A/N: It's been an incredibly long time since the last update. I now have a computer of my own, making updates easier. I'm sorry all of you faithful readers had to wait so long. At long last, I have the next chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The characters, plot, and some of the setting are my own. The rest I graciously admit belong to Anne McCaffrey.
Chapter Ten
The trial took place in two sevendays. During that time, Korla had been treading carefully with S'mar. She knew that she loved him, but she didn't know if he loved her. She didn't think she could handle it if he didn't return her love, and by admitting her feelings she ruined their friendship. Part of her knew she was being silly, that S'mar wouldn't let such a thing come between them, but the rest of her was too much in love to think clearly.
And so, she had immersed herself in compiling the evidence against Makun for the trial. And now the time for the trial had finally come.
Since both of the mines in question were in Crom, the representative for the Lord Holders was Raldon, Lord of Crom. The trial was also taking place in Crom's Great Hall, a very grand and imposing sight. Both T'ren and L'poll represented the Weyrleaders. The Craftmasters were represented by Mastersmith Calrane and Masterminer Tellern, as both their crafts had been deeply affected by the tragedies.
These five were sitting behind an elevated table made of the finest hard oak wood and donated for the occasion by the wood smith at the Smithcrafthall in Telgar. Makun had elected to speak in his own defense, so he was sitting by himself on the left side of the Great Hall. S'mar, who was presenting the evidence, was seated on the right side, with Korla seated next to him as his assistant.
Each side of the room had a small table with two chairs behind it, for each side of the case to sit at. Behind the tables were rows of chairs for the audience to sit in. All this was lit by the early morning light seeping in through the open door to the Great Hall from the outside. It was this door that would have been shut to protect the Hold from Threadfall if this were a Pass. As the horrid Thread had not been seen for a hundred Turns, the door was left invitingly open.
One of the official duties of harpers was mediating, so Masterharper Wellam himself was officiating the trial. Korla had tried to read any emotions behind the politely pleasant face, still handsome for a man well past his 50th Turn, but to no avail. The Masterharper of Pern had been trained well. Now he stood, and the chatter of the audience, mostly family and friends of the victims, subsided.
"All rise," he intoned, following a little-used script left by their ancestors. "This is the trial of Makun, of first Telgar and then Crom. He has been charged with the murder of seven people and one dragon. He will be judged by Weyrleaders T'ren and L'poll, of High Reaches and Benden Weyrs, Lord Holder Raldon of Crom and Craftmasters Calrane and Tellern, of the Smith and Mine crafts. Sit down." Master Wellam spoke as if he were fulfilling a duty he didn't want to do but had to do anyway.
"Now that all of that official-sounding nonsense is done," he said in a much brighter voice, "on with the trial! The prosecution may start."
Korla heard S'mar take a deep breath. He stood and walked away from their table, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
"Weyrleaders, Craftmasters, Lord Holder," he began in a strong voice, inclining his head in respect to each, "and our audience, I will be speaking to you today about two heinous crimes.
"Three sevendays ago, a tunnel collapsed in Nuhair Mine, taking the lives of Master Smith Torbin and Apprentice Smith Kornen, as well as Journeyman Miner Nurany. It was investigated, and found to be suspicious. Five days later, a tunnel collapsed in Borden Mine, killing Master Smith Maldon, Journeyman Smith Kalvor, Journeyman Miner Sylvan, and perhaps the worst yet, blue rider P'dron and his dragon Salth of Telgar Weyr.
"I intend to prove to you that these tunnels collapsed because of the work Makun did. I also intend to prove that he did it on purpose, and had planned it beforehand, both elements of the crime of murder. Thank you."
Makun then stood. "Ladies and gentlemen, the charges against me are unfounded and ridiculous. I intend to prove them so. Thank you."
Korla shook her head, almost in pity. The evidence against him was overwhelming. He stood no chance of going free. But she had to admit that it was a clever ploy, following S'mar's long and eloquent speech with something short and concise.
S'mar stood again. "I would like to call Korla of High Reaches Weyr as a witness."
Masterharper Wellam nodded. "Go up to the stand, Korla."
Korla stood, and walked to a lectern that was serving as a witness stand. She was now in a position where everyone in the room could see her clearly.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, on the shards of your dragon's egg?"
"I do," Korla said fervently. She hated lying, and she would never lie, but others might, so the oath was necessary.
"Proceed," Masterharper Wellam said.
S'mar smiled at her. "State your name and age," he said.
"Korla, age 16 Turns," she said, barely managing to say the words in order. This was not the time to let her feelings for S'mar take control. She forced herself to calm down.
"You were told to investigate the Nuhair Mine tunnel collapse, were you not?"
"Yes," Korla answered. "My old Weyrleader, L'poll, told me to investigate it."
"What were your findings?"
"The tunnel collapsed because someone had removed the main tunnel support up to an hour before the collapse. On further review, I found evidence of foul play."
"What was that evidence?"
"There is no record of anyone being assigned the task of removing the main support."
"You also investigated the Borden Mine tunnel collapse, correct?"
"That is correct."
"What were your findings for that investigation?"
"The same."
"Did you notice any other similarities between the two cases?"
"At both mines, people remembered seeing a brown dragon land nearby at a time when no rider was scheduled to visit."
"No further questions."
Korla sagged in relief. She'd gotten through the testimony. Now she just had to get through Makun's questions.
"Do you wish to cross-examine, Makun?" Wellam asked.
