Flicker of the Flame by Evelyn Puerto

Author:Evelyn Puerto
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evelyn Puerto

33

Forcing her spine straight, Tereka strode into the questor’s courtroom two days later. The night before she had received a summons to appear, delivered by a breathless clerk who wouldn’t meet her eyes. She couldn’t imagine what this was about. Had Hina decided to press formal charges? Perhaps it was just some petty dispute over pricing. She took a shuddering breath. Or did this have to do with the Riskers?

She tugged the hair on the back of her head. Part of her wished Da were there. He would have wise counsel for her. Another part was glad he’d left on a trade run the day before. She wasn’t ready to tell him about the way she’d hit Tirk. She’d caused enough trouble already. Better to handle this on her own.

The courtroom benches were half full of people, most wearing the villagers’ gray clothing, a few in the brown that marked traders. Yavaros, the questor, already sat at the judges’ table, the silver chain that marked his office draped around his shoulders. Three sets of scales sat on the long wood table, one before each seat. A large map of Tlefas hung on the wall behind him, along with a portrait of the current Prime Konamei, Ultark III. Tereka gazed into Ultark’s face. Gray eyes like winter skies, tight jaw, pinched nose. Not the visage of a man who seeks safety and fairness for all.

Kaberco stalked into the courtroom, scowling. The gold chain over his shoulders clinked as he strode forward. Tereka wrinkled her brow. As far as she knew, he usually didn’t sit in court. Unless one of the cases was unusual or complicated.

The ephor moved to the right-hand seat. Three judges heard each case. The other spots were typically filled by Yavaros’ panel of judges, or at times, the other konameis. Idly, Tereka wondered who the third judge would be.

When Juquila entered the courtroom, Tereka held her face still, suppressing the urge to grimace. She should have known. She watched her aunt take the seat to Yavaros’ left—the third judge’s seat—her turban-clad head held high, the bronze chain of the syndic looped over her shoulders. Her presence meant nothing good for Tereka.

Hemmed in by people on either side, Tereka shifted in her seat. Her scalp prickled. She crossed her legs, ignoring the muttered complaint of the woman to her right. No. Calm down. This is just a coincidence. She’s here for someone more important.

Yavaros turned to Kaberco. “Are you ready?” He didn’t wait for Kaberco to answer. “Court is in session. First case.”

The questor’s clerk, a young woman of about eighteen, shuffled the documents on the table in front of her. With a start, Tereka recognized her as Juquila’s oldest daughter, one of the cousins she’d never been allowed to meet. She ignored the sting of being left out. It didn’t matter. She had plenty of Risker cousins to make up for Juquila’s malice.

The clerk picked up the top document and read from it. “The first case is Chita Panjin.

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