind them.

  For her part, Marie shifted in place. She hadn't been permitted the luxury of a break, watched over by a [Guard], having to make do with a cup of water and flexing against the hard wood of her chair, rough enough to splinter.

  Are all their seats this poor, or do they reserve this one only for the defendant?

  [Guildmaster] Thror returned to the seat beside her. His presence, and that of Fila who'd taken a place two benches back, seemed to be the only hope she had of a fair sentencing. Or at least, one proportional to her crime.

  Marie mumbled out of the side of her mouth as the stooped goat-beastkin [Magistrate] hobbled in to preside over the case at the head of the room.

  “I feel like all my time reading up on the local laws was wasted. They are not going to listen to me. I should use this chance whilst I have it”

  The dark-furred tabaxi’s own words rumbled back, almost inaudible.

  “Relax. You can use this time to attack the system and gain nothing but their ire, or you can put forward a case and let me argue for you. I've given you my advice already, but it's your choice.”

  “That is what I mean though; they will not listen to me, but they will listen to you. I could speak out against the wrongs that are taking place, and then you can ask for my release.”

  Uncharacteristically solemn eyes regarded her.

  “I'll support you either way. Antagonise them or appeal to their reason and rules. But I'm telling you: one approach will achieve nothing besides making my job harder - and more time in the gaol - and the other will leave you actually free to help the alagai from outside of a cell.”

  “Then how w-”

  “If everyone is quite ready.” The reedy voice of the [Magistrate] managed to cut through the low-level chatter of the room, but despite the dozen or more conversations, it was Maire that drew his ire. “Good. Let’s get back to it then.”

  —

  The retired adventurer got off the witness stand sending a nervous glance her way, or, rather, the [Guildmaster]’s way.

  Thror didn’t react, and Marie didn’t expect him to. The man’s testimony had been brief and to-the-point. To his credit, he hadn’t embellished her actions or speculated on her mental state at all, even when the [Advocate] had pushed the line of questioning in that direction.

  Apparently leading the witness wasn’t a thing here.

  All in all, she hadn’t come off as bad as she could have from that one, though it was still another account to strengthen the prosecution’s case. The power of a [Lord]...

  Maybe if I had that much money, I could have found people to speak for me.

  She didn’t need to glance behind to see the lack of anyone to champion her cause. Even Fila was only there for moral support.

  Just me and Thror. It will be enough…

  And then it was her turn to be called to the stand.

  Proceedings in Wayfarrow weren’t the kind she was familiar with. Not that she was familiar with legal proceedings in the first case. The [Magistrate] had opened by reading out the charges then invited the [Advocate] to bring evidence against her. There was no cross-examination of the witnesses - the old goat-beastkin had a Skill to ensure that the truth of accounts was reasonably accurate. There wasn’t any guaranteed outcome either. The local laws (and the laws of the land) gave guidance for appropriate punishments but there was a huge amount of leeway. The prosecutor would request what they wanted, and Thror would argue for something more lenient, and when they’d made their case the [Magistrate] would simply make a decision.

  Depending on the judge, she could end up being let off with a warning, or stripped of all her belongings and banished, or anything in between.

  But it wouldn’t come to that…

  …would it?

  All these thoughts ran through her head in the eleven steps it took her to get to the stand.

  Thror says Quintal is not biased.

  As she pushed open the waist-high gate in the side and took her position, facing the crowd, spotting Fila’s encouraging smile and Thror’s disinterested face, she felt the weight of the [Magistrate]’s Skill pressing in on her.

  The caprine visage that looked down on her from his position at the head of the court was almost grandfatherly with the shock of white hair that framed his head, but the [Magistrate]’s eyes were unnervingly similar to the goat he resembled.

  “Marie Dubois,” he pronounced it oddly - ‘do boys’ - in his thin voice, “you have heard the charges and the evidence against you. Is there anything you wish to say at this point in your defence? Any discrepancy in the facts?”

  She sent another quick glance towards the two people in the room on her side, and her mind flashed to the allagi still being held in the cells. The brief conversation she’d had with them had shown her only citizens guilt-ridden with the hurt they’d caused, regardless of their situation. They needed someone to stick up for them…

  …like Thror is sticking up for me…

  …and the [Guildmaster] was right: she couldn’t do that from inside a prison cell.

  She took a deep breath.

  “The accounts are mostly correct, although there are a few issues I would like to raise...”

  The goat-man nodded and gestured for her to continue.

  “...I did indeed hurl a mug at [Lord] Entoll, but I should point out that I did not throw it at him because he was a [Lord], and in fact he was at the guild in his capacity as a [Councillor]...”

  That should reduce the chance of being convicted of a ‘High Felony’.

  “Why did you throw it then?”

  “It was out of anger, your Honour.” She took a risk with the title - no one else had addressed him at such, but it seemed to please the [Magistrate]. “We argued over a decision and when he insulted my friends and I, well, in the moment I lost my temper.”

  And that should reduce it from ‘Unprovoked Assault’ to ‘Affray’ or ‘Brawl’, and loses the suggestion of premeditation.

