Chapter 18
Accuser and Accused
6th of Fourthmoon, Saintclair 12
E27, Elsanto Mountains, Neveland
It had been fourteen hours since they retook the ship. Of course the newly liberated Centurion Tofels wasted no time in being an asshole about it. Sometimes it seemed like he was deliberately trying to provoke Root into killing him. What was it the quack headshrinkers would say, in the absence of Eros, a man is driven by Thanatos instead? It sure seemed like it.
Root waited at the designated meeting spot. Right on time, young Limpe appeared, limping—true to his name—from an injury he received when the Palatinians first took the ship. He kept looking back over his shoulder in fear that he was being followed. He was risking his life and reputation, after all.
"You got what I need, Blackamoor?" Root asked.
"Yeah," Limpe replied sullenly, pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket and handing it to Root.
Root looked over the notes on the piece of paper before asking, "You sure this is everything?"
"Everything that was written down," Limpe said.
"It's better'n nothin'," Root said. "Good work, Blackie. Ya might just make it out a' this ahead."
Limpe said nothing. He just turned and walked away defeated. Root's blackmail was paying dividends and now it was time to put it to good use. It took some searching, but he eventually found the person he was looking for.
"Can I help you, Lieutenant?" Major Pulver asked.
Root slipped him the piece of paper from Limpe, saying, "Do what you can with this, Major Pulver. It should help."
"I will do what I can, sir," Pulver replied.
"It's all I ask. See ya tomorrow."
* * *
Root got up early the next morning, but he still had a few hours to wait until it was time. He made the rounds to check up on everyone once more to kill time. They were all holding up for the most part.
When the time came at last, he quickly made his way to the briefing room chosen as the venue for this little farce. The furniture had been rearranged for the room's current purpose. A table was put up front with three chairs. To the left of the table was a yeoman at a typewriter and to the right was an empty seat. The first row of seats after that was spaced out from the rest and clearly split between left and right. It almost looked like a real courtroom.
On the right side was Major Pulver with Azuki and on the left was some Blackamoor. Root went over to Azuki and leaned in close so prying ears wouldn't listen in.
"How're ya doin'?" he whispered.
"I will be fine," she said stiffly.
"We're gonna get through this, Azuki."
"The truth is my defense," she said. "But truth may not be enough for black-face men."
Root put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her and then went to Major Pulver.
"Did it help?" Root asked.
"I think it will, sir," Major Pulver replied. "I hope it will."
"You're not the only one. Just do what you can for her."
"Yes, sir."
Root took his seat, but no sooner did he sit down than Lieutenant Crestoa—acting more or less like an usher of justice—announced, "All rise."
Anyone who was sitting stood up as Captain Romsky, Captain Saxon, and Centurion Tofels entered the room. They took their seats at the table up front and Captain Romsky cast a lazy eye at everyone in attendance before speaking.
"This tribunal is now in session," he said. "You may be seated. We are reviewing the case of Azuki Anju, accused of aiding and abetting the enemy. Presiding are myself, Frigate Captain Leonid Romsky, Corvette Captain John Saxon and Centurion Memphis Tofels. Representing the prosecution is Adjutant Asbel Modai and representing the defense, Major Geoffrey Pulver. We shall proceed with the opening statements. Mr. Modai."
"Thank you, Captain," the Blackamoor acting as the prosecutor—Modai—said. "Yesterday, we were attacked, this ship boarded and seized, our officers imprisoned—" He nodded to Tofels. "—with some of them subjected to brutal torture—, and twenty-two people are dead or wounded. This could not have happened without help and the person responsible is sitting right there." He pointed to Azuki. "I will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Miss Anju has served as an informant for the enemy. Indeed, her very purpose in volunteering for this mission may well have been to betray us to the Palatinians."
Root grated at the charges being leveled against Azuki. The only way Root could figure it was that Tofels was trying to save face for losing the ship to the Palatinians. What better scapegoat than a lone foreigner whose country didn't even have formal diplomatic ties with Byrandia?
He had to hope Major Pulver could actually defend her in spite of the odds. Speaking of which...
"Your turn, Mr. Pulver," Captain Romsky said.
"Yes, sir," Pulver replied. "Gentlemen of the panel, I am no lawyer. I fear I do injustice to the accused by representing her, but I will do what I can to defend her to the best of my ability. It is my intent to show that not only does Miss Anju not have any connection to the Palatinians, but that she has played a major role in our present liberty. I know we are all shaken by the attack on our ship, but that is no justification for false accusations."
