56 - Impassible Arguments
“Explain,” the Lord Barrister rumbled.
“I admit I was too familiar with the knight, but his response was so over the top, I can’t believe he is pushing this BS. He hit me hard enough to kill me. Only a fluke of timing saved me from dying a second time that day. Why is he not here, answering for that?”
“Because you fled,” Azbekt barked.
“Would I have gotten a fair trial like this one back in Crowfield?” Joe demanded. “It sure didn’t feel like it the way everyone was freaking out over Groven and his Duke.”
“Likely, no,” Lady Randeau replied. “Sir Groven is a vengeful man. As is Duke Amberwroth. Had you remained in Crowfield, or even anywhere in the Duchy of Merlindell, you would likely be locked away in Blackyard Gaol right now.”
“Let it be known that I have another affidavit here,” Azbekt announced, withdrawing a second page from his belt, “in which Sir Groven Suttrel, swears he did not intend to deliver a lethal blow. He did not believe the outlander was truly a newcomer. How could he expect this grown manthing to be so ridiculously fragile as to be slain by a mere slap?”
Mazsy took the sheet and rustled her fingers over it again, listening. “This is fully true.”
“Does it matter?” Joe countered. “He shouldn’t get a pass because he didn’t mean to kill me. I didn’t mean to impugn his honor; I was just kidding around. I’m willing to call the two mistakes a wash and drop the whole thing. If you’re not, I’m pretty sure murder, or even manslaughter, trumps disrespect.”
“What say you, champion? Do you wish to press these charges and add your fellow Phealtian to the aggrievements? Or dismiss the charges and this court now?” the Lord Barrister inquired.
Azbekt brought his fist to his heart and closed his eyes. He stood for almost a full minute before sighing and looking up at the Lord Barrister. “My god is silent on this matter, M’lord. I’m afraid I do not have the authority to drop Phealti’s case.”
Lady Randeau shook her head in disapproval. “The root of this issue seams from whether or not we are dealing with an agent of the fey, yes? Then, let us address that question. Acolyte Ekamoon, would you please question the witness?”
“But I’ve never ….,” the red-furred novice stammered. “Surely one of you has a higher [Truthsense] than I do.”
“While that may be true,” Lady Randeau countered, “the [Truthsense] of Onhur is a powerful tool. Just as Phaelti’s [Vigilance] will detect beings from beyond Illuminaria, Onhur allows you to hear the nuances of truth in a manner we cannot. Our gods have gifted each of us with their own blessed abilities. Have faith in yours, dear.”
“Oh, alright.” The fox-tailed girl turned to Joe and locked eyes with him. “Are you an agent from the Feylands?”
“Uh, I don’t think so,” Joe replied. This seemed like a very bad moment to say anything even partially untrue. Hawking had given him an odd, fey-touched heritage. He didn’t think there were any hidden strings attached to that race, but he wasn’t one hundred percent sure about that.
Mazsy, who had her head cocked, listening very carefully, straightened her neck and declared, “He speaks the truth.”
“I concur,” the Lord Barrister added.
“As do I,” offered the noblewoman.
“Be that as it may. It is not an answer,” Azbekt fumed. “The fey have sent bewitched agents across the Veil before. Just because he is not aware of his treacherous nature is not sufficient to excuse the charges against him.”
“That is also true,” the young priestess affirmed, using her [Truthsense] to assess Azbekt's counterargument. “Very well. Mister Joe, do you have any plans to disrupt or damage the Kingdom of Duskrug in any way?”
That one was an easy answer. “No,” he replied decisively.
Three heads nodded their approval, but the squat, fiery dwarf shook his.
“Same objection. Who knows what enchantments lurk behind that wall of nondetection? He could be enspelled to answer in this manner, and we would never know the difference. He must reveal himself, or these questions are moot.”
“A valid point, champion,” the Marchess conceded. “Joe, would you please suspend your [Deception] for the duration of this quadrunal?”
“I’d be happy to,” Joe stated, “but I don’t think I can. Can you turn off a trait?”
“Not typically, no,” the matronly bishop sighed. “Skills can be stifled by choice. Traits are constant unless they state they can be suppressed.”
“There is more proof,” the myrmidon accused. “If this being is truly the newcomer he claims to be, how did he acquire such an unbeknownst trait? Surely, this is a groomed creature from beyond and not a newcomer.”
In response to the dwarf’s challenge, a notification from Hawking opened on the edge of Joe’s vision.
Ask for Trial by Quest, Joe.
‘What the heck is Trial by Quest, Hawking?’
Trust me. I will explain momentarily.
“Your Lordship,” Joe began dubiously, both unsure of the title he was giving the Lord Barrister as well as whatever Hawking was cooking up. “I would like Trial by Quest, please.”
“Are you sure, Joe? You have a strong case as far as Ekwiti is concerned. Your treatment so far has been anything but fair.”
‘You sure about this?’
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Yes.
‘You better be, Bud. When you think about it, this is pretty much all your fault anyway. You dropped me right in front of a zealous bigot, which is what started this whole mess.’
Which is why I am suggesting this now rather than make you wait for one of the judges to do so.
“I’m sure,” Joe stated, hopefully sounding more confident than he felt.
“Very well, then. Fellow judges, I would have your verdict.” Theodanus turned to Joe and stated. “I sense nothing here but injustice. I would see you cleared of all charges here and now, son. No quest needed. I vote no, on your behalf.”
“The crown would rather see this in the hands of the One Above,” Lady Randeau stated. “Glauri votes yes for Trial by Quest.”
