THE HARVEST COUNCIL cont...... home
Erle studied Senior Guide Howe. He wasn't a large or a particularly striking man, narrow eyes under a brow made prominent by thinning hair, blunt nose and thin lips, short neck and thickly built torso. Despite his blank expression, he radiated intensity, like he stored his energy ready to release it in an explosion. Erle instinctively felt that he wouldn't want to be around when that happened.
Howe turned full circle to be sure that he had the attention of the whole Hall. Facing the Warden again, he spoke.
"Warden, it has come to the attention of the Guild of Boundary Wardens that a serious crime was committed in the Town last night during the Harvest Festival Plays. We wish to bring the perpetrator of this before Council for judgement."
The whispers had started as he spoke and had grown into open protest as people realised what he was doing. He was going to raise last night's attack, even though it was under corporation jurisdiction, even though the Corporation had dealt with it. Erle saw that members of Cassel Corporation were on their feet.
Howe ignored the protests, his eyes on the Warden, his bearing confident. Elias glanced quickly around the room, his gaze resting for a moment on someone on the top tier of the hall, the raised his voice to speak the single word, "Continue."
That word was enough to quieten the crowd, in shock if not ingrained deference. Howe smiled slightly. Erle guessed that he was the only person in the room who was comfortable with what was happening. Even the other Boundarymen seemed unhappy.
"Thank You Warden." He didn't sound especially grateful.
"A young woman named Abigail Gifford attended the Plays last night, as she did during every Harvest Festival, along with a number of her friends. She left during the final Play with one of those friends, a young man named Marc Haverford.
"This was Witnessed.
"When they were alone, Marc Haverford tried to take advantage of the woman's youth and vulnerability. She resisted and he used violence against her.
"This also was Witnessed.
"She was rescued by some passers-by. Marc Haverford was taken into the custody of Cassel Corporation. They concluded that Haverford had acted under the influence of a Suf, a Dybbuk Relic sometimes known as a Pastman. They decided that Haverford was blameless and that no action would be taken against him. This was, of course, quite correct. Someone acting under the influence of a Suf can hardly be blamed. However, the Corporation's conclusion does not concur with what was Witnessed.
"To find the truth of this, we took Marc Haverford into our custody and conducted our own investigation. We have concluded that there was no Suf, that Haverford was motivated only by his own lusts." He did not say out loud that he had concluded that the Corporation had been wrong, although a momentary glance in their direction and a slight curl of his lip spoke volumes.
"Because our conclusion differs from that of the authority which normally has jurisdiction, we have brought this case before Council for the Warden to Judge." He fell silent, once again fixing his eyes on the Warden and waiting for permission to continue, giving him another chance to stop this, or forcing him to once again acknowledge the Guild's apparent new precedence.
The Hall was shocked, but Erle knew that there was far more to come. The 'passers-by' who had rescued Abigail had been Tinker Foxe the Cassel Boundaryman, Rosanna and himself. He had seen the Suf with his own eyes as it had left Marc Haverford's body. Now he had watched a Senior Guide in the Guild of Boundary Wardens tell an untruth in front of Council while it sat as a Court. What in the name of everything that was Good was going on?
Elias' countenance was unreadable. His daughter, who sat to his left, appeared anguished. There was a collective drawing of breath as the gathering waited for the Warden to speak. Erle's attention was attracted to one of the Knight-Holders who, despite his attempt to appear calm looked...eager.
The Warden again spoke a single word. "Continue."
That was enough to break even the bonds of inbred deference and well earned loyalty. There were shouts of, "No!" from around the Hall. The Herald had to call for order before Huebert Howe could put his case.
"I spoke of Witness," he began. "and the Witnesses of whom I spoke have given powerful testimony. The first two are Georg Aldersparre and Nilus Ca'Da, both Guides in the Kahrain Guild of Boundary Warden's sent to Cassel by order of the Protector himself. They are not of the Margin, they require permission to speak in this place."
The Warden nodded at his Herald who called out for assent. The noise filled the Hall, although few spoke at more than a murmur as they intoned the necessary "aye".
The Boundarymen came forward to join their colleague. Erle knew Aldersparre. He had been a follower of the Fanatic Arbanel Bazaine which had been broken up by the old Protector. Erle had been with the Troops which had done the job. He had seen the atrocities which Bazaine's faction had committed, counted the corpses of women and children which had been left to rot in the streets of Ges during the Terror. He doubted whether the Boundary Guide remembered him, he had been an insignificant member of the expedition on his first mission. Other people had taken the decisions. But he remembered Aldersparre. He had spat defiance even as he had been bundled into the wagon that would transport him back to the capital for judgement. He had no idea why Aldersparre had not been one of the dozen or so who had been executed.
The Boundaryman had had short hair then. Now it was long and well cared for. Apart from that, he was unremarkable, though the tightness of his face hinted at hidden desire.
