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Topiara - Chapter 4
"You mean to tell me that you've never seen racing?" Karlo was incredulous. "What did you do up there for relaxation, anyway?"
Lyara was busy twisting her head from side to side, looking at all the booths and stalls of the summermeet, but she still was aware enough to have an answer at hand. "We used to race small sail-barks on the feastdays of Mah Myla, or have swimming races. One way or another, we were the ones to do the competing, not ponies or other animals."
"Did you place wagers?" Iliria was shyly counting out her meager allowance from Lyndon for a month's pay.
"I did, but only when I knew I was going to win the race," Lyara nodded, and Karlo sputtered his disbelief.
"It's a completely different game here, then, Lyara," he cautioned. "You'd better let me help you chose your pony to bet on, or you're going to lose every last piece of specie that you brought. Pony races are one of the few competitive events that I like to take part in. My father used to raise ponies for his overlord, so I learned what to look for in a racing pony."
"Oh yeah?" Iliria was unconvinced, and her tone was one closest to the intimidating aristocratic air that few outside that class could tolerate. "Enlighten us then, Karlo."
"Alright, smart-mouth," Karlo took Iliria's arm and half-led and half-dragged her to the corral fence where the ponies were kept prior to the race. Lyara hurried along to where they stood once she noticed that they had left her and listened carefully to Karlo's instructions that included such unfamiliar terms as "withers" and "gait". Karlo was indeed knowledgeable in the field of ponies and what it took to make one a good racer.
The sound of the horn cut into Karlo's instructions, making the trio of Guides hurry to the betting window to take advantage of the few minutes remaining before the racing would start. Karlo helped Lyara place her bets insofar as recommending which pony to choose in each race, while Iliria chose to follow her own counsel once in a while. All three of them held back enough specie, however, so as to be able to purchase a skin of warm ale and cool meat pastry to eat during the race. The horn sounded a second time, making them rush once again to find seats before the first heat.
For Lyara, the races seemed to speed by in a blur that nearly matched the blur of ponies. The attitude of the crowd was contagious, and she cheered her own choice and booed when another mount was far ahead. Between races, the three would sit with heads close together serious discussing the previous race and why one pony had won over the others. By the time had come for last race, the three had managed to win more than lose.
"I told you not to bet on Korby's Delight in the fourth, Iliria," Karlo chided as they stood in line to collect their winnings. "Jaran's Fleetwind is one of the fastest ponies in the racing scene. It's foolish to bet against him."
"I've seen Korby's Delight win so many times," Iliria defended herself boldly. "Besides, whatever made you think Dilan's Demon has anything worth betting on? Shivik's Victory is one of the best racers this year."
"Come on, you two," Lyara chided, laughing so had that she nearly dropped the thirty pieces of specie that had just been handed to her. "Get your specie and let's get back to the Hall. Or else I may start taking bets on you two!"
Amid much laughing and light arguing, Karlo and Iliria complied. Arm in arm, the trio began making their way back through the crowded summermeet field toward the gate back into the city.
"Iliria!" The shout startled Lyara, and Iliria turned only briefly to see who had called her before grabbing the sleeves of her companions and leading them onward.
"Who is it?" Karlo demanded, used to being the one making everyone hurry to keep up.
"Somebody I dont' want to talk to right now," Iliria answered with a worried glance over her shoulder. "Gods! Here they come. Can't we go any faster?"
"Iliria! Wait!"
Lyara glanced behind her to see two gentlemen in embroidered cloaks hurrying and elbowing their way through the crowds in their effort to catch up with Iliria. "They're aristocracy," she panted at her friend.
"So what?" was the breathless retort. "So am I and that's why they want to catch me. MOVE!"
The three Guides made the summermeet gate and broke into a run to disappear into the maze of streets that was Tandri. They ran until only two or three streets from the Guides-Hall, when they were certain they were not being followed closely. Karlo grabbed both girls' sleeves and pulled them to a panting halt.
