Chap. 331 The Abbreviated Trial

Chap. 331 The Abbreviated Trial

His datalink called.

Should I answer it, he wondered?

Technically, I am still on sabbatical, but it’s true, I’ve spent most of it right here at Landing, reading, writing up journals, and riding Francie’s magnificent horse, Donal, he thought. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed just having time to myself.

Siskin cheeped from his ledge, high up on the wall of his quarters.

He says you’re not alone.

K’ndar laughed. I’m not, am I. I have both of you. Did he hear me think? Or is it the datalink that’s bothering him?

I don’t know. Possibly both. He’s gotten very smart.

Just like you.

He sent a mental hug to the blue fire lizard.

The datalink quieted, leaving him a feeling a bit of guilt. Raylan knows I’m here, but otherwise?

The datalink started up again. It sounded imperious this time.

“Oh, all right,” he said, picking it up.

“K’ndar here. Who calls?” he said, in a tone of voice that said he wasn’t at all happy being disturbed.

“This is Lord Lytol, K’ndar.”

His heart stopped for several seconds. Lord Lytol is calling ME? His throat constricted. The most respected and honored man on Pern, the one man who’d lived half a dozen lives, it seemed, who’d been present for every significant Pernian event: from the humble beginnings of a weaver, he’d fought Thread and lost his dragon, raised Lord Jaxom, was overwhelmed when Lessa returned from her timejump with six weyrs of dragons, to the awakening of Aivas and it’s ultimate success of destroying the threat of Thread. How old was the man? And he’s calling ME? Some dung booted herder on a dragon?

He felt himself shrink in dismay. I almost didn’t bother to answer.

“Um, um,” he managed to choke out, “My lord, I’m sorry I didn’t answer sooner,” he said, wondering if he was going to be sacked, if not beheaded for keeping the man waiting.

“That’s alright, lad. I know you’re on sabbatical, but I am afraid I must interrupt it. If you would, please, be at the courtroom at 0800 hours tomorrow? Former dragonrider Tovar will be appearing before the Council tomorrow for sentencing. I’ve read your written testimony, and K’ndar, I am calling-and I confess it takes a lot for me to use this infernal piece of electronics, but I am doing so to thank you personally for capturing him.”

“My lord, it was my pleasure.” K’ndar said, his mouth dry as a desert. Lord Lytol calling ME, thanking ME?

“K’ndar, as you are undoubtedly aware, in most cases like this, the Weyrleader or Holder is the judge. I know I was when I was Ruatha’s Lord Holder before Lord Jaxom came of age. This is the first time we’ve ever held a trial here at Landing. Tovar has refused to tell where he’s from, what what Weyr he came from, or even if Tovar is his real name. He committed crimes all over Pern, so I decided it was probably easier on everyone to hold the trial here at Landing.

I want you to testify in person, as the Charter demands that, to properly conduct a trial of this import, that it be fair to the defendant as well as to the plaintiffs. Of which there are many.”

Only an utter fool would disobey, K’ndar thought, his heart rate slowing. I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this. “Uh, of course, my Lord, thank you for asking. I’ll be there, my Lord.”

“Thank you,” Lord Lytol said, and rang off.

What in the world was a plaintiff?

_____________________________________________________________

“It’s a person who has a complaint against another, and is petitioning to be compensated or see that justice is done. In your case, in fact, in just about everyone’s case, those complaints are all about Tovar’s activities, his crimes that today’s trial will seek to redress, as well as punish Tovar.”

Raylan was reluctantly dressed in his very best. Francie had insisted he do so.

“You can’t go before the Council like it was just another work day, Raylan! This is important!” she’d protested.

Knowing that asking ‘why not’ would just give her the opportunity to mention how thickheaded certain males of the species could be, he’d acquiesced. I love that woman, he thought, more than I ever would have expected. But she does seem to go off on tangents that make no sense to me.

