Herman Lasichin
Navy: Assistant Quartermaster
- Character Biography
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The early spring rain invaded the city of Raven's hill, drenching its houses and beasts who were outside them without mercy. Wheels and paws alike would swerve dangerously on the slippery streets, stray creatures retreated back into their dens, and the windows of the courthouse were blurred so much that the view outside was unrecognizable.
"Suits it well", the advocate of the people of Raven's hill growled like a vermin at his window, before turning to his schedule. The middle aged vole glared down at the first item: "Release of Fits Seabeast, Durenar, Songblade and Slypaw. "Varmint, every last one of them". The only reason this bar fight gone as expected was handled by him and not by one of his many assistants was because every case with a Vulpinsulander defendant was treated as a grand scandal and a risk to the safety of the city, against his will and better judgement. "The media, the protests, sir you don't want any inexperienced assistant advocates on this case, especially when they haven't yet learned to temper their tongues", said by everyone from his campaign manager to personal secretary to the mayor to the police commissioner. "Should all go to them hellgates vermin keep talking about".
Verdricht Priester, that was the name of the people's advocate, despised Vulpinsulanders. None of them did a thing wrong to him if his memory served him right. He had to prosecute some terrible native Varanglanders, notorious cheats and thieves and extortionists and murderers. The vermin bands marching and chanting as if every day was a holiday were angels compared to them. But the latter caused much more offense to him. Their parents were the most cowardly, weak willed and spineless beasts of wherever they came from, running away when times got tough to come here where the grass is green and lush, while leaving the imperium they apparently adored so much to splinter and falter on without them. And then their kits grew up to be like the four drunk brawl seekers he was prosecuting here. Instead of calling themselves Varangdieren, singing Varangian anthems, coming to their operas and theaters like their hosts, they just brought over their own ways and forced the natives to endure them. Loud cheering, music, their unrestrained drinking and fights, and pride for their homeland they never stepped paw in.
Only thing Priester despised more was his own city. He felt sick every time he would hear people talk about the pretty view of the coast, the radial plan of the city streets, the great life it had both day and night, its great and grand gatherings, the many different cultures that lived there, the accomplished professors, researchers, magisters, tradesbeasts, and students that wanted to learn and change the world. And then that would lead to how forward looking and progressive Raven's hill is, how there was nothing in it beyond reproach or that ought not to be questioned, and that's where Priester would struggle to contain himself and would try to find a way to respectfully leave. In a city that had a long storied tradition of raising all sorts of contrarians and nonconformists, it had also managed to mold a beast like Verdricht Priester to go against the fastest most intense and most voluminous stream into which all other streams of thought in Raven's hill went, a beast thought to only exist in comedy skits and tasteless caricatures. A stubborn conservative. Not a traditionalist mind you, or a religious fanatic, or a lightly tempered moderate. All of those would be more appreciated in the city than a beast who didn't want nor believe in change. One could easily get under the Vole's fur by calling him a nihilist, which would describe his attitude towards the spirit of Raven's hill perfectly. He would prefer to describe himself as a pragmatist and beast of reason who doesn't engage in cultish reverence for progress and change, if these opinions Verdricht Priester didn't keep to himself. It was partly due to his belief that no arguments could change anyone else's mind, but also because he didn't want to alienate any potential voters and he was too lazy to argue his points.
The previous paragraph was a little too harsh on Verdricht Priester. None of it was untrue, but it could give the impression that he was devoid of any intellectual curiosity or fancies. Priester often played billiards, had a garden full of exotic flowers he took great care of, and the most surprising of all, he had a morbid fascination with the Vulpine Imperium. He couldn't stop reading about the terrible wars, coups, assassinations, chaotic expeditions and other troubles the far off land was plagued with. He felt immeasurable pity for all beasts who had to live in that place. He felt that same pity for the Vulpinsulanders who came to his city, and still does in part. But to his utter shock the Vulpinsulanders were asking for none of it. In fact, they talked about that same imperium as if it were a wonderful paradise far across the sea, which first confused then enraged Priester, before he calmed down and continued his investigation of this land and its beasts, to see where its madness and violent chaos stemmed from. He wasn't sure of it, but he was also inspired in this research with the belief that whatever disease of the mind and society Vulpinsulanders had, appeared in Raven's hill residents as well and caused the city to be a miserable den of gullible progressives.
