The Sword Maiden

The Courthouse

The Courthouse performed three main functions in a Thathian SwordCleaver town. It might have performed these functions outside of SwordCleaver, but I'd never lived outside of our clan's land, so I wouldn't know.

The first one was to perform justice. Criminals were held until trial, given a trial, and if found guilty their sentence was meted out at the Courthouse. The second was to be a place to be a place to hold wedding, funerals, and other special occasions. The third was for the annual feasts of the Life-Giver.

The press of the crowds was less here, which I was grateful for. Redwar swung off of Ladine and I followed suit. As Redwar tied our horses up I took in the big building. I remembered being awed by it when I came here as a little kid. It'd been bigger than any of the buildings in my village.

"We're going to call council. Take care of the him," Redwar said with a nod towards the thief. "And meet us afterward. Hurry."

Valeria nodded. Redwar turned to me. I was still staring at the huge building. "Done stargazing Ravine?"

I broke out of my trance. "Oh. Yeah, sure."

We walked inside, Redwar pushing open the heavy doors. Our feet stepped onto a soft rug that stretched the length of the hall in front of us. Valeria followed behind with the thief. She drug him to the door on our left and disappeared behind it.

Gazing up the big hall, I suddenly felt small and insignificant. I swallowed hard and rubbed the back of my neck as I followed Redwar up the hall. I had no idea what we were about to do, but I trusted him.

The hall had doors on either side, with two big doors at the end. Redwar ignored all these except for the last door on the right. He didn't bother to knock before pushing it open.

The secretary on the other side shot up. "Sir!" She cried, flustered.

Redwar piercing gaze quickly silenced her. She feebly protested as he brushed past her desk and slipped through the door behind her. "Sir please... Sir, you cannot go in there... Sir!"

She turned helplessly back to me. I gave her a shrug. "He's on a mission," I explained.

She glared at me before sitting down at the desk and grabbing her quill pen that she'd dropped. She dipped it and started writing a bit harsher than necessary. I leaned against the wall to wait.

Quiet murmurings were heard from behind the door. At one point there was a shouted "What!" that both the secretary and I startled at.

A knock was heard on the door behind me. The secretary laid the quill down and said to herself, "At least somebody bothers to knock these days. Come in!"

Valeria entered. "I left the thief with the guard on duty. My testimony was taken. He confessed to the crime once he realized he'd get a shorter sentence."

I nodded. "Redwar's in there." I pointed to the door. "By the way, mind telling me who's office we're in? Redwar didn't say."

"You're in Carson Barclay's office, who happens to be the mayor of Ladris," interjected the secretary with annoyance.

"You wouldn't happen to be the potential Mrs. Barclay, would you?" shot back Valeria.

The secretary's face flushed deeply. "That's quite impertinent young lady!"

Valeria smirked. "I know, Mrs. Barclay."

"Oh! Well I never-" stuttered the secretary.

Just then Redwar opened the door. "Come in Ravine. You too Valeria."

The secretary's eyes tracked me as I passed her. I laid a hand on the hilt of my blade, a habit when I got nervous.

My first glance at Carson Barclay didn't impress me much. He was slumped in his chair, patting his head with a hanky, and a little on the pudgy side. A cup of tea and a half eaten sandwich lay on the desk. He stood up and held out a hand to me. "Ravine SwordCleaver?"

I shook it. "Yes sir."

Mayor Barclay swallowed hard and glanced over at Redwar. "He says you can back up his claim that we are in immediate danger from Ravager spies, that during the raid on your village, a Ravager divulged this secret to you."

I cleared my throat and squeezed the hilt of the sword. "As you know Mayor, my village which is several miles from here, was raided during the corn harvest. This raid was led by a former friend of mine." My voice hardened.

"I fought with him during the raid. Ultimately we were overcome, and my family was taken. I escaped during a riot. My brother was never captured, I don't know where he is now.

"Assassins have been sent after me because of the information I have. If it had not been for Redwar, I would have been overcome."

I leaned forward and put my hands on the Mayor's desk, looking the him full in the face. "Believe him, Mayor Barclay. Believe everything he tells you. Our security has been breached by spies who's color of skin is the same as ours. Call Council. Action must be taken."

"But that cannot be possible," the Mayor argued. "None of the Ravagers are light-skinned! And they won't interbreed with captured Thathians."

Now I understood how Redwar felt. Oh, how naive we had been in our peace. "It was so at one time. Now, it is not. And they're using our ignorance to their advantage," I countered.

"But-"

Valeria cut him off before I could. "People's lives are in jeopardy, and you want to argue about racial bloodlines!" she exclaimed. "I'll tell you what Ravagers are: They're people who don't like other people, and want to destroy them. They're human, just like us. Their blood flows the same as us, only they want to spill ours. So get off your duffus and call Council!"

Redwar shot her a warning look to tone it down, but I could see he agreed with her.

I took a deep breath. "Mayor, the betrayer was a friend of mine. A friend since childhood. But his loyalty was to Ravagers. I saw for myself: His skin was as white as mine. And he still wanted to kill me. Skin color does not equal loyalty."

The Mayor was silent for a long moment. Then he breathed out heavily and stood up. "I'll call Council."

He walked over to the door and pulled it open. "Ms. Stanley, tell the members of the Council to convene. Tell them it is a matter of life and death."

The secretary shot up from her chair. "Yes, Mayor Barclay, right away Mayor Barclay."

After she'd left Valeria looked up at the Mayor. "So. When are you going to marry Ms. Stanley?"

The Mayor's formerly pale face color was suddenly revived in red. "What?"