Axiom :: Prologue(2)

(Continued from Part 1: http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1816095-Alitheia--Prologue1 )

Once in the hall outside the Historium, Claradina stopped to compose herself, but all the fury she had been containing finally released as she burst into tears. She had no idea what had happened or what had gone wrong. The meeting had been going so well, and then Joreth had just snapped, after having been calm the whole time. What had set him off like that? Maybe it was everything. In all of her years as a scholar attending hearings of the Mind, she had never seen or heard of such an outburst, especially not from High Seat. This would require investigation. But at the moment, she had to leave.

Claradina quickly headed back to her rooms, barely containing her will to run. She was not sure what outcome of todays happenings would be, especially after Joreth's actions. Just to be safe, she was going to take a sabbatical. Maybe visit her parents in Tarameshti. Should she take Lu'vina with her? That choice would be up to the su'nora woman of course, but better to suggest it anyway.

When she burst into her chambers, the crash of the door started Lu'vina, who was, as usual, reading at the small marble table. Claradina went straight to her closets and threw all of her ridings clothes into a large traveling case and strapped it closed. She would have to retrieve her other effects at a later time.

"Lu'vina, what do you think about joining me on a vacation to Tarameshti?" she asked as she strapped a coin purse to her waist. "I was thinking of stopping by the Ruins of Sai on the way. I also hear Zumei has some very odd cuisine you might be interested..." She turned to find Lu'vina was gone. She had not heard the woman leave, and she did not have time to search for the woman.

Running to her desk, she rolled up the new documents and, along with a few other important scrolls and books, stuffed them into an additional carry-bag. Then she jotted down a brief message to Lu'vina.

Gone to visit parents for 2 weeks. Sorry, wanted to invite you along. You may continue to use my study in my absence.

Very brief, but it would have to do; there was no time for further instructions. She hastily gathered her traveling case, the carry-bag over her shoulder, and exited the study. Hopefully Lu'vina would return to extinguish the candles. She turned toward the nearest back entrance and down a narrow stairwell.

Halfway between the third and second floor, she was almost to the exit and struggling with her traveling case when she heard the door she had come through above open and a male voice giving orders to search for someone. Before she could take another step, the door to the second floor below her burst open. Claradina half expected soldiers to pour in and seize her, but to her surprise Lu'vina poked her head through, and upon seeing Claradina, waved for her to quickly follow. What was Lu'vina doing on the second floor? How had she found her? There was no time to dwell on it.

Claradina quickly ran through the doorway after Lu'vina into a large open hallway and nearly ran right into Joreth himself as he stepped out from behind a pillar, falling to the floor and sliding at his feet. Terror filled her and she scrambled back toward the door, only to find armored soldiers behind her had closed it and were standing between she and it. It was then that she realized there were soldiers all around her, their swords drawn; they had been standing out of view next to other pillars and around corners. She was trapped.

"So, you thought you would take a vacation," Joreth said, his voice once again calm. There was no sign of the anger he had shown during the hearing. "Pretty convenient, wouldn't you say, Lu'vina?" he said turning to Study Clerk standing next to him, her arms folded across her breasts.

The sudden realization of what had happened struck Claradina like a knife in her heart. "Why, Lu'vina? Why would you betray me?" she pleaded, her eyes filling with tears.

Lu'vina snorted, showing more emotion than usual. "You were too persistent to ruin what this nation has striven to create for centuries. You wanted to throw it all away, just to have something discovered in your name."

"You think that was what this was about?" Claradina asked, incredulous. "I only wanted the truth revealed!"

"And the world to crumble because of it!"

"Enough!" Joreth said, voice booming through the hall. He did not yell, only made himself heard. "We have all heard what was said and the ruling has been made. The fact that you tried to flee leads us to believe there was more to your intentions, Claradina, and that maybe heresy was afoot, regardless of the truth within the documents or your spoken intentions." He was very stern, though he did not raise his voice again.

He studied Claradina for a moment before turning to a captain on his right, whispering in his ear. The captain, in his shiny breastplate and feathered helmet, nodded and motioned to his men. They grabbed Claradina and, to their surprise, also Lu'vina, and bound their wrists in shackles.

The clerk struggled and tried to pull away, her eyes glowing and her wisps flaring. "What is the meaning of this, Joreth? A deal had been made for her capture, not mine!"

"You are her Study Clerk. We cannot fully trust your allegiance," he stated matter-of-factly. He turned and strode away, followed by the captain.

Lu'vina, eyes white with fury, continued to struggle as she and Claradina were dragged away. Claradina knew it was over, and there was no point in resisting. That would only make matters worse for both of them.

**********

The bright light of a torch nearly blinded Claradina when a soldier banging on the cell door jolted her awake. She was not sure how long she had been in the small stone-walled room, but it felt like a week. It was dirty and always dark; pitch black during the night when the guards extinguished the wall lamps. The epitome of an underground keep, with the occasional rat and a bucket for waste to match. She had kept her mind busy by recalling her studies over the years, but it was depressing regardless. She knew what her fate would be in the end. Or, at least, she could imagine, though that was the last thing she wanted to think about.

Wiping her hands on an already filthy dress, and brushing the grimy hair from her face, she stood and walked toward the soldier. She did her best to appear calm. Joreth was standing off to the side, accompanied by several others of the Mind; only a handful were High Scholars. Every one of them wore as formal attire as they had worn to the Assembly, and she knew formal was a bad sign.

Claradina's heart finally sank as she lost all hope.