This case was just another chance for him to find out more. He wanted to talk with one of the witnesses and close friend of the defendants, an accomplished Vulpinsulan interpreter called Herman Lasichin, but he fled Varangland shortly after being released from custody, and Priester had a suspicion he left in such haste because somebeast told him that the prosecution was looking for him and gave him the impression that he was going to testify against the defendants. Needless to say, Varangland had no extradition treaty with the Vulpine Imperium, and even if it did, Herman Lasichin was an innocent beast, there was no way they could compel him to come back. That's why he was instead going to talk with the ferret ringleader of the group, a carpenter called Fretrijk Fits Seabeast. He hoped that he was going to be bright and cooperative enough to shed some light on the many questions bothering him.
-- -- -- --
The courtroom was filled with people. Priester stood on one side, right next to one of his taller assistants. Out of the gallery stepped out five beasts. A hare in his thirties last named Lecher, and his four clients who were about to be released. The ferret Fretrijk Fits Seabeast, a red-furred weasel named Gillom Durenar, a rough-looking bobcat with ugly wounds and barely healed gashes on his lips called Dreadtreader Songblade, and a grinning fox nervously combing his claws through his scruff called Guy Fox Slypaw. Watching over the proceedings was Judge Aliona Tureg, an elderly gray mouse lady. One of her aids, a squirrel, began reading.
"In the case of City V. Fits Seabeast et al. The defendants have served their sentence of six months at the Nieustrand correctional facility without incident. They have thus paid their dues to the community and can be released."
Usually there would be no objection from either side at this point, and the matter would have ended there. Priester had other plans however.
"The prosecution would like to have a conference with defendant Fits Seabeast"
"The prosecution has no right to retain and question any of my clients further, they were held for long enough", Lecher quickly responded, showing no surprise at the request.
"The bilge on the hill doesn't open until 6 in the afternoon", Priester retorted drily, "none of your clients are in a hurry".
"Mister Priester, I am inclined to agree with Mister Lecher and your comments aren't helping me change my mind", Judge Tureg spoke up. The many onlookers were beginning to whisper, and do so louder and louder.
"Your honor, I promise to Mister Fits Seabeast that the conference won't take longer than 10 minutes and none of it will be used against him in the court of law", Priester quickly clarified, finding that he was going to make many concessions in this case.
"if you want to ask me something you can ask all of us and without hiding in that silly conference room", Fretrijk said, getting grins from the other defendants and tired glares from the various lawbeasts in the courtroom.
"Mister Fits Seabeast, I have told you numerous times to address the court and let your advocate speak on your behalf.", Tureg instructed Fretrijk like she did every prior time, "Don't make me charge you with contempt on your day of release. As for you Mister Priester, tell me what you want to get out of Mister Fits Seabeast and it better be good"
Priester was struggling to come up with an answer to her question. Fortunately, he already knew what he needed to say. "May we approach your honor?"
Judge Tureg thought for a moment, before nodding. The two lawbeasts approached the bench and the three continued discussing in whispers.
"Your honor, I believe that the defendants are connected to more violent varmint gangs, and I want to get the defendant alone to make sure he isn't threatened by any of the co defendants"
"He won't be alone", Lecher brought his face as close as he respectfully could to the mouse, "he still has the right to legal council. And of course, the people's advocate has made up this whole gang connection from thin air or otherwise he would have brought it up at trial"
"Your honor, the police have already established the defendants were members of pro Vulpinsulander organizations and have participated in mass gatherings that ended chaotically", Priester had by now settled on his course of action and the justification, although false, was easy to argue for. "a ten minute conference won't hurt the rights of Mister Fits Seabeast"
"The rights of all my clients are being hurt as we speak just for still being in handcuffs after having served their sentences, your honor shouldn't take this request seriously", the hare had to speak up a little. The whole gallery was discussing the unfolding scene, all their ears perked to hear any information, despite that being very inappropriate.
