by C. R. Daems
She awoke drenched in sweat. At first, she clawed at her covers in panic at the sight of armed strangers around her; she tried to roll away, but her body refused to respond. She moaned. An elderly man sitting by her bedside jumped up.
"Mistress, you're awake. Thank the gods." The man leaned over the bed and pressed a cool hand to her forehead. He was very quick, keeping his eyes on the vipers that were still wrapped around Jola's arm. "I'll get you some broth. You haven't eaten in over three days."
"Please get my vipers something to eat." Jola gently stroked each viper.
"What do they eat, Mistress?"
"Blood. We'll need a live animal. The bigger, the better."
"Yes, Mistress," the healer said as he opened the door and hurried out.
"Am I under arrest for killing someone?" Jola looked around the room at the three guards.
"No, Mistress. Princess Regina has designated a Horse unit as your permanent guard. I'm afraid that you will have little privacy for a while," the captain said apologetically.
She nodded and closed her eyes. Privacy was a rich man's word. It usually meant they wanted to keep the poor people away.
"We'll try to be inconspicuous. However, Commander Besnik hand-picked your guards and ordered that at least ten be with you at all times. I'm Captain Rankin."
"Where are the other seven? Under my bed?" Jola joked weakly.
"Several are in your waiting room and several are in the hallway, Mistress. None are under the bed-right now." She opened her eyes long enough to see Rankin's lips twitch, although he managed to keep a straight face.
A maid came in with a tray of broth and soft white bread, and a man with one of the small hogs that the nobles were so fond of roasting. Another soldier accompanied them.
"Mistress, with your permission, I'm to taste your food before you eat it. Princess Regina is concerned about poison," the soldier said, with something less than enthusiasm.
"It's your lucky day. Judicators can't be poisoned. Please thank Princess Regina for her concern," Jola said. "Captain, can you tie this pig's legs, and lay him on the bed for me, please? My vipers are starving. Normally they would feed off me, but they haven't because I've been too weak."
The maid plumped Jola's pillows so she could lean back as she sipped the broth; she managed to get that down, and a few bites of the bread. She knew that her stomach would be sensitive after three days without food, a lesson she'd learned when young. Her vipers, on the other hand, gorged, which left the pig too weak to walk. Her vipers were feeling well again as they roamed over Jola, investigating her wounds. Tenzen's viper was more sedate than hers, and was content to rest about her neck. When she touched it, she could feel Tenzen's stability. Or is it her presence? Her viper seemed to prefer her hair, since crawling around her wounds caused her pain.
She told the captain to sit down; she didn't like having someone standing over her. He refused to allow the guards to be seated, although he moved them back a little way. She felt like talking, so the captain asked her lots of questions. She explained about her vipers, her training, and her experiences on the road. He said that the more he knew about her, the better he would be able to protect her. He knew she was an excellent sword fighter when she was healthy, but he wanted to make sure that was the very last option-healthy or not.
A knock on the door made the captain spring to his feet. A servant opened it for the princess.
"Jola, I am happier than I can say to find you conscious," Regina said. She sat on the side of the bed and put her hand on Jola's. "I need to tell you about Tenzen... "
Jola blinked back her tears. "I heard the assassins say they killed her."
Regina shook her head. "I failed to see that the two of you were protected. I should have never trusted Greer." She bit her lip and looked pained. "I'm sorry."
Jola gave Regina's fingers a small squeeze. She knew that Tenzen had been fond of the princess. "Don't think that you were at fault. You'll stop this rebellion and end what the rebels are doing."
Regina patted her hand. "I'll need you to help once you're stronger. If you need anything, the captain will see that you get it. So I expect you to tell him." She gave Jola a stern look. "The sooner you're well, the sooner we can have Greer's judgment, and move with the army."
"The army won't move until I'm well?" Jola asked weakly.
"Of course not. So I expect you to mind the healer and recover." Regina gave her a smile before she strode from the room.
