The courtroom was clearly not often used for its express purpose. The seventen hardly enjoyed judging their own. The Loshis rain seemed to echo the sentiments of those present. This was truly a sad day for them. Constable Fourier was already present, along with Ensign Dadton. She seemed to be trying to avoid chewing at her lip, while he was merely glaring at the ground before them, as though he wanted it to catch fire.

Alstair did not know any of the officers to be judging him, probably an attempt at fairness on their part. Two were men, one a woman. All of them looked about as serious as it was possible to look. Together it seemed as though they were related by the tenseness of their jaws alone, though they were otherwise separated by gender, age and race.

It was clear that the trial was not quite ready to start. Alstair had a moment to look around the room and ask questions of his lawyer, an aging Sergeant named Lerren. He had steel grey hair and sharp eyes. From what Alstair could tell of him, he was more of Alstair's mind than Fourier's. Alstair could still choose to dismiss his services or to ask about the those sitting as his judging panel. It was clear that Lerren knew them better than Alstair did.

Alstair stood at attention looking between each judge as well as the prosecution.

"So who are they?" He whispered to Lerren as he stared at the three. "I don't recognize any of them.Any hints at what I should say to at give me a fighting chance?"

His minds was racing he needed to be careful here. One false move and they could pin him with treason...Or worse.

Lerren leant in closer to Alstair, his breath betraying a whiff of old cigar smoke.

"The woman is Captain Beaudaire." He whispered, speaking quickly, knowing that Alstair would keep up. "She was on active duty for over thirty years before she was promoted to her current position. She was known to be a bit unpredictable back in the day but she's more conservative now."

The captain looked to be fast approaching sixty, though she looked to be as healthy as any person in the room. Lean muscle was still apparent on her body, visible near her neck and obvious from the way she carried herself. She was busy talking to her colleagues, her eyes had yet to drift towards Alstair.

"The other two are Sergeants Holster and Derin." Lerren's head flicked quickly from left to right. The first man was Anaxi, with bright red hair, looking to be about forty. The other was Mugrobi and closer in age to Beaudaire. "They'll take their cues from her. I would recommend that you behave as repentantly as possible. They're on your side but if they think for a moment that you are going to ignore the rules again, they'll discharge you."

Lerren looked quite self-assured. "Though I am sure that won't happen."

Alstair nodded as he listened intently.

"I was caught off my guard was all. And trust me I fully intend to play the part." He whispered back. "You said she served on active duty any idea where?"

His minds was putting together a viable argument already. He needed to be able to appeal to the Captain first and foremost. If he could bring up how he had been ambushed and his military training kicked in....

"She's not military." Lerren said with a shake of his head, catching what Alstair had been hoping for. "She's served in Anaxis throughout her life, though she was dispatched throughout the country during times of stress. She's seen civil conflict."

The panel quietened, seeming to have finished whatever deliberation they had been involved in. Captain Beaudaire stood, along with the two sergeants. Fourier and Dadton rose as well, Lerren tugged on Alstair's shoulder, indicating that he should do the same.

"We would like to bring the matter before us to a conclusion as quickly as possible." Beaudaire said, her voice old and powerful. "Ensign Murdoh, you stand accused of reckless use of magic, willful property damage and of endangering members of the lower races. How do you plead?"

Fourier was glaring daggers at Alstair's head. Dadton merely looked uncomfortable, apparently it had become her default emotion.

Damn....

Alstair inhaled a bit as he was read his charges. They were at least to the majorities eyes spot on...If he pleaded guilty he would be at a loss of face and dignity if he pleaded not guilty he maybe stood a shot...If his defender could say something....

So he stood silent at attention waiting for the man at his side to speak first.

Lerren had discussed Alstair's options to him. Given the amount of evidence against him, he had recommended pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Alstair had to tell him what to plead though.

Alstair cleared his throat and stiffened slightly as he began to speak.

"I plead guilty." He said plainly.

He was at the mercy of the court now. He could only hope and pray that he would not simply be locked away.

Captain Beaudaire nodded, "Sit." She said, clearly not bothered by an over-use of etiquette. Holster and Derin sat down as she did.

"Before we begin, the panel has some questions for Mr Murdoh." Holster said, leafing through some papers and raising a set of reading glasses to his eyes. "On the night in question, Loshis 4th, you were on patrol downtown, is this correct?"

Holster continued to speak.

