“You wish to confess,” Nokuji restated, motioning for silence.

  “Don't you think it’s a little too late for that?” Nokqotir asked, barely containing a mocking laugh.

  “No, I think it is the perfect time,” Kenneth confidently replied.

  “Very well, confess your crime, and see what mercy that provides you from the people,” she gestured to the jury.

  “My apologies, Lord Commander, I might have been a bit unclear,” Kenneth apologized, having everyone’s attention. “I will confess a crime of deceit, but not one I have committed, instead Nokthyst’s.”

  “ME!” She shouted. “You have some nerve, your—!”

  “So you deny having told any lies before the people of Aboroli in this trial.”

  Nokthyst's eyes narrowed predatorily. “I deny it.”

  “Well then, I will call a witness to testify, Nokkibai!”

  There were a few murmurs in the crowd as it took some time for the shy girl to come to the front of the jury silently, asking him with a gesture if it really was her he meant, to which he responded with a gesture of his own to come up here, which she did hesitantly, keeping her head down while changing colors.

  With everyone watching, Kenneth began.

  “Now, Nokkibai, it is true that, at least to my knowledge, you have no insight into what happened up top tonight; however, it isn’t this night I want to ask you about, but another on the very same day during the full moon where we had a conversation. Do you happen to remember it?”

  “Um… y-yes,” she managed to squeak out, the poor girl looking about to faint. “A-a-a… couple of months ago. No, sorry, I…”

  “It is alright, take your time,” Kenneth said, as comforting as he had that night.

  She looked at him for a moment, then closed her eyes and turned invisible, “Y-yes I re-rememeber… it was some time ago… b-but during a full moon.”

  “And would it be wrong to say it was two months ago, the one after your teacher Nokiolite left?”

  “Ye-yes…”

  “Now, only two more questions. Where did we meet and what remark did Nokiolite make up top?”

  “We meet… in…inside the wall and…”

  “Lord Obaliy, I object!” Nokthyst loudly said. “What does this even have to do with the trial, they talk about a night months ago!”

  Nokuji’s cold, predatory gaze shifted from Kenenth to her with the same firmness, “Judgment has not been cast yet, and Black Beak is within his right to call a witness, as you were within your right to testify.”

  “Now Nokkibai, please finish, and if you wouldn’t mind, say it loud enough for everyone to hear,” Kenenth gently asked.

  “S-she… the commander… my teacher… she… I can’t remember the words, but she… she didn’t like there wasn’t anyone… up top of the wall… or anywhere. But… but I remember you saying… they were down at the bottom… praying.”

  “And isn’t that the night you should have been on command?” Kenenth asked, looking to Nokthyst.

  There were some shocked looks going around, but mostly odd looks as Nokthyst was right, why had Kenneth brought up that night?

  “Lies!” she yelled, Nokqotir trying to calm her down to no avail. “Each and every word! It’s obvious you are doing what Black Beak tells you to! For what reason would you have been at the wall at that time and night?”

  “T-t-training,” Nokkabai studdered, hiding behind Kenneth. “The… the co-co-commander said that I-I-I couldn’t jo-join until, I d-d-did what she t-t-told me.”

  “Order!” Nokuji called for banging on the table. “Nokiolite is no longer here, so what proof is there that this conversation happened?”

  ‘So I’m the only one who needs to prove their witness testimony--”

  “Commander Noksafgro,” Nokkibai said meekly. “Commander Nokiolite s-sa-said, she wo-would t-tel him.”

  All eyes slowly shifted to him as the question on everyone’s minds became, had this conversation between Noksafgro and Nokiolite happened before she left, and more importantly, would he suddenly enter a rage?

  “What?” Noksafgro asked.

  Nokuji let out a sigh. “Noksafgro, did you have a conversation with Nokiolite before she disappeared?”

  Everyone waited with bated breath as Noksafgro opened his mouth to speak. “No, she said nothing.”

