"Are you writing this down?"

  Yes.

  "... but why?"

  ...

  Ch 2 - Court

  Most people won't enjoy an in-depth recounting of exactly how I prepared for the future. It's mostly a lot of reading, comparing notes of the world-web, trying to determine what's rumor or fact. So, let's jump ahead to an example of that highly efficient legal system in action.

  "Heron vol Gleamwright, the accused. Prosecutor Tell, here we all are, again. How do you plead, Heron?" The judge sighed heavily. It was late in the day, a lot of cases had been heard before mine.

  "Motion to postpone, your Honor. My representation just walked out on me." I raised one palm, the appropriate gesture to start a motion. My cuffs rattled and pulled my other arm up.

  "Objection. This is a stall tactic. It's not even the first time." Tell drawled without standing. Looking the perfect picture of an annoying twig in an expensive suit. A nice expensive suit, but still, you could get something comparable for half the price.

  I would have, if I were allowed to choose something other than prison whites. I wore them well, but the tailoring left much to be desired.

  The judge was dressed more traditionally, not the full-on taxidermy headdress and draped robes, thankfully. Just a suit-cut that flowed more than modern suits and a caplet that evoked a full set of robes. "This is just a hearing, Heron. I only need a plea. What's stopping you from saying guilty or innocent?"

  "This is a public hearing, isn't it? My plea will reflect on my family, which is why I've been trying to settle out of court." I glared at the prosecutor.

  Tell rolled their eyes with exaggerated emphasis. "This isn't some corporate fine, there's nothing to negotiate. It's an open and shut case. Additionally, the one time we tried a settlement, Heron made unreasonable requests and used it to delay even further."

  "I disagree. I'm being framed, the prosecutor's case is forced and biased." This was mostly true, but I delivered it too quickly and casually. I had claimed as much multiple times and everyone was getting bored of it.

  "Stop." The judge raised their voice. "I am not hearing the case right now, just the plea. Approach."

  Tell and I moved to the bench. A guard followed me to hold my chains.

  The judge asked quietly, "What's the issue, Heron?"

  I hissed out, "Any court trial will ruin my family's business. A whole community of people-"

  The judge raised a hand to stop me and turned to the prosecutor. "What were the unreasonable requests?"

  Tell didn't lower his voice enough. "Heron was willing to plead-"

  I forced a cough and shook my head at them, then glanced around the room.

  Rolling their eyes again, they continued slightly quieter, "Heron wants full anonymity and a scouring of records, regardless of the outcome."

  The judge frowned, looked between us, then at the room. The presence of journalists was noticeably greater than usual for a simple plea hearing. They had crowded in to the point of overfilling their reserved seating. It had even delayed the start of the hearing. With a grunt, they tapped their desk sharply with their fingernails. "My chambers. Now."

  A gesture to the guard had them rearrange my chains to move my hands behind my back. A whispered threat encouraged me to behave while in private with the other two. Not something that was even slightly necessary, but it clearly made them feel better.

  They were already seated by the time I caught up and entered the judge's office, located just behind the courtroom. It looked rather vacant, no personal effects or in-process work. Even the memo pad looked brand new.

  Two large plush chairs were positioned near the front of the judge's desk. I expected that sitting was going to be awkward with the cuffs behind my back. Walking in front of the available chair, I made a show of investigating the most comfortable way to sit.

  "Stalling even here, Heron?" Tell sniped.

  I stopped to turn and face him. "I like to be deliberate."

  "Let's make this quick, you're my last hearing for today." Judge Wrenborne sighed again. The placard on the desk told of their family name. I looked for certificates on the wall and saw none. I worried it might not be their placard.

  The judge's own chair looked less luxurious than those for guests, but I recognized the make. It was one of those expensive, ergonomic things meant to be sat in all day without drawbacks. They were nice, I had one in my own office, but the weighty judge looked uncomfortable in this one.

  I lightly shoved the chair back half a meter and perched on the edge of the seat. It took two attempts because of the cuffs on my legs. The change in distance arranged me equidistant with the others, instead of nearly between them, as I would have been. Somewhat comfortable, I nodded to Wrenborne.

  "Off the record, what would you plead, Heron?"

  "Innocent, of course. But I need certain provisions met to go to court."

  "We can't do a private trial, Heron. You know that. The system is meant to be public, as are all the records." Tell barged over my words.

  The judge frowned at him. "Why would your case fail, Tell?"

  The prosecutor shifted uneasily in their seat, glancing at me.

  "Heron's representation isn't even here, don't hold back." The judge jabbed a finger at Tell.