"Alright," he managed once he again had his wind, "you'll have to tell this to Master Lyndon if you don't want me to. So who are they, and what do they want with you?"
Iliria looked at both of her friends and then slumped into a slow walk in the direction of the Hall. "Come on," she called over her shoulder, "I'll tell you, but let's get home."
Lyara and Karlo trotted up beside her. "Let's hear it," Karlo prompted in his brusque manner, making Lyara give him a scowl.
"How many of the aristocracy do you know in the Guides?" Iliria queried in response.
"None," Lyara answered quickly. "But what..."
"I wouldn't be here either if my father had had his wishes. I was engaged as an infant to this old ... old "freak" of a lord. When I was old enough to speak for myself, I begged him to release me from his promise. But no, he said, our families needed to be allied through the bloodlines."
"I thought that was done centuries ago, but not now." Karlo's tone had become much less intimidating and was now curious.
"In most families and clans, yes. But my father was of the old school. We had punishment drudges by the score to whip and tease as we pleased, could demand new clothes on a whim and get them in days - but had to live the dark side of the old traditions too. All of my sisters and I were betrothed at birth, my brothers too. My mother taught us girls to read in secret, because girls were not supposed to worry their heads about things, according to my father."
"Obviously you didn't do what your father wanted," Lyara nodded at Karlo to keep him quiet. "How did you get ..."
"Away? Escape?" Iliria's voice had changed, with a touch of desperation tinting her story. "My mother knew how unhappy I was with the man chosen as my future husband. But there was no way for her to change things except to get in touch with her uncle's best friend, who knew of a cousin of his who had become a Guide. She helped me plan my escape on my sixteenth birthday, and three days later I was on my way to Tandri instead of imprisoned for life in a husband's home."
"Oh," Karlo breathed and extended the word. "Now I understand. Those men chasing you are trying to bring you back to an arranged marriage?"
"I heard later that Father had had Mother put away in his residence way down South," Iliria continued as they walked into the Guides-Hall courtyard. "He used his influence to have Myral declared outlaw for kidnapping me, although Master Lyndon never forced me to go back to him. I thought that by now they would have given up on me. But then again, this is the first time I have been outside the Guides-Hall in over a year other than on Guides business."
"Iliria!" The call came as the three were about to push through the Hall's front door. At the front gate of the Hall stood the two aristocrats that had pursued them from the summermeet. "You've nothing to fear from us, dear. Just come on and we'll take you home."
"They act like soldiers and warriors who steal children on raids," Lyara hissed, remembering well the tone of voice that had been used on her during her capture; then she marvelled that such a memory had surfaced.
"Get away from me!" Iliria's voice was shrill and angry. "I'm old enough to choose my own future now. I'll stay here, thank you."
"Your father thinks otherwise," the old aristocrat spoke condescendingly. "After all, you were but a young girl of fifteen when you were spirited away..."
"I was sixteen! And I was three days from a marriage, so I was no young girl to not know better. And I ran, I wasn't kidnapped."
Lyndon pushed past Lyara and Karlo and moved to Iliria's side. "Are you having trouble again?"
"They tried to take me during the summermeet, Master," she began.
"They chased us all the way back here, Master," Karlo added excitedly.
"Have you nothing to add, Lyara?" Lyndon asked, his eyes focused on the aristocrats who cautiously stayed on the outside of the gate.
"It was as they said, Master," she replied, surprised that her opinion had been sought. "We would still be shopping the summermeet had they not called out to Iliria and frightened her."
Lyndon nodded, seeming to make a decision, and strode out to the gate pulling Iliria in tow. "Karlo, Lyara!" he called over his shoulder, "we will need witnesses. Could you join us, please?"
Lyara and Karlo trotted over and stood carefully out of the strangers' reach to listen carefully.
