by C. Litka
03
'The law of Daeri,' he began, 'extends out to the margins of the shadow lands from Quandadar. But like everything else, the further from Quandadar one goes, the more the new ways fade and the old ones stand untouched. The Marches and Rides of the Margins have, since time unrecorded, been feudal estates, ruled by the Masters of the Marches and inhabited by their tenant herders and farmers. Each, masters and tenants, have time honored rights and privileges independent of the laws of Daeri proper. In addition, there are 111 powerful clans living on the Marches, and both the Masters and the tenants come from those clans. Each clan has time honored rivalries. These days, they're mostly friendly rivals, but rivals nonetheless. In the past, they had many blood feuds, and the memory of these still linger throughout the margin lands. So, you see, when conflicts arise between certain clans, an impartial judge is needed to settle them.
'The Master of the March is the chief legal officer of his or her march, but because of the clan structure and history, and the desire to keep the peace amongst the various powerful clans that reside in his march, the Master usually confines his judicial duties to routine police work, trying the minor criminal cases and civil cases which don't involve the rights and rivalries of the major clans. Conflicts and even criminal cases involving only members of a single major clan are often settled by the Clan Chiefs themselves. Capital crimes, appeals, and disputes between the major clans within the march are usually left to be resolved by the Magistrates of Laeza, at least in Daeri, and in most of the smaller Principalities, as well.
'As I mentioned, I have traveled with Magistrate Din, studying the law in words, and watching Din practice it in court. Over time, I came to act as his lieutenant and detective, a second pair of eyes and ears. My task was to interview people who were unable or unwilling to appear in court, examining the locales in dispute - many disputes arise out of land and grazing customs - and listening to what the community says outside of court. In time, he let me hear some cases on my own.
'Magistrate Din and the elders of my Community believe that I have now mastered the law to the point were I can administer it on my own. A journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step, and though I lack the deep knowledge and experience of Magistrate Din, you find me taking my first step.
'When I arrive in Dondar, I shall go through the docket of cases that have been awaiting my arrival, and send out word throughout the Dondar March that the cases awaiting trial will now be heard. There is always a great deal of confusion as to who is able to appear and when, but eventually, each pending case gets a hearing, and I shall have to decide which side of the argument prevails and what should be done to restore balance and harmony in the community. It is a grave responsibility, and though I have sat and heard thousands of cases at the side of Magistrate Din, who explained the law and his reasoning to me for each decision, and though I've been reading the written laws of the land, over and over again, so that I can understand the common and peculiar customs of marches I'm to serve, I must confess the responsibility weighs on me.'
'I'm sure that the sages of the Order have not sent someone out who's not prepared,' said KaRaya. 'And I'm certain that Wilitang will agree with me when I say that we're willing to stand by you as your servants, in Dondar and perhaps beyond, so that you don't have to take your first step alone - if you care to keep us around. We'll gladly fill the shoes of your subdued bandits, lending to your youth and good nature a certain air of, what shall we say? Authority? Strength? Danger? For I fear, Magistrate, that your youth, your cheerfulness, and obvious kindness might tempt some to take liberties with the truth. Arriving with two ruffians as Wilitang and myself, will suggest that your cheerful kindness hides an iron fist that can bend even the most wicked of people into the Way. Captain Wilitang is very savage looking, is he not?'
He gave her a sidelong look, (according to KaRaya) that suggested that despite his youth and cheerfulness, he did, indeed, hide an iron fist. So much so, in fact that KaRaya felt compelled to add, 'Of course, I am sure your need of us is far less pressing than our need of your company. As strangers in the marches, I'm uncertain as to how readily we will be accepted, and though we are not without coins, that might prove a liability as well.'
He laughed. 'Oh, I welcome your company. I have only been on the road alone for two rounds and find that I've meditated all I can meditate. I fall all too readily into daydreaming of bandits, which earns me no spiritual reward.'
'I rather doubt our company will earn you many spiritual rewards either. But I'm sure we'll all enjoy some laughter.'
With neither night nor day, we stopped to rest in a pleasant, forest fringed glen alongside a little, clear stream that slowly tumbled and danced over its bed of rocks and gravel. KaRaya and I gathered wood to make a fire while Py went deeper into the woods to gather mushrooms and fungi to add to our rice and the dried fruit and vegetables we carried as rations. It was still strange to be able to cook in pans over an open fire rather than with metal canisters in an enclosed fire box used in weightless cooking.
After we ate, Py took out a clay pot, added some"tey" leaves, and after adding boiling water to the pot, I enjoyed my first cup of cha in a very long time. It is these little touches that reconcile you to your fate.
Hissi took to Py at once. She was a pretty tolerant dragon when it came to company and whoever would arrange her feathers as a friend. Not that she had much choice in friends, so far. Her easy acceptance delighted young Py. Associating with dragons, even little ones, was usually the domain of very rare, Inner Order sages of a few famous Laezan communities. He said he was still ten of thousands of rounds away from being able to take up the white sash of the Inner Order, having to serve his time in the less rigorous Outer Order.
After our cup of tey and the utensils were cleaned in the stream and put away, Hissi sat upright on her hind legs and tail and barked expectantly. KaRaya and I shared a look - we knew what she expected next. Dare we?
'I'm sorry, Magistrate, but our young dragon friend has lived her life amongst rough sailors and their bad habits. She now expects to play a few rounds of Dragon's Luck. I hope you don't mind...' KaRaya said, as she pulled our well-worn deck from her pouch, along with Hissi's card holder. 'We'll not play for stakes.'
'She plays cards?'
