Moonpriestess30: I work all weekend, it's not too bad. Hope you and the little one are doing well.


Chapter 195 – When pigs fly

Aveline sighs as she looks over her paperwork, Makatza had insisted that she find twelve random people from the city. Of all classes and backgrounds, genders and species. 'Captain?' Came a questioning voice.

She looked up from her desk, 'ah, Brennan, is everything okay?' She asks as she gathers the files into a neat pile.

Brennan stood to attention and looks a little awkward, 'yes, ma'am, there is a group of people waiting in the foyer. They say they've been summoned to the Keep. They're a little confused and there's a couple of potential arguments brewing.' Aveline mentally swears and forces herself to smile. She understood what Makatza was trying to do but the actual reality of it was going to be difficult. The young Viscountess had been speaking of faint memories about how trials worked in the other world and she wished to incorporate it into the justice system here. Starting with the trial of Lady Crewe.

'Thanks, Brennan. I'll escort them to the Viscountess, she wishes to discuss why they're here,' Aveline says standing up and following the guard to the foyer where thankfully there was nothing more than a few nasty glares going on. 'If you could all follow me, I will take you to your appointment,' Aveline said loudly gaining their attention. With her no nonsense commanding tone of voice they all followed her dutifully up the Viscountess' office. Aveline knocked on the door and Makatza answered.

'Enter,' she says a little tiredly. The Guard Captain nods to herself and opens the door, shepherding the group of people inside. There were twelve seats in the room already, Makatza had been ready for this. Fenris had his arms behind his back and mentally looked over every person who entered the room. 'Ah, welcome, good morning,' she says standing up and smiling sweetly. 'Please, take a seat each of you. Would you like refreshments?' Fenris allowed himself to smile, there was a definite mix of people in the room, he recognised a couple as trade workers and to his horror there was a young woman who he knew worked at the brothel. Not that he had ever partaken in that establishment; he had been dragged there enough to be a recognisable face going by the woman's teasing expression as she looks at him. Refreshments were handed out by Makatza's maid and then after everyone was sorted Makatza began to explain why they were there. 'Lady Crewe is to be trialled. I need a fair jury and court. You have each been chosen at random to look over the evidence provided and then as a group, you will come to a conclusion to whether she is innocent or guilty.'

A shy, almost reluctant hand went up and Katza smiles at the older man in his forties by the look of him, going by the scent on his clothes he worked with horses in some proximity. 'My.. lady Viscountess,' he says aware that he had everyone's attention. 'I am but a farrier. I know nothing of justice and I cannae read nor scribe,' he mumbles.

Makatza knew that this was a possibility and had already been prepared. 'Do not worry, there will be staff on hand available to help you at any time you wish,' she said reassuringly. 'As for justice, you simply need to tell me what you think is right. If you feel she is innocent of the charges, tell me. If you feel she is guilty, again, tell me. I am relying on your own personal perspective of the evidence that will be given to each of you,' she explains. 'Any other questions?'

He clears his throat, 'my lady Viscountess,' he repeats. She could tell that he was nervous and the way he twiddled his hat made her heart clench. 'Tis be a worry about my coin. If I do not work, I will lose business...' the older human's voice dwindled as if he thought he was going to be in trouble. 'If you command it-'

'It's okay,' Aveline cut in making him jump. 'The Viscountess has already stated that the city will pay you for your earnings that you would lose during the trial. If this lasts six weeks, you will be paid for six weeks work on average,' she supplies. He perked up a bit and manages a smile, nodding happily.

It seems that nobody else had any questions so Makatza got the to the crux of the matter. 'I do not know how long this will last. In a perfect world, it would be over in a day. A woman's future hangs on the outcome of this trial, as does the future of the justice system in Kirkwall,' she said in a firm tone. Ciere slinked out from behind her desk and began to nuzzle Makatza's hand for pets, the presence of the wolf made more tension rise in the room but Makatza was blissfully unawares. 'I will be blunt with you all. If any of you are caught discussing the trial or evidence with someone who is not a member of this jury, you will be arrested. If someone tries to blackmail or threatens you in any way, please let the Guard Captain know immediately. I will have a fair trial,' the Viscountess looks at all of them and her words were very clearly received.

