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Trial and error

    ow dare he, how dare Alexander threaten to have me killed! As if he could! As if a death sentence by Galoria’s king would ever be carried out! I could have escaped a dozen times already if I wanted to. Such infantile threats! Here I was, in Galoria’s power-insulated prison, trying to get both myself and Galoria out of a sticky situation, and neither Monias nor Alexander would listen to what I had to say!

That man! He does this to me all the time; Alexander can just draw the blood from under my nails! Stuff him and his word of magic, I will learn it from someone else, and if I don’t I will bloody well learn to do without. And he did not even listen to what I said! I might as well have been talking to a brick wall. For a long time, I paced up and down my sitting room, fuming with anger, but finally I quieted down. I took a couple of deep breaths and realised what I had done. I had let my anger get the better of me again. Was I trying to prevent a war or not? I knew how fragile this reality was in the bigger scheme of things –and I mean Bigger- and still I let my anger and inability to communicate with my nephew stand in the way of fruitful negotiations.

I had meant it when I said we could use Estefan’s inventions against the Enemy from Outside. A research co-operation between Galoria and Amber would have been beneficial for both parties; it would help keep this reality safe. And now I had botched what might have been the last chance to reconcile the nations. I might even -I sat down and put my head in my hands - have to see Alexander again and apologise. I would have to swallow my pride. Would I take the blame and sacrifice my dignity, not only for the moment but in a way that would become known to all and forever be remembered? Dare I not? Would I be able to humble myself even if no-one would ever know that I did what I did for the safety of the world? It might just come to that.

I reached out and sought solace in the chocolate box. I am not cut out to be a saviour, I thought, the role of hero suits me much better. Then I remembered the baby I was going to have, I mean: might have, and I knew there was no going back. Also: Estefan was my friend and hugely important in the big scheme of things. Whatever I would sacrifice, it would not be him.

. . . _ . . .

The sound of marching feet from the hallway cut short my thoughts. At first I thought the Hendrakes were coming to take me for another interrogation but they stopped outside the door to Dr. Bowmore’s prison. Had the good doctor slept with Monias already? Things were quiet for a moment. Then a man raised his voice and I heard the sound of a struggle. Quickly I took a glass and put it to the wall.
“Keep your hands off me!” I heard Dr. Bowmore say. “No, I won’t give you my remote control!”
So that was what she had up her sleeve! Estefan had kept a number of ‘remote controls’ in his Flying Egg. They were little boxes with buttons on them that you could use to operate the devices in the Flying Egg without getting up to push their buttons. It was a good idea, were it not for the fact that every device needed its own remote control. Estefan had a piece of wall dedicated to the storing them, and it was usually easier to get up and work the device yourself than to go and find the right remote control.

But if Dr. Bowmore had a brought a remote control with her, it must have been important. I could see how one could be useful for really long distances. Maybe this thing worked the weapons on her Flying Egg. Did she own a Flying Egg anyway? She must have, else how had she got here?

Meanwhile, the struggle in the next room continued. These Ex-Hendrakes are superb warriors but when it comes to a struggle with an unarmed woman they are handicapped by their sense of decorum. A voice I recognised said:
“Dr. Bowmore, your remote control has been requisitioned in the name of Galoria!” but the voice had a desperate edge to it.
Dr. Bowmore protested that it was her ship.
So that was what this remote control did!
“Milady, if you do not co-operate we will be forced to use force!”
I heard a scream and some more shuffling and then the sound of breaking glass.
“She threw it out of the window!” someone shouted. “After it!”
What a pity that all the windows in my cell were bricked up.

I heard the click of a door closing. I whirled around to see who had entered so silently and palmed the glass I had used to eavesdrop. I should not have bothered; the man who had entered so stealthily was dear Uncle Benedict. I greeted him enthusiastically. Benedict did not return my smile. He seldom does.

“I am so glad to see you!” I said. In fact I was terribly flattered that Random had seen it fit to send the most impressive and menacing of the Elders to help me out.
“Yes,” Benedict said. “I am still somewhat puzzled by this situation. Tell me what happened, in your own words, exactly.”
I took a deep breath. Benedict checked the door behind him to see if it was closed.
From outside the sounds of a frantic search drifted up. It seemed that the guards could not find Dr. Bowmore’s little device.
“That Estefan,” I said, “The one I came here with, is from another reality.”
Benedict’s face remained impassive so I assumed he knew what I was talking about.

