4: His Trial and Mine
Each prayer for the dead now a prayer for my brother. And each candle I light is a wish for the peace of their spirits- his and Sarah's. Who knows about Yuber? And here remains Albert. He two-timed all of them, however- cleverly, in the tradition of his ancestor, Sanada Silverberg, who I think knew my father. History repeats itself. That much is certain.
The world, it appears, has conspired to inspire me. Today I will preside over a secret trial of a brown-eyed man out to incite revolution. I think I'm being tested. So, I'll acquit him and prove myself guilty as charged. These days it seems to me, I've gained some opportunities and I'd have to attribute them to my distant brother. In other circumstances they'd all have been looked over.
So I suppose it falls to me to keep the banner high, but I'll do it in my own fashion and at my own speed. There are still so many things I must observe.
...Now to the inquisition!
"Did you engineer this plan on your own? Do you have accomplices?"
"What answer do you want, sir?"
"Don't speak like that to the bishop!" is the sharp reprimand.
I nod my head softly and they prompt him with pointed looks, "Marius, answer him."
Marius, brown-eyed, golden-haired, fidgets, glances at them angrily, averts his eyes from me. "Marius, tell me, what part of the country do you come from?" I ask simply, voice steady.
"The Central Plains, a little bit to our west, I live in Riverway, on the water," Marius informs me bitterly.
"This man is charged with printing a revolutionary newspaper, inciting the people against the government-"
"And," fumed Sakurazaki, clutching his wrist in his seat by the door,
"Resisting arrest by biting me!"
I can see that even the guards are smiling, why is Sakurazaki amusing like that? I know there's no humor there to him. Marius' expression has certainly improved. He looks triumphant. A small victory is a victory nevertheless. I'll pick up from there, I think it's an opening.
"You must be pretty determined to fight so hard."
This seems to get him, at least a little, he smiles at me with a gentler gaze, "Lots of people depend on me to get information about what's going on and what they should do. I can't fail my readers."
"Then don't fail your readers."
He looks at me, startled, "What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly what I said. If we lock you up or send you into exile or execute you I believe you would be failing your readers. Don't fail them. You may go now."
His mouth hangs open slightly in easily understood shock. I cannot help but give a small smile.
He stands up slowly and the nervous guards do not contest my words and cautiously open the door for him. Just as he is almost out the door he swirls around and bows his head, "Thank you, Your Excellency," he murmurs.
I only nod.
Sakurazaki's brown eyes dart back and forth. Despite his usual demeanor he does not know what to say.
The door closes softly.
I dedicate that to you. My first motion to understand this nation, its people, and situation without the rose-colored glasses that the Temple has handed me.
"Sasarai..." Sakurazaki begins roughly.
I motion for the guards to leave. Sensing Sakurazaki's rising anger they do not waste anytime.
"Yes?" I ask calmly. The best defense against violence is to keep your temper. At least that is the truth with Bishop Ihzak Sakurazaki. He blows himself out and gives up. On a previous occasion this was demonstrated for me.
"What are you thinking?!" he roars, rising up out of the chair. He is six feet two inches tall. Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm... I repeat this over and over to myself mentally.
"Sasarai, I have seen you do some fairly ridiculous things since you came home from the war, but this takes the cake! Are you sure you're not sick?" He pauses and leans down to get a better look at me, "Yes, you do look pale. Are you getting enough sleep?"
He is not giving me enough time to answer.
"That's right, you must be sick."
They were right...if you don't fight back Sakurazaki will stop being angry. I don't want to go along with this, but I would also like to avoid fighting with someone who has a reputation for loosing control and slugging someone. (At the Circle Temple this proves rather dangerous- not one other high-ranking priest is nearly as tall and physically powerful as Sakurazaki) Determined that he should be correct, Sakurazaki leads me off to see Dr. Miyo.
The doctor looks me over under Sakurazaki's scrutinizing gaze, tells the Southern Region's Head Supervisor (Bishop Sakurazaki's official title- I have yet to fully understand what it is supposed to mean) that he is correct, I am a bit under the weather. After that Sakurazaki does not stay around much longer. When he leaves Dr. Miyo smiles and shakes his gray head, "Don't be concerned, Sasarai. You appear to be in perfect health."
The doctor never fails to amaze me. ...And I have known him all my life. He knows how to get his job done and please the fussy politicians that surround him.
When I offer a grateful, "Thank you," he merely nods and turns back to the notebook he was working in when we entered.
I wander outside slowly; avoiding anyone who might distract me or cause me trouble.
Just outside the gates, a young blond man is standing, looking past the guards. It takes me only a moment to recognize him from earlier that day- Marius.
The guards are somewhat perturbed by my rushing out through the gates, but their captain has given them specific orders not to waste my time. She's a highly reliable person and they carry out her orders.
"Hello!" I call to Marius.
He whistles a few cheerful notes of an old folk song and waves at me. "What's got you coming to see me, Your Excellency?" he inquires, sounding as if we were old friends.
"Why are you still here?"
He shrugs, "I just had this feeling..."