Volume 3, Chapter 37: The Trial of A Wealthy Man
And then she was in the courtroom.
Torio's heart, as she feared, stopped at a full, screeching halt and then started again at a thundering speed the moment her eyes fell on the dark-haired elf that sat next to Dornan's seat box. His head was bent over sheaves of parchment that were stacked neatly into small little piles; he looked up when they entered, his eyes falling on her, and she nearly lost it all...
His face was carved with a faint, sharp wariness and pained resignation she had never seen before...but she recognized it readily enough. His mouth...she remembered his mouth had always been supple, mobile, easily turned into a frown or a smile or (more readily) a smirk...and yet it was merely pressed into a hard, flat line, along with a cold, unfamiliar glitter in his brilliant eyes that made him nearly unrecognizable. He was thinner, his posture tensed, as if constantly expecting an attack.
Her face was impassive, her heart bursting, as she glanced at his much beloved form coolly before taking her place next to the three Moonstar agents-turned-merchants. She pressed her hands flat against their wide podium; even flattened against the wood surface, they were trembling visibly. A part of her, somewhere deep inside the recesses of her mind, sighed as if in a release...Sand...
Her eyes flicked, briefly, to the dark-haired woman that sat immediately behind them, who was currently leaning over the parapet to whisper to Dornan. Her insides seized coldly. Nivarra.
A bored voice intoned from the side of the judges seat, "All rise for his Holiness, Magistrate and Justicar of Tyr, Zaherin Wyn."
A thin, hook-nosed man entered the courtroom amidst the shuffling of multitudes of people getting to their feet. Torio sat with the others as soon as the judge took his seat, his eyes taking in Sand, Dornan, and Torio and the three Moonstars all at once.
"This hearing is now in session; we will hear the charges..." here, the hook-nosed profile nodded in her direction, "…and then the defense will be given a chance to state their case before we call the witnesses. Counselor..." The judge looked down at something sitting on his podium in front of him, "...Ednia, you may proceed."
Torio swallowed hard, and stepped down onto the courtroom floor, her shoulders squared; she turned to encompass the entire gallery in her grey-eyed gaze, and began to speak.
Sand watched their counselor - Ednia was it? - lay out the charges to the courts. Sand placed her age at about 40 years old so she definitely was an experienced speaker and lawyer and it showed. He was instantly impressed by her, which said a lot since he was instantly impressed by no one - she had a certain theatricality to her movements and speech, addressing not only the Magistrate but the entire gallery.
She reminded him of Torio.
The alluring sway of the hips, the pointed gestures, the sharp laugh, the head held high, shoulders thrown back, even her eyes were the right color - clear and grey and astute...
Why don't you sleep with her too, Sand?
Sand shook his head lightly and continued to scribble notes as he listened to her. Nothing of what she was saying was a surprise and Sand found himself beginning to make small doodles on the parchment in front of him as he listened to some of his arguments being repeated to him.
She finished and sat and the people in the galleries rumbled quietly; he risked a look at her. She was watching him expectantly, her gaze challenging, and he was standing even as the Magistrate invited him to make his counterarguments.
Remember - you're here to lose.
"Thank you Magistrate and Justicar of Tyr and the fine people of Luskan." Sand bowed low to the Magistrate. "These allegations are a farce, my Lord. I mean to show you the innocence of this man, reputable business man and father, and the falsehood of the allegations against him. The evidence of Counselor Rexall of the Blackmoon Traders is a transparent, ill-conceived ploy to destroy the life of one of Luskan's most respected traders."
Torio could feel her eyebrows shooting up on mocking incredulity as Sand's words...it was all reflex, a dance she had performed many times before, and it was almost a relief to sink into old habits; her heart still pounded against her ribcage like a wild animal just looking at him. His tone was so comfortingly familiar that for a moment she felt back at the Knight Captain's trial, her indignation and repressed admiration mounting as the elf twisted words and the crowd almost as good as she...
"We shall see. The evidence hardly even needs me to speak for it; I could simply let Magistrate Wyn examine it at his leisure and decide a guilty verdict before supper, if I wasn't so determined to see justice done here today...as are all the good people of Luskan, I see." Her tone was wry, and a few snickers and short gales of laughter could be heard over the whispering crowd. She could see it in all their faces; the eager postures, the knowing smiles, the hushed, whispered conversations. Luskan loved the downfalls of highly placed figures, and sometimes orchestrated downfalls on perfectly innocent people when there was a shortage of guilty ones.