"Now," Lyndon pulled himself up to his full height and demanded proudly. "You had made an attempt to kidnap one of my cheteri Guides. The laws that govern the enlistment of any person in a trade Hall are very strict, as you well know. The candidate must be sixteen and of a mind capable of understanding promises made and contracts drawn. Iliria has entered a contract with me and my Hall that call for her to attend classes and work for me for the next two years at least. The classes she has already attended represent a sizeable amount of specie spent. Are you ready to face charges of theft and kidnap?"
"Do not be so quick to threaten charges of kidnap, Master Lyndon," the younger aristocrat retorted, and the older man pulled a folded and sealed sheath of papers from his cloak pocket.
"We have here sworn statements by this young girl's father that state that the Guide Mylar kidnapped her on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and brought her here against her will. It also alleges that you have retrained her thinking so that she believes herself to be here willingly."
"Indeed." Lyndon sounded neither impressed nor intimidated. "And is your master as ready to take his accusations to court as he is to simply steal his daughter?"
The two looked at each other. "Steal his daughter?"
"Iliria is now seventeen - an adult by any standards," Lyndon reminded them with cold precision. "By attempting to catch and remove her from anywhere unwillingly is definitely kidnapping - no matter who does it or why. If Yeldor is so convinced he is right, let him prove it in open court - with witnesses to the truth or falsehood of both sides of the story."
"Now wait a moment..."
"No, sir. I will not wait on this matter again. I have waited too long already to put an end to it." Lyndon shook his head fiercely. "Lyara, Karlo, I call you to witness formally that I demand a hearing to determine whether Iliria Shorbinger is in this Hall willingly, or a victim of kidnapping and mind-twisting."
The two aristocrats began backing away. "We will have to report this to our master..."
"Indeed," Lyndon agreed coldly, "If you do not, you will be impeding the due process of law and truth."
"I too demand a hearing on this," Iliria stated firmly. "I am of an age to decide my own fate, and I protest having to take care not to be taken like a Kauwlut takes their slaves. I am not a piece of property to be fought over."
The aristocrats were by now walking quickly in the opposite direction, and Lyndon turned his back on them. "Karlo, go quickly to the Hall of Justice and tell the clerk there of what you have seen and heard just now. Tell him that I am demanding a hearing on the matter, and wish to call both Iliria's mother and Mylar as witnesses for us. They will need to notify Lord Shrobinger of the proceedings being called, as I will have none of that responsibility. Lyara, you will need go with him to collaborate. We will have done with this matter now. Iliria, you will come to my office."
"Remember the young man who came for me just a few days after I got here?" Lyara's voice was soft in the enveloping darkness.
"Yes," Iliria's voice sounded tired.
"Well, you asked me who he was, remember? He was the son of my former master. He wanted me as his wife without my consent, just like your father wanted you sold to another man as wife. I never want to see him again either. Thought you should know that so you'll know too that I understand how you feel."
"At least you didn't need to escape like I did," Iliria remarked quietly. "I had to sneak away in the dark of night to get far enough away from my home."
"I did my share of escaping, Iliria." Lyara's heart beat faster with the dark memory of storm clouds and wind and a pitching boat. "And I had nobody to call on for help at the time."
Iliria was quiet for a long time, and Lyara thought that she might have fallen asleep; but then, "I guess we're both survivors, aren't we?"
"And this Hall is our way to freedom," Lyara agreed. "All we have to do is see through the hearing tomorrow, and you'll be free of your past too."
Lyara had never seen a Hall the size of the one in which the Tandri aristocracy decided their justice. The knots of people on both sides of the controversy seemed like only twos or threes in the vastness of the justice hall. At the front of the Hall sat the Justices in their red robes, each one sifting through the folder of papers that had been submitted by both sides of the issue.
In the middle of the room only a few paces in front of the Justices' table stood a low dais, where Karlo explained in a low voice to Lyara that the witnesses would give their stories. The low voices echoes off the stone walls that rose to high over their heads to a vaulted ceiling. Two hearths were blazing merrily and giving what little warmth they could to what would always be a room that was cold.