**********

Over the past week, Joreth Du'gada had often replayed the events of Claradina's hearing in his head. It had disturbed him, and threatened to keep him up at night. Until then, he had always thought himself a very responsible and contemplative man, one slow to anger and fair to every man. He had spent years building his reputation, upholding the laws and making new ones while seeking the truth in everything that was brought before him. Sure he was stern and intimidating, but much of that was an act. He would not stand for nonsense. Only his close friends knew him for what he truly was. But since that day, even he was not sure what that was anymore.

As far as he was concerned, he had actually started to agree with the information that had been presented. After all, the woman had made a very convincing case and knew her material quite well. Perhaps, if she had finished, all that would have been needed was a proper verification of the document itself. Who knows what would have changed or how it would have shaken the current standings of society, but that was not what scholars were for. They sought the truth and filtered through the lies. The rest... well that was for someone else to deal with, regardless of the outcome.

In the end, he was completely surprised with himself, and had no idea why he had succumbed to that outburst. He could not remember feeling angry. Maybe a little annoyed at the way she had gone about spreading the information among the other scholars, and how it had mutated into rumor. Not to mention the way she had forced the Mind to assemble. But, no, not angry.

What had caused his sudden rage, then? Stress could have been a factor, but that was nothing new. Now, if nothing else, he was angry at himself for ruining his reputation, and for what he was about to do today. It was inevitable. He could have recanted what he had said during the meeting, but that would have made him look an even bigger fool. He had demanded they make a decision then and there, and he was not pleased with the outcome.

Standing in the complex's small, dank prison, a handful of the Mind grouped behind him, he was moments away from presenting Claradina with her fate. The scholars had demanded the right to judge their own long ago, which seemed fitting considering they created most of the laws. But in this instance, Joreth wished it was someone else's responsibility.

They waited patiently as the guard stirred her awake and called her to the door or her cell. The woman was a wreck, as was expected from spending a week in lockup with no way to wash or keep tidy. There was no one to blame but himself.

He took a deep breath to clear his mind as the guard opened the door and presented her before them, chains binding her hands and feet. It was obvious the woman knew what was coming and did not care to hide her dismay, accented by her unsightly garments and hair. She was no soldier, only a fragile woman of intellect, and he pitied her. He stared at her for a moment, unsure how to proceed, his mouth going dry. He did not want to follow through with the standard traditions, that seemed too cruel in this case, but someone behind him cleared their throat and he started abruptly.

"Claradina Ou'bosa, due to your conduct in the days leading to the calling of your hearing, the manner in which you yourself called the hearing, and the contents you presented during the hearing, the Mind has judged you guilty on all accounts of committing heresy. Your sentence is in accordance with the law of the land. You are to be stripped of your title and your rank, and you will be exiled from the country of Haiel. In two days time, a carriage will escort you to the border with nothing but the clothes you now wear. We clarify that we have presented you with your charges and the consequences therein. May the goddess have mercy on your soul." And with that, it was finished. It was much harsher than she deserved, but it was tradition.

Claradina did not respond, but only shook slightly as tears wetted the dusty stone floor. Joreth laid his hand on her shoulder, and she slowly raised her head, her hair covering most of her face. She stared up at him with bleary eyes; the tears making lines in the dirt on her face. It was the only life the woman ever knew.

One of the scholars behind him called for him, obviously confused by his actions, and he held up a hand for silence. He owed her something, however small.

"I'm sorry." It was all he could say. He continued to look into her pleading eyes, and she nodded. It was over. Claradina turned, letting his hand slip off her shoulder, and walked back into her cell. Joreth waited a few seconds more, contemplating what else he could do, before finally joining the other scholars as the headed back the way they had come.

As they walked back up to the ground floor, he realized his burden. He himself would have to bring the truth that Claradina had discovered to light in her name.

**********

From the back of the group that had attended Claradina's judgment, Sanaiya had seen the whole display, and Joreth's hesitations were apparent. She would have to act quickly before the man decided to forgo his reputation and repeal his earlier decisions. As soon as the scholars reached a main hallway, she veered away from them quietly and quickly, searching for a place void of other scholars or clerks.

Finding an empty lounge, she turned to the wall nearest her and held her hand up to it, the stones smooth and cold. She pictured the cell where Claradina had been imprisoned - the ability to focus her mind second nature - and the stones against her hands warped. Folding in on themselves, a gap began to form in front of her hand, the stones at its edge glowing white. The gap grew and the whole wall seemed to ripple, allowing room for more stones to shift and compress, until there was a hole big enough for her to walk through. And when she did, Sanaiya was back in the dirty basement hold, the smell of unwashed bodies and waste buckets filling her nostrils.

She prevented herself from sighing in disgust, and carefully approached the mess of a woman huddle against the opposite wall. The room was being faintly lit by the brilliance from the hole she had made, which was more than enough to make out distinctions, but not enough to alert Claradina as she sobbed. Her arms were folded over her knees, her forehead resting on her arms.

Sanaiya managed to get within inches before Claradina raised her head, surprise and confusion covering her face, and Sanaiya quickly laid her hand on the woman's grimy hair before she could make a sound. It took but a moment and a flash of light. She dusted her hands, righted her dress, and headed back through the hole in the wall. The only things that remained were some soiled clothes and an empty, gaunt shell that was once the revered Claradina Ou'bosa.

It was not the first time Sanaiya had used that technique, created by the power that flowed through her veins, nor would it be the last. It was an energy beyond the what any human had seen or understood in eons, nor would they, if she could prevent it. She alone would revert this world back to its original beauty, though that would take much more than simple magic tricks. One day soon, she would bask in the light that once was hers, so many years ago.