Chronicle 30
The hotel room was still dark when Joanna's alarm sounded.
She silenced it almost immediately.
For a moment she simply lay there, listening.
The distant hum of traffic outside.
The air conditioner.
Someone in the hallway dragging a suitcase across the
carpet.
Today.
The trial.
Despite everything that was waiting for them, Joanna smiled.
She had barely slept from excitement.
She rolled over and looked toward the other bed.
"...Zas?"
A sleepy groan answered her.
"Morning."
"It cannot be morning."
"It is."
"I disagree."
Joanna laughed quietly.
"I don't think that's how mornings work."
Zas slowly opened one eye, frowned at the ceiling, then
closed it again as though hoping the problem would simply disappear.
Beside him, Phoebe had already pulled her blanket over her
head.
"No..."
Joanna raised an eyebrow.
"You're fourteen."
"I know."
"You don't get to sound eighty."
Phoebe's muffled reply drifted out from under the blanket.
"I feel eighty."
Across the room another blanket had somehow become a
fortress.
Armintie had disappeared entirely beneath it.
Only a small tuft of dark hair remained visible.
Joanna walked over.
"...Armintie."
Nothing.
She gently poked the blanket.
"Armintie."
Still nothing.
The blanket shifted slightly.
"...Go away."
"We have court."
"...Court can wait."
"It really can't."
"...Has anyone told the judge?"
Phoebe snorted from across the room.
Joanna shook her head, smiling.
"I'll tell Olivia you overslept."
"...Tell her I died heroically."
"I don't think she'd believe me."
"...Worth a try."
Another groan came from somewhere inside the blankets.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the room, another bed was
suddenly empty.
Arel-Sin had already sprung to his feet.
Today's exhaustion simply did not apply to him.
He hurried to the garment bag hanging near the wardrobe and
carefully unzipped it.
His suit.
He grinned.
"Today's the day."
Joanna watched him smooth an imaginary wrinkle from the
jacket.
"I know."
"I finally get to wear it."
"You've only tried it on..."
"...Six times."
"I was going to say five."
"I tried it on again yesterday."
"I noticed."
"I think I can tie the tie by myself now."
"I'm proud of you."
He beamed.
Then he hurried into the bathroom with all the enthusiasm of
a child on Christmas morning.
Phoebe watched him disappear.
"...How?"
Joanna shrugged.
"I think he generates his own electricity."
—
It took Zas considerably longer to sit up.
His shoulder no longer protested the movement the way it had
a few weeks earlier, but that wasn't why his body felt heavy.
Today was important.
He had faced kings.
Negotiated with diplomats.
Walked into battles knowing he might not return.
None of those had required him to spend hours choosing every
word carefully while dozens of strangers watched.
He preferred mountains.
Mountains made sense.
Courtrooms did not.
Joanna noticed the thoughtful expression.
"Nervous?"
"A little."
"You'll do fine."
"I know."
"You don't sound convinced."
"I am convinced."
He rubbed his face with both hands before standing.
"I simply wish it were already finished."
She understood exactly what he meant.
—
Once everyone in their room had reluctantly accepted that
sleep was over, Joanna clapped her hands together.
"I'm going next door."
Phoebe looked up.
"Why?"
"To wake the rest of your mountain men."
"They're probably already awake."
"I know."
Joanna's grin widened.
"I still want to see them."
Before anyone could answer, she slipped into the adjoining
suite.
She knocked once before opening the door.
"Good morning!"
Four pairs of sleepy eyes looked back at her.
Rahim sat quietly on the edge of his bed, tying one shoe.
Semin was staring into a mug of coffee as though willing it
to become stronger.
Ravi had only just managed to sit upright.
Azamat was adjusting the knot of his tie in front of the
mirror with enormous concentration.
Joanna blinked.
"...You're all sleepy."
Azamat looked over.
"We slept."
"I know, but..."
She laughed.
"I expected mountain warriors to leap out of bed before
sunrise."
Rahim smiled faintly.
"We usually do."
Semin took a sip of coffee.
"This is different."
"How?"
"We know exactly what is waiting for us."
Ravi nodded.
"I would rather patrol."
Azamat finished straightening his tie before turning around.
"I would rather patrol after court."
Joanna folded her arms.
"So none of you are excited?"
The four men exchanged puzzled looks.
Finally Azamat raised a hand.
"...I am excited about the suit."
Joanna burst into laughter.
"I knew it!"
"I have never owned one before."
"You look handsome."
Azamat blinked.
"...Thank you."
Joanna looked around the room.
"I can't wait until everyone's dressed."
Semin chuckled.
"You are enjoying this far more than we are."
"Of course I am."
She leaned against the doorway with a smile.
"I finally get to see my mountain men in suits."
Rahim looked at Ravi.
"I still do not understand city people."
Ravi answered without missing a beat.
"I stopped trying yesterday."
Even Zas, listening from the other room, couldn't help
smiling.
—
Another hour passed.
The atmosphere gradually shifted from sleepy reluctance to
quiet concentration.
Shoes were polished one last time.
Ties adjusted.
Jackets brushed free of imaginary dust.
When Joanna finally stepped out of the bedroom, conversation
stopped for just a moment.
She had chosen a deep blue dress that complemented rather
than competed with the formality of the day. It was elegant without drawing
attention to itself, paired with a matching jacket and modest jewellery.
She looked around expectantly.
"Well?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Not because they disliked it.
Quite the opposite.
Zas walked over first.
He looked at her for a long moment before smiling.
"You look beautiful."
There was nothing theatrical about the compliment.
He simply meant it.
Joanna's smile softened.
"So do you."
He laughed quietly.
"I am fairly certain that sentence is incorrect."
"It absolutely isn't."
She straightened the lapel of his jacket.
"I was already looking forward to today."
He raised an eyebrow.
"The trial?"
She shook her head.
"No."
She stepped back just enough to admire the room.
"You."
Then she looked past him toward Rahim, Semin, Ravi and
Azamat.
"All of you."
Five mountain men stood before her in dark suits, looking
every bit as dignified as the diplomats and lawyers they would soon be meeting.
Joanna clasped her hands together.
"I knew these suits were worth buying."
