Chapter Forty-Three: A Little Archaic English

The "big voice" effect, as Mikey had named it, that he'd used The Technology to apply to himself two hours ago, along with invisibility for both of them, sounded even more impressive and powerful than he'd hoped. His translator, with its small but powerful speaker, did its best to replicate his volume.

The double shouts in booming English and broken, slightly robotic Jior had immediate effect: shock and alarm rippled through every Jior present.

"IS THIS WHAT THOU CALLEST JUSTICE? IS THIS HOW THOU HONORETH ME?" Wow. This voice is great! Hopefully using archaic English will translate into archaic Jior.

The Jior looked confused. Too archaic and obscure? I have no way of knowing.

"IS THIS HOW THOU THINKETH TO HONOR THE GREAT PARVOSS?"

Surprise and recognition shone in Jior faces at the name. Elder Nafti had backed up to stand with the rest of the Council.

"SINCE THOU NO LONGER SPEAKETH THE OLD LANGUAGE,"Don growled, "I SUMMON THE TURTLE GUIDES TWAIN I SENT FORTH: THE TURTLE OF ICE AND THE TURTLE OF FIRE."

A murmur swept through the crowd. "Turtle guides?"

All right, bros. Your turn. Don hadn't seen his brothers leave the rooftop across the square, but then, he'd been preoccupied.

Then the crowd in the front gasped as Leo and Raph, wearing purple and orange masks respectively, stepped out from the pillars in front of the Council Building. Oh, that's where they went. Mikey scrunched his lips together to contain a giggle, eyes filled with mirth, as the guards who had captured them took a step back. They look pale. Didn't know you captured ninjas, did you? Leo and Raph had taken off their now-obsolete navy hoodies and sweatpants, but still kept their own weapons.

Raph's eyes flicked to the area above The Technology for one heartbeat, but Leo's rigid self-control kept his gaze level.

"COME FORTH, TURTLE OF ICE AND TURTLE OF FIRE."

As guards melted out of the way, Leo and Raph paced forward until they stood directly in front of the Technology and Taevon's seat, facing the crowd. Taevon gawked as they passed him, but thankfully remained silent. Phew. We passed the hurdle of Taevon possibly blurting something incriminating.

Leo and Raph bowed in unison toward the crowd and then the elders.

The Jior waited with bated breath.

Leo spoke, raising his voice and speaking slowly and solemnly. The forgnathu he was wearing projected his voice into Jior beautifully. "We are the turtle guides. I am the Turtle of Ice, and this is the Turtle of Fire. We have been summoned by the great Parvoss to translate his words from the old language into words you can understand."

The crowd buzzed. Don could practically read their thoughts: What in the world could the great Parvoss have to say to them?

One of the elders—not Elder Nafti, who looked displeased—stepped forward and bowed. "Please speak. We shall listen."

Don waited half a moment more—the air was electric—before launching in. "IS THIS WHAT PASSETH FOR JUSTICE NOW, O PEOPLE OF JIOR? IS THIS HOW THOU THINKEST TO HONOR ME?"He paused to let Leo translate. "I, THE GREAT PARVOSS, AM DISPLEASED WITH HOW YOUR CULTURE HAS PROCEEDED AFTER I LEFT THIS WORLD."

The Jior looked horrified at this revelation. One man near the front blurted, "What have we done wrong, great Parvoss?"

Don smiled. It's working already. "TO BEGIN, IN THE CASE OF THIS MAN BEFORE US, THOU ART TREATING HIM AS IF HE HATH MURDERED A DOZEN SOULS, AND YET THOU HAST NOT ALLOWED HIM RECOURSE TO DEFEND HIMSELF WHATSOEVER." Go slow. Let Leo translate. He spoke slowly directly to Taevon. All right, I've got to word this carefully. "SPEAK, TAEVON YUE'LAH. ANSWER ME WITH NAUGHT BUT AN AYE OR A NAY: DIDST THEE BRING INTRUDERS TO THIS PLACE OF LODGING WITH THE INTENTION OF HARM?" Yes or no, Taevon.

