As we organize ourselves for court, I scanned the crowd.

That god damned mother fucking scumbag dares show their face again.

A breath, two more calms me, and I take up a position near them, eyeing the integrity of their rifle, judging how easily I could ruin it over my knee.

As Felix made his presentation, the depth of how we were fucked began to set in, how much food we were behind, and what it would take to survive.

“If you mention drudgery again, I’ll kill your house”

All the Valerians present snap their gaze to the speaker, A lazy warlord content to let scum steal from hardworking peasants, who insisted on building a pub before an almshouse.

We look to Lady Dragomir to bring order, Our Lady for orders. The knights begin to draw their blades.

But no, no violence at court. Vindicta bends to the will of this commoner, the insult to our house, the open threat unpunished by word or sentence.

suddenly *we* are admonished for this brazen threat. No “Rogalian on Dun violence” in that order, as if we would instigate such a fight, to lower ourselves to that level.

My blood boils, I look to the bounty hunter next to me and think about how easy it would be to break their fingers.

But no, our Lady in her eminent Wisdom, stays our blades. She knows it would sully the court to stoop to violence. I take another few breaths.
…
Ha, they were almost forgotten, the bounty hunter makes their case.

Theophania murdered someone in Rogalia, and is going to be sent to trial? outlandish, ridiculous to suggest that this person of no name or status would command such an ask. I told the court of the events the night before. How I saved tiff from being abducted.

I also knew she was handing out baked goods, as she often does just before court. Nothing to worry about, unless that rifle dips.

Their time to speak ends, and they shuffle out, a failure.

This will be a trying time.

Naught but Glory

-Alfred Black