“There, the peasants have designed mechanical devices they use to do things that are very similar to what we do with the Pattern. They have taken the Pattern and put it into their little devices and do things that look like trumping and shadowshifting. A short time ago they learned to use the Nexus in this way and have put it into their flying Egg-ships. Estefan seems to have played a major role in this scientific… you know, work. I happened to meet Estefan, somewhere outside this reality where he was travelling in his Flying Egg ship. We set off to find my home, and we were almost there when we were caught in a sort of tractor beam. That turned out to be Alexander who was using a Nexus device to search for someone. Alexander said he was looking for family, he did not say whom he had been searching for, but he got me and he pulled me, and with me Estefan and the entire Flying Egg, to Galoria. Monias got upset because someone was using the Nexus without his permission, so that’s why we have this sham of a lawsuit.”
That about covered it.

“And now the things you left out.” Benedict said. “What were you doing outside this reality?”
I squirmed a little, prettily.
“It was an accident.”
“An accident. Could you tell me how it happened?”
“Not here and not now,” I said. “With Random present, I would be glad to, when we are safely back in Amber.”
He let me get away with that.

“Good. I propose we leave for Amber right away.” Benedict said.
That was just what I did not want to hear. It was unbelievable: I had never been impounded so securely and yet had so many chances to escape!
“What about Estefan?” I said. “I would rather his pattern things did not stay in Galoria.”
Benedict admitted I had a point.
“He has devices that can adapt his pattern things to any reality.”
Benedict nodded, and said:
“So far, we assumed it was about you. So you say it is all about this Estefan.”

“Estefan is an important scientist, in his own reality,” I explained, wondering if I should offer my uncle a seat. He was still standing there with his back to the door, but had made no move to make himself more comfortable. I went on with my explanation.
“As far as I know, he designed the Nexus drive himself, just like the… algorithms that adapt the pattern in his things from one reality to another. I think he is the only one who can do such a thing, except maybe Dr. Bowmore knows something about it too.”
“If I understand this correctly,” Benedict said, “This Estefan is someone who simplifies travel between realities.”
“Yes,” I said. It was a relief that finally someone understood what I was making all this fuss about.
“And that is one of the reasons, well, they were mainly personal reasons, why I put him under my protection; so that Galoria could not just take him away and use him as they please.”
“Galoria already possesses the power of the Nexus.”
“But not the power of the Pattern,” I countered. They would not have that until Monias married that what’s her name, Myrthe’s mother, and the woman got her marbles back.
“This is indeed grave,” Benedict said.
“That is why I wanted to propose a research co-operation between Amber and Galoria, on equal footing, so Galoria has no reason to start a war to keep us from getting our claws on Estefan.”

“They won’t start a war.” Benedict said levelly. ‘They would never win. But I foresee actions to make Estefan useless to us. At the moment, you will understand his life is not worth a copper penny. I would expect them to have killed him.”
“If they kill him,” I pointed out, “they lose the use of the Flying Egg and the Pattern toys. He is the only one who knows how they work. His knowledge is important.”
“And that may be the only reason why he is still alive.”
“And, perhaps my protection?” I said, realising that maybe that was too much to ask. But Benedict surprised me:
“Don’t discount that, it is your word of honour. If you placed him under your protection, that is something that Galoria should reckon with. They can’t work around that. Nor can you.”
“We should not disregard Dr. Bowmore either,” I said.
“Why.”
“Estefan did the initial research. He took the results to his University, and there Dr. Bowmore got the grants to continue the investigation. She probably got those because she is more familiar with the university’s hierarchy, writes better rapports and so on. But she also knows how to operate the Pattern toys and the flying-egg ships.”
Benedict grunted, nodded.
“Have you given your word not to escape?”
I did not like where this was going.
“No, not at the moment.”
“Useful. We might take everyone away from here, and as many of the Pattern things as we can get. You will hear from us.”
He turned and was gone. Outside, the Hendrakes crowded the courtyard. They were better soldiers than guards.