Fenris places his hand at the base of her back as a reminder and she tilts her head towards him as he whispers in her ear, 'the reason the woman is on trial,' he said as he knew that the assassination attempt had been kept quiet.

'Oh!' Makatza says rolling her eyes, she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, 'forgive me. I forgot to actually explain as to why this woman is being held,' she admits. 'Aveline?' Makatza asks wishing this day was already over.

Aveline nods and takes the file that Brennan passes her, 'thanks. Okay, in short. Lady Crewe has been accused of, 'Attempted assassination, conspiracy to threaten the well being of the city and accessory to murder,' there are a few more minor things but those are the main ones,' she reads out. 'Now, I've done background on all of you, no-one here personally knows Lady Crewe or members of her family, correct?' There's a moment of nodding from all present and Aveline sighs in relief. This might actually work, the Guard Captain thought to herself. 'The trial will begin tomorrow. Today you will be briefed on what is going to happen and when, where, etc. If you wish my guards can escort you home and escort you here in the morning.'

'Is that all?' Makatza asks Fenris as she picks up a book from her desk where she wrote her notes. Fenris nods softly trying to ignore the grin on the brothel worker's features. It wasn't a particular expression of any sort, but it felt embarrassing, almost like she found his behaviour endearing. 'Very well, you may leave to the briefing now if you wish or if you have any private questions, I have some time to answer those,' she says dismissing them. The farrier shyly came up to her, hat still in his hands.

'My lady, Viscountess,' he says giving her a bow.

'Yes?' Makatza asks moving Ciere away over to her brother so that the man could feel more comfortable. There were only a couple of those who lingered, the rest followed Brennan. 'May I ask your name?' She asks as she gives him her attention.

'Arnold Swats, my lady,' he says with another bow. 'I dinnae have any more questions to ask. I just wanted to say thank you,' he gives her another bob. Makatza finally understood what Kiana meant about feeling sea sick if enough people were greeting her.

She tilts her head and gives him a bright smile, 'what ever in Thedas for?' Katza asks in good humour. As far as she knew, there was no reason for this man to be thanking her.

'As I said, I be a farrier,' Arnold twiddles his hat and looks at Fenris who can't help but raise a brow at the man's glance. 'I be a husband too, married now for fifteen years, the years be kind,' he reveals making Makatza want to awww in response but held her tongue. 'My wife be just a maid, we both gettin' on in years. These will be our last few winters I'm sure,' he smiles in cheek as he jokes. 'The reason I be thanking your highness, is that for the first time in my wife's life she be paid a fair wage. For the first time, we nay worry for coin day to day and we be able to put some aside for those days we cannae work no more.'

Makatza's heart stopped as she realised, she looked at Fenris and smiles with tears in her eyes. 'You wife is an elf? Or dwarf?' She asks.

'Aye, elf, raised in this city like meself. She works hard, your highness. All hours that the day brought. Raised me a fine lass, an naught a word of complaint. Some years were harder than others but still she worked an' worked. Since you been here in this office she be being paid more. People treat her different. In a good way. They smile more. My wee lass be getting more money too, she works here in the Keep. She's in the kitchens,' he begins to babble. 'Warms me heart to know that with you here I nay have to worry about her. We may nay be guards nor ladies an' bring a lot to this city, but we are proud to be a part of Kirkwall-'

'Arnold,' Makatza said softly as she places a hand on the side of his arm. 'Without people like you and your family, there is no Kirkwall. I thank you for your service to this city and I hope that I can be a Viscountess you are proud to have,' she says smiling weakly trying not to let her emotions take over.

'Aye, your highness. We be proud. We will make you proud,' he nods determinedly. 'I nay take any more of your time, my lady. I will follow the guard,' he says giving Fenris a smile. 'He looks after you well?' He asks making Makatza giggle.

