My Turn to Defend

The next day arrived, and while Mai waited quietly and patiently behind a small desk, since she hadn't been able to sleep much at all, she'd been there since the early mornings light, but now others came in to fill the many viewing seats beside her.

The room had a similar feel to a courthouse; with a high judge's seat, overlooking all, with opposing side's desks, wide enough for two, but they faced each other, not the adjudicator, while a wide circular step was stationed in the space between them all.

A few familiar faces had arrived, and just as many not so, as they started watching quietly or whispered amongst each other from the 'gallery'.

Finally putting an end to her long wait, the opposition arrived, as Phil Arrnet sundered in, looking quite confident with his slick dark hair and little spectacles, he didn't take his seat, he just took his place behind his table, in the dark suit that matched it's colour.

Lygawa was then lead in, initially nervous, but after a smile from Mai, she took her 'assigned' place beside her and relaxed after getting a good warm hug from Mai, then last to arrive was the 'judge'.

At least I know I'll get a fair decision here...

His Majesty entered, and sat, after receiving a bow from all in attendance.

"So let us begin..."

The King, who wore no crown today, looked to the 'prosecutors' table to start things off.

Arrnet stood tall and announced.

"I call Mr Ibis..."

A guardsman stood from the small crowd, walked to the circular 'stand' and stepped on it.

"Tell us what you saw yesterday Mr Ibis?"

The short black haired man said smugly.

The slightly longer black haired man, who wore a trim blue 'uniform', with matching pants, turned to him and confidently answered.

"While I was doing my duty, I came across a theft from the Grand Treasury building."

The middle aged guard stated, after nodding respectfully toward the supervising King.

"I also saw a figure, smaller than me, I'd say most likely female... fleeing the area."

He glanced back toward Lygawa, who sat still beside Mai, before continuing.

"I believe it had a tail, but I wasn't completely certain."

Arrnet raised his hands, slowly swirled around in a performance for the gathered and went back to his seat.

Now it was Mai's turn.

"If you saw this figure... why did you not try to stop them?"

Mai got from her chair and began with an obvious question.

"I needed to secure the room, so I lost sight of whoever it was."

"And you are sure they were female?"

"They... wore a dress."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes"

He seemed slightly distracted or annoyed, but Mai went on to the next set of questions.

"You make the rounds inside the Treasury building every so often... how often exactly?"

"Every time the clock chimes."

So hourly...

"And what was the last chime - before you found that the items had been taken?"

"Two - I think... yes two."

He shifted about, but looked composed.

"So then how long does a 'round' usually take?"

"About a half hour..."

Mai nodded.

"And nothing was missing on your previous walk through?"

"No, I am quite certain."

Mai returned to her seat with what she wanted - a timeline.

With the guard off the small platform, Arrnet got to his feat, wasting no time.

"I call Sir Spenser..."

The calm and cool, tall, well toned and more senior and professional looking guard arrived on the circle, standing still in another full neat and striking mostly blue uniform, with a touch more gold embroidery around his top.

"Sir Spenser, you found the missing items... where?"

"In the carry bag - that belongs to Miss Misaki."

A little murmur went through the spectators, and the other man let it go on, till it went quiet again.

"And the items you found?"

"The then missing; Highlands Orb, the Sacred Coronation and King's Staffs."

Arrnet gave the attendees another chance to murmur about again.

"And what were Miss Misaki and Miss Lygawa doing, when you found those items?"

"Preparing to leave the capital."

The light-brown haired man stated a matter of fact way, before the other spieled off his own assumption.

"So they intended to leave with the treasure - I hereby say they should both be both found guilty."

He's grandstanding...

Getting another similar response from the small crowd, he sat back down with a big grin.

"Sir Spenser, did you arrive at the platform before Lygawa, and myself?"

Mai asked, as she came to her feet.

"Yes."

"How long before?"

"About a half hour."

"And were there any others - who came by or left before us?"

Mai was searching here with hope.

"No..."

He stopped; being the least certain he had been so far, and seemed to think about something else, so Mai pressed on.

"Please go on..."

"I did see... Lord Pottleswood, leaving the area as we were -"

"Where's this going?"

Arrnet stood, scrapping his chair back, angered by the mention of this another.

"An alternate culprit, sir."

Mai said flatly, not wanting to give any emotion away, but did so to the high sitting King.

"Don't besmirch another high standing members name here lady!"

Why not... it's what you're doing to us right now...

Mai ignored Arrnet, only receiving a tiny nod from the eldest man in the room.

Mai went to sit, but didn't quite, just yet

"Oh one more Sir Spencer, did you see us arrive with the bag, or carrying anything prior to our planned departure...?"

The thought about it carefully

"No, not that I recall..."

"Thank-you."

Mai stayed in her hard chair for a few moments, as the other impeccably displayed guard walked back to his spectator's seat.

"We're waiting..."

The shifty smug man whispered across the room at Mai.

Oh, that was it... So it's the defences turn, just like that...?

Mai got back up again.

"I would like to have Princess Alice Sakura Yamada join us..."

"I object - it is unheard of for a member of the Royal family to give an account... in this..."

Princess Alice had already made her way to and then took the small podium, disregarding the objection, and already waited for her questions from Mai, who she looked to.

Mai's opposition begrudgingly let his complaint go.

"Princess - please tell us what you were doing yesterday, from one - till roughly two by the clock?"

"Yes sure..."

She waited a moment, then after a long breath she stated.

"I was with Mai - Miss Misaki, for that entire time."

"Is that all?"

Mai needed a little more story from her, as the shy girl did her best.

"Yes ...until Miss Zalina and Miss Lygawa joined us later... I'm not sure when... exactly."

"Thank-you, that's all."

Mai quietly sat.

"I have no questions."

He still stood up though

"As it seems you have left it quite clear where the blame lays..."

He didn't look to be speaking to the Princess, who turned in her plain blue dress to face him anyway.

"Yes, Miss Misaki's questions and the Princess's testimony here - it places sole blame upon this... Lygawa."

Lygawa looked defiant at the one who pointed at her, but also a little hurt.

Alice looked to try and muster something else, but under several watchful gazes, she crumbled, looking to her fiddling hands before her waist.

"No questions."

He repeated, finally sitting again.

The black haired Princess slunk off the circular step, and couldn't make eye contact with anyone, not even when she returned to her seat up against the back wall, beside the upcoming witness.

Next up was the orange curled dragon, who looked the most irate of all in the room, who stood with arms crossed over a ruffled white outfit, with golden flowery prints.

"Miss Zalina, where were you between half past one and two yesterday?"

"With Lygawa, by thee forward gardens."

She replied with strength and certainty.

"All that time?"

"Yes, until I twas summoned before Al- her Highness."

She looked back over to the Princess, who had only now stopped looking at her nervous hands.

"And did Lygawa leave your sight at all then?"

"No, never."

She said proudly.

"Thank-you."

Mai finished.

"So you were alone with her?"

"No - there were many others..."

"Such as?"

The curly haired dragon-lady gave thought for a moment before reeling off several.

"Mr Lent, Sir Clothstone, Sir Richard, two cleaning staff, a -"

"Enough."

The man sat back down with extra annoyance and went silent.

Zalina took the quiet as her cue to leave the stand, still giving a scowl directed Phil's way.

I hope this next one has what I need...

Thanks to Nullawhy's search, Mai had been told she needed this one last planned person to have testimony from, that would hopefully seal her case, or break it.