"While performing your duties you were assaulted by two assailants, that you say are of your aquaintance, and over the course of this altercation you cast Conflagration twice. Once hitting the street and once hitting a house. You maintain that your assailants left the area as other seventen officers arrived. Is this all true, thus far?"

Derin looked from his colleague to Alstair, "can you tell us in your own words what transpired?"

Alstair nodded ans took a breath as he began to confirm their thoughts.

"Much of that transcript was true. However It should be noted that I cast conflagration once and the second time cast immolation at my assailant, a former squad mate of mine from the time when I worked to pacify mugroba in my youth. I had been unawares they were even alive or even here." He spoke slowly and plainly.

He waited patiently for the next course of action. His body was tense and he could feel his legs bunching up and his hands closing tight on themselves as he remembered terrible deeds once wrought with them.


((just realized there is no such spell as torch... And maybe a litle bit yes. ))

Beaudaire nodded, though her jaw now seemed to be more set than it had been.

"Mr Murdoh, if you will, would you care to explain why you chose to cast two high level spells, both prone to backlash and both difficult to control, in a civilian area. You set a house on fire and endangered the inhabitants, subjects of this city." Her voice was reasoned but not without judgement. "Seventen protocols are clear. Why did you use these spells and not the ones encouraged by training? You can easily disarm an opponent with a push spell. I have been given spectragrams of the damage caused by your actions."

She let the words lie, choosing to speak no further. Her two fellow judges had clearly seen them as well. They did not look impressed.

"I was caught off guard." he explained." My mount had been injured and I had been thrown from it only to be attacked as I landed. My training from when I served in the corps kicked in and I reacted as I would have on a battlefield instead of as a seventen should have." He said almost apologetically. "It was a fool hardy mistake I should have resisted my initial reactions and used my head."

He shifted his weight slightly as he looked the judges in the eye.

Beaudaire did not seem impressed and neither did Derin, although Holster seemed somewhat moved. They conferred for a moment before Beaudaire once again chose to speak.

"Mistakes happen once, Mr Murdoh. You used two quite destructive spells in a very short period of time. It has been quite some time since you served in Mugroba, I am not sure that the panel is pleased with your explanation. How long has it been since you served in a war? From what I am aware, the Anaxi military does not teach the use of such spells in close combat, only for long distances barrage."

Fourier was stewing off to Alstair's side, though Lerren seemed calm. Alstair was going to need some fancy footwork to excuse his behaviour to the judges. They were all accomplished mages in their own rights. They were as aware that you cannot cast such high level spells on a whim or by accident. You had to be familiar with them and know what you were doing.

Alstair cleared his throat as he shifted his stance acting almost ashamed.

"It's been seven years since I last served in the armed forces sirs." He stated. His face was a mask his lips pursed tight and his eyes staring directly at the trio. "My particular training regime was not focused on bombardment rather it was focused on taking out an individual or group at close range and with little chance of them getting a chance to fight back."

His voice carried no hint of lying and really it wasn't he had been taught to eliminate a threat as fast as possible and leave little chance of them fighting back. Why take chances when you were wiping villages off a map?

Holster nodded, "We can sympathise with your circumstances, Mr Murdoh."

Derin and Beaudaire nodded, to show willing, though Fourier looked as though he wanted to murder something. Beaudaire's eyes glanced over at the angry man and then back again.

"However, you are an officer of the seventen now. Past experience does not negate the harm you have caused." She gestured to Fourier. "Please stand, sir. We wish to hear your report on these events."

Fourier stood, his moustache twitching like a mouse on his face.

"Ensign Dadton and I were alerted by a loud noise on the night in question. When we arrived at the scene, there was a crater in the ground and a house on fire. Several humans were trying to put out the blaze and evacuate the building. There were scorch marks in the garden, as if from a projectile." He glared at Alstair. "Ensign Dadton saw a wounded chrove and moved to calm it. While she was performing this task, she heard Mr Murdoh and found him bleeding in an alley. He then proceeded to babble about galdori resistance members."

The panel once more turned to Alstair.

"Do you have anything to say to this?" Beaudaire asked, watching Fourier carefully. It seemed they suspected he had an agenda.

Alstair cleared his throat as he prepared his response.

"As the constable has stated sir, I was lying on the ground bleeding. My thoughts at that point and time were...incoherent. Even now I am not entirely certain as to what my state of mind was."

He stopped as he remembered that night and how Amani had almost bested him. The thought brought chills down his spine and his jaw tensed reflexively. There was only one other time he had come that close to death and he had been saved by a miracle then.

