by Dara Joy
Duchene Hawke was giving her the chance to retain her title at a heavy monetary loss. Jorlan would of course be forfeit, but her son would remain with her. She turned and looked at Jorlan.
He watched her steadily. Then he surprised her by mouthing "take it."
He loved her that much. A tear formed in her eye. He was willing to sacrifice himself and be taken from his son to protect her. She shook her head no. I will fight for both of them until the last breath leaves my body.
Facing the Septibunal once more, she said, "I will speak."
Duchene Hawke raised a brow. "Are you sure, Marquelle?"
Green nodded.
The Duchene clearly did not think she had made a wise choice. She sighed deeply. "Very well. Proceed."
"Jorlan Tamryn was intact the night of our fastening. There was no conspiracy to thwart the Septibunal. These charges are all false. The honor of my house would never let me make a false statement to the governing body I hold so dear, and who my very foremothers helped to create. To impugn my honor in such a way is reprehensible and I call forth the person who would issue such a claim. Let her say these things to my face instead of hiding behind the voices of others." Green Pierced Marquelle Harmone with a disgusted look. The woman fidgeted slightly in her seat.
Green's honest and impassioned voice seemed to sway the crowd. Low chatter broke out.
"Silence in the chamber!" Duchene Hawke roared, "Jorlan Tamryn, step forward!"
Jorlan rose with Arkeus in his arms.
As he passed by Claudine D'anbere, she called out "The child may color the severity of the Septibunal's ruling! His presence sends a subliminal message that this man is bound irrevocably to the House of Tamryn."
Duchene Hawke glowered down at Claudine. "Are you saying we cannot be impartial in the presence of a mere babe, She-Count?"
"No. I am saying the child's presence is disruptive; it is an obvious, sympathetic ploy orchestrated by the Tamryns." She reached into her pouch, pulling out a scrolled document. "This is the fastening contract that Anya Reynard was to have signed for me—before Green coerced the Duchene's signature onto her scroll!" The audience turned and stared at Green disapprovingly. Claudine, knowing she had significant crowd support now, smugly continued on. "If the Septibunal rules justly today, I will ask for a ruling of Conveyance!"
Green paled. If they lost the ruling, the She-Count was going to ask the council to override Anya's signature and give Jorlan to her as payment for her side of the "insult." Her eyes met Jorlan's and she knew he could read the anguish she had been able to hide from everyone else.
Instead of the apprehension she expected to see, there was a calm resignation to him. A quiet strength. His eyes' showed her his love. There was so much emotion contained behind their aqua depths! He patted and rubbed his son's back as he patiently waited for Claudine to finish. In that moment Green knew that the rulings of women could never supersede a spirit that was free.
"So you see, I do have a vested interest here." Claudine went on. "Remove the child!"
Duchene Hawke started to nod to the sentries when Green forestalled her. "No. My son has more of a right to be here than She-Count D'anbere does! It is his fate we decide today."
"Isn't that rather dramatic?" Claudine sneered. "No one has an interest in that male child. You may keep him, if you wish, but it would seem more of a liability to me. Perhaps you can have him sent to a monkery."
Green flinched at Claudine's callous attitude. Her sweet babe sent to a monkery? Not while she had breath! Her eyes filled with pride as she glanced at his beautiful, dear face. He gave her a tiny smile.
She smiled back. "Arkeus will always be on Tamryn land—for he is my heir," she said softly.
Pandemonium broke out in the courtroom.
"He cannot be your heir! He is male!" Claudine blared.
Green removed her wristview and handed it over to the panel.
They viewed the proof with frowns on their faces.
"It appears that Arkeus Tamryn is the Tamryn heir—for now." She gave Green a stern look. "However, the Septibunal will review this issue with you later, Marquelle Tamryn." She turned her head to address D'anberre. "The child stays in the room."
Anya winked at Green. "Brava, my girl," she mouthed to her.