Azamat glanced down at his jacket.
"I admit..."
He smiled.
"...I like it."
"See?"
Joanna said triumphantly.
"I told you."
For the first time that morning, the tension eased.
Not because the trial had become any less daunting.
…but because, for a few precious moments before they left
the hotel, they were simply a family teasing one another before another
important day.
The bus arrived precisely on time.
It pulled silently to the curb outside the hotel before its
doors folded open with a soft hiss.
"Good morning," an artificial voice announced.
"Route confirmed. Responsibility District Courthouse. Estimated travel
time: sixteen minutes."
The driver didn't even look up.
He acknowledged the greeting with a distracted wave while
filling another square in the crossword spread across the steering wheel.
Phoebe blinked.
"...Is he driving?"
The man glanced over the top of the newspaper.
"Officially."
He pointed casually toward the windshield.
"In reality?"
Everyone followed his finger.
There wasn't one.
Instead, the entire front of the bus was dominated by a wide
panoramic display that projected the road ahead. Small blue icons highlighted
pedestrians, cyclists, traffic signals and every nearby vehicle. Invisible
calculations unfolded hundreds of times each second.
"The system's doing the work," the driver said
matter-of-factly. "I'm just here in case it asks for help."
"Does it?"
He shrugged.
"Twice this year."
Then he returned to his crossword.
Joanna leaned toward Zas.
"I kind of love this."
Zas wasn't convinced.
"...He appears to be solving a puzzle."
"He is."
"While operating a bus."
"The bus is operating itself."
"I understood the sentence."
He watched the driver erase a letter and replace it with
another.
"I am still deciding whether I like it."
—
The bus slipped smoothly into traffic.
There were no sudden accelerations.
No abrupt braking.
Every turn felt almost unnaturally perfect.
Outside the windows, Ercolanum was already alive.
Ancient marble columns stood beside sleek glass towers.
Two thousand years of uninterrupted history somehow fit
together without feeling forced.
Roman temples overlooked elevated rail lines.
Stone aqueducts carried flowering gardens instead of water.
Modern cafés occupied buildings whose foundations had been
laid before most nations in the world even existed.
Rahim looked out the window.
"It still feels strange."
"What does?"
"The old."
He gestured toward a massive stone arch.
"And the new."
Joanna smiled.
"I think that's what makes it beautiful."
—
The streets themselves were immaculate.
Not because people constantly cleaned them.
Because machines did.
Small six-wheeled robots methodically swept litter into
larger collection units waiting farther down the street.
Another machine polished sections of sidewalk until the
stone almost reflected the morning sun.
Every dozen metres stood a human supervisor.
Some carried tablets.
Others chatted casually with one another while occasionally
checking the robots' progress.
One elderly supervisor sighed dramatically as a cleaning
robot bumped into a decorative planter.
"...Again?"
The robot paused.
Its lights flashed apologetically.
The supervisor pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You've lived on this street for three months."
Without another word, he gently nudged the machine back
toward the sidewalk.
Azamat watched the exchange.
"...Even Roman robots require supervision."
"Apparently."
Joanna laughed.
"I actually like that."
"Why?"
"It makes them feel..."
She searched for the word.
"...real."
—
As the bus entered the government district, the technology
became impossible to ignore.
Small drones hovered high overhead.
Most were scarcely larger than birds.
Some monitored traffic.
Others drifted lazily between buildings.
Every so often one descended before quietly rising again
after completing whatever task it had been assigned.
Nobody around them appeared to notice.
Businessmen crossed streets without looking up.
Children pointed at shop windows instead.
Office workers drank coffee beneath the humming machines as
though they had stopped hearing them years ago.
Joanna eventually noticed one maintaining almost exactly the
same distance from the bus.
"...Is that following us?"
The driver finally looked up from his crossword.
"Oh."
He glanced through the window.
"Probably."
"...Probably?"
"Court district."
He shrugged.
"Additional security."
"It isn't just us?"
"No."
"Everyone?"
"Everyone."
The explanation somehow made Joanna feel only slightly
better.
—
When they stepped off the bus, the feeling intensified.
The courthouse stood at the end of a broad plaza.
Its immense marble façade, towering columns and carved
reliefs unmistakably belonged to ancient Rome.
Only the discreet additions betrayed its modern purpose.
Transparent security barriers shimmered almost invisibly
between the columns.
Digital information panels had been integrated into
centuries-old stone without disturbing the architecture.
Accessibility ramps curved naturally through what had once
been ceremonial staircases.
It looked less like an old courthouse that had been
modernized...
...and more like history itself had simply continued.
Phoebe stared upward.
"It's beautiful."
"It is," Zas agreed quietly.
Then something buzzed overhead.
Instinctively, every member of the Blue Shield looked up.
Another camera drone.
It slowed.
Turned.
Then resumed moving in almost exactly the same direction
they were.
Armintie frowned.
"...It's following us."
"No," Joanna said, though she wasn't entirely
convinced herself.
"It's probably just—"
The drone slowed again.
"...Okay."
"It might be."
Nearby, a woman overheard them and smiled sympathetically.
"First time in Ercolanum?"
Joanna nodded.
"It gets easier."
"The drones stop following us?"
The woman laughed.
"They never were."
She pointed upward.
"They're programmed to maintain overlapping coverage.
It only feels personal because you're moving with one of their patrol
routes."
Armintie continued watching it.
"...It still feels personal."
"It did for all of us."
The woman smiled warmly before continuing on her way.
Within seconds she had stopped paying attention to the drone
altogether.
The Blue Shield had not.
Semin quietly leaned toward Rahim.
"I know everyone keeps saying not to worry."
"So do I."
"...I am still worrying."
Rahim nodded.
"I also."
Even Zas found himself glancing upward every few moments.
Logically, he understood.
Emotionally...
Every instinct told him something was watching.
—
The closer they came to the courthouse entrance, the larger
the crowds became.
Journalists gathered behind orderly barriers.
Peace officers directed foot traffic.
Several compact security robots projected polite holographic
arrows, guiding visitors toward the correct entrances while their human
partners answered questions and assisted anyone who looked confused.
