by C. R. Daems
"Third, Freeman Karmel is to receive twenty strokes of the cane and be sent to the iron mines at Iron Hills for ten years.
"Fourth, Freeman Abbott is guilty of selling the girl Leela into slavery, and of not honoring the bondage agreement, which may have resulted in the death of a woman. Freeman Abbott is to pay the ten-silvers fine imposed by me, to receive twenty strokes of the cane, and be sent to the iron mines at Iron Hills for five years.
"So say the Judicators of Pyxus."
The next day, Jola and Tenzen walked through the little market, looking over the merchandise as they listened to the gossip around them. They heard a few rumors about nobles talking big about new laws, but nothing specific. Jola noticed that Hygorge, in the middle of Sattah, and Southgate, located in the southern pass, seemed to be mentioned most often. Since Hygorge was the closest, Tenzen decided they should go there first.
CHAPTER TEN
Sattah Province
Six days later when they arrived in Hygorge, they rode straight through the bustling streets to the local inn, the Laughing Man. It stood perched on a hill overlooking the Swiftwater Gorge. The innkeeper was strangely silent as he showed them to their room. At dinner that night, they ate alone. Jola tried to remember another town where the local governor hadn't greeted them, even if he had no judicator-type cases pending. The noblemen sitting at two tables in the private parlor whispered. One even glared and pointed. Tenzen said nothing as they ate, but Jola watched her out of the corner of her eye, ready to follow her lead.
When Tenzen and Jola pushed back their chairs and rose to leave, one of the young noblemen at the next table jumped up to block Jola's path.
"I think I found my entertainment for the night," the young noble said, as he snatched at Jola's breast.
Jola grabbed his arm, twisting his wrist hard enough to double him over. She drove his head into the table. He twisted his face to her, blood running from his nose. She let the viper dangle from her neck in front of his eyes.
"You fool. If you had managed to grab your prize, you would be dead," Jola said, careful to control the tremor in her voice. "I'm a judicator, you idiot."
The other three threw back their chairs as they rose. Tenzen already had her sword in one hand and her viper in the other.
"I assume you've risen to help your drunken friend home to bed, where he belongs?" Tenzen said.
"We're nobles and you'll address us properly," one of the three said.
"When you learn to act like nobles, you'll be treated like nobles. You're acting like thugs, so I'll treat you like thugs." Tenzen was greeted with a rumble of laughter from around the room.
"Your days are numbered, bitches," one man mumbled as he handed his friend a cloth to hold to his nose and half-carried him out of the room.
"Mistresses, you need to be careful. The nobles have been getting more aggressive over the past several seasons. They claim Sattah and Essam are going to have their own judicators just like Tasman, and their judicators will know their place," a small, gray-haired man said in a whisper. Just then, four city guards entered the room.
"Mistress, we've instructions to arrest the young judicator for attacking a noble," the captain said to Tenzen.
"I didn't know the king was in town, Captain." Tenzen said.
"He's not. Marquess Gustel ordered it."
"Captain, you may tell Marquess Gustel that he's on the verge of losing his lands and title, and being sent to the iron mines," Tenzen said in the same sweet voice, as the captain paled. "Your Marquess knows that only the king can issue an arrest warrant for a judicator. For anyone else to do so, or to obey such an order, would be treason, and an act against the king himself. If the young nobles want to press charges against Judicator Jola, I'd be delighted to judge the case."
"Yes, Mistress," the captain said, and then hurried out, his escort following.
They spent three more days in Hygorge. Walking around town and through the market, they heard multiple complaints of nobles committing acts of violence and theft without being charged. On the fourth day, they departed, taking the road to Southgate, which was the southern gap in the Pyxus Spine and the intersection of the Manito, Kasava, Sattah, and Tasman borders. About a mile out of town, they were met by five men dressed in finely made silk clothing, wearing masks and riding warhorses.
"You're not welcome in Sattah," one of the men said, in a voice that sounded older and more mature than those of the youths they had confronted in the inn.
