Roman trials are dramatic, long, and often corrupt.
The following trial can't be, if anyone loses to much in this case it could cause riots or a war.
The parties are ready, the courtroom is set and one woman is very excited to see Roman justice.
Taznit has never seen a Roman trial before under finer circumstances she would enjoy herself. Today has not gifted her such circumstances.
Taznit and Clarus are holding hands as a clerk steps forward.
"The facts of the case are thus, the defendant claims he was defending his son from a barbarian kidnapper. He claims the right of patria potestas."
The Celer wants to groan not one minute into the trial and already disaster. His work as judge is never easy.
"You son of a—"
The Celer slams his staff.
"Clarus Pulcher you will only speak when addressed. When you are called you will strictly stay within the facts of the case."
Clarus grips the desk, his knuckles white his breath ragged.
Taznit sets her hand on the irate man's hand.
"Show them your Roman dignity."
That more than anything calmed Clarus down.
The clerk coughs and picks up the next clay tablet.
"The petitioner claims he was defending a foreign diplomat from a trained combatant. He claims he was acting in self defense. The defendant wishes to enact (vim vi repellere licet) the right to answer force with force."
The judge looks at Clarus and Taznit with a mix of tiredness and respect.
The judge regards Tiberius the father, the veteran, and the man who might lose Africa to a petty dispute.
"The court recognizes Clarus Pulcher and the defense."
Next to Clarus and Tazni a smart looking man rises. He has a clean shaven face and his hands are soft.
"If it would please the court I would like to detail the Garamante. Rather I would dispel such rumors to rumors of their barbarity."
The judge waves his hand a sign of reluctant agreement.
"The Garamente have a refined underwater aqueduct system, a series of underwater caverns full of water. According to many trusted Garamente sources they mine for water like we for gold."
"These are not the actions of barbarians but a civilized people."
Celer isn't amused, but he isn't to mad, the lawyer's testimony is a narrative goldmine. It doesn't help the petitioners, but it helps Rome.
The lawyer of the defendant is signaled to rise.
"Honorable judge it is my stance the father had genuine concern for his sons safety. Let the record hear and record that Clarus has no skills to survive in the desert."
"The boy is brave yes but bravery is no substitute for wisdom. Our greatest leaders were lost to the deserts. What is to seperate a lovesick boy from Crassus or Mark Antony."
"We speak as if the father were a cruel task master. Nay he was but a man, a mortal, scared and quite rightfully so."
Celer listens as the defendant drones on about how helpless Clarus would be. How the father was correct to force his son to stay.
The lawyer continues for another ten minutes then fifteen and then twenty. After the lawyer was done the judge thanked every household that the speech was at least entertaining for the court.
Taznit herself was quite entertained. Her fluency in Latin rivaled many citizens of the eternal city itself.
The lawyer waxed and weaved his case with the elegance of a swan.
His speech was so enthralling she almost forgot the severity of the case.
"All that to say honored court, my subject is an honorable man."
Celer who, was not listening, thanked every god he could that the allocated thirty minutes was finally over.
Celer raised his staff the butt slamming onto the ground signaling the next phase of the trial was soon to commence.
"Let the witnesses be called for testimony."
A clerk shuffles some wax tablets grabbing the one labeled witness list.
"The court calls the right honorable Decimus Bagradius, owner of the form depository and stall.
An aide beckons Decimus to enter and stand before the court.
Celer beckons on of the clerks forward. The clerk approaches Decimus the water reflecting the tension in both men's posture.
Clarus and Tiberius don't share that tension. In fact both men look ready to brawl if the court doesn't start deciding anything.
"Honorable Decimus is is true Clarus works for you as a form sorter."
Decimus stiff answers briefly his tone careful and his face white.
"Yes sir it is my honor to call the defendant so."
"Then it would be accurate to say you are a relevant character witness regarding the petitioner?"
"Oh yes I can tell you all about Clarus—"
The clerk raises a hand Decimus stops his mouth closes. You do not talk when servants of the emperor raise their hands.
"That will be all, revered judge Celer we have affirmed the relevance of the testimony of Decimus. Shall we allow the representatives to step forward.?"
Celer inclines his head toward the court.
" I shall allow it."
The clerk lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"The defendant may question the witness."
The defendant approaches his stride unencombered by the court's atmosphere. The stress just slides of the man like water on a drain.
"Good sir, was Clarus a good employee."
