by Zen DiPietro
Izzy had always admired the Town Hall building. It was a sleek, modern building that rose six stories high and featured ornate floral carving down the entirety of its façade. Although the city’s buildings tended to loom tall, they were carefully designed to reflect nature. Some of the buildings were works of art in themselves. They were also widely spaced, with lots of grassy areas, trees, and small gardens between. It was nothing like being in a town, but it had its own particular charm. Izzy had already admired Capital City, but after her time in Apex, she had the urge to chain herself to a building and refuse to leave, ever again.
Once inside the Town Hall, they were quickly ushered into Magistrate Trewe’s personal office, where Kassimeigh explained to the magistrate that she had been assigned to adjudicate that day’s case. Izzy was pleased to see Will, Arc, and Luc again. She knew Kassimeigh was, as well, but the justice gave no indication of it as she prepared to perform her duty. She left instructions for the assembly of her courtroom and gave leave to the magistrate to summon the individuals involved, who should already be waiting.
“May we observe?” Luc inquired.
“Of course. I hold very few private proceedings, and this is not one of them.”
She excused herself to the private room set aside for justices to prepare. Meanwhile, Luc, Will, Arc, and Izzy left the magistrate’s office to give her privacy to see to her own duties.
They found seats in the meeting room where the adjudication would occur and took advantage of its emptiness to fill each other in on the past day’s events. Izzy was surprised to hear how much progress had already been made in conceiving an army. Things were moving fast, even as she marveled that they were happening at all.
In due course, a recorder arrived and prepared to document the proceedings by video. Two attendants arranged the room with a small stage at the front equipped with a table, chair, a portable comm panel, and a pitcher of ice water paired with a tall glass. The attendants then arranged two small tables facing the stage. Izzy knew this was Kassimeigh’s preferred configuration for an adjudication, but she noticed the men’s avid attention from their seats next to her. They were all curious and eager to see Kassimeigh in justice action.
After they made sure the room was tidy, the attendants took seats near the back of the gallery of chairs.
On the hour, an anxious man entered the room and took a seat at the table to the right. Shortly after, a thin, middle-aged woman entered holding the hand of a little girl. Upon seeing the man, the little girl squealed, “Daddy!” and tried to go to him, but the woman held fast to the girl’s hand, leaning down to talk quietly but emphatically to her. The man watched the little girl from the edge of his seat. The girl reluctantly followed the woman to the other table, even as she stared soulfully over her shoulder at the man.
A handful of people trickled into the gallery and chose seats. Izzy also noticed Ina slipping in unobtrusively and taking a seat near the door. The magistrate was not required to attend an adjudication that did not specifically involve her, but it was her prerogative to attend any such proceeding if she chose.
One of the attendants noted the time, then slipped out the door. He was only gone for a minute before he scuttled back into the room.
The justice strode in, projecting an air of calm. Attendees sat up straighter and a reverent silence swept through the room. She wore a charcoal gray shoka with her hair contained in a loose twist at the back of her head. Izzy appreciated that Kassimeigh managed to be soothing, solemn, and discomfiting at the same time. Izzy always valued her friendship with Kassimeigh highly, but sometimes it was a thrill to revel in the fact that that badass was her close, personal friend. Izzy grinned at the thought and noticed Will studying her suspiciously. She winked at him.
When a person was innocent, there was no greater champion than a justice, but no soul is without some small stain of guilt. Fear and shame tickled beneath the skin of those less worthy, in various degrees, depending on their individual conscience. Izzy felt a couple of the onlookers shrink when Kassimeigh’s gaze slid over them. It was awesome.
Kassimeigh took her place at the front of the room and nodded to the gathering.
“It’s my understanding that we are attending the matter of custody for a three-year-old girl named Asha. Is this correct?” The man and the woman at the front tables nodded. “Is this the child?” More nods.
“Then we shall begin.” Taking a seat at her table, Kassimeigh gestured to the woman with the child. “Present your case.”
The woman released the girl from her grasp and wrung her hands. “Justice, my darling daughter died in an accident. This sweet baby is all I have left of her. I’ve been taking care of my granddaughter since she was a baby, while her mama worked. Now that my daughter is gone, Tanner wants to take Asha from me, too. He’s never taken care of her on his own and he’s barely seen her since she was born. My granddaughter should be raised by the one who loves her best, the one who knows her best. She belongs with me.” She brushed a tear from the corner of her eye.
Izzy felt sympathy for the woman’s loss, and her fear of losing her granddaughter as well.
Kassimeigh shifted her attention to the man. “And you are Tanner? Please present your case.”
The man looked down at his hands and shifted uncomfortably before forcing himself to look at Kassimeigh. “I’m a miner. I work in Sub-Apex on rotation. So it’s true I’ve been gone a lot, but it wasn’t because I didn’t love my little girl. It was because I wanted to give her the best. Mining’s a tough life but when I found out I was going to have a kid, I had to choose the best way of providing for her.” He paused and took a deep breath.
