• Mature • Far from grace

[Griffin]

1st Zi'da 716

It was not, perhaps, the kind of accommodation that a noble woman of Warrick would have been used to. At least, the Judge had made as many provisions for her, as had been possible. Prisoners held in the cells were usually stripped of their own clothing and left in their undergarments. Vivian might have been surprised that she’d been left in her own attire. Weapons had been removed and locked away in the guard room. Unlike other prisoners beneath the arena, the noble had also been provided with a blanket. It was cold beyond the draughty stone walls, and the Judge had been forced to consider the conditions he would want his own children to face in such circumstances.

One guard walked head of him, another behind. Silent, hardly daring to breathe in their respect as they held lanterns aloft. It was a steady descent from the busy winter street into the pits. First through the guard room and then into the first level of cells. These were the freshest smelling and the cleanest. Small rooms lined either side of a narrow corridor, either with a bench or stone slab. A bucket left for absolutions. A gully running either side of the frozen stone served to wash away any liquid waste, down into the belly of the prison, and then into the depths of the city itself and the maze of underground sewers.

In the first group of cells, reserved for those who would be spending the briefest time in the jail, or the most respected citizens, the small was almost unnoticeable. However, beyond the next wooden door, the judge was glad that his own sense of smell had been long damaged by such frequent trips to the underworld of Andaris.

The cells here were better than those deeper again, and baring one, they were empty. The judge, a man of less than average height, waved the guards away. They hesitated at the silent order before returning back up towards their room, leaving one of the torches behind. “Just knock, your grace, when it is time to leave.” The departed locking the door to fresh air behind them. The judge wore his brown hair short, peppered with grey and silver at the sides it was neatly trimmed. His clothes were practical but well made. Robes of office fell from the mantel on his shoulders and down to his knees. Deep brown eyes watched from beneath a bushy brow as he stared into the gloom. Gaze adjusting to the dim light.

“Vivian Warrick,” he addressed her directly, “you’ve been charged with treason against the crown. The punishment, as you know, skyrider, is death.”

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian let her thoughts wander as she lay stretched on her bed. She knew the kind of treatment prisoners usually received, after all she had been a soldier. Yet here she was with her own clothes and even a blanket had been provided, though her weapons had been removed as was only prudent. With all this, Vivian was, thus far, inclined to believe Ser Malcolm's assertions as to her likely sentence. Still, she was not inclined to drop her guard until the sentence was carried out, though there was little she could do about escape at this point. Though she would have been tempted, if only to get away from that awful smell.

When the she heard the door open, Vivian stood up and walked to the bars in case they were here for her. It transpired that they were, and Vivian soon found herself face to face with a man who was the very image of a respectable, honorable judge. She found herself wondering if it was true, or if he was Cassander's creature wearing the guise of an honorable man. When he spoke, however, she simply laughed and leaned against the bars of her cell before speaking. "I'm aware of my crime and it's listed punishment, though I find it funny that the brat on the throne is apparently exempt from the consequences of betraying those he's meant to protect." she said, before she let out a bitter sigh. "Funny, though not surprising."

Turning to face the judge, Vivian calmed herself and spoke again. "If the threat of death is meant to scare me, your honor, then I would advise you spend more time with the military. We risk our lives to defend the innocent, it's part of the job, and this is no different. Well, barring the bars and that smell, anyway." she said, wrinkling her nose slightly, before laughing again, this time in genuine amusement. "Reminds of the stables I used to play in as a child."

Pushing her memories aside, she met the judge's eyes. "Ser Malcolm told me of what he figured my likely sentence would be. I admit, I'm both curious and skeptical. I believe him to be an honorable man, but Cassander's acquaintance with the concept is akin to that of Pythera Venora, though she at least has the honesty to perform her evil herself, even if we can't catch her at it, instead of sending lackeys and hiding behind an undeserved throne." she said, her tone growing increasingly bitter as she spoke. With an effort, she shook off her anger and spoke in a calm voice. "So, how is this to proceed?"

