Kel couldn’t believe it.

As he looked around at all the friendly faces around him he felt, for the first time in the entire miserable day, he felt a burst of hope wash over him.

Caaron’s expression was sour as he looked up from the book of law he had been perusing. “The council neglected to post the terms of your trial until about an hour ago.”

Kyleria nodded. “Poor Aksel had to run around town to gather us up - Very underhanded. Mayor’s doing, no doubt. Thank you, Captain Densk.”

Johan brushed into the room behind Kel. “It was no trouble at all. Plus I’m not the one out of breath, eh Aksel?” The young guardsman smiled, his cheeks still red from running.

“Kel!” Ryla ran over to Kel and gave him a squeezing hug.

“Hey, you don’t have your doll with you today,” he observed.

“Yeah. I forgot her. When my parents told me what was happening, I ran straight here."

It truly was kind of her. Most kids her age were out playing, but she had come here to support Kel. It meant a lot to him. "Thank you for coming - I’m glad you’re here." Kel smiled.

“Me too! it’s a little boring though.”

Caaron picked up the hefty book in front of him. “If you are bored, young Ryla, I could offer you some reading material.” He smiled craftily, clearly already knowing what her answer would be.

Ryla made a disgusted face. “No thank you! I like hearing my stories instead of reading them.” She looked over at the corner of the room. “Maybe he could tell us one.”

Kel followed her gaze. “William! You’re here too.”

“I am.” The pale man looked very at home sitting contemplatively among sacred books and the gentle light that filtered through stained glass windows into the room. He seemed to have either not heard or decided not to acknowledge Ryla’s statement. “May Guin etch the words of our hearts into the minds of the many.” He folded his arms and was silent.

Ryla seemed disappointed. For her sake, Kel had really had hoped he would tell a story, as he did have some very good tales now and then. Today was a quiet day, regrettably. Ryla looked over at Caaron again. “Fine - you have to read to me, though...”

And so things went for a while.

While some of his character wintnesses chatted, Kel took a moment to steal over to Kyleria. He knew it was rude, but he was growing desperate: his main problem stemmed from money and she was the one person he knew who might be able to help with that regard.

“Can’t you just give me enough gold to pay them off?” It ended up sounding much blunter now that he had said it. 

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, your coin-purse. What I mean is, there's a story." He stammered. "It’s supposed to be magical. It gives you gold every so often?"

Kyleria's eyes widened with understanding before her face took on another expression altogether. Was it sadness? Regret? "Oh, child. I’m sorry. This is the problem with stories and rumors." She shrugged. "I don’t really have a magic coin purse. It's just something someone said one time as a joke. A rather mean-spirited one at that. I’ll explain it to you, later, when we have more time."

Kel felt bad for a moment. He hadn't meant to offend and he certainly hadn't meant to dredge up unpleasant memories, as it seemed he had. Kyleria took his and and gave him a smile. It seemed a little sad, but it was still a smile. "No harm done, Kel. I wish I could help more, but for now this is all I can do."

Their conversation was cut short when Rylia jumped between them from over the couch, landing precaciously close to areas that Kel would rather not have smashed. "Bored now," she singsonged. "Where's Caaron run off to?" Kel asked. The girl shrugged and then requested that Kyleria braid her hair.

Thankful for an excuse to walk away for a moment, Kel decided to go looking for the wise man. There was really only one place he could be. Kel could hear the murmur of voices coming from the next room, a lavatory. He only heard snippets of what the wise man was saying “Not...fair..paid off….better chances.”

Kel inched closer and put his ear against the door. Someone else was speaking now. “You can’t charm the entire council. Someone will notice and then you will be arrested. And unlike this boy, they’ll likely ship you off to a prison camp on the Isles!”

So that was it. The council indeed was stacked against him. And Chaaron wanted to even the odds. It didn't sound like the captain was on board with it, though. 

Johan burst from the room in a huff. He took a moment to compose himself and then walked to the door that connected to the great-room of the Council Hall. “I’ll return to let you know all is ready. It shouldn't be long now.” He tried to look reassuring, but Kel could tell that he was worried. If he wasn’t so scared, he might have been more appreciative. Johan had no reason to help and yet, despite being a guardsman, he was treating Kel with more respect and care than most anyone, save the people in this room, had done.

