Tattered Souls - Part 8

Being selections from the transcript of the initial hearing in the case of Immalaine v. Rastellion of Bree

***

You know m’ name, Tom. Y’ were in th’ Inn pinchin’ my serving maids jus’ last night! … Oh, alright. You an’ your ‘official record.’ Ahem. I am Barliman B. Butterbur. … No, I won’t tell you what the B. stands for. Does it matter? ...

Yes, I see the bloke. What, are you blind man? He’s sittin’ right over there. … Alright, alright. Let me think. Was back sometime in th’ fall when he started coming… yes, he: him. Fine. When Rastellion started coming to th’ Pony. Seemed just a country lad at the time, you know how they are, a bit awed by the town, drinkin’ too much, walkin’ out with a new girl every week. Just another one of the lads, I thought... 

Aye, I heard a thing or two about what brought him ‘ere. ‘Keep’s gotta keep his ears open, y’ know. Word was that he was tryin’ to take care of the sale of his father’s farm somewhere up north, and buy a new property. It’s what I heard, anyway...

Oh, now, that I can speak to. See, early on, I overhears him once at the bar telling this one lass that he’s not lookin’ to go courtin’, as he don’t know how long he’ll be in Bree. Thought it’d be done soon, he says, and he’d be leaving town. She seemed a bit put out he weren’t makin’ any promises.

So later when he starts comin’ in regular with that Miss Immalaine, I thought it a bit odd. Sure, they makes a cute couple, but seemed he might be leadin’ her on. But folks is folks, and it ain’t my business t’ be meddlin’. Long as they pay fair coin for their drinks an’ don’t go breakin’ things when they brawl, the rest is all the same t’ me...

When? Oh, I can’t rightly say. Sometime afore Yule, I think it was, I started noticing them together.

***

I’m Bonnie Milkweed, notary at the Town Hall.

Yes, I recognize Rastellion there. I met him when he first came to Bree, trying to finish things up with his father’s farm. He was in and out of the place, pestering us about the paperwork. These things take time, I told him, but he just wouldn't listen.

Thought I’d seen the last of him once those papers got all sorted, but then he was looking to buy a new farm. He was working for the Bree Adventurers’ Association by then, too. Started showing up in fancy clothes. The proper well-to-do townsman, if you ask me...

You mean when he found out about Miss Immalaine’s farm? Aye, he seemed real interested. Started asking all sorts of questions...

No, I’d not seen him and Miss Immalaine together before that day. But I’m not one to hang out with the riff-raff at the Pony or those other places. After that, though, they’d come in together, from time to time. Always asking about that farm of hers...

Yes, sir, I did give it to him. I know it wasn’t quite proper to hand over the deed to someone other than Miss Immalaine, but she had been in with him before, after all: when they submitted the first affidavit and then after, when I informed them they needed a new signature. I suppose it was a bit odd it was just him that showed up, but I didn’t think much of it. And we had an auction coming up that morning. It was real busy...

I did think it strange when the deed reappeared, signed over to Rastellion. That sort of document requires witnesses and notaries, not just a bare signature, and I was meaning to send them a message to that effect, but I lost track of the matter for a day or two. And then the real deed appeared, along with the papers registering her intent to marry Sir Sallastin. That’s when I brought the first deed – well, the forgery, as I know it to be now – to the mayor’s attention.

***

Aye, yer Honor. M’name’s Lily Applebur an’ I’m a server down at th’ village inn at Rockberry...

Yes soir, that’s him right there, Mister Rastellion. I won’t be forgettin’ him any time soon!...

No, because of on account of th’ first time he visited the inn, him and Miss Immalaine. That’s the night he tried t’ take on a bandit with nothin’ but a knife. Oh, I mean, he had a knife. I don’ know what th’ bandit had. But Rastellion, that’s all he had, if you take my meaning soir. Went t’ fight in his alltogether. We had a good laugh about that after down in the kitchen we did...

No soir, that was the first visit. A bit before Yule, as I recall. An’ their second visit a bit after...

Yes soir, I did notice sommat like that on th’ second visit. See, when they was there th’ first time, you coulna of blown a breath between ‘em, as my ma used t’ say, they was that tight. Sharin’ the same room an’ all, an’ she makin’ cow eyes at him over th’ table an everything.

