"It's a shame!" growled Judge Beldor loudly before taking his designated seat. Some observers might mistakenly assume he meant the rickety wooden structure under which his tall companion had to duck, or the simple wooden chairs. Especially the nobles beside him agreed with the latter.
The boys next to him remained silent. His wife's seat was empty.
Instead, a little girl joined them. With her hands, she supported herself on the chair, listening to what the slightly older boy was saying. Nala and Ero had become friends. The father's heart skipped a beat when he thought about how this friendship might endure and perhaps even lead to more, just as he had discussed with his deceased friend. A love that united both families. Both children were being watched by the stern eye of the tall woman. Judge Beldor had to admit that Marli was good with the children. Even if Miri would object to providing this woman with a home for long in their house. She hoped her husband would soon come to his senses and fulfill his duty as a judge. Only Nala, she didn't want to let go of. But he could imagine the tall Amazon being a good friend and teacher to both children. Especially Ero could learn that peasants were not just servants but equals. That their lives were often hard and the land desperately needed reform. That was precisely within the power of the children, whether of the commoners or the nobles. After what happened today, this reform would be pushed back years. And only King Ylias and King Selon knew how their sons would develop. Whether they would continue their fathers' struggle like the generations before or push for peace.
But the princes were still too young for such thoughts. King Ylias' son was a year younger than Ero. The other prince was only slightly older.
Trumpets sounded. Only after they fell silent did a crier announce the entry of the army. Conversations faded for a moment, curious about the Amazons and especially their proud queen. Only Marli's gaze was ready for battle, focused on the alley where six riders were at the forefront. The animals pushed their powerful bodies in a uniform step towards the square, where they stopped according to their riders' instructions. A neigh came from the warhorse near their place. The dark chest of the brown horse bore countless scars from many battles, just like one could see on the few free spots of the rider's skin that he did not shy away from a fight.
Behind them followed two bearers with the king's banners, flanked by several well-equipped soldiers. With heads held high, they stepped onto the square, proudly presenting their spoils, dragging them behind them. As if the women and some of the men were captive animals.
The eyes of his youngest son wandered curiously through all the people in the same armor Marli once wore. While his father was surprised by the number. "Which of these people is Nala's mother?" the boy asked Marli. The father also directed a question to the Amazon. "According to my reports, your army is very strong. It is said to include hundreds of warriors, some of whom are from the kings' armies."
What Judge Beldor saw here, he could partially title by name. Many of the Amazon warriors carried a high bounty.
Marli gave him a smile before she leaned down to the child. "Over there," she pointed to two blonde women. "Nerre and she are sisters."
The soldier had taken off her helmet and shook the short hair that never reached the level of Nette's pretty mane. Now one could see that the younger one was slightly smaller and was talking to the taller sister.
None of this affected the Amazon queen, who, despite her battered body and some bandaged wounds, was stunningly beautiful. Her dust-covered face was tanned by the sun and not bowed like that of some of her sisters.
No matter what fate had in store for her, she would face it unbroken. The child's radiant eyes filled with hot tears. "Mom," she called softly. Immediately, the judge reached out his hand to comfort the child. He saw it as a mistake, but Marli wanted to give her a sign that the child was doing well. Even though the judge had said he would explain everything to her.
His youngest son approached the railing of the stage and stretched his head through the slits. "She doesn't look like you at all," he whispered, and Judge Beldor would have reprimanded him. But the other nobles were more inclined to mock than to pay attention to them.
Ero looked back. Immediately, his gaze dropped in embarrassment. "I mean, I imagine an Amazon to be a tall woman, like you. But she looks so fragile."
Marli followed the boy's gaze to their captive comrades. Her Amazon heart would now surely like to grasp the sword at her side to rush to their aid. The duty to her little Amazon princess restrained the Amazon.
She couldn't act recklessly and had to keep herself covered. "We're not Amazons, just a resistance group," she explained to the child in a calm voice. "Many of our men have fallen in war or in the fight for our cause, like Nala's father. Our fighters would love to have such a great teacher as your dad has provided for you."
Judge Beldor took the girl on his lap. The little one buried her head against his chest, still not taking her eyes off her mother.
The child squeezed her eyes shut. A blow struck the mother in front of her, and the judge thought he had to hold her tight to keep the child from screaming. This delicate being was stronger than many adults in such a situation. Her lips pressed firmly together. His large hand gently stroked the blonde hair. How much he would like to protect mother and child from such cruelty as Nerre displayed here. She pressured her sister, probably to find out the hidden posts. Secret courtyards where they were supplied, the whereabouts of their children, the hidden camps of their warriors. Nette remained silent, like her comrades. Each of them hoped everything would end soon, and at least there the judge wanted to help them. These people should be spared torture! No matter what he had to do for it!
