“When will I be executed?” Quint asked. “I have no expectation of a fair trial.”
“That hasn’t been decided yet.”
“You mean your father is too busy at present to accommodate your unhinged actions?”
That earned Quint another slap.
“You are slapping a superior officer, lieutenant,” Quint said.
Amaria’s face twisted with her hatred. “You are no real captain. I’ve already removed your ill-gotten captain badges.”
“Is the prisoner up?” an officer stepped into Quint’s cell. He looked closely at Quint’s face and then turned to Amaria. “You slapped him?”
“He was being disrespectful.”
“Of Racellia? Of the wizard corps?” the officer asked.
“No,” Amaria said, lifting her chin. “Of me.”
The officer sighed. “If he is acquitted, he can charge you for insubordination, Lieutenant Baltacco.”
“Father would never permit it.”
The officer put a hand over his face. “We are close enough to the edge by arresting him.”
“My father will protect all of us, even after he is executed.”
The officer looked at Quint. “Time for a hearing. You are not permitted to cast strings while you are in custody. Remember that.”
Quint nodded while a soldier removed the manacles. Quint took a step toward Amaria, who ran to the door.
“I’m ready,” he said to the officer.
There were wizards ahead of him and behind him on the steps leading to the main floor where Quint was ushered to a conference room set up for his hearing. Three black-garbed officers, all ranked above Captain, sat at a table. Quint’s chair was a respectful distance away and chairs were behind Quint. He had seen two of the three officers before, but he was never introduced to them.
He looked back to see Amaria’s angry face, but he also saw Colonel Sarrefo enter the room and take a seat. He gave Quint a nod, but his face remained impassive.
The officer in the middle, a colonel, spoke. “Captain Quinto Tirolo, there are various charges against you which are violations of the rules and regulations of the Racellian Wizard Corps. Do you admit to violating them?”
What a ridiculous question, Quint thought. They weren’t going to tell him what he was charged with?
“Yes or no, Captain Tirolo.”
“I don’t know what the charges are, sir.”
The officer looked at someone behind Quint. “He doesn’t know what he’s been charged with?”
“No, sir,” the officer who led Quint from the prison said.
“There are three counts for withholding evidence from your superior officers within the corps. There is a count of seizing Racellian property and using it for your own purposes. The last count is that you have been observed speaking in the willot language.”
“There is a formal law against that?” Quint asked.
“You will speak only when spoken to, captain,” the colonel said. “Now that you know the charges. Yes or no. Did you violate your oath to the wizard corps.
“No,” Quint said. “I did not violate my oath.”
“You know the willot language?” the colonel said.
“I know the language, yes. I learned it so I could evaluate opinion journals from other South Fenolan countries. I do not speak the language, although I can understand most of it when spoken.”
“Who witnessed the defendant speaking willot?”
Amaria spoke. “How can one not speak willot if they know how to read it? It doesn’t need to be observed.”
“Lieutenant. You are also advised to speak only when you are spoken to.”
Colonel Sarrefo rose. “May I speak, colonel?”
“Go ahead.”
“What law prohibits a member of the wizard corps from knowing willot? There are speaking prohibitions, but if no one has heard Quint speak our mother tongue, why charge him for doing so.”
The lead officer pursed his lips. “Is there anyone in this hearing who has heard the defendant speak willot?
No one spoke up.
“We will strike that count from the charges. Now, what about the other counts?”
