A shuttle, only now, was landing. They were late.
I called to Te’rnu, drawing his attention to the landed ship.
‘Here!’ Te’rnu called, pointing at a small outcrop of rock. The three of us jumped in, huddled up tight, and stayed as still as we could, hoping to avoid being spotted.
But more and more minutes passed, and there was no sign that we were being pursued.
Perhaps the Iyr didn’t think it was worth the effort, or perhaps they knew better than to try and find Arellians hiding in their own territory. Whatever the reason, we were safe.
Confident now that we’d got away with it, we continued back to town at a slower pace, allowing our aching muscles some respite. As Te’rok came into view in the distance, the sun was beginning to rise, and the other villagers were up and about.
This meant, of course, that they had noticed our disappearance.
‘Where have you been?’ an angry Arellian called out at Pr’atu. They stormed over to the young one and grabbed them by the arm. ‘You do not disappear like that, you understand me?’
As they dragged Pr’atu back into the village, they turned to look at Te’rnu.
‘And you. You should know better.’
Ra’ntu, too, stared at us with an irritated expression upon their face.
‘We were just trying to see if we could see an Iyr’s face!’ Pr’atu argued with their parent. ‘Te’rnu says we should know these things!’
Elder Ra’ntu began to speak. ‘You drag Pr’atu into this mess? At that age?’
Te’rnu looked down at the floor, ashamed.
‘Where did you go?’ Ra’ntu asked.
‘The Outpost. WS1.’
There was a moment of silence.
Elder Ra’ntu raised her voice when they spoke next - not out of anger, but out of proclamation.
‘Te’rnu has exceeded even his own prior recklessness. Te’rnu has brought shame to our village! Te’rnu must be put to trial!’
Ra’ntu paused - and I couldn’t help but think that this was only for effect.
‘No,’ they continued, staring deep into my eyes, ‘They all must be put to trial.’
I looked to Te’rnu, who stood, despondent, eyes fixed on the ground.
Ra’ntu walked closer to us and whispered so that nobody else would hear, ‘Let this be a lesson to you. Nobody breaks with the Tradition.’
We were ushered into the same building that I’d first been brought to, while the Elders prepared for the trial. Te’rnu and Pr’atu waited anxiously, while I seriously debated simply standing up and leaving.
I couldn’t justify leaving Te’rnu, though - not after he’d saved my life. So I stayed - and hoped I could save him from whatever hardship Ra’ntu had planned.
Soon, we were moved into the largest of the village’s buildings, which had enough space for about a dozen people.
Three Elders - Ra’ntu, Or’ane, and another that I didn’t recognise - sat at the end of the room, on higher chairs, facing the rest of us. No matter where you go in the galaxy, nobody could resist the idea of nothing being higher than justice. It was the definition of justice, on the other hand, which seemed to change from planet to planet.
Te’rnu, Pr’atu, and I were sat at the front, on a long, uncomfortable, bench. I looked at the others; what a bunch we were. Like some heroes of old: The Three Musketeers, or the Three Amigos, or the Three… I dunno, Tenors?
No.
In the eyes of everyone around us, we weren’t heroes, we were villains. Criminals, even.
Ra’ntu made a noise to draw my attention, and I span back around to face the front.
‘We are gathered here to rule on the punishments for Te’rnu, Pr’atu, and the off-worlder, for breaking with the sacred Traditions, and assaulting an Iyr.’
There was a slightly whispering behind me, from the trial’s onlookers.
‘Wait,’ I asked. ‘So this isn’t even about whether we’re innocent or not? Just what the punishment is going to be?’
Te’rnu glared at me; obviously speaking at this point was a massive faux-pas in the eyes of the Arellians.
Elder Ra’ntu humoured me. ‘The Elders have already convened and determined that the three of you are indeed guilty. I stress, also, that now is not the time for you to speak.’
I pulled a face… but said nothing.
‘We will first hear from Pr’atu. If you will please stand.’
The youth to my left did as was commanded. I could see them shaking, having succumbed to their nerves. On the opposite side of Pr’atu sat Te’rnu, and I could see that he had recognised the young one’s fear too.
‘Would you please describe the events that led to you travelling to outpost WS1?’ Ra’ntu asked.
Pr’atu took a moment before they responded, the nerves meaning that they were struggling to get words out.
‘I, err…,’ Pr’atu started, casting a look at Te’rnu and me. ‘I was still awake, late, last night, listening to the off-worlder’s tales. After a while, they thought-’
‘Who is “they”, Pr’atu, if you wouldn’t mind clarifying?’ asked Or’ane, a kind smile on their face.
‘Te’rnu and the spaceman,’ Pr’atu clarified.
‘Thank you. Go on.’
‘So they - Te’rnu and Syl - thought everyone else had gone to sleep, and they were discussing the skin of the Iyr.’
Pr’atu paused for questions, but none came.
‘And they started talking about how they might see it for themselves. They planned to go to the outpost, and sneak up on the guard.’
‘And how did you become involved in this scheme, Pr’atu?’
‘Oh. I asked if I could come,’ Pr’atu replied.
The Elder gave each other knowing looks - and damning ones, at that.
Uh-oh.
‘You are saying that you willingly volunteered to help Te’rnu and the off-worlder break with Tradition?’
‘I, err…’ Pr’atu looked over at Te’rnu and I for help. We weren’t able to give any. ‘Yes. I did.’
‘Thank you, Pr’atu, I think we have heard enough,’ Ra’ntu announced. ‘If, Te’rnu, you will please now stand.’
Te’rnu did as he was told, before beginning to talk, unprompted. Even I knew that by now, this wasn’t right and proper decorum.
‘May I speak freely? Before the questions begin,’ Te’rnu said, and then