“I don’t know,” Mazsy floundered. “The truths given have been so subjective. Sir Groven’s deposition was a mash of subjective truths and objective falsehoods. Joe spoke truthfully when he said he did not mean to cause offense, but clearly, he did offend the knight. Then, there is his cloaking skill that blocks most of our detections. I think I have to abstain from voting. I’m sorry. I just don’t know if this should be in the hands of the gods or the Giver of Fates.”
‘So, much for that idea. Azbekt is never going to agree to anything I've suggested.'
Wait for it.
“It is for those very reasons,” the dwarf grumbled, “that this must be in the hands of the He Who Guides Us. Personal beliefs do not matter. The chain of events does not matter. Only one thing matters. Is Joe a newcomer or a servant of the Fey Queens? Everything else is irrelevant in the eyes of Phealti. Since we cannot pierce his cloak of deception, then it is up to the One Above to answer that for us. Phealti votes for a Trial by Quest.”
I thought that would be the outcome. Now, back up a step, Joe.
A grinding sound could be heard coming from under their feet. All four judges, Joe and Hah’roo, took a step backward. In the center of the circle they had formed, the flagstone of the plaza began to change shape. A stone point seemed to slide upward out of the slab of rock with a hissing, grinding sound. As the tapered rock continued to grow, Joe dove into his headspace to have a rapid comprehension conversation with Hawking.
“Okay, explain, please.’
There is a reason there are four judges when an odd number would make more sense.
‘I was wondering about that.’
If a case is obvious, the judges can make a ruling on their own. If a case decision is split, they are settled by Trial by Quest. This is not an uncommon option. I am sure one of the judges would have suggested it shortly. It seemed prudent to expedite the process.
Trial by Quest is comparable to Trial by Combat, which your world used to honor in its past. Trial by Quest is less arbitrary. I will choose quests whose solvability is based on the subject’s degree of guilt. A truly guilty person will receive impossible quests. A truly innocent person will receive a selection of quests that will reward them.
Your case will be one of latter. Your options will not be undemanding, but success will lead to the betterment of yourself and your desire for the world.
I admit to being at fault for this situation. I chose to place you in a mild-difficulty region that would feel comfortable to you, given your background on Earth. I failed to take into account the nearby presence of Sir Groven. Everything that followed is a result of that initial interaction.
“Why don't you just tell them I’m innocent? This seems like a convoluted method when a word from you would clear it up.’
For the same reason, you have classes, attributes, and skills. For the same reason, there are monsters and quests in the first place. It is the nature of this world. Quests are fundamental to growth. This is a perfectly valid reason to implement one.
‘I can see that. So, you really didn’t plan for this all along? The way everyone talks about you, you seem omnipotent.”
I am omniscient. I know everything that has happened. I am not omnipotent. I do not know everything that will happen. This is the reason for Illuminaria. I find out what will happen.
Knowing Sir Groven was nearby and knowing what would arise from your encounter are two different things.
‘Ok. I was beginning to wonder if I had been set up from the beginning,’ Joe thought. ‘I have another question for you. What the hell was Azbekt talking about me trying to steal from Sir Groven? That didn’t happen, did it? When I was unconscious from his punch, did [Anyone] activate without my knowing it?’
Negative, though you have been awarded an additional use of the ability regardless of its cooldown due to a debt incurred by Groven Suttrel. Newcomers are awarded a period of amnesty. His breach of that allowment invoked compensation. Access to one of his ancestral or ecclesiastical traits seemed fitting, given the parties involved.
‘When did this happen? I didn’t see anything about this.’
You were indisposed at the time. By the time you began to check your notifications, Groven Suttrel was no longer within range of your [Anyone] trait. Should you come into proximity of Groven Suttrel again, the notifications will be reissued.
‘I’m not so sure I want it. Won’t that just piss him and his people off more?’
I suggest you worry about that in the future, Joe, and pay attention now.
‘Right! Thanks.’
The stone structure had risen to over fifteen feet tall and four feet wide. After the first foot, the sides had straightened to near vertical lines forming a three-sided obelisk.
As he watched, words began to take shape on the sides. The stone pulled inwards, forming letters. It was a quest description. Leaning toward the side the young priestess was facing, he saw another task listed there as well. Joe assumed the face on the far side had a third quest listed.
“Joe, as the accused,” the Lord Barrister intoned, “you have the first right of refusal. You can remove one of these options. The accusing party then chooses which other one to refuse. That would be the House of Amberwroth or the Church of Phealti in this case. These two refusals will leave you with the ordained quest from the One Above. Which one do you wish to reject, Joe?”
He walked around the standing stone, reading his options.
RIDDLES IN BLOOD [Legendary] 🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡
The Threat of the Blood King continues to grow as his Red Army consumes the neighboring lands. Find the King in Red’s weakness and help bring about his downfall.
MOONLIT MASSACRES [Epic] 🗡🗡🗡🗡
For the last seven months, on the three nights of the full moon, Peregrine Bay has suffered a series of horrific murders. Find the killer and end its reign of terror.
SILENCE ON THE SHORE [Uncommon] 🗡🗡
For the last two weeks, no one has heard from the village of Piperrill. Go and investigate why this shoreline community has gone silent.
Joe felt the weight of the moment settle onto his back. Hawking had said they would be doable but potentially demanding.
His fate, his whole future potentially, would be decided by one of these tasks.
‘No pressure,’ he sighed mentally.
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