They speak to the creature’s reform over the last seven cycles—however long that is—and that they’ve been adjusted to life on some plane I’ve never heard of and didn’t have an appropriate English translation. Another five beings speak on behalf of the one standing at the center of the room before Klepkurt sounds the chime again.
“It has been decided by this court that Poffle Glerm Abrugadie Jr. be released for monitored parole, and another hearing will take place in one cycle.”
The chime sounds again, and Poffle is beamed away from the center of the arena.
Sylvia sighs. “It’s gonna be alooongday.”
By the fifteenth hearing, I expect my feet to hurt, but they don’t. Apparently, there’s no up or down, no gravity and yet we stick to the ground and Ifeellike I have weight. By the twentiethhearing, I’m surprised I don’t have to pee. Nor am I thirsty, or hungry.
This place is fucking weird.
Anticipation bubbles under my skin when we reach the twenty-fifth hearing. I go back to our song, letting it fill up my mind and flow through my veins. I breathe deeply and identify the anxiety growing. I stand apart from the feeling and observe its irrelevance.
Rhazan will either be released from parole, or he will still be on it. Either way, I’m registered now. I’m allowed to be in his realm, and he’s allowed to be in mine—as long as he doesn’t leave the coffee shop. If Nai Nai and Ace want to move back to Boston when this is all done, we will. And when Ace is old enough, I’ll go back to Maine.
Nothing is going to keep us apart, so there’s nothing to fear.
The twenty-seventh being is beamed to the arena and Sylvia turns to me.
“You ready?” she asks.
I nod. Come what may, I’m ready.
thirty-nine
Off the Chain
The chime dings, and the twenty-seventh hearing is dismissed. A serene calm holds steady over my body and mind. It shouts, “What if something goes wrong!” and I reply, “Then we’ll figure it out.”
It’s liberating.
“Final hearing of the day, Rhazan Malakar.”
The chime dings and a beam of light delivers him to the center of the arena. My hands tighten on the railing and I lean forward to get a better look at him. His wings are away and he wears a clean, dark suit. His hair is half up, exposing his pointed ears.
Klepkurt leans his whole body forward. “You have served fifty-three cycles of monitored parole and one hundred cycles of imprisonment for your crimes against the peoples of the realms. Do you find yourself reformed?”
Rhazan nods. “I do.”
The spider leans back in his place at the bottom of the arena. “Jamie Ott, please speak on Mr. Malakar’s adherence to his reformation.”
A pillar of light fills the arena, and Jamie manifests next to Rhazan. Trepidation fires through my chest. It’s not possible to lie here, and she knows he broke parole. If they ask her a direct question, they will all know the truth.
“Officer Ott, Mr. Malakar’s parole officer for the past six years,” she announces. “I have not witnessed the bulk of Mr. Malakar’s transformation, which took place during my predecessor’s time, but from what I’ve seen, he has been a diligent, respectful member of society while abiding his physical restrictions.”
I lean forward, looking at her feet. The green glittery magic flows up to the podium and Klepkurt’s hundred eyes swivel around the information.
“Full reports are available on the IBMA Extranet,” she adds.
Klepkurt turns toward her and waves an arm. “Thank you, Officer Ott. Dismissed.”
I sigh deeply and my head swims a little.
“Is there a character witness to speak on Mr. Malakar’s behalf?” Klepkurt asks.
Apollo taps the railing in front of us. A beam of light disappears him to the bottom of the arena next to Rhazan. His watery magic surges from his feet up to Klepkurt’s podium.
“I’m Apollo Azarolla, the defendant’s brother. I have a character testimony.”