One robot cheerfully announced,
"Media entrance is to your left. Witnesses and legal
representatives, please continue straight ahead."
Azamat leaned toward Ravi.
"I believe I prefer signs."
Ravi nodded.
"The sign has fewer opinions."
—
Finally they reached the broad staircase leading to the main
entrance.
This was as far as Joanna and the children could go.
The witnesses would disappear into the courthouse for
Olivia's final preparations.
Everyone else would have to wait until the public gallery
opened.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Joanna looked at the five men standing before her.
Only now did it truly feel real.
She stepped forward and hugged Rahim first.
Then Semin.
Then Ravi.
Then Azamat, who returned the embrace with surprising
gentleness.
"You'll all be okay," she said quietly.
Azamat smiled.
"We know."
"…but it helps hearing it."
Finally she stood before Zas.
Neither of them spoke.
She simply wrapped both arms around him.
Normally they would have separated after only a few seconds.
This morning neither seemed eager to let go.
Zas rested his forehead lightly against hers.
"We'll be finished before you know it."
"I know."
She smiled, though her eyes betrayed how worried she still
was.
"Just..."
She hesitated.
"...Take your time."
"I will."
"...and don't rush your answers just because someone
wants you to."
"I won't."
"...and remember Olivia's advice."
"I remember."
She laughed softly.
"Of course you do."
Only then did she finally release him.
Phoebe stepped forward next, hugging her father tightly.
"So..."
She forced a smile.
"...We'll see you inside?"
"You will."
Arel-Sin hugged Zas immediately afterward.
"Good luck."
"You too."
Armintie lingered for a moment before quietly wrapping her
arms around him as well.
Neither said anything.
They didn't need to.
When they finally stepped apart, Joanna took a deep breath.
"We should get breakfast."
The children nodded.
Zas watched them begin walking toward a nearby café before
turning back toward the courthouse doors.
Olivia was already waiting inside.
The easy part of the morning was over.
Now came the reason they had travelled halfway across the
world.
Sarah lay on her bed, still in her pajamas.
The other half of the bed remained untouched.
Lars hadn't come back.
Again.
She wasn't surprised anymore.
It still hurt, but the sharpness had dulled into something
heavier.
Something she had begun accepting, even though she hated
herself for doing so.
She reached for the remote.
The familiar Civic Network theme filled the bedroom.
The camera settled on Wolf Kohlman behind the news desk.
"Good morning. We begin today in Ercolanum, where one
of the most closely watched international criminal cases in decades is expected
to take another significant step."
Images appeared over Wolf's shoulder.
The Responsibility Courthouse.
Crowds gathering outside.
Police lines.
Camera crews.
A photograph of Forman.
Another of Princess Elara.
Finally...
A photograph of five men in dark suits.
The Order of the Blue Shield.
Sarah frowned.
She recognized the picture.
Joanna had posted it.
"Joining me now," Wolf continued, "is Civic's
senior legal analyst, Avi Winter."
The split screen appeared.
Avi nodded politely.
"Good morning, Wolf."
"So before everyone rushes to conclusions
today..."
Wolf smiled toward the camera.
"...this isn't actually the trial."
"No."
Avi folded his hands.
"Today's proceedings are preliminary. Judge Victoria
Caron won't be deciding guilt or innocence."
"What she'll decide is whether the trial should happen
at all."
Wolf nodded.
"...and Forman's lawyers have certainly given her
plenty to think about."
"They've tried."
Avi smiled faintly.
"They've filed a series of motions that, if successful,
would effectively end the prosecution before opening statements are ever
delivered."
"Hence the phrase you've been using all morning."
"'Hail Mary motions.'"
"Exactly."
Wolf leaned forward.
"So walk us through them."
Avi nodded.
"The defence's central argument begins with Princess
Elara."
A graphic appeared beside him showing a timeline of events.
"Following King Havin's death, Elara signed a document
transferring governmental authority to Forman."
Wolf interrupted.
"...and Forman's lawyers say that's the end of the
story."
"They argue that once Elara transferred authority,
Forman became the lawful head of government in Aetheria."
Avi paused.
"If Forman was the lawful government, then the defence
argues Responsibility lacked authority to arrest him in the manner it
did."
"The arrest itself becomes unlawful."
"That's the argument."
Wolf nodded slowly.
"...but there are complications."
"There are several."
Avi changed to another graphic.
"The prosecution alleges Elara signed those documents
while under extreme coercion."
"The defence disputes that?"
"Completely."
"They argue there is no reliable evidence that she was
coerced."
Wolf looked down at his notes.
"...and this is where the Order of the Blue Shield
comes in."
"It is."
A photograph of Zas appeared beside Avi.
Sarah sat up slightly.
Avi continued.
"The Blue Shield members who carried out Forman's
arrest will testify that they believed Princess Elara was being abused when
they entered the room."
"The defence says they were mistaken."
"Correct."
"They'll argue that what the Blue Shield believed they
witnessed and what actually occurred are two different things."
Wolf raised an eyebrow.
"They're saying Zasaramel and his team misread the
situation?"
"They're saying exactly that."
Avi nodded.
"The defence intends to argue that the Blue Shield
arrived in the middle of a chaotic situation."
"They'll contend that Forman was actually attempting to
rescue both Elara and Eldred from other soldiers who had ignored his
orders."
Wolf glanced toward another monitor.
"So when Zasaramel knocked the knife away..."
"The defence will characterize that as an assault upon
Forman."
"They'll argue he was interrupted while trying to stop
ongoing abuse."
Sarah stared at the television.
"...What?"
She whispered it to herself.
Wolf looked skeptical.
"That's...a fairly dramatic reinterpretation."
"It is."
"...but defence counsel isn't required to present the
prosecution's version of events."
"They're required to advocate for their client."
Wolf nodded.
"There's also the issue of command
responsibility."
"There is."
"The prosecution alleges Forman bears criminal
responsibility for atrocities committed by forces under his command."
"...and the defence?"
"They argue individual soldiers acted
independently."
"They'll contend Forman neither ordered nor approved
those crimes."
"...and if he didn't..."
"...then he cannot automatically be held responsible
simply because he was their commander."
Wolf folded his notes together.
"So."
