by Rachel White
Lieutenant Taarq glanced at the sky. It was nearing noon, the light very bright and clear, and the objects around them casting no shadows. Even that was different on Jev: the sun itself felt stronger, the world more distinct, cut from sharp lines. Sometimes it was painful to look at for too long.
"We should probably go back to the palace. I expect they'll be starting to grow worried."
The rest of his sentence hung between them, unvoiced. Or we could go to the terminal and I'll get you back to Adesa. A miserable, selfish part of Rallis clung to that too, like a rat on a sinking ship. He wasn't actually unafraid. In truth, he was so desperately afraid it made him ill. He didn't want to die and would do almost anything to avoid it. But…
But the thought of leaving Naravi to face his execution alone was unthinkable. He would end up killing himself anyway if he did that.
So he set his shoulders and nodded. "Let's go back," he told Lieutenant Taarq, almost proud that his voice didn't shake. "I'm ready."
Chapter Nineteen
The next day's moot had none of the excitement of the first. Gone were the murmuring crowds, the audience anticipating a good show. Because this vote was an emergency, new precautions had been taken and entry was limited. All of the Suul were there—minus one, of course—along with the Empress and her cabinet and others whose presence was required: various Jevite officers; court officials; Lieutenant Taarq and Lieutenant Harn; Rallis…and Naravi, fettered and hateful. According to Lieutenant Taarq, he had tried to bite the legionnaires who arrived to take him from prison, so he was wearing a muzzle, too.
"That's no good," said Legionnaire Saura softly. Naravi had been forced into the witness box, struggling the entire way, and was now hunched in his seat with his eyes locked on Suul Thrun. "He looks like he'd tear your throat out as soon as he got close. Literally."
"Yes," said Rallis hoarsely, numb with despair. It was worse, far worse, than anything he could have imagined. Every single Suul in the room would vote against Naravi. "It's—"
Movement interrupted them: he watched, dry-mouthed, as a moot clerk ascended the stage. "The hearing is ready to begin," he announced. Behind him, Suul Thrun was already in his place as Suulsen-dama. He was dressed even more nicely than usual and held himself regally, like an emperor before his subjects. In the witness box, Naravi was still fighting his restraints.
"The Suulsen will commence for an emergency session," the clerk continued, voice ringing out over the moot. "There are two matters to be voted on: the fate of the Adesi rebels, and the accusation of murder levied at Citizen Naravi Yy of Adesa. The first matter of vote is the accusation of murder. Suul Thrun will speak first, as accuser."
He glanced over his shoulder at Suul Thrun, who rose from his seat and moved to the middle of the stage. He lingered for a moment, looking out over the audience, face a mask of righteous anger. Despite everything, Rallis could see why people flocked to him; he wasn't the grandest or most imposing figure, but the calmness of his attitude and the confident resolve of his ideals gave him a gravitas that was hard to protest.
"I speak not as Suulsen-dama, but as an independent voice," Suul Thrun said. "Do not take my words to be a command for what you must do—take them only as a plea for what you should do. Kes Dayne was one of us. A colleague and a friend. This rebel brutally attacked him after falsely gaining his trust."
He pointed a finger at Naravi, like Nur damning the faithless. Not that he would appreciate the comparison. "He lured Suul Dayne to a secluded area to murder him. He took Suul Dayne's trust and good nature and used them to commit a heinous act. Do not allow him to get away with this. Acquittal would be nothing less than spitting on Suul Dayne's memory. This creature must be punished for his crimes."
In the witness box, Naravi snarled. A few Suul glanced at him, alarmed and disdainful. Suul Thrun had referred to him as feral before, and by Nur he seemed it now: wild-eyed and haggard, his bared teeth visible through the slats of the muzzle, he was a caged animal, ready to strike at the slightest provocation. The pressure in Rallis's chest was intolerable. It forced the breath from his lungs.
