The great bandit Trial, part 4

Writers: Eimi, Estelle, Paula
Date Posted: 4th June 2019
Series: The Great Bandit Trial

Characters: Corowal, Zandan, Tasni, Jihan, Hakob, Neliar, Terren, Tedek
Description: The great bandit trial is finally being held and the sentance given.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 22 of Turn 9
Notes: Part 4 of 4

"Let's stick to the facts and leave off the speculations," Corowal warned.
"Although, if he really is that idiot, he has no business Holding,
since he would be obviously incompetent," Corowal wanted her to know
she was dealing with double edged sword. If she managed to clear
Terren based on mental incapacity, he was going to lose his cothold
anyways, because Corowal couldn't afford having incompetent
cotholders. That would not even require a trial. Corowal had the power
of simply ending his contract.

It's not my intention to cast doubt on Holder Terren's competence, my
Lord," Tasni replied hastily. It would do Terren's family little good if
she got him off, only to have him lose his holding. "And may I remind
the court that we only have the word of a thief that the facts were so
obvious. On that subject, I just have one more question for Tedek." She
turned to the witness, her voice deceptively mild. "May I ask, for what
reason were you made Holdless?"

The man shifted uncomfortably, perhaps remembering the last time he'd
been in such surroundings. "I was accused of stealing."

"You weren't just accused, though, were you? You were convicted of
stealing runnerbeasts." She held up the records of the trial. It had
taken her most of the day in the Hold's archives to find them, but she'd
had a feeling this wouldn't be Tedek's first time in court. "You lied
about that to the Lord Holder at the time. Who's to say you're not lying
now, to get a lighter punishment for your crimes by making others look
worse?"

"I'm telling the truth," Tedek said stubbornly, answering the same as he
had to Harper Neliar. It wasn't any more convincing the second time
around, and Tasni sat down again, satisfied that she'd done the best she
could to discredit him.

"And may I remind the court, sir," Jihan said in his firmest tone yet,
"that Holder Tedek has provided evidence that lead to the recovery of
stolen goods and the capture of those on trial today. No information,
from the location of the Holder Terren's farm to the buried
message box that has already been submitted into evidence, has yet
been proven false or over exaggerated."

"Your objections have been noted. If there's no further questions to
this witness, let's move on," Corowal said firmly. As entertaining it
was, he didn't want to spend whole day on it.

"I have no further questions," Neliar said.

"Nor do I," Tasni confirmed. It was a pity that Jihan had managed to get
the last word, but she sensed the Lord Holder had heard enough and
didn't want to push her luck.

"Nothing further my Lord," Jihan said and sat down straight backed in
his seat. He had done his best for the Hold. Now it was up to Lord
Corowal to make his decision.

Corowal ordered a break, since this had taken a whole morning. Kitchen
staff served something to eat and drink while Corowal withdrew to his
office to ponder over the evidence and witness-statements.

After Corowal returned, he started with a speech, where he stressed
the right of people of Emerald Falls Hold to feel themselves safe and
how bunch of holdless in the wilderness around the Hold did not help
in that. So turning people Holdless was not the right solution.
Then he called Adrik, Arvidon, Deeton, Gasvia, Podick and
Zurui to hear their sentence. Zandan and his staff dragged them to
stand in front of Corowal when he declared their sentence. They all
got around ten Turns of forced labour in mines of Black Rock Hold.
"And once you have served your sentence, your dept to the society is
paid and you are again free men and woman, and residents of this
Hold." What he didn't say, was that they were very unlikely to survive
the ten Turns in those mines. They were brutal place. Not to mention
it was almost impossible to find a job as a former convict.

There was some applause and even cheering from the audience, especially
from the traders and riverboat crew who had been their victims. No-one
in the court had much sympathy for holdless bandits, especially those
who had been daring enough to steal the Hold's tithe.

Next Terren was called to hear his sentence. Again, Corowal had a
little speech about honesty and integrity that was needed to run a
successful Cothold. "Whether or not Terren was dealing knowingly with
the bandits or not, in either case, he's not fit to Hold in Emerald
Falls Hold and therefor his rights as a cotholder are forfeit. Since
he has no full grown heir to take over from him, the lands will return
under the Hold's ownership and his family is asked to move out within
next two months. For aiding holdless criminals and hiding stolen
goods, he's sentenced to forced labour in mines for six months."

"But I didn't do anything!" Terren protested, struggling as the guards
led him away. "It's not fair!"

Tasni watched him go, thinking that she'd got exactly the result that
Master Jayala had asked for. The cotholder had received a just
punishment for his crimes, but not too harsh; the Lord Holder might have
given him ten Turns with the other bandits. Still, she couldn't shake
the depressing sense that she'd let down Lirena and her children. She
could see them sitting in the crowd, the boy staring at them in shock
and disbelief, the mother with her arm around his shoulder, trying to
comfort him. Unlike Terren, they hadn't done anything wrong and yet they
would lose their home.

Last updated on the June 24th 2019

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The great bandit Trial, part 4