Because Benedict had implied I would be made to escape soon, I took off my dress and put Estefan’s silver coverall on. Over that, I put on a light coloured dress, and with a few bits of lace I disguised the bulges where I had to fold the silver material. Bunched up, the coverall is surprisingly small and thin. It is one of the most comfortable garments I have ever worn, that is why I was loath to leave it behind. Four days ago –had it been only four days? — I dropped a cup of scalding hot coffee in my lap. The liquid barely warmed my skin and rolled cleanly off the fabric and onto the floor. The coverall is easy to get into and out of, has lots of pockets and I look absolutely stunning in it. What more could a woman want from a garment? With a nail clipper I weakened the seams of the dress before I put it on. Now I could tear it off in an emergency. This task finished, I sat down to wait.

. . . _ . . .

My third guest of that day was a well dressed, blonde Chaosian. At first, all I saw was his blonde hair and Chartin features. Then my memory kicked in and I recognised Yurgo Chartin. He is the one (or perhaps second) decent member of that family and we have a kind of understanding between us. Just after Trisha faked her death, framing me for murder, Yurgo brought me a spell in a box that would allow me to prove my innocence. I declined the offer because I did not trust him, but I suspect the test could have been genuine. At Monias’ inauguration ball, Yurgo asked me to dance with the express purpose of annoying his family. That was before I found out Trisha was still alive.

I was still speechless so I curtsied in silence. Yurgo answered with a bow. He was dressed in deep blue, just like the last time I saw him.
“Good afternoon,” Yurgo said. “Lady Boadice, I am your lawyer.”
“Lord Yurgo Chartin,” I said, smiling. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your assistance?”

Yurgo said Ornach had asked him to do this as a favour for House Ornach, and the Chartins have always been in for this sort of trading. I offered Yurgo tea and refreshments and we sat down. Two guards had escorted him inside and were asked to take themselves out of earshot.
“Tell me what the problem is,” Yurgo said.
“The problem is not me, it is lord Estefan--”
Fr the umpth time that day I told my sorry story, just the facts. I included the last conversation I had with Alexander because my attorney should know about my cousin’s offers and death threats.
“And what would my employer do with this lord Estefan? What would he gain by keeping him? If he isn’t useful, we can have this solved pretty quickly.”
I sighed. Of course Ornach would have no interest in saving Estefan.

I told Yurgo Chartin I had put Estefan under my personal protection as daughter of Amber and duchess of the Carth Islands, and would not leave without him.
“Aha. Did you have permission from your employer to do so?”
“No,” I said, “that is why I put him under my protection as daughter of Amber and duchess of the Carth Islands, and not as Ornach’s secretary.”
“I can get you free,” Yurgo said, “But I don’t know if I can plead lord Estefan’s case too.”

“My trump deck has been confiscated,” I said. “In it were several trumps of Ornachways; one of the main hall and one of my rooms there. Perhaps it would not be wise to leave those in Galoria’s hands?”
Yurgo agreed that this would be an unacceptable safety risk.
“Very well. Did you plead guilty or not guilty?”
“Not guilty.”
“And you wish to keep it that way?”
I nodded and drank tea. It is just as well I have an unlimited appetite for tea and cakes; only two hours ago Alexander and I had vexed each other over the same small table, starting amiably with tea and cakes and ending up being icy at each other.

“And the charges are espionage.”
I confirmed that and related Alexander’s theory about how Estefan spied for the Enemy. I told Yurgo but that Alexander was mistaken because my friend had stolen a ship from his employers, and set of without their permission or knowledge. I could not prove this, but the entire case was based on accusations and hearsay anyway so it would not matter.
“Monias can not just convict you without observing one or two formalities,” Yurgo agreed. “Lord Ornach can intervene on your behalf if necessary, but Estefan is a different case. If Monias harms Estefan while he is under your protection, you have no choice but to challenge Monias to a duel, according to intershadow law as laid down between Amber and Chaos.”
Intriguing.
“And what are the treaties between Amber and Galoria and Galoria and Chaos?”

“As yet there are none, but at the moment the treaty between Amber and Chaos is considered leading. And might not be applicable, you are after all on Monias’ territory.”
“I don’t know if I could duel King Monias without losing,” I said, but the idea was tempting. If only I were good with the sword!
“The problem is that as King of Galoria, he can appoint a champion to take the challenge for him.”
My mental image of me trouncing the living daylights out of Monias was replaced by one of me giving Alexander a right good seeing to.
In my dreams, yeah.
“I am not a very good swordswoman,” I said. I knew Alexander was my better by far, and even young Rhiane could run rings around me in the practise yard.
“If that is so, and it is widely known, and you are prepared to admit it, you can have a champion fight the duel for you.”
Images of Bleys, Benedict or Adrian beating the crap out of Alexander followed each other in quick succession. I suppressed a sigh.
“I would rather not let it come to that,” I said. “But what do you suggest?”
Yurgo suggested I concentrated on my own problems. Protecting lord Estefan would be of some significance to me, but would obstruct the way to a good compromise, as king Monias cared less for me than for him.
“I don’t mind opening negotiations with Monias, but because Estefan’s skills, it will not so much be a negotiation between Galoria and me but between Galoria and Amber.”