The Magistrate gave her a shrewd look before calling for order; the whispers died down, and his voice rang clear through the courtroom. "I call to the stand Carelin DeMarco, servant to Lord Dornan."
There was the sound of multitudes of shifting bodies as the gallery turned to watch Carelin walk into the courtroom and move to the center of the floor. She turned and stood, facing the sea of eyes, her eyes flicking to Sand's face momentarily...and then, almost as an afterthought, she looked at Torio as well, her face calm and relaxed. The Magistrate waved a hand at Sand. "You may proceed with questioning, Counselor."
Sand threw his hands up incredulously. "Surely, my Lord - how can one expect to hear the truth from a slave in Lord Dornan's home? Her motivations - namely her freedom - should be a conflict of interest to the courts and I would like that put on the record." He paced in front of her for a moment before spinning on his heels and facing her. "Yes, let's speak on that for a moment. You are here on behalf of the Blackmoon Traders, are you not?"
Carelin shrugged slightly. "I don't know who summoned me here but I couldn't very well refuse now, could I? Sure beats a day at work."
Sand raised his eyebrows. "Ah, so you admit that you don't enjoy working for Lord Dornan. Could you have helped bring these charges forward as an act of revenge against a strict taskmaster?"
The Magistrate interrupted, "Caution, Sand. That woman is not on trial today and you best have proof of your accusations."
Sand bowed obsequiously. "Of course, my Lord. But I was merely hoping to root out the true reasons for these false allegations. So, please, madam DeMarco, what is it like, working for Lord Dornan? Remember, the eye of Tyr is watching you..."
Carelin tilted her head slightly at him, her eyes keen. "He's the master and I'm the slave. What do you think working for him is like? It is tough but we have a roof over our head and we're fed three times a day, like clockwork. There are rules and if we misbehave, we get whipped but he has a cleric on hand to heal us always."
Sand walked towards the table where he had his notes. "So are you trying to tell me that you never had a thought of revenge when being punished? That you and the others never tried to come up with some plan of escape?"
Her voice took a coy edge. "Are you trying to tell me that you were never angry when you were whipped or caned, counselor Sand? Besides, this...fancy trial business is much too complicated for me. Me, if I had wanted to escape, I probably would have just made a run for it."
The crowd was murmuring and Sand could feel a prickly heat building on his cheeks as she brought up his own punishments.
Oh but this was too perfect...
He waved his hands dismissively at her. "My dear girl, my own personal feelings are irrelevant. I have no further questions, your Honor."
Torio was stepping forward as smooth as liquid once more, although Fen's hand had pressed briefly on hers as her fingers had twitched in a spasmodic, clenched fist. They had whipped him...
Of course they did, what do you expect? You were here barely two days before you felt the kiss of knotted leather across your back...
She cleared her throat, casting Sand a scathing look, her voice addressing the gallery around them. "Why any well-protected slave would risk their master's wrath by bringing him to trial, of all things, is beyond me. Three meals a day, Carelin? A roof over your head? These are luxuries many aren't afforded in this city; and perhaps Lord Dornan kept you well treated for a reason. He was obviously too fearful of letting you out of his sight, lest you learn the truth of your indentured servitude and expose his plotting." Torio shook her head almost sadly. "Which was in vain, I'm afraid, for we are here to expose his treachery, finally."
The Magistrate's voice was amusedly irritated. "Are you going to question the witness any time soon, Counselor?"
"Of course, your Honor," she said smoothly. "Carelin, please detail to the most honorable courts the nature of your business investment with Lord Dornan." She moved to the podium where the three Moonstar agents still sat, and snatched up one small scrap of parchment. "Some fifteen years ago, wasn't it?"
"Yes," she said amiably. "Although the time has really flown, to be honest."
There was a ripple of laughter, and Wyn banged the podium for silence once again.
Torio's mouth twitched in a smile. "I'm glad you can say that, my dear woman; you might think differently once you've learned the truth." Her eyes scanned the small registrar parchment in her hands. "It says here that yourself and Lord Dornan invested jointly in...the Serpentine River Company?" Her eyebrows rose as she glanced at Carelin. The woman's face remained cheerfully impassive, although her eyes were watching her sharply.
"Yes, that's right," she said. "Seemed like a good deal at the time, too; I gave him all my life's savings. Husband had just died and I needed a way to make a living, else I'd be in the streets."
Torio's voice supplicated the crowd, laced with sarcasm. "Ah yes. I can see how this investment has worked out well for you."