'Yes, Arnold. He treats me perfectly,' Makatza assures.

'Good, a woman only deserves a good man,' he says a little bit of fatherly protection overtaking him. Makatza places her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing and nods in reply, she didn't dare look at Fenris but she could sense his bewilderment. It seemed that the other people that had been loitering to talk to Makatza had their questions by Aveline and she found that the room was now empty save Fenris and her wolves.

She breathes in deeply and smiles wiping her eyes, Fenris tilts his head, 'what has upset you?' He asks concerned as he moves around to her front as she leans back on her desk.

'Oh, no,' Makatza smiles. 'These... they're happy tears.'

'Happy... tears?' He asks a little confused.

'Yeah,' she grins giving him a little giggle as she wipes her eyes again. 'I mean, I knew that raising the wages of elves and others was the fair and right thing to do. I just didn't realise how much it would help them. I mean actual people, actual families. I've never had to worry about money, or food or shelter, I'm so lucky. I can only imagine what it must have been like to try and raise a child, working all hours the Maker sent and earning a pittance. To know that now they're actually getting enough to have savings? Actual savings? No worries? It just... makes all the shit I've been getting, worth it.'

He gives her an amused look, 'you did not think that you helped people?' Fenris asks astounded. 'The reason that you have nobles and self entitled idiots banging on the door all day demanding that you put it back to what it once was?'

'Yeah, yeah I know,' she laughs lightly, rolling her eyes. 'I'm an idiot.'

'No, you are simply selfless,' he said as he tilts her head up, a finger under her chin. 'You make this life worth all the shit that comes,' Fenris teases making her smile. Knowing that they were alone he leans down and kisses her, tasting a tear on her skin.

'Well at least one thing is going to come out this damn trial,' Makatza murmurs as he pulls away, she holds his forearms as he gently holds her waist. 'I know that I'm doing the right thing. That is Lady Crewe did try to have me assassinated, at least it was because I was making a difference in this city.'

Fenris leans his forehead against hers, 'from the day you arrived you made a difference in the lives of the people in this city. I can confidently say that it was generally for the best,' he jokes making her gasp and giggle as she squeezes his arms in playful annoyance.

'That could have been a really romantic, sweet sentiment and you boffed it,' she laughs. 'I'll set Arnold on you, I don't think he'd like the idea of you being mean to me,' Makatza teases with a poke. Fenris chuckles lightly and rolls his eyes at her before kissing her forehead, a comfortable silence dropping between them. After a few minutes he feels her shoulders tense up, 'if she's found guilty... what would be the appropriate punishment?' She asks.

He brushes her hair from her face, 'that is up to you to decide. Acts of treason are usually convicted with a sentence of death,' he says confirming her fears. 'If you are trying to set an example to the city then I believe you must be firm, you cannot allow such a crime to not be punished.'

'I guess they wouldn't accept imprisonment,' Makatza sighs. 'It just seems so barbaric,' she mutters. 'How would they do it?'

'That again, is up to you to decided. Hanging, decapitation,-'

'Oh Maker, forget I asked, it's making me feel sick with just the thought,' Makatza says pulling a face. She shudders and goes stiff, he didn't really understand, and punishment would seem justified and deserving. Fenris had to remind himself that Katza wasn't raised in this world and her world view was vastly different. He rubs the top of her arms in an attempt to make her relax. 'If she is sentenced to death, would it have to be public?'

'I would say yes. It is treason after all. You saw yourself that the people of this city care for you. They will want to see this concluded,' Fenris says softly. 'It is an open trial, if it last a couple of days then word will get about and more people will join, you will already have whole court there.'

'I'm working Aveline too hard-'

Fenris tuts and gives her a look, 'you are working too hard,' he states. 'When was the last time you spent some time with Isabela? ..Merrill? The only reason you have seen your father is because we live with him,' he points out. 'Why not spend this evening with those two?'

'And what will you be doing?' Makatza grins.

'Trying to keep out of trouble,' he says simply.

'That'll be the day.'