  "Ugh, fine." They adjusted their cufflinks while lounging back into the chair. "If you look at it particularly skeptically, there's no motive and the evidence could be called ... light. It looks like a hired killing, but why Heron would be involved is a mystery. Still, they were caught at the scene of the crime, with the weapon used."

  Wrenborne chewed the inside of their cheek. "Paper trail? A hired assassin gets paid."

  Tell shook their head. "Nothing telling. Money going out, not in." They cleared their throat and sat up. "But we can still prosecute. No other suspects were found and we've had successful trials with less."

  I rolled my eyes. "That's not a good reason to throw me off-world. Not to mention destroying my family name, haven't we suffered enough this year?"

  "You'd think that would have encouraged you to keep your beak clean." Tell sniped back.

  I had to restrain my voice, "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time! As- I've- said-."

  "So you knew it was the wrong place?" Judge Wrenborne smirked.

  Tell perked up and gestured to the judge while giving me that 'see what I mean' expression. I just rolled my eyes at both of them.

  Tell frowned in confusion and relaxed back into their chair. "Why are you thrashing so much, anyway? You were caught red handed."

  "No. There was no blood on me or my weapon."

  "Your weapon?" The Judge asked.

  "Forensics found blood." Tell said while looking at their fingernails.

  "Trace amounts!" I glared at Tell with an expression of disbelief. "Not even fresh. And yes, my company's weapon. It's an experimental pearl-based enchantment, hasn't even been tested."

  "We tested it," Tell volunteered. "Worked quite well, once. Cracked the gem-work and we didn't try again. Output damage matches the victim's wounds."

  "You did what!?" I nearly shouted. "Return that to R&D immediately. They need to examine it before the gem-work evaporates. You shouldn't even still have it, it's protected as proprietary research."

  "It's the murder weapon in an ongoing court case." Tell gestured to us and the room while rolling their eyes.

  "It's not. It wasn't the victim's blood. Working once isn't even proof it could work twice." I fought with my chains, wanting to make hand gestures that followed my words.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "Enough." Wrenborne raised both hands. He paused to look between us seriously, settling on me. "Heron, I've seen cases like yours go either way. Likely it will simply come down to the jury's opinion of you."

  I nodded, and forced myself to breathe to calm down. My personal counsel had said as much. It was half the reason they quit. That and to allow me to delay again.

  "Forcing a private trial hurts your chances. From what I know, every time it's been tried, the defendant has been pronounced guilty and suffered the maximum sentence. You need to have a public trial, simply to preserve justice."

  That earned a harsh frown from me. The concept of justice was still a raw point.

  "It won't matter," Tell declared loudly. "Heron's recent activities don't cast a good light."

  I glared at Tell. "Dragging me through the mud will destroy my family's business. If it goes under it will ruin hundreds of lives, not just mine."

  "You should have thought of that before getting into bed with criminals."

  I stood abruptly. "You soulless whelp!" I then stepped forwards to kick them. It didn't work, I fell over instead.

  Tell didn't even look surprised. They caught my unbalanced body with one hand and guided me to the side to fall to the ground. I controlled the fall, Tell hadn't thrown me, luckily.

  The kick failed miserably because the mana cuffs and chains on my hands and legs caught my raised foot and broke my balance. Mana cuffs were also quite good at draining away most of a person's strength. Even without specific training for it, we naturally used the mana in our bodies to augment its operation. Most of the reason why I was allowed in the room alone with them was because I simply couldn't threaten them. I was probably weaker than a child.

  Neither said anything as I recovered on the floor. Once my breathing was under control, I rolled to face them and took another deep breath. "Sorry. Prison life has me on edge. Motion to change prosecutors, your Honor."

  Wrenborne shook their head. "If that exchange had occurred in the courtroom I might allow it, but you'd be suffering consequences as well."

  The room stayed mostly silent while I tried to stand. It's quite difficult when chained up like that.

  "Tell, help Heron up already." The judge sighed and rubbed their forehead.

  Tell grimaced, but did assist me. Then made a show of brushing their hands off after.

  I scowled at that.

  Judge Wrenborne had a similar, if less intense expression. "Prosecutor Tell. I recommend you consider recusing yourself from this case." He let the statement sink in until Tell acknowledged it with a nod. "Heron, can you distance yourself from your business."

  "Yes. It's what I've already been doing, but it's quite difficult to do quickly and from prison. Even after that, I'll still need some anonymity during any potential court case or sentencing. For which, I should add, Prosecutor Tell has been completely unhelpful with. Sandbars everywhere." I glared at Tell again.

  The judge looked to Tell with another frown.

