The trial took place the following morning, in the home of Master Calister. Ruby didn't sleep, her anxiety refused to let her eyes shut, she didn't even have it in her to feed as she walked like a ghost to the gallows.
Attached to his living quarters, Calister's home also had an audience room that was large and ornate with a vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows and immaculate wooden floors. Her visits with the village chief had all been so informal, but there was nothing informal about the proceedings that were being held to determine her fate in the village.
Ruby herself was perched on a soft woven mat on the floor. As the defendant, she was situated in the middle and had to stay seated the whole time. Likewise, her accuser, Lady Endell, was sitting beside her, though the elder vampire held herself with much more confidence. No slouched shoulders or eyes looking nervously at the ground like her adversary.
Around the two who sat awaiting judgement were their supporters, standing around them like pillars. At no point in the proceedings could the witnesses or agents be allowed to sit. At the center of it all, presiding over the whole ordeal was Master Callister, the clan chief sat on a raised platform in judgement over the arbitration.
The man looked tired, so much so that Ruby felt a pang of worry for him amidst her own inner turmoil. I didn't mean to cause him so much trouble after he's been so kind to me.
Her fists balled in her lap and cursed the memory replaying over and over in her mind of the moments that led them all here. A simple gesture, baring her fangs, could cost her everything she worked for. If it just ended there, it might not have felt so deeply painful.
It wasn't just her that got caught up in this mess though.
Her own pillars, those who chose to defend her stood silent around her. There were three testifying her innocence; her caretaker and aunt, Raven, who was stoic yet her crossed arms and tense posture betrayed her fretful feelings. Her mentor, Cerbus, smelled like oak and cedar and whose face was covered by his mask, making discerning his feelings all but impossible. Finally the acolyte Alan who looked somehow even more scared than she did.
On the opposing side, Endell had twice as many supporters. Some of whom weren't even present during the conflict. Almost all elders within the clan, though some were younger too. Ruby recognized one of them as a man who was on the roof with her and refused to help her.
In terms of raw social firepower… I'm at a severe disadvantage. Raven is a black sheep herself, Alan isn't even a vampire and Cerbus, I don't know enough about him to say but I've got a feeling I'm badly outgunned here.
The only saving grace she really has was the partiality of the village chief. Yet, she knew he was a fair leader and wouldn't let that easily sway him.
Besides, there's more politics going on here than I realized. Endell basically admitted she could put pressure on Master Calister if she wanted. I've put him in a really bad position. All she could do was close her eyes and send a silent apology to Mater Calister for all the trouble she kept causing everyone.
"With the gathering of all relevant parties, the arbitration is ready to commence. Are the accused and accuser ready to make their cases?" Even though exhaustion was clear in his eyes, his voice didn't waver even for a moment. Ruby was in awe of how effortlessly he could command a room's attention when she struggled just to speak up for herself.
The room fell silent and another elder vampire on Endell's side spoke up first. He was a man with pale brown hair, deep crimson eyes and wearing ornate robes that showed off his status with definite intention to intimidate via rank.
"Yes, Master Calister," The elder, Neildin, approached the chief and never once broke eye contact nor his cocksure grin. "Lady Endell asserts her obvious innocence and is seeking retribution against the aggressor, Ruby Rose, in the form of banishment. This request is in line with long held standards of punishment as known since the founding of our village for which Lady Endell herself was present."
Yikes, he really threw that in there right at the end? Is he trying to scare me? She clenched her fists and dared not glance over at her accuser. The intimidation tactic was indeed working as intended.
Callister raised his hand and Neildin gave a halfhearted bow and returned to his place by Endell's side. None dare speak up out of turn, Callister still commanded huge respect and to violate the proceedings with chatter and gloating would certainly look bad for her case and even her supporters might withdraw if she did such a thing.
Next, it was Ruby's representative's turn to speak. Raven, her mentor and guardian in the village and the only biological family she had in the place. Unlike her elder counterparts, Raven was roiling with barely held back contempt and dared to glare daggers at the accusers as she approached to make her plea.
