Chapter 15

Verdict

- Behold, the relativity of truth, the greatest lie told from the mouth of man -

The white doorway opened again. This time, standing there in robes of black, was Felix Vanyaga. He walked in, his black cloak swirling around him. The onlookers sitting in the chamber murmured in astonishment. Even Sir Alberoth seemed at loss for words.

"A watcher."

"This cannot be good."

"What does a watcher have to do with this?"

"It is obvious. He knows something we do not."

Thonavar heard the whispers echo around the chamber.

At the corner of his eye, he thought he saw his mother’s hopeful face peering down from where she sat.

Felix stopped and moved to stand next to Thonavar, clasping his hands together solemnly. His presence was comforting and for a moment, Thonavar felt entirely grateful for Felix’s help.

But remember. He is only doing this so that he can recruit you. Do not be fooled.

"Adjudicator", said the deep voice of Felix, echoing deeply around the cavernous courtroom. He wasted no time.

"I was present at the incident between young Ironhand and young Lardis. As I have taken Ironhand and his family into my protection, inferences of bias can be drawn against me and it would be fruitless to say anything else in Ironhand’s defence. However, I can explain to this courtroom the reasons why I chose to act in taking Ironhand and his family into my protection. I have little else to say, save for this."

Felix held out a microchip that he produced from within his robes for all in the courtroom to see.

"I have been able to capture a live replay of exactly what transpired through the use of a digital image capturer and the information is available in playback."

He held it up in the air.

"With your permission, adjudicator", waited Felix Vanyaga.

A moment of nervous silence followed.

Thonavar knew that what happened next would depend on whether the adjudicator considered the evidence submitted by Felix as admissible evidence.

"Permission granted, Felix Vanyaga", said the voice of the adjudicator.

At this, Thonavar relaxed considerably. Sir Alberoth gave a suppressed cry of rage, similar to that of a dying animal, that echoed softly throughout the courtroom. He looked at his advisors who sat behind him, mouthing the words: what is the meaning of this? However, the poor men looked absolutely stunned. They had not foreseen this. But Sir Alberoth thundered. His voice reverberating across the chamber.

"How could you have missed something like this you incompetent fools!"

"We had combed the area sir. We did not find any device of kind."

"You imbeciles, I had specifically instructed you to…".

"Silence!" The ajudicator’s voice boomed. "I will now attempt to activate the digital capturer."

Whispers of explanation and muffled cries of outrage continued to exchange between a frantic Sir Alberoth and his advisors. Thonavar’s nerves tingled with anticipation.

As Felix continued to hold the micro-chip in the air, a feeble blue shaft of light appeared from above, enveloping Felix’s open palm. The micro-chip floated from Felix’s open palm and into the air, caught in the soft blue light beam. Felix moved to stand beside Thonavar with hands clasped before him. Thonavar tried to make eye contact but Felix ignored him, facing solemnly and sternly to the front. Meanwhile, a humming sound was heard as the data was extracted and read by the adjudicator.

"Extracting data. Receiving data", boomed the voice of the adjudicator.

The blue light split and branched into many other lines of blue light and then joined back together, forming various shapes. Slowly, images began to form within the light and then image by image suddenly burst into colour, expanding many times its original size. The playback began and Thonavar marveled at the incredible holographic technology that allowed viewers to see the full range of images transpiring from the playback directly and from every angle of the courtroom.

A strange sensation gripped Thonavar as he watched himself in the playback. It was as though he was being transported back in time. In the images flashing before him, Thonavar saw himself walking unaware of the five figures moving quickly to surround him. Those watching gasped as the gang of boys rushed at the sole figure of the lone boy. The injustice of the situation was apparent.

All eyes were fixed on the images that were moving rapidly in real-time in mid-air. Even Sir Alberoth was transfixed, as though watching a replay of his own death.

Thonavar watched as Alexis charged at him with the knife, yelling at the top of his lungs. He watched as he dodged a blow from a club that would have put him in the hospice for several weeks. He watched, but not without a grimace, as he wrenched the knife from Alexis’ wrist before stabbing Alexis with it. Thonavar averted his eyes and looked to the ground in shame. He could no longer bear to look.

Finally, the playback came to an end. The blue light dissolved and faded and the micro-chip dropped back with an audible thud into Felix’s outstretched palm. Felix then moved to sit on a front row and Thonavar shifted from foot to foot uncertainly.

Silence reigned in the chamber.

Thonavar could almost hear his own heart pumping loudly. And he was sure everybody could hear it too. Such was the deafening silence.

"Proud of you Varu."

Thonavar looked up to see his mother smiling at him reassuringly. His father gave him an approving nod. Hope flared in his chest.

“Lies!” thundered Sir Alberoth suddenly, and his shout echoed across the chamber. But this time, he was met with a disgruntled silence.

"That is a false playback. It is…has…been engineered. That is not my son. That is not my Alexis!"

White-faced, he advanced on Thonavar menacingly. For a large man, he moved with surprising agility. He was shaking with anger and with each step he took toward Thonavar, the rolls of fat under his chin quivered in equivalent rhythm. "I’m going to make you suffer boy! How dare you!"

Alberoth moved closer to Thonavar. His eyes bulged and the folds of skin at his stomach threatened to burst open at the seams.

"Alexis has never used a knife before in his life! How dare you lie about my son!"

