Ingrizon's Hearing (2/2)

Writers: Aaron, Devin, Duskdog, Estelle
Date Posted: 21st June 2025
Series: Guarding Gil

Characters: N'vanik, Corofel, Tr'vel, Alyena, R'ayl, Nidre, Oriel, Gil, Ingrizon, Trennemar
Description: Corofel presides over a hearing to decide if Ingrizon should be made Holdless.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 10 of Turn 12

N'vanik

Corofel

Tr'vel

Nidre

The former guard's posture stiffened, as if he anticipated what he might
have to describe next, and there was a note of strain in his voice when
he spoke. "The holder told me to take some of the men and burn down the
cothold belonging to Alyena. He made it clear there weren't to be any
survivors. Instead of following his order, I warned her to flee with her
children."

"Refusing to murder a woman and her child, this is what Ingrizon
considers disobedience," N'vanik turned to the gallery again. "Luckily
my riders went to check on Alyena and were able to save them both from
the attack. You may have heard she's our Headwoman now." He nodded
toward her.

Alyena looked up as her name was spoken. She was unsure if she was
allowed to speak, not having been called, but she bowed her head
slightly to the Lord Holder in acknowledgement of the Weyrleader's words.

Ingrizon showed no such respect. "Traitors," he hissed. "They're both
traitors, and she's a slut for dragonriders. They visited her in that
cothold."

There were a few gasps from the holders in the gallery. Gil's expression
remained blank, but Alyena had turned completely pale at the insult and
gripped her son's hand.

Trennemar gave into the urge this time and did put his head in his hands.

"Ingrizon, since it seems you are having trouble waiting for your
counsel's turn to cross-examine the witnesses, is there something you
would like to say now?" Corofel kept his expression blank. He wished
the fool would.

"I strongly advise against it," said Trennemar. "You risk waiving your
right not to testify if you volunteer to speak."

Even N'vanik was shocked at the insult to Alyena. He vividly imagined
diving over the table and strangling Ingrizon. The exchange between
Corofel and Trennemar gave him time to recover and he looked at the
harper. "You can have your turn with Gil now."

"Very well." Trennemar stood and approached the stand before Ingrizon
had the opportunity to take Corofel up on his offer. His original
approach was more or less ruined, but he had to do what he could. There
had to be no doubt that Ingrizon had been vigorously defended.

"Gilbek. Have you accepted permanent residence from the Weyr?"

"I hope to. They've given me work and a place to stay." Gil glanced at
the Weyrleader. He still wasn't entirely certain of his status. "My
understanding is that I'm still on probation."

"Then your future livelihood is entirely dependent on the
Weyrleadership's evaluation of your performance, yes?"

Tr'vel watched from his seat near Ingrizon. His expression remained
neutral, but one hand curled into a fist.

"It's their decision if I can stay or not. I can't speak to how they'll
make it," Gil replied.

"No further questions." Trennemar retook his seat to wait for the next
witness.

N'vanik took a moment to calm himself, his anger shifting to guilt as
he thought of what came next. He didn't want to put the boy through
this, but a too-small thirteen-Turn-old kid explaining how a
full-grown man tried to kill him would tug at more than a few
heartstrings. Corofel had wanted this to be public, well, then let the
public see what kind of people were behind all this. Let them look at
Ingrizon and think **No, I'm not like that man**. Let that be a shield
against recruitment and retaliation.

"I call bluerider R'ayl as witness."

The young dragonrider felt his heart jolt. For a moment he was paralyzed
at the thought of standing up before the Lord Holder and the Weyrleader
and all these people - and that man, the one who'd wielded the knife and
still stalked his nightmares.

}:I am with you,:{ Delorth reassured him.

He got to his feet. **Dragonriders aren't afraid.** As he walked forward
to take Gil's place, the man gave him an brief, encouraging smile, which
settled his nerves.

"R'ayl, can you tell everyone what happened that day in the dining
cavern?" N'vanik asked gently.

R'ayl swallowed, then began to speak in a low voice. "I was sitting with
the other weavers for dinner. I realized there was someone behind me, so
I turned..."

"Forgive me," Corofel interrupted. "I understand this may be difficult
for you, but everyone needs to hear what you have to say. Please raise
your voice."

}:Courage. You can do it.:{

"Yes, sir. My lord. Sorry." R'ayl took a breath and started again, doing
his best to speak up. "It was that man." He pointed to Ingrizon. He
shouted, 'This is what happens to traitors', and then he raised his arm,
like this, and..." His voice dropped again, and he made an effort to
raise it. "I saw the knife."

"It's alright," N'vanik said. "I know this is hard." He fought down
anger again, thinking of this poor kid almost getting killed. Thinking
of Talryne sitting right next to him when it happened. A glance over at
the gallery confirmed many of the spectators looked shocked and upset.
"And then what happened?"

"Gilbek tackled him and they struggled on the ground. I don't remember
much," R'ayl admitted. "Delorth - that's my dragon - was scared and
angry and I was trying to calm him. Gilbek made the man drop the knife,
and he and Bluerider Tr'vel took charge of him. And then he said..." He
looked down at his boots. "He said I was a traitor and I betrayed my
Master."