  Nokqotir shook her head as one would at a child, “Black Beak, you do seem to dig yourself a deeper and deeper hole, don’t--"

  “Wait!” Noksafgro loudly interrupted. “You meant the fat Zillo cook I’d like to climb on, right?”

  “No, that’s Nokandrite, we are talking about Nokiolite,” Kenneth corrected him. “The one who wears a skirt and turns invisible.”

  “Oh, her. She talked to me a bit ago, said something about how I should hit my underlings for not doing their duty, so I hit her.”

  In his mind, it made sense while everyone else just stopped dead in their tracks.

  “So Noksafgro has backed up that little lie, what exactly does it matter?” Nokthyst hissed.

  “It matters quite a bit,” Kenneth stepped right up to her and gestured to the jury and people. “I asked you if you had spoken any lies to the people of Aboroli, but this testimony of your prior shift calls that into question! You specifically stated you always watched for danger every other month, but that was a lie! You and everyone else knowingly slacked on your duties, and considering Noksafgro, didn’t set you all straight, I don’t have one doubt in my mind you’ve done it before, including this night too!”

  “I will not take such offence!” She shouted. “I bleed for the village, and I watched my sisters die fighting the heretics!”

  “And yet you don’t deny it. Perhaps if you had had a proper watch, no one needed to lose their lives,” he replied with sympathy and mellencollay in his voice, that seeped through as he wished he’d never enacted his plan to begin with.

  “I DENY IT!” Her voice boomed with explosive might like a bomb. “I protected everyone! Fought against the heretics that had armed themselves with your weapons! That’s why we lost so many!”

  “So I was robbed again! Maybe if you and the rest had spent less time--!"

  “That is enough,” Nokqotir said calmly, placing a hand on Nokthyst’s shoulder and stepping in front of her before the jury and crowd. “Yes, there is proof of wanting to pray two months past, but that does not mean it took place this time. And it is not she alone who would claim as such.”

  “Them and her,” Kenneth replied.

  “Regardless, it does not change the fact that Black Beak was witness being present among the slaves, more than only Nokthyst saw that.”

  “And was the moon shining brightly when all of them did, as opposed to now?” He questioned, gesturing to the dark, open hole in the ceiling. “Tell me what specifically made you certain I was there?”

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  “I SAW YOU!” She shouted once more with more emotion.

  “But what did you see?!” Kenneth loudly responded, pressing her further, getting right up in her face. “What feature of mine among the slaves made you certain I was there and that you, in the heat of the moment, didn’t look at one of them wrong, took a second glance too little?!”

  “Your height!” She blurted out.

  Slamming her hand on the table, Nokuji demanded, “Order! Refrain from the shouting, this is a trial, not some prelude to a brawl!”

  Both paused, Kenneth nodding as he brought his voice down, ”My height? Why that specifically, and not my five fingers, pointy mask, or anything else?”

  Loudly breathing through tears in a moment of silence, Nokthyst replied in a calmer though still emotional tone. “You stood out not as the shortest or tallest but in between.”

  “So that was all, my height, and you and everyone else did not consider anyone else, or was it just more convenient if it was me?” Kenenth asked, looking directly at Nokqotir and Nokuji. “If height is the only thing, how about I get you another suspect then, someone who walks with a hunched back and carries all the keys to the slave pen. Why don’t I call the slave master up here and have her talk about him?”

  As the trial had now shifted to another talking point, Nokthyst was gestured to leave the center and walked off to the side.

  However, Nokoovo wasn’t showing up; instead, Nokuji stood up, “My daughter is indisposed and can not attend, but ask your questions.”

  Uncertain of whether it was legal or a conflict of interest to have the judge act as a witness, Kenneth asked his questions. “So why was I brought to this trial so abruptly, if Thirsty carries keys to every cell? Why was he not the first suspect? Was it only because he’s dead or not here anymore?”

  “Because it is impossible,” Nokuji replied. “This Thirsty, as my daughter named him, the only special thing about him was how easily he broke and became submissive, following every order without question, without hesitation, passing every test. A perfect slave who was deemed to become my daughter’s personal property.”