He looked K’ndar over, envying the dragonrider’s low rank. His clothes were clean, but showed the wear that virtually everyone who wasn’t working in an office experienced.

This was an important occasion, but he, like just about everyone else, had no experience with this sort of session. Lord Holders were usually the ones to judge a case and they seldom worried about the appearance of the plaintiffs, and even less about that of the defendant. After all, he mused, a beheading can be messy.

He froze at the thought. WILL we have a beheading here today? Does anyone know how to do that, here? We’re scientists, we’re technicians. I couldn’t handle a sword if you held me at knife point. Tovar deserves it, in my opinion, and he’s already proven to be capable of escaping banishment. But will he, this time? His dragon is dead. It’s why we no longer contract his name. Now he’s just another groundpounder, like me.

I am so glad I’m merely here to bear witness, per the Council’s request, he thought. I doubt I’ll be asked to testify. If this crowd is any indication, this trial will take some time. Tovar had been busy.

K’ndar tugged nervously at his collar, aware of Raylan’s unspoken inspection.

“So I’m a plaintiff, too?”

“Aye, as well as a witness, and an important one. We couldn’t find B’rost-stars know where that lad is, this time. He’s like a flutter, here, there, gone with the wind. So your testimony should include how he was captured. For which I thank you, once again, K’ndar.”

“Um, that, well, you’re welcome, but, as you know, it WAS B’rost’s doing, against my orders, but it worked out right in the end,” K’ndar said. He felt exasperated. Trust you to wiggle out what promises to be a long and dreary procedure, B’rost, he thought.

He looked around, noticing dragonriders wearing braids from many other Weyrs, North and South, as well as Holders, and even Crafters. The building was filling up quickly. Tovar had made a lot of enemies. Something nibbled at the edges of his mind, something he wasn’t seeing..ah. No one, so far, was wearing Southern Hold’s badges.

One woman caught his eye. She was in the middle of a crowd of Northerners, looking uncomfortable. She looks familiar. Yes. I remember her. She’s Tovar’s wife, from Tillek Sea Hold.

“His wife is here,” he said, softly. Raylan caught it.

“Tovar had a wife?” Raylan said, “You know her?”

“Yes. See her? Rather heavyset woman, over there, by the big man wearing a Tillek Sea Hold badge. I think I remember him, I think that’s her son. I met her, we met her, when the survey team was sent to Western Continent to find a spot for the second telescope, remember? We had to wait at Tillek Sea Hold until the scope arrived by sea.”

“Sheesh, K’ndar, I’d forgotten that and it’s not been that long, has it! You took Rahman by dragonback.”

“I did. He was team leader, remember. Those yobs at Tillek put us dragonriders up in the coldest, draftiest, dampest cavern in the North. On purpose, just to haze us ‘Southerners’. That’s how we met Tovar, he’d managed to insinuate himself onto the team, and I’m not convinced it wasn’t through some machination of Lord Toric’s. Who, by the way, doesn’t seem to be represented here.”

Raylan snorted. “No doubt he has a ‘reason’-Lord Toric has always disavowed any sort of knowledge or relationship with Tovar, only saying that his cotholders have occasionally ‘complained’ about a dragonrider causing problems in his Holdlands. He always blamed Southern Weyr’s dragonriders, even after he ousted them from his Hold. It would be embarrassing, wouldn’t it, if Tovar testifies that he did all his crimes on Toric’s orders. Which everyone suspects is true, and as you can see, there’s a lot of people here who might just testify to that connection. If he’s not here, though, anything Tovar claims about Lord Toric is merely hearsay. Or worse, if Toric does show up, he might just promise the Council that he’ll take Tovar, out of the goodness of his heart, you know, he’ll keep his thumb on Tovar rather than see him beheaded. Even without his dragon, Tovar is dangerous-and a man who owes Toric his head is just the sort of lout Toric can find useful.”