Although Taevon probably understood all of that, Leo turned and translated.

Taevon bowed his head. "No, Great Parvoss." He had regained a little color.

Don raised his voice. "AND HAST ANY GENTLEMAN OR GENTLEWOMAN WITNESSED TAEVON YUE'LAH COMMIT ANY CRIMES WITH THINE OWN EYES?"

The crowd murmured among themselves until a man stepped forward. He bowed, but when he spoke, he thrust his chin forward. "No, Great Parvoss, but we have long observed… unusual behavior from Taevon. In fact, that's why he earned his second name, because he insists on time-traveling instead of proper world-traveling."

Man, these guys are set in their ways. "AND IS THITHER AUGHT WRONG WITH THAT? HAS YONDER DEEDS BECOME A CRIME IN THINE EYES?" Don paused to let Leo translate. "THERE IS MUCH TO BE LEARNED FROM THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF THE PAST."

The spokesman didn't look convinced, but he returned to his place.

"IN THE FUTURE, I HOPE TO SEE YOU EMPLOY SOME STANDARDS OF JUSTICE," Don boomed out, watching the crowd shuffle. "IF A MAN OR WOMAN STAND ACCUSED, LET EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST HIM BE GATHERED AND REVIEWED FAIRLY. DOTH NOT JUDGE HIM ON THE WORD OF ONE WITNESS ALONE, BUT AT LEAST TWO WITNESSES."

Don waved a hand imperiously, even though no one but Mikey could see him. "I HAST PERSONALLY OBSERVED TAEVON YUE'LAH, SO I WILL SPEED UP THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BUT I EXPECT YOU TO FOLLOW THE STANDARDS OF JUSTICE IN THE FUTURE AT WHICH HOUR I AM NOT HITHER TO PRESIDE OVER THEM." Leo translated, and then Don announced, "I, THE GREAT PARVOSS, DECLARE TAEVON YUE'LAH INNOCENT. TURTLE OF FIRE, RELEASE HIS BONDS."

Raph, whose eyes had doubtless glazed over during the archaic language, started ever so slightly when he realized he was being addressed, then swiftly untied Taevon.

Taevon stood and bowed in Don's general direction. "Thank you, O Great Parvoss. I am greatly relieved that you deem me as not needing punishment from The Technology." His face shone with sincerity. Yep, he thought he was toast.

Raph drew Taevon over a few steps to stand to the right of the seat before returning to his post by Leo. Taevon tore off his necklace, regarded the brown stone with vehemence, and threw it as far as he could. Don heard it clatter onto a rooftop. Taevon heaved a huge sigh. I think… yeah, his eyes are a little brighter now. It certainly makes sense that a race that can teleport would find a way to prohibit that power in convicts.

Don shook himself. Enough thinking. Focus. Taevon mentioned The Technology.

"VERY FEW CRIMES ART WORTHY OF SUCH PUNISHMENT AS THOU HAST DEVISED WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, O PEOPLE OF JIOR." Don boomed. Thanks for the tie-in, Taevon. "SUCH A HARSH SORT OF PUNISHMENT OUGHT BE REVERSED FOR TRULY HORRIFIC CRIMES, SUCH AS MURDER. HOWEVER-"

Don watched as Leo translated up to his dramatic pause. Okay, big ideas for a simple culture. How to phrase this? "TECHNOLOGY ART SIMPLY A TOOL. 'TIS NOT EVIL IN ITSELF. LIKE A WEAPON, IT CAN BE USED FOR GOOD OR ILL." He paused again, and when Leo caught up, he continued, "THOU HAST PROVEN YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF POSSESSING SUCH A POWERFUL MACHINE AND IMPLEMENTING IT WHENEVER THOU PLEASES. BUT BEFORE THAT MATTER-"

He paused again. Be brave, Saja. You've been so brave already. "TURTLE OF FIRE, FETCH THE GIRL WHO THESE ELDERS DID UNFAIRLY PUNISH AND EXILE FOR A BRAVE DEED."