Iliria was looking ill at ease and hovering close to Master Lyndon, as if he were her only shelter from the glowering scowl of the man she had pointed out to her two friends as her father. A pair of figures approached from the back of the room, and Iliria gave a quiet cry, "Mother!" and sped toward the one in the swaying velvet skirts. Lyndon went to greet the other, a rail-thin man in the leathers of a Guide. "That must be Mylar," Karlo observed in a whisper to Lyara, who nodded agreement.
A clang of metal on stone called everyone's attention to the front of the room, where the middle Justice had risen from his seat. "All involved in the matter of Lord Shorbinger and his daughter Ilirian and Guides-Master Lyndon, draw forward to hear and be heard. All others should be about their business elsewhere until their matters are brought forward!" The formal words spoken, the Justice once again seated himself. "Lord Shorbinger, as the one summoned to this hearing, you are allowed the first and last word. Have you a statement?"
Lord Shorbinger strode to the dais and stepped up. Lyara shuddered at the thought that her friend had had such a cold man as a father, for he bestowed the angriest glare on Iliria and a contemptuous one on his wife before turning again to the Justices.
"I have lived my life under the older traditions that made Talandria great. I made arrangements to provide for all of my children for all of their lives even on their birthdate. You may well imagine how distraught and hurt I was when my middle daughter, Iliria, was stolen from me on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and sold into service with the Guides. I have tried to recover custody of her and fulfill oaths given on her birth, but the stubbornness of Master Lyndon has disallowed my even speaking to my daughter."
"He lies!" Iliria burst out, only to have Master Lyndon pull her back and quiet her.
"We will have a chance to speak later, cheteri," he cautioned her in a whisper. Iliria bowed her head and nodded, and Lyndon bowed to the Justices to signal her willingness to be still.
The Justices had clustered together at the girl's outburst, and it was a few moments before they signalled to Lord Shorbinger to continue.
"And now she has been in residence in the Guides-Hall for over a year. Who can tell how much mind-twisting has gone on so that she no longer wants to be returned to her family? I ask only that justice finally be done: confine the criminal Mylar for kidnap and my wife as conspirator, and return my daughter to my care and custody." He bowed to the Justices and descended from the dais.
"Master Lyndon, as plaintiff in this hearing, it falls to you to present your case and witness."
Lyndon mounted the dais and bowed to the Justices. "I would like to begin the presentation of our case by allowing the supposed victim speak for herself. I call Iliria Shorbinger."
Iliria walked slowly to the dais and stepped up. She looked up at the Justices shyly, then gathered her courage. "I was betrothed at birth to Lord Veldinars, a man generations older than I. I did not wish the betrothal when I reached the age of reason, and tried to convince my father to cancel the arrangements. When he did not, and made plans for my wedding day three days after my birthday, I knew I had to get away. My mother contacted a friend who knew Mylar, who then helped me escape the night after my birthday celebration.
"I was sixteen the night I left my home, and sixteen when I signed the contract with Master Lyndon and the Guides. My father, however, refuses to see that I am considered an adult. By his own words, he lives by the old traditions. To him, a woman is never an adult, merely property of first a father and then a husband. I am now seventeen and not a wife. I have no desire to be the wife of anyone. I have a year to serve on my contract with Master Lyndon, and I desire to be allowed to fulfill this promise without the threat of being abducted and forced into a marriage unwillingly. That is all."
The chief Justice bowed, signalling that Iliria could step down. "Master Lyndon?"
Lyndon again stepped up on the dias. "I would now ask the girl's mother to speak. Lady Valeria Shorbinger."
Lady Valeria was a fragile creature whose health had not been good for months. Lyndon needed to help her step upon the dais. "My daughter speaks the truth, and my husband lies. It is true I conspired to aid my daughter's escape. I contacted my uncle's friend, who put me in contact with Mylar. Iliria agreed that the Guides would be the one service of interest to her, and Mylar agreed to take her to Master Lyndon in Tandri. She left on the night of her sixteenth birthday celebration. My husband found out that I helped her get away, and has kept me locked in his residence in Daturu for a year. How he found out about Mylar, I have no way of knowing, but he swore out a warrant against him and has had him locked away in Tandri Prison. All the charges against him are false. Would that I had had the luck to escape when I was young."
