by L. K. Rigel
“What does she care?” Nin was incredulous.
“I know I am impartial,” Durga said. The room went silent. The statement was absurd on its face, but the rules allowed the judges to either declare their impartiality or recuse themselves.
King Michael was clearly irritated by the challenge to his integrity from a fellow monarch. His coronet, an ornate piece of art incorporating rubies and black enamel oak branches, held what hair he had over a bald spot. He was older than King Harold, and his son Corin’s guest-host tour was only a few years off. He would side with Garrick.
“I am impartial,” he said.
“I am impartial.” The KP’s halting voice fit her ancient face. Her crepe-like skin was as silver as her robe. “Furthermore, Nihon’s motion is without basis. I was born in the shadow of Dragon’s Mountain, on the Tugela.”
Africa. That settled that. “Motion denied.” Durga banged her gavel.
The bailiff read the petition, a legalistic list of every damage Mal had inflicted on Garrick. At first it sounded gruesome, but then it actually settled Mal’s nerves to hear everything put so clinically.
Lady Bron rose to give her opening statement, a blend of condescension and contempt. She predicted the evidence would support Garrick’s claims and asserted that Mal’s return and completion of her contract was the only way to make Garrick whole and stop world governments from descending into chaos.
She made perfect sense. Mal felt sick to her stomach.
“Garrick calls one witness, the Brood Queen Mallory.”
Sister Jordana had warned her that she would have to testify, but her heart pounded. Under the table, Nin held her hand.
The bailiff told her to raise her hand. “State your name for the triers of fact.”
“Mallory of Sanguibahd.”
Lady Bron looked puzzled. “Is your name not rather Mallory of Garrick Settlement 20?”
She said settlement with enough acid on her tongue to rival the Matriarch, but Durga banged her gavel. “The respondent has completed the Rites of May. Mallory of Sanguibahd nee Garrick Settlement 20 is her appropriate designation.”
“And who are your parents?”
“No one knows.” But that was a lie, wasn’t it. Pala had said we’ve always known. Who was we? Could we explain where the fine Empani cloth and the stone Asherah came from?
“And you were raised at Garrick Settlement 20?”
The gavel came down again. “Move on, Counselor.”
Mal suppressed a smile, imagining Durga’s thoughts: I might call her settlement trash, but you certainly may not.
Lady Bron was unshaken. “Mallory, as the Matriarch has pointed out, you passed through the Rites of May. Would you tell the judges the title of your final report?”
“The Triune Contract is Sacred.”
“I’m sorry?” Garrick said from the monitor. “I couldn’t hear that last answer.”
“Objection.” Sister Jordana rose, indignant.
“Sustained.” Durga addressed Lady Bron. “Your client will refrain from speaking unless he wishes to be sworn in as a witness.”
“Yes, your Honor.” Lady Bron faced the observers. “The Triune Contract is sacred. Just so. And do you believe that, Mallory of Sanguibahd? Is the Triune Contract sacred?”
Did she believe it?
If the contract wasn’t sacred, then all of this was just a dance, an elaborate game to justify Red City’s wealth and control over natural breeding. If the Triune Contract wasn’t sacred, nothing in her life made any sense.
“Your Honors, would you instruct the witness to answer the question?”
“Well, Mallory?” the Matriarch said. “Is the Triune Contract sacred?”
Durga had stopped her being called settlement trash; now Mal had to demonstrate that she was not.
“It is.” It was the right answer. She wasn’t sure it was a truthful one.
“Garrick rests.” Lady Bron smiled the smile of victory. Mal couldn’t stop from glancing at the monitor. Garrick had lowered his eyelids, trying to look gracious in triumph. Great gods, he was going to win.
She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go.
It was Sister Jordana’s turn. “The respondent calls a panel of witnesses: Kairo of Sanguibahd, Saskia of the Kings Physicians, and Father Jesse of the Samaelii.”
Garrick’s head jerked up, and a hint of doubt played over his eyes. The shot dissolved to Kairo, then Father Jesse, and finally to Saskia’s smoldering glare.