"I heard it all.", Judge Tureg wanted to end this awkward situation as soon as possible and restore peace and quiet to her court, "I agree Mister Lecher, your clients' paws should be freed right away. Mister Priester, I will throw you an acorn. Mister fits Seabeast will have an immediate five, yes, five minute conference with you with Mister Lecher and me present, but you don't need us to tell you not to step out of bounds"
"Thank you your honor"
The vole and hare stepped back and let the judge make her announcement: "Defendants Gillom Durenar, Dreadtreader Songblade, and Guy Fox Slypaw, you are now free beasts. Officers, take off their restraints. Defendant Fretrijk Fits Seabeast, your restraints are to be removed as well, but you will have a five minute conference with the advocate of the people, with me and your council present before leaving. I will remind you that, just as Mister Priester promised you, nothing in that conference can be used against you in the court of law. We will have a five minute recess"
-- -- -- -- --
The courtroom was filled with the shuffle of paws, clicking and jiggling of handcuffs, pens scratching against paper. Nobody said a word. There would occasionally be a surprisingly loud few taps, when the wind would blow the raindrops right at the courthouse wall. The three free defendants wiggled their free paws around, went towards the door, but stopped just short of it to watch Fretrijk, Lecher, Tureg and Priester go behind a door.
The four beasts were in the office of Judge Aliona Tureg, a spacious room lightly but expensively furnished, the floor covered with a soft green carpet with arboreal patterns. The judge nodded at a square table in the center, where Fretrijk and Lecher sat on one side, Priester sat right across from Fretrijk on the other, and Tureg sat on the side vertical to the two, between the ferret and the Vole who were looking each other down.
"Let's go through it step by step and be quick about it", Priester began in a low serious voice. "You came to the forest and the trees bar, along with the 3 co defendants and herman Lasichin".
"Yeah, that's true", Fretrijk didn't get to answer much more before Priester asked his next question.
"You were there, began drinking, and then began singing praises to the Vulpine Imperium"
"Yes, I am pretty sure I said this to you already"
Lecher thought to intervene, but then he was stunned by Priester's next question.
"Why did you do that?"
"Uh, do what?"
"Praise the imperium", Priester's voice got a little louder.
"We drowned our common sense with beer"
"No, I mean why do you praise a terrible chaotic empire that forced your parents to flee for their lives and then went on to make a wasteland out of its own territory due to countless wars?", the Vole's voice just kept raising in volume.
"Because we're from there and we're proud of it."
"Proud of such carnage, of such barbarism, proud of suffering?"
"Mister Priester, having thoughts and feelings still isn't illegal", Lecher said and was going to continue but Fretrijk interrupted.
"No, I want to answer. Sir, Vulpine imperium is my homeland. That's where I come from, that's where my parents came from, and my parents' parents. They were all good beasts down to the very last one. Same for Gill, and Dred, and Herman and Slick. I won't throw them away"
"But you don't come from there, none of you do. You were all born and raised here, you speak our language and live under our laws and follow our customs. You can choose to call yourself a Varanglander, leave behind the splintering chaotic imperium behind like your parents did"
"As if you know a thing about it!", Fretrijk was getting bothered, and so were Lecher and Tureg. "Mister Priester this is becoming very inappropriate", Lecher said, and Tureg nodded in agreement. "You better circle back to your point, and waste less of the little time you have".
"No, I won't leave that unanswered!", Fretrijk said defiantly, staring angrily at the vole.
"I know you think you know everything, because you read about the wars and the revolutions and the bad stuff in newspapers and whatever, but you don't know anything! You don't know about all the good beasts! All the great heroes and adventures and struggles that were all worth it in the end. And none of those would really mean anything without the difficulties that made them special. That's what the Vulpine Imperium is. It isn't some dates and names and battles and whoever happens to control it, it's...it's..."
