The Trial of Lorisette (plot, open)

[ShadowReine]

This was a formality, Yselka thought as she stood next to her dragon. The bronze that arrived was an older one and a larger one.

Lorath, who looked to K'mar, Weyrleader of Benden.

He had seen what his Candidate had done. Half of Pern had. There had been hundreds of witnesses to the stabbing, to the painful death of the green dragonet.

The Weyr had no formal guards. Two young greenriders, both male, had been detailed to bring out the young woman.

And, of course, there was a judge, the Master Harper stationed at Ista Hold...from just enough distance to be fair. Or to show the impression of fair, essential when guilt went beyond a doubt.

"Bring her," Yselka said clearly, turning to K'mar "Ista's Duties to you, and I would that it were better circumstances.

K'mar merely nodded. "I leave the judgment to you and the Harper, Weyrwoman."

Why did she feel there was untruth in the bronzerider? They had found a Benden mark near B'toc. She was just being suspicious, untrusting.

The Harper stepped forward. "I call open testimony, due to the nature of the case. Anyone who would speak against this young woman or for her, may do so...but please, an orderly manner."

[tariala]

Nebrona watched the trial keenly, hand in firm contact with her dragon's head, but made no move to speak. As much as she would have liked to help condemn the former candidate, there had been others closer to that fight on the Sands, with a better view of its events. Nebrona preferred to watch, and wait, and see which way the arguments needed to be nudged before she said her piece.

Though she'd speak sooner if no one else did, of course. Not only on the events of that day, but to further testify as the bad history between Lorisette and W'ska, and Lorisette and Ivria, that had had developed among the girls. But could she in good conscience bring up that part of things, when Ivria had been just as mean-spirited toward potential rivals as Lorisette ever had? Maybe even more so, she amended in her own thoughts.

Conscience could go take a long stroll Between, she decided. She just hoped that the girl wouldn't find some way to get out of an appropriate punishment when she was found guilty- some fool arguing leniency for an unbalanced young woman, or something.

But watching Lorisette being brought out was just making her blood boil, so Nebrona used the opportunity to covertly observe Benden's Weyrleader instead. With people, Nebrona generally started from the premise that everyone was guilty of something- it was just a matter of finding out what. The assumption usually saved a lot of time, and meant that, unlike Yselka, Nebrona accepted that a bit of suspicion and mistrust could be fine and dandy things in certain circumstances.

In this case, a previously-pondered thought flared in her memory. She had been concerned about not only girls turning on each other in pursuit of the gold, but that their home Weyrs would have actively encouraged them to do so. Could someone from Benden have smuggled that knife to her on her way back to change for the hatching- counting on her Impressing, and Pern getting stuck with her anyway? Or maybe just using her to clear the field for another Benden girl, and their bad luck that the targets had both Impressed.

Nebrona wondered idly if Lorisette would admit any such things, if she thought she could get a better deal for herself by passing on the blame. Too bad she wasn't in a position to find out.

[bookworm]

R'nul stood on one side of Lorisette, guarding the Benden girl closely. He may be unassuming under any other circumstance, but he was a dragonrider, and well trained to defend himself and protect the Weyr. If he felt uncomfortable being so close to the murderess, he didn't show it.

Salye had been in the group of Queen candidates who moved forward when the gold hatched, and she had been near Wiska and Lorisette when the attack occurred. Clearing her throat and raising her hand to get the weyrfolk's attentions, she stood and addressed the judge. "I clearly saw Lorisette draw a knife with the intention of stabbing Ivria. Lorisette was trying to keep the gold from going to anyone else...she said 'Nobody but me will have her' before aiming the knife at Ivria. But Wiska stopped it. Stabbing Wiska might have been a mistake, but Lorisette came onto the sands with the intention to harm someone. And not only did she kill a young woman, she also killed a healthy green dragonet. I know what I saw, and I don't believe there is any question she needs to be punished. Thank you." With a nod to the judge, she took her seat again.

[zenith]

Standing off to one side of the whole proceeding, T'ron stood in dark silence, arms crossed over his chest. Resting on a ledge, Sebeth was keeping a sharp look out. The brown dragon was wearing his harness, even though his rider was not with him, but down in the proceedings ... it had been a precautionary move on the pair's part. Just in case Sebeth had to swoop down and get his, his harness was on to aid in the maneuver.

T'ron had no doubt of the girl's guilt. But he didn't have anything to add to the proceedings, either. He hadn't been on the sands... he'd been up in the stands, like most riders. Which meant a few details were missing from what he personally knew. But too many tales of what exactly had gone down matched too well for him to think anything different had happened.