Judgment
“Saskia of the Kings Physicians.” The bailiff’s voice announced the witness.
Sister Jordana stood between the respondent’s table and the dais, her back to Lady Bron. Nin squeezed Mal’s hand again and pointed at Sister Jordana’s boots, stacked with six inches of lift.
“Saskia, tell the judges in your own words what you observed outside Garrick’s quarters ten days ago.”
“I heard it from Garrick’s own mouth that he’d invented the story about the chalice.”
“What story is this?” Ghianre, the KP judge, must have been living off the gridcom for the last two years.
“That Mallory is the lost Imperial princess, the daughter of Damini.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd. In Red City, at least, the story was still considered ridiculous. Mal caught Father Jesse’s eye and sensed that he was about to speak in her mind. She visualized a wall between them, and after a few seconds the feeling went away.
Asherah had called him a desperate hybrid. A hybrid what? Desperate for what?
“An unfortunate intrigue,” King Michael of Castlegar said. “But nothing to justify breaking the contract.”
Ghianre’s face was impassive. Everything depended upon how the old king’s physician would rule. Surely she’d give full weight to the testimony of a fellow physician.
“Yes, your Honor,” Sister Jordana said. “Not enough. But there is more. We call Father Jesse of the Samaelii.”
This had to be painful for Sister Jordana, as much as she loathed Father Jesse. Saskia had remained seated for her testimony, but the priest stood to address the judges and the observers. He relished the attention.
“Within my hearing, King Garrick of Garrick said he planned to claim an Imperial connection through his heirs by the Brood Queen Mallory then ensure that no other city could get heirs by her.”
It was shocking to hear in such plain language. Was Father Jesse friend or foe? Mal hadn’t told anyone about the telepathic communication, but Sister Jordana had seen the note he handed to King Harold: Highness, you have nothing to fear from me. JoS.
“And he killed Beastie!” Kairo rose with outraged grandeur. “Mallory’s pug dog!”
The crowd’s shocked outcry drowned out Lady Bron’s objection to hearsay. Their sympathy was a consolation, but it brought back the horrible picture that had replayed through Mal’s mind these last days: Beastie alive in Garrick’s arms, then sliding down the wall.
Beastie, Beastie, her little sweetie. Great gods. She hid her face from the gridvid camera. She wouldn’t give Garrick the satisfaction of seeing her tears.
“Who would play foul with a brood queen?” Durga brought the proceedings back to their proper subject. Her habitual contempt for Mal was trumped now by cold fury at Garrick. “He plays foul with the hope of humanity itself.”
The crowd murmured agreement. Father Jesse sat down. What was he thinking? He could never return to Garrick now.
“And we know he has the capacity.” Saskia’s accusation didn’t carry through the agitated hall, but those at the bench and bar heard well enough. Durga banged her gavel and glared at Saskia as the bailiff’s disembodied voice called for order over the speakers.
Good for you, Saskia.
“Anything further?” Durga said.
“Just one question, your Honors.” Sister Jordana turned to Saskia. “It was the testimony of Kairo of Sanguibahd that Garrick killed Beastie, Brood Queen Mallory’s pug dog. Can you corroborate that?”
“It’s true. I personally witnessed King Garrick destroy that sweet life with his own hands.” Saskia had her victory. Those words could have meant Garrick’s sister as much as Beastie. She had made her statement for the record. “He threw the poor thing against a wall. The blow killed him instantly.”
“No further questions, your Honors.” Sister Jordana’s elegant voice was rough. Her eyes too were full of tears.
“Saskia of the Kings Physicians.” Lady Bron remained seated for the cross-examination. “Did you complete the Rites of May?”
Saskia looked from Durga to Sister Jordana and back to Lady Bron but said nothing.
“Answer the question please.”
“Yes.”
“Can you speak up so the tribunal can hear you?”
“Yes.”
“And yet, I could not find three contracts on record under your name.”
“Objection.” Sister Jordana stood up. “Counselor is testifying.”