Beaudaire looked to Dadton.

"Have you anything to add?" Dadton shook her head, looking nervous.

"We have before us a list of damages and expenses incurred to the owner of the building involved in the events described, as well as those incurred on public property. The panel will take a short recess to deliberate, I don't think we need to consider any more testimony."

Lerren looked as though he wanted to rise and speak, though he quelled the urge and did not move. Fourier stood noisily and stormed outside, Dadton close behind. Lerren waited until they were gone, before speakign to Alstair.

"That went well." He whispered. "Bow and thank the judges for their time, we have to wait outside now."

He stood and bowed, gathering his papers and waiting for Alstair.

Alstair Bowed deeply and followed Lerren outside the courtroom. At first silent he shifted slightly from foot to foot. As his mind wandered.

"So you say it went well?" he said calmly. "What do you think they'll sentence me to?" His voice though calm could not hide a slight nervousness within it.

Lerren took a moment to weigh up their options, pulling a pipe from his pocket as he did so. It took a mere moment to stuff some tobacco in and light it. He puffed quietly, looking across the hallway at Fourier, who was conversing heatedly with Dadton.

"Time off, probably a fine." He said, after a moment. "Good intentions won't take away property damage."

He seemed to think this was a fair and good result.

"You're going to have to be the very picture of a modern, urban seventen from now on though, my dear fellow. If they catch you being destructive again, it'll be your head on a pike. You're lucky they didn't hone in on your accusations of treason against fellow galdori. I think they didn't want the trouble." He said, looking conspiratorial. "What with goings on being what they are."

Dadton seemed to be holding Fourier back with only the force of her elbow hooked with his. The man was seething red beneath his facial hair. Silence ensued, quite awkwardly. A stout young woman appeared at the doors to the makeshift courtroom, looking out at them all.

"The judges have made their decision, please come back inside." It had taken them barely twenty minutes.

Alstair nodded as his defender spoke.

"I think I can manage to play the model seventen. After all, I played the model soldier for more than a few years." He commented almost jokingly.

At the remark of "goings on" he set his jaw and could not help but to wonder if perhaps it some of those were his own doings.

"I can this much traitors to the throne is one thing I cannot tolerate sir. You will have to forgive that particular issue. I was in a rough state by then you understand." He said slowly and calmly.

As the doors opened he glanced towards Fourier and Dadton and gave a small bemused grin.

"Is there something wrong constable?" he asked still smiling as he passed them entering the courtroom, head held high.

Fourier seethed as he walked in behind Alstair, frightening Dadton ever closer to another ulcer. She looked about ready to vacate her stomach on the floor. The courtroom was largely silent, save the footsteps of the officers as they entered.

The panel allowed them to settle themselves before speaking.

"I see no need to wait further on decorum." Beaudaire said, looking at her two fellow judges. "Ensign Alstair Murdoh, we find you guilty on the charges of reckless use of magic and endangerment of members of the lower races. On the charge of wilful property damage, we find you not guilty. You are sentenced to one month of leave without pay, after which you will be assigned to desk duty for another ten months, possibly less if you exhibit good behaviour. In addition to this you are to be fined thirty concords for damages to property owned by both the crown and other galdori."

She looked Alstair straight in the eye. It was like being watched by a hawk.

"You may choose to appeal, though I would not recommend it. We have chosen to be lenient on you, given your extenuating circumstances. That is all. Court is dismissed." The judges rose, not simultaneously, though with great dignity and left.

Fourier was up as soon as they were gone.

"Disgraceful," he spat, already striding towards the door, "simply disgraceful."

"Well done, old chap." Said Lerren, not bothered in the least.

Alstair nodded, his face serene.

"I accept these charges," he began with the same ease that he always spoke with, "Though may I make one request of your honors."

He said almost timidly as they prepared to leave, "May I have a fellow officer nearby for my leave? It would help ease my mind of the thought of a second attempt by those who recently tried to take my life. I would hope the court would understand the plisht such a thought must have upon a man."

Beaudaire shook her head, unmoved by his request.

"You have already cost the crown a sizable amount of money, the seventen will be looking for the man and woman you have described but I see no reason to waste more resources on an attack that may not come. If you are worried, you are free to stay in the seventen barracks. We will be spending no more coin on your personal vendettas. Please do not try our patience further." Derin and Holster were already leaving, chatting amongst themselves. "You are dismissed, Mr Murdoh."

Beaudaire left without another word, not stopping to see if Alstair had anything more to add.