He stood and nodded. "I do, Masterharper."
"Go ahead then," Wellam said.
Makun walked directly over to the lectern. Korla nearly lost her composure at the sight of his eyes. They had no emotion in them. They didn't even seem human.
"Are you frightened of me?" he asked.
"Objection!" S'mar said, standing up. "What is the relevance of this?"
"Goes to credibility," Makun replied.
Wellam appeared to think for a moment. "I'll allow it, but make your point quickly."
"That means you can answer," Makun said patronizingly.
Korla bristled, but didn't react out loud. "I would be, perhaps, if I didn't know more about you. I don't know if you've noticed, but your eyes seem devoid of life. That is just my opinion. But, knowing what you are, I am not afraid of you."
"If you are not afraid of me, what emotion do you feel towards me?"
Korla thought about it. She'd told the truth. She wasn't scared of him. But neither did she like him.
"Sorrow," she admitted finally. "Seven people and a dragon have allegedly (for the sake of propriety) died at your hands. I do not pity you for any punishment you may or may not receive, but I am saddened by the fact that you do not wish to take responsibility for your own actions."
That seemed to shock him, but he recovered quickly. "It would seem that you are convinced I am guilty, correct?"
"I am convinced of that, yes. But my opinion matters little in the grand scheme of things."
"16 Turns. That's a bit young for an investigator, wouldn't you say?"
"I would."
"Have you any idea why you were chosen to investigate these incidents?"
"It might be because Weyrleader L'poll knew that if someone had been behind my brother's death, I would find him."
"That's another question. Was Apprentice Smith Kornen your brother?"
"Yes," Korla replied. "He was my twin brother, to be precise."
"I have one last question. You mentioned that a brown rider was seen at both mines at times when there was no rider scheduled to appear. Might these times have been outside the hour you projected for the crime to be committed in earlier?"
"I apologize. I was not thorough in my earlier answer. Both times, the brown dragon landed half an hour before the tunnel collapse."
"No further questions."
"You may step down, Korla."
Relieved, she sat down next to S'mar, glad to be off her feet.
"You did great," S'mar whispered in her ear before standing up again. "I would like to call R'kun of High Reaches Weyr to the stand," he said.
After R'kun was sworn in, S'mar had him go through his version of events. Makun came back with a vengeance.
"You say that you transported me to and from these mines. If that is true, then that would make you an accessory to murder, correct?"
"It would," R'kun said. "The Masterharper has granted me immunity in exchange for my testimony against you."
"Is there any documented proof of your accusations?"
"None that I know of," R'kun replied.
"No further questions."
"If I may interject," T'ren said when R'kun had left the stand, "High Reaches Weyr keeps careful track of its conveyance requests. Both the prosecution and the defense should have copies of the relevant records."
S'mar nodded. Makun grudgingly nodded as well.
"I'd watch myself," Wellam warned him.
S'mar stood up again. "I have one last witness, Masterharper. Pyrna, Weyrwoman of High Reaches Weyr."
Pyrna was sworn in. This was the one part where Korla hoped she could have asked the questions. During mealtimes, the Weyrwoman ate with the Weyrleader as a general rule. So Korla had never really met the High Reaches Weyrwoman.
But S'mar was doing really well at this. He continued to question. "Keeping charge of conveyance requests is part of your job, am I right?" he asked now.
"Yes, you are," Pyrna replied.
"Do you remember any requests from the defendant?"
"Yes, several. He submitted them all at the same time."
"What time would that be?"
"Three and a half sevendays ago," she replied.
"How many of these were processed?"
"Only two."
"And what were the dates and times for those requests?"
"The first one was for the third day of the eighth month, exactly three sevendays ago. The second was for five days later. Both of them had a pickup time of about half an hour before supper."
"Is it common procedure for a person who is requesting conveyance to include their destination with the request?"
"Yes. Otherwise the request will not get processed."
"What were the locations on Makun's two requests?"
"The first was Nuhair Mine, and the second, Borden Mine."
"Thank you, Weyrwoman. I have nothing further."
Makun was up in a flash. "You said that I submitted several conveyance requests. How many is several?"
"Fifteen." There was a collective gasp from the audience. Korla had already known how many collapses Makun had planned, but she could still barely stifle her horror at his monstrous plans.
"Were all of the destinations mines?"
"Yes, they were."
"Did that make you suspicious?"
"At first, no. Mine Hall is in our territory, and we get a lot of requests from those who wish to inspect the mines."
"You said 'at first'. Was there a point when you were suspicious?"
"Yes. When the second mine you visited had a tunnel collapse and the same had already happened with the first mine you visited."
"Did you act on your suspicions?"
"If the same thing happened at the third mine, I was not going to process any more of your requests, and I was going to bring the matter to Weyrleader T'ren's attention."
"So you were willing to let three, possibly four more people die? I withdraw the question," he added before S'mar could object.
"No further questions."
S'mar stood up. "Masterharper, that concludes my case. I would like to request a short recess."
"Granted," Wellam said. Korla stood and stretched.
"We got through the first part," she told S'mar quietly.
"Not yet. Sit back down," he hissed.
She automatically obeyed.
"You have fifteen minutes," Wellam continued, smiling at Korla. "This trial is adjourned."
"Now you can stand up," S'mar told Korla, laughter in his voice.
Korla's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be," he told her. "Enjoy this brief reprieve before we have to go through the second part."