[Griffin]

He let her spout the vitriol. Head tilted to the side as he listened. Dark eyes intense and earnest. “A king is beyond the reach of man, or even woman,” Pavoo spoke calmly and without further judgement or inflection. It was a simple truth. It was not unusual for a ruler to live beyond the reach of law. However the judge was unwilling to offer an opinion to the noble daughter of Warrick at this time. She seemed to reach an almost reasonable discourse before ranging again into bitterness. Perhaps she was fortunate that the Judge had a daughter of his own, of a similar age and tendency to fall head-first into trouble.
“I’ll admit that I’m curious as to your accusations. What can you tell me? What have you witnessed of crimes committed by Cassander’s hand?” He rested his arms behind his back. Settled and content as though viewing a selection of books on a library shelf. Unhurried motions as she considered the young woman before him.
“You will answer my question,” he instructed when she asked how things would proceed, “and I will then make my judgement. I cannot be sure what anyone else has told or promised you,” his brows raised at the suggestions of assurances made by the new Warden. “The judgement will be mine alone, without prejudice or preconception.” His low voice rumbled through the otherwise empty corridor.

[Vivian Shiryu]

The judge's question confused Vivian but after a moment, it dawned on why he wouldn't know what had happened to Lazuli. "Of course he wouldn't tell you. He can't afford the risk." she muttered before meeting the judge's eyes. "He tortured my cousin, who was innocent of any crime. His guards took her from her home, brought her to the castle. He had her tortured just for information, information she couldn't even provide, without even bothering to try and just ask for it. And when he was done, he dumped her in the alleys of Andaris as if she was a common criminal. He left her without any way home, without even bothering to be sure she would survive." she said, her voice breaking near the end. She looked away for a moment and when she looked back her eyes were full with unshed tears.

"She couldn't leave her room in our grandfathers house for fear of being taken again, her dreams, her confidence were shattered. Broken by a man she had every reason to rely on for protection." she said, unable to keep her anger out of her voice. She took a moment to try and calm herself, but she couldn't manage it. "I'm a soldier, your honor. Everything I am is bent towards keeping our people safe. And the one to whom I'm supposed to owe loyalty willingly tortures them and then dumps them in the alleys of this city when he's done. And yet between my duty to our people and my love for my family, I was expected to stand by and do nothing. To just allow it without comment or reaction." she said, wrapping one hand around the bars of her cell to prevent her hands from shaking. "If you've family of your own, you know I couldn't do that."

[Griffin]

“And the same mistake again, Lady Warrick,” he raised a hand and touched it to the icy bar. As though the action was akin to reaching out, and imparting either sense or logic upon the young woman.

“What you have described sound horrifying. I can only imagine that a cousin of prestige must be the current Baroness of Warrick?” The frown deepened on his features. By all reports he suspected that Lazuli Warrick was more lamb than lion, tame, malleable and a gentle creature. Yet she had been betrothed to his own brother, Veljorn. As it stood, he was glad, for Lazuli’s sake that the marriage had been called off. “I have daughter,” he admitted, “about your own age and that of Lazuli’s. I would not stop if such actions were bought against her…however.” He lifted his hand, “it was not the question I asked you. Did Lazuli see the king? Or were they men in the king’s name? There is a vast difference between a soldier who obeys her orders, and one who decides to undertake unsanctioned actions. Do you understand?”

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian gave the judge a confused look as she said she had made a mistake, though she glowered when he said it must be Lazuli. "It doesn't matter which cousin it was. But yes, it was Lazuli." she said, before she listened to his question. She thought on it for a moment, before nodding. "Not from her own mouth, to my knowledge she wouldn't even see her own sister afterward. But she told the story to our grandmother, the duchess, who said Lazuli had been told it was the King's wishes." she said, before thinking on it further. "By my understanding of the events just before the battle of Lowtown, Zvezdana Venora confronted Cassander about it, in the presence of Elyna Burhan, a slave named Faith, her brother Alistair, and my uncle, Viktor Warrick." she said, her voice growing enraged again when she mentioned her uncle. "According to her, and she was not in any kind of emotional state to be making things up at the time, he denied neither torturing Lazuli nor killing his wife. I have heard Freya Renault was ill, however, so that could simply be ending her suffering." she said after she calmed herself. She thought a moment more before shrugging.