“Why Amber?” Yurgo asked, and I stuck out my neck and told him Estefan had devices that could emulate the workings of Pattern.
“That is why Amber has a large stake in this.”
“Good.” Yurgo looked pensive. “And what angle of defence seems most appropriate to you? Do you have any preferences or will you leave it in my hands?”

I would most certainly not put my defence in Yurgo’s hands. If I left it up to him, he would get me back to Ornach without regard for Amber’s interests, Estefan or what the ordeal would cost me. I wanted more.
“I would like to see Amber and Galoria start negotiations so this can be settled amicably. If not, I foresee great problems.”
“How far will you let your claims about lord Estefan stretch? If you want to settle things cordially, we need a compromise. And if you insist on complete protection, no compromise is possible. You must realise this.”

I was getting sick and tired of people hammering on the fact that I should drop Estefan and see to my own needs! If I did not know better, I would think my attorney had had a word with Monias before coming to me. In fact, he might very well have done so. Getting me free, which was what Ornach would want from him, would not exclude giving Monias what he wanted, to whit: Estefan. Typical Chaosian dealing, and if I was perfectly honest, typical Amberite behaviour as well. I would have to keep fighting my own battle. But Yurgo had a point. There needed to be giving and taking.

“I can modify my protection so that it pertains more to lord Estefan’s wellbeing. That will allow Galoria a measure of power over him, as long as his quality of life is not diminished.”
Yurgo nodded.
“And what about the objects in question?” His tone suggested he already knew the answer, but I must have surprised him by putting Estefan’s wellbeing over possession of the artefacts.
“Life is unfair. Amber and Galoria may divide them among themselves. Surely lord Estefan will understand this. Nevertheless, I would rather not treat lord Estefan as a token in this game, even though that is exactly what he is. I want to let him decide for himself.”
“Your demands can not easily be realised, my lady! Surely you understand this?”

I understood Yurgo was not getting what he wanted: either a commission for prying Estefan away from me or an easy victory.
“I understand,” I said. “But can Amber and Galoria not start negotiations about how to share the items?”
“But what is your basis for negotiation? You are a prisoner. What have you to offer Galoria? They have everything they want; you, Estefan and the items. As an experienced negotiator I see you try to bring all these things back to you while you have no grounds for negotiations, except perhaps the wrath of Amber. This is a difficult position to start from. Do you have anything to offer Galoria in exchange?”

What I should have said is this:
Having me incarcerated is not an asset: it is the one thing that stands between them and full possession of Estefan and his devices. If this world was totally just and fair, they would be obliged to let us walk away from here with our things and our honour intact, with apologies for the treatment we received. As this is not an ideal world and possession is nine tenths of the law, they can keep some of what they have, but because I am involved, Amber has a way to exert his influence and can use its might to force Galoria to a semblance of reason. The more force Amber is willing to invest, the more they will get out of it.
This is what I should have said. But at that moment I was making it up as I went along, so watch me muddle through:

“I am aware that my life in this is of less importance than the knowledge and skills Estefan has to offer my homeland.”
“I think Monias has little to gain from your death,“ Yurgo said, “that is not the problem. He can banish you, have you thrown out of Galoria. You would gain only little by this but your life will be spared. The problem is that the other things you try to accomplish, you have no power over. And you have not given me anything I can use to reach a settlement.”

Had he not been listening? I had offered to modify my protection for a start. Why not go on from there?
“Is there anything else I have to offer?” I asked, taking up the teapot and refilling our cups. “Besides what I said about lessening my grip on Estefan?”
“Perhaps you should modify your demands,” Yurgo said. “Because perhaps you do not have very much to offer, in this case.”
“Modify my demands in the direction of…?”
“Giving up your claims over Estefan and his cargo. Possession, especially here, is nine tenths of the law. In a situation of equal power you would have a starting point; what you lack is power and something to trade.”
“I thought Amber could provide these ‘trade goods’. It is they who have the most to gain. I am just a pawn to be used to get their way.”
See, I got to make a part of my point after all.