'And quite well. Wilitang believes she can peer into our heads, which is cheating, of course.'
Hissi barked a dismissive laugh and wiggled the tip of her tail.
'You're welcome to join us. As I said, we'll not play for stakes. But if games of chance are against your rules, we'll move away to allow you to meditate or rest.'
'Games of chance, for stakes, are forbidden while wearing the blues of the Order. But this I must see. We are, after all, transmitters of Dragon Wisdom.'
'You'll find little wisdom in this dragon,' laughed KaRaya over Hissi's mock-menacing growl. 'Hopefully you'll instill some Dragon Wisdom in her, if only by your company.'
'I fear I have little more wisdom than your young dragon. I've not had the time yet to accumulate a great store of the wisdom which comes only with age.'
Py watched, and then apparently seeing no harm in it, joined us in playing Dragon's Luck with a cheerful smile until we, save Hissi, grew sleepy.
'Do we need someone to keep watch?' I asked Py. KaRaya and I had slept watch on watch off during our journey.
'I think not. I sleep light, and these margins have been hunted clear of any dangerous beasts beyond memory.'
KaRaya and I made breakfast while Py performed his morning rituals - slow shadow boxing. After breakfast, he took his sword and began to go through the forms, shadow fencing.
KaRaya glanced at me, 'Shall we show him our true skills?'
I shrugged, 'Bring them out, We're in gravity now. You don't stand a chance.'
We donned our masks, took up our bamboo swords and went at it. KaRaya was always too impatient to practice any routine, so we just carried on like we usually did, save that KaRaya was stuck to the
ground. Even so, her feet allowed her to move more confidently and quickly than I, so I still had my hands full.
Py, who had finished his forms and had been watching us, clapped and laughed. 'I am sorry I started my forms alone. I will wait for you next time. In the future, we must practice together. My boyhood love of swordplay is far too alive for my spiritual well being. Yet, I still have my youth, so I'll indulge it. I shall let age and wisdom cure my weaknesses. As for now, if either of you are willing, I should be delighted to rattle the bamboo with you.'
'Oh, you must give Wilitang a go. He cheats by using a second blade, so I'm sure you'll find him far more challenging than I. He has been trained by a master and, I suspect, will give you something of a work out, when he doesn't have to hold back, like he did during our first encounter,' said KaRaya with a grin and handed him her practice sword. 'I don't know if you'll need the mask. Wilitang was afraid of losing an eye in our practice, since I'm so undisciplined and unconventional.'
'Oh, I think I can do without. We'll just begin to explore our skills with this round.'
Which we did in a more orderly manner than fencing with KaRaya would've allowed, content to test our opponent's responses on defense feints and attacks, none pressed with any determination, this time.
Py was delighted with the exercise, much more the boy than the Magistrate. 'When we get to Dondar we shall have access to the armory and will be able to fence with real practice swords and masks. Then we can truly test our skills. I'm looking forward to the opportunity of learning how to use a dagger as well as a sword. I suspect Wilitang here might be a dangerous fellow, if we fought for real.'
'Oh, he is a dangerous fellow when desperate, Magistrate, 'He's as ruthless as he looks.'
The broad-feathered people don't have whiskers, so perhaps I do look sinister to them, though I suspect KaRaya was just being sarcastic.
We packed up our camp and started out down the road to Dondar at a rather leisurely pace that allowed us to spin yarns all the way to our next camp.
'We shall arrive in Dondar tomorrow. I shall introduce you as my followers. I'm afraid that you will be treated as servants rather than companions, but I'm sure you'll be treated well. The Master of Dondar is a kindly man. If you want, you can attend the trials as observers, just to see what they involve. I suggest that only if you are considering accompanying me on my circuit. My one condition is that you put away your springers. Springers are a bandit's weapon. Your swords should be sufficient for any circumstances you'd encounter in my service.'
'Thank you Magistrate. While we have not talked amongst ourselves, we are, at the moment, at loose ends, and though I cannot speak for Wilitang, I would welcome the chance to travel with you. I've many missteps to atone for, and perhaps in serving you, I'll have made a good beginning.'
'That sounds fine with me. I must learn the ways of my new land, and what better way or with better company?' I said.
'Excellent. However, consider your choice carefully as we go along. You will be acting as novice members of the Order, and will be expected to maintain a certain decorum,' he said, uncharacteristically serious. 'No drunkenness, gambling, carousing, or sleeping with partners. If you believe you'll find this too wearisome, we can just travel in company rather than as a party, if you like.'
And before we could reply, he added, 'I'll go and search for some mushrooms for our meal. Talk it over while I am gone.'
KaRaya glanced at me as Py and Hissi wandered off to seek mushrooms and hunt bugs. 'No drunkenness, gambling, carousing or laying with partners for hundreds of rounds. A tall order,' she sighed.
'For some, no doubt,' I admitted.
She grinned. 'But not for one on a noble quest. So, are you really in no hurry, Wilitang, to find your boat and your girl?'
'I think not. The boat can wait and as for the girl, I believe she needs time to forget some of her past life.'
'Py seems like a jolly fellow, and as his assistants, we could travel with ease and safety, if a bit slowly, since it will take some 200 to 250 rounds to reach the city of Linjyn where there's a monorail link to Quandadar. Still, I'd like to stay on that long, if you're willing.'
'We'll give it a try. If we find it doesn't suit us, we can always push on ahead to Linjyn.'
And so, we agreed to accompany LinPy as his servants, with the understanding that if he found our service acceptable and we liked the work, we might become his assisting lieutenants, on a trial basis, until we reached at least Linjyn - the half way point of his circuit.