Solveig's Consequence

SOLVEIG

So...

This was it then.

The end of Solveig.

Solveig the Great. Pfft. More like Solveig the Lame.

The Ten on the stage gasped at the Duke's verdict.

Perhaps Solveig's own reaction should've been more dramatic. After all, her life had collapsed a second time.

She'd be homeless, sure. She'd lose all her friends, sure. But was that so bad? It was not like her life was much different from this baseline from before. She could also surely work odd jobs. And could she be trusted with other people when there was forever a non-zero chance she could kill them because of a stomach cramp?

Maybe someone out there in the world needed a blunt instrument such as her.

Cain, naturally, was the first one to approach her.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Cain... you should know this about me by now." Solveig smiled sadly. "I tend to make everything worse."

The Principal continued. "Solveig will hereby be stripped of her dormitory placement, effective at the end of this session. Her scholarship, and every stipend attached to it, is revoked in full. She is no longer eligible to represent this Academy on Cain's behalf, or on anyone's, in the rankings, until such time as this council sees fit to reconsider."

He let that settle, the way sediment settles.

Isolde's chin lifted, already tasting it.

"As for Solveig's place at this Academy itself..." The Principal paused, and in that pause the whole hall seemed to lean forward at once. "She is not to be expelled."

A dropped needle would have been louder than the students in the hall.

Then, all at once and in a cascade, people reacted.

Isolde and her camp reacted first, obviously.

Badly.

"What?! She lost the trial, sir! LOST! Fair and square, sixty to forty! This is blatant favoritism!"

"What gives?!"

"Yeah! You are giving her special treatment!"

The Duke continued. "Solveig did lose, yes, but not by enough to constitute the expulsion that a 9-to-1 voting ratio would require."

Isolde growled. "Who set those rules?!"

"His Excellency Hrafen himself."

"Godsdamn it!" Isolde was about to tear out her hair. "Stupid Hrafen and his STUPID rules!!!"

"Whoa there, Soldy," Miriam barked. "That's close to sacrilege!"

"You don't know shit about Hrafen, you damn country mutt. And DON'T CALL ME 'SOLDY'!"

Miriam laughed. "Oh no, I'm being insulted by a rich noble girl, my self-esteem has gone down the drain...!"

"Do I need to escort you out of the amphitheater, Isolde?" the Principal said. "You seem... oddly distraught."

"I'm... bloody... fine, thanks for asking." Isolde sat back in her seat. As if on cue, the rest of her clique did too.

Cain stepped up. "Your Excellency, what does that mean for our arrangement with Solveig?"

"She cannot be an extension of your Ranking," the Duke said. "She will not have a place on the Ranking, either. She is simply an external observer and can only guide you as you climb the ladder."

Cain looked at him strangely for a moment, before nodding. "Understood."

The Duke directed his attention toward the crowd. "Now, are there any other questions?"

The crowd remained silent.

"Alright, then. I hereby declare this Trial of the Thousand to be over." The Duke gestured behind him. "Penelope."

As if summoned on a mere whim, Penelope appeared from the shadows, seemingly lying in wait.

"Yes, your grace?"

"Please co-ordinate with the servants on how best to move Solveig's personal effects from her assigned dormitory," he said. "And please assist Miriam in reinstating her tenancy."

Then, rather unexpectedly, Miriam intervened. "Sir, if you'll pardon the interruption."

"Of course."

"I don't mind Solveig staying with me..."

Solveig's heart fluttered.

"Truly?" the Duke asked, some amusement in his voice.

"Yes." Miriam looked at Solveig. "Without a doubt in my mind."

Solveig could cry a puddle of happy, slimy tears.

"Then carry on as you were, Solveig."

Solveig brought her hands above her face as if to cover it. Tears flowed unbidden now.

"You g-guys..."

Solveig looked down at the ground.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for being a burden..."

Bobby frowned. "You're not a burden, Master."

"Agreed." Miriam grinned. "We're simply ahead of everyone else in recognizing the greatness of Solveig. Besides. It's nice to have exclusivity, you know...!"

For the first time... in a long time...

Solveig didn't feel...

Alone.