World Witout Wizards: Guard

As if by magic, the ruler above her head came alive and increased. A lot of marks turned from simple lines into tiny words.

Fortunately, they increased as I looked at them. I read from left to right:

Revolt against the HAND

Murder or attempted murder of an earl

Murder or attempted murder of a hereditary nobleman or baron

Murder or attempted murder of a HAND official

Murder of a sovereign man

Murder of a noble or a craftsman

Murder of a free man…

Then came all sorts of other minor crimes: theft, fraud, fights, ****, prostitution and so on. There were so many of them that the lines literally merged into one. However, the penalty for these offenses was so meager that all of them were listed under one point.

A murder was a serious offense; the minimum penalty was fifty silver coins. I wondered how banditry and robbery were possible in the Empire. Perhaps there were not enough Black guards, so bandits took advantage of this until they were caught.

My client was in an extremely complicated situation. She was accused of attempted murder of a HAND official, that is, our chief. It would be nice if I could prove that she was not planning to kill the warlock. But I didn't believe that myself. I bet the girl wanted to stab the nasty old man. I had no other choice but to begin interrogating her.

"You are charged with two felonies against the HAND. But let's start with the minor one. I'm asking you again, answer honestly, or you'll die."

"I'll die anyway," the girl whispered, "It's all because of you, you bastard."

"That's not true," I said, while her indicator was moving to the left. Although Lysandra was partially right. She probably figured it all out.

"Were you going to steal anything from Oulsast?" I asked sternly. The warlock's disciple g.r.o.a.n.e.d and leaned against the wall.

"No." The indicator went back to the starting position.

"You are accused of larceny, intending to deprive the chief of his property. Did you try to break something?"

"No," the girl replied, and the indicator moved slightly to the right again.

"Did you want to kill one of his creatures?"

"No," she answered truthfully.

I didn't know what to do. Her answers confused me. What was her crime?

"Why does the magic say that you trespassed on his property?"

"I wanted to run away," Lyska said quietly, "I thought I was free. I was sure that the contract was certified by magic, that I was no longer a slave, but a disciple. I didn't know that this bastard had tricked me. I've been serving that old freak since the day I was born," the indicator was moving closer to zero, but then suddenly froze. Something was wrong. The indicator stopped moving and blinking.

Intelligence Check

Base 0

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 1

Great Success

"Stop talking. Wait! I remember Oulsast's words. He really didn't assure the contract with magic, otherwise, it would be a mistake. What did the contract say?"

"For good service and exemplary fulfillment of his d.e.s.i.r.es, I was supposed to become a free warlock's disciple." the girl said very quietly and weakly. She could barely move her swollen tongue, but I could understand what she was saying.

"The contact said that he'd teach me until I was twenty, and then I'd have to give him my v.i.r.g.i.n.i.t.y and part of my soul. Till then, he could use me as a source for performing his magical rituals."

"Ah, that bastard!" the local chief swore. "He was going to get stronger at her expense. Now I see how he made all those spiders obey him. It's nasty. I wish you wouldn't die, honey. If you live, you'll appear in court and he'll be punished for such behavior."

I had seen the MESSAGE before Vagol finished speaking.

Attention, new circ.u.mstances have been revealed

According to the updated information, Defector Lysandra is not the property of Oulsast Dark

Confirm the change in the original data?

"Of course!" I agreed without hesitation; a new MESSAGE appeared:

Updating data

Sentence review

Sentence updating

Attention!

Defector Lysandra is cleared of all charges of larceny. Oulsast Dark is accused of defamation and violation of order

Updating current quest

Defender, you cleared the suspect

Success!

Reputation points of the Black guard increased by +1

Do you want to finish the defense and move on to the verdict?

Achievement unlocked: Seeker of truth +1

You protected an innocent girl by finding the truth while others refused to help her

Bonus while analysis and search checking +1

The indicator over Lyska's head instantly moved to the right and stopped at two hundred and fifty silver coins. It seemed that I really had managed to get an amazing result, though it would change nothing except add a nice bonus to my reputation and achievement. Imminent death was still hanging over the girl's head. But I wasn't quitting!

No. Go on! The question mark disappeared, and I was left with my thoughts. Vagol and Tren'ya obviously noticed a change in Lysandra's status.

"What have you done, buddy?" Tren'ya whispered softly. "Are you crazy? Oulsast will destroy you and your family when you get back home. Think about it."

"Shut up!" Vagol stared at me with interest. "This green-blooded guy isn't so simple. I don't know how you found the right questions, but now you need to stop."

"I have nothing to lose, no matter what I do, she'll die."

"That's right. You have no chance to drop the charge of assaulting a HAND official. The girl will be found guilty even if she just swung a stick at him because we're untouchable. You should remember that. If anyone just thinks about killing a warlock, he should not walk the earth. Do you understand? Let's finish this and execute her."

I didn't expect this. If I'm going to defend Lyska, I'm actually going against the HAND. It means that magic may consider me a traitor or a rebel if I justify her. I won't have to pay a penalty for such crimes. There's only one punishment—death.

Intelligence Check

Base +1

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 2

Requirement 3

Failure

"What if she's innocent and didn't actually attack our chief? You don't like him either, and you'd be glad to see him punished."

"I can hate him," Vagol murmured. "I can wish him the worst or just send him to all the underground devils. But he's one of us! The fact that she was his disciple doesn't change anything. It cannot be justified. There is only one possible sentence—death. Stop playing 'Defender'! You're good at it. You'll be noticed. Perhaps you'll become a judge or a wandering defender in some small village. It's an honorable and dangerous profession. But don't you dare doubt her guilt!"

"I understand," I could only nod and mutter inaudibly.

What should I do? To rebel against the system for a girl who tried to kill me and Oulsast? I need to find out what she was going to do.

Intelligence Check

Base +1

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 1

Requirement 2

Success