Another small wave of snickering. Torio waved the parchment in her hand high. "We have here, for your investment, Carelin, a notice of registration for the Serpentine River Company, run by an anonymous trader. You invested in this venture with Lord Dornan covering your expenses, did you not?"
"Yes," the woman said simply.
"And when the venture fell through, Lord Dornan offered to let you work off your rather gargantuan debt as a servant in his household to keep you from the prisons, is that correct?"
"Yes."
Torio turned to the gallery, her arms stretched wide. "And yet, here on this small piece of parchment, we have in Lord Dornan's own handwriting, the registrar of the very company that failed in its endeavor…a company he earnestly and in full confidence assured you would turn profitable."
She slammed the parchment down on the podium in front of the Magistrate, the hook-nosed man jumping slightly. "Friends...such a company never existed! Lord Dornan lured this woman into an agreement with him knowing full well her investment would fail. Lured her into servitude, while nary a penny ever left his hand!" The gallery was rumbling now, voices raised in heated conversations, and the Magistrate pounded on his podium, calling irritably for order once again.
Torio dropped her arms, her voice lowered. Her voice was slightly smug, and yet she couldn't keep her eyes from darting to Sand's face. "No more questions, your Honor."
She felt an itch at the side of her neck, and turned her head slightly...Nivarra was staring at her, her dark eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she leaned forward on the parapet, her mouth pressed in a thin line.
Sand leapt to his feet. "Your Honor. I challenge the veracity of those documents in the Blackmoon Traders' possession. I would like them examined for forgery!"
The Magistrate seemed to have been expecting that and he gestured to the side of the courts where two official looking mages had been waiting. "The Courts will now take a one hour recess while the evidence is examined. We will reconvene one hour after noon." He rapped his gavel down twice, the wooden smacking noises echoing through the Court room and then made a swift exit to his chambers.
Sand made his way back to Dornan. "My lord, I would advise you to remain here or in the side room. It is unwise to intermingle with the people of the gallery - they are here to see somebody hang and the rabble may take it upon themselves to exact justice themselves. I am going to speak to Ednia and see if I cannot persuade her to broker a deal with us. Mistress, stay with your father. Opposing counsel may be more likely to speak to me, lawyer to lawyer."
Sand marched over to the tall woman. "Counselor. A word in private?"
Torio had been half turned, opening her mouth to speak to Jearl, the bearded man standing from his seat, when Sand's voice suddenly floated through the air, and her insides did a writhing dance.
Something of what she was feeling must has flitted across her face, for Jearl gave her a warning look moments before she schooled her expression, and turned, her chin tilted at a haughty angle. "Of course, Counselor," she said briskly. She glanced back at the three figures seated behind the podium.
"We'll be here," said Jearl evenly.
She gestured to Sand to follow her, and turned, her robes shuffling against her feet as she made her way to one of the empty side chambers....how many deals had she brokered in rooms just like this? Her heart was attempting rather determinedly to crawl up into her throat as she opened the door, the small, dimly lit room cool and silent compared to the bustle of the courtroom. She forwent the chairs and leaned against one of the small bookcases, her arms crossed over her chest as she gazed at Sand expectantly.
"Counselor." Sand studied the woman for a moment, forced to lift his head up to stare into her eyes. Clear. Gray. "You impressed me out there. You may just win this yet." The bottle was between his fingers but without a doubt the room was being scryed by somebody and he had to give her the potion without them seeing. He stepped closer to her until the sleeves of their robes were brushing against one another and he pressed the potion of Eagle Splendor into her hands, closing his fingers over hers and squeezing it reassuringly.
Not that such a formidable lawyer would need it but every little bit could help.
"I don't know where they found you, girl, but I'm glad to have someone who can match wits with me. I wasn't looking forward to a verbal slaughter today." He gave her a tired smile. "I don't suppose I could convince you to drop the charges in return for compensation?" He sniffed slightly.
Books. Candlewax.
He took a quick step back, nearly tripping on his robes and he had to grab a chair to hold himself steady for a moment. It was like Torio's ghost was in the room with him suddenly - prying open his heart and mind, and forcing him to relive every single painful and joyful moment he had ever had with her. His eyes shot up again to meet Ednia's - and for the slightest second, he was looking into Torio's eyes again –
"I..." The room suddenly seemed much too small for the both of them, suffocating him with memories of a woman now in a far off Plane, the only woman who had ever understood him. "I must return to my client."
Torio's knees had begun to shake ever so slightly as Sand stepped close; she felt a bottle slip into her fingers, and briefly, just briefly...his eyes met hers and his nostrils flared, ever so slightly as he drew in a breath.