"My grandmother has no reason I know of accuse Cassander of torturing my cousin, and Zvezdana, Seven rest her soul, was torn between homicidal rage at Veljorn's death and crying her eyes out when she told me what happened. She could barely speak and wasn't rational enough to lie to me. I believe they were telling the truth." she said, before she took a deep breath as some other details occurred to her. "Rafael Warrick disappeared after the war started. Rumor reached us that he was taken by the Kings Guard as well, but he later turned up as part of the Iron Hand, so I can't be certain of how true that was. Another of my cousins was brutalized as well. I never heard of anything tying it to Cassander, but at the time I assumed it to be him, between Lazuli's torture and Rafael's disappearance."

Vivian shook her head. "I do still believe he tortured Lazuli. And my family has been targeted of late. Perhaps I rushed to connect the other two attacks to Cassander, but regardless, I could not let the former slide." she said, leaning against the bars again, her tone now calmer.

[Whisper]

“You still do not answer my question, child,” the Judge spoke softly, though there was a quality to his voice which spoke of power and control, “I asked if King Cassander was directly responsible. You offer little more than hearsay and rumour, in the eyes of the law. The words of a bitter and mourning family are not enough for any true retribution brought against anyone, least of al the King of Rynmere.” Turning, the Judge glanced up. He had been in many rooms much like this one in the course of his life and career. This room, however, seemed much darker and dingier than any previous ones.

It wasn’t particularly rare to find a member of the nobility in a cell such as this, but it was not common enough for Pavoo to ever grow truly used to it. Many personal experiences had already caused the Judge to give Vivian preferential treatment, even if it was only the simplest of luxuries. The sound of a slow drip leak in the corner of the room reminded him of the situation, before he slipped into his own musings about family. “By your own words… by your own admission, you have as much, if not more, reason to want the downfall of King Cassander,” he finally spoke, looking back towards the young woman. “Enough, perhaps, that your involvement was crucial to the conception and realisation of the plot to overthrow, or even assassinate, your King.”

“The attack on your cousin was disgusting, something that I, nor any in polite society, could condone.” Pale eyes fell directly on the Warrick, and the woman would see nothing but the deepest sincerity and sorrow for her family’s suffering. “Yet you offer no evidence for your claims that the King was responsible for Lazuli’s suffering. Then,” the man began to pace slowly, back and forth, “You go as far as to suggest that Rafael Warwick’s disappearance- not to mention claiming the Queen was murdered by her own husband?”

Judge Burhan shook his head as he stopped pacing, coming once again to stand directly in front of the disheveled noblewoman in the cell. He was struggling to understand the woman’s motives for aligning with the Que’Dreki. “To accuse the King of murder is beyond anything I might have expected. That in itself is treasonous. Do you have any more evidence? Something more substantial than the word of resentful family or... slaves?”

[Vivian Shiryu]

At the judges words, Vivian just rolled her eyes and turned away. "I know we didn't have enough for the courts to do anything, and that's assuming they have enough of a backbone to have done anything in the first place. From what I've seen in the past few months, courage and honor are virtually nonexistent in this country anymore." she said, unmistakable bitterness in her voice. However, when the judge insinuated that she might have been involved with the planning of the rebellion, she she simply shook her head.

"You need to get your dates in order, your honor. Lazuli's torture was the first attack, and that happened after the rebellion began. And frankly, I doubt that Veljorn would have trusted me to be anywhere near him after he married Zvezdana. When he was still engaged to Lazuli, I'd more or less threatened him with bodily harm if he harmed my cousin. As it was, I think she's better off without him." she said, shrugging before rolling her eyes again when the judge said she was accusing Cassander of murder.

"As I said, that was second hand information. And I never spoke to the slave. Murder...that I don't accuse Cassander of, no. You asked what I knew and how, that's what I told you. If you want evidence about that, I'd advise you seek out Elyna Burhan, or my uncle Victor. Or Alistair Venora, I suppose." she said with another shrug before she let out an irritated sigh. "Your talk that I have no evidence is all well and good for the fancy courts where everything is neat and tidy. An arc ago I'd have even said it was enough for all, but I've learned better now. The courts are only of use until things get muddy, once things stop being so black and white, they're useless." she said, before she let out a sigh. "Here's what I do know for certain. Your precious King, who you seem to believe can do no wrong, refused any attempt to negotiate with the Qe'Dreki when they met for parley. Instead he just had them burned with Jacadon fire and had their leader murdered by his own cousin. He turned the white fire on his own people without even caring to try for a peaceful solution. As a Skyrider, that alone would have driven me to rebel." she said, her voice cold as she stepped away from the bars. "I don't regret turning on Cassander, as no other action would have allowed me to keep my oath as Skyrider."

