25. The Spark Pepper Affair

"Cadet Avocato, the purpose of this investigation and hearing is to clear up allegations of assault resulting in bodily harm. You are being called as a witness, and you are charged on your honor to answer honestly, truthfully, and fully. Do you understand?"

"I do, sir."

"Be seated," ordered Cadet Katzen.

He obeyed, sitting straight and stiff in the hard chair set front and center, the last witness called. Before him ranged the five-student committee of fifth-year cadets in charge of the investigation. Off to his right, Nikos, Kedi, Toshi, and Felice sat in a row. To his left, Graylind was seated with his cronies Stergar, Kitner, and Chausette. Behind him, watching the proceedings and making sure all was done according to academy rules and to render a final decision, were Commodore Leoni, Colonels Tibs and Cataloupe, and Major Inka. Behind them were cadets interested in the proceedings, including Cadets Lin and Purrina, members of various student committees, and, somewhere in the crowd, Lady Grayse of House Gray, Graylind's very annoyed oldest sister.

"Cadet Avocato, do you recognize this item?"

He looked at the round, silvery container held up by Katzen. It was just large enough to fill his palm.

"I do, sir."

"Please tell the panel what it is."

"It's a tin of smoked spark pepper powder."

"Where is it from?"

"It arrived early this month for Cadet Nikos. A gift from his mother in the Answaar."

"And what is spark pepper powder?"

"A seasoning for food."

"Elaborate."

"Sir. From what I understand, spark peppers are the very hottest pepper grown on Ventrexia. They're smoked using the wood of the kor tree, another type of spice and therefore very valuable. The region around Vel Pitten, Cadet Nikos' home, is known for spark peppers. The name derives from the local proverb It takes only one spark to ignite an inferno."

"Have you tried it?"

"I have, sir. Cadet Nikos indulged my curiosity the day the powder arrived. He put a very small amount of it on the eggs I ate for breakfast."

"What was the result?"

Avocato forced himself not to smile at the memory of gasping and wheezing, his nose running and eyes watering uncontrollably, and Kedi shaking his head and saying, "Your curiosity will do you in someday, Cato." Every single one of his instructors had asked after his health that day.

"I couldn't feel my tongue until lunch the following day, sir."

A ripple of amusement moved through the spectators.

"Did anyone else try it?"

"Not after they saw me cry."

More laughter.

"Would you say this pepper is dangerous?" asked Katzen.

"Only if you were so foolish as to consume too much of it before building up a tolerance."

Graylind shifted, glaring at Avocato, something he wouldn't have dared if he had been by himself. He didn't like being called what he was – foolish.

"Does Cadet Nikos have such a tolerance?"

"Yes, sir," he confirmed. "I've seen him use it liberally on his food and even in his tea."

Katzen blinked, trying to mask his surprise. Almost everyone glanced at Nikos in astonishment. Clearly such blasphemy had never before occurred in these hallowed halls. Nikos met Toshi's scandalized expression and whispered, "What? It's good."

"Without ill effect?" pressed Katzen, recovering quickly.

"Without any visible effect at all, sir."

"Tell us about the incident with Cadet Graylind."

Without a doubt, it was a very silly situation, but Avocato, who felt a little indirectly responsible, was determined to see justice done.

It had started at the harvest festival in Vel Pitten and the ado in the spice market. Lev Raion's generous contract allowed Pipar to buy a strip of land he'd had his eye on for a long time. It was perfect for a brace of spark peppers, which required dryer conditions than his fields could offer, and Pipar had wasted no time getting the new orchard established. The first crop from the young trees had been small, just enough for the family to use, and so Nikos received the tin of fiery, red-orange powder.

It was a well-timed gift. Ventrex City was in the midst of a bitter, windy, snowy winter that left Nikos perfectly miserable, always freezing, and depressed. Avocato was starting to get genuinely worried about him, but this little bit of home was like a ray of sunshine. Nikos put the spice on and in almost everything he ate, which improved his appetite just at the onset of a growth spurt. Despite the pepper's ability to clear the sinuses of anyone who smelled it, anything that got more food into that scrawny frame was welcomed by his little circle of friends.