"The defense will try to argue that he is a boy," Suul Thrun continued. "They'll claim that he is still affected by the incidents of last year. They might even say that Suul Dayne threatened him, that his actions were panic or self-defense. Do not be misled. How could Suul Dayne have threatened him? What could he possibly do? And as for what happened in the past—"
He made a harsh noise. "We have all, Adesi and Jevite, suffered in the last few years. Many of us have lost loved ones in the war. I will not be so coarse as to remind my audience of my own family's struggles but let me state clearly that I too know the pain of mourning. But do I go around attacking citizens? Do I plant bombs or steal weapons? Of course not. And neither do any of you. Citizen Yy's actions are his own—both Citizens Yy. The choices they made cannot be excused through weak pleas of trauma. They knew what they were doing when they participated in the rebellion. And Citizen Yy knew what he was doing when he killed Suul Dayne."
Suul Oymis stood. "Is there any evidence that points to Citizen Yy as the responsible party?"
"Citizen Yy is easily the most likely candidate," said Suul Thrun. "Who else would be motivated to kill Suul Dayne?"
"The position of Suul can be a dangerous one." Suul Oymis indicated the men surrounding them. "All of us are at risk simply due to our status. I've received threats of bodily harm from anonymous sources. I don't think it's unreasonable to believe that Suul Dayne might have been targeted by someone else, for an unknown reason—or no reason at all. How do we know he wasn't killed by a passing maniac?"
"Because there are so many of those around," said someone sarcastically. It was another Suul, one Rallis didn't recognize, a younger man with unusual burnished-gold hair. Lieutenant Taarq hadn't mentioned him. They had so many enemies, this one didn't even warrant notice.
Suul Oymis looked at him coolly. "There are more Jevite maniacs on Jev then there are Adesi rebels, I'm certain."
"That doesn't mean—"
"He's right." This was Suul Almandi, rising as well. He had never warmed to Rallis during their meetings, and in truth Rallis had expected him to vote with Suul Thrun. Perhaps Lieutenant Taarq's plan was more effective than he had realized. "The only evidence we have that Citizen Yy is the one responsible is your word, Suul Thrun. And—forgive my bluntness—your distaste for both Citizens Yy has been made very clear to all of us."
"My personal feelings have no bearings on this discussion."
"Don't they? Can you really claim this isn't a vendetta if you've spent the last fortnight doing everything in your power to destroy the boy's reputation and standing?"
"Who do you think you are?" the gold-haired Suul demanded, leaping to his feet. "You—"
"I don't see why this is being put up for discussion at all." This was a new Suul, much older than Suul Oymis or Suul Thrun. "The lad is a murderer, yes? We don't try murderers. Why hasn't this been put before a tribunal?"
"Because he is also a war criminal," Suul Thrun told him impatiently, "and it is the privilege of the Suulsen to make decisions about war criminals."
"Then why aren't we voting on that first?"
More voices broke out, other Suul beginning to take sides. It wasn't, as Rallis had expected, those who supported Adesa against those who supported Suul Thrun; instead, many of those against Thrun seemed to agree with the elderly Suul who had first raised the question of tribunals. Frustrated with having to vote on a common murder case, they wanted to pass that decision off onto the tribunal court system that formed the basis of Jev's judiciary.
Lieutenant Taarq had explained that as well, after their meeting with the empress. The likelihood that Naravi would be found immediately guilty of all his crimes was much higher in a tribunal than in the Suulsen. The Suul were ambitious and conniving, but some of them supported Adesa in their ambitions and would side with Naravi in pursuit of long-term plans; others just disliked Suul Thru and
would vote for Naravi out of spite alone. Tribunal judges were average Jevite citizens with an instinctive dislike of the Adesi and no far-reaching goals to sway their opinions. They would convict him as soon as look at him. The only chance Rallis and Naravi had was to stay in the Suulsen.
"This is not the point," Suul Thrun snapped, trying with little success to regain his hold on his audience. "It was already decided that we would vote on the boy's fate. Now is not the time to be protesting a decision that's already been made."
"Who decided it?" the elderly Suul demanded. "This isn't your Suulsen, Suul Thrun. I don't recall ever being a part of discussions about this."
"Suul Thrun is Suulsen-dama and has the authority to make that decision," said the gold-haired Suul, flushing when he only received a round of jeers and disapproving looks for impassioned defense. "Who do you all think you are? You have no right to argue if the decision is done."
"Suul Thrun may be Suulsen-dama, but that doesn't mean—"
"You forget your place—"
"This is beside the point—"
"You have no right to—"
"Enough."
