The Desert Spear

Tailor was rot drunk that night, Raddock,” Selia said, looking to Rusco, who nodded in agreement.
    “He sloshed up on my floor, and I threw him out and closed early after that,” Rusco said.
    “Blame the one who put the drink in his hand, I say,” Jeorje said. Rusco’s brow furrowed, but he was wise enough to bite his tongue.
    “Either he saw the girl or he didn’t, Selia,” Coran Marsh said. Others nodded.
    “He saw her in the vicinity, yes,” Selia said, “but not where she went or what she did.”
    “You’re suggesting she’s not involved?” Jeorje asked, incredulous.
    “Course she’s involved,” Selia snapped. “Any fool can see that. But ent none of us can swear by the sun at how. Maybe the men took to fighting and killed each other. Maybe she killed in her own defense. Coline and Trena both attest she was beat bad.”
    “How don’t matter none, Selia,” Raddock said. “Two men can’t kill each other with the same knife. Does knowing which man she killed, if not both, make a difference?”
    Jeorje nodded. “And let us not forget it was most likely by feminine wile that the men were taken to wrath. The girl’s promiscuity led them to this path, and she should be held to account.”
    “Two men fight over who owns a girl, and we blame the girl?” Meada broke in. “Nonsense!”
    “It ent nonsense, Meada Boggin, you’re just too shaded to see it, seeing how the accused’s your kin,” Raddock said.
    “There’s the night calling it dark,” Meada said. “I can say the same of you.”
    Selia banged her gavel. “If everyone related to a problem in the Brook had to be disqualified in moot, Raddock Fisher, there would be none to argue at all. Everyone has a right to speak. That’s our law.”
    “Law,” Raddock mused. “Been reading the law,” he produced a book bound in worn leather, ” ’specially the law for killers.” He turned to a marked page, and began to read:
    “And should the foul deed of murder be committed in the confines of Tibbet’s Brook or its purview, you shall erect a stake in Town Square, and shackle those responsible for all to see for a day of repentance, and a night, without ward or succor, that all may witness the Creator’s wrath upon those who violate this covenant.”
    “You can’t be serious!” Selia cried.
    “That’s barbaric!” Meada agreed.
    “That’s the law,” Raddock sneered.
    “See here, Raddock,” Tender Harral said. “That law must be three hundred years old.”
    “The Canon is older still, Tender,” Jeorje said. “Will you discount that next? Justice is not meant to be kind.”
    “We ent here to rewrite the law,” Raddock said. “The law is the law, ent that what you said, Selia?”
    Selia’s nostrils flared, but she nodded.
    “All we ’re here to debate is whether she’s responsible,” Raddock said, placing Harl’s bloody knife on the table, “and I say it’s clear as day she is.”
    “She could’ve picked that up after, Raddock, and you know it,” Tender Harral said. “Cobie wanted Renna’s hand, and Harl threatened twice to cut the stones from him if he tried.”
    Raddock barked a laugh. “You might convince some folk that two men could kill each other with the same knife, but they wasn’t just killed. They was mutilated. My great-nephew didn’t hack Harl near to pieces with his manhood gone and a knife in his heart.”
    “Man has a point,” Hog said.
    Raddock grunted. “So let’s vote and have done.”
    “Second,” Hog said. “Town Square has never seen such crowds, and I need to get back to the store.”
    “A girl’s life is at stake, and all you care is how many credits you can make off the folk come to gape?” Selia asked.
    “Don’t preach to me, Selia,” Hog said. “I was the one had to mop up the blood out of my back room.”
    “All in favor of moving to vote?” Jeorje said.
    “I am Speaker, Jeorje Watch!” Selia snapped, pointing the gavel at him. But already there was a show of hands in favor of a vote, checking her. Jeorje accepted the rebuke with a mild nod.
    “Fine,” Selia said. “I say the girl is innocent until we can prove otherwise, and there is no proof of anything.” She looked to her right for Tender Harral to continue the vote.
    “You’re wrong, Selia,” Harral said. “There is proof of one thing: young love. I spoke to Cobie and looked in Renna’s eyes. They were both grown and wanted to decide the match for themselves, as is their right. Harl had no call