He looked at the woman K’ndar had pointed out, wondering what in the world does anyone see in a man like Tovar? Was there a part of Tovar that, unbelievable as it may be, was redeemable? Will she beg for mercy for him? Please, stars, no. This man needs to be dealt with for good.

“How is it you know his wife?”

“She was kind to us. She gave me a sweater, knitted by one of her kids. She apologized, saying it had errors in it, but I didn’t care, it was thick and warm. I still have it. Tillek! Why anyone would willingly live up there is beyond me. Too cold, too windy, and it’s always wet.”

His wife. Is she here out of loyalty? Out of love? I can’t imagine loving someone like him.

“Has Lord Toric been notified?” he asked.

Raylan smirked. “The term is summoned. I have no idea, but I doubt seriously if Toric would actually show up. For which I’m grateful.”

“How about D’mitran? He was in on the capture, after all.”

The Science Chief nodded.

“Yes, he’s coming. In fact, he’s transporting Tovar.”

Shocked, K’ndar gawped.

“He’s bringing Tovar dragonback?”

“Yes, and Weyrleader F’mart provided dragon transport for several of Lord Dorn’s men-at-arms to make sure that Tovar doesn’t escape again.”

Maybe one of them will be executioner, Raylan thought. I’v seen his men. They’re big as mountains and have the same sense of humor when it comes to criminals.

“Huh. I would have thought they’d bring him by wagon,” K’ndar said. “It’s not easy for a dragonrider to fly after losing his own. I can’t even imagine how it must feel. My uncle Fland can’t even bring himself to approach Raventh. It’s just too emotionally devastating.” He paused for a moment, feeling icy at the thought. “Maybe they got him stinking drunk.”

“Not for a trial, K’ndar. Not for this. He’ll be stone cold sober.”

Someone came out of the courtroom and shouted to be heard. “Would you all please enter the court? The Council has assembled and will brief you all while we wait on the defendant to appear.”

“Where’s that lout Tovar? I want that yob’s head,” called out a man. Several voices seconded the man.

“Sir, I am not the one to ask that. Would you please enter the courtroom.”

K’ndar was going to wait until the crowd lessened, but the man came to him and Raylan.

“Dragonrider K’ndar? If you would, please, accompany me? You and several other important witnesses are to be seated in front of the Council.”

K’ndar shook his head, resisting. Being in front was the LAST place he wanted to be.

“Uhh, do I have to?” K’ndar balked, “I’d be a lot happier in the back, here. I don’t mind.”

Raylan pushed him gently. “I told you, K’ndar. You’re important. Go on with him, please?”

I don’t want to be important, he muttered under his breath.

____________________________________________________________

“He’s being brought dragonback? He should be here by now, it doesn’t take but few seconds to go between from Singing Water’s Hold,” someone behind K’ndar groused.

He didn’t answer. The room was growing restive. The full Council of Six, with Lord Lytol as Councilman Emeritus, looked impatient. Where was D’mitran?

He saw the look in Lord D’nis’s eyes. He’s no happier than I am, he thought. No way on Pern will I ever allow myself to be ‘promoted’ to anything higher than what I am right now.

T’balt’s and D’nis’s eyes suddenly went wide in shock.

“Um…” D’nis said. T’balt met his eye. The northern dragonrider shook his head.

What in the world?

T’balt got up and whispered in Lord Lytol’s ear.

The elderly man looked bemused, then he nodded his head.

K’ndar felt Raventh tingle in his mind. Careth says he began.

Careth said what?

The crowd, puzzled, was quiet.

Lord Lytol sighed. “In a way, this is better.”

For a long moment, he looked at the crowd. K’ndar saw something in the man’s eye.

Lord Lytol stood up. “I thank you all for coming. Court is dismissed. If you would please, convene in the dining hall, Grafton, our headman, has arranged for a meal for all of you, and I can assure you, Landing’s cooks are second to none.”

The crowd erupted in calls of confusion, anger, dismay.

“What??”

“I haven’t had my say!”