The voice—higher and softer than all those speaking at present—sheared through the chaos like a blade. A hundred and ninety-nine pairs of eyes turned to Empress Laiaraina.
"It was my decision to allow Suul Thrun to bring this case to the Suulsen," she told the room at large. "I agree with him. Until a decision has been made regarding the status of the rebels, Citizen Yy is a war criminal. It is the responsibility of the Suulsen to weigh his fate and make a decision. Tribunals have no authority here."
"But if he had committed a crime—" the elderly Suul began.
"If a crime is committed by a war criminal, Suul Rhynn, it is considered an act of war, and therefore under the purview of the Suulsen. This includes the death of Kes Dayne. Or would you prefer to abdicate that authority to the tribunal judges?"
From the sudden, uncomfortable silence, Rallis could tell that none of the Suulsen wanted that at all. He didn't quite understand the implications of what Empress Laiaraina had said, but it was clear what had just taken place; she had made some kind of a threat toward the Suulsen, and they had capitulated.
After a moment, Suul Rhynn bowed. "When put like that, your Excellency, I agree completely. No further arguments on this subject."
"Very well," Suul Thrun snapped. "Now that we've established that Citizen Yy should be tried, let's return to the matter of his crime. Suul Oymis, in regard to your question, there is further evidence that Citizen Yy is the guilty party, yes."
Suul Oymis raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Not only has he shown vehement hatred toward Jev," Suul Thrun continued, ticking off a count on his fingers, "but he's also demonstrated a propensity toward violence. He attacked Lieutenant Harn while on Adesa. And even now, he's violent toward the legionnaires assigned to watch him. Hence…that." He indicated the muzzle. Gods damn it. Why did Naravi have to try to bite? Why couldn't he contain himself for one single fucking day?
"Furthermore, he had the opportunity, in particular. Citizen Yy's whereabouts for the morning of the attack are unknown. He was supposed to be accompanied by a guard at all times." Suul Thrun turned an ugly look toward Lieutenant Harn. "However, he escaped his guard and—"
"He didn't escape his guard."
Lieutenant Harn's voice seemed strangely loud in the echoing hall. He hadn't raised it, but it felt as though he had shouted the words. The silence after he spoke seethed with tension, so thick Rallis could almost taste it.
But perhaps Lieutenant Harn didn't feel the weight of so much focus on him; his eyes were only for Naravi, who was gazing back at him with an indecipherable expression.
Suul Thrun recovered first. "Do you mean to tell the Suulsen that you let him roam free? Unattended?"
"Of course not. I was with him."
"You—what?" Suul Thrun asked. "You were with him? You said you didn't know where he was."
Lieutenant Harn shook his head. "I refused to speak about it."
Rallis touched Lieutenant Taarq's arm to get his attention. "What is he doing?" he whispered.
"I have no idea." Lieutenant Taarq was shivering as though he were cold. It was probably taking him everything he had to keep from getting up and pacing the hall. "He didn't tell me he was with Citizen Yy that morning."
A thousand ideas filled Rallis's head, each stranger and darker than the last. What had they been doing that required such secrecy? It defied belief that Naravi would consent to any kind of intimacy with Lieutenant Harn, which meant it was probably secret for another reason, but he couldn't imagine what that could be. Had Lieutenant Harn hurt Naravi? But surely he wouldn't feel the need to hide that from Suul Thrun, who could only approve of it.
"Then," said Suul Thrun, dragging Rallis's attention back to the proceedings, "where were you?"
"I took him to the Empress's gardens."
Or…that. It's forbidden, Lieutenant Taarq had said. Oh, Nur, it almost made sense. Not a tryst, not torture—he had no doubt been trying to comfort Naravi in the same way Lieutenant Taarq had comforted Rallis. Conscious of Naravi's pain and rage and homesickness, seeking to soothe him, Lieutenant Harn had risked his own position in the legion to bring him somewhere that was slightly, vaguely, a piece of Adesa.
"You what," said Suul Thrun flatly. "You took him to the Imperial Gardens? An Adesi rebel? It's brave of you, lieutenant, to admit treason in front of the entire Suulsen."