"The defense will be advised to moderate his comments," Tofels warned him.
Without flinching, Pulver replied obligingly, "Understood, sir."
"The prosecution may call its first witness," Captain Romsky said.
"The prosecution calls Squad Chief Theban Follet to the stand," Modai said.
Follet got up from his seat. The audience was still filling in when Root first sat down, but now he couldn't fail to notice the prosecution's side of room was filled with Blackamoors. The intended intimidation factor was obvious.
When Follet took his place at the 'stand', Lieutenant Crestoa stepped forward and told him, "Raise your right hand."
Follet did so and Lieutenant Crestoa continued, "You swear to speak without hatred and without fear, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"Yes."
Lieutenant Crestoa nodded and withdrew so that Modai could take his place.
"Chief Follet, please state your name, rank, unit and assignment for the record."
"Squad Chief Theban Follet, squad chief of First Squad of the First Maniple, Third Century, First Wymar Legion."
"Where were you on the 27th of Thirdmoon during the morning watch?" Modai asked.
"I was pulling duty as Officer of the Deck," Follet replied.
"And did you have any interaction with the accused?"
Follet nodded to Azuki.
"The Gandee left the ship."
"Did she state her purpose?"
"She said something about a rescue mission."
"And why did you grant her permission to disembark?"
"I didn't," Follet replied stiffly. "She just left."
"She just left?" Modai repeated, dragging out the words in an exaggerated display of incredulity.
"That's right."
"So the accused left the ship without authorization on the pretense of a rescue mission. I wonder what her true purpose was."
"Objection," Pulver said. "Speculation."
"Objection sustained," Captain Romsky said. "The prosecution will stick to the facts."
From the slightest twitch, Modai's face betrayed an annoyance at an entire setup getting torpedoed so expertly.
"Very well, sir. No further questions."
"Mr. Pulver, your witness."
Pulver approached the stand, then took a moment to look over Follet before saying, "Chief Follet, you stated that you were assigned to Officer of the Deck during the morning watch."
"Yes."
"If you would excuse me for a moment."
Pulver returned to his desk and picked up a logbook. Opening it, he flipped through the pages for a moment and once he found the page he was looking for, he took it over to the judges' desk.
"This is the duty log," he told the judges. "You will see the entry for the 27th of Thirdmoon. For morning watch, the Officer of the Deck was a Squad Chief Dagonet."
Captain Romsky and Captain Saxon leaned in to inspect the entry, but Tofels didn't move. His expression didn't change much, but if you were looking closely enough, you could tell that he was less than pleased.
Pulver went back to the stand and asked Follet, "Chief Follet, why did you lie about being assigned Officer of the Deck? Are you aware of the penalties for perjury?"
Follet said nothing. He just looked straight on ahead as if Pulver didn't even exist.
"Chief Follet, I expect an answer."
"Objection," Modai said. "Badgering the witness."
"Sustained," Tofels said, breaching protocol by making the call instead of Captain Romsky.
Captain Romsky then moved in to validate the Centurion by adding, "Mr. Pulver, remember that no man is obliged to incriminate himself."
Pulver nodded.
"Very well, sir. I wish that the record would state that Chief Follet has refused to respond."
"So noted," Captain Romsky replied.
Pulver went to his desk again, took a printout and delivered it to the judges.
"I have here a list of personnel who have died thus far on this mission," he said. "You will see Squad Chief Dagonet's name on the list. He was killed earlier today during the recapture of the ship." He paused for effect, then went back to his desk, saying, "No further questions."
Captain Romsky looked at the men to his left and his right before saying, "Next witness."
While Follet left the stand, Modai said, "The prosecution calls Miss Dakota Oster."
Dakota approached the stand. It was probably thanks to Rockhart that she paid enough heed to the decorum of the court to zip up her coveralls and wash her face. Lieutenant Crestoa stepped forward to swear her in.
"Raise your right hand."
She did so, but rather lazily. You'd think her hand was a dead fish.
"You swear to speak without hatred and without fear, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"Yeah."
"Please answer more precisely, Miss Oster," Lieutenant Crestoa said. "Say, 'yes', 'I do' or 'I so swear.'"