Once he was gone, there was nothing else to do but wait. Kyleria chatted with (or more at) William, who listened patiently and occasionally offered a comment here or there. Caaron switched between reading random anecdotes from the Book of Law out loud (for Ryla’s benefit) and coaching Kel on how to handle the council. There were a lot of “if, then” statements and by the end of it he was more confused and frustrated than really feeling prepared. It was almost a relief when, after what felt like forever, Johan returned. “It is time.” Caaron shut the book he had been reading from and nodded. “Let us begin, then.”

As Kel walked into the great-room of the hall, he was struck by the nervous energy of the room. Nearly the whole village was there, seated in pews that went back rows and rows for what looked like hundreds of feet. Despite the fact that it was now a sunny day, the windows let in very little light and lanterns had been lit above every other row. Scores of eyes stared at him as he and his supporters moved to the short pew where he was obliged to sit. Hushed whispers filled the air. Even with his friends about him, he felt depressed and singled out. It reminded him too much of his first time here, all those years ago.

Then a silence filled the room.

One by one, the council filed into the hall. They set themselves behind a large table where the altar normally would be upon normal occasions. Four of them, all wearing masks. He had been taught that these represented the gods themselves meting out justice. One wore a mask depicting a woman of indeterminate age, one an old man, one a young man with a scar and a beard, and in the center sat a man wearing a large round sun with no distinguishing facial features - only eyeholes. It was unsettling.

One could argue that anyone could hide behind those masks. However, the bearers wore such finery that there was no mistaking them for anything other than wealthy members of the older families, scions of royalty and merchants who found themselves better suited to rural life despite their “higher breeding.” On the table before each member lay a large green tome, the municipal book of law.

Kel stood before them and gave a sweeping bow, which he had been taught indicated supplication and respect for judgement. He didn’t much feel like it, but to get any positive outcome he would have to observe the niceties. The four masked figures nodded and allowed him to take a seat among his supporters. Derry and his father scowled at them from across the room.

The man with the sun mask spoke first in a booming voice. “We bind here, under the authority of the township of Fellow’s Glen, the country of Sepheria, subject to the Grand Empire, all participants of this our court. May our decision be just, in the names of the gods and that of GYMN, light of the Empire.”

The man in the scarred mask spoke next. It was a raspy, whispery voice that Kel had to strain to hear; he was clearly either very old, very sick, or perhaps both. “Kelvin Fellow, you are hereby accused of inflicting grievous injury upon Derry Hardstahd, to whose family you owe a debt and to whom you will be indentured upon becoming a man.”

The accusation hung in the air like a fell curse.

The raspy-voiced man continued, “First, the council shall assess your character witnesses. I see that you have here your guardian, Caaron.” Kel found it odd that they didn’t mention his last name. Even he had never heard it, but at something so official, it seemed strange not to have it announced. “He is esteemed and recognized by this council.” Caaron nodded and stood.

“I see you also have William Splint. Owing to his father’s legacy and despite his… peculiarities, the council recognizes him.” William stood up, seemingly unmoved by what was just said about him.

The man continued. “We see Kyleria Westermindt. Owing to your highborn name, we the council recognize you.” She stood up, her face a bit pink. Highborn, Kel thought. The council seemed to put a lot of emphasis on who someone’s family was. Would they have treated him differently, if his family were alive?

“And finally,” The raspy voiced man stopped short, “What have we here? You are?”

“Ryla. Daughter of Ferron, the baker.” She was already standing, dwarfed by her adult comerades.

The man in the sun mask cut in. “My dear child, we appreciate your enthusiasm and compassion for your friend, but only adults may serve as witnesses.”

“But he’s helped me tons of times. And he chased off Derry when he was messing with me-”

“That is slander, that is!” the mayor erupted. Derry himself was uncomfortably silent on the topic.

“Silence.”The sun-masked man leaned down, a bit patronizingly in Kel’s opinion. “Little Ryla-”

“Oh, just Ryla is fine,” she said matter of factly.

“Unfortunately, it’s out of our hands. It’s in the law," he patted the heavy book with his right hand. Annoyed, she sat down with her arms crossed.

The man gestured about the room. “Well, it appears there is no one else…” Was that it? Was he going to lose his case simply because he didn’t have enough character witnesses?

“Actually, councilman, I vouch for him as well.” Johan strode over and took his place by Kel. “My apologies - we brought Ryla along as moral support, but I am the fourth hand for Master Fellow here.”

