by C. R. Daems
"Do you know a Sister Narette?" Jola remembered the dagger that Shalea'd had.
"Yes, she rides the Essam and Tasman circuit. She's been out for over a year now." Tenzen's eyes widened. "So that's where Shalea got her judicator's cape, mask, and dagger. This is bad news indeed."
"Captain Marek has her things until one of us returns for them. Shalea's snake was a rat snake that she had stained golden and kept sedated. I gave it to someone who had a rat problem." Jola mounted her horse. "What have you decided to do with the bodies, Sister Tenzen?"
"We've cleaned out the traitors in Gotter, but I don't believe we've identified them all. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Tasman's duke has contaminated all the border towns in Essam and Sattah."
Tenzen caught the reins to her horse where they trailed on the ground, and mounted. "We'll take them to Cybele and send word back to Gotter that the bodies are there. The returning soldiers will inform everyone of what happened. It won't be much of a surprise when the messenger arrives from Cybele. Besides, a little suspense may start the nobles thinking about all they have to lose."
"That makes sense, Sister, but I'm not looking forward to riding with dead bodies for five days." Jola wrinkled her nose for effect.
"Good, I'd like to make Cybele in three days, so we had better get started."
They waited while the guards slung the bodies over the horses. Tenzen swung her horse around and led the way at a fast walk down the road.
* * *
The ride to Cybele proved grueling but uneventful. Neither the soldiers nor Tenzen appeared to need sleep, as they rode silently hour after hour. Jola, on the other hand, felt in constant danger of falling off her horse as she drifted off into a doze. She realized that the stress of the past two eightdays had caught up to her. While she had been in real danger, the adrenaline had kept her awake and alert. Now that the danger had passed, she was engulfed in waves of fatigue. Her mind and body demanded payment for the days of abuse. Jola knew she would feel much better if only someone would chase them. The pace the soldiers set, at Tenzen's order, was geared to the horses. It seemed an unending cycle: ride eight hours and rest four. The countryside blurred into misty browns, greens, and yellows. Late on the night of the third day, they arrived in Cybele. Tenzen paid for rooms at the local inn, the Last Chance, and dragged Jola to her room.
"I'm going to have a wash," Jola thought she heard Tenzen say.
"Good idea, Sister... take one for me," Jola mumbled as she landed on the bed asleep.
* * *
When Jola finally staggered downstairs the next afternoon, she found Tenzen with a Kasavan elder.
"Good afternoon, Sister Jola," Tenzen said as Jola approached. "I'd like you to meet Elder Somner."
"Good afternoon, Elder. I'm pleased to meet you." Jola couldn't help yawning.
"I've told him what little I know of your time in Gotter. Since you weren't very talkative on the way here, perhaps you could tell us what happened before you got chased out of Gotter city by an army." Tenzen gave a wry laugh.
"Only if I can eat and talk at the same time. I'm starved. Did I eat on the way here?" Jola asked, only half in jest. She tried to remember the trip but could only recall a fog and a bone-numbing weariness.
"Very little. Mostly you preferred to sleep."
"Please eat, Mistress. I understand you've been under considerable stress, and close to two hundred leagues in three days would be hard on a Kasavan warrior," the elder said.
The innkeeper told her he had a bowl of stew, a basket of fresh bread and a mug of light ale ready for her. Between waiting for the food to arrive and eating, she described her days in Gotter.
"You're a very dangerous person, Mistress," Somner said, and shook his head. He then turned to Tenzen. "I've already sent a messenger to Mitra telling Clan Chief Kengi to expect you and Mistress Jola. I've also sent messengers to Kusor, Three Springs, and Inara, telling them that you've placed Kasava on alert in support of the king. And I've arranged a warrior detail to guide you to Mitra. Will ten warriors be sufficient? I can assign more if you feel you need more."
"No, Elder Somner, ten will be more than sufficient. And I thank you for your support against the king's enemies. I don't believe there will be any further pursuit from Essam. And there is no reason for them to assume we are headed for Sattah," Tenzen said. Jola motioned to the innkeeper for another helping of food as her stomach rumbled.