“She’s my daughter, and while I’m grateful that her grandmother has looked after her, a child belongs with her parents. With her mama gone, that leaves me.”
Kassimeigh inclined her head toward Tanner. “A child doesn’t belong in a mining town. How do you plan to care for her?”
“When Anala died, I left mining. I’ve saved up enough to open a polymer design studio here in town. It was always the long-term plan, we just . . . ran out of time. I’ll be able to set up the studio so she can be there with me when I’m working. She’ll be starting pre-school soon, and I’ll be able to walk her to and from school myself. I’m willing to do whatever you tell me, if I can just have my baby back.”
He meant it, too. Izzy knew that both people told the truth as they perceived it. Not that she could share her insights. No matter. Izzy had supreme confidence in Kassimeigh.
Surprising the court, Kassimeigh rose from the justice’s table and walked to the little girl. She sank down to the girl’s level, and offered a warm smile. “Hi, Asha.”
The little girl leaned back into the safety of her grandmother, but returned a cautious smile. “Hi.” She shoved her face into the woman’s arm and watched Kassimeigh from the corner of one eye.
“You have pretty flowers on your dress. Do you like flowers?”
Asha nodded. “Flowers smell good and are pretty.”
The little girl lost her nervousness and stepped closer. She reached out a hand to touch a rogue red curl behind Kassimeigh’s ear. In the gallery, people exchanged furtive glances while remaining decidedly silent.
“I think so too. Do you know what? I know a place with all kinds of flowers. Do you want to come see? We can pick some.”
Asha looked to her grandmother, who gave the girl a pat of encouragement.
“Okay.”
Kassimeigh offered her hand, and the little girl slipped her chubby fingers into the justice’s long-fingered grasp. Together, they moved toward the door, discussing the merits of different types of flowers. Before stepping through the doorway, the justice announced, “We will reconvene shortly. Affected parties should remain here.”
Izzy’s delight drowned out the activity around her. Curious
murmurs hummed through the gallery as soon as the two disappeared from sight. Luc and Arc exchanged a speculative look. Izzy wished she could pick flowers too, but her place was with the rest of the observers. They all simply had to wait until the justice had the answers she needed.
About an hour later, Kassimeigh and Asha strolled in wearing matching flower chains on their heads like crowns. The justice wore the decoration with such dignity that the greenery seemed completely natural and entirely respectable.
Kassimeigh led Asha to her grandmother. She knelt by the girl.
“Thank you for going to see the flowers with me, Asha.”
The little girl beamed and Kassimeigh began to stand, but the little girl flung her arms around the justice in an exuberant hug. Kassimeigh returned the hug with obvious warmth. After the girl released her, the justice returned to the front of the room.
“After speaking with Asha, I am prepared to rule on this matter.” She paused, ensuring she had everyone’s attention. But Izzy knew there was zero chance that a single person wasn’t already hanging off the edge of his seat, waiting to hear what the justice decreed.
Kassimeigh continued, “She’s a clever child who loves her grandmother and her father very much. She doesn’t wish to choose between them because she knows that whomever she didn’t choose would be very sad. Asha is lucky that two people love her enough to fight over her. However, she can only have one primary home.”
Kassimeigh looked at the grandmother. “You’ve kindly taken care of this girl throughout her life and after the loss of her mother. She gives you a sense of continuance and connection to your own daughter. Your love for her is obvious, but she belongs with her father as much as she did with her mother. According to the research I’ve done and his own statement, her father is a fit parent. He’s made changes in his life to care for her.”
Her attention shifted to the father, who sat up straight with his chest lifted. Izzy felt his desperate hope.
“However. Raising a child alone is very hard, and a child can’t have too much love or too many people to love. Asha’s grandmother should have a great deal of time with her. I recommend you allow the grandmother to care for Asha while you’re working, just as her mother did.”
Kassimeigh was silent for a moment. Izzy sensed the sadness beneath the justice’s serenity.
“Losing a mother is catastrophic for a child. Whether you like each other or not, your love for Asha bonds you together. Both of you must help to raise her, and help her remember her mother.” Her gaze settled on Asha, at whom she winked. The girl beamed. The justice had clearly earned a devoted fan.
“Asha is my friend,” she concluded. “I’ll be contacting her via comm at regular intervals to see how she’s doing and make sure she’s happy. If I don’t like what she says,” Kassimeigh narrowed her eyes at the father and the grandmother. “I’ll come back personally to deal with it.”
The father, still in raptures, nodded eagerly, while the grandmother blinked, then offered her own meek nod.
“This adjudication is complete.”
The room began to empty, and Kassimeigh approached Asha and her grandmother. She bent down to give the girl a hug and promised to call her on the comm soon.
Gesturing the father over, Kassimeigh rested a hand on each of the adults’ arms. “This is no loss, and no victory, for either of you. It is a victory for Asha. I suggest you all go to lunch together and find a way to be a family together.” With a last, reassuring smile to Asha, she swept out of the room.
Izzy did not know the shiv elders’ motivation for giving Kassimeigh this assignment. But whatever it was, she was pretty sure the justice had nailed it.