His companion was younger, tall, his face scarred by acne. His blonde hair and pale colouring hinted at western origin. His gaze was distant, vague, like his attention was somewhere else entirely, like he didn't understand how extraordinary were the events of which he was now a part.
Aldersparre spoke first.
"Warden, my companion," he meant Nilus, " and I attended the Plays last night. We left a little early, we have travelled a long way recently and I will admit that I was weary. As we left, my companions attention was drawn by movement. He directed my own attention towards what he saw. There were two people, a young man and woman. At first I believed that they were perhaps a young husband and wife, but it became apparent that the woman was resisting. The man became increasingly agitated and then violent towards her. At this point, three passers-by intervened. This is what I Witnessed."
Nilus Ca'Da nodded, as if to himself, but when he spoke his voice was clear and confident.
"I too Witnessed this."
Aldersparre continued, "After a brief struggle, the young man was restrained. It seemed clear to me that he was coherent and in command of his senses. For this reason I questioned the Corporation's conclusion. I have made a study Dybbuk relics. A Suf always renders the victim insane but there have been cases where the victim has been rescued and the Suf forced from his body. However in all such cases the victim has been rendered insensible for hours, more normally days. Marc Haverford was immediately conscious and cognisant. This is inconsistent with a Suf attack. I consider the Corporation's explanation to be impossible."
Rosanna had clutched at his arm and her grip had tightened as Aldersparre had spoke.
"We have to tell them!" she hissed. She seemed on the brink of panic, knowing as Erle did that this Boundaryman was lying yet terrified by the prospect of having to stand up in Council of all places and say so. Erle tried to be reassuring as his mind tried to keep up with events at the same time as taking in the reactions around him. He ran Aldersparre's Witness over in his mind. Yes, he had definitely lied. There was no room to explain it as misunderstanding or misperception. Aldersparre's eyes could not have deceived him in the twilight. Marc Haverford had not been conscious. He had not been coherent. He had fought like a demon until Tinker had flushed the Suf out of his body, then he had simply collapsed, insensible.
"This too I Witnessed!" intoned Nilus Ca'Da.
Erle struggled to make a decision. He was one of the Protector's Conveyors. His duty was to the Truth. Yet he had been given specific orders to keep his identity secret and avoid attention. He decided to wait and see what happened next. He told Rosanna, "We should wait, we don't know what's going on here. Let's see what happens."
Huebert Howe had another surprise, "The Witness of these two Boundary Guides is compelling, yet there is more. I have another to bring before Council, Abigail Gifford, the victim of the attack. She is a minor so again she requires Council's assent to speak here."
The Herald spoke, "Will you give assent?"
This "aye" was louder. The Hall was more willing to trust the word of one of their own than these two outsiders, even if they were Boundarymen and to be trusted more than most.
Abigal looked very small in the immensity of the Great Hall. Erle studied her face for signs of coercion. She was certainly nervous, but that was understandable. Nothing he saw showed obviously that she was here against her will. Howe didn't allow her to simply give her account. He asked her questions.
"Abigail," he attempted a kindly smile which failed due to its obvious insincerity, "you left the Plays last night with Marc Haverford, didn't you?" She nodded. "Can you tell us why you went with him?"
"He's my friend. I've known him since I was little. I thought it would be alright." She hesitated before continuing. "And I know that he likes me, you know, that he'd like..to be...more than friends.." she trailed off.
"And how did you feel about that, Abigail?" asked Howe.
"Well, I thought...I sort of liked the idea..." she hesitated again, then rushed on, "but not what he did, I didn't want to do that, not last night, I told him no!"
Rosanna had grasped Erle's arm again. "That's not true! Marc is in love with Elisabeth Batterson. They've been seeing each other for nearly a year. They are going to marry. They'll be old enough to announce it in the Spring. Marc's always put up with Abigail because their fathers work together. He's never looked at her in that way. We can't let her say these things!"
Erle said nothing, although he believed Rosanna. Marc wouldn't be the first betrothed man to go with someone else, he thought, so they could hardly object to Howe's case on those grounds. No, he couldn't afford to care about individuals he barely knew right now. The lie here was more profound than Rosanna realised and her friend wasn't the target, just an incidental victim. To Erle, the fact that Abigail was lying about Marc was just another factor to add into his attempt to understand this and decide how to respond.
On the floor, Howe was asking Abigail about the previous night. Erle only had to half listen to understand that she was confirming the Boundarymen's story. He looked around the Hall, searching for a clue as to what would happen next. One of the Knight-Holders, the one who had looked eager earlier, was consulting with someone behind him. Two of the others were consulting with each other. The Warden's daughter kept looking back and forth between her father and the scene on the floor.
The Warden himself surprised Erle. He was relaxed at his bench, to all intents and purposes he could have been sitting alone contemplating a book, perhaps, or a painting rather than this unprecedented event. But he reminded Erle of nothing so much as a Blademaster in a hostile environment, relaxed but absolutely ready for whatever the world might throw at him.
