Dark Legacy: Book I - Trinity

Chapter VI

Everyone laughed.

The old farmer waited for the laughter to die down, "Yes, it is. Good to see you too, Elder Subo. I see you have aged a great many days since I last saw you, but you have grown no wiser."

Rakima shook his head at the old farmer's words.

Elder Subo replied, "You risk, old hermit, being thrown from this Council. Watch your tongue."

"I am immune to such nonsense. Is it not Lemurian tradition to respect the thoughts and words of elder men who prove themselves still competent and sane?"

"Yes, it is old hermit. Whether or not you are sane remains to be seen." Short bursts of laughter erupted from the crowd. He continued, regretting what he had to ask, "What is it that you wish to say?"

"I find it funny, old friend, that the punishment fitted Shitsu and Tonono appears appropriate not for the crime against Madonai but for their debts owed to Haru–"

Elder Haru shot up from his seat, "You know nothing, old hermit! Do not question the decisions of the Council!"

"I am not questioning. I am reminding," old farmer Toasu retorted.

"What are you reminding us of?" Chief Elder Subo asked as he signaled Elder Haru to calm himself and sit down.

"I am reminding you of the appropriate punishment placed against those who desecrate our women."

Kono spoke out, "Those are old ways, old man. Punishment by death is no longer heeded here."

"Funny that you should say such a thing Kono since it is you who curses death upon the Atlantean men responsible for–"

"Be silent, old fool!" Kono shouted nearly choking on the tea leaves he accidentally swallowed from his cup. "Atlantean men," he coughed, "deserve death not because of what they have stolen from me and my son, but for what they have always stolen from Lemurian lands. They are a race bent on greed and hate–"

"Are you describing yourself or Atlanteans?"

Tsuwata shot up and shouted with a threatening fist, "You watch your tongue, you old disease!"

Rakima's face paled into severe unease.

"Oh, Tsuwata," the old farmer said. "What a surprise to see you rising to attack my words against Kono."

"Shut your tongue!" Tsuwata shouted back before looking down at his younger brother, Rakima, with angered eyes.

"Why do you look to your bro–?"

"Be gone, you old fool!" Kono hollered. "We are all tired of your aimless talk." Many within the crowd agreed with nods and malicious shouts.

"Kono," the old farmer stated, "you are a lost and pathetic, drunken cause!"

"You are gone from here, old farmer Toasu!" Elder Subo declared as angry shouts against the old farmer continued to fill the air.

Two armed guards approached the old farmer–the old farmer did not resist them–and escorted him out of the hut as cups and splashes of drink were thrown at him.

Outside the old farmer wiped bits of soaked tea leaves off his clothes. He then walked over to the cauldron and cupped his hands to waft the smoke of the burning incense over his head; a symbolic means to purify his body of evil spirits and diseases.

"Why is there so much yelling?" Kieko asked.

Startled, old farmer Toasu exclaimed, "You nearly frightened me."

"What happened to you? Why are there tea leaves hanging from your robes?"

"I spoke like a disobedient child in there. As you can see it did not do me well. A bit embarrassing it is to be thrown out of a council meeting. I am too much of a radical fool. I best be going, Kieko. All things happen as they should, remember that."

"What do you mean? My mother ... was she meant to be hurt as she was? Is that what you're saying?"

He thought for a moment, "It is late ... I should go."

"Then go. I don't need you."

The old farmer looked at Kieko with gentle eyes, "Kieko, do not blame yourself for what happened to your mother. It is not your fault. Remember, we are the sum of our decisions. Buko did what he did and he will pay in this lifetime or the next. Justice will be served. In that you must trust."

"If that is true–if I am to believe that–then it means that my mother is paying for some kind of karmic debt. That the violence enacted against her is the result of some kind of justice. Is that what you're saying?"

"Kieko, I will not convince you to believe anything. Believe in what you would like. Good night."

The sound of insects silenced the steps of the old farmer as he walked into the night. Kieko watched him, thinking of what he had said, until he disappeared. He decided that the old farmer's talk of cosmic justice was worth no more than fly dung. Hunger began to pain his stomach. He looked at the red flag that flapped from the summit of the Council Hut and sat down near the cauldron waiting for the Elders to announce their decisions and call an end to their meeting.

After everyone had calmed down Chief Elder Subo asked if any man had any objection to the punishment given to Shitsu and Tonono. No one raised a hand or spoke against the decision. Shitsu and Tonono were then escorted out of the hut by three guards while two guards moved Buko to stand alone before the seven Elders and the priest.

The Chief Elder raised his voice to the crowd, "As for you, Buko. Your crime cannot be disputed for it is based upon the holy words of Shinsei who struck you down when you exited the house of Nishiaka. And as Toasu so kindly reminded us your crime was once punishable by death. But, this punishment we no longer honor for Shinsei forbade it many decades ago. As a result, we, the Elders, have given Shinsei the power, and responsibility, of assigning you an appropriate punishment since it was he who came across the doings of your criminal act. May he show mercy on you."

Whispers filled the air.

"Silence!" Elder Subo demanded.

Shinsei approached Buko and looked him in the eye, "Marked will your skin be; a warning to all. You are banished from Kadek–"

"What is this?" Kono contested as he stood up and rushed toward the Chief Elder. "What is this? Is it not the duty of the Elders to assign the appropriate punishment? Why is a priest meddling in the affairs of justice?"

"Silence!" Elder Subo commanded. "I am Chief Elder here and it was my decision to appoint Shinsei as the one to assign Buko his punishment. I know you, and your ways, Kono–don't give me that face!" Kono, who now stood before the Chief Elder, continued raveling his face with hate. "You know of what I speak. I will not allow you to meddle in the affairs of justice so be gone and accept the punishment befitting your brother's crime. He has three days. This meeting of men has ended."

"Curse you!" Kono shouted, and before he could launch his hands at the Chief Elder several guards took him and held him back. Frightened, the Chief Elder exited the hut, followed by Shinsei and the other Elders, while the crowd began to argue and shout.