Captains
Viola and Flavia were arguing – very loudly. The palace, usually a quiet and
contemplative place, particularly at seven in the morning, rang with their
angry words. Everyone else seemed to have run to a sheltered corner to hide.
‘It’s not up to you’ said Flavia, ‘It’s the law’
They were standing in the main corridor face to face, Viola slightly
out of breath from the exertions and Flavia bright red in the face.
‘It would be murder’ Viola said, ‘plainly so’
‘Since when have you been a lawyer?’ Flavia asked, ‘In fact, what is it
that you’re good at?’
Viola ignored her.
‘Your job was to bring Dr Fielding here. You seem to have seriously
exceeded your authority!’
‘On the ground things were different – I made a judgement,’ Flavia
said, ‘you would have done the same... Well, maybe not. Yours is only a desk
job, after all.’
‘Stop trying to make this personal. It’s a matter of principle’
‘Yes, I agree’ Flavia said eagerly, ‘the principle is the one about
leopards and spots’
‘What?’
‘Once a kinaam always a kinaam’
‘How on earth can you know that?’
Viola demanded.
‘We all know that – they’re worse than animals. Much worse – they’re
murderous vermin. You know what they did, and what they may well do in the
future. You know exactly what happened to our friends and families – they’ll
eat anything’
‘Don’t be disgusting, Flavia! Anyway, this is your obsession; I can’t
see many others sharing it’
‘That’s where you’re wrong’ Flavia said darkly, ‘there are plenty of
elves out there who remember the kinaam all too clearly. They won’t stomach a
live one in the city for long…’
Marthian emerged from her office, very angry.
‘Be silent!’ she commanded, ‘what do you think you’re doing. Do you
have no sense of discipline?’
She looked tired and drained. Her eyes were reddish in the early
morning light.
‘If you have to have a cat fight, perhaps you could do it outside. Or,
in my room’
Marthian gestured to her office, three doors down. They shuffled sheepishly towards it.
Once they were inside, Marthian did not ask them to sit. She sat at her
desk and the two officers stood. Flavia was stiffly and formally erect, Viola
slumped a little. ‘A lovely person, but
such bad posture’, thought Marthian, before forcing herself to
concentrate.
‘Explain yourself, Viola’ she said in a clear but rather impatient,
voice.
‘We were discussing the problem of the kinaam, ma’am’
‘And how would you define the problem, Viola?’ asked Marthian.
‘Flavia wants to kill him!’
‘Well, I’m sure Captain Flavia knows that she has no right to kill
anyone within the city. She’s missed her chance’
‘This is my problem now’ she
continued, ‘and loose talk about it really won’t help’
She turned to address Flavia.
‘I am very grateful for your actions in finding Dr Fielding and
bringing her safely to Ortia,’ she said, ‘and I will make sure that General
Aurelian knows of my gratitude’
Flavia bowed awkwardly but could not bottle up her feelings.
‘The Ethian has him! It’s a disgrace. We need to get to him before he
strikes’
‘Who do you mean? Before envoy Hardacre strikes? I think that’s very
unlikely’ said Marthian
‘No, ma’am, I mean the Tlaxacan!’
‘Oh, I believe that the creature in question is in the envoy’s custody.
According to Mr Hardacre it was an arrangement that you agreed to.’
Flavia was momentarily taken aback.
‘Well,’ said Marthian slowly, ‘did you?’
Flavia swallowed.
‘Well, sort of… yes’
‘And you were the commanding officer in the field with operational
authority, yes?’
‘Well, yes’
‘Then the problem is solved. The creature is in Hybitor custody, with
your agreement, and your orders have been fulfilled. Feel free to return to
your quarters for some R&R.’
Flavia hovered briefly. Marthian looked up at her from her desk.
‘You can go, Captain Flavia. Thank
you’
Flavia turned on her heels and left the office. Marthian slumped in her
chair.
‘Close the door will you, Viola…’
Viola breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the door.
‘Open the windows, too, would you? The atmosphere is stifling’
As she opened the windows the early morning light in the garden seemed
to enter the room and soften everything.
Marthian knew that the light would harden as the day wore on, however.
Viola returned to her slouched standing position.
‘Sit down, Viola’ urged Marthian, ‘you’ll damage your back’
‘What?’ said Viola uncertainly, but sat down anyway.
Marthian smiled, friendly but stern.
‘Please don’t have a shouting match outside my office again, Viola –
whoever it’s with’
Viola looked sheepish.
‘But I know that you agree with me’
‘That’s irrelevant. Anyway – I’m
not sure we have enough information to make any firm judgments yet’
She paused.
‘How are our guests?’
‘We’ve given Hardacre the big Imperial guest suite’ Viola replied
‘there’s enough room there for him and his – prisoner. Dr Fielding is in one of
the annex rooms. She’s not happy – but we keep feeding her and then she goes a
bit quieter’
‘Is she causing serious trouble?’ asked Marthian
‘No – she’s just refusing to come out of her room until we’ve freed her
companion’ Viola replied.
Marthian sighed.
‘Anyway - it’s not Dr Fielding that I’m worried about. We need to
decide what to do about Mr Hardacre. His behaviour is very odd. He’s taking a
big risk – if this all goes wrong it may compromise his whole mission.’
‘It’s a Hybitor thing, perhaps? Protecting the oppressed and so on?’
‘Possibly… I have no idea. Either way we have to sort this out. I have
to avoid a total rift with the Ethians without provoking a riot in the city. We
can’t totally alienate our only diplomatic contacts!’
Viola looked glum.
‘How though? We can’t do
anything until that kinaam is dealt
with’
Marthian nodded.
‘Half the population seems to want me to execute him’
Viola’s lips set into a frown.
‘You won’t, will you?’
‘Well, it would be decisive’ said Marthian, smiling slightly
Viola stared at her, a tremor, like a shadow, passing over her face.
‘No – I won’t’ said Marthian hurriedly.
‘Good – there must be another way’
Marthian thought for a few seconds.
‘It’s difficult’ she said, ‘the law comes from the beginning of the
invasions: there was a lot of hatred. It seems to have had a strong
morale-boosting function then. Anyway - it’s an Imperial law – I can’t annul
it.’
‘Yes – I’ve read it – it clearly says that any Tlaxacan that enters the
city forfeits his life’ said Viola
Marthian’s eyes widened and she smiled broadly.
‘Exactly! That’s the answer’
‘What?’
‘We’ll give our Imperial subjects what they want’
‘And that is?’
‘We’ll apply the law’ said Marthian emphatically
‘Meaning what exactly, ma’am?’
‘We’ll have a trial’
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