The only female member of the council spoke. “Captain Densk, this is a bit irregular.” The woman’s voice was high and lilting, but with a slight edge of condescension. “You arrested the boy, after all.”

“Following the letter of the law, of course. I don’t doubt Kelvin’s character, however. I stand for him now.”

If this irked the speaker, her mask did not permit them to see it. “Very well. You may all sit. Let us first hear the injured party’s case."

Derry stood up and nervously glanced around the room. He gulped. Though he was pushy and loud in private, he didn’t seem to enjoy being in front of so many people. Despite the severity of the situation, Kel enjoyed watching him squirm. “Well, uh...I was just minding my own business with my mates. We went to my hideout to knock back a few…” His father gave him a look. “I mean, to relax after...you see, I was boar hunting….”

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The council stared impassively, bored. It was likely that the adjudicators didn’t care much for boar hunting. “Continue,” the man in the sun mask sighed.

“Well, he jumped out of nowhere and attacked me with a sword.”

“I did not!” Kel sprang to his feet.

“Silence, child. You will have your time to speak,” The sun masked man commanded. He turned back to the younger Hardstahd. “Derry, do you have any idea why he would attack you with a sword?

“I s’pose it’s because he’s jealous, see? He’s never liked me. I try to be kind to him, since he doesn’t have everything we do.” Derry was looking at the elder Hardstahd the whole time, as if making sure he was saying the right thing. “I’ve told him what a good home he’ll have with us, once he’s indentured. But Kel just hates us, even after all we did for his mum.”

Kel was seething. He couldn't risk another outburst, but it was infuriating listening to Derry lie. And bringing his mother into it. Kyleria put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Just focus on telling your story,” she whispered.

When Derry was done speaking, the council turned to Kel. “Very well. Moving on, let’s hear from Kelvin himself. Please tell us what happened, boy. Speak freely.”

Kel stood up and took a deep breath. Here it was: time to defend himself. “It’s very simple, how this started. Someone broke into our home and stole Caaron’s black book. A very valuable magical tome. That person was Derry.”

“The case is not against Derry for stealing anything. The council notes that he has paid his fine.”

Well, they had instructed him to speak freely. “Yes well, Caaron hasn’t been paid for it though, has he?”

“That is a separate matter that will be decided outside of this court.”

“So that his name doesn’t get dragged through the mud like mine, eh?” Kel was already furious.

All four of the council visibly bristled. “Young Kelvin, we will not tolerate your imprudence. Tell us what happened and only what happened.”

Kel glared but reigned himself in. He knew it was better to treat them with respect, but it was hard to do when the situation was so utterly stacked against him. He took another deep breath and continued. “I tracked the thief's path, which led me to Derry’s hideout. He was going to burn it, the book. He...did burn it. And I tried to stop him. That’s when he tried to kill me.”

This time Derry was the one speaking out of turn. “Nuh uh. I was only going to maim...”

“Shut UP you stupid boy” the mayor hissed through his teeth.

Kel paused. Why would he have voluntarily said that? “Err. So we fought, and he grabbed a sword…”

Derry interrupted again. “Plus, I took that book because he’s plannin’ to go to the Academy. Somethin’ about if he can get in there, he doesn’t have to work for us.” Gods. Damn it. 

“Is this true, Kelvin?” The mask remained impassive, but there was a tightness to the mouth that indicated displeasure.

It was Caaron who spoke up. “I don’t believe that is material to this case, esteemed council. As you said yourself - Derry stealing the book is going to be settled outside of this court.” He gave a courteous nod. Kel wasn’t sure he had ever seen someone completely sidestep a question so skillfully.

The man in the mask nodded begrudgingly. “You are correct, wise man. Anything further, young Kelvin?”

“Only that I acted in self defense. If Derry was hurt, it’s his own fault.” He gave the two Hardstahds a hard look and sat down. He was no longer nervous, that was for sure. 

"Thank you - you may be seated." The man in the bearded mask spoke.  "Now we would like to call the two witnesses, John and Ewin.”

The two boys stood up, looking gangly and awkward.

“Tell us what happened,” the elder counselor commanded. Miraculously, they did: tripping over each other to tell the story exactly the way it had happened. They explained that Derry had stolen a black book, that he told them he was going to taunt Kel into fighting him after destroying it. Kel was in disbelief - Why were they telling the truth? There was literally nothing for them to gain.They then went on to fully recount everything from the time they walked into the forest until the time they ran away.