"See, you don't know what it is. You know it's terrible, you know you would die there most likely. That it's the place where good beasts die and heroes get defeated and only the bad people who survive remain to become the myths and legends, falsehoods you believe."
"You just don't get it do you? When I think of the imperium I think of my family, what great things my ancestors did on expeditions and in battles and at home in their villages. They were real, there are archives and everything. just because whatever you read doesn't mention it doesn't mean it didn't happen. That's what we are celebrating, the idea of an imperium of good beasts"
"Oh, ideas. But of course it all comes back to ideas", Priester leaned in even closer. Lecher and Tureg looked on, they couldn't help but be intrigued by this impromptu debate.
"Yes, the idea, that's the word I was looking for. What you read about is imperfect, as everything in the world is. But we want to make it better, we don't want to lose sight of what it can be if we try hard"
"And what would that idea mean if you got blasted away by a cannon, or got your head cut off, or get hanged, exactly nothing. And what would it mean to drop that idea and go for one that's easier to reach, like of a peaceful, cultured, civilized and ever lasting Varangland? You don't even have to do anything to reach it, it's already here", Priester immersed himself fully in this discussion, feeling no awkwardness that his two colleagues felt on his behalf.
"And that's why there are no good people in Varangland, there's nothing for them to do. You have reached barely half way up the hill and stopped, as if there is nothing more left. Nobody here would dare do a good thing if it would make their lives only a little bit inconvenient!"
"There's only a single minute of recess left", Judge Aliona Tureg interrupted with her severe emotionless voice, "I will put in a good word at the immigration and integration department that you stand with their goals Mister Priester, but first get back to the topic".
"Who told you to say all those things?", Priester quieted down.
"You did, you asked me why"
"haha, who taught you those words and concepts?"
"I don't know, I mean, Herman knows the big fancy words for those things, but it's not like..."
"Herman Lasichin? Where is he?"
"On Vulpinsula I think"
"Are you sure?", Priester then quickly added, "What connections does Lasichin have to the imperium?"
"Nobody as far as I know, his parents are here and he doesn't know anyone else from there"
"Are you sure that the ministry of misanthropy of the Vulpine Imperium hasn't recruited him to destabilize our country?"
"What the, first, as if I would tell you if I knew, second, that's just the silliest thing I heard from you, you're crazy..."
"Fretrijk, don't say a word", Lecher interrupted the Ferret, and then Tureg interrupted the hare.
"I won't charge your client with contempt Mister Lecher, this whole conference has gone too far as is. Mister Fits Seabeast, I apologize on behalf of the court for retaining you, you are a free beast from now on. I promise you that you won't have to worry about us three ever again as long as you keep the bottle away. Mister Priester, you gave me enough headaches as it is, I won't go bother the disciplinary commission as well. but next time I won't let you get away with this sort of stunt.".
"Your honor, just one more question. According to our examiners there were wounds consistent with 3 different daggers being used. The police found two. Mister Fits Seabeast, where's the third one?"
"My client doesn't need to answer that, he has been convicted of that crime already. Fretrijk, let's go", Fretrijk and Mister Lecher left the office in silence, until the ferret stopped and turned around to snicker at the vole: "either your police or your examiners aren't as good as you think they are".
Verdricht stood up and looked apologetically at the judge. The expressions between them softened, Aliona's more than Verdricht's.
"I apologize your honor, I let my thoughts on irrelevant matters take over my common sense", Verdricht turned to leave but he stopped when he heard Aliona's voice.
"I knew you were going to do something like this. I hoped that you would find a satisfying answer, and you did but refused to take it"
"I respectfully disagree. None of that he said made any sense". Verdricht opened the door and stepped out into the courtroom, where the squirrel rang the bell to mark the end of recess.
"It doesn't to you, and you didn't make any sense to the poor ferret either. But eh, that's what you were like back when you were a legal clerk. You just didn't change at all".