“In fact, I could not find one contract.”
“Ask a question, Counselor.” Durga’s tone was steady, but she clenched the gavel so hard her hand was white.
“Have you lost your fertility, Saskia?”
“No.”
“To this day?”
“I don’t know. Probably not.”
“Why do you refuse to give the world the children humanity desperately needs?”
Sister Jordana rose. “Objection; relevance.”
“Goes to the witness’s credibility, your Honors.”
“Objection; Concord security.”
“Sidebar.” Durga banged the gavel.
Lady Bron had come awfully close to the line. Everyone knew that Durga had defied the very goddess to cut off her contracts after one. But then, Lady Bron wasn’t counting on the Matriarch’s vote. The advocates approached the judges, and the room went eerily quiet as everyone strained to hear the sidebar conference.
They were thwarted by the soft rumble of thunder.
Mal had forgotten that an entire world existed outside this hall. It would be so good to get out of here, to run up the mountain and smell the air fresh after the rain.
Saskia looked like she was going to be sick.
Sister Jordana and Lady Bron returned to their places.
Durga said, “The objection is sustained on grounds of Concord security. The parties have rested, and the tribunal judges will adjourn to chambers for deliberations.”
That was it. There was nothing to do but wait, and then surrender to their judgment.
“So I visited another Empani nest.” Nin changed the subject. Nice try, but it wasn’t going to work. “In Allel. Sister Marin and I went to examine their raptor cages. Do you know they haven’t had a sighting for almost two years? They’ve electrified the cages. Anyway, I visited the nest there. This time I kept my cloth about me.”
“Did you find out what they want?”
Kairo and Father Jesse came over from the witness box. Kairo rested her hand tenderly on King Harold’s shoulder.
King Harold looped a finger over her belt and beamed. “You were splendid, dear lady.”
“Sadly, I did not.” Nin continued. “I didn’t even see an Empani – that I know of, anyway. But there was a freshwater pond with a waterfall. It felt like someone, something was watching me from behind it, but I couldn’t make contact.”
How long would it take for the judges to decide?
“Allel is as pretty as you said, Mal. And the food! Fantastic. They grow quite a variety of their own. There is a fish called Chinook – all I can say is, when they bid next, let’s hope Red City gets a supply of Chinook in its part. Oh, and Mal, Counselor said to say hi when I saw you.”
But not Edmund? Saskia had remained in the witness box. She looked miserable.
“You say you had a cloth?” Father Jesse said. “And none of them took it from you?”
“You know about the Empani?” Nin touched his shoulder out of excitement, but immediately pulled back her hand.
Mal didn’t wait to hear the answer. She went to Saskia. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“Don’t bother. When this is over, I’ll be out of here for good. I’ve bought my freedom with you, so don’t waste a minute on pity.”
The door to the judges’ chambers opened. As people returned to their seats, Mal and Father Jesse passed each other.
I won’t tell if you won’t tell.
Again she felt, rather than heard, his voice. He was some kind of telepath. He gave her an inquiring look, and she nodded acknowledgment that she had heard him. So he could send thoughts, but he couldn’t read them.
And he knew about Empani cloths. He could have told everyone about hers. She said, “I’m afraid you won’t be welcome in Garrick after your testimony today.”
“No matter. I’m overdue for a sabbatical.”
“All rise!” The bailiff called for order. When the judges were seated, Durga banged her gavel, and the bailiff polled them on their verdict. “For Sanguibahd?”
Durga said, “Find for the Brood Queen Mallory.”
“For the King’s Physicians?”
The old KP stared at her clasped hands and said, “Find for Garrick.”
All Mal could hear was the rush of blood in her ears. She grabbed the table to keep from falling off her chair. She couldn’t go back to Garrick.
The old KP would not meet Mal’s eye, but her expression said it all: The Triune Contract is sacred.
Consolation
The crowd erupted in pandemonium, but it was like Mal was under water and the noise was far distant. She felt like a trapped animal. She could not go back to Garrick. She would escape to the wild, somehow find Pala. If only Edmund were here. Irrationally, she felt sure he would protect her.
