1??????????????Soul Bound


    1.2????????????Taking Control


    1.2.1??????????An Icy Welcome


    1.2.1.6????????Tartaglia


    A door at the side opened, and a dainty man stepped out. If there were such a thing as the opposite of an aura of authority, he had one. Although in his late 50s, he looked like his mother had dressed him in clothes handed down by his bigger brother. His brown felt hat kept flopping down over his eyes. His dark blue cloak could have been used as a tent, and his silver chased leather boots would have housed a family of ferrets. His wide imperial moustache was carefully waxed and looked like he slept with a face shield on, to protect it at nights. Perhaps it was to make his unusually bulbous nose seem correctly proportioned. His glasses looked small, perched on it.


    Tartaglia: “Thank y’you f’f’for w’w’w’waiting.”


    Duty done, he took his glasses off and turned to look down at his neatly written notes, which seemed to relax him. He sat back in his chair, and hummed a little to himself as he found the right page.


    Tartaglia: “I’ve been asked to rule upon two matters this morning. Firstly, the matter of Fra Nerone versus Ms Vittoria and Suor Isabella.”


    Tartaglia: “On point (A) I uphold the complaint that while Ms Vittoria remains under Mor’s curse, no matter how good her reasons were, she is ineligible to remain the head of the orphanage and must be replaced, unless the curse is removed within the next three days.”


    Lelio looked stony.


    Tartaglia: “On point (B) I find that no evidence has been presented of any orphans actually coming to harm from Ms Vittoria or the example she has set, and dismiss the complaint that Suor Isbella exhibited negligence in appointing Ms Vittoria and is not a suitable person to pick a replacement. I therefore grant Suor Isabella three days to find a replacement that meets the Sanctum council’s approval.”


    Now it was Fra Nerone’s turn to face disappointment, but he hid it better than Lelio did, merely sneering.


    Tartaglia: “On point (C), the demand by Fra Nerone that Ms Vittoria have her pendant stripped from her and be ejected from the City of Torello, on the grounds of being a dangerous heretic, I recommend he brushes up on the law. Being dangerous is not a crime. Many citizens of Torello are capable of causing great destruction with their magic. Banishment from the city is a secular matter, and being a heretic is not a secular crime. I refuse to rule on this, and instead turn the matter over to Captain Lelio, the duly appointed secular authority present.”


    Lelio: “Thank you Judge Tartaglia. I hereby rule that Ms Vittoria is innocent of all secular crimes. And, further, I ask that Suor Isabella now formally release me from our engagement, that I may make another announcement.”


    Isabella, who’d obviously plotted this beforehand with Lelio, now stood gravely, and declared: “You are released. With no blame attached, debt owed, or hard feelings.”


    Lelio bowed to her and carefully annunciated: “Your graciousness is unblemished, your honour is intact and your reputation is unsullied.”


    Lelio turned back to Vittoria and took her hand in his. She looked very frail next to him, even though she was by far the deadlier of the pair.


    Lelio: “I place my life before that of Ms. Vittoria. An insult to her is an insult to me. From here onwards, if any man dare accuse her of evil intentions, I will slay him; be he bandit, priest or both.” and he glared openly at Fra Nerone in challenge.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Kafana felt vindicated. This. This is what her party had decided to fight for, right from the moment they seen them first meet outside the Gate of Sorrows. She started to clap. Massimo and Marco copied her so she stood up and clapped louder. {Sys, help!}


    [Upgrading skill “Aura Of Authority” with skill “Resonance”, skill “Sweet Talk” and skill “Sense Motive” to create “Aura Of Power” level 14. You can find the sweet spot of an audience and sense how to move them. Where you lead, others will now follow.]


    Others started standing, copying her. Soon most of the room were openly cheering, and Lelio and Vittoria stood facing each other holding both hands, Lelio’s face fiercely proud and possessive, Vittoria’s face full of joy and wonder. Lelio had seen her, the real her, and he hadn’t been put off. She could have walked on water, on a shadecat’s breath, on starlight and moonbeams.


    Kafana sat. {Sys, you’re awesome! Better switch that off now, though. It’s her moment.}


    [No problem, Kafana. It’s my pleasure to make your user experience smoother. Aura off.]


    Eventually order returned to the room, and the judge placidly returned to legal matters.


    Tartaglia: “The second matter I’ve been asked to rule upon is the disposition of the goods confiscated from the group of questing spirits I shall hereafter refer to as the ‘bad spirits’. House Czerny informs me that a decision is urgently needed if their auction is not to be disrupted, and I have heard depositions from many parties this morning, including House Pazzi, House Trinci, House Ruffo, House Landi, the Sanctum, the Watch and Laureato Giambrone speaking on behalf of the one most harmed by the ‘bad spirits’. In the interests of a speedy resolution, all parties were willing to agree that the assets would have gone to the late Ms. Sincero. But, as she left no will except as to the disposal of one item, a Bone Sword which I understand has now been disposed of at sea, they have presented arguments on what she would have liked to have done with the assets had she survived. I am now ready to present my findings. Does everybody agree to be bound by them?”


    Emmanuelle rose and addressed the judge. “A new piece of information has arisen, that I feel certain that your honour will wish to take into account. May I present it? It will be very brief.”


    Tartaglia looked resigned. No matter how carefully he went over the details, there was always one person who thought they could quibble. “Briefly, then, p’p’please.”


    Emmanuelle whispered to Kafana and she performed as coached. She stood up, took off her helmet and shook out her hair.


    Kafana: “I’m no longer dead, your Honour.”


    She sat back down.


    The judge put on his spectacles, and peered at her.


    Tartaglia: “Well done Laureato Giambrone. That does indeed simplify things. My ruling is as follows: all items removed from the bad spirits that are currently in the custody of the watch, including the documents giving rights to the items placed on auction, are hereby deemed the absolute property of Ms. Sincero, to keep or dispose of as she sees fit. Any matters of compensation, charity, taxation or decisions about what to auction should be addressed to her via her appointed legal representative. Any items from spirits identified as bad spirits and captured in the future, should be decided upon on a case by case basis, by the relevant secular authority. The matter is now closed. Court no longer in session.”


    And, with that, he sharply banged the table twice with a small wooden mallet.


    Emmanuelle was immediately mobbed by half a dozen people, leaving Kafana blissfully in peace. She brought up her magnifying glass and looked at herself. She’d got a lot of unallocated points. She’d have to ask Wellington what to do with them. A debuff icon caught her eye, and she looked more closely at it.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Death’s Sting (DEBUFF)


    For each Death’s Sting upon you, your base stats are temporarily reduced by 10%.


    “What you are doing got you killed. Maybe it is time to reassess your life?”


    Duration: 1 hour


    Time remaining: 5 minutes


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Today was going to be a busy day. She just hoped she could survive it, mind intact.