  For their part, Tell brushed their suit down then sat taller specifically to look down at me. "Looks to me like you've been busy getting a few tattoos. Made lots of friends in prison, have you?"

  I restrained a growl. As much as Tell's obstinate drive to villainize me was helpful, the sheer efficiency of the legal system was working against me. I was close to prepared, but not fully ready.

  "Tell, do your damn job without bias." Wrenborne sighed. "This isn't going to be the great case that makes your career. Heron clearly isn't going to stand for a public trial. Take a moment to get that through your head."

  The room was awkwardly silent for a minute. I took the time to breathe and make sure I hadn't bruised or broken something during the fall.

  "Now." The judge continued, "With that in mind, and the fact it's a fragile case to begin with. Is the prosecution willing to negotiate a private settlement?"

  "So long as-"

  "Yes or no, Tell."

  They breathed stiffly through their nose. "Yes."

  "Good, let's make some damned progress. The hearing is cancelled pending an ongoing breakdown of negotiations. Tell, please inform the courtroom, I need to speak with Heron."

  It was quite favorable wording for me, ongoing implied they couldn't just drag me back into court right away.

  Tell stood but lingered with creased eyebrows, glancing between the judge and myself. I got the impression this was a rare event. They politely nodded to Wrenborne and left the room.

  I shifted on the chair, trying to get comfortable with the chains in the way.

  "What's the plan?"

  "The plan?" I raised an eyebrow.

  "I've been doing this for decades, Heron. All these delays, you're setting up for something. The tattoos are ink-work aren't they? Let me see." Wrenborne gestured for me to approach.

  I frowned, then sighed when it was clear the judge wouldn't back down. I presented the tattoos on my forearms by turning my back and half-sitting on his desk.

  The judge grumbled, grabbed a pen, and used it to lift my sleeve to expose the ink-work. "Yep. And big ones too. Planning to take this one all the way up to the elbow? Hmm. Do I want to know what they are?"

  I sighed again. "They'll be the same when they're done. And you'll find out what they are eventually. I'll have to report it to the warden."

  "Hmgh." They dropped my sleeve and tapped my arm to get me off their desk. "So, probably last minute then? And definitely something illegal."

  I turned and sat in time to catch their heavy sigh and a hand wiping exhaustion from their face.

  "You're being held in... Campo, was it? Is Olga still there?"

  "Yes, though she goes by The Raven Mistress, now. You knew her before?"

  "No. I signed off on her repeat sentencing a few times. Had to meet with her. Quite the individual. Is she still rumored to be immortal?"

  I shrugged, it was a popular rumor. "I suppose so. She looks barely older than me. Absurdly motherly in appearance, not attitude, but I suspect that's a byproduct of her situation."

  "Hmm. She was like that before as well. I heard some theories, though we shouldn't speculate or judge."

  I nodded. "As you say, Judge Wrenborne."

  They smirked and chuckled.

  I exhaled in relief. "So, that placard is correct?" I pointed to it.

  "Hmm?" They looked at it then creased they're forehead. "You didn't know it already? Didn't you hear it announced to the courtroom?"

  I shook my head. "Not over the squawking of dozens of journalists."

  "But, the amplification gem-work?"

  "Must be worn out, it was barely louder, and I was stuck by the door."

  "Ah, right, you were." The judge tapped the unused memo pad with the pen and said, "I'll have to remember to get it checked. Our crusty maintenance workers take too long to look at any gem-work, though."

  I bounced my head side to side. "We're just getting into sound for our pearl work. I could send someone- ah, but no. That might be seen as a bribe. Send my assistant Bluehawk a request after I'm off-world. They'll sort you out."

  "Heh, I'll do that." They tapped the memo pad again. "So, you are planning for exile?"

  I faked a grimace, it was slow and unconvincing. "Without a public trial or the support of my family's business ..." I tried to exaggerate a shrug through my restraints, "I'll surely be convicted. So yes, as you suspect, I will negotiate for a settlement. Exile without a conviction, preferably. Ideally to my preferred location."

  "But you haven't already, because?"

  "Tell is a bit of a nuisance, and I need more time."

  "To finish the tattoos? How long?"

  "Mostly. I'd like dispensation to test them, as well. Need to ensure my health, you understand. As for time." I made a show of mental calculations. "The Rav- Olga, says a couple weeks. But her estimates have been constantly slipping. So I'd like two months."

  Wrenborne grimaced at that. "Once you settle, sentencing will be very quick. I could do ... the end of this month, if you cooperate with Tell and settle fast enough ..." they trailed off with a leading expression.

  It was my turn to grimace properly. "They were not cooperative last time. I can't see it going smoothly."