“You are not in a position to start those negotiations. I understood Prince Benedict is present. If Amber wants to start negotiations, it will have to go through him. At the moment this is Amber’s problem, not yours.”
“Very well,” I said, “we shall leave it to them.”
“So let us concentrate on your defence, and try to prevent you from losing face.”
“That would be nice.”
That did it. Yurgo did not or would not understand.

Yurgo summarised that we would let Amber and Galoria start negotiations about Estefan’s items.
“But the items are worth much less without Estefan’s knowledge how to use them. Perhaps I could use my friendship with him to encourage him to share what he knows? And I… Personally, my safety, and my loss of face is less important than keeping the peace between Amber and Galoria.”
“Commendable,” Yurgo said. “But I suspect the peace will not be threatened by this. I don’t think Amber will start a war just for—“
“I suspect Amber will try to steal the items and lord Estefan from Galoria, should they remain here. And the political implications—“
“That depends on the strength of Amber and the strength of Galoria. And that is, to be honest, at the moment not my employer’s concern. I would help you as well as I can within the framework of my assignment but you must understand I will keep my employer’s interests at the forefront.”
My regard for Yurgo Chartin rose while my assessment of his motives changed from ‘has made a deal with Monias’ to ‘overly concerned with what Ornach would want’.
“Lord Ornach has nothing to gain in a war between Amber and Galoria, nor has he any problems with such an occurrence.”

“What do you think our employer wants?”
“Ornach is primarily interested in your continued good health and freedom. He has asked me to make sure your position and wellbeing are unimpeded, and to guarantee your freedom. You yourself have asked for a lawyer instead of a rescue party, so that is why I try to take this route.”
I was touched, genuinely touched. Even if Ornach was only interested in my usefulness as a secretary and a servant, it was nice to hear such semi-kind words. I tried the other approach.
“You heard the charges Galoria is bringing against me. They are quite ridiculous. If we can call Alexander to the stand, his testimony will demolish any accusations of espionage. Monias will not have a leg to stand on. Of course, here in Galoria he is the law, but—“

“You must not expect a fair trial,” Yurgo said. “But Monias will have to keep up appearances in front of spectators from outside.”
“I can help him save face,” I said. “If we let it come to a trial, with all the facts out in the open, with Alexander present and on the stand, Galoria will lose big time. I can offer to make sure they will not look too bad.”
“What do you propose?”
“I think it would be best if there won’t be a trial, that negotiations start right away and we call what happened up to now a misunderstanding. I will not get in the way.”
“Have you tried to initiate these negotiations?”
“Yes, I have.”
“What was Monias’ reaction?”
“I have tried to contact him several times, but he would not see me. I tried to explain my ideas to Alexander, but I told you what his attitude was. He would not listen.”
“You know your trial will start shortly. I will try to initiate a dialogue before then, but you must make clear choices. King Monias will never allow Estefan to leave his sphere of influence without getting something important in return.”
“Let Amber deal with that,” I said, remembering the Jewel of Judgement.
“But what do YOU have to offer? Amber will trade, but what can you contribute?”
I started to answer but Yurgo went on:
“Would you be prepared to agree to admit guilt and thereby give Galoria a substantial political bonus?”

That was it. Would I lose face for the sake of peace, for the harmony of this universe?
“Painful…” I said. “But… Yes. Provided I get permission from Amber to do so.”
Ah, that was cowardly of me. And selfish.
“I will have to speak with Benedict about that,” Yurgo said. He gathered his belongings, (he had been taking notes during our conversation) but I asked him to stay and talk, not as lawyer to client but person to person.

Yurgo agreed, and proved very amiable company. He told me about an upcoming social event where a certain Grendel Escallwyn, not unknown to me, would be honoured for saving the life of lord Murlas of Ysarn. I saw the political implications: it was more about humbling my dark cousin than it was about praising my faithless lover. And what about Trisha and Gran’s child? Had it been born yet? To my surprise the pain and jealousy were still there, but they were much less and I was able to hide them satisfactorily. According to Yurgo the child could be born every day now. We chatted some more, and then he left.
In the blessed silence I had time to think about the things I should have said.

. . . _ . . .