* * *
The trip to Mitra took ten days, as they had to cross the entire width of Kasava. Without the Kasavan escort, Jola doubted they could have found Mitra or survived the desert. They traveled at night under a bright moon that reflected off the desert sands with a mystical glow. The Kasavans found water and shelter each day. The scorching days, freezing nights, and endless hours in the saddle had Jola bone weary.
In Mitra, again they were greeted like royalty. Several lambs were put on to roast and Jola sat back to enjoy the Kasavans' leaping and whirling dances. She and Tenzen enjoyed night after night of parties in their honor. Tenzen planned to stay for an eightday, to rest from the trip before they attempted to cross over into Sattah. Therefore, Tenzen arranged to continue Jola's training. Jola trained every morning. To her dismay, the warriors seemed bright-eyed and alert, even though they had attended the same late night parties. She could now consistently win one of four contests, which she considered something of a miracle. Her success was a combination of the foundation she had received at the monastery from Sister Tenzen, and the efforts of the Kasava warriors at Kusor. She knew that Sister Tenzen was worried they would find serious trouble in Sattah, and that she wanted Jola as competent as possible in the time they had available to them.
* * *
On the third day, after the elders were satisfied they had honored the judicators enough, they approached Tenzen to request a judgment.
At mid-morning the next day, Jola sat on the top of a flat, gray boulder. She felt sure that everyone in the village was crowded into the space below her.
"In the name of King Nicolas, I, Judicator Jola, do hereby call this judgment in session," Jola announced from her perch. "Clan Chiefs, speak the dispute."
"Clan Juba purchased a stud Sangola from Clan Anan for five hundred silvers, but the stud hasn't produced any foals in over a year. Clan Juba claims they were cheated and want double their money back for the fraud," the Clan Chief Kengi said in a slightly elevated voice. Chief Kengi was one of the younger chiefs Jola had seen so far. He still looked the warrior, if somewhat wrinkled, but he walked with a slight limp. She had been told that he had been wounded many years ago in a battle, when a large gang attempted to steal Sangolas from the clan.
"Clan Anan claims that Clan Juba received a stud, and did something during the year to make him infertile," Clan Chief Obax replied. Chief Obax was the oldest chief Jola had seen so far. He walked slowly and slightly bent over, but gave her a sharp-eyed glance from under his bushy gray brows.
Jola sat there dumbfounded. She couldn't see how she could resolve this dispute unless Chief Obax was lying, which she didn't detect. Her viper didn't help. It lay with its head on her breast, asleep. She considered waking it up, although she wasn't sure what it could do. At least it could pay attention, Jola thought.
"Chief Obax, when was the last time the stud produced a foal?" Jola asked.
"Mistress Jola, a foal was born two months before we sold him." Jola could tell this was a true statement, but it felt somewhat evasive.
"How do you know it was from the stud you sold to Clan Juba?"
"The stud was in the pasture with the mares at the time they were in heat," Obax replied. Truth again, and simple logic-the stud was in the field with the mare that produced a foal; therefore, the stud is fertile unless...
"Was he the only stud in the pasture at the time the mares were in heat?"
"No, Mistress Jola. There was one other."
You crafty old fox. Jola hid a snicker. You weren't sure, were you? "Clan Chief Kengi, did you
do anything to cause the stud to become infertile?"
"No, Mistress."
Again, truth. "I've reached a decision." Jola looked at Tenzen, who nodded.
"Let it be known to all citizens of Pyxus that Judicator Jola has resolved beyond any man's right to question the issue before her involving the charge of fraud against the Clan Anan for the sale of a stud Sangola," Jola chanted. "I decree the following:
"First, there was no fraud by Clan Anan.
"Second, the stud Sangola is to be returned to Clan Anan.
"Third, Clan Anan has the option either to send Clan Juba a new stud or to return the purchase price of the stud Sangola received from Clan Juba.
"So say the Judicators of Pyxus."
Chief Obax scratched at his chin and then shrugged, while Chief Kengi nodded. Both seemed ready to accept her judgment.
Tenzen walked up to Jola where she sat on her elevated rock, as the crowd dispersed. "I think it's time that we leave. The clans always accept a judicator's decision without question, but you've proved to be fair, which will spread all around the province."
