Li followed Captain Mond from the Gryphon, taking a deep breath as they stepped onto the ramp leading down to the dock. Ardlac was behind him, and briefly touched his back before they stepped onto the dock. Li desperately wanted to hold his hand, but, though he had heard things were different in the cities, relationships between those of presumably the same gender were not as welcomed in Mahlon as they were in Nairiume.

Li had paid little attention to his surroundings when he had been transported to the Gryphon to serve out the terms of his sentence, and so did not know precisely where they were going. Thankfully, Captain Mond knew exactly how to reach the offices of the courts, and led them through the bustling streets without difficulty.

They finally reached a tall stone building with great wooden doors studded with metal nails. Li assumed it was to give the courts a more imposing appearance. Mond pushed the doors open easily and they entered into an open space that was lit by several lanterns across the ceiling and walls to adjust for the lack of windows. A clerk sat at a desk in a far corner, and looked up from his records when they entered.

"I am Captain Mond of the Gryphon, and I demand to see the magistrates," Mond declared, using the voice that Li had heard during many a battle. "A man was placed among my crew for crimes he did not commit and was not allowed a truth-knower during his trial. I demand this be corrected."

The clerk looked startled, staring with wide eyes at them. At last, he stood and hurried for an inner door, saying, "I'll be back in a moment."

Ardlac took the opportunity to put an arm around Li's waist and pull him close. The wait was terrible and none of them spoke, making it feel as though they waited even longer than they did. At long last, the inner door opened again and the clerk returned, this time with another man who appeared more official in his formal black court robes. Ardlac released Li and took one step back behind him.

"Captain Mond, is the convict you are here to discuss one named Lishalnir?" the official asked.

Mond nodded. "That is correct."

The man nodded in return. "We have looked over the copy of the record sent here with him and do recognize the grievous mistake made by those overseeing the trial. No truth-knower was offered as there was none in that court at the time of trial. We will hold an appeal trial here tomorrow with a truth-knower present."

Stolen novel; please report.

Li stepped closer to Captain Mond. "I am Lishalnir and I brought an Asir with me who has agreed to summon the spirit of the man I am accused of murdering. Will that be permitted, also?"

The official looked surprised. "Such evidence is rare, but it is permissible. Truth-knowers are not required in that instance as it is known that the dead cannot lie to the living."

Ardlac made a slightly strangled sound behind him, but the official did not seem to notice.

"Then we will return in the morning and I hope this will be settled justly for all," Mond replied.

The official nodded. "As do I."

They left the court office and began walking back to the Gryphon.

"Can the dead lie to the living?" Li asked as they stepped aside to avoid a child chasing a dog.

"It isn't that they can't," Ardlac replied. "It is simply that they most often do not. If they wish to, they can mislead anyone with half-truths, which is something I would consider to be lying. Perhaps not in the way that the court does, however."

Li nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps they simply don't know as much about the dead as the Asirim do," he thought aloud.

Ardlac chuckled. "I would not think it possible for them to know so much."

As they neared the docks they met another official. This one was dressed in a finely tailored set of breeches and tunic, complete with a matching wide-brimmed hat.

"Captain Mond," he said, addressing their captain. "I was sent to ask why the Gryphon has returned so soon."

Mond stopped and looked at the man as if he was something foul in the gutter. Li had the distinct impression they knew each other well and did not like each other very much.

"I nearly came almost a year ago," Mond replied, his voice sharp and commanding. "When I was here last I was given a new cuffer, one I eventually learned had been unfairly tried and was likely innocent of his crimes. I won't allow the Gryphon to be the trash heap of Mahlon, where people are thrown onto the crew as a way to force trials through the courts without proper protocol. If the government wishes to see profit from the employment of criminals in the fleet, forcing them to risk death to combat piracy and Dyrain expansion, and to bring needed goods to market, they will do so with those who are truly guilty of the crimes they are accused of. I will not allow innocent people to be forced onto my crews - innocent of the crimes they were found guilty of, that is," he added, almost as an afterthought.

The official was not intimidated, again showing to Li that they were certainly used to having conversations in this way. "Very well, but see that you aren't here terribly long. Pirates have been reported along the coast of Orma. They're preying on the trade in animals and herbs from there. Those tiny horses they have are becoming popular for children and on farms where large horses are impractical. I've also heard the pirates are looking to add those Orman cannons to their ships, too, and we haven't yet gotten the fleet outfitted with them yet. Things will be difficult for us if they acquire them before us."

"The moment things are sorted, we will return to the sea," Mond assured him. He then turned and continued on his way to the Gryphon, Li and Ardlac following.