24 We took him home and told his people what
had happened, expecting they would see my justification. But instead,
they called me murderer, seized and bound me, and took me to the
village for judgment.
25 Barely did they give me time to find a
Speaker to defend me before they gathered judges from the village and
brought me to trial.
26 Now, my Speaker told them they couldn't
judge me because The Speaker in charge was a relative of the
deceased. Some of the judges were also his relatives, and the
rest worked for his family. but The Village Speaker told him he
was wrong, they had every right to try me, and they did so, and
sentenced me to death the following morning.
27 My Speaker objected, saying he had the
right to appeal to The District Speaker. He needed several days to do
that. But The Village Speaker said no. I would pay for my terrible
crime in the morning. Justice would be done.
28 My Speaker left immediately to try to reach
The District Speaker. By some miracle he found a Warlock on the road
who heard his story, rushed to the village and seized me moments before
my execution. He brought me to this city and my Speaker had time to
file charges and here I am, Lord, before you."
29 The Voice looked at him in disbelief. "You
have witnesses to these things?" The young man pointed to several dozen
people standing off to one side. The Voice turned to The Village
Speaker. "What say you, sir, to these charges?"
30 "We had every right," The Speaker insisted,
"to try this man. He had no business striking our beloved. The
boy was not in his right mind. He took his life. It was our right
to take his."
31 "How long have you been a Speaker?" The
Voice asked.
32 "Thirty and eight years," the man answered.
33 "Tell me," asked The Voice, "what is The
Law concerning insult to family?"
34 "The Law," The Speaker answered, "is this;
'If any man shall insult another man's blood, any of his ancestry in
any way, the insulted man may answer with force, even force unto death,
and he shall be considered justified. For a man's blood is sacred, and
no man shall bring shame on it. Every man has the right to
protect his heritage.'"
35 The Voice nodded. "Then truly," he said,
"you know that Law. Tell me," he asked, "what is The Law
concerning a Speaker sitting in trial over someone who has injured a
member of his family?"
36 "'No Speaker," the other answered, "'may
sit in trial over anyone who has in any way injured a member of his
family, or, a close friend of his family. To insure justice, he must
give the case to another.'"
37 "And what of Judges?" asked The Voice.
38 "'No Judge,'" answered The Speaker, "'may
sit in judgment of a person who is their friend or relation. Nor,
can they sit in judgment of a person who has been accused of hurting a
member of their clan, or, of someone in the family of those that employ
them.'"
39 "Then surely," continued The Voice, "you
know The Law, and because you do, it condemns you. You knew you
had no right to try this man. Such an action is against every
principle we believe in. You should have given the case over to someone
else who could have heard it with fairness and justice. I remove
you from office. You are unfit to hold it. I order you be held
for trial."
40 "There will be no need for a trial,"
announced The Old Speaker. "I will not bring further shame on my
family. I admit my guilt. In the heat of anger over the loss of
our beloved child, I ignored The Law. I am responsible, I,
alone. The rest of my family I convinced that what I was doing
was legal. There is no need to punish them."
41 "Each," objected The Voice, "will have to answer
to his or her own part in this tragedy. As for you, I sentence
you to spend the rest of your life in the copper mines. If you
feel....."
42 The old Speaker raised his hand. "I DO
feel, Lord," he interrupted. "The drudgery of the mines is not
for me. I have always lived an easy life. Work is a thing unknown
to me. I will accept the mercy you have so generously provided
and gladly present myself to the executioner's blade."
43 "So be it!" ordered The Voice. "May The
Lords have mercy on your eternal Spirit." The Voice turned to the
young man. "I could order you have a new trial," explained The Voice,
"but I do not think that is necessary. Instead, I order all charges
against you erased from your village records. You have committed
no crime other than protecting the honor of your kin, for that a man
cannot, and must not, be punished. May The Lords be with you!"