* * *
Six days later, they rode through a pass in Pyxus's Spine, a narrow trail through the snow-covered mountains. The quiet serenity of the mountains was broken only by the clop of their horses' hooves and an eagle's shriek near a peak overhead. As they proceeded through the mountain passes, Jola couldn't help being impressed by the sight of a filmy waterfall plunging off a high cliff into a small blue lake below, its edges dotted with trees and bushes.
The Kasavan escort reluctantly stopped at the Sattah border, at Tenzen's insistence. Jola and Tenzen entered Sattah thirty leagues west of their destination. It took three additional days to reach Candia.
It was late afternoon when they reached the small valley that led into the town. Most of the clustered houses were wooden, separated by a dirt road that was little more than a cow track. Only the small castle was stone; it looked sufficient to hold off gangs of bandits, but insufficient to withstand even a small army. The inn was tiny, only slightly larger than a cottage, and Jola suspected they were given its only real room. It was clean, so she had no complaint.
Marquess Kontar had sent a guard with a message to join him at the castle for dinner. When they arrived, he introduced them to the town's merchants. He was the only noble. Most of the guests were quiet, even standoffish. Jola didn't mind eating her dinner of roasted fowl with onion sauce in peace, but she did wonder why everyone seemed so subdued.
At last, she leaned close to Tenzen. "Is there anything wrong?"
Tenzen frowned and replied in a whisper. "Yes, there is. Marquess Kontar has asked me to sit in judgment on an abuse case of a small girl. I had planned to give you all of the judgments, since you need the experience. In this case, though, I considered trying it myself." Tenzen held up her hand before Jola could respond. "But that would be wrong. We must all learn to rise above our personal feelings, and we can't do that if we're sheltered from difficult cases. Therefore, I've decided to let you try the case. However, this time, I want to discuss your decision before you announce it."
"Thank you for trusting me." Jola made eye contact with Tenzen. But the news made a knot in her stomach. She spent the rest of the dinner pushing her food around on her plate.
* * *
Two days later, Jola sat with Sister Tenzen on a small wooden platform in the middle of the town square in front of the inn. The crowd was so large, it filled the square. She suspected that everyone from the town was there. "In the name of King Nicolas, we, Judicator Tenzen and Judicator Jola, call this judgment into session. Captain, please read the charges."
"Freeman Karmel is charged with using the girl child, Leela, a bonded servant, for prostitution," the captain read, in between scowls at Karmel.
Tenzen turned to Jola. "Judicator Jola, do you've any questions?"
Jola was glad the golden judicator's mask covered her face. She was sure she couldn't have hidden her pain. The girl, Leela, was so thin and undernourished that Jola was hard-pressed to guess her age, but she thought eight at the most. Karmel was a thin weasel of a man. His hair was slicked down, he reeked of perfume, and he was dressed in an assortment of colorful garments made of expensive silk. Everything looked new. Jola felt repulsed just looking at him. She knew his kind. She also remembered her friend Rosa's abuse as a child.
"Freeman Karmel, is Leela in bondage to you?" Jola asked, after a long silence during which the only sound was a few people shifting among the observers.
"Yes, Mistress, I didn't-" Karmel stopped in mid-sentence as Jola held her hand up, with her viper suddenly leaving her neck to coil around her arm.
"Freeman Karmel. You'll speak only when asked a question. Your answers will be confined to the question. In this case, a simple 'yes, Mistress' or 'no Mistress' is required-nothing else. Is Leela in bondage to you?" She felt her face flame with anger.
"Yes, Mistress." Karmel shifted from foot to foot.
"What did she do to be sold into bondage?" She would know why before this judgment was finished.
"I don't know, Mistress." Karmel started to say something else, but stopped.
"Explain how you got her without her parents, Freeman Karmel," Jola said. She wondered what an eight-year-old girl could do to be sold into bondage, when she remembered her experience. She had been about eight when she became a bonded slave.
"Mistress, I bought her from the owner of the cloth factory, Freeman Abbott. He told me her parents had died, and he had no use for a girl that young."
"Judicator Tenzen, I would like a recess while Freeman Abbott is summoned for questioning."
"Yes, Judicator Jola. This judgment is in recess until Freeman Abbott is made available," Tenzen announced.
