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Riverside Security Office


“Really,” the lady snapped as she came into the inquiry room, “could this not have waited until sometime after dawn?”

“My apologies, Councilor,” said the security officer, standing up from behind the table. “The law is clear. Should a suspect call for support, as of an employer, a patron, a commander, or a lawyer, that support must be registered to the case no later than three hours after the demand is made.”

seelyFaire stared at him.

“How if I had been away from home?”

“Then an extension would have been filed, ma’am, which is extra expense for all, and more time before a proper resolution is made. So, it’s fortunate that you were home.”

“And asleep,” seelyFaire said pointedly. She sat in the chair opposite the officer. “Since I’m here, let’s get this over with. Who has called me to their defense?”

“As I said when we spoke on the comm,” Security said, seating himself with care, “the suspect does not care to give his name—only yours.”

“May I mention that this is open to abuse? Anyone might decide to call upon a Council member at any hour of the day or night.”

“We did have a Truthseer verify the information, Councilor. The suspect believes that you are his patron.”

seelyFaire sighed sharply.

“Now, because this is a case of material harm, there are remote observers monitoring this proceeding, to ensure that all is done properly. In addition, this session is being recorded. When we begin, the suspect will be brought in, with his guard, and the Truthseer. I must warn you that the suspect is under restraint. This is standard for all suspects of violent acts. You will be asked to verify your relationship with the suspect.”

“I understand. May we proceed?”

“Yes, Councilor. As this is a case of material harm, there are witnesses. They will be escorted in after verification has been made. The witnesses will present their evidence under the scrutiny of the Truthseer. The suspect will then be allowed to give his evidence, also scrutinized by the Truthseer. Do you understand the procedure, Councilor?”

“I do, but I wonder why I am here at all. If material harm has been done, I certainly did not—”

“In the case, the suspect has named you as his patron,” Security repeated. “We will be seeking to discover if his actions were performed under your patronage.”

seelyFaire drew a deep breath.

“If it is found that material harm was done as a result of the suspect’s relationship with you, then you will share the penalty.”

She closed her eyes.

“Have you any questions, Councilor?”

“I have not,” she said. “Let’s get this farce over with.”

“As you say.” He raised his voice slightly. “Please bring in the suspect.”

The door opened. A portly man in a torn puce jacket, hair braided tightly against his head, entered, escorted by a woman in the uniform of City Security. The man’s hands were bound before him, and there was tape over his mouth, which argued that he was a Persuader. There was a steely shimmer outlining his person, which would be the restraint provided by his guard.

Following them both was a robed Truthseer, hood pulled up.

The suspect was stopped at the foot of the table. The Truthseer took up position in the corner, where they would have access to the entire room.

“Councilor seelyFaire,” said the Security officer. “Please give your name and position, so that the Truthseer may Hear you.”

She did so. The Truthseer inclined slightly.

“I have my range, Officer bilVenta.”

“Good.”

He turned to address the Councilor.

“Since a complaint has been filed, and we do have witnesses, the Truthseer will only speak out if a lie or an ambiguity is detected. At the end of witnessed testimony, she will make a statement, which is for the benefit of the observers, and those who will review the recording.

“Have you any questions, Councilor?”

“I do not.”

“Then we begin. Councilor seelyFaire, do you know who this person is?”

seelyFaire frowned, her eyes sweeping the suspect from braids to boots, then turned to Officer bilVenta.

“I believe him to be Jewlyus firnPeltir,” she said, slowly.

“And are you his patron?”

Her frown grew more decided.

“I am a sponsor of the organization of which he is the second officer,” she said. “One among a dozen, perhaps more.”

“What is the name of this organization?”

“The Protectors of Civilization,” seelyFaire said.

“And what is your relationship with this organization?”

“My name is on their letterhead,” she said, still frowning. “I attend various of their functions, when my schedule permits, and occasionally give talks or presentations.”

She turned sharply to look into bilVenta’s face.

“I am not a patron,” she said, “not of the organization, and certainly not of Luzant firnPeltir.”

“That,” said the Truthseer, “is ambiguous.”

seelyFaire threw up her hands.

“I acknowledge it,” she said, and looked to the officer. “How do we proceed?”

“As the suspect believes you to be his patron, and your own truth is ambiguous, prudence dictates that we proceed as if you are the suspect’s patron.”

seelyFaire sighed.

“May I know what he has done?”

“Yes.” He turned to those standing at the end of the table. “The suspect will be seated.”

This was done. Officer bilVenta rose, and poured four glasses of water from the pitcher at the end of the table. He put one at his place, one by seelyFaire’s hand, and the other two at the empty chairs next to her.