Priester nodded and left the courtroom, returning to his office. The rain didn't stop for a beat. It somehow got worse. The people's advocate looked at the tumbling stream of water, and then sat back down at his desk. He had one case done with, and none of his questions answered.
"Suits it well", the advocate of the people of Raven's hill growled like a vermin at his window, before turning to his schedule. The middle aged vole glared down at the first item: "Release of Fits Seabeast, Durenar, Songblade and Slypaw. "Varmint, every last one of them". The only reason this bar fight gone as expected was handled by him and not by one of his many assistants was because every case with a Vulpinsulander defendant was treated as a grand scandal and a risk to the safety of the city, against his will and better judgement. "The media, the protests, sir you don't want any inexperienced assistant advocates on this case, especially when they haven't yet learned to temper their tongues", said by everyone from his campaign manager to personal secretary to the mayor to the police commissioner. "Should all go to them hellgates vermin keep talking about".
Verdricht Priester, that was the name of the people's advocate, despised Vulpinsulanders. None of them did a thing wrong to him if his memory served him right. He had to prosecute some terrible native Varanglanders, notorious cheats and thieves and extortionists and murderers. The vermin bands marching and chanting as if every day was a holiday were angels compared to them. But the latter caused much more offense to him. Their parents were the most cowardly, weak willed and spineless beasts of wherever they came from, running away when times got tough to come here where the grass is green and lush, while leaving the imperium they apparently adored so much to splinter and falter on without them. And then their kits grew up to be like the four drunk brawl seekers he was prosecuting here. Instead of calling themselves Varangdieren, singing Varangian anthems, coming to their operas and theaters like their hosts, they just brought over their own ways and forced the natives to endure them. Loud cheering, music, their unrestrained drinking and fights, and pride for their homeland they never stepped paw in.
Only thing Priester despised more was his own city. He felt sick every time he would hear people talk about the pretty view of the coast, the radial plan of the city streets, the great life it had both day and night, its great and grand gatherings, the many different cultures that lived there, the accomplished professors, researchers, magisters, tradesbeasts, and students that wanted to learn and change the world. And then that would lead to how forward looking and progressive Raven's hill is, how there was nothing in it beyond reproach or that ought not to be questioned, and that's where Priester would struggle to contain himself and would try to find a way to respectfully leave. In a city that had a long storied tradition of raising all sorts of contrarians and nonconformists, it had also managed to mold a beast like Verdricht Priester to go against the fastest most intense and most voluminous stream into which all other streams of thought in Raven's hill went, a beast thought to only exist in comedy skits and tasteless caricatures. A stubborn conservative. Not a traditionalist mind you, or a religious fanatic, or a lightly tempered moderate. All of those would be more appreciated in the city than a beast who didn't want nor believe in change. One could easily get under the Vole's fur by calling him a nihilist, which would describe his attitude towards the spirit of Raven's hill perfectly. He would prefer to describe himself as a pragmatist and beast of reason who doesn't engage in cultish reverence for progress and change, if these opinions Verdricht Priester didn't keep to himself. It was partly due to his belief that no arguments could change anyone else's mind, but also because he didn't want to alienate any potential voters and he was too lazy to argue his points.
The previous paragraph was a little too harsh on Verdricht Priester. None of it was untrue, but it could give the impression that he was devoid of any intellectual curiosity or fancies. Priester often played billiards, had a garden full of exotic flowers he took great care of, and the most surprising of all, he had a morbid fascination with the Vulpine Imperium. He couldn't stop reading about the terrible wars, coups, assassinations, chaotic expeditions and other troubles the far off land was plagued with. He felt immeasurable pity for all beasts who had to live in that place. He felt that same pity for the Vulpinsulanders who came to his city, and still does in part. But to his utter shock the Vulpinsulanders were asking for none of it. In fact, they talked about that same imperium as if it were a wonderful paradise far across the sea, which first confused then enraged Priester, before he calmed down and continued his investigation of this land and its beasts, to see where its madness and violent chaos stemmed from. He wasn't sure of it, but he was also inspired in this research with the belief that whatever disease of the mind and society Vulpinsulanders had, appeared in Raven's hill residents as well and caused the city to be a miserable den of gullible progressives.