Truth be told, the rider had actually been watching other individuals on the sands when the scuffle had started. And once started, the bodies had been to close together for him to see much other than girls struggling.

And then there'd been screams and blood.

So T'ron just stood there and watched, and listened. And awaited to see what the judgement and punishment would be. What would they do with the young murderess?

[amejisuto]

F'xia had come to the trial, because she had been there. She had seen what had happened. But she had kept a pretty detailed list of it in her mind. She herself had hungered for the golden queen. She now had Oweith and nothing else would ever satisfy her. She loved her green, and realized that the dreams of golden queens... where a young girls fantasy. Passed unto her because of her blindness to the truth.

She wasn't meant to ride gold, she was happy riding green. She had come and sat silently, waiting patiently. She had been thinking about the events ever since then. Oweith lifted up her head and looked sleepily up at her rider. The Bad-No Brain Female, she will be punished? My Sister is gone because of her... The green said as she shifted and stood up a little and shook herself. Stretching and then looking at her bonded.

It was their turn, when Salye stepped down, F'xia took her turn. Walking towards them slowly and then stopped. "My name is F'xia and I impressed to my Green Oweith shortly after the events. As many know, I came from Telgar to ride gold. But I realized my true intentions at the hatching. Because of such, I was watching the events happening attentively. Because a Queen Rider must be attentive and knowledgeable of all events, at all times... Or to the best of their ability." She said this in a smooth and cultured voice.

"I was paying attention, when the accused began railing insults upon the intended stabee. I am quite certain the accused planned on stabbing her intended target. I would fully believe that death was in her mind. I clearly heard, like Sayle, the statement that no one would have the queen but her. The young woman that passed on that day... She did something honorable and brave. She tried to end a fight on the hatching sands. But it ended in tears, instead of joy... She was killed... even accidentally but the accused. For that... and the death of her green dragonet... I put forward my statement. Justice be served..."

She said as she rose and slowly left the stands. Taking her seat again. I love you F'xia... I'm proud... Oweith stated clearly.

[phlysolo]

Lenia wouldn't have believed it if she wasn't standing there, watching with her own eyes. She had suspected that perhaps H'zu or S'koin would have skulked off in the night, taking a bound and gagged Lorisette with them on their dragons and deposited the girl between. Although she supposed it wouldn't have been the, what was it, most humane option, it would have certainly been the best thing to do with the girl, really. Now most of the Weyr had gathered to watch the proceedings, watch the Master Harper decide the girl's fate. Public execution, perhaps? Lenia hoped so; seeing some needless bloodshed might make her feel a little bit better...

She hated to admit, but she was...well...depressed. Of all the Candidates to be left Standing, she was one of them. How could any dragon have thought her, Lenia, daughter of a dragonrider no less, incompatibal? Honestly, she was even looked over by a blue, a BLUE! Stupid N'cia...she had just gotten in Lenia's way that's all and the dragonet hadn't gotten a good look at her...Biting her lip, she forced the thoughts out of her mind hoping, for once, that she could think of something else rather than her failure at the Hatching...

Too bad she had been rather jaded by the whole affair. It didn't help that she had been only a few paces away from Lorisette and the dearly departed green Weyrling. After the Hatching she's slunk off to her room and had seen with shock and disgust that there were several blood splotches on her robes, a gift from Lorisette's wildly thrashing blade. Too bad she couldn't embelish on what was said, the Headwoman had already spoken, as had some other green Weyrling. Might as well do her part, though.

In a brief pause, a silence before someone else spoke up, Lenia stood, one of the few Candidates, she noticed, in the crowd.

"I was almost right behind-" Oh, what was that other lout's name? The new golddust? "Ivria when Lorisette attacked. She had the knife hidden under her robes, probably in her breast band to give her the best access and to easily hide it from Weyrling Master S'koin and his assistants when we entered the Caverns."

By Faranth, she didn't realize that the memories were so clear. Her eyes fluttered shut in the briefest of pauses, but her mouth betrayed her, opening before she was truly ready to speak.

"I-I...I don't honestly know if she came into the grounds with the intention to commit murder," Another pause and she couldn't help but remember the horrible keels of the dragons and firelizards as W'ska's green went /between/. "But things got out of hand fast. There was too much between Lorisette, Ivira, and W'ska. They were each so determined to Impress the gold that I don't think they even saw it as a...creature anymore..as a dragon anymore, just a means to an end, perhaps.