The blood seemed to rush from his face, and a memory flashed through her mind; Sand holding her against him on his bed at the keep, his voice light and thick with desire...you smell of...books and candlewax, candlesmoke and human....
He was already turning from her, his muscles tensed; she could see the small bunching at his throat as he clenched his jaw, and instinctively her hand reached out, fingers outstretched towards him, to brush his robes, touch him, for half a second...before her hand balled into a fist and fell at her side again, and Maxxil's words ran through her mind once again, warning her not to give herself away...
By gods...
She dropped her face, fingering the top of the bottle he had given her, peeling the wax back from around the cork. "Good luck, Sand," she managed quietly.
Sand nodded brusquely and exited the side room, making his way across the courtroom to the table with the pieces of parchment. His feet seemed to move him automatically; he hardly noticed the three Moonstar agents looking at him as he passed or the fact that both Nivarra and her father were not in the courtroom. He sat down heavily in the chair - his mind reeling, his heart thudding in his cheat, his body cold and numb.
Was he going to be haunted by Torio for the rest of his life? Could he take another four hundred years of torment?
Actually he was probably being generous with that life expectancy the way things were going and he grimly modified his thoughts - could he handle another year of anguish?
To take his mind off things, he began flipping through his notes again and only looked up when Nivarra and Dornan returned.
Nivarra returned first, casting a glance over her shoulder before dropping lightly into the seat next to Sand, leaning close and speaking in a hushed whisper. "He's trying to eke out a deal as we speak with one of the Magistrate's men." Her mouth was tightened in frustration. "I'm doing all I can to dissuade them on the side from helping my father; this may turn out good for us, especially if he gets...arrogant, as is his wont, in assuming that he'll have assistance no matter how the verdict goes. It may loosen his tongue, make him feel safe...and careless." She puffed a strand of hair out of her face in exasperation. "Or they will agree, and he will be untouchable. Rare, that it would go that way, but I..."
Her words cut off abruptly, as Dornan reappeared, making his way towards them, his face impassive, his eyes glittering angrily. She cocked an eyebrow at Sand, but said no more, merely touched his shoulder briefly...her fingers dug into his flesh through the robes, her eyes sharp as she glanced at him, before standing and returning to her seat in the gallery behind them.
Torio re-entered the courtroom just as the Magistrate did, the assistant calling out "All rise…" There was a shuffling and slight disgruntled murmuring as the 'spectators' stood to their feet and sat again once the Magistrate was comfortably seated on his bench.
"Will the Court report its findings on the documents provided by the Blackmoon Traders?"
The two mages took their position at the front of the court and the senior of the two said loudly, in a nasally official voice. "We have found all documents to be originals and will testify to their contents." Of course Sand knew this would be the final verdict on the exhibits; he had given them the originals.
The Magistrate nodded grimly. "Thank you for your assistance in the matter. Sand?"
Dornan was watching him hard and the elf's eyes roved through the galleries until...
Birren.
"Your honor, I would like to call Birren of Luskan, a man under the employ of the Red Dragon Trading Company."
Birren didn't look surprised to be called to the stand. He made his way down the steps, his red clothing a bright stark contrast to the other watchers. He sat and faced Sand, his expression amused.
"Lord Birren. The Red Dragon Trading Company is the trading company in Luskan, is it not?"
The bald man nodded, "Yes. Everybody knows that."
"And you have regular dealings with Lord Dornan, do you not?"
"Yes - we've been doing business together for years."
Sand turned and caught Lord Dornan's eyes. The man seemed to be approving of his choice in witness, his posture looking haughty. Nivarra's own hazel eyes were boring in Birren. "Never had any problems?"
The trader laughed. "Never with Dornan. Just his daughter."
Sand quickly stepped in front of Birren. "Please - let us stick to the matter at hand, which is Lord Dornan's business practices. Now a reputable company like the Red Dragon would not want to do business with a shady business man, would they?"
Birren gave Sand a slow understanding smile and then turned his gaze to Dornan. A look of understanding seemed to pass between the two men. "No - never. Doing business with a criminal could mean the downfall of the Red Dragon. We screen all our partners first. We have never had a problem with Lord Dornan."
Sand turned and sat back down. "Thank you. No further questions."
The Magistrate turned to Ednia. "Your witness."
