Heroes' Reward (30 page)

As was the fact
that Green had arranged to have that particular piece of music performed,
knowing of the effect it would have on Aryne. It wasn’t against the rules. So,
well played.

The cow.

Chapter Thirty-Three

The next
morning, Taro and I went to Aryne and Druce’s tent for breakfast. The tension
was thick.

“You two all
right?” Taro asked.

“Aryne’s still
sulking because she didn’t win all of the tests yesterday,” Druce answered
calmly.

Aryne glared at
her. “This is important.”

“You have two
more days to prove yourself. And you will.”

Aryne didn’t
appear at all soothed by this.

“You need to
eat,” Druce continued.

“Don’t tell me
what to do,” Aryne snapped.

“Don’t show such
a lack of respect for your Source,” I admonished her.

Taro looked at
me and cocked an eyebrow, appearing amused.

I refused to
feel like a hypocrite. So, fine, perhaps my behaviour hadn’t been above
reproach just after we had been Bonded, but he’d acted like a complete prat at
our very first meeting, flirting not only with me but with my entire family.
Including my parents. I couldn’t have appeared to condone that behaviour by
being all smiles and kind words.

He’d deserved
it. Really.

Aryne grumbled
and finally let out a, “Sorry.”

So much a child,
right then.

After breakfast,
we collected our usual crew as we left the camp. Sato greeted Aryne and asked,
“How are you feeling?”

And Aryne, her
shoulders loose, her stride easy, smiled at him. “Ready for anything.”

I always found
it a little disturbing when people flipped from one manner to another so
quickly.

Sato didn’t seem
to find her behaviour at all strange. “Excellent.”

Once we reached
the palace, we were taken back to the court room. On one side of the room, a
long table had been placed. It was covered with scrolls, books, and stacks of
paper. Four people sat at the table. Solicitor Natson, Solicitor Grinberg,
Barrister Dawkins, and Barrister Trayvon.

“Lady Aryne,”
said Firen. “Perhaps you would like to explain why we are here.”

“We are being
tested on our knowledge of law,” Aryne answered promptly.

“Correct. And
during this test, the contenders may not seek information or any other
assistance from others. I suggest all companions take seats to avoid any claims
of violation of the rules.”

There weren’t
enough empty seats to allow us to all sit together, so we were sprinkled among
the spectators. Taro was beside me, but I still felt vulnerable, especially as
we weren’t within an easy distance of any of the doors. If Green’s supporters
decided to turn on us, we’d be helpless.

Barrister
Dawkins opened a book, flipping to a particular page. Firen took it from him,
referring to it as he said, “Let us begin with the sentences for convictions
concerning the pretence of engaging in casting. If you would, Lady Aryne.”

Aryne answered
without hesitation. “The convicted are flogged according to the precise nature
of their crime. If one owns any books of casts, they receive a lash for each
book. Performance of a spell – ”

“An alleged
spell,” Green interjected loudly.

Did that count
as an error on Aryne’s part?

Aryne just kept
going. “ – brings five lashes. An attempt at a love spell is an extra lash.
Damaging someone’s property brings a further ten lashes. Twenty lashes for each
instance of collecting, possession, selling, or consumption of human ashes.”

When I’d first
read those laws, it hadn’t occurred to me that there was a huge, gaping hole in
the list of offences, because at that time it had never occurred to me that
people could use casts to kill each other. Possibly, at that time, few had. But
things were different. Why hadn’t murder been added?

I didn’t think
owning books or casting harmless spells should be punished. Murder was another
story altogether.

“Lady Green, if
you would please inform us of the ladder of punishments for theft.”

Green responded
just as easily as Aryne had. “A theft on the street is comprised of two crimes,
the attack and the theft of the item. A conviction of theft of the item can
result in a sentence of fifteen days to four months of labour, depending on the
value of the item. The labour can be performed directly for the victim or, if
the victim needs no work performed by the perpetrator, the Crown. The attack on
the victim can bring a sentence of two to six months, depending on the severity
of the victim’s injuries. And, of course, it is possible for the perpetrator to
pay a fee to satisfy the needs of the victim and avoid other sanctions.”

I always thought
that loophole, being able to pay a fine to get out of labour and incarceration,
was terribly unfair. If some wealthy person committed the theft – on a lark,
for example – he would be able to shrug off the consequences with a payment,
while those who couldn’t pay suffered terribly. While in prison, they could
lose their jobs and be rendered unable to take care of dependents. They could
suffer ripple effects that could ultimately destroy more lives than their own.
Identical convictions and sentences that had a significantly different impact
on the lives of the perpetrators: that was a problem.

Toss the wealthy
in prison, too. That would inspire them to work for true justice. Aryne should
work on that once she was Empress.

Green’s question
was much more complex than Aryne’s. She spent considerable time describing the
details of different forms of theft and the sentences inflicted for them.

I wondered at
the imbalance and Firen’s motives in creating it. On the one hand, he could be
giving Aryne simpler questions to help her along. On the other, Green’s display
was much more impressive, and might end up convincing people she really did
have a better handle on the law.

The test went on
for hours. It was less boring than watching cooking, slightly, but the length
of the challenge had me melting into fatigue, and I didn’t know how Aryne and
Green were able to stay sharp. They were given no rest and no refreshment. They
weren’t even allowed to sit.

I was
particularly proud of Aryne when Firen asked her to describe a prostitution law
and she was able to say it had been struck off the books eight years prior.
Remembering something that had been a law but was no longer, that had to be
more difficult than remembering laws that were still in effect.