  Three days had been plenty of time to read and digest Wayfarrow’s legislation. Or the parts on violent crimes at least.

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  “I see. Is this a common occurrence for you?”

  “No your Honour. I have never done something like that before in all my time on this world.”

  Come on…

  Marie wasn’t usually a fan of the phrase ‘Technically true is the best kind of true.’ but in this case she was willing to lean on it hard.

  Even so, the old goat-beastkin’s eyes narrowed as she felt his Skill pressing down on her, but he grunted and accepted her word, and she did all she could to avoid sighing in relief.

  Suck it, Eloise Richard, you only get to ruin my day once.

  “Very well. Is there anything else?”

  “I would only like to inquire as to how badly [Councillor] Entoll was injured. I do not believe we have received clear confirmation from his [Advocate].”

  “Father had a bruise, but it’s gone now.”

  And there is the last piece - any reasonable judge will restrict the charges to ‘Simple Battery’ without blood.

  That was the best she could hope for at least, and only thanks to Fila.

  The [Magistrate] narrowed his eyes in disapproval at the interruption to his proceedings but declined to speak out against the [Noble]’s daughter.

  “In that case, with your question answered Miss Marie, I would like to call on [Guildmaster] Thror to add anything he sees fit before I pass my judgement.”

  The tabaxi towered over her as she returned to her seat and he took the floor, staring around at the assembled citizens for long moments.

  “What a colossal waste of everyone’s time this has been.” He turned in a full circle as he held the eyes of everyone in the room, voice dripping with false exhaustion, ending on the [Magistrate]. “The better part of the morning spent debating a tiny fracas that wouldn’t have even been noted were it not for the involvement of [Lord] Entoll…”

  “He was assaulted, [Guildmaster] Thror.”

  The [Advocate] did well to stand up and interject in the brief pause, even if he sat down hard enough to cause an audible thud when the tabaxi turned his eyes on him.

  “If [Lord] Entoll can’t take a mug thrown from a bronze-ranker, then he’s lost any respect I might have had for him, and I question why such a simple case has been brought before the most senior legal authority in town. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to why we’re all here?”

  For a minute, it looked like no one would answer his challenge, until the ram-headed [Magistrate] cleared his throat.

  “A breach of the law occured, [Guildmaster]. Whether or not you believe it warrants attention or not is immaterial. The fact that it has been brought before my court means I will hear it. If you do not wish to waste your time, you may leave.”

  There was a pregnant pause as the rest of the room shifted its attention between the two senior figures in the room. Arms of chairs creaked as though those clutching them were worried as to how Thror would react.

  Then the tabaxi gave the slightest inclination of his head.

  “This is your house, [Magistrate] Quintal; I of course mention these observations only to point out what others have not. I am also of the opinion that if this level of crime was brought before you as standard procedure, then you would have no time left in which to sleep.” He waited for the beastkin to acknowledge the truth of the statement before he continued. “Which leads me to my main purpose in being here: to prevent those in a position of power from abusing it to bully my guild members, whether they disagree with their viewpoints or otherwise.”

  The dark-furred tabaxi once again focused his address towards the room, turning to regard them all in turn before settling on the [Watch Commander].

  “I don’t think it is the standard protocol for a simple disgruntled toss of a mug to lead to a three-day imprisonment and full trial, nor for a [Watch Commander] to come to the houses of members and former members of my guild in person and request that they turn up to testify against one of my [Secretaries].”

  A couple of the crowd began to edge towards the door as a deep-throated growl began to underscore the [Guildmaster]’s words.

  “And standard protocol is there for a reason, is it not, Amit. If we could ask her, I’m sure Varena could testify to that.”

  He barely got to the end of his sentence before Amit and two members of the Watch still on the benches and the one guarding her erupted out of their chairs in outrage.

  “You bastard, how dare y-”

  “-o decency. Shut your damn m-”

  “-barely even cold and you mock her!”

  Marie flinched back at the outburst, and the outpouring of aggression that flooded in her direction, but before things could progress further [Magistrate] Quintal’s voice rang out.

  “[Impose Order].”

  The Watch and the observers and Marie herself were suddenly caught in an invisible restraint, unable to do more than blink and breathe. It felt as though her clothes had turned to lead. Like she was back at school as a child and the teacher was mad at her. Like she was waiting to present the findings of her latest dig to a senior professor.

  The only motion came from Thror who returned to Marie’s side, and even then it was as though he were moving through treacle.

  Quintal’s face was red, a vein on his temple twitching.

  “I do not accept chaos in my courtroom. Clam, yourselves, gentlemen.” He gave them a few long moments to do just that, then turned to the tabaxi. “Thror, approach the bench.”

  The [Guildmaster] got up, more easily this time, and walked over to the beastkin. Marie and the others in the crowd still couldn’t move, and as the tabaxi reached him, the [Magistrate] used a Skill that cut off their conversation from the rest of the room.

  A minute of silent conversation followed, and Marie couldn’t entirely believe the deferential bent in the tabaxi’s stance.

  Eventually, Thror bowed his head to the master of the court and took his seat once more as Quintal called for Amit and repeated the process.