Jola sighed. The stories she enjoyed as a judicator had suddenly become about her. Lying in bed wouldn't give her back her strength. She intended to get up, right after she rested her eyes for a moment. A few hours later, she awoke with a jerk. But perhaps the sleep had helped, she thought as she carefully stretched, feeling a bit stronger.
"Enough. Captain Rankin, please come over here and help me out of bed. I'm starting to act like a spoiled noble," Jola said, loudly enough to be heard in the next room, eliciting several laughs.
The captain hustled over to the side of the bed-opposite the viper around her arm-and gently helped her up, keeping a close eye on the one wrapped around her neck. Jola took his proffered arm, walked around the room once, and then walked into the outer room. When she appeared, all the soldiers on duty jumped to attention.
"Relax, men. I'm too weak to fight," Jola said; then she hobbled around the room, to chuckles and remarks about how good it was to see her up. Her stomach grumbled, so she went back into her room and had a roasted chicken and some vegetables sent up.
She had lost blood and needed to recover her strength. Every few hours she had one of the soldiers help her up for a stroll around the rooms, and occasionally out into the hallway. Within two days, she was moving well without a supporting arm, although ten guards always accompanied her.
On the third morning, Besnik knocked on the door and asked if he could visit her.
"Mistress, I'm delighted that you're recovering so quickly. Frankly, when I saw you after the assassination attempt, I thought you would die," Besnik said. "I want you to know how sorry I am that our sister was killed."
"I'd gladly have given my life to save her," Jola said, feeling tears pricking at her eyes.
"Tenzen felt the same about you. But neither of you had the choice. I think the eight nobles-or I should say, "assassins"-chose to attack Tenzen first because they knew she was an experienced sword fighter. In fact, she never reached her sword. The first who attacked her while she lay in her bed succumbed to her viper. She killed two more with his sword, before several stabbed her in the back. You and your viper took out the others. Two more were waiting in the courtyard with all ten horses. We captured them. They await judgment when you're ready." Besnik patted Jola's hand. "I'm glad you've Tenzen's viper. I hope it stays with you. She would have wanted it."
"It will," Jola said, remembering her dream... or hallucination. "Would you please inform Princess Regina that I'll be ready for judgments tomorrow?"
* * *
Jola sat on a beautifully carved chair inset with gold and silver, and made with a variety of dark, exotic woods. The designs depicted intertwining vines with scorpions-Manito's crest. The vaulted room was Duke Greer's reception hall, and although designed to comfortably hold well over two hundred people, it was crowded. Jola still required her bandages, but her judicator's clothes hid them. One of her vipers coiled around her neck with its head resting on her shoulder; the other wove itself into her hair and had its head resting on her ear. Ten guards surrounded her, all looking alert as angry vipers. She hated needing to have guards; it felt wrong. But she had to admit she felt too weak to fight, and was very tired of having to kill stupid nobles. Princess Regina sat to her right, looking every bit the king's heir in her purple velvet breeches and coat trimmed with gold braid.
"In the name of King Nicolas, I, Judicator Jola, do hereby call this judgment in session. Captain, would you read the charges, please," Jola said to the captain of Regina's troop. Two nobles stood in chains, surro
unded by six of Regina's guards.
"Lord Langit and Lord Anghet are charged with aiding in the assassination of Judicator Tenzen and the assassination attempt on Judicator Jola," the captain read from his parchment.
"She can't give a fair verdict, because she was involved in the assassination attempt," Anghet said. His anger and hatred washed over her like a tide. The emotion was stronger than she had ever felt before. Jola could only assume that the two vipers amplified her awareness.
"Lord Anghet, if you wish a fair hearing, you will remain quiet until you're asked a question. Otherwise, I'll assume you're guilty. In that case, I'll send my viper down to judge you. Your choice," Jola said with a flip of her hand. Anghet opened his mouth as though he would say more, but closed it when the viper around her neck slid into her lap.