Although stymied, Claudine recovered quickly. "He may be called the Tamryn heir today, but I have a prior claim on his father! The line is sullied." She sneered at Green.
"My line is not sullied. I will not have the father of my heir impugned!"
"Jorlan Tamryn," Hawke addressed him. "As a Duchene's grandson, you know that the honor of your great house—the house of our Founder—is at stake here. So I ask you just once: How did you go to your fastening bed?"
Jorlan gave them all an insolent, flippant look. It was the very same brash look he had afforded them the last time he stood in front of this governing table.
Green's eyes misted over at his wonderful uniqueness. Jorlan was a handful of trouble and always would be. Another woman might not think fondly of his difficult ways and headstrong attitudes, but she loved them. She loved him.
He looked so utterly beautiful standing there, daringly facing them all, his new son in his arms. A son who looked so much like him that Green had already been tentatively approached by a mother interested in of becoming friendlier with the Tamryns "for their sake c their children."
Jorlan's low, beguiling voice was strong in the chamber. "I came to my name-giver the way I was supposed to—with the honor of my family intact. And... " He paused purposefully.
The members of the Septibunal all leaned forward in their seats, not immune to his charm.
"And?"
He smiled rakishly. "And with a slight bit of attitude—but nothing she couldn't handle." The room immediately broke out in raucous laughter.
Jorlan winked at Green.
Duchene Hawke's lips twitched. "Yes, we can imagine."
"Do not let his smooth tongue and handsome face turn your heads!" Marquelle Harmone sternly reminded them. "We have evidence to the contrary."
What evidence could you possibly have? Green wondered.
"Bring the witness in!" Harmone called to one of the sentries.
Two sentries escorted a bedraggled youth into the room.
Green frowned, whispering to Avatar. "It's that dotty upstairs servant; what was his name...?"
Green heard Avatar murmur something about him being a snip-butt but that's all.
"Opper," Jorlan supplied under his breath.
"State your name, please," Duchene Hawke commanded.
Opper looked up at the most powerful council on Forus moon and immediately began to preen.
Which did not endear him to these auspicious women in the least.
"I'm Opper."
"And what do you know about this matter?"
"Well, I was a servant for hisself in the Marquelle's house. Prepared him that night for... you know... the velvet touch."
Snickers peppered the room.
Hawke rolled her eyes. "Go on."
"Well, he was not too happy about being in the bed aps, you see."
Jorlan's face darkened.
"Just get to the point, please," Hawke said.
"So it was my job to ready him, you know, and all. And when I went to put the Tamryn sash on him, I noticed that he didn't have no... veil." Opper looked at his toe. "No veil at all."
A buzz of voices started up. He sounded very convincing.
Duchene Hawke asked, "Did you say anything at the time?"
"Of course I did!" Opper noticed that he had the room's attention, so he dove into his role. "I said to hisself, 'You don't have no proper veil!' and he says to me if I ever say anything to anyone he'll make it go bad for me. Then he struck me with his fist. In my face, hard like that!" He made a fist and punched his other hand.
Green glanced at Jorlan. So this was how his cheek had been bruised. This servant had struck him—in her own house! Her eyes narrowed at the orange
-haired man. He would pay for that.
"He's a strong one, that velvet petal is." Opper rubbed at an imaginary spot on his cheek. "Hurt me bad, so I kept my mouth shut, as I'm only a servant and all. But when I heard about how there was some questioning of the matter, I did the right thing and came forward." He puffed his chest out and stood straight. It seemed Opper should have been a performer instead of a servant.
The Septibunal seemed to believe him. Green looked at Jorlan in dismay. This was very damaging.
Jorlan spoke low. "How could I have hit him if I was tied into the bed straps."
Duchene Hawke's mouth opened to respond to him, then closed, then opened again. "He's right. How could he hit you if he was tied up?"
"Well, I—I released him because he was making such a row about being tied up."
Ever the stateswoman, Green pounced on that. "Why would you release him?"
"He asked me to—for a little bit, and he pretended to be nice and I felt sorry for him."