"By whose authority?" Tenzen said.
"By ours!"
"You obviously have no authority, or you wouldn't be hiding behind masks like thieves." Jola knew thieves wouldn't be riding warhorses. Only nobles, their guards, and the Horse units could possibly afford them.
"Either turn around and leave Sattah, or we won't be able to protect you. Rogue judicators are subject to the death penalty."
"In the name of King Nicolas, I, Judicator Tenzen, formally charge each of you with treason for violating the Seven Provinces' Treaty." Tenzen drew her sword and moved her viper to her free hand. Jola did the same. Four of the nobles drew their swords, but the older man waved them off. "If they continue, they'll die." He turned, and the five rode off.
Tenzen sat quietly for several minutes. "If we go on, they'll ambush us with greater numbers-or pay to have us ambushed. We should return to the capital and report this to the king. But I believe they assume we'll do just that, and are prepared to stop us. We'll do the unexpected and ride to Cape Storm, where we can talk to Sattah's ruler, Duke Waller. I'm interested in his position on this matter. There we can also find a king's message carrier to take a letter back to the capital," Tenzen said. "I won't lie to you, Jola. We're in mortal danger. They don't dare to let us report this to the king."
Tenzen and Jola pushed their horses hard and made no stops in the small villages they passed. They arrived in Cape Storm late on the fifth day. True to its name, dark clouds hung over the city, pendants flapped with the wind gusts, and a light rain soaked through their cloaks and ran down their faces. Because of the clouds, they couldn't see the ocean, but the crashing waves spewed water ten meters in the air. The castle loomed alone on a rock that resembled a finger pointing out to sea. It looked ominous, set against the black clouds. The town extended down a slope in steps that ended at the harbor.
Two guards blocked their way while a messenger rode to the castle. Eventually, word came back that they were invited to stay, and that His Grace would meet with them the next morning. By the time they arrived at the castle and were shown to their rooms, it was late. They fell into bed, exhausted.
* * *
They were shown into a small parlor filled with old-fashioned, heavy furniture. "Thank you for seeing us, Your Grace. I'd like to introduce one of our newest members, Judicator Jola," Tenzen said by way of introduction.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Judicator Jola. How are you enjoying your first circuit?" Waller gestured toward the ornate wooden chairs.
"The pleasure is mine, Your Grace. It's been a very interesting experience." Jola assessed the man before her. He was a small, stocky man with a full beard and mustache. Something in his smile and manner chilled her. The way he looked at Tenzen and her, the way he smiled, the way his eyes moved, a feeling of falseness in his greeting, and his cool demeanor all seemed wrong. She would have recognized the signs even without her viper's help.
"I understand you had a few minor problems in Hygorge, Judicator Tenzen," Waller said as he turned back to her.
"Yes, I've charged five men, who I believe are nobles, with violating the Seven Provinces' Treaty. I'm here to request your assistance in bringing them to trial."
"What! You expect me to send soldiers to arrest nobles on your word?"
"My word is the word of the king. Is that not good enough in Sattah?" Tenzen asked, her voice cool and even.
Waller stood silent for a while, his face red. "I'll think about it."
"Think also about your lands, titles, and th
e iron mines, Duke Waller."
"Are you threatening me, Judicator Tenzen?" Waller growled in an ominous tone.
"I'm reminding you of your duties under the Seven Provinces' Treaty, and the consequences for not performing them."
Waller glared at Tenzen, and then nodded. "Tomorrow morning there will be twenty-five troopers ready to accompany you back to Hygorge to arrest those five individuals. They're to be brought back to Cape Storm for trial." Waller stalked from the room.
Two guards accompanied them back to their rooms. For all of Waller's cool reception yesterday and his obvious hostility today, the rooms they had been given were luxurious and spacious. On the way, Jola tried to sort through Waller's contradictory actions. He had been hostile, but in the end, cooperative. When the door to their sitting room closed, Jola couldn't wait to get Tenzen's counsel.