Lord Shorbinger's growls and grumbles to his group were easily understandable as his wife required more assistance to get down from the dais. The Justices again clustered together to discuss, and then motioned for Lyndon to speak again. "I call now as witness my former associate Mylar."
Mylar, like Valeria before him, had become thin and frail-looking in the months of confinement, only he had not had the benefit of a tailor to make his overlarge clothing fit better. As a result, his clothes hung and swayed on his sparse frame. His movements were more like those of a stringed puppet than a man as he strode forward and mounted the dais.
"I was asked by my uncle to speak with the Lady Valeria Shorbinger and her daughter Iliria, with the possibility that I might guide the daughter to a safe place in a Service Hall. After a long discussion, it was decided that the Lady Iliria would ask admittance to the Guide's Service under Master Lyndon. I waited until after the Lady's birthday celebration, when she became legally an adult. That night, she slipped from her father's Hall, and I Guided her to Tandri. Three weeks thereafter, I was taken and locked in Tandri Prison as an accused kidnapper - but never given the benefit of a hearing."
The chief Justice scowled, and motioned for Mylar to step down. "Lord Shorbinger, you will step up, please."
Lord Shorbinger looked around, surprised by this breaking with the order of proceedings, but followed his instructions.
"Is it true that you swore out a complaint against Guide Mylar to have him locked in the Tandri Prison, and then never brought a hearing?"
"I have been trying to gain custody of my daughter, my Lords, after which it would be simple to prove that he was a kidnapper. But I could never speak to Iliria, much less have her brought home to me, so..."
"The law of Talandria states clearly that a hearing must be brought in a criminal accusation within six months. Mylar has been imprisoned four months longer than the law allows. He is hereby freed and cleared of all charges against him." The Justice looked at his colleagues, then back at Shorbinger. "If your conduct is not clarified immediately after plaintiff's case is presented, you will find yourself quite displeased by our findings." The Justice swept Shorbinger from the dais casually. "Lyndon, your next witness?"
"I myself must give witness," Lyndon stated, climbing the dais himself. "I received a guest in my Hall, one desiring to enter into my service. I inquired of my colleague, Mylar, who assured me he had seen enough proof to state that she was indeed over the sixteen-year mark and so needed no permission to enter into a contract. I signed her for a two-year service contract. I received a call from Lord Shorbinger some two months later, demanding that I surrender his daughter to the custody of his representatives immediately. This demand I refused. I saw these same representatives three more times over the space of six months, twice in the presence of Iliria. She refused to return with them to her father, and as an adult she had every right to do so. I thought the matter finished when four months had past without hearing from Shorbinger or his representatives.
"Then, during the summermeet, I encountered Iliria and two of her fellow Guides returning from the meet, claiming to have been chased by aristocratic representatives of Iliria's father. I saw myself these gentlemen at the gates of my Hall. They accused me of having mind-twisted her and kidnapping, flashing a complaint. I demanded a hearing in the presence of witnesses, standing there." Lyndon paused long enough to point out Lyara and Karlo, who each bowed to the Justices. "And that concludes the case of the plaintiff."
oOoOo
"Now you don't ever have to worry about having to leave us, or be taken away and married to some old man," Lyndon said as the five Guides found themselves squinting in the late evening sunlight outside the Hall of Justice.
"And I can go back to being a Guide," Mylar added happily. "You don't know how good the thought of a hard day's work sounds."
Iliria breathed a deep sigh. "I'm glad it's over. But I wish we had another day of summermeet to enjoy."
Lyara winced. "I can wait for another year for that kind of excitement."
Karlo merely grinned. "There's a pony race eight days from now, and Jaran's Fleetwind is sure to..."
"No, surely Dilan's Delight will be able to..."
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