Kedi, whose tolerance for hot spices was almost non-existent, refused to taste the pepper after one long-distance whiff and watching Avocato suffer for his inquisitiveness. FannFee had added a few grains to her soup, but couldn't bring herself to taste it once the steam rising up burned her eyes. For once, their antics had kept Nikos entertained, not the other way around, as he gleefully sprinkled the pepper on almost every meal. They were soon used to the smell but not the effects, but it was worth a runny nose and watery eyes to see him so amused.

Enter Graylind.

Graylind was, in Avocato's opinion, his own special case. A deeply contemptible case. His bloodline was so diluted by time and distance from the nobility that Gray as an actual house was virtually non-existent, and they clung to the title and naming conventions of the nobility purely out of habit and hope. There was nothing wrong with that, but . . .

An opportunist with no real accomplishments of his own, Graylind was the sort who tried to bask in the glow of others and pretend he had contributed, always trying to stand close and be seen with others who had high-ranking titles or more wealth. When Avocato's heritage had become widely known at the academy, Graylind was first in line trying to work his way into Avocato's good graces. He even had the audacity to suggest they should room together the next year – right in front of Nikos, no less - and he spoke as if Avocato had invited him to the Cato estate in Alfitrix even though Avocato wouldn't allow him to set a foot into his glorified closet of a dorm room.

Because like so many other minor nobles turned cadets, Graylind looked down on Nikos and held himself to be superior even though he was in the bottom third of their class and Nikos was at the very top. Why Graylind or anyone else thought Avocato would prefer their pompous entitlement to Nikos' genuine friendship, Avocato could not understand. Avocato had shut Graylind down at every turn, ignored all overtures, invitations, and requests to spend time together. He refused to tutor Graylind in Galactic Standard, rightly arguing he had his fair share of students to teach already and there were other tutors with more time.

"You've taken on Yanako since last week, and she wasn't your student at the start of the year!" argued Graylind after Avocato turned down his application.

He was helping Yanako review to test out of Galactic Standard at the request of Professor Poledat. But the fact that Graylind knew his tutoring schedule was disturbing.

"Are you stalking me, Graylind?"

That exchange, with plenty of witnesses, seemed to have finally driven him off. Since efforts to ingratiate himself to the king's cousin failed, Graylind had turned his attentions on Stergar and Kitner. They didn't mind having someone to fawn over their family titles, and Graylind was tolerated in their circle and at their table like some sort of pet they wouldn't hesitate to abandon.

At the evening meal two weeks prior to the inquiry, Graylind had spotted Nikos, the first to be seated at their usual table, put a pinch of the spice onto his food. For no other reason than to cause grief, impress his new circle, and strike back at Avocato for rebuffing attempts at friendship, he circled around behind his fellow cadet and snatched up the tin.

Avocato and Felice arrived with their trays of food just as Nikos stood.

"Graylind, kindly return that," said Nikos, his annoyance hidden by a bland mask. Graylind was easily half again his size and half his speed.

"What is it?" asked Graylind, doing a very bad imitation of Nikos' accent.

"My property. Give it back."

"What did he take?" asked Avocato quietly. He glanced at Toshi, walking with Kedi, and nodded. Recognizing trouble was brewing, Toshi set his food down and hurried to fetch one of the monitors.

"What my mother sent me," Nikos replied.

Avocato rolled his eyes and shook his head at such bratty, bullying behavior. "You're a second-year cadet, Graylind, not a child. Give him back the tin before you make a complete ass out of yourself."

"Again," finished Kedi.

"Avocato to the rescue," Graylind smirked, opening the lid. "You two should just get married. What is this?"

"Poison," said Felice dryly. "Don't eat it."

"Or do," invited Kedi with a smile, taking a seat.

"He's eating it," Graylind snapped, gesturing at Nikos. "He put some on his food."

"He has a name," Avocato replied. "And just because Nikos is eating it doesn't mean you can."

"Now who's a child?" taunted Graylind, smugness itself. "Won't you share your mama's present, Nikos?"

Nikos shook his head. "Not that and not with you."

"Oh, your cheap peasant food might upset my tummy?"

Nikos' voice was perfectly flat. "You have no idea."

"All joking aside, Graylind, do not eat that," cautioned Avocato, stepping forward.