Torio stood. "I have no questions for this witness but would like to call another to the stand." There was a wave of muttering through the courtroom as Birren glanced at her interestedly before walking back out to take his seat again. Torio did her nonchalant best to sway out onto the floor as the Magistrate banged for order on his podium once more. She called the second witness, the stooped, aging Berkle to the stand, the man shuffling forward through the crowd.
His questioning was brief, as she validated everything that Carelin had said earlier. She held up the (now validated) scraps of parchment for each and every company that Dornan invented, releasing Berkle from the stand and calling up Torman. "And these are only three, my lords and ladies...Your Honor," she said expansively, her voice tinged with righteous outrage. "Lord Dornan has no less than forty seven indentured servants on his land, all indebted to him over these false trading practices. Forty seven! He is a wealthy man, indeed," she said, scoffing, "for he has neither had to pay nor purchase his slaves! It is of no consequence, and acts in his favor to form alliances with the most powerful merchant company in Luskan." Her eyes found Birren in the gallery, and she said caustically, "I assure you, Lord Birren, that Lord Dornan will never have a chance to ensnare you in such a fiendish plot, not after justice is seen to today."
"That's enough." The Magistrate was frowning down at the papers in front of him, his eyes lifting momentarily to stare at Dornan thoughtfully the courtroom shuffled restlessly as Torman was dismissed from the stand, and the Magistrate seemed content to read the papers in front of him. After a moment, his voice echoed over the court room. "Do you have any more witnesses, Counselors?"
Sand stood and said clearly. "Yes, your Honor. I would like to call the accused to the stand." Another ripple went through the crowds and he watched the man stand and walk stiffly forward, unused to being surrounded by judging, harsh eyes. His face at taken on a reddish tinge, his knuckles white. Except there were no slaves or servants or wizards or even daughters upon which to take out his anger this time.
Sand kept his voice gentle and courteous. "My Lord Dornan. It certainly has been a trying day for you. All these false lies being spread about you. Will you set the record straight about what you did?"
Dornan's voice was strained, attempting to maintain his cool. "Of course. The accusations that these investments were anything but honest and fair handed are ridiculous. I, of course, entered into business with the many indentured servants in my estate. It is not my fault that our business practices failed." He shot a half-imploring, half-amused look to the sea of faces staring at him intently. "It takes years to learn how to manage business in this godsforsaken city, surely everyone knows that. I never got the hang of things until my friend, Lord Birren, entered into dealings with me." Dornan's voice was smooth and confident. "Can I be blamed for having the funds to back up investments that my partners didn't? Am I to be targeted simply due to my status?"
His eyes flicked to the tree 'merchants' sitting behind where Torio was standing, his tone patronizing. "Surely this entire affair is nothing more than a personal attack...come now, how much do we know about these Blackmoon Traders, your Honor?"
Torio's voice split through the air like the crack of a whip. "Objection!"
The Magistrate gave her a wry look, before turning to Lord Dornan. "Sustained. My Lord, you are the one on trial here, not them."
Dornan's face flushed for a moment, his mouth pressing together in an angry line. "They were honest dealings," he nearly hissed. "I will not be treated this way!"
Sand hurried forward, seemingly to soothe his client. "Of course not, my Lord. Please, return to your seat. I am certain the courts and the good people of Luskan have heard enough and are convinced of your innocence." He waited until Dornan was seated again before addressing the people gathered. "You have heard it yourself, friends. Everyone here ...merely victims of unfortunate circumstances, and bad turns of economies. It happens to all of us - runs of bad luck. Instead of sending his partners to jails or worse, he offered them a haven in which to work off their debt. That is fair and kind and... I am certain - absolutely certain - the courts will make the right decision today and find this man innocent. Nothing further to add, your Honor."
"Fair and kind!" Torio's laugh echoed around the murmuring chamber as Sand moved back to Dornan's side. "Yes, I suppose such treatment would be fair and kind under circumstances when such an arrangement was legal!" She drew herself up as she spoke, and old habit from when her frame was much shorter than it was now...and yet she supposed the effect was imposing, regardless.
"Men and women of Luskan, your Honor...this man has grievously wronged many citizens of this great city, some of them serving for nearly two decades under falsified documents. Two decades, think of it! And all of it illegal...these people think they are servants, but in reality they are free as either you or me." A brief, thought flickered through her mind…Ha! She turned to the Magistrate, pressing her fist against her chest. "The evidence is before you, your Honor; I implore that you do not ignore it, nor ignore the people thrust into wrongful slavery because of the deceitful machinations of that man." She pointed at Dornan as she spoke, holding the pose dramatically for a moment before dropping her arm, inhaling deeply. "I have nothing else to add, your Honor.