Secon’ time though – an’ I notices this – weren’t none o’ that. Even took separate rooms they did. Been a bit o’ trouble in that garden, I thoughts to myself, I did, an’ thoughts it even before she ran up cryin’ to her own that night. Don’t know what the brute said t’ her, but I’m sure it weren’t kind...

Well, I did mebbe hear a thing or too, soir. Not that I’s one t’ listen in, mind you, but when yer back an’ forth with a platter an’ pitcher every moment – no rest for my feet, soir, I can tell you – a body hears a thing or two. An’ I got good ears, everyone’s always said. My ma used to call me...

Oh, right soir. Sorry soir. Yes, I overheard a little of what they was sayin’. Sounded like he was tellin’ her not to sell her farm. See, way I hears it in the kitchen, Miss Immalaine, she growed up around the village, back before her farm got burned, an’ they were there tryin’ to get some paper or seal or signature or somethin’ as to prove it was hers. Only she wants to sell it, an’ he was telling her not.

***

Goeff Leafwood, sir, I deal in hides and leathers down at the market...

Aye, I know Rastellion. And just let me tell you this here’s all some sort of mixup. Rast would never...

Sorry, sir; yes, I understand. Just the answers...

Yes, I was with him that morning. He asked me to help him out over at the Town Hall, make sure that that farm didn’t go up for auction...

No, he didn’t say why Immalaine wasn’t with him. He did say they’d just gotten back from fetching the last signature, so I figured she was having a bit of a lie in after their travel...

Well of course I didn’t see him give the deed to her. I wasn’t following him home, now was I? He said he was taking it back to her, and I’ve no reason to doubt him...

Yes, I suppose, he did seem angry later that day. He didn’t say why, though. Just stormed out a bit after noon, and that was the last I saw of him until just the other day...

Itlooks like Rastellion’s handwriting on that document, but I’m not sure. Half the traders in Bree have handwriting that looks like the work of excited chickens, so I’d not swear to that being his one way or the other.

The prosecuting lawyer turns to the judge as Goeff steps down from the witness stand. “There you have it, Your Honor, plain as day. The defendant came to Bree to sell his father’s farm. But instead of heading home with those funds, as any dutiful son would, he tarried around Bree, squandering the money and living large.”

“Then, when he met Miss Immalaine, who’s just a simple country girl, and learned about the farm she stood to inherit, he saw a way get himself a fine piece of land for free. Maybe his own monies were running out by then on account of his high living? The reason hardly matters. He started courting the poor girl, despite his intent to return home and abandon her. Quite swept her off her feet, the smooth fellow.”

“But as he kept pestering about that deed of hers, she started getting suspicious. He grew angry when she spoke of selling the property, though it was none of his business what she did with her own.” He turns to regard Rastellion with a cold stare.

“As Immalaine will testify when she appears before this court, they quarreled about the matter, but she insisted on selling, and he got angry with her. Got violent, even struck her.”

There’s a commotion at the defendant’s table as Rastellion surges to his feet. “That’s a damn lie!” he barks.

His court-appointed lawyer pulls him back down into his chair. “Not now,” the man says. “You’ll get a chance to testify later. This is just a hearing.”

“But … but that’s not true! None of it is!” Rastellion protests.

“Shh,” the lawyer soothes. “Let me handle this.”

Up at the front, the prosecutor has resumed. “By now, Immalaine had her guard up. So when an old friend of hers heard about her plight, she accepted his offer of a place to stay, safely away from Rastellion and Bree. She left, taking the deed to her property with her.

“It was at this point, we contend, that Rastellion decided on forgery. Little did he realize that Immalaine would be submitting the real deed back into the safety of the Bree archives, unmasking his plan.” He points to the forgery on exhibit, then turns to the judge.

“I’d like you to hear now, Your Honor, from a witness who saw Immalaine leaving with this old friend.”

The judge shifts on his bench, briefly dabbing at his forehead. “And yet, in all this,” the judge says, frowning, “you’ve not produced Immalaine herself to speak to these charges.”