Dakota gave him an annoyed look and said, "Yes."
Lieutenant Crestoa withdrew and it was Modai's turn. He began with the basic housekeeping.
"Please state your name and assignment for the record."
"Dakota Oster, contract mechanic."
And then it was showtime.
"Miss Oster, did you have any interaction with the accused before this expedition?"
"I saw 'er in town once or twice," Dakota said. "Heard there was a damn Ganny 'bout."
"In town?"
"Yeah, Bernecita."
"What were you doing on the 27th of Thirdmoon during the morning watch?"
Dakota furrowed her brow.
"Mornin' watch... What time's that again?"
"From four to ten," Modai replied. "Some people call it the first long watch."
Dakota nodded along.
"Oh, right, right. Yeah, we was gettin' one a' the damn cargo trucks ready ta roll."
"Did you encounter the accused during this time?"
"Yeah, man. Bitch comes in my motorpool an' starts shit."
Obviously unaccustomed to the parlance of commoners, Modai gave her a complicated look and asked her, "Could you be more specific?"
"Sure," she said. With a nod to Root, she continued, "She comes in goin' on 'bout damn Sparky over there, then she calls my ma a dog an' my dad a damn ape. I coulda killed the bitch."
"So the accused provoked you into an altercation?" Modai asked.
"I dunno 'bout no altercation, but if it weren't for Rock, I'da killed 'er."
"By 'Rock', you mean your partner, Lerner Rockhart?"
"Yeah. He stops me from killin' 'er. Makes me drop my wrench an' makes the Ganny drop 'er sword so we could throw down mano a mano-like."
Modai rolled the Malvinian expression around in his mouth like he was chewing on a lemon peel.
"'Mano a mano'... As in hand-to-hand fighting?"
Dakota gave him an incredulous look for having to spell it out like that.
"Yeah, man, what else? So we's scrappin' when LT comes in."
"Which Lieutenant do you refer to?"
"Army guy," Dakota replied, pointing to LeGrange. "The butter bar over there."
Apparently in Verness, the insignia for their second lieutenants—the equivalent of a Byrandian sub-lieutenant—was a single gold bar that looked like a stick of butter. Root wondered if Modai was familiar with the term.
So that there was no confusion, he said, "Sub-Lieutenant LeGrange, would you please stand up?"
LeGrange stood up.
Pointing to him, Modai asked Dakota, "Is this the man?"
"Yeah."
"Please be seated, Sub-Lieutenant."
LeGrange sat down and Modai's attention went back to Dakota.
"In your mind, Miss Oster," he asked her, "do you believe Miss Anju provoked you into a fight as a way of impeding your work?"
Dakota shook her head.
"Nah, she's jus' a bitch."
Modai leaned in closer and asked, "Are you quite sure, Miss Oster?"
"Objection," Pulver said. "Leading the witness."
"Sustained," Captain Romsky replied. "Miss Oster has already answered the question."
Thwarted once more, Modai turned away and said, "No more questions."
"Your witness, Mr. Pulver."
"No questions, sir."
It was probably just as well that Pulver passed on asking Dakota any questions. She wasn't exactly the person you wanted to approach for help proving Azuki's innocence. The prosecution wasn't able to make much use of her, so it was better to let that particular ball drop.
Captain Romsky shrugged indifferently.
"Very well. Next witness."
"The prosecution calls Sub-Lieutenant Marc LeGrange to the stand."
LeGrange got up and took Dakota's place on the stand, while Lieutenant Crestoa came forward to swear him in.
"Raise your right hand."
LeGrange did.
"You swear to speak without hatred and without fear, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"Yes."
Lieutenant Crestoa gave him a bit of a frown. Being two grades LeGrange's superior, he clearly felt entitled to a 'yes, sir.'
As Crestoa went back, Modai stepped up and said, "Lieutenant LeGrange, please state your name, rank, unit and assignment for the record."
"Sub-Lieutenant Marc LeGrange, section leader, Second Section, Second Company, Fourth Battalion, 18th Motorized Infantry Regiment."
"Sub-Lieutenant LeGrange, what are your responsibilities for this mission?"
"The same as any other time," LeGrange replied blithely. "I'm the commanding officer of my section."
Perhaps he should've acted a little more serious, because Modai asked pointedly, "Do you have any authority to make command decisions that extend beyond your section?"