  “Unless he was only pretending.”

  “The House of Obaliy’s techniques do not fail. If one passes the tests, they are no longer anything other than a slave, with no identity to speak of other than the one bestowed.”

  “And yet if that is so, why did he flee with the rest, unless someone misspoke when saying all the slaves had attempted to or escaped. And was it not true as your lifepartner mentioned when I bathed with Nokoovo, you both joined us, and you told her she was spending too much time with me, slacking on her duties as the slave master?”

  Her pupils could only narrow into a fine line while her scales barely noticeably changed, with it looking like she was fighting it, something the jury also noticed from the looks of it.

  “I would have never guessed the trial lasting this long, my good people, whatever doubt Black Beak’s lies may have stirred in you, let me put them to rest with this piece of evidence,” Nokqotir piped up, shifting attention.

  Suddenly, four guards, each carrying a hide-covered item held by the corners, were brought toward the center, only for it to suddenly fall apart with each guard jumping away in visible fear. One cautiously reached down to uncover it, revealing one of the golden gates, or what remained of it, now almost entirely melted by the black goo.

  “What you see here was how the slaves managed to break out, destroying the gate, so what say you, Black Beak, what is this, you ought to know since your magic bag can pull out anything.”

  For a moment, he stood there, watching it as all eyes were on him, his silence as good as an admission of guilt, before suddenly.

  “Uba tuk’ni hali kaka Krosk!!!” He shouted and roared while smashing his hand down to the table before him with all his might, unsure if Danish would have translated.

  “You see!” Nokqotir exclaimed in victory. “This black stuff, Black Beak knows of it, that is what he used to break the slaves free.”

  “WRONG!” He snapped.

  “What, you deny everything I said with such a reaction to show?” Nokqotir smugly inquired.

  “No, I know what that stuff is,” Kenneth admitted as he turned to the jury. “I think it’s no secret that I've spent a long time with the Aki, and not unlike here, I shared knowledge there too. I was careless then, sharing too much too fast, and this was the result: a vile tool of torture. I hoped I had learned from my mistakes, I hoped I had burned it all to nothing, but it appears I was lied to and some managed to survive, no doubt in the hands of Krosk.”

  “You want the people to believe a lie such as that?” Nokqotir questioned in a baffled tone. “Those brought with you may have kept their clothes, but assuredly they were searched thoroughly.”

  “And was that done by Nokoovo, any guard, or Thirsty?”

  Natually, gazes shifted toward Nokuji, who could only respond as before, “My daughter is indisposed for the time being. And her failure to show up cannot impact the trial, as is the law. Now, if neither the plaintiff nor the defendant has any more evidence or witnesses to bring forth, it’s time for your final statements.”

  Nokqotir went first.

  “People of Aboroli, I hope throughout this trial, it has become clear how certain I am of Black Beak’s guilt, and with all I’ve presented, I hope you all see it too,” Nokqotir said to the jury. “This treachery was orchestrated and carried out by him when we, in return, have offered hospitality and kindness. Far too many things do not make sense, but when it comes to him, he always knows more, has knowledge we don’t have, and uses it for his own gain.”

  Now it was his turn.

  “Everyone… in the middle of the night while I slept, I was suddenly awoken and accused of this crime, and barely a moment later, I was made to defend myself before all of you, while she,” He pointed to Nokqotir. ”Had time to gather evidence, witnesses, and form theories, leaving me to stumble. I am a healer… I’ve devoted myself to the preservation of life, a choice I made, not a role I was born into, knowledge of which I share freely, because at the end of the day, I fight against death. I know my enemy is a force of nature I could never hope to defeat, and yet I still fight, I still keep going. because each and every one of your lives is precious.”

  “Jury, it is time to cast your votes.”

  Everyone was given a white and a black stone to cast their votes with, and then, standing in line, they placed one or the other in a sack until it was filled with all fifty. Nokuji then proceeded to count in view of everyone.