"Why do you think he would say something like that?" N'vanik asked.

"I object to the question, my Lord-- that is speculation," Trennemar
piped up again.

Corofel struggled not to roll his eyes. The advocate had a point, but
come on, guy. Read the room.

"Your objection is sustained," he said.

N'vanik ground his teeth. "Fine then. Your witness."

"No questions, my lord," said Trennemar. He was not going to harangue a
literal child. That would not do much to convince the onlookers that
Ingrizon deserved mercy. He would, however, imply during his closing
statement that the boy was distracted speaking to his dragon.

"No further witnesses, Lord Corofel," the Weyrleader said. He'd brought
Alyena just in case they needed her testimony, but mostly as moral
support for her son.

"Any witnesses for the defense?" asked Corofel.

If Trennemar had any more witnesses, he would be more than happy to call
them, but things looked fairly bleak for Ingrizon, and he was not about
to ask any questions he did not already know the answers to.

"The defense rests, my lord," said Trennemar.

"Very well. Weyrleader N'vanik. Your closing statement, please. _Now_ is
the time for speculation."

N'vanik took a breath and turned to the holders in the packed gallery.
"Ingrizon was involved in plotting against the Weyr. He and his fellow
conspirators poisoned the meat for the hatchlings, intending to kill
baby dragons. They nearly succeeded. Because Alyena had warned the Weyr,
Ingrizon ordered Gil to burn down her cot with Alyena and her young
daughter inside. When Gil refused, he was whipped nearly to death for
it." N'vanik paused a moment to let that sink in.

"When Lord Corofel and his men came to arrest Ingrizon and the other
holders involved in the conspiracy, rather than following the law and
defending himself, Ingrizon fled justice. He came to Dolphin Cove Weyr
with the intent of murdering a dragonrider -- a boy not yet old enough
for the Fighting Wings." He gestured to R'ayl. "If not for Gil, who has
found sanctuary at the Weyr, Ingrizon might well have succeeded. As
you've seen here today, Ingrizon offers no defense for himself, only
insults to people he's already wronged. He shows no respect for our laws
and no regret for what he's done.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're good, decent people." N'vanik was a little
disgusted about buttering them up, but this was a performance. "You
don't want a man like Ingrizon among you. He gave up his rights as a
holder when he fled rather than face justice. It's my hope that Lord
Corofel do the right thing and have Ingrizon declared Holdless." And
then N'vanik could do whatever he wanted to that sharding tunnel snake.

Once Corofel was certain that N'vanik was finished, he yielded the floor
in turn to Trennemar. He reiterated his points sowing what little seeds
for reasonable doubt there were when it came to White Hollow, and then
he proceeded to the matter of Ingrizon's actions at the Weyr.

"As the esteemed Weyrleader demonstrated during evidence, Holder
Ingrizon's purpose and motive for traveling to the Weyr is more a matter
of speculation than of hard evidence.

"A reasonable person could conclude that Gilbek's testimony is colored,
however subconsciously, by his knowledge that his future rests in the
Weyrleader's hands. A reasonable person could conclude that Bluerider
R'ayl's recollection is fuzzed by the fact that he was distracted with
speaking with his dragon during the events that he witnessed.

"It is not incumbent on Ingrizon to justify why he left White Hollow,
why he went to the Weyr, or to explain what he did there. It is the
prosecution's job to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is guilty of
the accusations and that he had nefarious purposes. I ask the Lord
Holder to consider whether Captain Oriel and Weyrleader N'vanik have
truly met that standard.

"Finally, I beseech the Lord Holder to consider what fate must surely
await Ingrizon in the hands of the Weyr and whether it is a suitable
punishment for the crimes he is alleged to have committed. Thank you."
Trennemar bowed to Corofel and to the gallery.

"And you're certain you have nothing to say for yourself, Ingrizon?"
asked Corofel. Trennemar shook his head at Ingrizon, imploring him to
say nothing.

Ingrizon barely spared a contemptuous look for the harper. "This trial
is a disgrace. No one here has any right to condemn me - one of the
ruling Blood of Emerald Falls - least of all on the word of dragonriders
and their lickspittles!"

"You're no blood of mine," said Corofel. "Weyrleader N'vanik has not
asked me to extradite you, so I will not. I will do just as you have
asked and judge you solely on the word of my Captain of the Guard and
the testimony of his witnesses. Captain Oriel's case is strong, his
evidence airtight. No reasonable person would doubt that you are guilty
not only of the crimes for which I approved and issued the warrant for
your arrest, but also of resisting arrest and obstructing justice.

"Based on your lack of contrition, I have no reason to believe I could
ever rehabilitate you. Therefore, effective immediately-- Ingrizon, you
are stripped of my protection and of the protection of every Hold in my
protectorate. Your right of residence in Emerald Falls and her territory
is revoked. From this day forward, you are Holdless. Moreover, I exile
you, effective immediately, on pain of deportation.

"Captain Oriel. I relinquish the convicted to your custody. Please see
to it that he is removed posthaste."

Last updated on the June 24th 2025

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Ingrizon's Hearing (2/2)