While I was contemplating my inadequacies, there was another scuffle in the hallway. A male voice I vaguely recognised but could not place said something like ‘Have at you, you knaves!’ and I heard the clashing of swords; a swordfight, two against one. The fight was too far away to hear what else the antagonists said to each other and I wondered what it was all about. The fight lasted only a minute, and had quieted down before I was taken out of my cell for the final and ultimate trial.

I did not recognise the part of the castle they took me to this time, but when the doors were thrown open I saw Monias had gone the whole hog. The courtroom was huge. It had gilded gothic beams and colourful murals of Galoria’s (short) history, to my left and right there were rows of chairs filled with spectators and in the centre of it all the king himself sat on a gilded throne. This time Monias wore all his regalia: a nine foot long red velvet mantle edged with ermine, a slashed velvet doublet, a jewelled sceptre and gold crown. Inwardly I heaved a sigh. He would look so much better in worn leather and blue cotton, on horseback, squinting into a desert sunset…

I strode forward, keeping to the middle of the path between the chairs to benefit from the symmetry of the room. So occupied I was with posture, rhythm and timing I almost missed the four spectators that had come especially for me. You can imagine my surprise when I saw not only Benedict but Caine too, accompanied by Murlas and Samal! That was quick. Time in Galoria had to be running slowly compared with the rest of the universe. Samal would have needed time to find contact Adrian, gone there to find Murlas’ body and it would have taken time to put my cousin’s mind back where it belonged. Interesting.

Quickly, I scanned the courtroom for more family. Yurgo was waiting for me beside a stand of carved and polished oak. The rest of the hall was filled with dignitaries, visitors and clerks, but I saw no other familiar faces, not even Alexander. That pleased me not at all. I had reached the dais on which the stand was placed, ascended and sat down. I noticed Monias occasionally glanced at my cousin Murlas, a frown on his face. Monias also kept a careful eye on Uncle Benedict. A lackey thumped the floor thrice with his staff and the noise of the crowd subsided.

“I hereby declare this court in session,” Monias said when all were silent.
“Lady Boadice, would you stand up?”
I rose gravely, paying attention to grace and posture.
“You stand accused of treason and espionage. You have gathered information for the Enemy and have travelled the paths that are reserved for those who are appointed by Galoria to make use of those. You have entered our territory without permission. How do you plead.”

I glanced at Yurgo, then at Benedict. Had they managed to come to an agreement? Was I allowed to plead guilty? Benedict shook his head, once. No deals, then. I straightened and let my voice ring out clear:
“I plead not guilty.”
“So you persist in the error of your ways?”
That was the mother of all leading questions. What kind of court was this? I was quite happy to show them up by not answering. The silence lasted quite a while before Monias realised I was not going to dignify the question with a reply. He then called Estefan forth as a witness.

My friend was led in by two of Monias’ guards, no Ex-Hendrakes this time. He looked better than last time, they had allowed him to bathe and shave, and his silver coverall had not suffered from its stay in prison. I smiled at him when he glanced my way, but Estefan did not return my smile. His gaze flickered nervously from Monias to me and back again, and then to the gathered audience. I realised I had not seen Dr. Bowmore yet. Perhaps she would be brought in later.

Monias began to question Estefan on what had happened. Estefan was happy to answer Monias’ questions truthfully, but the way in which Monias questioned Estefan was ominous to say the least. He was moulding Estefan’s story into its most unfavourable shape, just by the emphasis and nature of the questions he asked. Estefan did not see where Monias was leading him and was blithely digging his own grave, and mine. Yes, Estefan had stolen a craft and set off to explore, and he had travelled here without permission. He had indeed taken me aboard and I had presented him with a vague story about how I ended up on his ship. He had used the devices in his craft to determine the location of this reality.

Finally, Monias asked his last question.
“Lady Boadice claims you are under her protection. Is this true?”
The room was deathly quiet. Estefan said:
“No no no, that is not so. She fell on the roof of my ship, that’s all. We have no further ties.”
The crowd muttered and hummed, partly pleased, partly in surprise. My family and Samal stayed quiet.
Monias went on over the noise:
“So there is no question of a tie of protection?”
“No,” said Estefan, “Not that I’m aware of.”
I raised my voice over the noise of the crowd and said:
“Estefan, remember—“ but I was cut off by the king’s protests.