Realizing he was being set up for something unpleasant, LeGrange's jaw tightened as he replied, "No."
"Did you order Miss Anju to disembark and engage in a rescue mission?"
"Yes."
"What was the purpose of this mission?"
"To locate Lieutenant Maartens' scouting party and to provide assistance if necessary."
"Why did you choose Miss Anju for this assignment?"
"Anju's a skinchanger. It's a lot easier for her to move around than any of us, especially since the ground vehicles weren't ready yet."
"A skinchanger?" Modai asked curiously. "Could you clarify for the record?"
Root wasn't sure if he genuinely didn't know or if he was obfuscating as part of his theatrics. LeGrange shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I don't know the scientific term for it," he said. "Zoomorphic, is it? Anyway, skinchangers can change forms into animals and such. In Anju's case, she can turn into an eagle, I heard."
"You heard? From whom?"
"Lieutenant Maartens."
"And how did Lieutenant Maartens know about her ability?"
"She demonstrated it at the tavern when he recruited her."
"I see," Modai said. "Now, to the more important point, you have stated that your command authority is restricted to your section, so I ask you, under what authority did you dispatch Miss Anju on this rescue mission?"
"My own."
"Your own? Is Miss Anju a member of your section?"
"The civilians contracted as scouts are attached to my section, so effectively, yes."
LeGrange was fairly confident in his answer and it showed, but it was still too early for him to think the danger had passed.
"Do you have the authority to determine who comes on or off this ship?"
Realizing his neck was in the noose, LeGrange's jaw tightened again and his reply was a curt, "No."
"Then why did you send Miss Anju off this ship?"
He asked LeGrange like a parent asking a child why he thought it was a good idea to paint the living room walls with spaghetti sauce. This succeeded in making LeGrange angry.
"Because one of my squads and Lieutenant Maartens was out there," he said bitterly, "dead for all I knew, because someone sent them out there in a damn blizzard on foot!"
Perhaps the best thing LeGrange could have hoped for by shouting like that was Tofels meeting his outburst with one of his own, but the Blackamoor didn't rise to the bait.
"Lieutenant LeGrange, you will restrain yourself," Captain Saxon said, no doubt for LeGrange's own good.
Tofels added a more sinister warning.
"You would be advised to speak more prudently, lest you be found in contempt of court."
That succeeded in buttoning him up again.
"Yes, sir."
Modai had the hint of a self-satisfied grin as he resumed his questions.
"Tell me, Lieutenant, did you make this decision on your own or was it suggested to you, perhaps by Miss Anju?"
"It was my own decision," LeGrange replied.
If Modai was tempted to press him further, he didn't follow up on it. Instead he turned away and said, "No further questions."
"Your witness, Mr. Pulver."
"No questions, sir."
Unlike Dakota, LeGrange might have provided some more useful statements for the defense, but by insisting that the rescue mission wasn't Azuki's idea, he did about as much as he could. He was on thin ice with Tofels as it was, so there wasn't much point in putting him at any greater risk.
"Do you have any further witnesses, Mr. Modai?" Captain Romsky asked.
"One more, sir," Modai replied. "The prosecution calls Lieutenant Rutger Maartens to the stand."
Root wasn't expecting to be called by the prosecution. If they thought he was going to say anything to condemn Azuki, they had another thing coming, but they'd probably try to trick him into saying something incriminating, so he was going to have to be careful. Tofels might even be planning to use this to build up a case for another tribunal where Root was the one in the hot seat.
Now he got to go through the swearing in rigamarole with Lieutenant Crestoa.
"Raise your right hand."
Root raised his hand.
"You swear to speak without hatred and without fear, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"I do."
With that out of the way, he sat down to enjoy the pleasure of Adjutant Modai's company.
"Lieutenant Maartens, please state your name, rank, unit and assignment for the record."
"Lieutenant Rutger Maartens, operations officer and Royal Army liaison, Berenice Airbase headquarters."
Modai paced back and forth a couple times before the questioning began.
"Lieutenant, you seem to be at the center of all this," he said. "When did you first encounter Miss Anju?"
"On the 24th," Root replied, "when I was recruiting civilians for the expedition in Bernecita."
"Why did you recruit Miss Anju?"
"She volunteered."
Modai didn't like that answer and then asked, "Was that all?"
"She said she was a scout and a hunter," Root said. "The town marshal vouched for her. Plus she's a skinchanger. I thought it'd be helpful and it has been."
