“Sir Fereak, wait,” Caste stumbled upright and forwards, “please, sir…” Judd caught him before he fell sideways.

  “Cleric, this does not concern you.”

  “Sir,” Judd held him up, “before you exact this judgement, ask Cleric Caste how he came to be injured.”

  Sir Fereak frowned and looked at Caste, taking in his wounded appearance. “In the hydra attack, naturally.”

  “No sir,” Caste shook his head, “he,” he pointed off to the side and Judd had to adjust his aim to Jerom, “assaulted me.”

  A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd of witnesses. Jerom was not at all dismayed. “You,” he said, almost threatening Caste with the whip, “interfered in my business.”

  “Business…is that what you call rape?”

  Lady Alonin’s gasp was heard above all other exclamations. Sir Fereak paused then shook his head. “You speak of what you do not know. The people of Maul are a subspecies…they serve us and must do so without defiance.”

  “Husband!” Alonin hissed so sharp Judd was surprised she didn’t draw blood across Fereak’s cheek.

  “Hold your tongue woman.” He snarled at her savagely. “Terras are superior and Mauls must submit in all things or order will not be maintained.”

  Fereak’s words were as hard as a hammer and Jerom preened with a triumphant pride. Caste pushed off Judd, forcing himself to stand upright and steady.

  “Sir Fereak, you misunderstand my reasons. I did not interfere with Jerom Kenet’s ‘business’ with this Maul out of a misguided elevation of her position,” he blinked, trying to arrange his thoughts, “I did so to prevent contamination.”

  Sir Fereak frowned while Jerom huffed in mockery. “What contamination?”

  “The contamination that comes from having intimate relations with the people of Maul,” Caste said with a touch of his old superiority, “it is documented in the archives of the Order of the Grail that such liaisons are detrimental to the,” he allowed his eye to drop to Sir Fereak’s groin pointedly before lifting them back up again, “inner workings of a Terra’s manhood.” Caste could almost feel the recoil, the cringing away from the people of Maul. “Bishop Peele himself stated that anyone who indulges in such filthy and despicable behaviour is no better than an animal…for they cannot help themselves even if it is to their own demise. He says any who debase themselves in such a manner are cast out of all good society…and all those associated with them.” He shook his head, leaning inevitably towards Giordi’s flair for storytelling. “There are accounts of festering sores, shrinkage…one poor fellow had to have it completely removed…”

  He might have pushed it too far but all the Terra men were hard pressed not to clutch at themselves as if their hands could be any protection against the imagery Caste was sowing into their minds.

  “Yes, that’s enough.” Sir Fereak held up his hand.

  Jerom looked between Fereak and Caste. “My lord,” he urged when the silence stretched on, “you are not going to give weight to this ferrety cleric’s lies? He just wishes to have her all to himself!” Jerom turned on Caste. “I saw the way she flirted with you and how you were desperate to make the two backed beast with her! For all your monastic existence, you possess the same need as any other man though whether you have the tackle to perform!”

  Caste lifted his chin and snorted. “Nothing could compel me to touch…that,” he didn’t even look at Emeri, waving his hand disdainfully in her direction, “it would contradict the fundamental foundations of Astaril lore, ethics and morality.”

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  Sir Fereak sighed and closed his eyes. “I hear your words, cleric…but the truth of the matter is that we are far from Astaril and here, in the south, we must make our own law as we keep all of Terra safe. There must be…compromises. And any outbreak of defiance could turn into a blaze, preventing us from fulfilling our duty. I am responsible for what goes on in Fort Omra. Not King Rocheveron, not Bishop Peele…me. I must deal out justice as I see fit.”

  Caste swallowed, wondering what more he could say.

