Martin flew out of the Cathedral, livid. The High Elders had snuck around him again. He chastised himself for thinking they had learned their lesson and changed their ways. He could never trust his colleagues after this.
There wasn’t enough time to get a carriage. He ran for the raised platform a few roads down, gasping for air. The note had appeared on his desk when he came up from his study at the library from Nathaniel. A simple question as to whether or not he knew Tolomon was getting flogged for indecency today.
Martin climbed the stairs of the platform, heading straight for Navir who watched the guards set up the post with two hooks in it. “This is wrong, Navir.”
“An issue of indecency was brought before us. We are simply getting ready to punish the offender,” Navir said.
“I was never told of it. You decided this without me,” Martin said.
“It doesn’t need majority vote,” Navir said.
“But it does need to have every High Elder aware of it. You deliberately went behind my back.”
“Your worth as a High Elder is becoming less certain as more evidence of your own transgressions are brought to light,” Navir said.
Martin was ready to make a retort. He wanted to tell Navir exactly what was on his mind, but Tolomon approached, with Indenuel remaining nearby. Despite Tolomon not showing one emotion on his face, the boy next to him did not bother hiding the distaste he had for all of them. Tolomon bowed. “High Elders.”
“Hello, Tolomon. Are you ready to begin?” Navir asked.
“Of course,” Tolomon said, not concerned at all.
Martin knew this conversation was not done, and he also knew Navir would try every tactic in the book to avoid it, but this was illegal. Navir couldn’t just sidestep this.
They sat down, except for Martin. They didn’t even bother having a chair for him. Martin stood, folding his arm, glaring at the others.
“Tolomon the Graduate of the common class. You have received a note concerning your transgression?” Navir asked.
“I have,” Tolomon said.
“And you did not wish to fight it?”
“No sir. I did indeed touch Inessa’s waist in order to protect her. If that is an issue which I must be lashed for, then I will take the lashing.”
“Then fifteen lashes you will have.” Navir seemed to look around as though expecting Nathaniel.
“Fifteen?” Martin asked, not bothering to hide the incredulousness in his voice.
“He’s a Graduate. He must have the full brunt of the law. Clearly he doesn’t care. We must make him learn,” Navir said.
Indenuel’s eyes narrowed, glaring at him as guards came and placed irons on Tolomon, forcing him to kneel. “May it be known that you have touched her inappropriately for someone in your position. This is a grievous transgression before God, and you must remember your place if you are to rest easy in the next life.”
Tolomon watched, his face unreadable. “Of course, sirs.” Martin closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Not only was this pointless, but completely illegal. He would give Navir hell for this later. He’d also have to talk to Indenuel about his power he has as husband of Inessa. If he knew about this, he could have stopped this from ever happening by simply agreeing that Tolomon had a right as a bodyguard to do what he needed to. He’d have to make a note to talk to Indenuel later.
“Does anyone object to the sentence?” Navir asked.
There was a beat of silence. “I do!”
Martin honestly expected it to be Nathaniel, but he realized it wasn’t his son’s voice at all. Tolomon, whose face was unreadable, let a frown drop before he turned his head to see a man walk up the steps.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“State your name and rank,” Navir said.
“Mariano the Graduate of the noble class, sir,” the man said, bowing.
“What are you doing here?” Tolomon asked.
“Oh stop, Tolomon. You were in a room of us old Graduates itching to use our skills one last time to show off. Did you not think one of us would find out what that letter contained?” Mariano asked.
“I mean, I assumed as much, but what are you-”
“I object too!” someone else called, climbing up the stairs and giving a bow. “Thiago the Graduate of the noble class, sir.”
“What are both of you doing here?” Tolomon hissed.
“Making certain you never mention my damn leg again, that’s what,” Thiago said.
“I object to the sentencing as well!” someone else called.
Navir’s eyes narrowed, and Martin couldn’t help but smile. “Anyone who objects to the sentencing please come forward. Form a line for Dalius to write down your name and rank.”
Tolomon’s frown deepened as seventeen more men came onto the platform. Tolomon got to his feet. “Stop, fifteen lashes aren’t that bad.”
“No, it’s not. What’s bad is the noble class assuming they can whip a common class Graduate for doing their damn job,” Mariano said.