"What do you mean?"
"If not for Miss Anju and her abilities, I wouldn't be here and this ship would still be in the hands of the Palatinians."
"And what do you mean by that?"
Eyeing Tofels, Root replied, "The details of my scouting mission are classified last time I heard."
Tofels could tell Root was being a bit of a smartass, but showing a level temper, he said, "The members of the panel are familiar with those details. They do not need to be recounted for the record."
Without going into the details, Root summed it up anyway so the record would show what Azuki did for him.
"Miss Anju saved my life out there, helped me complete my mission and brought me back. She killed several of the enemy in the process, not exactly the work of a Palatinian spy."
"I would have the witness' last comment stricken from the record as speculation," Modai said.
"It's your own witness, Mr. Modai," Captain Romsky replied, "but so granted. Strike Lieutenant Maartens' last statement."
"Aye, sir," the yeoman replied, going back to strike through that part of the transcript.
Modai started walking around Root in slow circles, like some vulture, saying, "Lieutenant Maartens, the officers of this ship were all confined in the brig when it was seized by the Palatinians. You, however, were not among them. Why is that?"
If Root was going to be strung up for it, it wasn't going to be here, so there was no point to hesitate in telling the truth. Even if he was being brought up on charges himself, there was no hiding from it. All he could do was tell it like it was.
"When Captain Romsky gave the order to surrender, I disguised myself as a civilian."
"For what reason did you do this?" Modai asked.
"I figured if there was any chance to retake the ship, it'd be easier if it started among the civilians."
Modai stopped and looked Root dead in the eye, asking him, "Are you aware, Lieutenant, that such a deception is a violation of the laws of war?"
How much the laws of war apply during peacetime was a question for legal experts far more competent than Adjutant Modai, but Root had a better deflection than that.
"Is this tribunal for Miss Anju or for me?"
"Objection," Modai said hastily. He would've been fast on the draw if he remembered which side he was on.
Captain Romsky sighed.
"Mr. Modai, again, this is your witness and your questions."
Modai looked to Tofels, who wasn't too happy about him making more and more of a fool of himself. He was probably going to have to chop off his big toe or something in penance later.
Trying to get back on track, Modai then asked Root, "Were the actions you took in any way prompted by Miss Anju?"
"No," Root replied. "I didn't know what happened to her until after I led the civilians up to Deck Three. We stumbled on an enemy roving patrol. I killed one and Miss Anju killed the other."
"And what did happen to Miss Anju?"
"She said she never got caught. Obviously she was eluding the enemy until she could meet up with us."
"Never got caught or was allowed to move about freely by her allies?"
Root rolled his eyes at the asinine insinuation. Was this all the better they could do?
"There are at least four dead Palatinians who would disagree with you on their being allies," he pointed out.
And just when Root thought he had a handle on Modai's punches, he goes and throws a left hook.
"Lieutenant Maartens, how would you describe your relationship with Miss Anju?"
Root immediately flashed back to the two of them in the tent, huddled together naked in the bivy sack for warmth. He remembered the way he looked into her eyes and tried to kiss her, how she turned him down but hinted that she'd be game under better circumstances. There was definitely chemistry there and any other time he'd be quick to see how far it'd go. Not that he could bring up any of that, of course.
His answer was a curt and awkward, "Professional."
Anyone with eyes in their skull and ears hanging off the sides would know that wasn't the whole truth he'd been sworn to tell. Modai knew he had him, even grinned just a little bit as he asked, "Is that all?"
"Objection," Pulver interrupted, sweeping in to save the day like a cavalry troop in the desert. "Relevance?"
Captain Romsky looked to Modai for a response.
"Mr. Modai?"
"I would like to establish that Lieutenant Maartens' relationship with Miss Anju unduly biases him as a witness, possibly to the point of collaboration."
Again Pulver interrupted.
"Objection. Speculation."
Captain Romsky thought it over for a moment before saying, "Mr. Modai, I will give you the opportunity to lend some validity to these implications, but you better have something substantial."
"Lieutenant Maartens, do you find Miss Anju attractive?"
Hell, yeah, she is, Root thought, but that wasn't the sort of response that would help either of them.
As aloof as he could be, Root replied, "There's nothing wrong with how she looks."
"Is that all?" Modai asked. "Are you sure that you don't have any stronger feelings on the subject?"