"The lawful transfer of power."
"The alleged misunderstanding during the arrest."
"The claim that Forman himself never abused
anyone."
"Those are the pillars."
"They're the pillars of today's motions."
Wolf leaned back.
"How likely are they to succeed?"
Avi didn't hesitate.
"In my assessment..."
"...not very."
"Why?"
"Because today's standard isn't whether the defence has
imagined an alternative explanation."
"It's whether the prosecution has produced sufficient
evidence for the case to proceed."
He continued calmly.
"The record before Judge Caron already contains witness
testimony, forensic evidence, medical reports, documentary evidence and
statements from cooperating former Curgarden soldiers."
"Taken together..."
"...it's a substantial body of evidence."
Wolf nodded.
"So these are..."
"...long-shot motions."
"Hail Mary's."
"I believe so."
"I would be surprised if Judge Caron accepted the
proposition that every witness independently misunderstood what occurred."
"...and even if she concluded that Forman personally
never laid a hand on anyone..."
Avi shrugged slightly.
"...that would not necessarily dispose of the charges
based upon command responsibility."
"In short?"
"I expect this case to proceed to trial."
Wolf thanked him as the program shifted toward footage
outside the courthouse.
Sarah barely noticed.
Her eyes remained fixed on the frozen image of Zas.
The Blue Shield.
Joanna.
Curgarden.
She remembered standing outside the grocery store weeks
earlier.
A volunteer had smiled warmly.
"Would you sign our petition?"
"Justice for Curgarden."
She hadn't thought twice.
Of course she signed.
Who wouldn't?
She hadn't known Joanna's family had been there.
She hadn't known they were the ones who arrested Forman.
She hadn't known there was another side to the story.
A knot formed in her stomach.
"...Did I make a mistake?"
She whispered it into the empty room.
The broadcast moved on to weather.
Sarah muted the television.
She rolled onto her side and stared at the pillow.
If Avi was right...
Maybe signing that petition hadn't been as simple as she'd
believed.
Maybe she'd lent her name to something she hadn't understood
at all.
From the living room came Lars' voice.
"Sarah!"
She closed her eyes.
"What?"
"I'm starving."
A pause.
Then, in the exaggerated tone he seemed to think was
hilarious-
"I may not survive another five minutes!"
Sarah didn't answer.
She reached for the spare pillow.
Pulled it over her head.
...and stayed exactly where she was.
Elara sat perfectly still.
The makeup artist had done remarkable work.
Every trace of exhaustion had been hidden.
Every sleepless night.
Every tear.
At least on the outside.
Inside...
She felt as though she might fall apart at any moment.
She stared at her reflection in the hotel mirror.
"...I don't think I can do this."
Eldred was already dressed.
The charcoal suit Responsibility had arranged for him fit
surprisingly well.
He crossed the room and sat beside her.
"You don't have to."
She looked down at her hands.
"They'll all be looking at me."
"I know."
"They'll say I'm lying."
"I know."
"They already do."
Her voice cracked.
"They say I wanted my father dead."
"They say I invented everything."
"They say I wanted power."
"They say-"
She stopped herself.
A tear gathered in the corner of one eye.
"No..."
She quickly dabbed at it.
"I'll ruin the makeup."
Eldred gently took both of her hands.
"Look at me."
She did.
"You don't have to prove anything to people who have
already decided not to believe you."
"...but I do have to tell the truth."
"Yes."
He smiled gently.
"Those are different things."
A knock came at the door.
Eldred stood and answered it.
Standing outside were two Peace officers.
Elian Reyes.
...and beside him, a much younger woman with striking blue
hair tied in double pigtails at the sides of her head.
Her Peace uniform looked almost new.
"Morning," Elian said softly.
"May we come in?"
Eldred nodded.
"Of course."
The two officers stepped inside.
Neither hurried the conversation.
Elian looked toward Elara.
"How are you holding up?"
She managed a weak smile.
"I've been better."
"I imagine."
He took a seat opposite her.
"I know Olivia has already discussed this with
you."
"...but I need to say it again."
"No one is going to force you to testify."
"If you've changed your mind..."
"...that choice is still yours."
The room became quiet.
Elara stared at the carpet.
"I don't know."
Eldred squeezed her hand again.
Elian nodded understandingly.
"There isn't a wrong answer."
"If today is too much..."
"...it is too much."
He meant it.
There wasn't even the slightest hint of pressure in his
voice.
The younger officer finally stepped forward.
"I'm Esme."
Elara looked up.
Esme smiled gently.
"May I?"
She held out a hand.
After a brief hesitation, Elara placed her own hand into it.
Esme's grip was warm.
Steady.
"I can't pretend I know everything you've lived
through."
"No one can."
She paused.
"...but..."
"...I do know what it's like to sit in a courtroom and
testify against someone you once loved."
Elara listened quietly.
"My brother."
Esme looked down briefly before continuing.
"I testified at his trial."
"I hoped..."
She smiled sadly.
"I honestly hoped my testimony would somehow change
everything."
"It didn't."
"He was convicted."
The room was silent.
"For a long time..."
"I wondered whether I should have testified at
all."
She met Elara's eyes.
"I don't wonder anymore."
"Why?"
"Because courts don't exist so we can save
people."
"They exist so the truth has a chance to be
heard."
She gently squeezed Elara's hand.
"My testimony wasn't enough to change the
verdict."
"...but I would have regretted staying silent."
Elara looked at her for several long seconds.
"...Were you afraid?"
Esme laughed softly.
"I was terrified."
"I thought I'd faint before they even called my
name."
"What happened?"
"I walked into the courtroom anyway."
Elara smiled for the first time that morning.
Only a little.
...but it was there.
Esme smiled back.
"If you decide not to testify..."
"...I will respect that."
"If you decide to testify..."
"...I'll walk beside you the entire way."
Elian nodded.
"So will I."
No one spoke.
Finally Elara took a slow, shaky breath.
"They hate me."
"Some people do," Elian admitted.
"They say horrible things online."
"They accuse me of everything."
She looked toward the window.
"I read them."
"I know I shouldn't."
"...but I do."
Eldred quietly rested a hand on her shoulder.
"They don't know you."