It was
infuriating when, at the conclusion of the test, Ogawa found in favour of Green
and the other two reserved judgment.

Thax and Ovan
couldn’t decide between Green and Aryne. While I could sympathise with their
difficulty in making a decision, as both of the contenders had answered each
question accurately, there were only two days left to the code, and they would
be judging each task that would follow. They wouldn’t be given much time for
contemplation, so what would a delay accomplish?

At the end of
that long day, we returned to the camp and Druce took Aryne away to bathe and
eat and not talk for a while. Everyone else left her alone so her mind could
settle in peace.

In our tent,
Taro and I ate soup and I drank coffee to clear my head. We spoke little and
Taro looked as tired as I felt. It didn’t make sense. How could sitting and
watching other people talk be so exhausting?

“Can I come in?”
Browne called.

“Of course,”
said Taro.

Browne ducked
in, but she didn’t sit. “I think Aryne should take some kyrra powder,” she
announced abruptly. “Now hear me out,” she said when I opened my mouth to
object. “I’m pretty sure Green has been taking it.”

Green’s
behaviour had appeared a little uncharacteristic. More emotional than usual.
Kyrra powder could do that to people. “I think Aryne should strive to appear
more honourable than Green,” I said.

“Kyrra powder
isn’t illegal and it’s not against the rules.”

I sighed,
because that was true. It was just that I was hearing that excuse about the
rules so often, and it disturbed me.

“What does Aryne
say about it?” Taro asked.

“I have spoken
to her yet.”

“Why not?”

Browne looked
surprised. “I don’t know. I just … I don’t know.”

Taro grinned.
“We’re not her parents. We don’t have any authority over her.”

“Everyone thinks
you do, you know.”

“I doubt she
does.”

“You might be in
for a surprise.”

“We have
authority over no one,” I reminded her.

She shrugged.
“At the very least, she’ll want your advice. Will you come with me when I talk
to her?”

“Of course.”
Except I wasn’t sure how to advise Aryne. I really didn’t like the idea of her
using the powder, but she had another test that night to get through, and
further tests the next day. She needed to win, and if Green was using the
powder already ....

I hated this,
all of these underhanded tactics.

We found Druce
brushing Aryne’s hair, which had always helped Aryne calm down.

“Lady Aryne,”
said Browne. “I have a suggestion.”

Aryne seemed too
tired to speak, merely raising her eyebrows in inquiry.

“I don’t
recommend this easily, without thought, but it’s important to all of us that
you’re successful.” Browne hesitated again. It wasn’t like her to draw things
out. She was clearly uncomfortable. “I think you should use kyrra powder for
the rest of the contest.”

Aryne didn’t
respond immediately. She didn’t look enthusiastic about the idea. This pleased
me, that she wasn’t leaping at the possibility of grabbing an advantage that
might be considered illegitimate. Or at least dishonourable.

“I know Green is
using it,” Browne continued. “You held your own against her today, but after
tonight, I fear you’ll fall behind if she has this advantage over you. You’re
younger, you’re stronger, but the kyrra powder will balance that out for Green.
Unless you take it, too.”

Aryne scowled.
“I saw what happened to Leavy when she used it. I’ll take it at night and then
fall apart in the morning and be unable to perform the rest of the tests. How
is this a good idea?”

“You won’t take
just one dose. You’ll have to take it throughout the night and tomorrow, so the
effects won’t have a chance to wear off until after the challenge is done. And
yes, you’ll feel awful afterwards.”

Aryne rubbed her
face. “What do you think?” she asked Druce.

“I think you
should do it,” Druce answered without hesitation. It surprised me, she was so
quick.

“Shintaro?”

“I don’t think
you have a choice.”

“Leavy?”

I hated this so
much. “I think you have to.”

Aryne sighed.
“All right.”

“This is
serious,” Browne cautioned.

“It’s all serious.”

“Don’t you think
you should give it more thought?”

“Do you have
more information to give me?”

“No.”

“Then it’s
obvious there’s nothing else to be done.”

Aryne had always
been one for making swift decisions.

I just had to
give her one little warning. “It tastes vile.”

She snickered.
“You wouldn’t believe some of the things I’ve eaten.”

“I’d rather not
know.”

She grinned, and
I realised I’d made a mistake.

After hearing
about all the horrible things Aryne had had to resort to eating while on
Flatwell, I was nauseated almost to the point of vomiting. And I would never be
able to forget her vivid descriptions. “Thanks.”

“You’re most
welcome.”

Brat.

Browne gave her
the kyrra powder. Aryne grimaced at the taste, despite her vast experiences
with foul substances. A short while later, a weird light grew into her eyes,
and her frame went rigid.

The ballroom was
the location of the next test. We were allowed to enter only after Aryne
identified the components of the test. Once inside, I saw that several articles
had been dragged into the room and formed into a large oval. Solid hurdles had
been constructed from wood, with rungs built into them. They were portable and
would have had no other function, so they’d probably been built just for this
occasion.

Between the
hurdles were tables, pushed close to the walls, a person standing at each one.

In preparation
for the test, both Aryne and Green had dressed in form-fitting shirts and
trousers, and boots with slightly rippled soles. Their hair was tightly bound
into braids to keep it out of their eyes and face. They wore no jewellery.

They were
dressed for movement.

“If Lady Green
would take her place.” Firen pointed at one side of the room. “And if Lady
Aryne would take her place there.” The other side of the room.

This wasn’t a
race. It was a test of endurance. They would keep running until someone
dropped.