“No, Your Honor,” the prosecutor says. “She intends to appear and testify at the trial itself. With arrangements for her marriage coming up it seemed unfair to ask her to drop everything and come to Bree just for the hearing. We believe there is more than sufficient evidence to warrant that a trial date be set, and for the defendant to be held in prison until that time. Besides...” He glances over to the table where Rastellion is glowering at him, “Besides, she is in some fear for her safety.”

The judge scowls and dabs at his hairline again; a faint trace of blood marring the handkerchief. Early that morning, a run-away cart had nearly run him down just outside the courthouse; only the quick reflexes of a sturdy bystander had saved the judge. The encounter seems to have left the aging official somewhat irritable.

“Very well, very well,” he snaps, tucking the cloth away. “You may proceed.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” The prosecutor turns and points to Merry. "Ms. Amargein, if you would please step forward to offer testimony?"

Merry looks up as her name is called and, with a glance around the room, steps forward.

The judge considers the young woman as takes position before his podium. "Ms. Amargein, you understand that this is just a preliminary hearing? We are not debating Rastellion's innocence or guilt, merely establishing if there's sufficiently compelling evidence to warrant a trail. It is the trial that will determine that innocence or guilt.”

Merry picks at her sleeve. "I understand, Your Honor." she replies quietly.

The judge nods to the prosecutor. "Proceed."

The prosecutor approaches Merry. "For the record, your full name and occupation, please."

"Merithele Amargein. I work as a housekeeper for Mrs Zandrianna, as well as being head musician for the band TriBella."

"And do you recognize the defendant?"

Merithele turns where the judge points and waves to Rastellion. "Yes sir, that's Mister Rastellion. I've seen him. He's been by Mrs Zandrianna's place many times."

The prosecutor nods, preliminaries established. "Very well. Is it true that you were present when Immalaine left from the Zetsu residence in the company of Sir Sallastin and his manservant? And, if so, was anyone else present at that encounter, beyond Immalaine, Sallastin, his manservant, and yourself?"

"I was there, yes sir. And it was myself and Miss Immalaine and that man, Sallastin, and Mrs Zandrianna, but she was asleep cause she was sick and ... and I guess that's all."

"So, you are our sole eye-witness. Now, tell me, how did this man present himself to you? What did Immalaine say about him?"                                                 

"She didn't actually say anything to me, but he said they were once really good friends and that he'd lost touch with her for a while."

"And did he force her to accompany him, grab her? Did she cry out for help? Or did she go willingly with him?"

"Well, at the time it seemed like she went willingly. She didn't cry, she even seemed to be in a rush to leave with him." Merry shakes her head as she speaks.

"At the time? Do you have any evidence to suggest things weren't just as the seemed, at the time?"

"I ... well, no. Nothing physical. No sir." She picks at the sleeve harder, pulling a thread from the fabric.

The prosecutor nods, satisfied. "Very good. That will be all. Thank-you. You may step down."

He turns to the judge. "There you have it, Your Honor. Cut and dry. The prosecution requests that a trial date be set and that the defendant be kept incarcerated until then."

At the judge's nod of dismissal he turns and, with a mocking gesture, invites Rastellion's lawyer to take the floor.

The defense lawyer stands, shuffles papers, and approaches your bench. "Your Honor, the prosecution's case rests, ah, entirely on hearsay. Their only evidence is a bit of paper that might have been prepared by anyone, and the accusation of a young woman who isn't even here. My client is of good standing in the community, and these charges are laughable. The defense moves that they be dismissed and my client released without prejudice until such time that more convincing charges, if any, are brought."

The judge scowls, then dabs at his forehead again. "I have heard enough here to convince me that there is reasonable suspicion. Do you have any evidence to disprove these allegations?"

The lawyer looks taken aback for a moment. "I ah ... yes, of course. Um, Mrs. Zetsu, if you could approach the bench?"

After going through the formalities, Rastellion's lawyer asks Zandrianna. "The defense claims that Rastellion forged a deed and transfer. Yet why would he? You've told me that she left without that paper, yes?"

Zandrianna lifts her chin to face the man. "That's correct, the deed was still on my desk at my house when she left. At least until my home was ransacked a couple of days later."

He nods encouragingly. "You saw this deed? Filed it safely among your own papers, then?"