Shocked at Sir Aberoth’s violent cry of rage, Thonavar stood his ground but found himself unable to act. Things happened fast. Upon seeing the danger to Thonavar’s safety, Felix rose to his feet and barked a command to the two watchers who stood at the entrance. But they were already moving. Jesse and Mirya rose to their feet, Mirya wide-eyed and Jesse bristling in anger. Someone, possibly one of the Alberoth family members on the front row yelled for Sir Alberoth to stop., Thonavar made out people moving rapidly in the background but could only focus on the intimidatingly large figure of Sir Alberoth standing before Thonavar, pudgy fists raised, and seething with anger.

"My boy never had anything to do with gangs!" roared Sir Alberoth, his eyes bulging.

With a yell, he struck out a giant fist at Thonavar who decided that it was too late to dodge and prepared to receive the blow. His mind moved quickly and he had already planned his next move which was to side-step the man and take several steps away. He gritted his teeth and waited for the blow to land.

He is slow. I will be able to run around him.

But the blow never landed.

Thonavar blinked in surprise. Looking up, he saw Sir Alberoth with his right fist inches away from striking Thonavar’s head. More than that, Thonavar saw that Sir Alberoth trembled and saw fear in the man’s eyes. Thonavar followed his gaze.

Dark robes swirled around. A single finger pressed against the skin just below Alberoth’s knuckles.

"Restrain yourself Alberoth Lardis. Your actions are unbecoming of a noble of city above", said the tall, gaunt form of Dragba Damon softly. "Restrain yourself lest you bring the House of Lardis into further disrepute."

Dragba Damon removed his finger from the trembling fist of Sir Alberoth, who backed away in fear, his hand flopping down to his side.

Felix appeared suddenly. He stood there stern-faced with a tightened jaw. Thonavar could tell that he was furious. Lord Damon turned to Felix, placing a hand on his shoulder, and at this gesture, Felix appeared to relax, though he still looked slightly angry.

Sir Alberoth shook his head violently. He looked around, as though he had just awoken from a bad dream. The two dark-robed watchers escorted him back to his seat and, red-faced, he complied, going with them.

Just then, the adjudicator’s voice rang out in deafening volume. Thonavar clamped his hands over his ears for the voice of the adjudicator was so loud that it was painful to hear.

"We do not tolerate violence of any kind in the courtroom! Take your seats!" thundered the voice of the adjudicator.

Once the embarrassed form of Sir Alberoth had returned to his side of the chamber, the adjudicator’s voice rang out once more.

"We shall now resume proceedings. Order has since been restored thanks to the efforts of Lord Dragba Damon as observer. But, should anyone attempt to disrupt proceedings again, he or she will spend a night in a stasis cell. Let this be a warning to all. I shall now pronounce judgment."

At this, a hush fell over the courtroom once more and the chamber grew deadly quiet.

"It is the decision of this court", began the adjudicator, “to declare Thonavar Ironhand not guilty of any of the charges pressed by Sir Alberoth Lardis, on behalf of Alexis Lardis. There was sufficient evidence to establish the element of self-defence. As such, Master Ironhand is acquitted. He shall be free to go. This is the judgment of the court. Let no man question the law."

The judgment echoed throughout the courtroom and Thonavar closed his eyes. Someone cheered loudly. They had done it!

Relief flooded his body and his head spun. He felt light-headed.

It was over!

He saw Sir Alberoth being escorted out of the courtroom by the watchers along with the wardens he had brought as witnesses. Alberoth wore a look of defeat upon his face which was in stark contrast to the smug look he had carried when he had first looked upon Thonavar. For a brief moment, Thonavar pitied the man. He realised now why Alexis was the way he was.

Like father, like son, he thought to himself.

He turned to the two dark figures who walked up to him. They had been talking softly with each other as they walked and now, standing before Thonavar, they both were watched him intently. Both had their hands clasped before them.

"Thank you", said Thonavar to them both, bowing respectfully.

"Oh, do not thank me young Ironhand", replied the Lord Damon, turning from him. His cheeks were hollow and his eyes, sunken.

"I think we must all thank master Felix", he continued, walking away, his dark cloak billowing around his feet, "for it was he who requested that I stand in as observer today. And that is the only reason I am here this day."

And he turned back once more to look at Thonavar, a wry smile on his skeletal features, and then he walked out of the courtroom, disappearing behind a corner. Felix saw the smirk on Felix’s face as he watched the tall and guant man leave the chamber.

Mirya flung her arms around Thonavar while Jesse patted him on the shoulder.

"You fought well." Thonavar heard his father mumble. There was even a hint of pride in his voice. Thonavar smiled.

"Oh Varu", said Mirya, hugging him tightly, and Thonavar squirmed in her embrace.

"You were incredible. You were so clam! Oh, how did you manage to keep so calm? And that man. What a terrible man! How could he accuse you -…".

"I am sorry to interrupt. Though there is good cause for celebration today, there is still much to be done", said Felix, solemnly.

"What!" cried Thonavar indignantly. "Is it not over?"

"Ah so you have forgotten our agreement then?"

"I have not."

"Good. Get some rest. Celebrate over a meal with your parents. We have scored a victory today. But tomorrow awaits."

"What is happening tomorrow?"

"Stranger things than today. Trials and tribulation. For tomorrow, you will be sorely tested."