Strategy for the Defense (2/3)

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 19th April 2019
Series: The Great Bandit Trial

Characters: R'fal, Tasni, Lirena
Description: R'fal and Lirena meet Tasni to discuss the trial
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 15 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: L'pin (not by name)

***

The harper woman was waiting outside Lirena's door, carrying a folder of
papers. Even to R'fal's eyes, she looked young, but was smartly dressed
in a light blue shirt and trousers, with her fair hair tied back in a
short tail, and her eyes were keen and intelligent.

"Journeywoman Tasni," Lirena said, making the introductions. "My son,
R'fal, rider of brown Marlath."

"I'm pleased to meet you, R'fal, and my duty to Marlath." Tasni offered
him her hand. She had a firm, direct handshake, much like her gaze.

"Journeywoman. Thank you for - uh..."

"That's all right. It's my job, as yours is to fight Thread." Tasni
followed Lirena into the room and took a seat on one of the chairs
surrounding a low table near the window, while the older woman fetched a
tray with a jug and three mugs from a sideboard.

"I brought some klah up earlier, to warm," she said, pouring it out.
"R'fal?"

"Yes, please, Ma." He sat opposite Tasni, who waited for Lirena to join
them before she spoke.

"I've found out some more about the accusations against the bandits,"
she began. "The Hold is going to charge them with two main crimes, the
theft of the tithe from a riverboat last Turn, and the robbing of a
trader caravan a few months back. It doesn't look good for them. There
are several witnesses, and it seems one of their number will testify
against them in exchange for a lighter sentence."

"But they're not saying my husband had anything to do with either of
those...are they?"

"No, not as far as I can tell. But if the evidence against them is
strong, I'll have trouble claiming that this was a simple transaction
between a cotholder and some honest traders," Tasni said. She hadn't had
much hope for that line of defence, anyway. "Instead, I'll have to try
and convince the court that he was duped into storing their loot for them."

"But that's what happened. Isn't it?" R'fal asked.

Tasni and Lirena shared a glance, and the harper cleared her throat.
"That's what I plan to argue, yes."

"Oh. Good." It seemed clear enough to R'fal. He knew his father always
had an eye for making a few marks on the side here and there, but he
surely wouldn't have involved himself with those who had carried out the
violent robbery of the riverboat.

"It's not against the law to be paid to keep someone's goods for them on
your own land, no matter how unusual the circumstances," Tasni went on.
"If you want to meet at night or pass secret messages, say, there's
nothing wrong with that in itself. The Hold will have to prove that
Terren knew he was dealing with thieves."

Mother and son both straightened a little. Although she'd thought that
R'fal most resembled his father in build and colouring, Tasni could see
the likeness now. They had the same worried dark eyes, and the same
brightening when they heard something that gave them hope.

"Unfortunately, there are a few ways they could do that. First, they'll
point to the circumstances, ask why the goods were transferred in
secret, rather than openly, in the light of day. Then there's this
turncoat bandit. We don't know what he's going to say. He is a thief
himself, though, so I or the Hold's harper may be able to discredit
him," Tasni explained.

"Finally, the guards might have seen or overheard Terren speaking with
the band prior to the arrest." She had asked the man about it and he
claimed he'd said nothing untoward, but he was such a liar that she
placed no reliance on that statement. Moreover, she didn't trust the
guards not to come up with a suitably incriminating exchange of words if
they thought their chance of a conviction might be in danger.
"Ultimately, it'll come down to the judgement of the Lord Holder. Our
job is to try and swing it as much our way as possible."

"I can help with that!" R'fal leaned forward, suddenly roused at the
possibility of aiding his father. "The Weyrlingmaster Third told me that
I can speak to his good character, if the Lord permits it. I can tell
them that he's an honest man and a good father, who would never have
anything to do with thieves."

Tasni sat back, surprised. She hadn't expected this, and wondered
whether the Weyr would really be so keen to have one of their riders
speaking up in public support of an accused criminal. Still, that was
R'fal's problem, not hers, and a dragonrider's testimony, even a young
one's, might be valuable.

It was his mother who spoke first, though, placing a hand on her son's
arm. "That's a very brave and generous offer, R'fal. Thank you."

"It's nothing. Da is innocent. I'll do whatever is necessary to help
him," the boy said, determination visible in the taut lines of his face.

Lirena looked at Tasni. "What do you think?"

She considered the idea for a long moment. "I'm not certain," she said
eventually. "It may depend on how the trial goes."

"I don't understand." R'fal frowned, suppressing the nagging sense of
doubt that accompanied any thoughts about his father's innocence.
"Surely my testimony could only help him."

"Well, it's certainly permitted to call witnesses to the good character
of the accused," she said, thinking it out as she spoke. "Harpers can do
that to argue that it's unlikely he committed the crime, or that if he
did, then it was a moment of weakness and he deserves a lighter
sentence. But," she went on as the young man drew breath to reply,
"there are other considerations."

"Such as?" Lirena asked.

"First, as a family member, R'fal's testimony may not carry as much
weight as that of an impartial witness. It's no reflection on your
personal honesty," she said, turning to him, her voice gentling. "Only
that a son would naturally be expected to support his father. One of his
fellow cotholders might be more effective."

"But they don't know him as well as I do. I know he wouldn't have done
this."

"I understand that, but the Lord Holder must take into account any bias
on the part of the witnesses. Family ties are strong. And there is a
more serious consideration. R'fal, if I call you to speak for your
father, then the Hold's representative will also have the right to
question you. He may ask you about what you saw when you lived in the
cothold. Whether you knew anything about these stolen goods. If your
father ever behaved strangely, or dishonestly in any way."

She met his gaze evenly. "You would have to answer those questions
truthfully. If there is anything you know which could be used against
your father, then you need to tell me so that I understand the risks."

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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