The Ardoon King Read online

  Chapter 75: Probation

  The four of them sat in Wilfred Barnum’s office at his sizeable conference table. The attorney and Persipia sat on one side, Fiela and a drugged-up Thal on the other.

  Barnum reviewed the charges and cleared his throat. “You’ve got copies of the formal documents, but in summary, Lady Thalassa is accused of plotting against the royal family, violating the eugenics codes, adultery, and conduct unbecoming of a lady. The first two of these normally merit death, the last two loss of title, station, and even citizenship.”

  He looked at Thal. “These are not small things. However, you are being considered for parole because, as of yet, the evidence is circumstantial, and Annasa Fiela, representing the royal family, waives the right of prosecution for the alleged plot, absent evidence.”

  Placing the charge sheet on his desk, he said, “Parole is impossible if you protest your innocence and wish a trial. Death is mandatory if you proclaim your guilt. My understanding, then, is that you intend to plead ‘no contest’ and seek parole for fear of vigilante justice. Is that correct?”

  Thal, her mind soothed by the drug Fiela had given her, remained calm. “Yes.”

  Barnum nodded his approval, not liking surprises. He turned to Persipia. “Lady, you have been selected as dominus. Lady Thalassa is thus your wardum. This means that you may dictate the penalties for the crimes. All are allowed, save execution, of course.”

  He turned to Fiela. “Annasa, you represent the harmed parties, those being the royal family and the Fifth Kingdom. You have the right to negotiate the penalties. If you cannot reach an agreement with Lady Persipia, a trial must ensue, though, as we are all aware, it is unlikely Lady Thalassa would survive until trial.”

  “I understand, Wily,” said Fiela.

  “As do I,” said Persipia, allowing the briefest smile, intended to convey cordialness without downplaying the levity of the situation. “If the royal family does not intend to prosecute Lady Thalassa for plotting against them, I have no interest in imposing the penalties related to that charge.”

  “Thank you,” said Fiela.

  Persipia dipped her head. “The penalties for violating the eugenics code are the next-most serious, are they not?”

  Barnum nodded. “Indeed. In fact, they are mandatory, except in a situation such as this, where a queen has intervened with the king’s consent.”

  “What are they?” asked Persipia, looking into Thal’s glazed eyes.

  “For males, castration. For a female, genital mutilation, which is to say, female circumcision, and tubal litigation.”

  Hearing this, Thal howled and began to quietly sob. No sedative was strong enough to block the punishments Barnum had described from climbing into her mind.

  Fiela put an arm around the woman and gave Barnum and angry look. “Did you need to do that, Wily?”

  Barnum flipped his hands palms up and shook his head, his mouth open. He seemed genuinely apologetic. “I’m sorry, Annasa,” he stuttered. “I…um…” He glanced at Persipia, as if she might help him, but she had tactfully turned to face away from him.

  “I thought you were a gentleman!” exclaimed Fiela.

  Barnum’s face reddened. “The question was asked, lass!”

  “Could you have not just shown Persy your stupid book?”

  “Perhaps I should-

  “Surely those terrible things are for someone convicted of the crime,” interrupted Fiela. “Thal hasn’t been convicted. There is no evidence against her. She seeks only to preserve her life.”

  “Yes, lass,” said Barnum, trying to appear conciliatory. “But Lady Persipia did request that I identify the penalties, and she has the right to demand any of them, if she wishes them as a condition of probation.”

  Persipia said, “The penalties for adultery are surely less severe?”

  “They are,” said Barnum, looking at Fiela questioningly.

  Still cradling Thal, the queen said, “Go ahead. Speak them. You can do not worse than you have.”

  Barnum sighed and ran his finger along the page of a book in front of him. “Prohibition of marriage, restrictions from interactions with members of the opposite – or preferred – sex, marking of the body or the wearing of an insignia denoting the crime…”

  The man grunted and flipped the page, shaking his head. “There are dozens, lass. They vary according to gender. For a woman, they include other things like removal of all hair, either once or on a permanent basis; prohibitions against the use of cosmetics; prohibitions against jewelry or fine clothing; limited or no interaction with children; isolation from social functions; isolation in terms of communication with others…it goes on and on.”