Estefan reacted to the sound of my voice, and he glanced my way, confused and unsure. Of course! They had not invaded his psyche for fear of damaging his mind, but that had not prevented them from turning him against me with ordinary means. Of course they would tell him lies to pry him away from me! I used more non-verbal communication, eyes and hands, and saw his confusion increase.

The lackey with the staff quieted the crowd and Monias sprung his trap. Calmly, he summed up what Estefan had told the court. Then he added his conclusions about how Estefan was obviously working for the Enemy, had spied on Galoria and harmed its people, and had included me in his vile doings.
“But that’s not true!” Estefan cried out. In the ensuing racket I shouted:
“Estefan, you are still under my protection, don’t forget that!”
“SILENCE!” Monias bellowed. Half a dozen guards marched up to Estefan and dragged him away, out of the courtroom.

It took a while for the din to subside. I nudged Yurgo and told him the names of the Ex-Hendrakes who were present when I pronounced my protection of ‘lord’ Estefan. My lawyer went up to Monias and called the Ex-Hendrakes forth to testify.

It took a while for them to take the stand, but when Yurgo questioned them they confirmed that I had taken lord Estefan under my protection. My lawyer also asked how I had behaved as a prisoner, and they had nothing but praise for me: I had been a model prisoner and a real lady. Then Monias asked them if I had just proclaimed my protection or if I had consulted the other prisoner about it beforehand.
Well, no, they were under the impression that it had been more like something done on the spur of the moment than a deliberate and planned action. Monias got them to use the words ‘on a whim’. This was not good, but I had made my point. I nudged my lawyer again and told him to draw attention to the fact that I had repeatedly tried to get Estefan transferred to a better cell.
“That does not help your case at all!” Yurgo hissed to me.
“It does,” I said, “It shows—“
“He is already dead, I tell you,” Yurgo said, “Just take my word for it!”
That showed what he knew. I decided not to trust in my lawyer anymore.

Monias called a couple of other witnesses but they were of no importance. In the end the king made a little speech in which he concluded that it had been proven that Estefan was a traitor, that he had spied on their fair country and that he was under the influence of-, and worked for the Enemy. It could also be concluded that the lady Boadice was accomplice to these wicked acts. But I was still allowed to take the stand and speak in my defence. That was my chance.

I waited for absolute silence before I left my stand and climbed onto another raised platform. From there I addressed the crowd.

. . . _ . . .

Dear people, you should have heard my speech! I started slowly and humbly, telling the facts in a simple way. I confirmed what Estefan had said but put my own accents on the story, without being as obvious about it as Monias had been. Later, when I had the audience’s rapt attention, I added more stress and melody to my speech. I told them about Estefan, the scientist who quested for pure knowledge, who helped a lady in need and was by chance captured in the tractor beam of a Nexus experiment. I spoke about how we were dragged into this palace against our will, innocent of where we were and what we had done, and how Estefan and I trustingly let ourselves be captured and taken away.

It worked. I held the crowd in the palm of my hand and felt its moods change to my desire. I felt its attitude shift from ‘where smoke is, is fire”, and ‘if not this, he is probably guilty of something’, to ‘no, this Estefan is just a poor sap who was in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
When I started to stress we had only come to Galoria because we had been pulled here by Lord Alexander, Monias cut me off with cries of ‘irrelevant’. It was too late, I had already made my point and his irritated hammering only underscored my point. He could no longer pretend this trial was anything more than a farce.

I called for Alexander to be brought forth to testify, which Monias denied me, refusing to explain why my cousin could not be here. The crowd growled, softly. I reminded the court of the Ex-Hendrakes’ testimony, and all the guards applauded. I pointed out that Estefan and I had been brought here against our will, and that there was no evidence at all that we were working for Galoria’s enemy from Outside, none at all. Monias had neglected to discuss that part of the accusation, taking it as a given. The crowd loved me. This was good. Maybe Oberon at the height of his power could have found me guilty, but Monias was a new king of a nation of immigrants. He would have to consolidate his reign by proving he could deal justice fairly and evenly.

The other good thing was that my lawyer seemed impressed with my rhetoric. Yurgo had always been high on my list of ‘people I would like to sleep with if not for Gran’. I think Yurgo is very attractive, and when we danced together the last time we met, in this very same palace, there had been more than a little chemistry between us.
I wrapped up my speech, bringing the crown gently down and making them sigh, and went back to my spot behind the polished oak railing.

