So, in our last chapter, Gilan saw Steven kicking the crap out of Jenny, and he didn't take it too well. Oh yeah, there's something brewing in Skandia, but we'll throw that on the back burner for now. That can wait. Now we shall decide Steven's fate.
"Bring forth the prisoner." Baron Arald said, his voice carrying all the way to the back of the room. From the double doors at the end of the hall, four guards emerged, dragging the bandaged and groaning prisoner behind them.
When the party came to a stop in front of the Baron, his secretary, Martin, announced, "This is Steven Weston. He is accused with attacking a king's ranger, criminal threatening, and attempted murder."
The Baron nodded. "What does the prisoner have to say in his defense?"
Steven took a deep breath, than said, "My lord, this is a huge misunderstanding. I never attacked anyone!"
"Can you prove this?" The Baron said. He didn't believe the man before him was innocent at all. But he was prepared to at least listen to him.
"This is what happened." Steven began. "Five nights ago, I went over to the Inn where my girlfriend, Jenny, worked. She was not in the kitchen, so I went up to her room. I tried knocking, but all I heard was the a man's voice yelling and her crying. So I opened the door to find the tall ranger hitting her. I tried to make him stop, but he pulled out a knife and cut her." The anxiety mounted in his voice. "Then, he attacked me! After that, the second, shorter ranger tied me up and got the guard. They accused me of it, but I'm innocent!"
The Baron looked shocked. That didn't sound right at all. "Is there any witnesses present?" The Baron asked.
"There is, my lord." Martin said. "Will Rafe Gallman come forward?"
Rafe got up and approached the Baron. He stood in front the Baron nervously.
"What do you know of this case?" The Baron asked.
Rafe cleared his throat, then said, "You honor, I've been seein' Steven hanging around Mistress Jenny for a while now. She just seemed different ever since then. She was more quiet, and often had bruises. Steven always seemed bad-tempered, 'specially when he'd drink. 'Bout five nights ago, sir, he came over, wantin' to talk to her. So they went up to her room. About an hour later, the two rangers came a runnin' in and up the stairs, without a word. It was mighty busy that night, so I didn't have the time to follow. Fifteen minutes later, Ranger Will came down, sayin' the Mistress was hurt, and needed a healer. So I sent someone up to the castle to go fetch one, and went up to see her. When I got up there, Steven was all tied up, and the Ranger Gilan was bandaging a cut on Mistress Jenny's midriff. It was bleeding something fierce. I could tell it was bad. I asked what happened to her, and they said it was him that did it." He gestured towards Steven. "Well, I believed 'em, because they're rangers and whatnot." he finished abruptly.
The Baron nodded. "Is young Jennifer here?" he asked.
Then Jim stood up. "No, my lord. She isn't." The Baron waved him forward. The muscular healer approached with confidence, while Rafe quietly went back to his seat. "Unfortunately, she is still unfit to move. When I first saw her, she was basically how Rafe described her. She was nearly unconsious. I treated her immediate wounds. However, when I examined her closer, it became apparent that she has been enduring substanial abuse for some time."
"What do you mean?" Arald asked.
"She had older, healing bruises, along with more recent ones. I believe she has been abused for about two and a half months now, my lord." Jim said.
"I haven't ever hurt her!" Steven called out. One of the guards hit him on the back of his head.
The Baron considered for a moment. Then he came to a decision. "I find him guilty."
Martin then announced in a carrying voice, "The prisoner, Steven Weston, has been found guilty on all charges. The Baron will now decide his punishment."
The Baron frowned. What would be a good punishment? He certainly wouldn't imprison him. He didn't want him getting out. Death, however, seemed a little extreme. Banishment, however, that could work. Baron Arald stood and said, "I hereby banish him from the fiefdom of Redmont. He is never to return or try to make any contact with anyone or anything in this fiefdom on the pain of death. His banishment shall be for life."
"That is the Baron's sentence. The prisoner will be escorted to the fiefs boundaries." Martin announced.
The Baron nodded to himself. Halt, Will, and Gilan would be pleased to hear it.
"Well, they were a nasty lot." Gilan said. Blaze whinnied in response. Gilan had just finished chasing down a band of outlaws. They had been travelling around, stealing food and other goods, harassing people and generally making a nuisance out of themselves. Gilan was tipped off by a trader that they were going to be making their way down to Redmont. So Gilan got a group of soldiers together and chased them down. They weren't very difficult to deal with. It was mainly the smell that bothered him. "I do believe I need a bath."
After scrubbing the smell of bad fruit and sweat from himself, Gilan decided to go check up on the castle. Steven's trial was supposed to have taken place earlier today. It should be over by now.
Gilan walked up the stairs leading to the Baron's office and nearly walked into Lady Pauline. "Oh, excuse me, my lady." GIlan exclaimed.
Lady Pauline waved aside his apologies. "What brings you here?" she asked.
"Oh, I just thought I'd check in with a certain case." Gilan said.
"The one involving young Jenny, perhaps?" she inquired.
"Perhaps." Gilan said breezily. "I just am wondering how it turned out, is all.:
Lady Pauline nodded. "It was a fairly short trial."
"You were there?" Gilan asked, no longer pretending to not be interested.
Pauline nodded. "Baron Arald decided to have him banished."
Gilan nodded. "Sounds like he got off easily."
Pauline shook her head. "Not really. I don't think he'll find it too easy to get started again."
Gilan shrugged. "I guess so. I suppose I should be going, then." He bowed and walked away. Now that he thought about it, death did seem a little harsh. But only a little.