Before Pulver could throw out another objection, Root narrowed his eyes and told Modai, "I suggest you get to the point."
"Objection," Modai said. "Hostile witness."
Captain Romsky shook his head wearily.
"Mr. Modai, if you can't control your own witness, then dismiss him."
"You may regard the witness as hostile, Mr. Modai," Tofels said. "Leading questions are now within bounds."
Modai nodded to the Centurion for his assistance, then went back on the attack, asking Root, "Lieutenant Maartens, have you engaged in physical relations with Miss Anju?"
"No," Root said.
"Would you like to?"
"Objection," Pulver said.
"Sustained," Captain Romsky replied. "Mr. Modai, wrap it up."
Modai looked to Tofels, who made a subtle 'go on' gesture. Surely that had to be against rules somewhere, but so much of this tribunal was stacked against the interests of justice that it didn't count for much.
"Lieutenant Maartens, would you agree that your feelings about Miss Anju prejudice your judgment of her?"
He might just has well have asked, "Would you put your head in this noose and help Miss Anju into hers while you're at it?" Root was having none of it, but was getting too angry to keep this particular piece of his mind to himself.
"If you're asking if I'm more inclined to believe the woman who's saved my life at least twice over the bastards who threaten it, then yes."
Modai didn't like that answer and said, "I request that the abusive implication of Lieutenant Maartens' statement be stricken from the record."
"So granted," Captain Romsky replied.
Modai apparently thought he'd done about as much damage as he could, because the next thing he said was "No further questions."
"Mr. Pulver, your witness."
Pulver stepped forward, saying more to the panel of judges than to Root, "Lieutenant Maartens, the prosecution would like the judges to think that your judgment is impaired on the subject of Miss Anju."
"Objection," Modai said. "Leading the witness."
"Overruled," Captain Romsky replied. "Mr. Pulver is simply restating your declared intention. And, besides, leading questions are permitted during cross-examination. Continue, Mr. Pulver."
"Thank you, sir. Lieutenant Maartens, would you compromise your duty to Crown and country for the sake of one woman?"
Root cracked a grin and said, "It'd hafta be some woman."
"Objection," Modai said, sounding particularly offended. "The witness' flippancy besmirches the dignity of this tribunal."
What dignity? Root wondered.
"Lieutenant Maartens, answer the question directly," Captain Romsky said.
"No," Root said plainly. "If I thought Miss Anju or anyone else was taking the enemy's side, I wouldn't stand for it, just like I won't stand for any innocent getting strung up as a scapegoat."
"Objection!"
An annoyed Tofels said, "Lieutenant Maartens, my earlier warning to Mr. Pulver goes double for you."
Seeing that Root was likely to get himself into hotter water than he was already in, Pulver saw an opportunity to throw in the towel and took it.
"No further questions," he said.
Captain Romsky looked around for any more prospective witnesses before asking, "You said that was it for the prosecution's witnesses, Mr. Mordai?"
"Yes, sir."
Shuffling through some papers in front of him, Captain Romsky said, "The accused is called to the stand."
Azuki stood up and went over to the stand. Idly, Root wondered if they had tribunals like this in Gandoh or if this was all new to her.
Lieutenant Crestoa once again stepped forward, telling her, "Raise your right hand."
She did, but somewhat uncertainly. How did the Gandohese make oaths?
Lieutenant Crestoa continued, "You swear to speak without hatred and without fear, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"Yes."
Now it was Modai's turn. He spoke somewhat slower for her, possibly because he didn't expect her to follow along so easily.
"Miss Anju, please state your name and assignment for the record."
"Anju Azuki, scout."
"Miss Anju, you are from Gandoh, correct?"
"Yes."
"Where in Gandoh?"
"Ishitomi in Hondoh Domain."
"You're a long way from home, Miss Anju," Modai said. "What brought you to Byrandia?"
"Shugyo," she said, quickly correcting herself. "Ah, training. I travel north, through Buratosuka, across ice lands, to your land. I find work in Beruneshita."
"What kind of work?"
"I hunt obake."
"I'm sorry, what?"
She had to think a moment to remember the equivalent term in Franca.
"You call Abomination."
"You hunted Abominations?" Modai asked. "How?"
"Sword, knife, bow, gun."
"You consider yourself proficient in these weapons?"
