Caerling steps forward when she is called. She ignores the stares and whispers, keeping her eyes on the throne. As she begins to speak, she looks around the room, addressing everyone. She speaks of why she, Fredya and Picorna were there (her escorting the two younger girls), the fleeing man, the body that was stumbled over, the sound from where Gar Logan came from, the second body of the Lord Slade whom she did not know was the lord at the time, sending for help, Gar Logan looking as if someone had hit him threatening them, the return of Freyda with the Guard, staying behind to speak to the Guard while Picorna and Freyda tended to the Lord Slade.
She ends her recitation of the events with, "I do not know who the attacker was but I thank the Spirits that we were there to give Lord Slade the opportunity for survival. If the court has any questions, I would be happy to answer them."
Lord Ronald Hestor stood up from his seat to the King's left and stepped forward, making a quick but respectful bow to the King before turning to Caerling.
"Lass, you said that the ranger Gar Logan was injured when he approached you. Was there any sign that his injuries had been inflicted by Lord Slade? I would ask that Gar Logan answer this himself for the benefit of the court, but I notice that he is not present at court this morning."
Out of the corner of her eye, Caerling catches sight of Lord Stanhelm Slade, quietly seething in anger. Rian Kassof doesn't seem too comfortable with this line of questioning either.
Lord Hestor does speak truly, though. Gar Logan is nowhere to be seen.
She is surprised by the question and thinks for a moment before she answers. "My Lord, Captain Logan was holding the back of his head and he stated that it felt like he was hit from behind by a brick. Lord Slade is a hearty and hale man but based on how far away the two men were from each other, if Lord Slade had inflicted the blow that so dazed his own Captain, I would be very surprised and very impressed. Also, to the thought that Lord Slade struck his own man in the back of the head and the Captain stumbled a good distance forward, to the best of my memory, I did not see a large rock or brick near Lord Slade. But, neither was I looking for it
( ... )
"You are exceptionally observant," Lord Hestor said, "Your Lady is well served by your wit, and by your words of loyalty as well. I thank you for your willingness to consider all possibilities."
Lord Hestor returned to his seat, and the court waited to see if there would be further questions for the Kassof servant or if the young acolyte would come forth to give her account next.
Picorna slowly stood and made her way over to the front of the room. She tried not to shake, but she wasn't even used to the rituals of the Church yet, not to mention speaking in front of the whole court. She closed her eyes and murmured a quick prayer to the Spirits for strength.
When she began speaking, her voice was soft, and a bit hesitant. "Freyda, Caerling, and I were leaving after cleaning up after the Dawn Dance," she said. "I tripped over a man, and he was hurt. There was a knife in his lung, and we couldn't take it out, because he may not have lived." Her voice grew more confident as she began to talk about the medical aspects of the evening. "I kept him stable while Freyda ran for help. We took him to the chapel wing, as it was closer and we have skilled healers among the acolytes. It was quite uncertain at first, but he managed to pull through, and he's doing quite well, for having been stabbed," she said.
She stopped, the rest of the details fuzzy in her mind.
The King thanked Sister Picorna for her testimony and opened the floor to questions.
Lord Oben Vitur stepped up from his seat. He was a distinguished, older gentleman who had not at first seemed interested in the proceedings, although the look in his eye as he stood showed that he'd taken in every word.
"Why the Chapel Wing? Surely Lord Slade's house physician would have been the best man to treat him. How did you come to the decision to place Lord Slade in the care of the Church?"
Picorna blinked, confused for a moment, before she remembered that not everyone was trained in the healing arts.
"Sir, with a wound to the chest like that, it was important to move Lord Slade as little as possible. The Chapel Wing was much closer, and houses some of the finest physicians in the whole kingdom."
The answer seemed to satisfy Lord Vitur, who returned to his seat.
The King, however, was apparently not done with the three witnesses. He called them all back to stand before the court.
But instead of further questions, the King addressed Lord Jethrup, the Chief Herald.
"Lord Herald, have it noted in the record that these three girls have earned the thanks and commendation of the crown and the gratitude of this court for their gallant and quick-witted efforts to save the life of an injured man."
A note of commendation. It was lowest among the honors that the king could bestow, and carried no material reward, but it was something that many servants would never receive in a lifetime of work at the palace.
Addressing the three girls directly, the King simply said, "The court shall trouble you no more on this matter. You have our thanks."
Caerling was so surprised at the note of commedation that her normally controlled expression dropped from her face to be replaced by one of utter surprise. She blinked a couple of times and her eyes sought out both Freyda and Picorna for confirmation for a moment before dropping a hasty curtesy towards the King in thanks.
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She ends her recitation of the events with, "I do not know who the attacker was but I thank the Spirits that we were there to give Lord Slade the opportunity for survival. If the court has any questions, I would be happy to answer them."
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"Lass, you said that the ranger Gar Logan was injured when he approached you. Was there any sign that his injuries had been inflicted by Lord Slade? I would ask that Gar Logan answer this himself for the benefit of the court, but I notice that he is not present at court this morning."
Out of the corner of her eye, Caerling catches sight of Lord Stanhelm Slade, quietly seething in anger. Rian Kassof doesn't seem too comfortable with this line of questioning either.
Lord Hestor does speak truly, though. Gar Logan is nowhere to be seen.
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Lord Hestor returned to his seat, and the court waited to see if there would be further questions for the Kassof servant or if the young acolyte would come forth to give her account next.
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When she began speaking, her voice was soft, and a bit hesitant. "Freyda, Caerling, and I were leaving after cleaning up after the Dawn Dance," she said. "I tripped over a man, and he was hurt. There was a knife in his lung, and we couldn't take it out, because he may not have lived." Her voice grew more confident as she began to talk about the medical aspects of the evening. "I kept him stable while Freyda ran for help. We took him to the chapel wing, as it was closer and we have skilled healers among the acolytes. It was quite uncertain at first, but he managed to pull through, and he's doing quite well, for having been stabbed," she said.
She stopped, the rest of the details fuzzy in her mind.
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Lord Oben Vitur stepped up from his seat. He was a distinguished, older gentleman who had not at first seemed interested in the proceedings, although the look in his eye as he stood showed that he'd taken in every word.
"Why the Chapel Wing? Surely Lord Slade's house physician would have been the best man to treat him. How did you come to the decision to place Lord Slade in the care of the Church?"
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"Sir, with a wound to the chest like that, it was important to move Lord Slade as little as possible. The Chapel Wing was much closer, and houses some of the finest physicians in the whole kingdom."
Reply
The King, however, was apparently not done with the three witnesses. He called them all back to stand before the court.
But instead of further questions, the King addressed Lord Jethrup, the Chief Herald.
"Lord Herald, have it noted in the record that these three girls have earned the thanks and commendation of the crown and the gratitude of this court for their gallant and quick-witted efforts to save the life of an injured man."
A note of commendation. It was lowest among the honors that the king could bestow, and carried no material reward, but it was something that many servants would never receive in a lifetime of work at the palace.
Addressing the three girls directly, the King simply said, "The court shall trouble you no more on this matter. You have our thanks."
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She too curtsied before the king, hardly believing her good fortune. It was a full minute later before she remembered to mentally thank the Spirits.
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