Zandrianna closes her eyes a moment. "No, I didn't see it myself. But Merry told me it had been there, and I believe the girl. She's bluntly honest sir."

The lawyer blinks and shuffles his papers nervously. "I ... oh .. Ms. Amargein," he calls. "Can you verify that you saw the deed among the papers after Immalaine's departure with her friend?"

"What? ..." Merry asks, now wrapping the strand of thread around her index finger. "Oh ... yes sir. It was there, I remember seeing it after Immalaine left and Mister Rastellion came back to talk to her again."

The lawyer nods, satisfied. "There we go. And I assume you included mention of this theft in your report to the Watch of this burglary? That will be in the town's official records, then."

Briefly Zandrianna opens her mouth, then shuts it again. Had she? She thought back. "In all the confusion and frustration, I forgot to file a report with the Watch," she admits.

Rastellion's lawyer looks startled, and the defense lawyer audibly snickers. The former hurriedly changes the subject. "Oh, I see. Well... the, um, prosecution wishes us to think that Rastellion and Immalaine had a falling out after Yule. But you were in a better position to observe them than these so-called ‘witnesses’ we've heard from. Is there any truth to that claim? Perhaps it's nothing but malicious gossip?"

"It's true that after Yule Immalaine was unusually reticent towards Rastellion and myself. However, she had a lot on her mind. In fact, after a particularly bad nightmare she confided in me about her past. It was quite alarming."

He frowns. "But, certainly, she was still as affectionate with him, despite the occasional bad dream, wasn't she?"

Zandrianna looks at Rastellion. "I have to admit that, no, she was quite withdrawn. I tried to get her to talk to him about her fears but ..." Zandrianna shakes her head. "The girl's more stubborn than I am at times. All her thoughts were that Rastellion wouldn't accept her if he knew about her past.

Rastellion's lawyer looks at a loss for a moment, and the prosecutor stands. "If I may address the court?" he asks. The judge, not seeing an objection from the defense, nods, and the prosecutor steps forward.

"We had intended only to bring this up at the trial, but..." He puts a short stack of papers in front of the judge. "We have evidence to show that the finances of the Bree Adventurer's Association are in a perilous state. It is our belief that Rastellion was embezzling funds to enrich himself, at the expense of the Association. Certainly he's gotten more personal wealth since his arrival in Bree than is likely through any honest means.

“We contend that Mrs. Zetsu, as head of the Association - indeed the one who promoted Rastellion to be her second - is either complicit in this embezzlement or, perhaps more likely, has been fooled by him. After all, matters of accounting and inventory are hardly the sorts of things a woman could be expected to understand, and it would be easy for a smooth operator like the defendant to bamboozle her." He smirks over at the two of them. "In either event, we move that the court treat this witness to be unreliable."

"THEODEN KING!!" Zandrianna glares at the lawyer. "Did you just accuse me of being some simple minded, ignorant little TWIT!?"

The judge bangs his gavel. "Order! Enough! This is a court of law, not a bar room. Sit down, madam."

Zandrianna stands and joins Merry at the benches, muttering rohirric curses the whole way.

As the judge speaks, Rastellion tugs on his lawyer's arm. "This is all lies and half-truths! Let me talk!" But his lawyer shakes his head. "No, that'll just make you look guilty. Like you've something to defend. Besides, I ... we need to talk about this financial stuff. You didn't say anything about that to me."

Rastellion grinds his teeth. "Because it's not true. Not really. Sure, there's a lot in investments right now, but that’s not unusual, and..."

The lawyer cuts him off. "Later. I still think he’ll just dismiss the charges. It's all hearsay."

The judge turns to Rastellion's lawyer. "Does the defense have anything else to offer?"

"No, Your Honor. As the prosecution's supposed evidence is nothing but hearsay and innuendo, we move that all charges against my client be dropped."

The judge shakes his head. "This forgery is no hearsay." He sighs and reaches for his handkerchief. "Very well. This court finds sufficient evidence to justify further investigation. However, due to the defendant's good reputation - not to mention the unusual circumstance of the accuser herself failing to appear before us - we find continued incarceration of the defendant in the town jail to be too extreme.