"Lord Langit, did you come to Lanham with the intention of assassinating one or both judicators?" Jola asked.
"No, we were just passing through on our way to Candia." The falseness of both answers slammed into Jola, again amplified.
"Lord Anghet, did you come to Lanham with the intention of assassinating one or both judicators?"
"No, we were just passing through on our way to Candia," Anghet said. Again, she felt the double falseness.
"Lord Langit, did anyone in this castle knowingly assist you or your friends in the assassination?"
"Yes, several. Everyone hates you and your kind," Langit answered. Jola again felt the falseness of the first response, but felt the truth of his belief in the second. She debated the value of probing for more about their mentors in Sattah, and decided against it. Exhausted and too tired to prolong the questioning, she stood.
"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 assassination of Judicator Tenzen and attempted assassination of Judicator Jola." Jola chanted the hundred-year-old ritual words leading to her decision. "I decree the following:
"First, Lord Anghet and Lord Langit are guilty of knowingly assisting in the death of Judicator Tenzen and the attempted assassination of Judicator Jola.
"Second, having caused the death of a judicator, they are responsible to the golden vipers for their crimes.
"So say the Judicators of Pyxus." She stood and dropped both vipers to the floor in front of her. Everyone in the hall froze as the vipers slithered down the steps of the platform toward the two noblemen. Their guards didn't know whether to stay or run; however, they stayed when Jola raised a hand to stop them. The nobles tried to shuffle back, constrained by their chains, but a guard on each side grabbed their arms.
"Princess Regina, this isn't justice. Help us!" Langit screamed.
Regina lifted a hand. "The judicator has spoken. No one is to move."
The vipers separated; each slithered toward one of the men, and then wound its way up a leg. The men blabbed, screamed, and cried. When a viper reached the first man's neck, it struck. Seconds later, the second viper reached its target and struck. The men collapsed, convulsed for a second and then lay still. The hall was silent as the vipers crawled back to Jola.
"Captain, please bring Duke Greer forward." Jola sat back down. Guards opened the immense doors at the front of the hall. Greer shuffled in his chains to the front of the platform. His face looked pasty and beaded with sweat as he passed the two bodies, which hadn't yet been removed.
"Lord Greer, do you fully support the Seven Provinces' Treaty?" Jola asked.
"Yes, Mistress," Greer answered. Jola sensed the unequivocal truth of the statement.
Jola stood again. "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 Duke Greer's complicity in the assassination of Judicator Tenzen and attempted assassination of Judicator Jola," Jola chanted. Greer turned white, along with Princess Regina. "I decree that Duke Greer is innocent of any complicity in this matter.
"So say the Judicators of Pyxus." Jola turned to Regina.
"If you will excuse me, Princess Regina, I'm very tired," Jola said. Captain Rankin offered his arm and she leaned on him in a daze of grief and weariness. Surrounded by her guards, she returned to her room.
She undressed and spent the afternoon resting in a comfortable chair. She sipped a glass of wine and gazed at the garden outside her window-a garden Tenzen would never see again. The judgment cut like a sword, bringing to reality the loss of her dear friend and mentor. She sat there as darkness fell over the castle. Lord Greer knocked on her door and asked to be admitted. Her guards scowled when she said she would see him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mistress. If I knew you were ready for bed, I'd have waited. I apologize," Greer said, his face flushed, obviously embarrassed. He backed toward the door.
"I wouldn't have let you in if I didn't want to talk to you, Your Grace. I'm dressed adequately for my bedroom. How may I help you?"
Lord Greer paused.
"Why did you do it? You must know I would like to have the treaty revised in favor of the nobility. With the right questions, you could have sent me to the iron mines," Greer said, the sweat beading at his hairline.
"Your Grace, if we're to punish everyone we disagree with in one way or another, we'd have to send everyone to the iron mines. A judicator that judges on that basis should herself be sent to the mines. No, judicators are to rule on actions, not wishes or thoughts. I know you didn't conspire in the assassination. I won't punish you for something you didn't do."