One other person in the Great Hall that Erle could see was also absorbed by the Warden's bearing. One of the Knight-Holders, the one who had caused a general stir as he had arrived with a small band of followers and taken his place just before the Warden's entrance, the one who sat alone seeming to carry his own space around with him, had also noticed. A slight smile curved his lips upwards and his eyes shone.
Howe was finishing his examination. Abigail was fighting back tears as she described her rescue. Howe played his part well. He asked the Warden for permission to excuse the "clearly upset" girl, before anyone else could question her. The Warden concurred, then asked Howe if he had finished
"Yes Warden. This is the evidence that pursuaded us to come before you in this way. I'm sure you will agree.." He stopped as the Warden of Margin raised a hand.
"This is Council," he addressed the Great Hall, "convened by the request of the Guild of Boundary Wardens as a Court of Justice. The jurisdiction of Cassel Corporation has been challenged in this case. When jurisdiction is challenged it falls to the Warden to pass judgement. Does anyone challenge my right?"
No one did, of course. Erle could not understand why he was even asking the question but the Warden's hard stare towards the Boundarymen suggested that Elias felt the need to restate his authority.
"I am the Warden. This is my Ward. I will Ward it well." Erle recognised that as part of the Warden's Oath. Elias seemed to take on stature as he recited it. "Together we are Council. The Boundary Guild has exercised its right to bring this dispute here. It is the right of anyone here to speak. The floor is open."
There was silence. Council was so rarely convened as a court that no-one new the conventions. Or at least few did. Willem Bathurst, who had been pointed out to Erle as the leader of Cassel Corporation, stood and addressed the hall. "Council, I ask leave to speak."
He addressed Council and not the Warden deliberately. Erle guessed what was going on. He was not alone in grasping that there were hidden agendas here. Apparently Bathurst had taken the Warden's hint that this case was now Council business. That meant that Council would decide who could speak and who couldn't. Council could even tell the Warden how he should judge. The Warden was just one voice here. Hidden Agendas were more difficult to pursue in an open session.
Enough of the Hall grasped the point to make the shout of "Aye" in response to Bathurst's request deafening. Bathurst took the floor.
"Council, I am Willem Bathurst, President of the Corporation of Cassel Town. We have heard from Witnesses who have cast doubts on the judgement of Cassel Corporation. They say that Abigail Gifford was attacked by Marc Haverford. They say that Marc Haverford was motivated by lust. We concluded that he had been under the influence of a Pastman. We reached this conclusion on the word of the three people who rescued Abigail Gifford from her plight. These three people were Tinker Foxe, Guide with the Guild of Boundary Warden's in Cassell, Rosanna Cappell, niece of Felix Beebe, innkeeper and member of Cassel Corporation, and Erle Baziotes, stranger and visitor. I call these people to speak. Because of my interest in the case, I call on another to question them."
One of the Knight-Holders stood. "I am Konrad, Knight-Holder of the Weald. Council, I ask leave to speak."
"Aye!" Hester whispered to Erle that the unexceptional, middle aged man was well thought of in Cassell having been fostered with the Warden while he was growing.
"Council, it has been suggested that these three witnesses be called to speak. With Council's leave, I will call them."
The Herald asked the Hall for consent and was granted it.
"In that case," said Konrad, "where is Tinker Foxe?"
Foxe stood from his place amongst the Boundarymen. Erle felt better. Foxe had flushed out the Suf, he would tell the truth. Perhaps he would be persuasive enough that Erle wouldn't have to speak. He surprised himself by thinking that it would also spare Rosanna the ordeal of speaking in front of Council. What had happened to having no time to care about people he barely knew?
Then he noticed that Tinker hadn't moved from his place. Instead he spoke to the Herald. "Remind me, its such a long time since I studied Council as a boy that I can't trust my memory. In closed court before the Warden I know I could be compelled to speak but I believe that in open Council I cannot be so compelled, true?"
"That is correct."
"Then I refuse to speak."
Stunned silence. Why would he refuse? Of all the things that had happened so far, this was the least explicable. Erle's stomach churned as he realised that his low profile could not now be preserved. His duty to the Truth was greater. But should he still conceal his identity? He would have to state who he was when he took the floor and he couldn't lie if asked a direct question about his background. But he didn't want to leave Rosanna to stand alone.
"All right," said Konrad, though his furrowed brow suggested that he wasn't happy. "I will instead call on Rosanna Capell. Where is she? Rosanna stood. "I am Rosanna Capell of Cassell Town"
Her voice was clear even though Erle could see that she was trembling. He swore to himself, then stood beside her.
"And I am Erle Baziotes," he smiled gently, "stranger and visitor," he hoped that would be good enough.
"Council, I am not of this place but I know of things which are relevant to your proceedings. I humbly ask your permission to speak."
Konrad smiled back at him then looked around the room. "Well, Council? Do you Assent?"
Erle made out a some "nay"'s, but they were mostly drowned out by "aye"'s. He led Rosanna down onto the floor.