  Once she finished, she rose from her seat, looking at Kenneth, who, throughout it all, barely felt his heart beat while all waited with bated breath.

  “The count has come out to be twenty-six to twenty-four,” She announced. “Black Beak, the people of Aboroli have found you innocent.”

  As the words left her mouth, Kenneth guessed he should have felt some sort of relief, but he felt just the same now as he did before, even as he heard people cheer at the verdict, a cruel joke.

  However, it wasn’t over, as once things calmed down, Nokuji spoke once more.

  “Blood has been spilled, and while the heretics and slaves will get their’s for this, this tragedy can not go unpunished; therefore, my daughter, Nokoovo, will hereby be stripped of her command and authority over the slave pen even after they are returned.

  “Now that this has concluded, there is something I would like to have discussed.”

  Nokuji looked at him with cold indifference, “Follow me to the Grand Hall, Black Beak, we can talk there.”

  He might have felt some worry at her ominous tone and request, but now that the immediate danger had passed, all he felt was soul-crushing guilt and nausea.

  Silence hung in the air like a thick fog as they walked into the Grand Hall with more following, trickling in little by little as everyone took their seat at the commander’s table.

  Kenneth was the first to speak, “I’m assuming you plan to send a hunting party out after the slaves. However, considering the epidemic, I advise that I do a full medical check-up on all those individuals.”

  Nokuji looked to either ignore him or dismiss his words entirely, asking a question, “Do you know why we gather in the Grand Hall before the entrance to her embrace?”

  “I’m more interested in your answer to my request--”

  “It’s tradition,” she answered herself before replying to his question. “You can do your ‘Check-up’ on all the hunters, but regardless of what you say, blood will be spilled, so once this is over, you can begin on them, and then the rest. All must be present.”

  “Understood.”

  ‘Hopefully I can get them enough time to get away-“

  “Do your people have traditions?”

  “…Some,” he answered as the food was brought in.

  “I must admit the way I think of traditions has always been a bit strange. I always saw them as laws of the old, with wisdom many have either forgotten or cannot fathom.” That is the reason why we do this now instead of sending you to work.”

  As the covering was lifted off, a wave of steam hit everyone, blinding him for a moment; however, even before he could see something was off, as no one at the table moved.

  As the steam slowly went away, he froze as his heart leapt into his throat.

  The carcasses that were to be dismembered and devoured were an Aki. From the onset, he knew it was a man, however nothing more, as the poor soul had had their flesh skinned, reaching the muscle tissue underneath, yet it wasn’t that, that brought him nauseatingly close to vomiting, but his eyes.

  With his head lying on one side, they were just staring at him, peering into his soul, asking, ‘Why are you alive?’ to which he had no answer.

  “Slaves. They are a unique comottity, property, yes, but a house does not breathe, nor need to eat,” Nokuji started, staring directly into Kenneth's eyes. “From a Young age, the children of House Obaliy learn a simple lesson, a tradition of sorts, to close off our emotions regarding them, for their in lies the danger. So many stories told time and time again, of a young woman, Nokhatavi, who fell in love with a slave and tried to run away with them, and do you know what happened?”

  “...”

  “They were caught, and in front of everyone, slaves, servants, and family, her mother forced Nokhatavi to kill the slave she had grown to love, then right after, the mother held her daughter, the woman, close like so,” Nokuji reached over and grabbed the carcass on the table, mimicking the retelling as she continued. “Covered in blood, her visage flowing with tears, her mother looked at her coldly and killed her.”

  Viciously, she opened her mouth and ripped the corpse's head off, as if it was nothing, before throwing the body down on the table again.

  “Emotions and duty rarely combine well; that is why they must be stumped out, but I must admit this act of escape has me in an unbecoming mood. For I want each slave returned here, regardless of whether they are alive or in pieces; they will end up here. So look forward to it, Black Beak, the taste of heretic stickes with you.” She tossed the head across the table right before him. “Eat up.”