Graylind stepped back and out of range, clearly thinking their warnings were a ploy and knowing what action would annoy them the most. "What if I do?"

"I'll laugh," volunteered Kedi.

"There is this thing called theft," said Avocato, "and you have a lot of witnesses."

"This?" Graylind lifted the tin and barked a laugh. "I could just eat the evidence."

"No, you couldn't," said Felice under his breath.

Hoping for the worst, Kedi elbowed him. "Shh."

"Don't!" was Nikos' final reproof, growled through clenched teeth.

"Ha! Watch me!"

Avocato grimaced, Nikos smirked, Kedi settled back to enjoy dinner and a show, and Felice groaned as Graylind dumped most of the fine powder into his palm and clapped it in his mouth.

Smiling, he chewed and worked it around his mouth, finally swallowing what had to be an uncomfortably dry mouthful that must have coated his whole mouth and tongue. They waited, speechless, eyes wide as Graylind's self-satisfied expression turned to one of horror as the hottest peppers on the planet lit up his mouth.

"Powdered spark peppers," Nikos said in the brief silence that followed. "Because it takes only one spark to ignite an inferno."

Graylind staggered back, dropping the tin and spilling almost all of the remaining pepper to the floor. Nikos cursed and scooped up what was left. Graylind sucked in a mouthful of air, getting the powder down his throat as he lunged for the nearest glass of water.

"Don't drink . . . water," Nikos finished as Graylind finished one glass, then another he snatched from FannFee's tray as she joined them for dinner. The orange-and-white cadet was panting and whining and desperately trying to fan his mouth. Avocato was surprised steam wasn't shooting from his ears. Instinctively, Graylind wiped his nose and eyes with his hand – the same hand he'd used to touch the pepper. The results were instantaneous and loud. Avocato rushed forward to help, only to have Kitner shove him away with a vicious snarl. Nikos pulled Avocato to the side as Toshi and the monitor arrived, drawn by the ruckus that was rapidly spiraling down to a panic.

It was a mess. All eyes were on Graylind as he was hauled off to medical, screaming and hyperventilating and leaking from every orifice. Kitner and Chausette cast murderous glares at Nikos and Avocato before they hurried after their obnoxious pet. Kedi was true to his word and had a long, hearty laugh.

Nikos sighed, looking at the wasted spice at his feet. Avocato pressed him in a one-armed hug, saying, "Go eat. I'll clean this up."

Another sigh. "You know there's going to be fallout, Cato."

"You're damned right there is."

"Cadet Graylind made no mention of anyone warning him not to eat the powder," said Katzen after briefly consulting the rest of the committee. "He ended up spending three days in medical to recover."

Avocato steeled himself to keep from smiling. Word had it that Nikos' cheap peasant food had done quite a number on Graylind 's tummy, not to mention the rest of his innards. "I can't answer for Cadet Graylind's lapse of memory, sir. I assure you, Cadets Nikos, Felice, and I repeatedly told him not to eat the powder, though why he would consume an unknown substance is concerning."

It was also proof Graylind was as complete an idiot as they suspected. Cadet Muser, who had been in medical for treatment of an ear infection, had witnessed the dressing down Dr. Chausie had delivered to Graylind for randomly tasting things. Muser had, of course, reported immediately to Avocato before repeating the story to anyone who would listen – which was everyone.

"Cadet Graylind further asserts he was tricked into eating it."

"Certainly not by us. Our warnings were genuine, sir. All we wanted was the recovery of Cadet Nikos' property intact, which didn't happen. Most of the pepper was spilled by Cadet Graylind when he started flailing."

"Thank you, Cadet Avocato. You may resume your seat. If there are no further questions or statements, the committee will withdraw to deliberate these findings."

He returned to his chair between Kedi and Felice, keeping his expression neutral. He did not want to give the opposing team anything to work with. They had all seen what happened, and they all knew he had told the truth despite the few digs at Graylind. There was no denying Graylind had started things for absolutely no reason other than to make trouble for Nikos and to show off. Avocato was grateful he'd been given a chance to finish the affair. Perhaps now Graylind would leave them alone.

The deliberations didn't take very long. They stood respectfully as the student committee returned. Nikos and Graylind were called to remain standing as the rest were allowed to sit. Katzen stood before them with a padd in his paws, serious as any judge as he spoke.

