She runs into pillar-like objects making her head hurt and putting her in a daze. Her mind is a mess as she tries to quickly recover, but is weak from trying. Her consciousness kicks in as she hears Lady Satiki's voice but is unable to move as she is held in place by two of Lady Satiki's guards. She tries using her feet to shake them off but she's weak and their grip is strong compared to the Satiki girls.
She has no choice but to watch as Hara is carried into the carriage with much difficulty as she endures the process with gritted teeth and is followed by Degratti and her mother.
She then is carried by the guards to the back of the carriage. Each held onto the handle as they hung to the carriage, they held her hands apart as she stood on the little platform at the back of the carriage.
"What the fuck is the meaning of this?" Daram asks as she looks for where to settle her feet on the carriage. "A seat is no big deal for nobles, or is it?"
The guards stayed silent as the carriage ran over a stone making her nearly lose her balance.
With spite, she stays silent as they make a turn passing through the marketplace.
'If the matter was so urgent, why would they pass through the marketplace? They would have passed through the temple and alerted dad...' Daram thought as she noticed the increasing number of stares.
"How much will this go for?" A middle-aged woman asked as she examined the big purple potato. But soon raised her head due to a lack of response.
"Isn't that the daughter of the priest?" The vendor asked as she stared in disbelief.
"The quick-witted child?" The vendor's neighbor asked. "Never liked her guts in the first place."
The first vendor is still silent as she watches her being carried away seemingly clueless about her fate.
"Woman, you better answer me or I'll go to the next stall." The lady says as she dropped the potato.
"1 piece of silver, that's a big one." The vendor replies as she snaps out of her daze.
"Are you trying to scam me?" The lady asks.
"Then go look for one as good as mine, get out of here, thief!" The vendor replies as her brows furrow and glances back at Daram. There's a crowd following the carriage.
"I have 8 bronze coins." The lady mumbles as she itches closer.
"I'm closed," The vendor says as she pushes her display trolley into her stall and locks her door. The other vendors are doing the same thing as the market is slowly emptied.
...
Daram is standing in a small cube large enough to fit three standing humans comfortably. The door leads to the hall otherwise called a courtroom.
'How did this escalate?' Daram thought to herself as she looked at the sky through the little window. Just a rectangular slit in the wall.
The clouds peacefully swim in the air in contrast to the rowdy hall outside.
'I'm sure they are calling dad. They better let him finish his sermon.' She sighs are she stares at the walls of her confinement. Quite neat for a public space, most likely because people that had previously shared this space thought about death, how they'd lived their lives, and how it was going to change.
'How bad can a beef between teens turn out?' She sighed as she closed her eyes to get more sleep.
Maitreya walks into the crowded hall and is greeted with a wave of heat from the many people sharing the space. Someone shows him his sit, adjacent to Lady Satiki's, who's staring at him with a confident smirk. It's not long before the judge walks in.
...
The door is briskly opened, and little Daram is sleeping with her head resting on her arms atop her knees. The court guard slightly pushes her, waking her in the process.
"You can come out."
Daram is dazed for a while and struggles to stand as she follows him into the courtroom. She climbs a little podium opposite Lady Satiki's with her dad and brother sitting on the first row in the crowd.
The judge rises from his sit and everyone follows as their hands are put in the position of prayer.
"Oh god of the Napalls have mercy on us this day,
Forgive us our trespasses as we come before you in fearful adoration,
Give us this day our daily bread as we thread before your presence,
Punish us for your sins committed so we wouldn't do it again,
That we may bring pride to your name as we follow the steps of our ancestors,
May the land of Napalls never see shame again."
A moment of silence follows and they sit back on their sit.
"There is a large hearing today," the judge starts as he leans into his table. "I heard the news before I was officially notified so this case better be serious, after all, I have things to do."
"A version of the news, I must add." He says in a deep voice as he struck his full long beard. "Who speaks?"
"Your honor, we were attacked in the alleyway yesterday evening on our way back from school," Degratti says with a shaky voice as a tear rolled down her eyes. "We tried to call for help..." She puts down her head and starts to sob.
The courtroom is silent as they watch her cry, ready to hear the tale.
"What a performance," Daram adds as she claps her hands with angry eyes. "Firstly, I'll love to address you and your shameless mother for the manner in which I was brought here. I am in no wrong, and deserve an apology for slander and recompensation too."
"Greedy thief!" Lady Satiki mutters in response.
Daram looks at the judge who is still waiting for the recount of the event.
"Yesterday evening, when I was coming back from school, Degratti, Hara, and her third wheel attacked me. I couldn't watch them beat me so I defended myself and while doing so Hara got injured. That was unforeseen damage. And I'm very sorry for that." Daram said with a bow.
"That's a lie!" Degratti attacked.
"What's the lie?" Daram asked.
"Everything! Everything you said!" Degratti pointed out. "You attacked us and broke Hara's leg!"
"That doesn't prove that you didn't attack me..."
Degratti looks at the judge for a response unable to provide a comeback. While Daram stares at her, ready to get this over with.
An awkward silence is observed as he looks at the two ladies in question and conversations start to spark up in the crowd.
"Miss Daram is right, by the way. And you not having anything against that proves her right." The judge states.
"Is this how you pay my daughter after all that my son has done for Napall?" Lady Satiki argues. "The past 7 months, he's been on the battlefield. And his sister is attacked during that time, how sure are you that she isn't a spy from within us? After all, where is her mother? Wasn't she a...?"
"That's enough," Maitreya shouts from his sit as he stands up. "You are not worthy to talk about her. And it's a shame that you need to bring her into this, for you're too ashamed to speak of the misconduct of your spoilt brat?"
Lady Satiki presses her thumb as she balls her hand into a fist. "At least I can stand by mine in times of trouble."
"I trust her."
Daram looks at her dad who's staring daggers at Lady Satiki. She in turn looks at her and her daughter.
'This will be a long day...'