"Objection," Pulver said. "Relevance?"
"Mr. Modai, besides establishing Miss Anju's proficiency, is there a point to this line of questioning?" Captain Romsky asked.
Modai didn't answer him directly. Instead he seemed to take up a different tack.
"Allow me to go back to your journey from Gandoh," he said. "You say you went up through Vlatoska, across the Neveland and into Byrandia. Are you forgetting anything?"
Azuki cocked her head curiously.
"What do you mean?"
Gesturing with his hands, Modai said, "From Vlatoska, did you go east through the Neveland... or did you go west through Slanoa and Palatinia?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"No."
"You're not sure?"
"No."
"Either you went east or you went west. Which is it?"
"I went east."
"So you say," Modai said dismissively.
"Yes, I say."
Had Root been in her place, he would've been annoyed at Modai, but that didn't seem to be the case. He had a feeling she wasn't entirely following. If Tofels thought he could snare her through some trick of the language, Root wouldn't stand for it.
Modai continued to paint the fantasy scenario the Centurion had cooked up for this little farce.
"Could it be that you went west and found work in Palatinia as you found work here? Are you not still under their employ now?"
"No."
"You're lying to me."
"No," Azuki said, this time more forcefully.
"Objection," Pulver said. "Badgering the witness."
"Sustained," Captain Romsky replied. "Mr. Modai, unless you have some evidence to bring against Miss Anju or a new line of questions, I suggest you wrap things up."
Modai looked to Tofels, who shook his head.
"No further questions," Modai said.
"Your witness, Mr. Pulver."
"Yes, sir," Pulver said. Approaching the stand, he asked Azuki, "Miss Anju, do you know how many Palatinians you have killed on this mission?"
"Six," she said.
"Have you ever heard of anyone killing six of their allies and still being on that side?"
"No."
"Objection," Modai said.
Captain Romsky gave him a look and asked, "What exactly are you objecting to, Mr. Modai?"
"I, ah... Leading the witness."
His uncertain response hardly inspired much faith in the validity of the charge.
"Overruled," the Captain said. "Mr. Modai, I advise against any more spurious objections. Mr. Pulver."
"No further questions," Pulver replied.
Captain Romsky nodded to Azuki and told her, "Miss Anju, you may return to your seat."
Once she was seated, the Captain then asked Pulver, "Does the defense have any witnesses to call?"
"No, sir," Pulver replied. "We have all the testimony we need from the cross-examination."
"Very well then," Captain Romsky said, gathering together the papers in front of him. "We will recess for thirty minutes."
"All rise," Lieutenant Crestoa said.
The assembly rose as the judges got up from their seats and exited the room. There was some low mutterings, but the room was otherwise quiet for the next half hour. It seemed to take a lot longer than it did. Root wanted to say something to encourage Azuki, but he stayed where he was.
When the recess was over, the door opened and Lieutenant Crestoa called the room to order.
"All rise."
The judges entered the room and took their seats.
"Take your seats," Captain Romsky said.
Once everyone was seated, Lieutenant Crestoa asked the judges, "Gentlemen of the panel, your findings?"
"Guilty," Tofels said.
"Not guilty," Captain Saxon said.
That left Captain Romsky to make the final call. Would he do what was right or would he bow to the Blackamoors' intimidation and offer up Azuki as the scapegoat they wanted? He looked over the room, pausing a moment on the Centurion before finally issuing his verdict.
"Not guilty," he said. But before anyone could get too happy, he added, "However, in the interest of good order and discipline, Miss Anju will be placed under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Maartens. Whenever she is not under his supervision, she will remain in confinement in the brig."
Root shot up from his seat to object.
"Captain!"
Before anyone could tell him to sit down and shut up, Azuki told him, "Mister Ruto, it is enough."
Root looked at her and realized that he couldn't get her a better deal than what she got. If he kicked around any more, it might just make things worse for her. He sat back down.
With that, Captain Romsky said, "This tribunal is now adjourned. Dismissed."
Most of the assembly filed out of the room. Among the few who remained were the three judges, the two counsels, Root and Azuki.
"I will not claim to be satisfied," Tofels said, "but I suppose I can tolerate a compromise. Come, let us go to the conference room. We have other business to attend to."
As Tofels left, Root knew that this compromise would be paid for at a high price. He certainly didn't waste any time drawing up the bill and calling them to collect.