"Anyways...Lorisette wasn't in a natural state of mind on the Sands, that's for sure. Even the most nervous or determined Candidates don't think of their competition, really, they think 'Oh, Faranth, what about me?!' Lorisette wasn't like that. She was...depraved. Crazed. I don't think she realized what she was doing, entirely, just knew on some basic level that those in her way needed to be gotten rid of. Whether she really wanted to do that by murder I don't know. I think...I think she acted passionately. Crazed-passion. A crime of passion," If Lenia realized that she was rambling, she didn't show it, but her voice edged with more emotion as she went on.

"Do I think that Lorisette is a cold, calculating murderer? No. I think that she acted with all the human instincts of a raging feline."

[dotta]

K'al was among one of the many candidates thrown into a crowd of spectators. Those who wanted to give their words seemed to be closer to the front, where the trial was clearly seen. He, however, only wanted entertainment. He stood in the middle of the crowd. The dragonet who stood beside him wasn't fond of this view though.

The Bronze snorted and looked around at his fleshy prison. He had little view of what was occurring. Even when the bronze took the moment to stand on his hind legs did he not pass the shoulder of the human in front of him.

Nebmaeth snorted again.

A dragon such as myself deserves to see everything. He stated this with an incline of his proud head.

K'al grunted in acknowledgment even as he continued to watch the trial.

I can see just fine.

But I can't. Mine and I deserve the best. That includes being in front.

With that said, the Bronze began pushing his way pass the crowd. Crabby, who rested on K'al's shouldered chirped at the boy in question.

K'al shook his head and followed after the dragonet.

[ShadowReine]

The masterharper frowned. "And there was no provocation given by the other."

"None," Yselka said, softly. "Of course, Lorisette would never have Impressed any dragon." Dragons had more sense than to choose cold blooded murderers.

The Benden Weyrleader spoke. "I will abide by the judgment here, but ask that Benden carries out any sentence."

The Weyrwoman nodded, closing her eyes for a moment. "Master, what do you think?"

"That she is guilty? There is no doubt. That she is sane? There, the doubt falls, but I do not feel that such a contagion should... Has she been examined by a mindhealer?"

"Yes. And the verdict was that she knew what she was doing." Yselka turned to Lorisette. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

The girl had remained oddly silent throughout. "I was ordered," she finally said, "To obtain the queen by any means necessary."

"You can't have thought...I only meant to be the best Candidate possible!"

No, Yselka did not trust the Benden Weyrleader, and that outburst did not help. "Master Harper?"

"I would give a verdict of guilty."

Yselka nodded. "Then I pass the traditional sentence for murder. Lorisette of Benden will be taken to the Western Isles, there to spend the rest of her natural life."

A hardscrabble existence. Her children might one day return to Pern proper, for sometimes riders would recover the offspring of exiles who showed signs of being good citizens. But she would not.

[tariala]

Nebrona's interest abruptly sharpened at Lorisette's confession. She knew it! Benden was immediately crossed off of the list of Weyrs she might take Allirth to one day... though, how many had issued the same orders to saner candidates?

Nebrona fervently wished for half a candlemark alone with the murderess, who had proven herself willing to at least obliquely finger the Benden leadership. What names, actions, offered rewards would she talk about if given opportunity? But that wasn't to be, since she'd be transferred into Benden's care for her exile to be carried out. Perhaps someday she could take Allirth to search the Western Isles- and no doubt Lorisette would be more susceptible to bribery then, more desperate for any offered luxuries in her hard existence.

That was, if Lorisette lived. An exile's life was a hard one, and it was Benden's duty to carry out her sentence- Nebrona wouldn't put it past the Benden Weyrleader to have a little "accident" in Lorisette's transport... the dead told no tales afterward.

[zenith]

T'ron scowled as someone brought up the idea of the candidate not having been quite sane. He was of the opposite impression ... she knew quite exactly what she had been doing, what she planned to do. The murder had been premeditated, if he had ever seen one.

She had to have planned it ahead ... she had been in possession of a blade, that had to be smuggled onto the sands. There was not doubt in T'ron's mind that she was quite sane and squarely in her thoughts. She was just twisted. She had gone in there intending to cut down someone, intending to thin the competition. Fully aware of what she was going to do with that knife, that she had so carefully taken out there with her, and hidden on her person.

The only way he could think of for that to have worked, though, was if she had counted on actually Impressing the Queen dragonet before anyone could cart her off. But again ... there was the hole. No dragon would impress to a murderer. None.

But, even with that ... the girl had gone out onto those sands, intending to kill. Of that, there was no doubt. And had he been closer to the front, he would have said as much. The girl deserved to be dropped off between, not taken to an exile.