“He owes me, my lord, he owes me a lot!”

“Just like that? Dismissed?”

“Where is he?”

“What do you mean, dismissed? I came all this way for nothing?”

“I want to see that lout. Here. Now.”

K’ndar knew it, before Raventh could explain, before the words left Lord Lytol’s lips.

“We’ve been notified that Tovar committed suicide. Even in chains, he managed to jump off the transport dragon while they were between.”

After several stunned seconds, the crowd began to shout in anger.

“Damn him, even in death, he cheated.”

“Suits me,” said another, “I just wish he’d suffered.”

He heard the woman call out, but the voices were too loud.

The crowd began to mill about, moving towards the door, when Tovar’s wife gave out a piercing whistle, the kind that could cut through the roaring gale winds.

Everyone froze.

“Begging your pardon, my lords, but may I speak?” the woman called.

The Council was speechless for a moment. Then Lord T’balt said, “You may. Please approach the bench.”

She made her way through the crowd. She bowed to the Council.

“My lords,” she said, in a strong Northern accent, “I am Shanna, of Tillek Sea Hold, married to Tovar, brown dragon Firoth’s rider, originally of High Reaches Weyr.”

Jaws dropped. Someone said “High Reaches!” and was promptly shushed.

After several moments of silence, Lord T’balt said, “My condolences on the death of your husband.”

The irony of it struck everyone, but it was the most gracious thing to do.

“Thank you, my lord, even given t’circumstances. I want to say something, if you allow it?”

“Please proceed,” T’balt said.

“My lord, I were born and raised on the Fair Catch, out of Tillek Sea Hold. Onlyest places I’ve ever been is other seaholds. This is the farthest I’ve ever been inland.

I was unaware of the crimes said to have been committed by Tovar. He would come and go, you know? Most times to fight Thread, my lord, but even after, he’d leave for a whiles. I never knew where he went or when he’d be home, I never knew what he’d done. I figgered it were dragon rider business. My lords, we seafolk, the old ones who have to stay ashore because the sea ice, we calls it, freezes their bones, women like me when we gets too old to go to sea, we watches our menfolk, our kids, leave to follow the fish. The fishes, they go on they own schedule, so you never know when the fleets comin’ home til you sees the topsails on the horizon, you hear the crew singing because they’s flying the Full Holds banner from the main topmast. You never knew when the fleet would return, so I were used to Tovar’s absences. Never telling me where he’d been, never letting me know what he’d done. But, my lord, when he were home, he were a good man.

My first husband, he were drowned at sea, leaving me with two kids and no ways of making a living. Tovar married me and helped me raise ’em. He didn’t force me to move to High Reaches, he’d go to the Weyr on Thread days, then come back home. He helped me raise me kids, even though they wasn’t his. He allus made sure there was food on the table, even when there wasn’t no money. He’d do just about anything to make sure we was fed and warm and he weren’t no seaman, my lord, not at all. A landsman, a dragonrider, ain’t respected in a seaport like Tillek, my lord. They gets handed the dirtiest of jobs. He’d do ’em without a kick.

This man here is me boy, all growed up. He’s like his father, not the brightest of sparks but a seaman of the first water. Me daughter is captain of the ship Sea Dragon. She’s anchored in Cove Hold right now and soon as I finish this, my lords, pardon me, ‘stead of eating that fine meal you mentioned, but I will want to be heading back there in a wagon, I don’t know how to ride a horse and I can’t hear the sea and I’m nervous, there’s that big volcano right behinds me.

My lords, Tovar may have done all these crimes, mebbe, and I’m sorry if he did ’em. But when he were home, he treated us well, and taught me kids things I couldn’t. That’s all I has to say, my lords, thank you for letting me speak my piece.”

No one said a word. The woman turned to leave, then turned back.

“It’s no surprise to me, my lords, that he jumped while between. It’s how he would have wanted to go anyways. He loved his Firoth, more than his own life.”