Reseating himself, he sipped water, sighed and raised his voice slightly.

“Please admit the witnesses.”

The door opened, and Majel ziaGorn entered, slowly, paced by a stern-faced woman in livery, who immediately stepped forward and pulled a chair out.

“Principal ziaGorn,” she murmured. “Please sit, sir. You’re not yet fully recovered from your wound.”

“Wound?” seelyFaire repeated. “What has happened, Councilor?”

He glanced at her, his face pale and drawn.

“That,” he said, “is what I am about to relate.”

* * *

Majel came to an end of his story, and groped for his glass of water. His head had started to hurt again, though nothing like previously. He rather wished he could lie down.

“Surda ziaGorn has given a true accounting,” the Truthseer said, that being for the record, and the witnesses.

seelyFaire had long since replaced irritation and even puzzlement with the cool expression of a councilor hearing testimony.

“Luzant Seylin atBuro, chief of security at Cardfall Casino, may now give her testimony,” declared Officer bilVenta.

She did so, wonderfully succinct, stating that she had Seen the suspect’s signature when she had apprehended him at the casino. She added that the signature had previously been found in the casino, with regard to an expensive piece of equipment, repeatedly Intending its failure.

She paused for a sip of water, and added, “I Saw the suspect’s signature a third time at another scene of mischief.”

The security officer frowned.

“What was the nature of that mischief, and how did you happen to See the suspect’s signature?”

“The school at Pacazahno Village was vandalized,” Seylin answered calmly. “Many pieces of student art were destroyed, and the library also. Several of the readers had apparently been selected for particular abuse. The Village Administrator had called in aid from Ribbon Dance Village, and one of those who answered was a psychometric. She was able to isolate the signature, and share it with the rest of us assisting.”

The security officer frowned.

“A Haosa psychometric?”

“That is correct. Very skilled and careful.”

The security officer pressed his lips together, and drew a breath, but seelyFaire was before him.

“A school?” she demanded. “Were— There were no injuries?”

Seylin faced her. “No injuries, Councilor. The mischief was carried out in the early hours, before school began.” She glanced to Officer bilVenta.

“Have you more information, Luzant atBuro?” he asked.

“Sadly, it is hearsay, sir. I was not able to detect the alleged emotion, so cannot confirm that the pertinent signature bore a freight of hatred.”

“That,” said the Truthseer, “is a manipulation.”

Seylin smiled and inclined her head.

“It is, yes,” she admitted, folding her hands.

“The manipulative statement will be removed from the record,” Officer bilVenta stated. “Luzant atBuro, have you any more to say that is pertinent to this event?”

“No, Officer. I am through.”

He reached for his glass and drank water, then looked to the foot of the table.

“The suspect will now answer,” he said.

The guard stepped forward, and pulled the tape from the suspect’s mouth.

“You will state your name,” Officer bilVenta said.

“Jewlyus firnPeltir, Telekinetic and Psychokinetic.”

There was a pause.

Officer bilVenta looked to the corner where the Truthseer stood.

“That is,” she said finally, “the Truth.”

“You are called to answer the complaint made against you,” Officer bilVenta said to firnPeltir.

“My patron, Councilor seelyFaire, will speak for me.”

“I am not,” seelyFaire said, in her Council-table voice, “your patron. I am a sponsor of the Protectors of Civilization. You are the second officer of that organization. I do not materially support you, nor do I give you orders.”

“Oh, but you gave us our orders, didn’t you?” firnPeltir said, with a knowing smile. “You spoke at meetings, and at our rallies. You told us—all of us!—how important it was to Civilization that the Deaf accept the guidance of their betters! That we couldn’t go forward until there were no more factions—the Deaf brought under the protection of the Civilized and the Haosa Healed!”

seelyFaire made a small sound, rather like a whimper, and drew breath as if she would speak.

Before she could do so, however, the Truthseer stirred.

“This is True, in that Luzant firnPeltir believes what he says.”

Officer bilVenta turned to seelyFaire.

“Has Luzant firnPeltir told the truth, Councilor?”

She raised a face that was ravaged.

“It is not—it is . . . almost true,” she said, stringently. “He heard far more than I said, and certainly far more than I intended. What is factually true is that, yes, I did speak at meetings and rallies of the Protectors of Civilization on the topic of reinstating the patronage system, as the fairest and best way of ensuring that all living under the aegis of Civilization would be treated equally. I have never advocated targeting our Deaf citizens with violence.”

“That,” said the Truthseer, “is true.”


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