This case was just another chance for him to find out more. He wanted to talk with one of the witnesses and close friend of the defendants, an accomplished Vulpinsulan interpreter called Herman Lasichin, but he fled Varangland shortly after being released from custody, and Priester had a suspicion he left in such haste because somebeast told him that the prosecution was looking for him and gave him the impression that he was going to testify against the defendants. Needless to say, Varangland had no extradition treaty with the Vulpine Imperium, and even if it did, Herman Lasichin was an innocent beast, there was no way they could compel him to come back. That's why he was instead going to talk with the ferret ringleader of the group, a carpenter called Fretrijk Fits Seabeast. He hoped that he was going to be bright and cooperative enough to shed some light on the many questions bothering him.
-- -- -- --
The courtroom was filled with people. Priester stood on one side, right next to one of his taller assistants. Out of the gallery stepped out five beasts. A hare in his thirties last named Lecher, and his four clients who were about to be released. The ferret Fretrijk Fits Seabeast, a red-furred weasel named Gillom Durenar, a rough-looking bobcat with ugly wounds and barely healed gashes on his lips called Dreadtreader Songblade, and a grinning fox nervously combing his claws through his scruff called Guy Fox Slypaw. Watching over the proceedings was Judge Aliona Tureg, an elderly gray mouse lady. One of her aids, a squirrel, began reading.
"In the case of City V. Fits Seabeast et al. The defendants have served their sentence of six months at the Nieustrand correctional facility without incident. They have thus paid their dues to the community and can be released."
Usually there would be no objection from either side at this point, and the matter would have ended there. Priester had other plans however.
"The prosecution would like to have a conference with defendant Fits Seabeast"
"The prosecution has no right to retain and question any of my clients further, they were held for long enough", Lecher quickly responded, showing no surprise at the request.
"The bilge on the hill doesn't open until 6 in the afternoon", Priester retorted drily, "none of your clients are in a hurry".
"Mister Priester, I am inclined to agree with Mister Lecher and your comments aren't helping me change my mind", Judge Tureg spoke up. The many onlookers were beginning to whisper, and do so louder and louder.
"Your honor, I promise to Mister Fits Seabeast that the conference won't take longer than 10 minutes and none of it will be used against him in the court of law", Priester quickly clarified, finding that he was going to make many concessions in this case.
"if you want to ask me something you can ask all of us and without hiding in that silly conference room", Fretrijk said, getting grins from the other defendants and tired glares from the various lawbeasts in the courtroom.
"Mister Fits Seabeast, I have told you numerous times to address the court and let your advocate speak on your behalf.", Tureg instructed Fretrijk like she did every prior time, "Don't make me charge you with contempt on your day of release. As for you Mister Priester, tell me what you want to get out of Mister Fits Seabeast and it better be good"
Priester was struggling to come up with an answer to her question. Fortunately, he already knew what he needed to say. "May we approach your honor?"
Judge Tureg thought for a moment, before nodding. The two lawbeasts approached the bench and the three continued discussing in whispers.
"Your honor, I believe that the defendants are connected to more violent varmint gangs, and I want to get the defendant alone to make sure he isn't threatened by any of the co defendants"
"He won't be alone", Lecher brought his face as close as he respectfully could to the mouse, "he still has the right to legal council. And of course, the people's advocate has made up this whole gang connection from thin air or otherwise he would have brought it up at trial"
"Your honor, the police have already established the defendants were members of pro Vulpinsulander organizations and have participated in mass gatherings that ended chaotically", Priester had by now settled on his course of action and the justification, although false, was easy to argue for. "a ten minute conference won't hurt the rights of Mister Fits Seabeast"
"The rights of all my clients are being hurt as we speak just for still being in handcuffs after having served their sentences, your honor shouldn't take this request seriously", the hare had to speak up a little. The whole gallery was discussing the unfolding scene, all their ears perked to hear any information, despite that being very inappropriate.