If only she could disappear through a wall like Kim had done.
“Mal!” Nin hugged her. “Isn’t it wonderful!”
“Quiet, ladies.” Sister Jordana said, but she looked happy too. The bailiff was reading the findings.
“. . . the decision of this tribunal that:
The Brood Queen Mallory is justified in terminating relations with Garrick;
That Garrick did cause undue and outrageous hardship on a brood queen in willfully killing her dog Beastie;
That said outrageous act is in conflict with the Concords and nullifies all further claims upon the Brood Queen Mallory;
Further, that said brood queen will retain all consideration paid to her under said contract;
That for fulfillment purposes said contract is hereby considered complete.”
“I don’t understand,” Mal said to Nin. “Didn’t Ghianre rule against me?”
“But King Michael took your side. Didn’t you hear?”
“It is further the order of this tribunal that Garrick pay compensation to Brood Queen Mallory for the loss of consortium of her dog Beastie in the amount of …”
“No!” She jumped up, shaking with rage. That was too much to bear.
“I won’t accept any compensation for Beastie. I will never forgive Garrick. By all that is holy in me, I curse Garrick!”
The lights in the room flickered just as she said curse, followed by a peal of thunder. Quite a lot of people jumped and laughed nervously. Father Jesse looked delighted.
“I accept no penance. I give no absolution.”
“Order!” The Matriarch rose and glared at Mal. “Absolution is not yours to give. The Concords are not personal. Compensation is mandatory. But consolation need not necessarily be achieved in the form of money.”
What was she trying to say? Consolation? Think, Mal. Yes! There was something Garrick would hate to lose.
“I’ll take the painting. Leda and the Swan.”
She could swear she saw Garrick mouth the word donkey in the monitor. She’d made him lose his composure. And that was a kind of revenge.
The judges nodded approval, and the bailiff moved on to the judgment’s final paragraph.
“The Triune Contract is sacred. The contract between the Brood Queen Mallory and the City of Garrick is declared complete. The Brood Queen Mallory will take her mark and be released. Garrick is suspended from contracting with Sanguibahd pending further proceedings.”
“Objection, your Honors!” Lady Bron jumped to her feet.
“So noted.” Durga banged her gavel for the last time. “We are adjourned.”
The gridvid crew headed toward Mal, and King Harold grabbed Harriet’s elbow. “Link arms!” Her friends created a human fence to keep the documentarian at bay.
“I have to talk to you.” Mal followed Sister Jordana to the judges’ chambers. “I can’t have Garrick’s mark on me.”
“You’re upset, and I’m sympathetic. But you have to rise above your feelings. Red City is backing you.”
“How can I bear it?”
“You should be on your knees, thanking Asherah for such a great outcome.”
In chambers, proofs were putting out refreshments for the judges.
“I can’t wear Garrick’s mark,” Mal said.
“The Triune Contract is sacred.” The old KP frowned at a finger sandwich. It was as if she’d said the sky is blue.
“I’ll retire then. I’ve got enough to live on and keep Harriet and Nin comfortable for the rest of all our lives.”
“Perhaps you don’t understand,” Durga said. “Minimum service is three contracts. With the completion mark, we’ll credit you one for Garrick, but you still owe Red City two more. Otherwise, your bounty and your fee for Garrick are forfeit to Red City, and you’ll be in debt for everything we’ve invested in you and everything you have spent on yourself and your charity cases. And if you can’t pay, we’ll get it from those who benefited by your largesse. You wouldn’t want that.”
“But you didn’t do three.”
“You know nothing!” Durga was trembling. Everybody’s rage was so close to the surface. It felt like something in the universe was about to snap.
“I am a slave then.” Mal backed down.
“Call it what you will. Thousands would trade their kind of slavery for your kind.” Then Durga chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry, Mallory. After this, not many cities will be bidding you up. It will be some time before you go out again.”
