"We find Katarina DuCouteau guilty of positive interaction with a Demacian in the third degree. We find Katarina DuCouteau guilty of schemeing with and assisting a Demacian in the second degree. We find Katarina DuCouteau guilty of sexual interaction and intercourse with a Demacian in the fifth degree."
Katarina took the verdict silently, her anger at the elders only growing. She knew they would take her old habits to heart. They easily capitalized on her old rule-breaking. Her father and sister were stiff beside her and Talon gave her a look of apology from his seat next to the elders.
"For this, Miss DuCouteau shall be confined on the third level of the sixth division cells for thirty days and thirty nights..."
Katarina waited, hoping they'd move her to a better cell once the month was over. It seemed like everyone around her was holding their breaths, anticipating her official sentence.
"She will then be prosecuted under the executioner."
The room exploded in sound. There was the yells of those who agreed and the desperate groans of those who did not. The elders overlooked their audience, heads held high. Soon enough the sounds died down, out of fear most likely. The soft and muffled cries of a baby or two was the only sound that remained and eventually subsided.
The head elder cleared his throat. "For those who dissagree with Miss DuCouteau's verdict, you may speak now and we will... consider an alternative sentence."
There was a long silence in the room. Finally, Cassiopeia and Talon stood simultaneously. The king shot Cassiopeia a look of warning - a warning to watch what she said and be careful of her approach.
Cassiopeia looked across the room to Talon, who slowly sat down. The elder he was apprenticed under had given him a scrutionizing look, probably a warning that if he was the one to go against the elders he would be dropped from his position.
Cassiopeia would have to do it alone, but that did not break her confidence. "Your prosecution of Katarina is too much for offenses all under the fifth degree. On top of that, your last verdict has no evidence at all. It barely counts for a fifth degree offense, especially without any evidence."
The line of elders were silent. There was soft whispering through the audience. On the most part, everyone agreed that the last sentence had no evidence. Some responded, trying to back up their beloved Cassiopeia of the DuCouteau family. Others remained silent or simply whispering, scared or intimidated by the elders.
Finally, the Elder of Violence stood. Talon's mentor, he was the strongest of all elders. He was a big assassin in his time. Now, he was hindered by a walking stick and a bad cough. Talon had helped him to his unsteady feet. Just like the rest of the elders, his face was shrouded by the shadows of his maroon-tinted cloak. His voice was one which always carried a sense of mysterious violence, yet he spoke on behalf of the line.
It was a rarity to hear his voice. "We thought you might try to detest on behalf of your sister, young one. We have discussed an alternative to your sister's sentence."
Again, hushed whispers.
Another elder began to speak and the Elder of Violence sat. Talon looked relieved and was more than helpful into helping the elder back down into his seat.
"Katarina will be exiled for the next five years. Whatever she does during this time will all be excusable, except for working with another city-state. If she is found working with another city-state, against her kin, she will be executed on the spot. She may return to Noxus with the same title if she is never seen in friendly relationship or fighting alongside Garen Crownguard again. If she is found doing these things, she may return, after the five years, as a third-ranked assassin of the military."
Katarina laughed under her breath. They'd accept her back as a third-rank assassin? She'd still fight like a tenth-rank. It didn't matter where she was put in, she'd still be the leading assassin and others would know where she belonged. It did hurt that she would lose her position as Head of House DuCouteau, though. It would then go to her sister, most likely. The title itself didn't matter so much, but it did land her a nice spot in the military ranks. Not only was she a top assassin, she was the commander. The things they weighed against her only hurt partially, though. She could see her future - with or without that Garen Crownguard she would end up back in Noxus, an assassin at least. An assassin so many would have to fear that she'd be moved up over a course of a year and would regain her old name, though possible not her old title.
The head elder looked rather peeved, but the other elders had their cloaks held close, their expressions unreadable under the shadows. The head elder spoke, the annoyance in her voice obvious to all who listened, "This may only be discussed by Cassiopeia and her father. Only the King and Cassiopeia may determine Katarina's fate."
Katarina sat silently, yet looked at her sister and father for their expressions on the matter. The King nodded his head softly, as if in acceptance that it would be up to them.
A small smile touched Cassiopeia's lips. She seemed to like the second sentence.
A few minutes passed by as the King and Cassiopeia stepped out for discussion. They soon returned, Cassiopeia's smile unfaded.
The head elder spoke. "Have you come to an agreement?"
Cassiopeia nodded, yet her father spoke. "My daughter will be exiled as you discussed. You will also reduce her sexual interaction verdict by four, making it a first degree offense instead of fifth. The other two will also be reduced, by one degree each. The records will stand as positive interaction, second degree; schemeing, first degree; and sexual interaction and intercourse, first degree. You will not hurt my daughter's report with faulty and biased verdicts. You also may not put her through any more trials."
Everyone, even the elders, broke into hushed discussion.
One elder cleared his voice roughly and the discussions subsided quickly.
"We will accept the terms, but only due to the King's request. May he serve Noxus well."
The audience was silent, bowing their heads in respect for the request.
"We will end this meeting now. Head of House DuCouteau, Katarina DuCouteau, will be setenced to five-year exile. If she is found to fight with another faction of Runeterra or otherwise, against Noxus, she will not return as Head of her House, and instead be granted position in the Noxian army as a third-rank assassin. Upon her return, if she is found unguilty of said interactions, she will be accepted into Noxus once more as the Head of House DuCouteau and the Noxian army commander. No more trials will be announced."
The head elder went silent after that, the whole room in a silent respect for the sentence. Katarina let the sentence sink in. It was nothing bad, or hard to do. She could take care of herself well, under Noxian care or not. It was one of her tests to becoming part of the military, afterall. She was only 9 when that test occured - living outside of Noxian territory for a year - and she did stellar. They were very impressed with how she took care of herself and what she learned from that year away from Noxus.
After the long, droning silence, the head elder spoke again. "The case is adjourned. Katarina DuCouteau will be allowed to freely interact with Noxus until her exile, six tomorrow. A guard will take her past the Noxian boundary and she will not be allowed here again until five years from tomorrow."