When they had finished interrupting each other and giving a full account of the battle in the tower, the room was silent. The man in the sun mask rested on his chin, as if weary from the tale. “Why, then, did you change your story when you first reported this to the city guard? Why turn around and accuse Kelvin of bewitching you? ”

“Mayor Hardstahd - he threatened us, told us he’d pay us or we’d pay.” The crowd murmured like a hive of angry bees. The council looked around at each other, befuddled. Kel’s eyes swept the room and he noticed Caaron, staring intently at the two boys. The old man’s mouth was silently mumbling, barely perceptible to the naked eye. Kel suddenly realized that he had, up until this point, never realized the extent of Caaron's abilities. There was a subtlety in how this charm was executed, so much so that it went unnoticed by everyone. Everyone except Johan, whose eyes were fixed upon the wise man. Kel felt his stomach drop - he remembered the conversation he had overheard. Would the guardsman turn the old man in?

Then Johan’s mouth twitched into the faintest approving smirk. Kel felt a rush of relief. The man of law really was on his side. He had initially had the foreboding sense that the captain would follow the rule of law absolutely, with no compromise. Perhaps he had been wrong.

The one councilwoman collected herself and spoke. “The mayor is not on trial here, no matter how...unwise his request may have been.” She gave him a hard look. It was becoming frustrating just how often the scope of the trial was being used to shield the Hardstahds. It was almost as if the council wanted them to win, despite their clear corruption. How could someone bend the law so willingly to help someone who was so awful? The words he had caught from Caaron’s earlier conversation came to mind. Paid off, he had said.

The man in the old-man mask, who up to this point had not spoken, gestured to the boys. “You may sit.” He addressed the crowd. “With that, all sides have been heard. We will deliver judgement shortly.” The council members looked around at each other and whispered among themselves. It seemed to last an eternity. Kel’s heart was pounding, despite the trial going overwhelmingly in his favor, he would only believe his good fortune when he could see it for himself. He should have talked more, chosen better words when he was speaking. He wondered if he should have stood up for himself more or if he should have been quiet when he spoke out before.

All of these thoughts were still whirring in his head when, at last, the man in the sun mask spoke up. “Let it be known: We acknowledge that young Kelvin acted in self-defense. Derry’s fine of 300 scepters will be applied to Kelvin’s debt.”

The room was buzzing with chatter. Kelvin was elated. He had won. He could keep living with Caaron. He still had a chance to win back his freedom before it was too late. Derry and his father were incredulous - the elder was swearing profusely, though at whom it was hard to tell. The younger was staring, defeated, at the floor.

The sun-masked man cleared his throat and the room went silent. “However, it is this council’s duty to remind you that a debt is owed and it is not likely to be paid at this rate.”He paused for effect. “Therefore, you Kelvin Fellow, henceforth you shall be remitted into the household of Mayor Gerald Hardstahd, your master. To that end -”

Kel was shocked. What had been the point of this, then? How was this even possible? Your master, he had said. What a load of garbage. He was standing and yelling before he even realized it. “He’s not my master!”

“Do not interrupt me, boy.”

“Defending myself is not a crime.” Kel’s anger flared as he remembered the last time, when he had sat on a stool and listened to their pronouncement. These people who would never know his pain, whose families were whole. He had been silent then, because he had been afraid and alone. This time he had support and, truth be told, he was just angry. “How is it that I’m handed a sentence when that clown over there can steal property, beat children black and blue, and literally try to murder me without anyone looking at him sideways. Is that law? Is that just? Are you even a council or are you just pretending?"

"Now see here -"

"How much does Hardstahd pay you to look the other way? All of you!”"

The parts of skin that were visible under each council member's mask were visibly red. “I said silence, boy!”

“Stop calling me boy!”

Pop. Boy appeared in the middle of the room. It was absurd, this thing just blinking into existence right in the midst of the council-hall looking like a shadow made flesh. For a moment, everything was silent, all eyes focused on the diminutive creature as it gazed around the room. “What?” it said.

The room exploded into chaos.

The man with the raspy voice fell back from his seat, his scarred mask askew. The other male council members were flabbergasted, mouths agape. The Guin-masked woman stifled a scream.

“Everyone stay calm!” Johan yelled as townspeople screamed and stampeded for the exit.

“What?” Boy repeated.