"Sister, do you believe that Lord Waller is a traitor?"
"Waller plays a dangerous game with both parties. I believe he sides with the nobles in Hygorge, but doesn't want to admit it. So he sends troops with us back to Hygorge to see what will happen there. He believes he wins regardless of the outcome. If the nobles win, he can claim he knew they would win. If we win, he can claim he supported the judicators, and therefore the king. In either case, he remains the Duke of Sattah." Tenzen was quiet for several minutes. "I'll write a summary of our findings to date. Tomorrow, we will find a king's messenger to deliver it to Nicolas."
* * *
By the next morning, the rain had stopped and sunshine poured between broken clouds. When Tenzen and Jola strode into the courtyard, twenty-five soldiers were waiting for them, all in mail over black leather, with sabers at their belts.
"Good morning, Mistress, I'm Captain Bazar. His Grace has assigned me to lead your escort to Hygorge."
"Good morning, Captain Bazar, I'm Judicator Tenzen, and this young woman is Judicator Jola. Before we begin, I'd like to understand exactly what your orders are," Tenzen asked in her best motherly tone. Jola covered her mouth with her hand to hide a smile.
"I'm to take my orders from you, Mistress Tenzen."
"And Mistress Jola," Tenzen said, stating it as a fact rather than as a question.
"As you wish, Mistress."
"Excellent. I see you already have our horses ready. You're very efficient, Captain. However, if you've no objections, I'd like to be introduced to your soldiers."
Jola was surprised at first, until she thought through the request. Tenzen wanted the soldiers to feel like she and Jola were real people, not just authority figures. It also gave her a chance to test their emotions. Tenzen could be very devious when she chose. She was the perfect mother figure whom everyone trusted immediately-and rightly so. She was, however, no fool. She somehow knew what Jola thought even before Jola did, and Jola would have sworn Tenzen had eyes in the back of her head.
The introductions over, they rode out of the castle, and Tenzen invited the captain to ride with them at the head of the column.
"Captain Bazar, is this considered good duty or bad?" Jola asked, curious as to what soldiers, particularly those so close to Duke Waller, thought of taking orders from judicators and having to arrest nobles.
"Regular soldiers are raised as commoners. We like judicators because you maintained the balance between commoners and nobles. So helping judicators is a welcome treat. Arresting nobles is dangerous, but that's a soldier's lot. Besides, it's rewarding when it helps keep the nobles from grabbing power. I think Mistress Tenzen has established that we all wish to help." Bazar grinned.
"Very perceptive, Captain. Yes, you and your men are most satisfactory," Tenzen said, with a mother's approval.
The trip back to Hygorge was even longer than the trip to Cape Storm, since they stopped early each evening to leave time for Jola to participate in hand-to-hand and sword matches with the soldiers. Jola's technique had improved since Kasava. She no longer feared fighting men who were bigger or stronger, and managed to win half the time. She thought the soldiers looked forward to the evening stops, and she heard that they bet on whether they could best her. During the day as they rode, the soldiers talked and sang behind the judicators, although their captain kept it subdued.
At the inn in Hygorge, the innkeeper rented them the stable to house the men, and sent out a cauldron of stew and pitchers of ale. Once that was done, Jola followed Tenzen and the captain toward the private parlor. Marquess Gustel stood, hands on his hips, in the doorway, his red face twisted in anger.
"Captain, I'm Marquess Gustel. I demand to know the reason you and your soldiers are here in Hygorge, and why you didn't report directly to me when you entered the city." The veins in Gustel's plump face stood out, and seemed about to burst. He was a tall man who might once have been athletic, but now was soft with age. His clothes were a combination of purple and cream silks, trimmed in fur.
"You can't be the lord who ordered the arrest of a judicator in violation of the Seven Provinces' Treaty, can you?" Tenzen asked as she stepped in front of the captain. Gustel stood silent, in shock, and stared at the two judicators.
"That was a misunderstanding, Mistress," Gustel finally stammered.