"I know."
"They don't know what happened."
"I know."
She closed her eyes.
"When I was locked in that room..."
"...I thought no one was ever coming."
Her breathing steadied.
"I survived."
She opened her eyes again.
"I survived because I kept believing that one day
someone would believe me."
She looked at each of them in turn.
"If I stay in this room..."
"...what does that tell the next woman?"
No one answered.
They didn't need to.
Elara slowly stood.
Her knees trembled.
...but she remained standing.
"I don't want another girl..."
"...or another woman..."
"...to think she has to stay silent because people will
call her a liar."
She straightened her jacket.
"I want justice."
Not revenge.
Justice.
She looked toward Eldred.
Then Elian.
Then Esme.
A quiet determination replaced the fear in her eyes.
"I'm going to the courthouse."
Esme smiled.
"I know."
Elian stood.
"Then let's go."
Eldred offered his arm.
This time...
Elara took it without hesitation.
The boardroom was considerably warmer than the courtroom
downstairs.
Sunlight poured through tall Roman windows overlooking the
city.
One wall displayed digital evidence monitors.
Another held shelves filled with leather-bound legal texts
that looked centuries old.
The centre of the room was dominated by a long polished
table.
At one end...
Coffee.
Several trays of doughnuts.
Fresh croissants.
Fruit.
Orange juice.
Azamat's eyes immediately found the food.
Olivia noticed.
"I owe everyone an apology."
The Blue Shield looked puzzled.
"Our usual caterer cancelled late last night."
She gestured toward the table.
"This was the best we could arrange on short
notice."
Azamat blinked.
"There are doughnuts."
"There are."
"There are croissants."
"There are."
"...I fail to see the problem."
The room laughed.
Even Olivia.
"I thought you might say that."
"Please."
"Eat."
"I promise you'll think better after breakfast."
Within minutes coffee was being poured and plates quietly
filled.
Only once everyone had settled did Olivia stand.
Around her sat the rest of Responsibility's trial team.
Christopher Cutson.
Aaron "Finch" Fitchner.
Gao Yang.
Jabulile Cele.
"This won't take long," Olivia began.
"I know all of you have already spent many hours
preparing."
She looked around the table.
"This isn't another rehearsal."
"It's simply our last opportunity to make sure everyone
understands today's purpose."
Christopher opened a folder.
"Remember..."
"...today is not the trial."
"It's a preliminary hearing."
"The judge isn't deciding whether Forman is
guilty."
"She's deciding whether this case should
continue."
Gao smiled.
"So the good news is..."
"...none of you have to convince anyone of
anything."
"You only have to tell us what happened."
Aaron nodded while making a note.
"...and if you don't remember something..."
"...say you don't remember."
"If someone asks you to guess..."
"...don't."
"The words 'I don't know' are perfectly acceptable
testimony."
Jabulile finally spoke.
Her deep voice filled the room effortlessly.
"The truth..."
"...does not become stronger because it is
louder."
"It becomes stronger because it remains the
truth."
Silence settled over the table.
Olivia smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
She opened another folder.
"Let's begin with the arrest."
She looked toward Zas and Azamat.
"You two were present from the beginning."
Zas nodded.
"We were."
"Walk us through it again."
Not dramatically.
Simply as you remember it."
Zas folded his hands.
"When we entered..."
"...Princess Elara was on the ground, chained to
posts."
"Eldred was protecting her."
"Forman was standing over them."
Christopher looked up.
"What made you believe a crime was about to
occur?"
"I saw the knife."
"...and?"
"I believed Forman intended to use it."
"Why?"
Zas answered immediately.
"I believed I heard him say he would use it to remove
Eldred from Elara."
Christopher wrote something.
"You believed."
"Yes."
"You are certain that's what you believed at the
time?"
"I am."
Olivia nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Don't improve that answer."
"Don't make it stronger."
"If that's exactly what you believed..."
"...that's exactly what you tell the court."
Azamat leaned forward.
"The soldiers attacked us almost immediately."
"They did."
"We had to defend ourselves before we could restrain
anyone."
Christopher nodded.
"...and that's important."
"Because?"
Azamat asked.
"Because the defence may argue that Forman peacefully
surrendered."
Christopher closed his notebook.
"If your recollection is that he and his soldiers
fought you..."
"...then that's what the court needs to hear."
Olivia turned toward the other end of the table.
"Rahim."
"Semin."
"Ravi."
"You arrived later."
The three men nodded.
Rahim spoke first.
"The fighting had already ended."
"We secured the area."
Semin continued.
"Peace officers had begun processing prisoners."
Ravi added quietly,
"I spoke briefly with Elara."
"...and Eldred."
Christopher looked interested.
"What stood out?"
Ravi hesitated.
"They were frightened."
"In what way?"
"I..."
He frowned.
"I don't know how to explain it."
"They looked relieved we were there."
"They seemed..."
He searched for the words.
"...afraid of Forman."
He immediately looked embarrassed.
"I know that sounds weak."
"I'm only describing..."
"...a feeling."
"No," Olivia said gently.
"You're describing an observation."
Ravi looked uncertain.
"I didn't see Forman hurt them."
"We know."
"I don't know what happened before we arrived."
"We know."
"So..."
"...it feels like I'm only testifying to..."
He smiled awkwardly.
"...vibes."
That earned a small laugh around the room.
Even Christopher smiled.
Olivia shook her head.
"Observations matter."
"You observed frightened people."
"That's evidence."
Christopher leaned forward.
"Remember the defence theory."
"They're expected to argue that Forman was rescuing
Elara and Eldred."
"If that's true..."
"...how would you expect Elara and Eldred to react
toward Forman afterward?"
Ravi thought for a moment.
"They wouldn't fear him."
"Exactly."
Christopher nodded.
"You are not testifying that Forman committed a
crime."
"You are testifying that the two people you encountered
appeared frightened of him."
"Those are different statements."
"The first is a conclusion."
"The second is an observation."
"...and observations belong to witnesses."
"The conclusions..."
He smiled toward Olivia.
"...are our job."
The tension around the table eased.
Olivia closed her folder.
"That's all I wanted everyone to remember."
"Don't worry about winning."
