Consequences

"Lady Satiki and Lady Degratti, you both have not proven Daram wrong against the fact that Lady Degratti and her accomplises ambushed her." The judge states.

"True Your Honour, true. But what if she's a spy, we all know who her mother was!" Lady Satiki added. "Sent to harm my daughter while my son is on the battle field..."

Loud murmurs errupt from the crowd as they leaned into each other, gossiping.

"We both know that these events are not related. Let's discuss about their punishment. After all, it happens no one is right in this occasion, which is a shame. And provoking to call a born native, a traitor!"

A long silence is followed. Degratti, Hara and their third wheel shouldn't have ambushed her. Daram shouldn't have handicapped Hara.

Daram sighed, ready to receive her punishment.

"Lady Degratti will serve the public for 12 weeks for slandering Miss Sundaram. Miss Hara will serve the public for 12 weeks after her foot heals. And Miss Sundaram it's only fair for Miss Hara to give you your punishment, after all you caused her present predicament." The judge reads from his full book.

All eyes turn to Hara who had been quiet the whole time, as expected didn't look good, neither did her leg as she had been carried all over that morning and was having severe pain. Murmurs started coming once more from the crowd. Jestah stole a look at his dad who was undisturbed with all that was going on. And looked back at Daram who looked tired and worn out as she supported herself with the podium.

"A year at the prison house."

"What?!" Daram spat out immediately and the hall went silent again. "My career, my reputation, my whole life! What is the meaning of this?" "12 weeks is sensible enough!!"

"When do you think I'll walk again?" Hara replied immediately. "You think a year is enough, even if, won't I have a limp? Look at the scar I have to bear because of you!! Who breaks someone's leg in self defense?" She asked as she broke down completely.

'She sounds right...' Daram thought as she started panicking. She wanted to run, but, where to? 'Let the judge rule in my favour, god I beg you.' She thought to herself as tear came close to her eyes and her right foot shifted back a few centimeters.

"The hearing has ended." The judge said as he stood on his feet, closing the meeting.

"It can't be, a year is not fair." Daram muttered as her heart beat faster and her armpit produce sweat followed by her feet.

"It can't be!" She screamed gaining everyone's attention once again as she pounded and stamped the podium. "It's not fair! This was all in my self defense!"

"Why the prison house?!" She screamed once more as her eyes turned red admist her inhuman scream! She doesn't have much time as the court guards grab her by her hand and start pulling her from the podium.

Tears roll down her cheeks as she looks at the elders take their leave, the people chatter amongst themselves. She sees the Satikis, she's smiling! Lady Satiki is smiling holding her daughter's shoulder as she stared at her.

"Why?!" She screams once more but it's louder as she is at the center of the building, the scream hurts but she doesn't care about her voice as she wiggles herself loose from the grip. More guards rush to grab her in place. But she screams again almost getting free as it hurts the guards' ears so bad.

She's quickly carried away from the center, a little satisfaction warms her heart as she sees the annoyed Satikis. But someone comes into her line of sight, Jestah. She tries to call him out but her voice is gone, her throat sore from the previous outburst, hot tears flow down as heavy as blood. She tries to free herself from the stronger grip but she's weak. She used everything. She only has enough strength to open her fist bit he can't see it as she's been pulled out of the building. And thrown into carriage, dirty, rickety, grimy and repulsive thing unworthy of use.

He stands there as if contemplating taking her and running away. That'll be seven men against a very young man. He can't.

The rider whips the horse into motion as the carriage moves very unpleasantly from one side to the other pushing her against it's grimy walls.

...

The building is full of life, the streets dead, everyone came to watch her. The punishment given was not fair, no one spoke against it!

He fell on his feet as he watch the rag pull his sister to where no one returned!

'Daram'q