"No, that was arrogance, Marquess Gustel, which I hope you aren't going to repeat. The captain is under Duke Waller's orders to accompany me to Hygorge, to arrest the nobles who accosted Mistress Jola and me on the road to Southgate. Do you have a problem with your liege lord's instructions?" Tenzen said in her best mother-to-child voice.
Gustel's face turned from red to purple, but he said nothing for a time. "No, Mistress. Do you know who they are?"
"No, but it's an easy matter to determine. Two days from now, every titled noble with lands under your jurisdiction will report here for questioning. Those who don't will be banished, by my authority as the king's representative," Tenzen said. "In that case, the captain and his men will be authorized to kill them on sight."
"You... can't... you wouldn't," Gustel stuttered.
"The nobles who threatened me and Judicator Jola are about to learn the consequences of treason. Two days from now at noon," Tenzen responded, as she stepped around him and proceeded to their table.
"I wondered how you intended to determine which nobles accosted you. I forgot you can tell truth from a lie. I look forward to seeing you in action," Captain Bazar said, sitting down across from them.
"I plan to let Mistress Jola do the questioning. I'll just watch. Tomorrow, would you or one of your men check in with the local city guard captain and get a list of all the nobles who have lands and titles in Hygorge? We'll need it to determine who doesn't show."
"You anticipate that the five won't show for questioning?" Bazar asked.
"One of three scenarios is possible. First, one or more will show, thinking they can get away with a lie. Second, one or more won't show, deciding to call our bluff. Third, they'll attack us." Tenzen ticked off the numbers on her fingers.
"You think they may attack us?" His head jerked up and his chair slid back a few finger lengths.
"That's the most probable scenario," Tenzen said, and Jola nodded agreement.
"They're caught in a dilemma," Jola said, pausing to look at Tenzen for permission to continue. When Tenzen nodded, she took a moment to organize her thoughts. It had become obvious that this was more than a few discontented nobles. "If they show up for questioning, the chances are they'll get sentenced to the iron mines and lose their titles. The same result occurs if they don't show for questioning. In addition, that would end any support from the other nobles, and they would lose the chance to eliminate us. If they attack and kill us, they'll build additional support, delay the king's learning of the revolt, and gain more time to prepare for whatever they're planning."
"But the king will eventually hear, and send an army to kill the traitors," Bazar said.
"We know there is also trouble in Essam and Tasman. It's possible that the three provinces plan to combine forces in a rebellion. If that's the case, they'll need the extra time
to get organized," Tenzen said.
Bazar sat back, his face paling at Tenzen's explanation of what was at stake.
* * *
The next day, Jola decided to stroll through the town to hear what the common folks were saying. She dressed in simple broadcloth trousers and tunic, not to hide that she was a judicator, but to keep her presence inconspicuous. The town was subdued, with few on the streets. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, she stopped at a small outdoor cafe for a glass of wine.
As she sat listening, the group at the next table, tongues perhaps loosened by the flagon they shared, talked loudly enough for her to overhear. The youngest man, dressed in sturdy clothes that looked like a merchant's son's, loudly complained. He said that the nobles had been aggressive for the past three seasons, and were supported by Gustel. An older man tried to hush him, saying that if they waited things would calm down, but another of their companions stopped him in mid-sentence. He said he had no trust that things would return to normal. The waitress put another flagon of wine in front of him and said she thought she should move out of the province. Then the older man noticed Jola and hushed everyone.
As Jola wandered through the town, she found others who were, as yet, unaffected and didn't care. All hoped the judicators could make a difference, but most doubted it. Everyone knew that trouble was coming and that they, the common folks, would pay as usual.
That night at dinner, Jola passed on what she had learned from the town folk.
"Everyone, us included, agrees that there is trouble coming. I suggest we assume that men of power won't relinquish it without a fight. If we're wrong, we lose nothing. If we're right, we'll have control over the outcome." When Jola was a child, she had no control over what others could do to her. She was determined not to let that happen again.