“Ow!” Derry had fallen over in his chair, crushing his father’s feet. “Stupid boy!” the Mayor exclaimed.

Kel assumed it was probably confusing and even alarming to have people screaming every time you appeared. He thought the creature seemed almost pitiful there, surrounded by panicking townsfolk. He barely had any time to laugh at the Mayor hopping around before he saw the guards closing in on Boy, swords drawn. Aksel was sweating profusely, his freckled face screwed up in a mix of fear and concentration as he walked closer to the diminutive visitor. The blonde guard looked like he had already wet himself. Kel could understand why they were scared, but he’d met Boy a few times and had never come to harm. The thing regarded the room dubiously, his huge eyes seeming to follow both of the men closing in on him from either side.

“Boy, listen to me….” Kel reached out to the creature. Its head swivelled around. The man in the Gibb mask fainted, head thumping on the long table. “We need to get out of here. Now.” Kel said it without thinking, a wish he held simultaneously for himself and for Boy. It was what he desired most in that moment. What he had desired since the trial had started. To be away from all of the arguing and the nonsense and go somewhere quiet.

Boy shrugged. “Okay,” it said, grabbing Kel’s hand before he could blink. There was a flash of violet light and a shockwave that knocked everyone close to them to the ground. “Where is he?” the mayor yelled, enraged. Only smoke and shadow remained where they had stood moments before. “Where did they go!?” Ryla and Klyleria stumbled to their feet, shell-shocked.

For a moment, all was silent. Then, the sound of fifty people all yelling at each other in confusion filled the room. “Don’t just stand there- go after them!” the mayor yelled, though no one was sure where, exactly, they had gone.”Stand fast, men! That goblin creature could still be about,” Johan commanded. Several villagers were excitedly chattering about what they had just seen. “I knew that boy was something else!” said one. “Darkest fiend I’ve ever seen, “ another gasped. “And those eyes!” “Doesn’t take a genius to see the boy’s evil.”

Caaron was the only one present who was undeterred and undistracted. “Do you see?!” he shouted at the high table over the din. The man in the sun mask was the only one who seemed to acknowledge him. The rest were sitting in stunned silence. “Council, do you see?” two others finally heard him.

“Silence!” the man in the sun mask yelled. A hush once more fell over the room. The man in the scarred mask scrambled back up into his seat, resuming an air of calm. Now Caaron had their attention.

“This boy has done something unprecedented.” He gestured to the scorch marks on the floor where Kel and the creature had just been standing. “He has performed a greater summoning, magic far beyond his years. I submit that he be released from his bonds and permitted to apply to the Academy upon reaching his fifteenth year, in accordance with the law. If he is not accepted, then he will return to finish out his servitude as owed to the good (he almost choked on that word) Mayor Hardstahd.

The man in the sun mask considered him carefully. “Though it was clearly your plan to evoke the law of Admission, wise man Caaron, this council is beholden to the laws of Sepheria and the Empire which it serves. You must understand - the Empire does not honor the law of Admission.”

"I beg your pardon?" Caaron was incredulous. The Mayor was visibly overjoyed.

The man in the sun mask spoke again. "We will not honor the law of Admission in this court. And if you press us, we will have you jailed and sent to the Isles faster than you can cast any spell, Caaron."

The old man sighed. He had assumed that logic would reign. After all, any fool could see that the boy was in the right. But he had overestimated the council. They were not learned or wise - they simply had a modicum of wealth and influence. And no one was easier bought than a man who had tasted gold and wanted more. He held his face in his hands, dejected. 

The man in the Hal mask leaned over the table. “Find the boy, Captain Densk,” he rasped.

“What?” Johan was in disbelief.

“Find Kelvin Fellow and bring him back to face justice.”

“But councilman…”

The woman spoke next. “As Captain of the Guard, you are ordered to track down that boy, Johan Densk.”

Johan’s expression immediately hardened, whether from anger or some older, primal emotion it was unclear. “As the council orders.” There was steel to his voice. He pointed to the two still-shaking guardsmen “Aksel, Nathan - stay and guard the Mayor.”

Caaron stood aghast. “The boy is absolved, Johan. There is no reason to chase him down!” He put out an arm to stop the captain.

Johan brushed past and gave the wise man an indecipherable glare. Then he turned on his heel and ran out the door. Fine then, he thought, gritting his teeth as he took off down the road to the guardhouse. I’ll find him. And when I do, he will get what he deserves.