  As the [Watch Captain] approached the podium, Marie felt a presence settle round her and the [Magistrate]’s hold on her loosen.

  The first thing she did was to take a deep breath, revealing in the flood of oxygen rushing to her lungs.

  The second thing she did was to turn towards her employer and murmur under her new-found breath.

  “What was that all about?”

  The tabaxi replied in kind, keeping one eye on the [Magistrate] and his voice soft enough not to carry.

  “Just setting the records straight.”

  When she returned nothing more than a raised eyebrow, he clarified.

  “There are maybe a dozen people in Wayfarrow who are of a higher level than I, and perhaps a score of individuals who could be considered gold rank in their respective fields. Amit is in neither of those groups - nor is Entoll - and they would do well to remember it.”

  “But you did exactly what you told me not to do. You antagonised them.”

  “I told you not to do it. I'm higher level - more powerful. I can do what I want… more or less. Besides, it antagonised them against me, who they can't do anything to, rather than you, who they can lock up or fine or have whipped. Redirecting their ire is good for you.”

  Marie opened her mouth, closed it again, then let out a sigh.

  “Oh.”

  Before the two could resume their conversation, the [Magistrate] dismissed his Skill and Amit stalked back to his seat, back rigid enough to support a crumbling column. The beastkin glared.

  “I've heard enough to make a decision. All I need to know now is the punitive measures you're seeking. [Advocate] Rippins, you first.”

  The prematurely-bald man rose to his feet and cleared his throat.

  “On behalf of [Lord] Entoll, I'm seeking a twenty-five gold fine, a week's incarceration, and a public apology to be written up and posted on every notice board in town at the defendant’s expense.”

  Quintal didn't even have to prompt Thror to speak; the tabaxi was already rising to make his counter-offer.

  “Utter nonsense. Marie's spent the last three days in a cell already, and she was at least as hurt as Entoll from an overzealous [Watch Commander] tackling her to the ground. Given the experience she went through the day before with the full moon patrols I say she's already paid the price for her actions. Let her go and we can all move on from this overblown nonsense.”

  The [Magistrate]’s eyes went back to the [Advocate], who shuffled his notes and failed to meet Thror’s gaze.

  “My client is of noble standing and was assaulted; I have to insist on an appropriate fine being levied, even if he was acting in his capacity as a [Councillor] at the time.”

  Thror growled.

  “Oh please, that's just semantics. I won't hear of a fine for throwing a mug, and if you use a Skill to ensure it Rippins I won't be pleased.”

  [Magistrate] Quintal glared at the [Guildmaster].

  “Refrain from making threats in my house, Thror, or I'll be the one who's displeased.”

  Marie waited for the tabaxi to brush off the statement, and felt her eyebrows raise when he bowed to the beastkin.

  “Of course, [Magistrate]. That said, I don't believe a fine of that magnitude is appropriate for the situation. Nor is further time in a cell going to benefit anyone.”

  “All I am hearing, [Guildmaster] Thror, is that you think your employee should be let off the hook like an insufficiently-large fish.”

  It seemed the [Advocate] had been emboldened, and Thror didn't seem to mind.

  “Well, she is certainly small fry to a man of [Lord] Entoll’s position.”

  “What do you suggest then?”

  “Entoll was acting on behalf of the council, so any recompense should be to the benefit of the council.”

  “Twenty-five gold to t-”

  “Not a fine to be paid: community service in lieu of monetary repayment and incarceration. Marie's not a danger to people that needs to be locked up; put her to use instead.”

  The head of the [Magistrate], and indeed the rest of the room, had been oscillating between Thror and Rippins as they bartered back and forth, and at the [Guildmaster]’s suggestion everyone sensed a decision was being reached and turned to regard Quintal. The ram-headed beastkin stroked the wispy white beard that hung from his chin.

  “A reasonable compromise that I would allow. A single unpaid mission of sufficient length and difficulty for one of her rank?”

  Thror nodded instantly, with the [Advocate] agreeing a moment later. Quintal made a note.

  “Very good. And an apology to be made to the council - with [Lord] Entoll present - upon completion of the service.”

  Both parties assented to the judgement, and the [Magistrate] made a further note.

  “In that case, all that remains is to find a suitable quest for Miss M-”

  “There is actually an outstanding quest that Marie could complete on behalf of the council, [Magistrate] Quintal...”

  The beastkin waved for [Guildmaster] Thror to continue.

  “...the [Bandit]-hunting that the council has been so keen on ran into issues before the full moon: trouble locating their camps. A smaller group went out a couple of days ago but have yet to report any luck. Marie here happens to be a [Scout], so I propose she be assigned to track down the [Bandits] lairs until they are dealt with.”

  Before the [Advocate] had a chance to say anything further, Quintal stood.

  “That sounds appropriate. Besides, I'm hungry and it's lunchtime; I agree.” He raised a gavel and hammered it down onto his desk. “[Court Order: Enforced Service]. [Civic Penalty: Echo of Retribution]. I suggest you avoid angering anyone until you complete your community service Miss Marie. Bring proof of completion when it's done and I'll lift the penalty.”

  And with that, the [Magistrate] walked out of the room and left the rest to follow.

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