Dragon and Judge

Thonsifi motioned and two Golvins from the usual group of onlookers stepped forward. "Eight-Seven-Two Among Many and Five-Six-One-Naught Among Many," she identified them. "Two and one half seasons ago Eisetw struck Fisionna's right arm and severely injured it. Fisionna claims it was deliberate. Eisetw claims it was an accident."

Jack gestured to Fisionna. "Let me see it."

The Golvin lifted his arm. "Move it around," Jack instructed. "Show me how it was damaged."

"It was harmed here," Fisionna said, pointing to the forearm.

"Move it around," Jack repeated.

The other did so. As far as Jack could tell, it had the full range of motion he'd seen in other Golvins. "It looks all right to me," he said.

"But it was injured," Fisionna said. "I deserve compensation for the pain. And my work suffered, as well."

"How long were you unable to work?" Jack asked.

Fisionna gave Thonsifi a sideways glance. "I was never completely unable to work," he hedged. "But it was difficult and most painful."

"For how long?"

Another sideways glance. "Over a month."

But not even close to two months, Jack suspected, or the Golvin would have fudged the number that direction. It was a game Jack knew well, having often played it himself against Uncle Virgil. "All right, then, let's try this," he suggested. "Who else witnessed the incident?"

Fisionna was starting to look like he was regretting having given up part of his morning for this. "No one," he admitted.

Jack shifted his attention to Eisetw. "And you claim it was an accident?"

"The shovel was muddy and slipped from my hand," Eisetw said. "And I offered to help with his work while he needed it."

"I am a craftsman," Fisionna said stiffly. "A worker of wooden goods. A mere farmer does not have the skill to truly assist me."

"Nevertheless, he did offer," Jack said. "More importantly, there were no witnesses and appears to be no permanent damage. I am therefore dismissing the case and the charges."

Fisionna threw a look at Eisetw, then another at Thonsifi, then looked back at Jack. Jack waited a moment, but if the other had been planning to complain about the verdict he'd apparently thought better of it. "The case is dismissed," Jack said again. "You may both return to your work."

The two Golvins bowed their heads in brief salute, then turned and headed off across the Great Hall. "Next?" Jack asked.

Thonsifi gestured two more Golvins forward, one of them walking with a definite limp. Unlike the last case, this one was apparently fresh. "Six-Seven-Nine Among Many and Two-Naught-One-Two Among Many," she said. "One month ago Twnaontw struck Siseni with a weeding tool and caused serious damage to his right leg."

"He was on my land—" Twnaontw began.

"Silence," Thonsifi snapped.

"You'll get your turn to speak," Jack promised. "Any witnesses this time?"

"There were two," Thonsifi said, motioning two more Golvins forward. "Four-Four-Three Among Many is an upright," she added, pointing to one of them.

Jack waved the latter forward another few steps. "Tell me what happened," he invited.

"Siseni was indeed on Twnaontw's land," Fofoth said. "He was speaking to Twnaontw."

"About what?"

"I was too far away to hear the words," Fofoth said. "But I could hear that both voices were becoming angry."

"Then what happened?"

"Twnaontw ordered Siseni from his land," Fofoth said. "I could tell that from his hand movements. Siseni stepped into the irrigation channel and continued talking. Twnaontw moved to the edge of his land closest to Siseni and said something. Siseni said something else, and that was when Twnaontw struck him."

"Thank you." Jack motioned him back and gestured to Twnaontw. "What was the argument about?"

"He was talking about my sister," the other said, his eyes darkening with the memory. "He was being highly insulting."

Jack looked at Siseni. "Were you?"

Siseni drew himself up to his full height. "I spoke truth," he said in a lofty tone. "One should not be attacked merely for speaking truth."

"I agree," Jack said. On the other hand, he'd seen enough fights among Uncle Virgil's old associates to know that tone and attitude could turn what was technically a truthful statement into something with lots of very sharp edges. "Why didn't you leave Twnaontw's land when he ordered you to?"

"I did leave," Siseni countered.

"To stand in his irrigation channel."

"The channel is not his," Siseni said stiffly. "None of this is relevant."

"You will not speak that way—" Thonsifi began.

And broke off, her head tilted to the side, her face turned toward the far end of the Great Hall.

"What is it?" Jack said, following her gaze. Across the way, fifteen or twenty Golvins were converging on the pillar containing Jack's apartment. Converging very rapidly.

And each of the Golvins was carrying a compact bow with a small quiver of arrows slung over his vest.

"What is it?" Jack demanded again, his heart suddenly pounding. Had someone spotted Draycos? "What's going on?"