Assignment complete, Kassimeigh retired to a room at the monorail station and contacted Northern Keep. She spoke to Eryl, who discussed the adjudication with her, then promised to contact her again when the elders had made a decision about where she was to go next.
She felt peaceful in mind but anxious in body. She pushed back the furniture in the sitting area and began some resistance training exercises. For over an hour, she ramped up the intensity of her activity, pushing her muscles until her body pulsed with radiating strength. Finally, she cooled down, stretched, and freshened up.
Wearing a fresh, oatmeal-colored shoka, she was about to sit down to a cup of tea when her door chimed. She admitted Izzy to the room.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, everything is humming along.” Izzy seated herself comfortably in the now-restored sitting area. Curious, Kassimeigh joined her. “Arc, Will, and Luc all went in different directions. They’re chasing down contacts, leads, information, supplies, and so on. They all have immediate concerns to handle, whereas you have just completed yours, and I have none at all. Other than an appointment for another massage later. So I thought I’d come visit you.”
“Sounds reasonable. Can I get you some tea? I was about to have some myself. I’ve a nice view out my window, so I thought I’d sit and consider it for a while.” She always felt contemplative after an adjudication.
“Tea sounds great,” Izzy chirped. “But instead of looking out the window, we could talk.”
“Also reasonable.” Kassimeigh fetched the tea tray and poured a cup for each of them.
“Your adjudication today was interesting. I enjoyed observing it.” Izzy blew on her tea.
“I’m always glad to serve.”
“The little girl was adorable. All that brown hair and her cute little dress. So sweet.”
“I enjoyed getting to know her. I haven’t picked flowers in ages.”
“I’ve always admired your knack with children.”
“Children are easy. Open, genuine, obvious. I enjoy them. I imagine you do too, for the same reasons.” Kassimeigh was sure Izzy was a favorite with kids.
“You’re right, I do. They’re often much more fun than adults. Do you think you’ll ever have any children of your own?”
Coming from anyone else, the question would be impertinent. Since it came from Izzy, Kassimeigh thought nothing of it. “I’ve never envisioned becoming a mother. My dedication to the order fulfills me. On the other hand, we must always leave ourselves open to growth and change, so I can’t rule it out. What about you? Do you see yourself marrying or having children?”
“Hmm, my trouble is that I want all the possibilities. I want to do everything. Have kids, not have kids, be married, stay single. The only thing I’ve really ever committed myself to is my work.”
Kassimeigh raised her teacup to Izzy. “That makes two of us, then, living for our vocation.”
Izzy clinked her cup to the other. Kassimeigh enjoyed the companionable silence while she considered the different decisions the elders might make.
“I’d like to visit your keep again when all this is done.” Izzy traced a finger slowly around the pattern on the teacup. “I found it both relaxing and stimulating, if that makes sense.”
“Perfect sense. When the mind is balanced, it can hold more weight.”
“Exactly. And having cute guys like Bryan doesn’t hurt, either.”
Kassimeigh’s laughter joined Izzy’s. She appreciated the camaraderie during this period of suspense.
“I wish I knew when you’d be back.” Ina sighed and rested her head on Luc’s shoulder. Back in her home, they enjoyed the last few moments they would have together for a while. “Actually, I wish I knew a lot of things. This entire situation is surreal.”
Luc rubbed her back in slow circles. “You’ve done all you can at this point. You’ve performed miracles, actually. I can’t believe how much we’ve managed in just two days. But you must keep up appearances here while we go to Apex. We’ve fortified as well as we can against so much unknown. Will and Arc have followed up on all of your leads to provide supplies and muscle. I’ve managed to convince
six particularly talented manahi to come with us. Without affording a great deal more time and risking a lot of exposure, we’ve done all we can do prepare.”
“I know. But knowing it and liking it are worlds away from each other.”
He folded her into a warm embrace. “I’ll get through this and come back as quickly as I possibly can. How about that?”
“I like the sound of it. I just hope it works out that way. Look out for my Arc. I know, I shouldn’t say that. Everyone on this mission is important. But I’ll always worry about him particularly.”
“We will endeavor to survive with all of our parts intact.”
Ina laughed and smacked his shoulder. “At the very least.”
“If you can—” Luc was interrupted by the tone of the comm panel.
Ina crossed the room to answer it. Kassimeigh appeared on the viewscreen.
“Magistrate. I’ve had word from my keep. I’ll be accompanying the outfit to Apex. Izzy and I are both at the monorail station and prepared to follow any direction you have for us to complete preparations. We should mobilize and move out as soon as possible.”
Chapter 9
“Feels like old times.” Izzy’s voice came from behind Arc, making him blink. He’d been staring out at the dull landscape, letting himself get lost in it as he drove. Kassimeigh sat tall and straight in the front passenger seat beside him. The heavy-duty cart fortunately provided plenty of headroom for the vertically gifted.
“There is a certain familiarity,” Arc agreed. He hadn’t missed traveling by cart one bit.