His attention was focused on the child, who was suddenly taken away from him. Marli stood behind him in the shadows, the child remained hidden under her cloak at her feet. When Judge Beldor looked forward again, Nerre approached with brisk steps. "Good day, Judge," she greeted him from afar. "How long has it been?"
With her gloved finger, she poked the nose of young Ero. He jumped back startled. Away from the woman who would bring death to her own sister.
"Ero, Jos," she greeted both children. "You've grown."
Her gaze wandered over the people, until it settled on the empty chair. "Where are Jos and Miri? I'm less surprised that your eldest son isn't here, but Miri visits my mother on every occasion. I would have expected her here."
As cold as ice. A soldier striving for advancement in her king's army. A goal she came closer to with this victory, even if she did not pay attention to the feelings of the people around her. "Jos is at home with his wife. He doesn't enjoy such spectacles, as you should know," Nette wanted to say something, but the judge continued in a tone with which he wanted to silence the girl in front of him. "My wife is with your mother. She can't cope with what you're doing to your own sister. This betrayal of your own family."
"My beloved sister," she snarled with contempt. "She's to blame herself! Why does she run to the Amazons? She should have known it wouldn't end well for her there. And that, when my sister was supposed to become queen. An honor for every woman in our kingdom. But she'd rather play the leader of these savages. Does she expect mercy from me? My task is to hunt down this rabble." Her lips twisted into a malicious smile. "Besides, it was time someone put an end to this nonsense!"
The woman behind him clenched her fists. Her whole body trembled. She would have liked to leap at the young soldier to slit her throat. Judge Beldor reached his hand back. A light touch brushed her leg before he got hold of the cloak's fabric. With firm pressure, he reminded her of her duty. To protect the little princess and thus maintain peace.
Nerre turned away. Her steps stopped, and she cast one last glance at the company. Including the tall Amazon, whose presence was not so easily concealed. Marli turned her head away, hiding her face from the soldier.
"Hey, does this figure belong to you?" she inquired. Her eyes narrowed into a scrutinizing gaze.
"A new housekeeper," the judge fabricated a lie out of thin air, hoping to explain this giant of a woman. Unfortunately, it didn't go half as well as hoped. Nerre leaped onto the stage in an elegant leap and was over the railing in front of the chairs sooner than expected.
"You're never accompanied by servants when you travel to Telja," she said.
"This is an exception. You know we have to take care of your mother entirely. The woman is there for the two boys."
The judge raised the young woman's hand, but she shook it off.
What happened now couldn't be prevented.
Nerre reached for the hood. Marli tried to dodge, but as soon as the blonde soldier's fingers touched the fabric, she had already pulled it down to see the face of the tall woman.
"Marli." Her lips twisted into a satisfied smile. Her steel-blue eyes once again assumed the gaze of cool ice, with which she could almost stab her opponent. "What a pleasure to find you here."
"It's not mutual," the Amazon retorted.
"Nerre, let the woman go," the judge pleaded. "You've got what you wanted. Marli is no threat to you."
The soldier leaned forward, between the judge's and Per's chairs, resting her arm on the boy's armrest.
"Maybe you're right." Neither her voice nor her gaze lost any of this woman's fierceness. Her relentless hope to overthrow her sister. "But she's still an Amazon. That means it's my duty to capture her. But I might be persuaded."
She surveyed her counterpart from head to toe, and Judge Beldor prayed the child would remain so quiet. Then the woman spoke the next words in a dangerously low tone.
"These two brats are constantly running around in the village. Tell me where I can find these little toads and Alesa, and then you can go."
"I don't know," the Amazon replied. Everyone saw her swallow and how her body leaned back. Just away from the dangerous woman. "I parted with them and later joined the judge as a servant."
"Just like that?" Nerre inquired.
"She can handle the children, so I thought it was a good idea." The judge didn't even have to lie. And his young son slipped off the chair, towards the woman whose hand rested readily on the sword.
Nerre burst into laughter. "Beldor, I've known you for so long now," she shouted loudly. "Do you think I'll believe anyone this stupid story? You don't help an Amazon out of mere kindness or because you're looking for someone for your brats, right? Is the reason this girl who won't leave your side? This pretty, blonde angel." Her lips lifted, and her face took on the grimace of a wild animal. "Tell me, where can I find this beast! Where is my sweet little niece?"
All color drained from the judge's face.
He stood up and wanted to reach for the soldier. But she jumped forward.