Umbra and Morgana were deep in discussion. They looked up at and were quiet on my arrival. Iris and Samiya were out.
"What’s happened?"
"You didn’t tell him?" Morgana questioned Bryette sternly.
"My apologies, my Lady. I will now." Byrette answered humbly, "One of the Refugees in Elkilbour whose clan Penmagi are taking care of has committed a cri." She explained.
"What cri?" I asked.
"Murder." She said.
I raised an eyebrow and asked the obvious out of shock, "There’s been a murder?"
"Yes, but the context is important. Her son who had taken to helping out this farr had been raped by the farr. The son had attempted to kill himself and that is when the mother found out what drove her son to try and take his life. The issue is that when she tried to tell ... I wasn’t told. Turns out the warrior who the tale was passed onto was a drinking buddy of the farr and believed his friend over the boy’s story and decided not to pass on the information." Morgana summarised.
"The mother seeing there would be no justice took matters into her own hands." Umbra added.
"Exactly." Morgana confird.
I rubbed my chin, "I can empathise with her. I can’t say I can judge her." I stated my thoughts.
"That is a bit of a problem because I must judge her. As a key figure in our clan your opinion is also expected on the matter." Morgana replied.
"I’m busy." I tried to excuse myself from the matter.
Morgana simply stared at .
Umbra was about to say sothing, likely in my favour, but Morgana cast her death stare and Umbra shut up. Even with her power boost from the evil eye, I doubt that Umbra could survive a determined Morgana in combat. Morgana also commanded a lot more influence than Umbra.
"She will be punished for she has committed a cri. I don’t think the dealth penalty is suitable given the circumstance, but beyond the boy’s word we have no proof of any rape. No magic may be used to extract ’proof’ because the magi could be biased against the farr. Only a most trusted Truthseeker could be used and they are not usually called in for matters of common folk."
"Ask Maise."
"Again, it is not custom."
"I’ve respected custom plenty. The boy is one of ours and he deserves the truth. We have done more than enough to protect this city from invasion. How dare they refuse a minor request for one woman to ask a question or two that could greatly affect our judgent on the accused’s life."
"Fine. I asked for your opinion. I can hardly complain now I’ve got it."
"Master, is wise." Umbra said.
"He is the wisest." Tulisa insisted.
I noticed Tulisa had one of my public hair on her lips. I got up and wiped it off her face with burning red ears.
"Supposing we do get Maise to co down and she proves the boy’s story. What do you think should happen?" Morgana asked again.
"Regardless of the boy’s story we will not give out the death penalty. In any case as a matter of law."
"In any case?" Umbra asked, surprised.
"Oh, I can see so exceptions due to war or whatever where we have to kill people. Or sohow we lack resources or whatever. But those are special circumstances. What I am arguing for is that if soone commits a cri, I say there is no death penalty. Instead we try to rehabilitate them into our society or if that is impossible we lock them away where they can harm no one and given just enough to survive."
"It is an interesting proposal. It might be difficult at first, but as an idea we focus on integrating people, growing them rather than punishing cri. It has rit." Morgana said thoughtfully. "I think I read so ancient land that did sothing similar to the east."
Morgana continued, "Okay. Henceforth, no death penalties for cris or only under special consideration or circumstances that will be set forth later."
Like that Clan Penmagi outlawed the death penalty.
"Still we need to do sothing. We have to consider what our allies think. They will want justice and I suspect so within our own people would expect it to. We will not get people to follow and trust us if we cannot show that murder is not acceptable in our clan." Morgana said.
"Give the woman a spear and send her to the wall. Let her die doing her duty. Should she live then glory will cleanse her of her cri." Umbra suggested.
It was a painfully practical solution.
"We do need more bodies on the wall. We lose warriors every night to the Romans probing attacks."
"Will an unmotivated and untrained woman separated from her child be of any use on the wall?" I countered.
"I know this woman. The husband will look after the child. She should be glad for redemption." Tulisa said. How she knew, I didn’t ask or care.
"This one might. But if we set this as custom then future people might face the sa precedent." Morgana said thoughtfully.
It seed less that she was struggling what to do in this case and more concerned about Clan Penmagi lawful approach to cri now and the future.
"Not including so path to warriorhood would be foolish given our current circumstance at war. Frankly, gaining a warrior at the loss of a farr is nothing." Umbra insisted.
"What was Iris’ thoughts?" I asked. She was noticeably absent as was Rebecca.
"Iris had little of value to suggest. She empathised with everyone which is lovely."
"What about Rebecca?"
"She argued for the death penalty. She wishes to appease the Kings of Gelt."
"Huh, I didn’t expect that from her."
"She once ruled with her husband from the fort of Ferisdarm. She is not wrong for wanting to show a hard fist during these trying tis." She explained. "I think I know what to do."
"I’ve decided. The case will be held in a few days ti. Once Maise’s testimony is given we will learn whether this woman will if the boy is false she will be offered conscription into military duty or exile but if the the boy is true the sa offer of conscription or life imprisonnt. Should she violate conscription life imprisonnt or if suitable death."
"Any disagreents?" Morgana asked.
"No."
"No."
"Then we are in agreent."
Then Làidir entered our room.
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