NOVEL WEB Chapter 302: The Second Trial
The sun had barely risen over the waters of Patino when the prisoners were summoned again.
Ren, Lilith and Thorn were escorted from their cells, the silent guards flanking them as they made their way through the cool, winding corridors of the Tidecaller Hall.
Zuzu had been sent away from the building with her brother, Tam, as they had no business in this trial anymore. At least that was the justification they'd been given, but Ren didn't trust it. He had no reason to.
As they walked, their footsteps echoed around them, their boots clicking softly against the ground.
The air around them felt like it was made out of a thick soup, weighing them down. But that wasn't even as bad as what Ren could feel.
He could feel the gazes, the pressure of the eyes that had been upon them since their arrival, the eyes of their accusers, the eyes of those who were about to decide their fates, all around him. It was as if the walls itself were watching him, and waiting patiently for him to walk into their maw.
But he wouldn't let that happen. Not while he was still Ren. They'd walk out of here alive, because in the palm of his hands, was something that the elders of Patino wanted above all else.
They finally reached the great hall, and the elders were already seated, their robes flowing like waves crashing in slow motion.
His eyes skittered over their faces, but it was all blank. That wasn't good news, but it wasn't bad news either. But he knew that some had already made up their minds and others would need convincing.
He didn't care. He wasn't here to convince.
The High Elder stood at the center, her silver hair cascading around her shoulders.
She motioned for them to approach, her eyes hard and cold, as if the judgment had already been made.
The High Elder spoke, her voice rolling in the empty spaces of the hall like the rumbles of thunder before a storm.
"We are here to deliberate on the trial of the outsiders for the crimes committed against the laws of the Tidecallers."
Ren glanced at his companions, who stood quietly beside him. Thorn clenched his fists at his sides, while Lilith's expression remained unreadable, though her hand rested close to the folds of her blouse, probably as close as possible to her throwing knives.
"The charges are as follows." The High Elder continued. "The abduction of a Tidecaller youth, the involvement of said youth in our war, and the subsequent breaking of the rites of adulthood."
The room grew quiet as the High Elder finished reading the charges. Then, her voice rose again, slicing through the silence.
"The accused will now present their defense."
Ren stepped forward, clasping his hands confidently behind his back. "High Elder, esteemed council, we stand before you not as criminals but as those who acted in the defense of this world."
"We did not break the Tidecaller law. Zuzu did not break any law. She did not break the rules of her people. She acted out of necessity, as anyone with the heart of a true Tidecaller would."
"The Deep rose in the Mare Dulce, a threat no Tidecaller would ignore. Zuzu felt it. She saw it. And she chose to act. And she chose to act before a war could be declared. And thereby, she never fought in a war, but went on an adventure."
A murmur rippled through the elders. Some nodded, others frowned, but Ren didn't pause.
"And as for we the outsiders," Ren continued, his eyes meeting those of the High Elder, "we are no strangers to your ways. But we came together for a reason."
"The Deep was a threat to us all. It would have consumed everything, and the Tidecallers would have been among its first victims. We fought, not for gain, but to protect what is yours and what is ours."
"You kidnapped her." Elder Korrin interjected from his seat, his voice low and cutting. His eyes were calm, as if everything was under control. "You brought a child of Patino to fight in a war she was not meant to engage in."
"She chose to fight. Not in a war, but in an adventure. She came to us willingly." Ren responded. "She had a right to choose her own adventure."
The High Elder raised a hand, silencing the room.
"You did not answer the question." She said, her voice commanding. "Zuzu was not yet an adult. She was a child by our laws. What right did you have to take her into a war? What right did you have to use her blood and soul in this battle?"
"She was a child, yes. But she was also a Tidecaller. She knew the sea, she felt its call. She knew what had to be done. No one forced her. She made her choice. It was never a kidnapping."
The High Elder's eyes narrowed. "That may be so, but her choice to leave and your choice to take her with you was still a violation of our laws. You broke the sanctity of our borders and our rules."
Ren sighed. "Why are you being deliberately obtuse, High Elder?"
Gasps filled the room and some of the elders looked outraged, but Ren pressed on before anyone could think to interrupt him.
"We never kidnapped anyone or took them against their will. We didn't come here to break the rules. We came to save lives. We fought for a future, not just for us, but for everyone who calls the sea home."
Murmurs filled the room, and the High Elder quickly motioned for quiet.
"You've made your defense." She said, her voice now colder than before. "But the law does not bend for emotion."
"And yet," Ren replied, "the charges of this trial were written with emotion. But there is a saying that comes to mind in situations like this."
A soft smile came upon his face. "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."