Memory of Morning (31 page)

"I am."

I remembered how the author of the book at the reading we had attended had signed his name on copies of his book for people. I curbed any urge to ask the prosecutor if he would like me to autograph it for him. Perhaps I was becoming hysterical. But I wasn't stupid enough to open my mouth.

Wheels turned in my head while I was glared at by the prosecutor. He had dark eyes, and heavy dark brows. He was very good at glaring.

"I mean no disrespect, sir," I finally said. "But my first answer is also the answer to your second question. I wanted to tell a story about a sailor having adventures."

"A
common
sailor?"

"Yes."

"You are the daughter of a corporate gentry family, one that has recently been elevated beyond the gentry. Why care about a common seaman?"

"I served aboard a naval ship. I became familiar with the lives of able seaman."

I was tempted to continue on about how the hero of my book was smart and ambitious and - words that someone prosecuting me for sedition likely wanted to hear from me so he could use them against me. So I left it with familiar.

"You are a meritocrat."

This was not a question, so I didn't answer. My knees tried to tremble at the accusing way he spoke. I realized I was standing at attention, but didn't try to relax. Didn't dare relax. It was better on my treacherous knees.

"Describe what happens in
Darnin Clover.
"

"Simply put, sir..." I hunted frantically for a safe as well as simple explanation. "...it is about a crewman aboard a naval vessel who survives a pirate attack. He and several of his comrades are picked out of the water by the pirate ship and impressed to serve onboard. When the pirates attack a naval ship, Darnin - the hero - convinces his mates to mutiny. They take over the pirate ship and surrender it to the naval vessel."

He gave the faintest of nods. "I have read the book, and that is the essential story. But what you have hung on that essential story is nothing short of dangerously seditious. You put radical meritocrat ideas in that simple tale. Ideas that you wish to spread to the lower classes. You wish to incite unrest, perhaps even rebellion, do you not?"

I had lost a lover because he thought I was too conservative. Now I was being accused of being a radical. I almost laughed, with bitterness, I assure you.

"Please answer, Dr. Cliff."

"I wrote an adventure story, sir. It was never meant to--"

Be published,
I started to say. But I had written
Darnin Clover.
Whatever was in it was mine. I was not ashamed of my opinions.

"To be seditious," I finished.

The prosecutor raised one of his heavy eyebrows sarcastically. "The hero of your story shirks his duties, does he not? In order to read books that he borrowed without permission of his superior officers."

"Yes," I said. "Something he should not have done, as is pointed out in the book."

"But he did it."

"Darnin is hungry for knowledge, but serves on board a ship without an educational program. Captains do not have to provide schooling for crew members."

We looked at each other. The prosecutor waited. I waited. He wanted arguments and explanations I had no intention of giving.
Climb another Cliff,
I repeated over and over to myself.
Let him climb another Cliff.

"Continue, Mr. Lark," Lord Osprey finally broke the silence.

"The hero of your book has an inappropriate romantic attachment to a female ship's officer who is also a minor noble, does he not?"

"He does. He also never shows these feelings, or makes any statement or moves that would indicate his attachment. He feels what he feels. He cannot help his emotions, but he does control them."

"You advocate sexual relationships between classes."

"There are no sexual relationships in
Darnin Clover
."

"You advocate sexual relations between officers and crew."

I was outraged. "I most certainly do not. That is an intolerable breach of discipline. In the book, Darnin puts his duty before his feelings, as a proper sailor must and will."

Mr. Lark picked up several pieces of paper from the prosecution table. "Have you read these, Dr. Cliff?" He handed them to me.

They were circulars, from subscription libraries in Seyemouth, Cuttle Island, and Chalabee. Each had a description of my book, along with comments and recommendations.

"I have not seen these before," I said.

"Read the underlined parts to the court, Dr. Cliff."

But I read each circular with more eagerness than the situation warranted. The one from Seyemouth said,
This novel shows a new side of naval ships by concentrating on the lives of the common man. The subject matter is unusual, yet entertaining.

I liked that one.

Cuttle Island's critic was not so kind.
Darnin Clover is utter nonsense. It is also no more than one step away from advocating the overturning of society.

I winced. Gave Mr. Lark a quick glance. He looked pleased.

I went on to the third circular, the one from the far western island of Chalabee. I was amazed a copy of the book had made it so far.
The story illustrates the frustrations and almost hopeless yearnings of a common man caught in an inflexible military system. That Clover manages to fulfill some of his dreams at the end is unbelievable, but uplifting.

Chapter Forty-Three

Commander Gate, second in command of the
Moonrunner,
was shown through a side door. He wore his dress uniform and all his medals. Even his eyepatch looked fresh and new. I was glad to see that he had lost weight, as part of my recommendations on treating his diabetes. I hoped he was also continuing to take the cinnamon and fenugreek pills and blueberry leaf tisane and eating as much garlic as I had prescribed. I also hoped I wasn't dragged off to a prison island before I had a chance to check his fingers and feet for numbness.

He flashed me a quick, apologetic glance then went to the witness box, a podium a level up from the lawyers’ tables and set to my right. He stated his name, rank, and relationship to me.