Ruby hadn't been allowed in on exactly what defense strategy her legal team would use. Whatever it was, she could only hope it was tactful, well planned out and iron clad. Her fate was on the line. All she could do was hold her breath and listen.
"I request this trial be delayed."
That seemed to catch almost everyone off guard. None more so than Ruby who had to do a double take. Cerberus didn't seem surprised, but the elders, Alan and even Master Calister balked at the sudden request.
"What is the meaning of this!? What game are you playing?!" Neildin lost his composure and by the looks of it, Endell was about to lose it too.
Ruby held her tongue. My stupid mouth has gotten me in enough trouble.
Callister raised his hand and deftly regained control of the room. "Elaborate, Raven."
A soft, nearly imperceptible sigh escaped her lungs and Raven steeled herself before stepping forward. "The mercenaries are coming. They are powerful and they are after Ruby. We are at the threshold of war and as such, it is not time for such domestic discourse. The attackers won't wait for us to finish with the deliberation or arguments before they invade our village."
Silver-stained crimson eyes widened and her lips parted ever so softly. Ruby knew of the coming attackers, but the way Raven spoke about it never felt like such a looming disaster. Her tune changed. Is it a tactic to protect me… or does she know something I don't?
The vibe in the room changed. Raven's visions had proven themselves reliable enough to warrant consideration, even from her detractors. The elders whispered amongst themselves and Lady Endel was forced to keep her silence even though it was clearly killing her on the inside.
Calister seemed to think it wise to let the elders finish their hushed deliberation before making a judgement. His chin came to rest against his fist and he leaned back, somehow managing to look comfortable and commanding at the same time.
"Master Callister, this is ridiculous," The hushed whispers finally came to some sort of conclusion. "Even if we assume she's correct, simply handing over the halfling would spare any needless fighting. Further, if they do seek to fight, there's no way they could hold their own against our entire village. No matter how strong they are, there's only two of them if her visions are to be believed."
Ruby had been through enough bad situations to know the difference between confidence and overestimation. If Lady Raven is scared, this definitely feels like the latter.
"As long as she is recognized as one of our own, it would break all tradition and the very foundation of this clan to simply hand Ruby over." Raven spoke not to Calister, not even to elder Neildin… no, she spoke while looking right into Lady Endell's eyes.
Endell was a proud vampire, an ancient one. Tradition meant everything to her, that much was certain. In which case, Raven's tactic was brilliant and judging by the look of disgust and disdain in Endell's eyes, a nerve was certainly struck. None could deny that Ruby was, in fact, part of the clan.
'I have a mentor, I have a home, I'm an apprentice carpenter, I had my skin ceremony, I've made friends and my biological family is here. By all criteria that matters, this is my home now. If I was an outsider, all it would take to get rid of me is a word from someone like Lady Endell. Instead we're doing a trial, that by itself means I've got a real claim to this place and I can't be thrown out easily.' In Ruby's heart, fear and vindication melded together into an uneasy sensation. As a smile pulled at her lips, she couldn't stop her hands from shaking.
Everything she did, all the hard work she put in to stay… 'It paid off. They have to acknowledge me, even as they're trying to get rid of me.'
"When do you foresee this attack coming?" The chief spoke coldly, but somehow Ruby felt as though there was some hint of relief in his voice.
"The mercenaries will arrive tomorrow, late in the morning."
The Mercenaries were coming. Ruby recalled her own journey to get to the village; the bus, then train then the hike through the dense forest. If they were arriving tomorrow then they were already on the last leg of that trek.
"Master Calister, we implore you not to fall for this tactic, it's clearly-"
The Chief silenced dissent with a mere rise of his hand. Then, his eyes closed softly and the room was so dead silent that Ruby could hear every single heartbeat in the trial. Raven walked quietly back to Ruby's side and as well, closed her eyes. Ruby knew this wasn't out of deep thought like Calister, but rather anticipation and worry that she couldn't handle quietly any other way.