"You felt sorry for him," Green parroted negatively. "But you did retie him."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Well, when I came into the room, he was tied up."
"Yes, well, I had to do that; it was my job."
Green's knowing look met Hawke's. She had just established that Jorlan was definitely tied up when she came into the room. "If he had no veil, why would you retie him into the straps?" she asked softly.
"Because that's my job!" he answered in a frantic whine.
"And he just let you?"
"We had a deal!"
"Before or after he hit you?"
"What difference does that make?"
"You tell me."
Opper put a halt to her interrogation. "I said all that I have to say! I'm not the one without the veil!" He hopped. "Least ways not on my fastening night." Several people chuckled.
"Take him out." Hawke instructed the guards.
"He's lying," Green said to the panel.
"Why would he lie, Marquelle?" Harmone interded. "He has nothing to gain; whereas, you and Marqueller Tamryndo."
Green was incensed at the insinuation. "You would take the word of a questionable servant over mine? A Marquelle who has stood on this very floor and successfully debated the policies of this land?"
"His testimony is disturbing... " another member concurred. "What reason would he have to lie? He has no motive."
Green observed Claudine. Even as a child, whenever she had done something underhanded, she never could hide that small smirk of hers. She was gloating. Green knew exactly why Opper had lied. Claudine had either threatened him or paid him off handsomely, or both.
The only problem was she couldn't prove it. Worse, his testimony had obviously swayed several of the members.
There was only one thing left for her to do. Moreover she had to do it now—before they ruled. She cleared her throat. "Clearly this is a case that cannot be resolved by these means. Therefore, I request that the Septibunal suspend the vote until more evidence can be found, one way or the other."
Hawke raised her eyebrow and gave Green a look that clearly asked what she was doing. They certainly could take a vote.
Claudine was outraged. She was not about to let the satisfaction of a victory slip through her fingers now that it was so close.
Which was what Green had counted on.
"Wait! Before you decide to suspend the vote, I demand satisfaction! I'm the aggrieved party here!" She waved her unsigned scroll in the air.
Anya wrinkled her nose at it.
"What satisfaction might that be?" Hawke asked wearily, knowing the answer.
"I call the Marquelle Tamryn to a Forfeiture duel at dawn to settle this matter, once and for all. It is my right!"
Jorlan's mouth parted in surprise. He had not been expecting this. Green was a stateswoman, not a warrior. He tried to catch his name-giver's eye to tell her not to agree. She would be no match for Claudine.
"I'll do it." Green responded briskly.
Claudine smiled in victory.
"But with one stipulation."
"What is it?"
"If I go to meet you in a duel, you will forever after leave Jorlan alone. If I am victorious, you will forfeit everything to me, Claudine. Everything. Your title, your lands, your wealth. Are you willing to risk all that, Claudine? Or shall we end this now and both go to our respective homes and forget this nonsense?"
Jorlan released the breath he had been holding. His shrewd name-giver was trying to maneuver D'anbere into dropping the matter.
Claudine's pupils contracted in evil delight. "I will never back down."
Green's face fell. She had miscalculated. Claudine's insane jealousy surpassed her desire for Jorlan.
Duchene Hawke pounded the table with her fist. "It is done then! The Septibunal agrees. They will duel at dawn to settle the matter. Victor will take all."
"No," Jorlan hissed. "No."
Arkeus began to cry, sensing his father's agitation.
When they left the chambers. Green instructed Avatar to escort Jorlan and Arkeus straight home. She needed to see her solicitor to put her affairs in order.
She refused to meet Jorlan's questioning eyes as she mounted her Kloo and left them on the street.
Tidying up her affairs took longer than one would think.
The decisions were not simple ones. Making sure loved ones were cared for were never simple decisions, She sighed with regret, but she had done the best she could. Jorlan and Arkeus would be well provided for and Tamryn House would remain their home always.
As she was leaving the "solicitor's, she was surprised when a young street spark handed her a note.
She opened it.