"Don't worry about sounding persuasive."
"Don't worry about saying exactly the right
thing."
She looked around the room, meeting each witness's eyes.
"The truth has a remarkable way of sounding convincing
all by itself."
For the first time that morning...
The Blue Shield looked a little less nervous.
For a few moments no one spoke.
The lawyers began closing folders.
Coffee cups were refilled.
Azamat reached for what was probably his third doughnut.
Finally Zas broke the silence.
"May I ask a question?"
Olivia smiled.
"That's why we're here."
"We know almost nothing about your courts."
"We know what happened in Aetheria."
"...but not what happens next."
Several of the lawyers exchanged knowing smiles.
Christopher leaned back in his chair.
"Fair enough."
"What would you like to know?"
Zas considered the question.
"The judge."
"What should we expect?"
Gao answered first.
"Her Honour Victoria Caron."
He smiled.
"Wonderful judge."
He paused.
"...terrifying woman."
A few people chuckled.
Aaron didn't.
Gao pointed toward him.
"She smiles less than Finch."
Aaron looked up from his notebook.
"I smile."
"You do."
Gao nodded solemnly.
"Once every leap year."
That finally earned the smallest hint of a smile from Aaron.
"There."
Gao pointed triumphantly.
"I've used up this year's."
Even Olivia laughed.
Once the room settled again, Christopher became serious.
"Judge Caron is fair."
"Extremely fair."
"...but she expects everyone in her courtroom to
respect the process."
"She has very little patience for people wasting
time."
"No speeches."
"No grandstanding."
"No wandering off topic."
"If she asks for 'yes' or 'no'..."
"...she expects someone to begin with 'yes' or
'no.'"
Jabulile nodded once.
"She listens."
"Carefully."
"If you answer honestly..."
"...she will give you every opportunity to
explain."
"...but if someone attempts to play games..."
"...she notices."
Olivia folded her hands.
"People sometimes mistake her seriousness for
hostility."
"It isn't."
"She simply believes court is not theatre."
Rahim nodded thoughtfully.
"So..."
"...she is strict."
"Very."
Olivia smiled.
"...but once you realize she's there to hear the
evidence rather than intimidate anyone..."
"...she's actually one of the easiest judges to appear
before."
Semin looked around the room.
"This courtroom..."
"...will it be full?"
Christopher shook his head.
"Not today."
"This hearing is comparatively small."
"The trial itself..."
He smiled.
"...assuming we get there..."
"...will require a much larger courtroom."
"There will be considerably more observers."
"More media."
"...and considerably more lawyers."
Azamat looked mildly horrified.
"...More lawyers?"
Christopher grinned.
"Quite a few."
"I'm suddenly less excited."
"You'll survive."
Ravi raised a hand slightly.
"There is something I have wondered."
Olivia nodded.
"Go ahead."
"There will be a jury?"
Christopher shrugged.
"Maybe."
"It's Forman's choice."
The Blue Shield looked confused.
"He chooses?"
"He does."
"Under Responsibility procedure, the accused may elect
either a jury trial or a bench trial."
"A bench trial means Judge Caron decides the facts
herself."
"A jury trial means citizens decide the facts while
Judge Caron rules upon the law."
"When will we know?"
"If today's motions fail..."
"...his lawyers will eventually tell the court."
"So..."
Ravi nodded slowly.
"...we wait."
"Exactly."
More questions followed.
Where would they sit?
Would they all testify together?
Could they hear one another's testimony?
Would the defence be allowed to interrupt?
Could they ask the lawyers questions while on the witness
stand?
Each answer seemed to ease another small piece of
uncertainty.
Christopher patiently explained the order of proceedings.
Aaron quietly sketched the courtroom on a legal pad, showing
where the judge, lawyers, witnesses and public gallery would be.
By the time he finished, the room suddenly seemed much less
mysterious.
Then Olivia checked one final page.
"One last item."
"Princess Elara and Eldred will also be
testifying."
Zas looked up immediately.
"They're here?"
"They are."
"I would like to speak with them."
The room became quiet.
Olivia's expression remained kind.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that."
Zas frowned.
"They know us."
"I know."
"They know we wish them well."
"I know."
Christopher gently took over.
"The problem isn't trust."
"It's appearances."
"If the defence learns that witnesses met privately
immediately before a hearing..."
"...they'll argue everyone coordinated their
testimony."
"We know you wouldn't."
"...but we don't want to hand them that argument."
Aaron added,
"It's standard practice."
"Witnesses are generally kept apart until they've
testified."
"It protects everyone."
"It also protects the integrity of their
evidence."
Zas thought for a long moment before nodding.
"I understand."
He looked down briefly.
"...Then would you at least tell them..."
"...that we wish them well?"
Olivia smiled.
"That..."
"...we can absolutely do."
"I'll make sure they hear it."
A small smile returned to Zas' face.
"Thank you."
Olivia stood.
"Good."
She gathered her files.
"Then I believe we're ready."
The room fell quiet again.
There were no more questions.
Only the growing realization...
...that the next conversation they would have would likely
take place in front of Judge Victoria Caron.
Stego Burgers was already busy.
Government employees hurried through the doors carrying
takeaway coffee.
Students sat around corner booths arguing over lectures.
Several tourists stood near the menu boards, trying to
decide whether archaeopteryx eggs actually tasted different from gallimimus
eggs.
Joanna and the children joined the line.
Armintie stared at the breakfast menu with complete
seriousness.
"...I have a problem."
Phoebe glanced over.
"What?"
"I don't know whether I want archaeopteryx
eggs..."
"...or gallimimus eggs."
"You've been looking at that menu for three
minutes."
"I know."
"...This is an important decision."
Joanna smiled.
"You could always flip a coin."
"No."
Armintie folded her arms.
"That would disrespect breakfast."
Phoebe rolled her eyes.
"Naturally."
Meanwhile, Arel-Sin had reached the cashier.
"I'd like a breakfast sandwich with Stego
sausage..."
"...and a coffee with diplodocus milk."
The cashier typed for a moment.
"I'm sorry."
"We're out of diplodocus milk."
Arel-Sin blinked.
"...You're...out?"
"We should have more this afternoon."