She moved back to the three merchants and practically sank into the chair next to them; Jearl's face was impassive, and Fen only flashed a brief smile at her, but Wescett was chuckling quietly. "Well done," he whispered, before the Magistrate stood.
"I need time to deliberate on the verdict; recess for one hour." The gavel slammed into the podium, and everyone scrambled to their feet once more as Wyn stood and left.
Nivarra was attempting to 'soothe' her father's rising aggravation. "It will go well for you, father, you'll see," she said quietly. Her eyes caught Sand's, and she smiled.
They all retreated to the side room. Sand had no idea if Ednia had taken the potion or not but he had been impressed by her performance. And really - it had been a performance from the both of them. He began pacing around the small room, circling Nivarra and her father until Dornan irritably shouted for him to sit down and stop making him dizzy.
Sand sat beside Nivarra and the three of them waited in tense, terse silence until there was a rap on the door. "A verdict has been determined. Please re-enter the courtroom."
Sand stood up a little too quickly, his nerves frayed and his stomach churning. Lord Dornan exited first, ever proud and confident and Sand followed Nivarra, letting the door fall shut behind him with a slam of finality. Opposite to them, the Moonstar agents and Ednia were returning as well. He wondered if they felt as anxious as he did.
The court room was now utterly silent as the people stood before the Magistrate.
Magistrate Wyn's eyes stared down at them all for a moment, his narrow face seemingly haggard. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, and yet easily heard in the deathlike silence around the courtroom. "In my long years of presiding, I have seen many atrocious charges brought before me...But I have never seen a man sentence a multitude of his peers to personal slavery, and go through such lengths to do it."
His eyes were hard as he stared down at Dornan. "The evidence speaks rather loudly against you, my Lord...but after what I've seen, and heard today, it leaves me with only one decision." The gavel rose and fell, slamming into the podium. "I sentence you to a life of imprisonment and servitude, chained to the oars of the Hosttower's galley ships; fitting, I think, in light of your actions." He jerked his chin, and a squad of guards began moving up to the front of the courtroom as an anguished, enraged wail tore from Dornan's throat, and the crowd of people erupted in shouting around them.
Everything that happened next was nearly a blur; Dornan turned, facing Sand, his face near purple with rage, and slammed his fist directly into the elf's face. An outraged cry tore through the air, and only Jearl's hand snapping out and clamping down on Torio's wrist kept her from striding forward, her eyes blazing. Nivarra climbed over the parapet and dodged the guards as they threw themselves on Dornan, pulling him back and restraining him; she moved to Sand's side and watched, coldly, as the guards drew the struggling, cursing man out of the courtroom, his eyes blazing, trained on both her and Sand.
One minute he was standing; the next minute he was on the ground and his face hurt. Nivarra was crouched over him, and he found her hand, squeezing it before letting his head fall back on the scuffed wooden floors.
He had done it.
The adrenaline drained completely from his body and he realized he would be quite happy to fall asleep here in the middle of the courtroom. His back ached from how stiffly he had been holding it. He sat up and realized his left eye was already swollen shut.
But he had done it.
He stood shakily and made his way over to the Moonstar agents and Ednia, sticking out his hand. "Congratulations on your victory." He tried to keep his voice cold, curt. "You have sent a man to his early death I am sure."
Nivarra followed Sand, slipping her arm through his as she watched him shake hands with the tall, flame-haired woman and the three other merchants she had met with the day before. "I suppose I have you to thank for the sudden loss of over half of my servants when I return to my estate," she said rudely, but her eyes were gleaming as she looked at them all. What does a Nightbringer need of servants? "A fine case you fought," she said quietly, almost gleefully. "We shall have to do business in the future, most assuredly. As of now, I have a few...logistical problems at home to take care of. And servants to let loose from the house like wandering cattle." The Counselor for the merchants was staring at her narrowly, her gray eyes narrowed and her mouth hard. Nivarra merely gave her an arched brow before glancing at Sand. "If you'll excuse us, my wizard needs healing." She tugged on Sand's arm and began leading him from the courtroom.
Wescett's hand was at her elbow. "Come, Ednia, we should...return." Torio watched Nivarra leave the room, her arm clutching possessively at Sand as they walked, and for a moment all she seemed to hear was a buzzing, ringing in her ears, clamoring furiously...
Fen spoke quietly, "Come, Ednia. "
She inhaled deeply, and followed the merchants as they trailed from the courtroom, trying to push the image from her mind.