“We therefore rule that he is to be given the freedom of the city, but only the city, within the bounds of the hedge-wall, on his parole and a 100 gold bond. It is so ruled." He bangs his gavel, winces at the noise, and stands, reaching again for his blood-smeared handkerchief. "This court stands adjourned," he announces and turns, without further ceremony, to leave out the side door, muttering to himself about big damn draught horses and reckless carts.

After the trial, before being led away to put his bond money in escrow and make arrangements to stay within the Bree proper, Rastellion has a few brief moments to speak to Zandrianna.

"It's not true," he insists, as soon as she's within earshot. "I never hurt her. Why would she say those things about me?"

Zandrianna stares at the watchman, then hugs her friend. "Rastellion, I believe you." she says, lowering her voice. "I know you better. You'd no more harm Immalaine, or steal from the association than I would stand in the middle of Bree naked and play my harp. And without her here ..." Zandrianna shakes her head. "Something isn't right. T'isnt like Immalaine at all to say such things. I'm worried, scared for her."

Rastellion’s shoulders slump a bit within her embrace. "I'm not sure any more what she's like. Not ... not after all this." He steps away, looks to the side, swallows once or twice. "And that innuendo about finances... that's all a lie too! We can show them the books; there's nothing to hide." His fists clench at his side. "That bumbling lawyer they assigned. I could have done a better job than him. Zandrianna, I need you to help find and hire a better one for the trial. Someone competent. I can pay for it."

"Of course I will. These accusations are complete nonsense, and the sooner we get you cleared of them, the faster we can get back to what's important. I'll start looking first thing in the morning. Rastellion," she adds, as the watchman grow restless, "Whatever happens, I will be here for you."

Rastellion scowls as the watchman steps up and takes his arm. He shakes himself loose. "In a minute," he growls at the guard, then turns back to Zandrianna. "I've got to go make arrangements. I'll let you know where I'm staying in the city once things are settled. At least I can still work at the trading house and office... Though with this ... accusation hanging over me, it's going to be a lot harder doing business...."

"Have faith Rastellion. One way or another, we'll get this sorted." Zandrianna squeezes Rastellion tightly.

Merry steps forward and offers Rastellion a brief smile. "For what it's worth," she says, patting his arm, "I don't believe it neither. Don't know you well, but you don't seem that type of fellow."

Rastellion opens his mouth, but the guard grabs and tugs him more insistently. "'Nuff o' that," he says, gruffly. "Can talk t' your friends latter. Right now, I'm 'spposed to take you down t' the court offices."

Zandrianna watches as the guard leads Rastellion away, her mouth pressed in a thin line, then turns to Merry. "He didn't do this Merry, I know it. We've to do anything we can to help him."

After giving the guard a rude gesture behind his back, Merry turns to Zandrianna. "I can ask around Bree, of anyone that might know a good lawyer ..." she starts, and begins heading towards the doorway. "But I've not many contacts here. Perhaps Rossiath ... she's lived here forever.”

"That's a great idea Merry. Of course Rossiath would know people around here. We'll go see her first thing in the morning and talk to her. Oh, and Rastellion's father. Someone will have to look out for him - new in Bree and all."

Zandrianna starts making plans, the two woman going back and forth as they head up the street. So engrossed in the conversation, Zandrianna doesn't notice when Merry comes to a complete halt, until the girl tugs on her sleeve. "What ..." she starts, but Merry puts her finger to her lips and points. Zandrianna's eyes follow to see what has Merry's attention.

Three men stand at the back corner of the courthouse; two of them half-in an alleyway, the third, facing them. The first two look like the lawyers from the trial - prosecutor and defense. The third man is just handing a small purse to each when he glances up and catches sight of the women watching him. He urges his companions back further into the alleyway, out of sight.

"Did we just see…" Zandrianna says, her face a mask of disbelief and growing anger, as Merry hurries her along the road.

"Don't stop," Merry says, glancing back to make sure no one is following. "That man, the one with the lawyers? I've seen him before. He was at that house, the one Emra and I were watching. At least, I'm pretty sure it was one of them."

"Then Rastellion's being set up. But why?"

Merry glances back, her expression serious. “I don’t know. And where is Immalaine?”