Greer nodded thoughtfully, and she felt his surprise at her answer.
She smiled. "Now if you would like to trade evil thoughts, have a seat. I wager I can match you one for one. I was raised on the streets and was a bonded servant when I was young."
Greer did sit, as he looked at Jola, the person. Then he chuckled. "Are you unique? Or have I misjudged the judicators?"
"We're all unique, Duke Greer, but we're all trained in the same way. In my limited experience, we all see the law through our sisters' eyes."
"I had my doubts about the king's edict to put every noble in the three provinces to judgment. After watching you, I no longer have doubts. Maybe someday we can trade evil thoughts again." Greer rose, bowed, and left the room.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sattah Province
The army formed up to leave Lanham for Sattah, where they would meet Duchess Kambiri in southern Manito, several leagues outside Candia. Besnik ordered one Horse unit to act as an advance guard for Regina's party, which now comprised the princess's royal Horse guard, the Horse unit guarding Jola, and Lord Greer's ten guards. Regina's army had grown by an additional two hundred Manito Horse troops, and numbered more than eight hundred mounted soldiers.
Jola managed not to moan as she mounted her horse. She had to wonder how well she would stay in the saddle for long rides, but was determined not to delay them in reaching Tasman on their prearranged date for a coordinated assault on Chaney's army.
"How are you feeling?" Regina asked as she pulled up beside her. "We'll stop anytime you get tired."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The truth is that I'm sore and in pain. However, I'd feel the same back at the castle or in bed." Jola laughed. "If it gets really bad, I'll say something."
"Please do. I didn't expect to be able to leave so soon, with the wounds you suffered."
"I'll try not to overdo it," Jola said with a weak smile.
"You continue to astonish me. It's as if you're two people-the young Judicator Jola and an older judicator like Mistress Tenzen. Lord Greer agrees."
"I can only hope that someday I can be like Sister Tenzen. I loved her very much." Jola felt a dull ache in her chest. "These rebels have killed a sister who was like a mother to me."
"And yet, you seem to be able to separate justice from vengeance, Mistress Jola." Regina leaned forward with intense interest in Jola's response.
"I won't tarnish my sister's memory. I'll die first," Jola said, so
quietly it was almost lost under the sound of the horses' hooves.
"You took several years off my life yesterday. The first was when you dropped your two vipers to the floor. The second time was when you asked Lord Greer only one question before standing to announce your decision. I thought you meant to pronounce him guilty," Regina said with a wry laugh.
"I'm sorry about dropping the vipers. I was too tired to walk down to the prisoners. When I realized Lord Greer was innocent, I had no choice in my decision."
"Your sisters would be proud of their student, Mistress Jola. I feel fortunate that you're the judicator that fate has provided us on this campaign."
Regina then drifted over to talk to Besnik. Although Jola had said nothing, she was thankful that afternoon when Besnik ordered a halt several hours earlier than normal.
* * *
They rode into the valley where Duchess Kambiri had camped with her two hundred Kasavan warriors in mid-afternoon, a few days later. While the guards set up the tents for the commanders, Regina introduced the duchess to the members of her party.
"Duchess Kambiri, I'd like you to meet Besnik, my tactical commander."
"Commander, it's a pleasure to meet you. Your reputation precedes you."
"Thank you, Your Grace. I'm looking forward to training with your Kasavan warriors."
"I believe you know Duke Greer," Regina said, continuing the introductions. "And Judicator Jola."
"Yes, Greer and I are loyal friends." Kambiri gave a bow in Greer's direction, which he returned. "Judicator Jola, I wish we were meeting under happier circumstances. Tenzen was a great judicator and a wonderful person who we will all miss. From what I've seen of you, I believe she has passed on to you her legacy."
"Thank you, Your Grace. I will try-" Jola felt suddenly overwhelmed with grief. She reached up to touch Tenzen's viper before continuing. "-try to live up to her teaching and ideals."