He looked genuinely disappointed.
"...I'll have mammoth milk."
"Good choice."
Phoebe stepped forward next.
"I'll just have the triceratops bacon plate."
"No eggs?"
"No."
"Toast?"
"No."
"Coffee?"
"I'm fourteen."
The cashier smiled.
"Fair point."
A few minutes later they carried their trays to a table near
the window.
Breakfast disappeared remarkably quickly.
Armintie eventually decided upon the gallimimus eggs.
She declared them "worth the stress."
A robot quietly glided between the tables collecting empty
trays.
Its articulated arm extended toward Joanna's table.
Before it reached them, a nearby employee gently tapped its
housing.
"Not this one."
The robot emitted a pleasant chime.
"Apologies."
It immediately redirected itself toward another table.
Joanna watched it leave.
"I still don't think I'll ever get used to that."
Neither would the Blue Shield.
She hoped they weren't staring at too many drones.
—
"Aw..."
Arel-Sin froze.
Everyone looked over.
A small spot of sauce had landed on the front of his tie.
He stared at it in horror.
"No..."
"My suit."
Joanna leaned over.
"Oh, sweetheart."
"It's tiny."
"I ruined it."
"You absolutely did not."
He looked toward the cleaning robot.
"Maybe it can clean it."
"No."
Joanna reached into her purse and produced a napkin.
"It does not need industrial robotics."
She gently dabbed the stain.
"There."
"It'll come out."
Arel-Sin still looked unconvinced.
"...I should have ordered something less
dangerous."
Phoebe looked down at her own plate.
"You ordered a sandwich with sauce."
"While wearing your favourite tie."
"...I may have made a tactical error."
Joanna laughed.
"I think that's a fair assessment."
Her phone began vibrating.
She glanced at the screen.
"Sarah."
She answered with a smile.
The video connected almost immediately.
Sarah appeared on the screen from her bedroom.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Joanna turned the phone.
"Say hello."
"Hi, Aunt Sarah!" Arel-Sin waved enthusiastically.
Phoebe smiled.
"Hi."
Armintie waved with a mouth full of breakfast.
Sarah laughed.
"Good morning, you three."
"You all look very dressed up."
"We're waiting for court."
"I know."
Sarah's smile faded slightly.
"...Jo..."
Joanna immediately heard the hesitation.
"You okay?"
Sarah looked down.
"I need to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I..."
She took a breath.
"I signed the Curgarden petition."
Joanna was quiet.
Sarah hurried on.
"I didn't know."
"I honestly didn't."
"I had no idea Zas was involved."
"I didn't know you were involved."
"I just..."
She sighed.
"I thought I was doing the right thing."
Joanna didn't answer immediately.
Finally she nodded.
"I'm not happy you signed it."
"I know."
"...but..."
She smiled gently.
"...you also didn't know what you were signing."
Sarah's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
"...and I forgive you."
"You do?"
"Of course."
"If you'd known everything..."
"...you wouldn't have signed it."
Sarah nodded.
"I don't think I would have."
Joanna looked carefully at her bestie.
"...How's Lars?"
Sarah's expression changed immediately.
"I..."
She glanced toward the living room.
"...Can we not do that today?"
Joanna recognized the look.
Something was wrong.
More wrong than Sarah wanted to admit.
She nodded.
"Okay."
"We'll talk after the hearing."
"I'd like that."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
The besties exchanged small smiles.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
The call ended.
For a moment Joanna simply stared at the blank screen.
"Aunt Sarah okay?"
Arel-Sin asked.
Joanna looked up.
"Right now..."
"...I think you should worry more about your
breakfast."
He frowned.
"My breakfast?"
"You've still got sauce on your sandwich."
Almost as if the universe had been waiting...
Another tiny drop escaped.
Plop.
It landed squarely on the front of his shirt.
Arel-Sin stared at it.
Joanna was already there with another napkin.
She wiped it away before it had time to spread.
"I ordered the wrong thing for a suit."
Joanna laughed.
"I think that's the lesson."
"What should I have ordered?"
Phoebe answered before Joanna could.
"Toast."
Armintie nodded solemnly.
"Toast respects formalwear."
Even Arel-Sin couldn't help laughing.
For just a little while...
The courthouse felt very far away.
Just as everyone began gathering their notes, Olivia raised
a hand.
"One last briefing."
The room settled again.
Christopher opened a thin folder.
"We've talked about the evidence."
"We've talked about the judge."
"Now let's talk about the people sitting across from
us."
Azamat smiled.
"The enemy."
Olivia smiled back.
"The defence."
"They're entitled to one."
Christopher nodded.
"The lead defence counsel is Wiseman Banda."
Azamat blinked.
"...His name is Wiseman?"
"It is."
Azamat couldn't help himself.
He laughed.
"I already like him."
Several people around the table smiled.
Even Gao chuckled.
Christopher, however, remained completely serious.
"I wouldn't underestimate him."
Azamat's smile faded.
"Wiseman Banda is widely regarded as one of the finest
defence advocates in the world."
"He has acquitted heads of state."
"Military commanders."
"Corporate executives."
"...and people everyone believed had no chance."
Rahim frowned.
"I thought Forman had little money."
"He does."
Olivia nodded.
"The Curgarden diaspora raised enough money to retain
Mr. Banda."
Christopher added,
"...and after reviewing the file..."
"...he agreed to take the remainder of the case without
charging another cent."
"Pro bono."
Zas looked up.
"He believes Forman is innocent?"
"So he says."
Olivia shrugged.
"...and regardless of whether we agree..."
"...every accused person deserves competent
representation."
Christopher closed the folder.
"If he didn't believe he had a viable case..."
"...he wouldn't be here."
The room became noticeably quieter.
Then Gao opened another file.
"The attorney we're actually more concerned
about..."
"...is Alexandra Nikolaou."
He looked directly at the five witnesses.
"She won't sound dangerous."
"She'll sound kind."
"Patient."
"Understanding."
"You may even find yourself liking her."
Ravi looked surprised.
"That sounds good."
"It isn't."
Christopher answered immediately.
"Her style is conversational."
"She wants you relaxed."
"She'll nod."