"Cadet Graylind, your accusation of assault resulting in bodily harm is being dismissed as unfounded. The committee has concluded that any harm that befell you was a result of your own conduct, and therefore self-inflicted. Also, you took personal property belonging to Cadet Nikos without permission, refused to return it when asked, and rendered most of the spice inedible by dumping it on the floor." Katzen's anger was evident through every stern word. "This is theft, Cadet Graylind, and destruction of personal property. Cadet Cho-Cho researched the spice you spoiled. Suffice to say, smoked spark pepper powder, if it can be located for sale, is very rare and valuable." He lifted the nearly-empty tin. "Full, this one small container would be valued at over three hundred koron."

Katzen let that sink in as he handed the tin back to Nikos. Given the small size and minor status of House Gray, three hundred koron was probably more than Graylind's annual allowance for personal expenses. Graylind shifted uneasily, and no one needed to look to see Lady Grayce's smoldering glare grow stronger; they could feel it. Not only was her brother an idiot and a thief, but he was an expensive idiot and thief.

"This is not the conduct of a Ventrexian officer. Your actions are in direct violation of the Ventrexian Royal Military Academy's code of conduct, a code you swore an oath to abide by and uphold. It will fall to the administrators to finalize your punishment. This committee can only recommend penalties, and they are as follows: this conduct will be noted on your permanent file, there will be a mark on your record affecting class ranking and promotions for the next five years, and you will either replace or reimburse Cadet Nikos the full value of the property you destroyed. You will submit a written apology to Cadet Nikos, to be reviewed by Colonel Cataloupe, before the end of the week. You will retake the first-year class on ethics and comportment and must finish within the top 10% of the class. Any retaliation against Cadet Nikos by you or on your behalf will result in the dismissal of the offender or offenders." Katzen tapped the padd in his hand, forwarding the message to Commodore Leoni. "These recommendations are thus forwarded to the academy's chief administrator. You'll be notified once she has made her decision. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," muttered Graylind.

"I can't hear you, Cadet."

"Yes, sir!"

They left Graylind and his friends to face the wrath of Lady Grayce, forming a tight little circle around Nikos as they walked through the cold to their dormitory. It was Kedi who finally voiced what they were all thinking:

"This isn't the end of it."

"It's too much to hope he'll gain some sense and drop it," said Toshi.

Nikos shook his head. "He's been shamed. He won't let it rest."

"Or his so-called friends won't," said Felice.

Avocato nodded. "We'll just have to be careful."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

A week or so later, Nikos sighed as he sprinkled the last of the salvaged spark pepper onto his dinner, having made it stretch as far as he could. Unsurprisingly, neither Graylind nor Lady Grayce had any success in finding replacement spice. Lady Grayce had even gone so far as to contact Nikos' parents with an offer to buy more, but their small stock of the pepper had already been used or sold, and none of their neighbors had smoked their crop of peppers.

"Well, at least you're richer the price of the original spice," offered Felice.

Caught wallowing, Nikos sat up straight and began cutting his meat. He gave a little shrug. "No. I sent it to my parents. It didn't seem right to keep the cost of a gift."

"Don't despair, Nikos," said Avocato with a fond smile. "That wasn't the only smoked spark pepper powder on this continent." He leaned over and set a tin next to the one on Nikos' tray. It was identical in shape and size to the original. Then he sat back to watch.

Nikos gaped, his blue eyes wide with recognition. Delighted into speechlessness, he cast a quick look at Avocato before carefully opening the container. It was almost full of the same bright red spice as Graylind had dumped on the floor. Nikos touched his finger to it to taste, and he stammered out,

"Wh-where did you get this?"

He could not help but grin at Nikos' reaction. "Your parents sent some to my lord father the same time they sent yours."

"But this was for-"

Avocato raised his hand to stay any arguments. "He and the chefs are still working their way through the spices I sent this summer. They won't miss one tin of pepper. Besides, it's probably too hot for even him. I told him what happened, and he was happy to send it to you."

"I'll write him with my thanks," promised Nikos, positively aglow. "Thank you, Cato."

"The pleasure was mine," he assured quietly, meaning it.