"I heard it all.", Judge Tureg wanted to end this awkward situation as soon as possible and restore peace and quiet to her court, "I agree Mister Lecher, your clients' paws should be freed right away. Mister Priester, I will throw you an acorn. Mister fits Seabeast will have an immediate five, yes, five minute conference with you with Mister Lecher and me present, but you don't need us to tell you not to step out of bounds"
"Thank you your honor"
The vole and hare stepped back and let the judge make her announcement: "Defendants Gillom Durenar, Dreadtreader Songblade, and Guy Fox Slypaw, you are now free beasts. Officers, take off their restraints. Defendant Fretrijk Fits Seabeast, your restraints are to be removed as well, but you will have a five minute conference with the advocate of the people, with me and your council present before leaving. I will remind you that, just as Mister Priester promised you, nothing in that conference can be used against you in the court of law. We will have a five minute recess"
-- -- -- -- --
The courtroom was filled with the shuffle of paws, clicking and jiggling of handcuffs, pens scratching against paper. Nobody said a word. There would occasionally be a surprisingly loud few taps, when the wind would blow the raindrops right at the courthouse wall. The three free defendants wiggled their free paws around, went towards the door, but stopped just short of it to watch Fretrijk, Lecher, Tureg and Priester go behind a door.
The four beasts were in the office of Judge Aliona Tureg, a spacious room lightly but expensively furnished, the floor covered with a soft green carpet with arboreal patterns. The judge nodded at a square table in the center, where Fretrijk and Lecher sat on one side, Priester sat right across from Fretrijk on the other, and Tureg sat on the side vertical to the two, between the ferret and the Vole who were looking each other down.
"Let's go through it step by step and be quick about it", Priester began in a low serious voice. "You came to the forest and the trees bar, along with the 3 co defendants and herman Lasichin".
"Yeah, that's true", Fretrijk didn't get to answer much more before Priester asked his next question.
"You were there, began drinking, and then began singing praises to the Vulpine Imperium"
"Yes, I am pretty sure I said this to you already"
Lecher thought to intervene, but then he was stunned by Priester's next question.
"Why did you do that?"
"Uh, do what?"
"Praise the imperium", Priester's voice got a little louder.
"We drowned our common sense with beer"
"No, I mean why do you praise a terrible chaotic empire that forced your parents to flee for their lives and then went on to make a wasteland out of its own territory due to countless wars?", the Vole's voice just kept raising in volume.
"Because we're from there and we're proud of it."
"Proud of such carnage, of such barbarism, proud of suffering?"
"Mister Priester, having thoughts and feelings still isn't illegal", Lecher said and was going to continue but Fretrijk interrupted.
"No, I want to answer. Sir, Vulpine imperium is my homeland. That's where I come from, that's where my parents came from, and my parents' parents. They were all good beasts down to the very last one. Same for Gill, and Dred, and Herman and Slick. I won't throw them away"
"But you don't come from there, none of you do. You were all born and raised here, you speak our language and live under our laws and follow our customs. You can choose to call yourself a Varanglander, leave behind the splintering chaotic imperium behind like your parents did"
"As if you know a thing about it!", Fretrijk was getting bothered, and so were Lecher and Tureg. "Mister Priester this is becoming very inappropriate", Lecher said, and Tureg nodded in agreement. "You better circle back to your point, and waste less of the little time you have".
"No, I won't leave that unanswered!", Fretrijk said defiantly, staring angrily at the vole.
"I know you think you know everything, because you read about the wars and the revolutions and the bad stuff in newspapers and whatever, but you don't know anything! You don't know about all the good beasts! All the great heroes and adventures and struggles that were all worth it in the end. And none of those would really mean anything without the difficulties that made them special. That's what the Vulpine Imperium is. It isn't some dates and names and battles and whoever happens to control it, it's...it's..."
"See, you don't know what it is. You know it's terrible, you know you would die there most likely. That it's the place where good beasts die and heroes get defeated and only the bad people who survive remain to become the myths and legends, falsehoods you believe."