  “I do not wish to interfere, Sir Fereak,” Judd said, almost putting up his hand like he was a child but forcing it down before he was utterly foolish in his manner, “but what of the justice for Caste, a cleric of the Order of the Grail, who was assaulted by one of your own.” Jerom’s smile suddenly vanished. Judd held Sir Fereak’s gaze whose expression was deathly serious. “It is a grievous matter for anyone to attack even the lowliest officer of the Order, let alone by a soldier whose conduct would be recorded in both Fort Omra’s and in Cleric Caste’s accounts of my knighthood quest. Should this reach the ears of Bishop Peele, or higher still, the King…repercussions would be felt.” Judd stepped closer to Sir Fereak and spoke in confidence. “You may operate with almost complete autonomy…but I would not wish to lose you as knight of Fort Omra, protector of the north, because of a single soldier’s inability to curb his carnal appetite.”

  Judd stepped back to where Caste stood. The entire crowd was silent and all eyes were on Sir Fereak. His mouth was turned down and for a moment his one good eye rested on Ermo Kenet. The man swallowed and took a half step back, distancing himself from his son.

  Jerom was looking paler every second, feeling his support and imminent triumph begin to wane. “I…I demand a second clerical witness.” He stammered. “Cleric Severo will rule in my favour.”

  “Severo is dead.” Sir Fereak said with stark finality as he looked at Jerom. “You will hold your tongue.” He frowned and sighed, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “The wall is fractured, there are fires in the village and fort, half of the harvest is gone…my captain is dead…and you couldn’t keep it in your pants for one damn minute…” Sir Fereak shook his head. “Nevertheless, this insubordination must be addressed…on both accounts…”

  “Sir Fereak,” Giordi bowed and stepped forward, “if I may, I have a solution.”

  “What would a minstrel know of such matters?”

  “Not a lot…but I do have a habit of being…creative.” Giordi admitted. “You wish to balance the punishment of the insubordination against the possible reprisals of an assault on an officer of the Grail.” Sir Fereak blinked, surprised at Giordi’s eloquence and comprehension. “Remove the offending family from your purview. The insubordination will be addressed and Cleric Caste’s account of the incident will be…softened.”

  Sir Fereak’s gaze narrowed. “And just how would I remove them?”

  “I’ll take them on.” Judd offered, bowing. “They will be my servants and, unless you have another hydra for me to kill…I won’t bring them back.”

  A great many people held their breaths as Sir Fereak considered the options. “Very well,” he huffed, “the three offending Mauls will be removed from Fort Omra by sunset today, in the care of Judd LaMogre, hydra slayer.” Jerom Kenet spluttered into life yet didn’t get a single word out before Sir Fereak turned to him with deadly intent. “Never again…or I’ll throw you over the wall myself.” His words, though hushed, were heard by all. Sir Fereak looked around. “Get back to your work! The mount of Maul never stops so neither do we!”

  The guards unlocked Suvau’s shackles. Judd held his breath as his dark gaze bored holes in Jerom who scuttled past him, back to the barracks. Suvau and Yolana dashed forward and wrapped their arms around Emeri.

  “Thank you, Judd LaMogre,” Sir Fereak said, holding out his hand for Judd to clasp, “you were a diplomatic solution to a potential crisis.” He turned to Giordi. “You sure you’re not a cleric?”

  “The robes don’t suit me.” Giordi’s cheeky grin was hard to repress.

  “Your injury…do you need a physician?”

  “We have a healer in our company.” Caste paused. “Sir Fereak…Cleric Severo…”

  The knight folded his arms and shook his head. “A bad business…I thought he’d drink himself into his grave but it seems he couldn’t do that fast enough.”

  “Sir?”

  Fereak moved closer, his tone becoming quiet and confidential. “He hung himself. My steward informed me just before Jerom kicked up this fuss.” Sir Fereak looked at Judd. “Well…hydra slayer and death drop survivor…I would have gladly offered you a position in my regiment, even one of authority although it will be difficult for anyone to fill Heim’s role…but you have other places to go.”

  “Yes sir but thank you for the offer.” Judd bowed and walked with the others towards the gates, taking Suvau, Yolana and Emeri with them.

  “LaMogre,” he turned back to Sir Fereak whose one good eye was grim, “by sunset.”

  Judd nodded, understanding he had been both praised and warned.