"She'll smile."
"She'll agree with parts of what you say."
"She'll make it feel like the two of you are simply
trying to understand what happened."
Aaron finally looked up from his notebook.
"That's when witnesses begin talking too much."
Olivia nodded.
"You'll feel as though she's on your side."
"She isn't."
"She is on her client's side."
"...and she's exceptionally good at making witnesses
volunteer information nobody asked for."
Jabulile leaned forward slightly.
"So remember one thing."
"When Ms. Nikolaou asks a question..."
"...answer that question."
"No more."
"No less."
"If she wants another answer..."
"...she'll ask another question."
Zas nodded slowly.
"So..."
"...we should not have a conversation with her."
Christopher smiled.
"Exactly."
"Think of testimony as climbing a mountain."
"You don't leap to the summit."
"You take one step."
"Then another."
"Then another."
"One answer."
"One question."
"One answer."
"One question."
"The lawyer decides the route."
"You simply place your feet where you're asked."
The analogy immediately clicked.
Semin smiled.
"...That makes sense."
Olivia checked her watch.
"One final procedural matter."
"You'll all be sequestered."
Ravi frowned.
"...I'm sorry."
"You'll be what?"
"Sequestered."
Ravi looked around the room.
"I do not know that word."
Christopher smiled reassuringly.
"It simply means you'll be separated."
"You won't sit in the courtroom listening to everyone
else's testimony."
"You'll wait in another room until you're called."
"Why?"
"So your memory remains your own."
Aaron answered.
"Human beings influence one another without realizing
it."
"If you hear another witness describe an event..."
"...your brain may begin remembering it the same
way."
"Even if that's not what you originally saw."
"So we prevent that."
"It protects the evidence."
Rahim nodded.
"That seems sensible."
"It is."
Olivia smiled.
"Every witness is treated the same way."
"Even police officers."
"Even prosecutors, if they're called."
Christopher gathered the last of his papers.
"So if someone tells you that you're being
isolated..."
"...don't worry."
"It isn't a punishment."
"It's one of the ways the court tries to ensure a fair
trial."
The five men nodded.
Some of the uncertainty remained.
That couldn't be helped.
...but now...
At least they understood why the rules existed.
...and somehow...
Knowing the reason made those rules much easier to accept.
The courthouse looked even larger from the plaza than it had
an hour earlier.
Reporters crowded behind barriers.
Camera crews adjusted equipment.
Responsibility officers calmly directed visitors toward the
correct entrances.
The hearing would begin soon.
Joanna adjusted the strap of her purse.
"Ready?"
"I am."
Phoebe answered immediately.
Arel-Sin nodded.
"As long as nobody looks too closely at my tie."
Joanna smiled.
"For the hundredth time..."
"...it's barely noticeable."
"It is to me."
"It isn't ruined."
"It feels ruined."
She straightened it one final time.
"There."
"If anyone notices that stain..."
"...I'll personally buy them glasses."
That finally earned a reluctant smile from him.
Joanna looked toward Armintie.
"...Armie?"
No answer.
Armintie hadn't moved.
She stood several steps behind them, staring at the
courthouse entrance.
Her breathing had become noticeably shallower.
Joanna immediately walked back.
"Hey."
Armintie didn't answer.
"You okay?"
After several long seconds...
"...I don't know."
Joanna followed her gaze.
The courthouse.
"So that's what this is."
Armintie swallowed.
"I know it isn't the same."
"...but..."
"...it feels..."
She couldn't finish the sentence.
Joanna didn't rush her.
"My trial."
The words barely escaped.
"I remember standing there."
"I remember everyone looking at me."
"I remember waiting for them to decide."
Her breathing became uneven.
"I remember..."
She stopped.
She didn't need to continue.
Joanna knew exactly which memories had returned.
The accusations.
The verdict.
The robe being cut.
Being cast out.
Nearly dying alone in the mountains.
Joanna gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to go in."
Armintie looked at her.
"You don't."
"If this is too much..."
"...we'll go back to the hotel."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I'll tell Zas."
"He'll understand."
"So will everyone else."
Phoebe nodded immediately.
"Nobody will be upset."
Arel-Sin agreed.
"We can come back later."
Joanna smiled gently.
"You've already been through one courtroom."
"You don't owe this one anything."
Armintie looked back toward the entrance.
For a moment...
She seriously considered it.
Going back to the hotel.
Closing the curtains.
Waiting until it was all over.
It sounded...
Safe.
Then another thought entered her mind.
Dad...
She froze.
Her own thoughts caught her off guard.
Dad?
She hadn't called him that.
Not since before the Council.
Not since everything had fallen apart.
For months...
He had only been Zas.
She blinked.
When had that changed?
She thought back.
The rescue.
The hospital.
The wrestling tour.
The long phone calls.
The jokes.
The hugs.
The quiet evenings around the fire.
The way he never once stopped trying.
Somewhere along the way...
Without even noticing...
She had started thinking of him as her father again.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"...Dad..."
She whispered the word so quietly that only she heard it.
Joanna watched her carefully.
She could see something changing.
Not outside.
Inside.
Armintie took a long breath.
Then another.
Finally she looked back at the courthouse.
"It isn't the same."
"No."
Joanna answered softly.
"It isn't."
"I'm not the one on trial."
"No."
"I'm just..."
She smiled weakly.
"...watching."
Joanna nodded.
"...and afterwards..."
"...you'll walk out again."
Nobody is taking you away."
Nobody is judging whether you deserve to stay with your
family."
Armintie slowly nodded.
"My family."
The words felt different now.
Warmer.
More certain.
She wiped her eyes before any tears escaped.
"I think..."
She inhaled deeply.
"...I want to go in."
"You sure?"
"No."
She laughed through her nerves.
"...but I think I need to."
She looked toward the courthouse one final time.
"I don't want us..."
"...to go backwards."
Joanna's eyes softened.
"We won't."
Armintie nodded.
This time...
She believed it.
Joanna held out her hand.
Armintie took it without hesitation.
Together...
The four of them walked toward the courthouse.
Not because none of them were afraid.
...but because, for the first time since the Council of
Daral...
Fear was no longer making Armintie decide where she could go.
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