“Lady Boadice,” Monias said. I rose. “After hearing all the witnesses, I have come to the conclusion that although you are not guilty of espionage, you have consciously and knowingly aided and abetted a spy. You are therefore an accessory to treason. Although it has been repeatedly proven that the person in question is a spy, you persist in protecting this person.”
At these words, like Monias, I glanced towards Benedict. My uncle’s face remained expressionless.
“In the light of all that was said, we can only release you if you withdraw your protection from this individual. If not, we shall have to take this as an admission of complicity, and punish you accordingly. What do you say to this?”

This ‘verdict’ looked, smelled and tasted like a ‘Here Is One I Made Earlier’. Monias should have saved himself the trouble of putting on a show trial. I had shown his people that the king dealt no justice. Bad for him, but not good at all for me. I had to consult my lawyer before I gave the court my answer.
“What now?” I said, but I read in Yurgo’s eyes he wanted me to take the offer and lose everything I had worked for. I shook my head at him before he could say anything. There was a thing I wanted to try, and if time in Galoria was indeed slow compared to the rest of the universe, I might even pull it off.
“Are you prepared to leave?” I whispered in my lawyer’s ear. “I’m going to pull a Bleys.”

Just after the fixing of the Logrus, my adopted father had stood trial in the courts. Murlas and Adrian had managed to frame him for the murder of one of Jaill Helgram’s nephews. Bleys had trumped out of the courtroom just after the chaos lords convicted him.
I took Yurgo’s hand and gathered the Pattern to me.
I straightened up, raised my head and addressed the crowd:
“My protection of lord Estefan stands as it is,” I said, and trumped to Ygg before the murmurs had died away.

Later, I heard that in my absence I had been convicted of espionage by association. If I wanted to make my protection of Estefan concrete, Monias had said, I would do so as an enemy of Galoria, and if I put foot in Galoria or any of the neighbouring shadows, my life would be forfeit.
Big deal, there were more important things. First things first.

I held on to Yurgo’s hand and asked him:
“Now, I need to go to a very fast shadow.”
Yurgo knew a couple of shadows that were relatively fast but he did not own a trump of any of them. Traveling to them would take too long, I said. Yurgo wondered what I wanted, but he would have to wait and see. I could execute my plan right here under Ygg, if Yurgo would Logrus me couple of pencils and some paper. This he could do, and in a few moments I had pens, ink and fine high-quality paper to work with.

Before I started to sketch I tore the Galorian dress away, which amused my lawyer somewhat, and then, as fast as I could, I sketched a trump of Estefan. His cell had never been isolated with Nexus.

When the sketch was done, I used it and lo and behold, it worked. Estefan was held in reserve in an antechamber to the courtroom, with only two Galorian guards by his side. My friend looked as if he saw a ghost, and I held out my arms and called for him to come to me. Before the guards knew what happened, Estefan was gone.

We hugged, under Ygg’s leafy boughs.
“I don’t understand!” Estefan said. “I really don’t. This is all so barbaric!”
I kept hugging him and patted him on the back.
“It’s all right, you’re safe. Everything will be fine, you’re free now. It’s a pity about your ship, but you’ll be fine.”

It was just as well I could lean on Estefan a bit, because holding him I realised what I had just done, and it made my knees wobbley. I had trumped a shadowbeing. This can damage their mind like a careless hand harms a butterfly. I felt like I had just run down a familiar flight of stairs in the dark, only to find out when the lights went on that the railings had been removed. I should have been more careful. Estefan could have ended up dead or comatose. I should find out if my friend was indeed of shadow stuff. Maybe he was descended from the royals who used to rule his reality. Or, with any luck his intimate association with the Pattern in his toys had strengthened him.

“Milady,” Yurgo said, “can I offer you a lift to the Courts? Maybe you would like to speak with your employer?”
“I will,” I answered, “but first I must get lord Estefan safely to Amber.”
“I am sure lord Ornach’s hospitality also extends to lord Estefan, there is plenty of room in Ornachways.”
Like hell there was.
“I would rather not involve lord Ornach in this matter. Gaining the hostility of Galoria would not be to his benefit.”

While Yurgo and Estefan watched, I made another trump sketch. It was a sketch of my king, seated behind the desk in his office like the last time I saw him. Before I used the sketch I wrote Random a letter about my friend’s situation. But to learn what that letter said, you will have to wait for my next diary.

. . . _ . . .

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