Ruby couldn't shut her eyes, she couldn't blink or look away. She fixated, staring at the man who she had come to respect so much, as he decided her fate.
Minutes passed, she couldn't be sure how many but every second felt painfully dragged out. Shoulder muscles ached with the strain of tension within herself and around her.
"A single day is not long enough to ascertain the truth nor deliberate on a proper punishment if one is to be given at all. The trial will be postponed."
All at once, every single muscle in Ruby's body felt like they turned to jelly. She could hardly keep herself upright anymore. A strong hand came down and rested on her shoulder, steadying her. She expected it to be Lady Raven's but instead, she found Cerbus' rough, calloused fingers holding her up like she were a cracked piece of spruce.
"This is unacceptable!"
All eyes turned to a shrill voice burning with indignation. Lady Endell had finally had enough.
"You expect us to risk our lives and our safety for this outsider halfling who merely just joined us? No, certainly I will not protect her and risk true vampire blood being spilled." She made not one effort to hide the deep scorn in her words.
All around her, the other elders were confirming her stance and lobbying their objections in an uproar.
Ruby wasn't the most politically away, it was a weakness of hers. Even so… I can tell this is a really bad move for his position.
"SILENCE!" His voice boomed, rumbling the deepest part of her blood. She felt every vessel in her body quake with reverence and fear and Ruby instinctively bowed her head.
Everyone else did the same. Even Lady Endell. This was the authority of the Chief of Vampires. Endell and the elders may have had political sway and schemes, but Calister was the ultimate power in this village, and as gentle as he could be, it was wise to never forget that.
He took a deep breath to regather himself and leaned back in his seat and looked down, not at Endell, nor Raven, but at Ruby herself.
"As the accused is currently having her fate deliberated and her future tenuous, I will not send others to die in her stead. As Chief of this village, I declare she will have to fight these invaders without the support or protection of the clan."
It was a compromise. A necessary one. Ruby knew that. He had to preserve his authority somehow or the clan would descend into chaos and infighting. She didn't want that. Her love for this village had grown since the day she arrived. In the end, this is what's best for everyone. If I'm taken, Alan, Lady Raven, Master Cerbus and Master Calister and everyone else can have peace. Was- was it selfish of me to believe I could have a home here?
She tried to convince herself she understood. She tried to tell herself it was okay.
But I can't stop crying. Hot tears stung her eyes and distorted her vision. She felt so small and alone. Still, she didn't make a sound. She wasn't supposed to talk while seated before the chief during an arbitration.
Endell and the others were pleased enough with the outcome, snickering and affirming the chief's good judgement.
"That said," Master Callister continued, still never breaking his gaze from the silently sobbing halfling on the floor before him. "As she is part of our clan until otherwise stripped of that right through arbitration, her act of fighting alone will be considered heroic and for the greater good. If she wins… she will earn a full pardon, as only fitting for one who serves above and beyond for our clan."
He smiled. She could barely see it through the tears, but he was smiling at her. He didn't want her gone. He wasn't just strong, he was clever. He was plotting his own outcome while the elders were plotting theirs.
"As her guardian, I wish to be allowed to fight alongside her! Should she fail with my aid, I will share in her punishment and be banished with her." Raven threw her fate into the fray.
Calister gave a simple nod in approval. The elders never liked Lady Raven, the prospect of being rid of her was enticing enough to gain their agreement.
Her stay of execution had been granted. Her fate had been placed in her own hands and she had a chance to fight, really fight, for her place in this village.
"Come, we must begin training immediately." The arbitration was dismissed and those gathered dispersed.
She was dragged by Lady Raven to fetch her mother's sword, the only weapon she had in this village. With it, she would defend herself, her aunt, and her future.
Mom, I hope you'll be with me. I could use all the strength I can get.