All of Mr. Lark's questions were about the letter Mr. Waterman had sent to me, which Gage had helped him write and send. Also about what he knew of Mr. Waterman's reading
Darnin Clover
to the crew. Lark made it all sound very subversive and dangerous. Were he not trying to prove I'd done something illegal, I might have admired his skill at spinning a tale.

"I now call an officer who has read this subversive book." Mr. Lark looked dramatically toward the witness door. It was a dramatic moment, where almost everyone in the court seemed to hold their breath. Everyone but me. I knew what was coming. Who, rather.

Lord North strode in wearing a deep red coat, a gray and silver brocade waistcoat, and white trousers. It added color to the black proceedings, done deliberately, I was certain. His wavy brown hair brushed the high collar of his coat, softening his sharp features, and hinting that he was going back to sea.

More importantly, his lack of uniform showed he did not consider this naval business. Whether he came as ally, well, with Lord North I was never sure of his reasons. He'd done nothing but confuse me since the day we met. And saved my life, twice.

Perhaps he had grown sick and tired of being my inadvertent guardian spirit and he was here to speak against me.

Wait a moment - he'd read my book?

Embarrassment more knee-knocking than the fear burned through me.
He hates it,
I thought desperately, wanting to howl.
It's silly and childish and he's going to scoff...
And why on earth was Adrew Osprey, Lord North's opinion more important to me - even at this dire moment - than anything else in the world?

Lord North moved to the witness box, then looked directly at me. "Dinna fash yesel', gel," he said. His north island accent was so thick I wasn't sure any of the words were even in Angish.

The prosecutor found it more prudent to let the subject go. He thanked North for answering the witness summons, then he read off Lord North's full name and string of titles. After that he gave the high noble a respectful bow. A nod was returned.

All this politeness made me want to laugh. It did not help that Lord North cut a quick look toward me that told me he wanted to laugh as well. Or so I imagined.

"Lord North, you are the person who brought the seditious activities of Megere Cliff to the attention of the Committee of Grace, are you not?"

What?

I had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting the word at North. I saw his faint wince, as though he'd heard it despite my silence.

"How did I manage to do that?" North questioned back.

Lark did not point out that he was the one asking the questions, but politely answered, "You attended a Committee of Grace questioning of Dr. Cliff's religious teachings."

"I attended the Gracer," North answered. "That was the first I knew of this committee's activities. I wanted to find out why these clerics were pestering people in my navy."

"You questioned Dr. Cliff yourself on her family's financial dealings."

"I was asked to do that by the College of Heralds. It was simply part of the usual enquiry before elevation to the nobility. The family was elevated, you know."

I realized that I had crossed my arms while I listened to Lord North's explanations. I carefully lowered them to my side. As I did, I noticed that the woman at the prosecution table was watching me, and was trying to hide a smile. I looked back at Lord North.

"You informed Lord Goshawk of the existence of
Darnin Clover.
"

"I did? I do not recall doing any such thing."

"You mentioned the book to Lady Cobalt," Lord Goshawk spoke up. "Lady Cobalt is my liaison with the Committees of Grace. She reports evidence of sedition to me. Therefore, Lord North, I was informed of this danger to the Empire through you."

Lord North cocked his head thoughtfully. "I don't think-- Ah, I might have mentioned that a navy surgeon had written a novel, and that'd I'd felt called upon as my duty to read the manuscript when the doctor's voyage papers were examined. It was only an excuse to the Cobalt woman about why I hadn't been spending time with her."

"When you read this manuscript, what was your opinion of it, Lord North?"

"I'm told the published version is a stronger story, but I found the shipboard details more accurate than other naval adventure tales I've read to my son."

"What did you think of the actions and fate of the lead character of this book, Lord North?" Lark tried.

"I think he was a bit soppy pining so much over the girl he wanted. He should have taken the gunnery girl up on her offer to bed him like any real sailor would have. As for his actions and fate, well, it's just a story isn't it? It didn't happen." He looked around, and leveled his gaze at Lord Goshawk. "What are you people fussing about? Really?" A naval aide came in and whispered to Lord North. He turned back to Goshawk. "I asked a friend to join me today. He wants to asks you some questions," he added.

He was smiling. It was a very unpleasant smile. I liked it.

Lord Goshawk's skin went red with anger, from the top of his bald head all the way down his throat. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to bellow.

There was not a person there who did not stand up and stare at him. I had to grab hold of the podium rail, because I would have fallen if I hadn't. Because there was no stopping my knees from turning to jelly this time. My heart still tried to pound out of my chest, even when I realized the Emperor hadn't yelled at me. He wasn't looking at me.

The Emperor of the Ang Empire was glaring at his chief judge. Blazing anger seemed to come off him in a heat wave. Marqs Shield was a very big man, tall and wide-shouldered and hard-muscled. Right now he looked like he could tear down the walls of the building, heave down the marble statues, tear up the high bench bare-handed. And all he was doing was standing there, radiating power. I wouldn't have been surprised if his bright eyes couldn't burn holes where he looked.