Here's the next installment of our Metallum Nocturne story. If you need to catch up on any of the previous episodes, click here.
Episode Fifty-One
Claire read the online articles from her bed, wondering what the average person cared about what had happened. Reading them made her feel like the newspapers didn't actually care about the facts with headlines like: TERROR BLOCKED!, END OF THE TERRORS, or KNIVES IN THE DARK! There was a lot of speculation and confusion about what had happened at Giotti's, but Andrew Block's admission outside the restaurant had at least put her in a better light than before.
When she got to the Invictus Times, she was shocked to see the picture of Mara and Mark sitting on a bed laughing under the headline: THE REAL SIGNER? Elle's article threaded the line between exposing truths that could be construed as victim blaming and putting questions into the narrative about Mark's potential role. But none of it mattered if he wouldn't admit it on the stand, and given the lack of concrete evidence linking him to the sign-in sheet, she didn't think it was possible.
Claire had showered long before sunrise to avoid her fellow Hall students. She left her room dressed in her trial outfit, hoping that everyone was too busy with classes or studying for finals to worry about her. When she passed the common room, Claire saw a knot of students crowded around the television, watching the latest updates on the trial. Heads turned when she slowed, so she hurried past, heading out of Metallum Nocturne into a sea of reporters who shouted questions at her while she ignored them. A taxi picked her up outside and drove her to the courthouse.
The throng had beat her to the entrance, lining up on the stairs to continue the verbal assault. It was a relief when she was inside. The trial was the first of the day. She took her spot next to Lamar, who was humming under his breath when she arrived. A stack of newspapers sat on the corner with the Invictus Times on top.
"How are you feeling? I have a friend who's a therapist. She said she'd take you pro bono if you're feeling up to it," said Lamar.
She thought about explaining to a therapist her trip to Umbra and the requests of the Night Mother. "I… maybe, but not right now."
Claire checked back to see Elle sitting perfectly still in the reporter's section, while the others were furiously scribbling in their notebooks about every minor detail. The only sign she got from her friend was a brief raise of the eyebrow and a quirk to her lips, which seemed far too optimistic for the circumstances.
On the other side of the courtroom, the Blocks looked like they were part of the lawyer team rather than the plaintiffs, huddled with the Vindicators in tight discussions. Lamar put his hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
"I want you to look angry when the jury comes in."
"Angry? Are you sure? I thought I was supposed to look like the innocent victim caught up in this."
"That was before. Now, I want anger."
Everyone rose when the judge entered, while Claire was busy trying to imagine herself being angry.
"Before we get started today, I need to see both parties at my desk, including the Blocks and Miss Teller," said Judge Ambersand.
Claire found herself next to Annette until the lead Vindicator placed himself between them. The judge clicked a button that would drown out their conversation, making it private. The court system had the best privacy enchantments in the world.
"First, I want to say that I'm pleased that you all survived that horrendous attack. But. I'm a bit frustrated by the direction of this civil case, given the headlines this morning. Need I remind you that meeting without your lawyers at a secondary location is highly unusual. While there's nothing that prevents you from doing this, the court prefers for civil parties to stay separate during the trial."
"I'm sorry, Your Honor," said Annette. "We wished to make our offer in person and appeal to the importance of this trial for the sake of our daughter's legacy and the city."
"That's fine, Annette," said the judge. "I understand circumstances are unusual. But let's try to get through this without any further fireworks. We have one remaining witness, is that correct, Lamar?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
The plaintiff lead leaned against the bench. "Your Honor, this last-second witness is highly unusual and seems like a delay tactic. I'd like to request this witness be barred from the trial. I think we've seen enough from testimony already. We don't need any character witnesses for the defense."
"A valid point, but we'll hear this final witness. I spoke with Lamar at length last night and he assures me this addition is warranted," said the judge.
As they returned to their tables, Claire spotted Mark sitting in the middle rows looking like he was about to be dropped off a cliff. He'd grown his hair out and let it return to its natural brown in anticipation of his first job out of the Halls. His suit was a tad big. Their gazes briefly met, but he stared at the back of the next bench rather than maintain eye contact.
After the jury entered, the first and only planned witness of the day was called. Mark took the witness stand and was sworn in by the bailiff. Sweat beaded on Mark's forehead as he settled into the chair.
Lamar approached the witness stand. "Please state your name and Hall for the record."
"Mark Jacobs. Fifth year of Metallum Nocturne."
"Thank you, Mark. What is your relationship to the defendant?"
Mark swallowed. "We're friends. Been in the Hall for five years now."
"What is the role of a fifth-year in Metallum Nocturne?" asked Lamar.
"Role? Mostly we're focused on our fifth-year project, figuring out where we're going to work after we graduate, that sort of thing," he said, knees bouncing.
"Do you have oversight of the younger classes?"
"Not so much. It's usually the fourth-years that watch them," said Mark.
"Usually, but not always."
"Objection, Your Honor. Relevance," said the plaintiff lead.
"Overruled," said Judge Ambersand, frowning. "We'll see where this goes."
Annette spoke angrily in her lawyer's ear at the ruling. Claire heard the woman say that they were a huge waste of money.
"Is it usual for a fifth-year in the middle of their project to also oversee a first-year in the foundry?" asked Lamar.
Mark looked like he was in pain as he answered. "No. It's not usual."
"Was Claire's project particularly difficult?" asked Lamar.