Lieutenant Harn snorted. "Treason or not," he said, loudly enough to be heard over the murmurs that had broken out among the Suul, "we were in the gardens on the morning that Suul Dayne was killed. Suul Dayne was not. How do you propose Citizen Yy killed him? Was he in two places at once?"
Suul Thrun's lips thinned. His eyes flickered around the room, landing briefly on Rallis; the cold hatred within them made Rallis's stomach lurch. "Of course not," he ground out. "But perhaps—"
"I spoke to the physician," Lieutenant Harn continued. "Suul Dayne was killed instantly from a pulse strike. Are you claiming that Citizen Yy had access to a Jevite pulse? He has been accompanied by myself or Legionnaire Klin since arriving on Jev. I think we would have noticed if he had stolen a weapon."
Suul Thrun colored deeply. "Perhaps you overlooked it."
"Perhaps you should accuse me of conspiring with the Adesi rebellion and giving him the gun," Lieutenant Harn shot back. "You're already nearly there."
The reaction from the Suulsen was deafening. Around them, furious arguments broke out about whether Lieutenant Harn had committed treason, whether Suul Thrun had overstepped his place, and whether Naravi could have possibly killed a man if he were in a completely different part of the citadel from the corpse. Suul Oymis was shaking his head, his toothy grin visible from a distance. Suul Thrun's golden-haired supporter looked outraged. The older Suul, Suul Rhynn, was peering at Naravi as though he expected to see the truth tattooed on Naravi's skin.
At Rallis's side, Lieutenant Taarq was drumming his fingers against his knee. "He's not wrong," he murmured, when Rallis gave him a questioning glance, "but he might have spoken more tactfully."
On stage, Suul Thrun's temper had clearly reached its breaking point. "You said it, not me, lieutenant," he hissed.
"You haven't answered the question. Where did Citizen Yy get a Jevite pulse? How did it he hide it from his guard in the weeks that he's been on Jev? How did he manage to use it to kill Suul Dayne when he was with me at the time of Dayne's death?"
"You—"
"Suul Thrun." Empress Laiaraina stood and approached the stage. "Before this goes any further, I want to hear from Citizen Yy. Does he agree with Lieutenant Harn's version of events?"
In the witness box, Naravi was trying to slip his hand out of his shackles but stilled and lifted his head when he noticed he was once again the center of attention. "What do you want?" he demanded of no one in particular.
"Citizen Yy," said the Empress, in calm A
desi, "Lieutenant Harn claims you were with him at the time of Suul Dayne's murder. Can you confirm this claim?"
Behind his muzzle, Naravi bared his teeth. He was moments away from cursing out the Empress and Lieutenant Harn in front of the entire Suulsen.
"Naravi," said Rallis sharply, before he could speak. "Answer the question."
"Why should I?" Naravi snarled. "They can't make me talk."
"Naravi."
Naravi showed his teeth again. "Tell them," he said, "that if I don't get taken back to my cell this instant, I'm going to bite off my own tongue."
"Naravi—"
"I mean it. I can't stand another minute of this, and they don't need me here. Tell them."
"I'll tell them if you testify where you were the morning of Kes Dayne's death."
He watched the gears turn in Naravi's head. Though it was clear he would rather die—perhaps literally—than do anything required of him by the Jevites, he also wanted to get out of the room with a desperation that was palpable to Rallis even from a distance. "Fine. He took me to some stupid garden. It was ugly and I hated it. Is that enough?"
Thank the gods. On the stage, Empress Laiaraina inclined her head graciously. "It's enough. Thank you, Citizen Yy."
"I want to go back to my cell."
She gave him a long, searching look, but nodded. "Take him back. Lieutenant Harn, please stay here."
"Yes, your Excellency," Lieutenant Harn said, bowing deeply. He didn't watch Naravi as the legionnaires led Naravi out, but Rallis saw him tense when Naravi passed by.
Once Naravi was gone, Empress Laiaraina said, "Suul Thrun, I suppose I don't need to tell you that this severely impacts your accusation. I'm concerned that due diligence hasn't been performed during this investigation. We will have a short recess to allow everyone time to compose themselves. When we resume, we will discuss whether it is a productive choice to move forward with this trial."