  They sighed. "The expediency of our legal system is meant to avoid these kinds of delays, Heron. That's why I'm intervening at all. To delay it longer ... you'd probably be forced back here, and be required to enter a plea, just to prove you are keeping the system moving."

  I frowned. I knew that was a possibility, honestly I was amazed my legal team had delayed this long. Given the expected negotiations, I'd likely have to plead guilty to satisfy Tell and Wrenborne for long enough.

  They pointed at my frown and said, "I agree." Then sighed heavily again and opened a low drawer in their desk. They moved something made of glass around, then remembered I was there and closed the drawer.

  "There's no other way to delay it? I can't exactly rush Olga."

  "Hmm." They scratched at their neck. Sharp fingernails against bristly proto-feathers made a particularly loud noise. "Now that I think on it ..." Wrenborne opened another drawer, the wide shallow one at the top which generally held stationary and pens. A few pages of a calendar or planner flipped into view. "Huh, you're in luck." They tapped at a few places, probably counting off days. "Stall Tell until next week, then agree to whatever you'd like. That should get you enough time."

  I paused and turned my head, trying to read the judge. "You're certain? May I ask how?"

  They smirked. "There are certain things about the world-web junctions we cannot share with just anyone, operational security, you understand."

  I nodded slowly. "Okay." Then I took a few seconds to consider it thoroughly. "Alright, I can do that. Could you get Tell to negotiate with me at the prison? That would save me a good chunk of time in transit."

  "Hmm," they looked up, "they should already be doing that. I'll look into it." The judge looked back to me, then stood. "Well, unless you'd like to give me a full confession, I think we're done here, heh heh." They reached out a hand to shake then retracted it swiftly.

  "Heh." I stood. "If you smuggle a mana collection gem-work into the prison, I'll have my lawyers send you a full play by play once I'm exiled."

  "The lawyers that just quit?"

  "My company's lawyers, you were right that we had a plan. Thank you, Judge Wrenborne." I performed an awkward bow, the chains preventing the proper hand gestures.

  "Aaah. Hah! Would you sell me the book rights, as well?" They returned the bow, pinning their own arms back to match me.

  "Hmm... Now that might be considered bribing an official, wouldn't it? Heh heh, besides, the story is only getting started." I talked as I walked to the door.

  Judge Wrenborne chuckled. "Heh. I feel I should say good luck, Heron, I hope it was worth it."

  "Hmm," I paused at the door. "Uh, can you get the door? These chains..." I rattled my restraints at the door handle.

  Constructive criticism is welcome: concisely explain why you don't like something and how it could improve. Using the suggested edits function to call out confusing wording is also helpful and appreciated.

  reader interaction:

  I want to do interesting epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter that hint at or answer some questions about the story and setting. So please, please ask questions in the comments because they might end up at the top of chapters!

  This does mean that if the story is already finished (post writathon), you probably won't see your question added, but I'm not above going back to edit in really good questions, and just generally answering reasonable q's in the comments.

  The conceit is that the person Heron is talking to would be the one asking them. They already have some knowledge and should mostly be clarifying points or filling in missing details. They are unlike to, for example, ask what Heron looks like or why they nearly only ever use they for everyone.

  they's and them's.

  Non-human lead is marked as one of this fic's tags for good reason. Hopefully it comes across in the writing, with they/them being a big part of that. Skipping the exact specifics, Heron's species doesn't interact with gender the way we do and they don't really have he/him pronouns. Thus they use the gender-neutral singular they/them for basically everyone. This is very much a cultural thing for them, and it's not going to change because a bunch of readers don't like it.

  So, don't bother complaining about it.

  As you probably noticed, Olga does use she/her. I'm not keen on fully explaining the dynamics of that, but you might be able to guess some of it based on this chapter's content.

  More important to the overall point: the singular they/them is the direction our culture is moving as a gender neutral pronoun. If you don't like it: too bad, so sad. Dissent in the comments will be met with harsh rebukes. (deleted comments, blocks, etc.)

  not changing their pronouns. Try to read more (and slower) to improve your comprehension and ability to pick up context clues. (Specifically, read other more complex works, not just this one.)

  one specific section of my writing is confusing, then please call it out by using the suggest edits function. Ideally, include a way to clarify it, but if you can't find a simple solution, that's fine, I'll still look it over.

  This is a writathon project that I'm writing quickly with the intention of wrapping the story just as fast. It's a filler/break from my main fiction, Heavenly Shae. I'm going to continue what I see as fun narration quirks like Heron making meta-comments and skipping ahead just because they aren't interested in explaining details. If the first chapter and narrative snark isn't your jam, sorry, there might be a lot of it here.