* * *
Master Ogima wanted more than information about the situation. The following morning he was there at the Royal Arbiter’s office, his formal uniform bristling with ribbons. The Arbiter looked surprised.
“We don’t usually see you here, Master Ogima. What interest do you have in this case?”
“The lady is allowed counsel, your Honour?”
“Of course.”
“Well, then.” The Battle Arts Master sat, and that was it. The Arbiter, a young man whose robe looked spanking new, cleared his throat and looked to Aleria. “You may sit, young lady.”
“That would be ‘my Lady,’ your Honour.”
Both Aleria and the young Arbiter looked at her father. His face was placid, but his stance unyielding.
“By all means. My Lord, my Lady, will you please be seated? This is only an informal investigation at the moment.” He seemed to take on confidence as he moved into his official patter. “Nothing said at this time is considered to be under oath, although facts given here and later countered under oath could affect the veracity of your case,” he paused, “if there should be a case.”
Aleria nodded. “I understand.” Otherwise she held her tongue. This was no time to be trying to take over.
The Arbiter laced his fingers before him. “Now, my Lady, we have a formal complaint from two young gentlemen of the Esteemed class, Segre Verades and Cervanne Scotney by name, that you did, three days ago in Lucnam Street, attack them and cause them grievous harm. What do you say to this?”
She glanced at her father and he nodded. “Do they say what they were doing at the time of this supposed attack?”
“No, they do not.”
“I see. And do they state the nature of the conversation that took place before the altercation?”
“No, they do not.” He glanced at the papers before him. “They state that you attacked without warning.”
“So the gist of their charge is that they were strolling along minding their own business when I suddenly ran upon them, attacked them and did them serious injury. Two young gentlemen, each half again my size.”
“Lady Aleria, the presence of your Battle Arts Master here somewhat weakens that defence.”
“I suppose. Why don’t I tell you the story the way I experienced it?”
“That would be useful. Keep in mind the warning I gave you at the beginning.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not likely to be changing my story.”
A grim smile played across his lips. “You would be surprised how many people tell me that, my Lady. The warning stands.”
“Thank you, your Honour.” She proceeded to give him a brief rundown of the events, skipping over the details of the fight except for the drawn dagger. When she was finished, the Arbiter steepled his fingers and looked at her for a moment.
“So your contention is that these two gentlemen had dragged a girl into the alley. They were seriously abusing her and promising to do more. When you intervened, they threatened you with the same. You felt it necessary to attack in order to protect the girl and yourself. They responded in kind. At one point in the altercation, the shorter of the two drew his dagger and attacked you with it. Is that correct?”
“You have the gist of it, your Honour. Do you wish to examine my bruises?”
“Thank you, Lady Aleria, but that will not be necessary.” He thought some more, and then looked up, and his glance included the two men as well. “This is not an unexpected development. I will not be breaking confidence by telling you that we have had an increasing problem of this sort lately. The authorities are frustrated in dealing with the situation because the perpetrators use their upper class to avoid responsibility and the lower class victims close ranks likewise and refuse to aid us. We have been concerned at the escalating nature of the violence. Sooner or later, serious injuries might result.”
He glanced down again. “Assorted bruises, two cracked ribs, broken nose, dislocated shoulder. One may lose the sight of his eye. The doctors won’t know until the swelling goes down. That’s pretty serious damage for a youngster like that.”
“If I may say so, your Honour, it was a pretty serious activity they were engaging in.”
“Are you absolutely certain of that? The young lady involved cannot be found.”
“She was on her knees, and the taller one had her arm twisted up behind her into a vertical position above her head. Their conversation indicated that they were deciding whether to rape her or not. He then drove his knee into her back and slammed her face into the ground. There was blood on it when she rose. And he was threatening to do more, to persuade her not to talk. I suspect that if her father, her brothers, or her neighbours had come upon the scene, the damage would have been much greater.”
“I am forced to agree with your interpretation of the facts, while I deplore the violence you have exhibited.” He leaned forward. “I hope you don’t feel that you have done anything to make this situation any better, young…my Lady. All you have done is increase the level of the violence.”
“With due respect, your Honour, there is one person who would disagree with you, even though she will probably never get the chance to speak.”
“I cannot argue with that.”
Then he sat straighter, returning to his formal pose.
Here it comes.
“Master Ogima, my Lord anDalmyn, the one benefit that may perhaps come of this unfortunate occurrence is that persons of your standing have become involved. Perhaps you can swing some weight in your circles towards finding a solution.”
Her father nodded. “I do have a better understanding of your difficulties, your Honour, and you may count on me to work on your behalf in what I consider to be a worthy effort. Please be free to contact me if I may be of any further assistance.” He glanced at the papers on the table. “What will become of this issue?”
The Arbiter gathered the file together and slid it into an envelope, sealed it and dropped it on the table. “The same as all the rest. The perpetrators’ social position protects them. The victim’s social position hides her. Lady Aleria’s position will keep her name out of it as well. She has not even been formally identified as a participant.”
Master Ogima’s voice cut in. “And Lady Aleria’s chastisement of the two culprits will have little effect, because it only confirms in their minds the right of violence to hold sway.”
The Arbiter rose. “I wholeheartedly agree with you, Master, although I am surprised to hear that sentiment from you.”
Ogima smiled. “The greatest Art of Battle lies in avoiding one in the first place.”
The Arbiter bowed; they rose, returned his courtesy and departed.