"You just don't get it do you? When I think of the imperium I think of my family, what great things my ancestors did on expeditions and in battles and at home in their villages. They were real, there are archives and everything. just because whatever you read doesn't mention it doesn't mean it didn't happen. That's what we are celebrating, the idea of an imperium of good beasts"
"Oh, ideas. But of course it all comes back to ideas", Priester leaned in even closer. Lecher and Tureg looked on, they couldn't help but be intrigued by this impromptu debate.
"Yes, the idea, that's the word I was looking for. What you read about is imperfect, as everything in the world is. But we want to make it better, we don't want to lose sight of what it can be if we try hard"
"And what would that idea mean if you got blasted away by a cannon, or got your head cut off, or get hanged, exactly nothing. And what would it mean to drop that idea and go for one that's easier to reach, like of a peaceful, cultured, civilized and ever lasting Varangland? You don't even have to do anything to reach it, it's already here", Priester immersed himself fully in this discussion, feeling no awkwardness that his two colleagues felt on his behalf.
"And that's why there are no good people in Varangland, there's nothing for them to do. You have reached barely half way up the hill and stopped, as if there is nothing more left. Nobody here would dare do a good thing if it would make their lives only a little bit inconvenient!"
"There's only a single minute of recess left", Judge Aliona Tureg interrupted with her severe emotionless voice, "I will put in a good word at the immigration and integration department that you stand with their goals Mister Priester, but first get back to the topic".
"Who told you to say all those things?", Priester quieted down.
"You did, you asked me why"
"haha, who taught you those words and concepts?"
"I don't know, I mean, Herman knows the big fancy words for those things, but it's not like..."
"Herman Lasichin? Where is he?"
"On Vulpinsula I think"
"Are you sure?", Priester then quickly added, "What connections does Lasichin have to the imperium?"
"Nobody as far as I know, his parents are here and he doesn't know anyone else from there"
"Are you sure that the ministry of misanthropy of the Vulpine Imperium hasn't recruited him to destabilize our country?"
"What the, first, as if I would tell you if I knew, second, that's just the silliest thing I heard from you, you're crazy..."
"Fretrijk, don't say a word", Lecher interrupted the Ferret, and then Tureg interrupted the hare.
"I won't charge your client with contempt Mister Lecher, this whole conference has gone too far as is. Mister Fits Seabeast, I apologize on behalf of the court for retaining you, you are a free beast from now on. I promise you that you won't have to worry about us three ever again as long as you keep the bottle away. Mister Priester, you gave me enough headaches as it is, I won't go bother the disciplinary commission as well. but next time I won't let you get away with this sort of stunt.".
"Your honor, just one more question. According to our examiners there were wounds consistent with 3 different daggers being used. The police found two. Mister Fits Seabeast, where's the third one?"
"My client doesn't need to answer that, he has been convicted of that crime already. Fretrijk, let's go", Fretrijk and Mister Lecher left the office in silence, until the ferret stopped and turned around to snicker at the vole: "either your police or your examiners aren't as good as you think they are".
Verdricht stood up and looked apologetically at the judge. The expressions between them softened, Aliona's more than Verdricht's.
"I apologize your honor, I let my thoughts on irrelevant matters take over my common sense", Verdricht turned to leave but he stopped when he heard Aliona's voice.
"I knew you were going to do something like this. I hoped that you would find a satisfying answer, and you did but refused to take it"
"I respectfully disagree. None of that he said made any sense". Verdricht opened the door and stepped out into the courtroom, where the squirrel rang the bell to mark the end of recess.
"It doesn't to you, and you didn't make any sense to the poor ferret either. But eh, that's what you were like back when you were a legal clerk. You just didn't change at all".
Priester nodded and left the courtroom, returning to his office. The rain didn't stop for a beat. It somehow got worse. The people's advocate looked at the tumbling stream of water, and then sat back down at his desk. He had one case done with, and none of his questions answered.
