ConsequencesShe sat on the end of her bed, in the small green stilt house in Murkwell, and allowed Beatrice to assist her in rolling on her stockings.
It was only three days after the ecological disaster had befallen the lake, and a Queendom's Judge had arrived the night before to oversee the matter of Alain Abreo, and now to run the inquiry into the slag heap mudslide. Edwina was to present herself immediately, along with the Trinity of witches that had been helping her recover, despite the lingering lung infection that refused to be completely cleared by Gardi's magical broths and teas.
"There you go! We'll slide on these boots, and you'll be as proper as can be," Beatrice said in her perpetually upbeat manner. She'd been the only one of the trio not to have opinions on Edwina's choice of fashions. Even airy Auretta had found Edwina's disdain for Witch Couture to be odd, exclaiming over Edwina's natural colored hair, at first concerned that it was the result of an injury from her heroic rescue of the lake. But no, it was just auburn, rather than ruby.
Boots on and dressed to face the day, Edwina grabbed a small satchel full of soothing throat lozenges, handkerchiefs, and a vial of cough suppressing droplets. She was as ready to face the Queendom's Judge as she could be, all things considered.
***
The inquisition had last hours. Questions for Edwina, questions for the Trinity, questions for the seven Alder's had led to even more intense and damning questions for the organization of Alpha Mineral's Mining Company. The foreman of the project, Marc LeBeau, had been roasted over the coals of the Judge's ire.
In a remarkable stroke of luck for the town of Murkwell, the Judge sent to handle the case against Alain Abreo was more than passingly familiar with cases involving natural disasters and was better prepared to deal with their situation than the average Judge may have been. Edwina felt sure that Arcane forces were at hand, leading to the right Judge being there to help see justice done for Murkwell. The Arcane Order rarely interfered with judiciary matters, but a seeress at the Order would certainly have passed on any information about a pending disaster to all interested authorities.
Regardless of the unexpected good fortune, the Judge's rulings were thus:
1. Alpha Mineral's Mining Company was found guilty of negligence. The retaining wall surrounding the slag heap was insufficient in regard to the heavy summer storms that could be experienced in the Northern countryside.
2. The Trinity was found guilty of negligence in failing to provide adequate protection to all members of the village prior to the disaster once the soothsayer had made their prediction.
3. The Trinity and Alpha Mineral's Mining Company were further found guilty of environmental negligence, as neither were keeping up with the magical and mundane maintenance of the slag heap, a measure that would have certainly lessened the extent of the catastrophe, if not averted it entirely.
After the convictions, the consequences followed:
1. Alpha Mineral's Mining Companies agreement with Murkwell was severed due to breach of contract.
2. The company would bear all costs to restore the lake to a healthy state, including the cost of hosting the Trinity permanently, through the term of their sentence.
3. Auretta, Gardi, and Beatrice would be sentenced to five years of service to Murkwell and its citizens due to their failure to take heed to a credible prognostication, to properly fulfill their duties to the Mining Company, and all-around poor judgement. They were given some consideration for their swift action in rescuing Edwina and would face no magical sanctions.
During the trial Auretta cried quietly, sandwiched between her friends, as Beatrice gently stroked her limp copper curls, and Gardi gruffly patted her hands. The three expressed sincere regret during their Sentiments, and each made a simple vow to take good and honest care of Murkwell and the people during their five-year term of apology.
And Edwina? She was forced to accept a commendation, the Leonid Shield of Bravery, on behalf of the Judiciary and was told that the Arcane Order would be informed of her great service to the Queendom. She's sure it wasn't meant to be a threat, but she felt menaced none-the-less.
***
The celebration held a week later in the Assembly Hall was more to Edwina's taste. In fact, it catered especially to Edwina's favorites in everything: food, drink, music, and dancing. Gardi's aggressive treatment of her lungs, a special singing bowl session with Auretta, and twice daily crystal magic with Beatrice had finally beaten back the infection, and Edwina felt fine physically. Though as Gardi had put it, “You’re only well now by the skin of my teeth, so don’t go fucking yourself up at this party.” Magically Edwina was frustrated to admit she was still depleted. Arcane energy was returning to her being, and everyone believed fervently she'd make a full recovery before the end of summer, but she better not push for anything more exciting than a dance or two.
Viola Brosser cornered her during the party to discuss the end of her time with Murkwell.
"Edwina, please let's sit and chat," Viola requested. Edwina pulled up a chair at one of the folding tables setup along the side of the hall, leaving the center for long line dances.
"What can I do for you Councilwoman?"
"Stop that shit, that’s for sure. Viola. As I've said."
"Viola, yes," Edwina gave a small deprecating smile.
"We can't really thank you properly you know?" Viola stated wistfully. "You can't understand what you really did for us. You saved the livelihoods of many simple families. We're not famous craftspeople like the porcelain artists in Eastborne this clay is being mined for, no one knows we're here, even when they're eating our fish. But you. You're now beloved by all these regular folk who still have homes and jobs because you risked yourself saving this nothing town."
Edwina swallowed thickly, eyes burning. "I just did what any Witch would."
"Bullshit," Viola scoffed. "Those other three are the typical Witch in every way people dislike. Pampered, coiffed, swaddled, and barely willing to lift a finger. You worked yourself to the bone to protect all our homes, in two damned weeks. They've been popping in and out of here for five years Edwina! This could have been tended to at any time, if they'd thought to offer."
"We can't know that my protections really helped…"
"More shit! They did. That storm should have ripped up thatched roofs, lightning strikes should have started fires, and the straight-line winds normally drop whole trees through the boardwalks. All the damage with a killer storm like that we're used to seeing was averted, because you were here. We're so, so lucky you were. And I'm really sad girl, really very sad, that we can't keep you."
"What do you mean? I still have time to decide if this is where I'll stay," said Edwina.
"The Arcane Order isn't going to let us keep a Leonid Shield of Bravery recipient while we have a whole Trinity indebted to us for the next five years," stressed Viola.
"Well, shit," whispered Edwina.
"There you see, it is a bit shit right? But thank you. It won't ever be enough, but rest here through the end of summer, and then find your Village, okay? We'll take good care of you through the rest of the season, then we'll have another big party to send you off, wherever you're headed next."
"Thanks, Viola. Murkwell has just been the biggest set of surprises, and I'm glad you've been one."
~~~Notes~~~The Leonid Shield of Bravery
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fuzzyred during my January 2024 Final Friday Fics and the image at the bottom of the page. This belongs to my fantasy series The Earthen.
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