"Yes sir, always came in on time. Worked well with petitioners. He always gave the best advice."
Celer and the rest of the court room are stunned. The defense lawyer is getting good answers about the opposition.
That is something no lawyer wants, but the defense representative isn't phased.
"Then it stands to reason Mr Bagradius that Clarus was due for a promotion."
Decimus trying to defend a man he thinks the world of responds.
"But of course I would have given him a raise along with a leadership position if such matters were under my jurisdiction."
The defense attorney smiles. It is an ugly smile the kind of smile a man makes when he is about to do something ugly.
He does a spin and flourishes his hands gesturing to the court.
"Then my client was right, if his son was due for a promotion, surely running of to the desert was not a prudent decision."
The court stirs a masterful line of questioning indeed.
"No I don't mean come on judge that isn't fair."
Celer slams the butt of his staff on the ground once more.
That is enough let the opposition approach the witness next.
Clarus and Taznit watch hand in hand as their lawyer approaches the witness. He strides like a predator despite his rather soft appearance. Everyone in the courtroom can see the man walking forth isn't a swordsmen. Time to see if his tounge can compensate.
"Decimus Bagradius is it true my client is a man of some means."
The court murmurs how does that help Clarus.
Decimus trying to make up for his previous failure gives a more concise answer.
"Yes he did."
"Then is it also true my client had a trade he could ply?"
Decimus who is very conflicted answers truthfully.
"Clarus has a trade yes, but I don't see how it effects desert survival."
The lawyer laughs as if correcting a small child.
"I don't require such an answer. One does not ask if a deer can survive the forest. They ask only for its pelt and worth as a hunting specimen."
Taznit grits her teeth. Is this lawyer seriously comparing her beloved to a deer.
The rest of the courtroom is also fairly confused.
"My point is this does Clarus have skills at all that provide him a fixed income?"
"Of course he did the man was employed."
"Then does my client have the means to obtain future wealth outside of his fathers Domus?"
"Yes he does."
"There you have it my client had the means to be self sufficient. He could have left his fathers home anytime he wished but he didn't. Why? Because Clarus is a good and dutiful son."
The courtroom doesn't answer the lawyer and neither does the judge.
The judge so deep in thought must balance the court once more. He cannot let the father's reputation fall to greatly.
Celer nods his head the clerk sees this and clears his throat.
"That is all, please welcome the next witness lady Livia Piso sister of Tiberius Pulcher."
Livia is not amused. Her big bro sent her a letter the first one in months and instead of the standard worthless dribble it's a court summon.
Tiberius was never the sharpest knife in the kitchen, but one must never anger their sister.
Especially when she has all the dirt on your adolescent metamorphosis.
She watches as the clerk clears his throat.
"The defense may now question the witness."
The defense lawyer rises arrogant, assured, and ready to make his case.
"Domina is it true my client owned the property the altercation occurred in."
"Yes" replies Livia a sneer audible in her voice. One that says, I reluctantly answered your question lawyer man.
Taznit watches as a rotating deck of family members, friends, and coworkers are brought in for questioning. Some give useful answers, only some. Most give rather useless knowledge, the kind you could know by reading the petition.
What dawns on Taznit, Clarus, and stubborn Tiberius is the judge.
Celer isn't mediating for either side that's no surprise. What is a surprise is the balancing act the judge does every time something embarrassing either party or even the Roman state is spoken aloud.
"Halt"
"Keep it brief"
"Irrelevant"
The trio look at one another not as adversaries but as a group of people whose grievences cannot be solved by the greater powers of the courts.
Celer and Clarus both stand and then glare.
The words don't need to be said the distinct honor of telling of the judge belongs to me.
Taznit smiles and takes first place while the other runners glare at the other.
"This court is a sham and we are leaving."
The court stares as Taznit leaves images of Cleopatra and the asp invade the minds of every clerk in that room.
The pool once again is calm the outburst of the Garamente leaving not a ripple in her wake.
Tiberius and Clarus stare as the most important woman in this case decided. I've have enough of your political grandstanding I'm going home.
Clarus runs after and trips into the pool the serenity broken as the young man stands up running through water for the love of his life.
Tiberius stares at his son, foolish, young, and completely unprepared for desert life.
Be safe my son perhaps the desert shall give you the justice we sought in this circus.
Court ends with no winners and no losers.
For Celer Norbanus that's a pretty good day.