Dragon and Judge

"I will find out," Thonsifi said. She said something in the Golvin language to one of Jack's guards. He nodded and headed across the Great Hall at a fast trot. "Sefiseni will find out."

She gestured to Siseni and Twnaontw. "In the meantime . . .?"

"Of course," Jack said, forcing his mind back to the case as he watched the unfolding drama out of the corner of his eye. The running Golvins had reached the base of the pillar now, and five of them handed their weapons to others and began climbing the stone. "We clearly and definitely have a willful act here—"

And then, to his relief, the climbing Golvins passed his apartment without a second glance and kept going.

Whatever was happening, it apparently didn't involve Draycos.

"—a willful act which resulted in clear injury," he went on, bringing his full attention back to the Golvins standing in front of him. "However, I also find there to have been a certain amount of provocation in the incident. I therefore rule that Twnaontw will assist Siseni in his work until Siseni's leg is sufficiently healed for him to resume his duties by himself."

"This is outrageous," Siseni protested. "He has deliberately injured me. I deserve something more lasting than merely a few months of assistance."

"You mean like some of his land?" Jack suggested mildly.

Siseni brought his chin up. "Exactly."

"Which currently borders yours, I presume?"

Siseni glared at Twnaontw. "And the leaves from which fall onto my land."

"Sorry, but that's not the case at hand," Jack told him. So at its root the whole thing had been little more than an attempted land grab disguised as a cry for justice. Siseni had probably engineered the whole incident, in fact, attack and all. "Land disputes will be taken up at another time, if you'd care to file a complaint. In the meantime, I rule that for every hour you work your land, Twnaontw will work for a quarter hour."

Siseni's mouth dropped open. "A mere quarter hour?" he all but yelped. "That is an insult! I am a level Six of the Many—"

"In that case, perhaps we should make it a sixth of an hour instead of a quarter hour," Jack cut him off. "Or perhaps even less."

Siseni's facial wrinkles were working overtime as his emotions surged like a spring flood. Jack waited patiently, and after a long moment the wrinkles faded away. "I will accept the judgment," he muttered.

"Good," Jack said. "You may both return to your work."

Drawing himself up, clearly trying to gather together as much dignity as he could, Siseni turned and stalked away, his limp rather ruining the effect. Twnaontw bowed his head briefly to Jack, then followed.

"A question, Jupa Jack," Thonsifi said quietly from beside him. "You say Twnaontw will assist until Siseni's leg is sufficiently healed. How will we know when that will be?"

"Was Siseni at the dinner party a few days ago that honored my arrival?" Jack asked her.

"He was."

"When did he leave?"

Thonsifi's lips worked with thought. "I believe at the thirteenth hour."

Barely an hour after the party had begun, and a full three hours before it finally closed down. "His leg was probably hurting him," Jack said.

"Yes, now that I think, I remember him saying exactly that," Thonsifi confirmed.

"I presume you have other dinners and festivals and such on a regular basis?"

"At least once a month," Thonsifi said. "More often if there are special events."

"Good," Jack said. "Then you keep an eye on him. The first time he lasts at least three hours into one of these festivals, that's when his leg is sufficiently healed."

For a moment Thonsifi looked puzzled. Then, her expression cleared. "I understand, Jupa Jack. You are indeed wise beyond your seasons."

"Let's just say I know how people think," Jack said. "Next case—wait a minute," he interrupted himself. Across the Great Hall, the guard Thonsifi had sent out had reappeared and was coming toward them. "Let's hear what Sefiseni's found out."

The guard reached Thonsifi and conversed with her for a minute in their own language. Whatever was being said, Jack noticed uneasily, it was causing a quiet stir among the rest of the waiting Golvins. "It was the prisoner," Thonsifi said, turning back to Jack. "But it is all right. He has not escaped."

"What prisoner is this?" Jack asked, frowning.

"A loud noise alerted some of the young mothers who were resting in their apartments," Thonsifi continued. "The noise was investigated, and it has been learned that the prisoner was trying to escape."

"What prisoner?" Jack repeated. "Who is he?"

Thonsifi's face darkened. "He is a murderer, Jupa Jack," she said in a low voice. "He caused the deaths of four of the Many."

"When?" Jack asked. Could this prisoner be the human Draycos had smelled the night before? "What exactly happened?"

"It is no concern of yours, Jupa Jack," Thonsifi said. "The decision on his punishment has already been made."

"Maybe I'd like to rehear it," Jack said.

"It is no concern of yours," Thonsifi repeated. "May I bring the next case?"