[Whisper]

Judge Pavoo’s brow raised in incredulity at the young Warrick’s words. It was not so much what she was saying anymore… no, he had heard it all before. If not from her, then from some other traitor to the King and the Kingdom. This conversation was becoming somewhat cyclical, as so many others before this one had been. Yet Parvoo found himself shocked at the way in which this girl thought it was appropriate to speak to him. Not only was he her superior - both in rank and profession, thus he had the right to demand a certain amount of respect from her. More importantly, however, had she been on the right side of the bars, he might have forgiven her a transgression such as this one. Instead, here she was insulting the intelligence of the man responsible for deciding her fate.

He wondered if she realised this, or if the stress and fatigue and cold and solitude had finally gotten to this once vivacious woman. For a moment, Judge Pavoo wondered if Vivian Warrick even cared whether she lived or died.

“Not only do your actions need to be kept in check,” he finally replied, is voice hard, “but so does your tongue, if would seem, Miss Warrick.” So many others had shared the same tales Vivian told him now, all decorated in different ways, as was true with all stories from those he had seen prosecuted over the years. There was a common thread between the version Vivian shared and that which others had told previously. Yet the judge could not help but wonder if these stories were so easily told because they were so believable.

The King was young, merely a child. Any who paid close enough attention could see the manipulations of those who influenced him. Yet King Cassander had his own stubborn streak about him, one which made many of his actions entirely his own. “As a Skyrider, your duty is to protect your King. Was[/i to protect your King,” he returned, just as virulently. “It is, and never was, your place to have an opinion about the King’s chosen course of action. You were charged with following the orders of your Commander-in-Chief. Instead, you chose to betray him.”

Whether or not there was truth in Vivian’s words - and he had already made the unspoken decision to investigate further - there was no denying his statement about honour and duty. Integrity was another matter entirely, but he would not indulge a girl in her position with such fanciful talks of semantics. “It goes without saying that you are to be stripped of your rank as a Skyrider, and all benefits and honour that comes with it. The rest of your fate rests on any further reasoning you have for your disgraceful conduct, or further evidence to support your claim.”

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian rolled her eyes when the judge told her she needed to keep both her tongue and actions in check. She'd been hearing that admonition since she was a child, but she'd never had any use for people who acted as was socially acceptable rather than as they meant. Then he started on her duties as a soldier and she looked away from to hide the fact that right now, she would have quite happily broken the idiots jaw. She didn't react when he said that she was to be stripped of military rank, but when he said the rest of her fate would be based on her reasons for her "dishonorable conduct" she glared back at him.

"You know, for a moment, I thought you were different. But I can see that I was wrong. All you are is another of Cassander's self-serving, pathetic pets." she said, her tone icy cold. "You, him, and the rest have all either forgotten, or just don't care. The military and the nobility both exist to serve and protect Rynmere. Cassander and his sycophantic nobles are not Rynmere. Rynmere is its people, the farmers and merchants, the sailors and laborers. As both a Skyrider and a scion of House Warrick, I was charged with their protection. That was my duty, was the duty of every noble and soldier in the kingdom." she growled, before snorting in derision.

"But no, that's not the proper way, is it? A noble daughter butchers innocents and the military doesn't do anything, hiding behind a claim of not having enough evidence. The King tortures innocents and burns thousands, without a care for the innocents caught in the crossfire, and it's all right because he's the King. Whenever one of the high and mighty does something wrong, you sweep it under the rug and move on with your lives. It's only when those of us who still have our integrity move to make things right, when we threaten your self-created sense of infallibility, that you try to pretend that the nobility can make mistakes." she said, her tone one of sneering contempt.

"No, "your honor", the Qe'Dreki and I did not act without honor. We were the only ones left who had any." she said coldly. "I have no further need to explain myself to you. You'll act solely in your own self-preservation, as your kind always do."