  Persipia said, “It would be best if you just let me read them, Wily. It will save the lady the trauma of hearing them.”

  Looking relieved, Barnum obliged, quickly sliding the book to the woman. “Please also look at the pages I’ve bookmarked regarding ‘conduct unbecoming a lady.’”

  “As you say.”

  Persipia read the range of penalties as Fiela squeezed and rocked the accused, whispering words of comfort and occasionally giving Persipia and Barnum a sideways glance.

  At length, Persipia said, “Wily, the penalties would be more severe if there was evidence of the crimes. But Lady Thalassa maintains her innocence and the king cannot be questioned on such matters.” She looked at Thal. “I will have leniency shown, given the lack of evidence, but would require the strongest penalties, if evidence were to surface.”

  Fiela nodded. “Then you will show leniency.”

  “Yes, Annasa, but if the penalties are to satisfy the citizens and nobles, they must be seen as reasonably severe. I will list my demands, on behalf of the kingdom, but wish to include a caveat that if evidence surfaces later, the harshest punishments must be enacted. I say this not because I believe the lady has committed a crime, but because it will send a signal to the king’s subjects that such crimes are viewed very seriously. If we seem too lenient, we encourage further crimes of this sort, and, worse, the lady will be killed, as this hearing will be considered as a fraud and travesty of justice.”

  Barnum nodded and glanced at Fiela. “Aye, lass. She’s right. I know you want the lady protected, but you must not go too far or you will defeat your own purpose entirely. The punishment has to be seen as suitable to the crime or someone, somewhere, will take matters into his – or her – own hands.”

  Fiela put her head atop Thal’s. “What do you require, Persy?”

  “The more severe of the lesser punishments, and the less severe of the greater punishments.”

  “Go on,” said Barnum, picking up a pen. He looked at Fiela. “Annasa, please do not interrupt. You can protest the recommendations when she is done. Agreed?”

  Fiela nodded, wiping away her own tears, and the attorney looked again toward Persipia.

  Persipia flipped a page in the book. “For ‘conduct unbecoming,’ she will forfeit her title as ‘lady,’ and be registered as a citizen. She will also be disinherited.”

  Ignoring Thal’s moans, Persipia flipped to another bookmark. “For adultery, she will be forbidden all forms of communication with others unless I am present and have granted permission. She is prohibited from marrying or bearing children. She is prohibited from ever being alone, for any reason, and must remain with an escort I designate if I am unavailable. She will dress plainly and is forbidden the use of all cosmetics, jewelry, or other fineries. Her head will be shaved and kept shaved. She is prohibited contact with children. Further, as dominus, I require obedience in all matters and reserve the right to punish her in any way I see fit, and to have her punished by others, and demand immunity for all actions.”

  She turned to another section and chewed on her lip. “For the eugenics violation she is prohibited contact with males and shall be circumcised.”

  Thal was uncontrollable by the time Persipia finished. Her cries were so loud that Barnum had to lean his head toward Persipia to
be sure he heard her right. Fiela, despite her immense strength, struggled to maintain the woman, who thrashed violently in her arms and seemed to be having a seizure.

  Fiela yelled, “Look what you have done to her, you monsters! Call a doctor! Damn you to hell!” She buried her face in the woman’s shoulder. “Oh, Thal! What have they done to you?”

  When she lifted her head, Barnum and Persipia jumped from their chairs and lurched backwards. Fiela’s face had gone white and her eyes were each as bright as the sun. Blood trickled from her mouth and over her chin as she bared her teeth and leaned toward them with unnatural speed. It was like watching a scene from a movie with ten missing frames.

  In a voice that did not sound at all like the girl’s, she screamed, “I’ll kill you both!”