Green:
I must see you at once. I realize this is a difficult time, but I would not ask if it were not of the utmost importance.
I'll be waiting for you at the house in the Rue.
RIVER
Green rubbed the bridge of her nose. He would never send a note like this unless he was in trouble. In all the years they had been together, River had never once asked anything of her, always preferring instead to maintain the acceptable behavior of a pleasurer. His situation must be dire. She would have to help him if she could. She mounted Kibbee and headed off to the Rue de la Nuit.
"River, are you here?" Green let herself into the house. "Yes, in the parlor. Why don't you join us?"
Us? Green walked into the room and froze. River had Opper cornered into a chair by the table. "What is this?"
River turned and smiled. "I heard about your troubles, Green. It seems this fellow has not only been throwing lots of touch about the Rue; he's been bragging up an arc storm. He says he has a rich benefactress who has set him up on Pleasure Street. I just wonder who that could be?" He shook Opper by the collar. The orange-haired former servant squeaked.
"I wonder." Green stormed over to the table. "Claudine D'anbere, by chance?"
Opper dug in and grimaced mutinously at her. "I'm not talkin'."
"You seemed more than willing to talk earlier. Well, the damage has been done. You might as well release him, River. Claudine and I are to settle our differences in another way."
"Not yet, Green. I've prepared a written confession on the viewer. At least it will clear Jorlan's name for you."
"I won't sign it!" Opper said.
Green's lips parted. "Why would you do that for Jorlan, River?"
He exhaled slowly. "I think that if a man has stayed true to a veil, he shouldn't be cheated out of his honor by the likes of him." He nodded at Opper.
Green looked at him curiously. Why would a pleasurer care about the honor of houses and veils?
"I also did it for you," he added softly.
"For me? Why?"
"Let's just say I owed you for the parting gift you gave me and call it at that."
"You didn't owe me anything for that—I wanted to do it."
"As do I. Now, Opper... " He crossed his arms over his chest and gave th
e orange-haired man a look that clearly stated he was not going to wait too much longer.
"I'm not signing it!"
Green rolled her eyes. "Forget it, River, he—"
River's green eyes flashed in annoyance. He bent over and murmured something low in the man's ear. Opper gulped and hastily placed the tip of his forefinger on the screen for an imprint. "I had no choice! She-Count D'anbere threatened me—said if I didn't go along it would go bad for me."
"She approached you the day of my fastening?" Green asked.
Opper nodded. "Came upstairs and realized I was the one seeing to hisself. I had no choice!"
"There is always a choice," River intoned softly. "You accepted D'anbere's coin and now you are hers. I would not want to be you."
Opper swallowed. "Can I go now?"
River gestured with his hand back and forth as if he were sweeping him out. Opper dashed for the door, slamming it behind him in his haste to leave.
"What did you say to him to make him sign the confession?"
He smiled slowly and shrugged. "That, my Marquelle, is a pleasurer's privileged information."
Green laughed as he handed her the confession. "This will mean a lot to Jorlan and his grandmother. I cannot thank you enough. River."
"Are you still meeting her at dawn?"
She did not ask how he knew. Gossip spread quickly in the Rue.
"Yes. A challenge was issued and met."
He nodded. "I wish you well, then. I hear she is very, very good."
Green looked down. "Yes."
He lifted her chin with his thumb. "Come with me to the Western Region, Green. Bring Jorlan if you wish, we could all start over."
She smiled faintly. "You know I cannot do that."
He cleared his throat. "She is a platinum class warrior, Green."
"I know."
He knew what she could not say. His hand cupped her cheek. "Be careful, will you?"
"Always."
"I'm leaving tonight."
"Not tomorrow?"
"No."
"Is she a danger to you?"
"Yes."
Green nodded in understanding. If she lost the fight with Claudine, River would be defenseless against her. At least Jorlan would be protected by the terms she had forced Claudine to accept. Claudine might very well take her anger out on the man who had been her enemy's pleasurer.