“It’s… it’s actually…”
“Normal?” Thiago asked. “Yeah. That’s the problem. Common class Graduates have taken shit from the pompous nobles too much. So, we’re doing what you suggested last night. We’re forming a support system. Fighting back against injustice.”
“But…” Tolomon started to say before closing his mouth again.
Mariano stood next to Tolomon and turned toward Navir. “We’d like to say for the record, sir, that Tolomon was doing his job. And I doubt very much God is sobbing in the heavens because he touched the girl’s waist to make sure she stayed safe. We all know Tolomon personally. He’s everything a Graduate should be.” Mariano placed a hand on Tolomon’s shoulder, pointing at him. “If this man is on an assignment, he could strip an unconscious woman naked, hold her flat against him through a dark, abandoned inn past a dozen empty beds, and arrive out of it without a hint of arousal. Not to say he’s one of your flooders, though. It took an abnormally large bottle of North Dengrian liquor, but I got this man drunk enough once that he said everything he’d do to his secret lover. And after those descriptions-” Mariano let out a low whistle. “Believe me, she is most definitely a woman. Quite sure all of Santollia will hear when he finally beds that lady. She’ll be squealing all night because Tolomon has more than one gift from God, if you know what I mean.”
Tolomon stared at the High Elders, his face unreadable as always. Navir glared at Mariano, one finger against his forehead, the other close to the corner of his mouth. “None of that is going in the record.”
Mariano shrugged, patting Tolomon on the back. “I mean, it’s important evidence for the situation at hand. Don’t see why we can’t add that in.”
Navir rubbed his fingers against his face like he was dealing with infants he was unable to abandon. On the other side, Indenuel covered his mouth to keep in a laugh.
“Alright, I have everyone,” Dalius said. “Nineteen men, all Graduates of the noble class, object to the punishment.”
Navir ground his teeth. Tolomon, much to Martin’s surprise, became overwhelmed with emotion and looked down at his feet. “We shall discuss this new development and get back with you,” Navir said.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Martin said. “It is too harsh a punishment for a man doing his job. Inessa was in danger, and Tolomon kept her safe. All Graduates should be allowed some leniency in the chastity laws when on an assignment.”
“There’s nineteen of us here. That means whoever accused Tolomon falsely of unchaste actions needs four lashes,” Thiago said.
“It would be inappropriate to whip Lord Zacharias. He will never-” Navir was drowned out as Thiago let out a whoop, turning to the other men.
“Did I not tell you it would be Lord Zacharias! Coin in the palm, boys. Bring me that gold,” Thiago said, pointing to his hand. Martin smiled as he watched Thiago collecting coins from the grumbling Graduates. Navir’s nostrils flared before he stood up, marching past the men. Dalius and Fadrique were confused before they, too, assumed the trial was done. Thiago finished collecting his coins as the guards unlocked Tolomon’s irons.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Tolomon said, rubbing his wrists as Dalius and Fadrique left. “I guess I shall miss talking about Thiago’s leg.”
“Don’t worry about it, Tolomon,” Thiago said, playing with the stack of gold coins in his palm. “I know you all use it as a defense mechanism when the conversation gets too personal. My leg can take it.”
“Like it took-”
“Took the tree trunk, I get it,” Thiago filled in for Mariano before flipping a gold coin. “Still got your coin, though.”
Indenuel walked on the platform, heading toward Tolomon. There was the briefest moment where Martin caught his gaze, and he sensed a coolness from the boy he did not expect. No, more than coolness. Indenuel was walking over to his bodyguard, but it was somehow clear in the boy’s body language that he was protecting Tolomon from Martin. It wasn’t just the three High Elders that left, Indenuel had a strong hatred for Martin, too. Martin frowned, seeing the emotion before the boy turned, receiving a pat from his bodyguard. Martin wracked his memory for what he could have done, then remembered the conversation with Nathaniel and giving permission to tell Inessa and Indenuel his darkest secret. The one he was so certain would make Indenuel never want to work with him again. It looked like he was right.
Martin turned, walking away from the platform. He wanted to talk to Tolomon, make Indenuel aware of his power as husband of Inessa, but it seemed like right now Indenuel might be in danger of attempting to murder him again, and he wouldn’t put the boy through that. He needed time away from Martin, and Martin would gladly give him that.
He wished he could abandon himself too, at times.