"It was, well, it's hard to explain without getting technical," said Mark.
"On a scale of one to ten, perhaps," said Lamar.
Mark closed his eyes momentarily. His voice quivered as he spoke.
"I would say a nine or ten." He stared at the edge of the bench. "Claire is easily the best mage of our year, probably the last decade. No one else would have attempted a project like hers, or been granted approval from the Patron."
Claire snuck a peek at the jury, finding them unmoved by the questioning. A woman at the end was playing with her watch and barely paying attention. Lamar walked back to their table and pulled out a plastic bag with a sheet of paper in it.
"I would like to enter exhibit E into evidence," he said, approaching the witness stand. Mark was sitting tall trying to see what it was.
"Granted," said the judge.
"Mr. Jacobs," said Lamar, pulling the paper out of the bag and handing it over. "This paper is your safety training acknowledgement from Metallum Nocturne. The one that you sign at the beginning of each school year. Can you read the last line on the third paragraph?"
Mark swallowed heavily as his hands shook. Claire remembered she was supposed to look angry, but she wanted to know what her lawyer was up to.
"All tools must be hung in the—"
"Not that paragraph, the one below it," said Lamar, pacing before the stand.
"If a fourth- or fifth-year student has agreed to be the safety leader for the lower classes, they must be present at all times. In addition, they cannot be working on any projects and must be observing conditions for safety issues during the entirety of the session. Breaks must be scheduled together and under no circumstances can the lower-class members be left unattended."
"Thank you, Mark. You read that quite well. Can you tell us who the signature is at the bottom?"
"It's mine."
"Good. I'll take that."
Lamar walked back to their table and grabbed a second plastic bag with a single paper inside.
"Mr. Jacobs, I want to confirm you understand that you are speaking under oath and that perjury is a felony."
"Yes, I understand."
Lamar stood holding the plastic bag with the paper inside for a few heartbeats, starting at it solemnly.
"May the court recognize I am entering the foundry safety sign-in sheet into evidence as exhibit G."
"The court recognizes exhibit G," said the judge, watching Mark closely.
The jury seemed to understand something weighty was happening and leaned forward to study the witness. A few glanced in her direction, so she made sure to look angry, even though she was mostly confused since she knew they didn't have the original sheet and the one that bore her name had been entered as Exhibit B earlier in the trial. The plaintiff side was in furious conversation, looking like they wanted to object, but couldn't decide what to say.
"Mr. Jacobs. Did you know Mara Block personally?"
Mark's mouth half opened. His eyes darted in all directions until Judge Ambersand leaned over.
"Answer the question, son."
"I did."
"You did what?" asked Lamar. "We need you to say it for the record."
"I knew Mara Block personally."
The corner of Lamar's mouth twitched. "Were you and Mara Block romantically involved?"
A murmuring shot through the crowd, but settled before the judge had to bang his gavel. The Blocks looked stunned. Lamar strolled back to their table and lifted the Invictus Times, which showed the picture of the two of them in bed. Mark had clearly seen it by the way the color drained from his face.
"We were," said Mark. "Romantically involved."
"Next question," said Lamar, approaching the witness stand with the safety sign-in sheet half out of the bag. "Did you sign the original safety sheet for Mara Block, agreeing to be her lead during the work she was planning to do in the foundry?"
"I..."
Mark shifted on the seat. He looked about to pass out.
"Remember you're under oath," said Lamar.
Mark squeezed his eyes closed. "I signed the original sheet."
A wave of dizziness overtook Claire as the courtroom erupted in chattering and pictures. The judge looked amused as he hammered the gavel.
"Mr. Jacobs," said Lamar, raising his voice to be heard above the din. "Did you falsify the sign-in sheet with Claire Teller's name to hide that you had failed your duty as safety lead of her project? Remember, you're not the one on trial, but you can be if you perjure yourself."
"I did. I knew a spell that would do the trick." Mark leaned forward, breaking into tears and shaking his head. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I had other things going, but Mara talked me into letting her. I didn't know she'd make such a...mistake."
A strangled noise erupted from Annette. Her face was bright crimson as she stormed out of the courtroom with cameras flashing. Claire leaned back in her chair, mouth agape, as the jury stared at her. She wiped a tear away despite not realizing she was crying.
The next steps of the trial went by in a daze. The case was dismissed by the judge and Claire was left feeling like she'd avoided getting hit by a meteor.
"Congratulations, Miss Teller," said Lamar, shaking her hand. "You won the trial."
"No, thank you. How did you get the original sheet with his signature?"
"Oh this," he said, handing it over. The paper was a blank safety sign-in sheet. "A bluff."
Claire threw her arms around the lawyer's shoulder, squeezing him.
"Thank you so much."
"Hopefully your life can get back to normal," said Lamar.
Claire grimaced, knowing that she still had other problems like the Night Mother, not having a job, and getting kicked out of Metallum Nocturne, but she didn't want to ruin Lamar's win.
"I hope so too." She checked back to the plaintiff side where Andrew Block was conferring with their lawyers. "Shame this won't stop Annette from winning the mayor race."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," said Lamar with a smirk. "Your friend found a number of other salacious tidbits in that phone, which are going to bring a wrecking ball to her campaign. The next few weeks of articles from the Invictus Times are going to be worth a subscription."
Claire checked back to the reporter section to see Elle still sitting quietly, but as soon as they met gazes, she winked and got up to leave.