While she waited, Jola sat breathing deeply and meditating. Somehow, she would manage to control her anger. Two hours later, a grossly overweight man dressed in sturdy brown trousers and tunic appeared beside two city guards. She once more called the trial to order.
"Freeman Abbott, did you sell Leela's bondage contract to Freeman Karmel?" Jola asked when Abbott had been steered to the front of the platform.
"Yes, Mistress."
"Why did you sell her?" Justice, not revenge, Jola reminded herself.
"Her mother died and she was useless. I had to have another woman look after her, and it affected production," Abbott said.
"Captain, how did Leela's mother get sold into bondage?" Jola knew he would have looked up the records, since she and Tenzen had expressed an interest.
"Mistress, from what I can remember and from our records, her husband died and left a lot of debt. She began to cheat her customers in an attempt to repay it. She got caught. Her punishment was five years' bondage. Freeman Abbott bought the contract."
"Freeman Abbott, how long was Leela's mother in bondage before she died?" Jola doggedly chased the chain of events.
"Four and one-half years." Abbott's answer was curt. Jola sat up straighter and her viper popped out of her blouse. Abbott had lied-and not a little lie.
"Freeman Abbott, you're fined ten silvers for lying to me. Answer truthfully this time." Jola reached up to stroke her viper, which rose up to caress her cheek, eyes pointed toward Abbott. Well, Abbott, you have our attention.
"Five and one-half years, Mistress," Abbott answered, as his eyes flickered from side to side.
"And how many years did you sell Leela for?" Jola and her viper leaned forward, as if to hear the answer better.
"No time was specified, Mistress," Abbott croaked, as sweat beaded on his pudgy face and dripped into his sunken eye sockets.
"Captain, please take Freeman Abbott into custody until judgment is passed on this case." Jola sat back and her viper slid into her lap.
"Freeman Karmel, did you know Leela's term of bondage had expired?" Her viper's head weaved in Karmel's direction in agitation. She knew it was responding to her anger.
"No... yes, Mistress." Karmel clasped his hands, sweating p
rofusely.
"Freeman Karmel, did you sell time with Leela to men?"
"No, Mistress, I was good to-"
"Stop!" Jola rose, with her viper in her hand. Her breath came in gasps. "Captain, you'll take Freeman Karmel into custody. Have his place of business searched, and bring whoever you find there to me. We're adjourned until tomorrow." Then, remembering her junior position, she looked to Tenzen apologetically. Tenzen nodded.
There was a flood of muttering as the crowd dispersed. Jola watched until the square had cleared, before she stepped down from the platform toward the inn.
"You scared me, my sister," Tenzen said as they walked back toward the door.
"I scared myself. It was as if my viper was telling me to throw it at Karmel. I don't know how I managed not to. All my memories of street children being abducted and abused came flooding back. I could feel that little girl's pain, confusion, and helplessness." Jola shook from the encounter and frantically stroked her viper.
* * *
When Tenzen and Jola ascended the platform the next day, a silence seemed to descend upon the town. The crowds had grown as the rumors had spread. Marquess Kontar stood at the edge of the crowd.
The city guard escorted two women, several guards, and two additional young girls they had found at Karmel's home and place of business. The sergeant identified them to Jola and Tenzen one by one. The two girls were Dace, Karmel's daughter, and Cara, an undocumented servant; the two women were Ni and Tu, also bonded.
It took Jola only a couple of questions to confirm that the three servants were being used as prostitutes. Then she motioned to Tenzen and conferred with her before giving a verdict.
"Let it be known to all citizens of Pyxus that Judicators Tenzen and Jola have resolved beyond any man's right to question the issue before them involving Freeman Karmel, who's charged with the selling of the girl child Leela, a bonded servant, for sex." Tenzen nodded to Jola, who stood. "We decree the following:
"First, Freeman Karmel is guilty as charged.
"Second, Freeman Karmel is also guilty of the charge of slavery, in that he imprisoned the girl Leela, who is a freewoman. Freeman Karmel is further guilty of forcing bonded servants to be prostitutes. The women, Ni and Tu, are freed from bondage. Freeman Karmel forfeits one hundred silvers to each of the bonded servants, Ni and Tu; and one hundred silvers each to Leela, Cara, and Dace. Any additional monies and property belong to Dace, Karmel's daughter.