interruption!"
Tameron listened intently to the rest of the narrative. Had the woman fled? If so, why had she taken the child with her? If she'd been as evil as Honnold painted her, why did he want her back? The man's fists clenched whenever he spoke of her, which didn't bode well either.
When Honnold was done, Tam thanked him, and asked Jarrett to give his side of things. The younger man told a tale of inescapable passion. He'd only wanted to soothe the pain of a beloved woman tormented by a spiteful husband who flaunted another lover in her face. Jarrett's face softened as he spoke of Marysalian, describing the beauty of her face and eyes. Tameron was nearly lulled into swallowing the whole story until he considered what also hadn't been said on this side.
What happened when Marysalian and her son left, if indeed they were still alive? Where was Jarrett then? Why didn't he know where she was already? In fact, why had it taken so long for this case to come here in the first place?
Tam reserved judgment till he had more answers. He tried to put himself into the state of pure focus he occasionally achieved at sword drill. It helped him hide how nervous he really was.
"The most important witness is not here," he said. "This case has waited too long already, though. Please be patient while I ask you questions. Lord Honnold, did you give your heart to this woman, or only your name? I will send for others from your household if I must." He hoped he was allowed to do so. He might have to, if that was the only way to find out the truth.
The older man bowed his head. "Well, if you must know, I made this marriage for my line and not for me," he said.
"Any bond with any woman would be false for you!" Jarrett cried. "Toran's the only one you really care for."
"It's no crime to love one way and marry another! The Lord Protector himself has done the same, or so they say. Why, nearly any mage can sing the same song!"
Tameron blinked. It began to make sense. Some people preferred their own gender. Yet he'd always thought those with magic had less freedom in that way with the Duty to be considered. But his father? He knew the Protector and Coris Mimn were close, but never considered they might be lovers. That would explain why his father didn't remarry after Lady Aliana's death. "Why didn't you adopt a child, then?" he asked Honnold. "Perhaps a child of your cousin? Why force yourself to marry if you didn't have to?"
"That's what he wanted, but with her land thrown in as well," Jarrett interrupted.
"Please be quiet. I will have questions for you, too," Tameron said sharply. He wasn't happy with either side. "Lord Honnold, were you cruel to her or the child? I remind you again that other witnesses can be called."
Honnold's face fell. "Aye. I gave her the back of my hand more than I ought, though she taunted me and called me less than a man. She knew how it was with me before the wedding. Toran stood by my side even when I called on her parents. She agreed anyway. Then she betrayed me, the slut, and tried to pass off the fruit of her lust as mine. I told her I'd shut my eyes this once, but then she made eyes at another handsome man! Maybe I did hit her too hard that time. It wasn't the child's fault he ended up in the way just then, either. I was going to tell her it was over between us the next morning, but she was already gone and the boy with her. I went to her parents' home to talk to them, but they were gone, too. For all I know she's walking the streets of Kelemath selling herself! Toran told me I was a fool to marry when I made up the contract. I wish to the Lord and Lady I'd listened to him!"
Tameron swallowed hard. And he'd had the audacity to think his life was hard! "That was years ago. Why are you here now?"
"Jarrett, here, storms onto my place and says if I don't tell him where she is, that he'll skewer me like meat on a spit! He wasn't content with the justice he heard from the mage in Bogatay, and said he'd take it
Tameron listened intently to the rest of the narrative. Had the woman fled? If so, why had she taken the child with her? If she'd been as evil as Honnold painted her, why did he want her back? The man's fists clenched whenever he spoke of her, which didn't bode well either.
When Honnold was done, Tam thanked him, and asked Jarrett to give his side of things. The younger man told a tale of inescapable passion. He'd only wanted to soothe the pain of a beloved woman tormented by a spiteful husband who flaunted another lover in her face. Jarrett's face softened as he spoke of Marysalian, describing the beauty of her face and eyes. Tameron was nearly lulled into swallowing the whole story until he considered what also hadn't been said on this side.
What happened when Marysalian and her son left, if indeed they were still alive? Where was Jarrett then? Why didn't he know where she was already? In fact, why had it taken so long for this case to come here in the first place?
Tam reserved judgment till he had more answers. He tried to put himself into the state of pure focus he occasionally achieved at sword drill. It helped him hide how nervous he really was.
"The most important witness is not here," he said. "This case has waited too long already, though. Please be patient while I ask you questions. Lord Honnold, did you give your heart to this woman, or only your name? I will send for others from your household if I must." He hoped he was allowed to do so. He might have to, if that was the only way to find out the truth.
The older man bowed his head. "Well, if you must know, I made this marriage for my line and not for me," he said.
"Any bond with any woman would be false for you!" Jarrett cried. "Toran's the only one you really care for."
"It's no crime to love one way and marry another! The Lord Protector himself has done the same, or so they say. Why, nearly any mage can sing the same song!"
Tameron blinked. It began to make sense. Some people preferred their own gender. Yet he'd always thought those with magic had less freedom in that way with the Duty to be considered. But his father? He knew the Protector and Coris Mimn were close, but never considered they might be lovers. That would explain why his father didn't remarry after Lady Aliana's death. "Why didn't you adopt a child, then?" he asked Honnold. "Perhaps a child of your cousin? Why force yourself to marry if you didn't have to?"
"That's what he wanted, but with her land thrown in as well," Jarrett interrupted.
"Please be quiet. I will have questions for you, too," Tameron said sharply. He wasn't happy with either side. "Lord Honnold, were you cruel to her or the child? I remind you again that other witnesses can be called."
Honnold's face fell. "Aye. I gave her the back of my hand more than I ought, though she taunted me and called me less than a man. She knew how it was with me before the wedding. Toran stood by my side even when I called on her parents. She agreed anyway. Then she betrayed me, the slut, and tried to pass off the fruit of her lust as mine. I told her I'd shut my eyes this once, but then she made eyes at another handsome man! Maybe I did hit her too hard that time. It wasn't the child's fault he ended up in the way just then, either. I was going to tell her it was over between us the next morning, but she was already gone and the boy with her. I went to her parents' home to talk to them, but they were gone, too. For all I know she's walking the streets of Kelemath selling herself! Toran told me I was a fool to marry when I made up the contract. I wish to the Lord and Lady I'd listened to him!"
Tameron swallowed hard. And he'd had the audacity to think his life was hard! "That was years ago. Why are you here now?"
"Jarrett, here, storms onto my place and says if I don't tell him where she is, that he'll skewer me like meat on a spit! He wasn't content with the justice he heard from the mage in Bogatay, and said he'd take it
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