Page 55 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

CHAPTER ELEVEN Here Comes the Judge

“Just to put closure on our meeting. I’m guessing your feelings that we, more or less, must hear the Medusa case haven’t changed.” He barely nodded, but it was enough. “In that case, so to speak, should we revise the docket.”

Putting his head back slightly. “Ah. I see what you mean. The Cinder House challenge and the Medusa prosecution should go first and last.”

“Agree. Thoughts?”

“Well, in human terms, we could say that the court is hearing one civil case and three criminal cases.”

“Because the Bureau will assert its enforcement arm and uphold possible physical restrictions on three, whereas the Cinder House is purely about behavior and damages.”

Lochlan smiled brightly. “Well, my girl, you’re thinking like a lawyer.”

“Lochlan! It’s the twenty-first century. You won’t make women happy by calling them ‘girls’.”

“You’re wrong. I’ve heard tourists on the sidewalk who left girlhood far behind refer to themselves as girls.”

“Well, that’s just it, isn’t it? See what I did there? I finished a statement by asking a clarifying question just like an Englishwoman.” When I got no reaction, I pressed on. “We may call ourselves girls when we’re a hundred, just for fun, but it’s disrespectful for men to do the same.” He didn’t look convinced.“What if I said I wouldn’t have any other boy sitting as clerk in my court.”

“Point taken,” he said.

“Well, sorry to have overshadowed what you said about thinking like a lawyer. I guess that was a compliment although in the human world it wouldn’t be.” Lochlan chuckled. “We people of the law don’t have the best of reputations with humans. I’ve heard that.”

“Understatement. There are hundreds of lawyer jokes that make the rounds and not one of them is meant as homage to the profession.”

“Tell me one.”

“Okay.” I thought for a minute, and one came to mind. “How many lawyers does it take to screw in a light bulb?”

“If I’m doing this correctly, I believe I’m supposed to say, “I don’t know. How many?”

I clapped. “Three. One to climb the ladder, one to shake it, and one to sue the ladder company for selling a shaky ladder.”

Lochlan didn’t laugh out loud, but he smiled and said, “Quite amusing, but I really shouldn’t keep the Valkyrie waiting.”

“Well, then stop going off on tangents about civil versus criminal and make a new docket suggestion.” My pause wasn’t long enough for Lochlan to take in a pre-speech breath. “Wait. Never mind. I’m going to hear Medusa first.”

Lochlan cocked his head to the side. “Really? I was going to suggest the opposite.”

“You’ll probably hate my reasoning, but here goes. I know you’re always conscious about the crowds the court draws because it’s good for the vendors, and high interest is good for the court overall.”

“It’s not a guiding principle.”

“It wasn’t an accusation, merely an observation. So, my logic is that I suspect that the Medusa trial will bring a record crowd and, if we make it first, a lot of magic-kind will come and stay on for the rest. As for putting Cinder House last, I have a personal interest in that one, which makes the last spot perfect. It will keep my energy up until the end.”

“Both good reasons. When my guest departs, I’ll put out the word.”

“Good. I’ve got precious little time to finish preparing. Let’s have one more pretrial conference regarding my options concerning Medusa’s banishment.”

“You already know what you’re going to do, don’t you?”

I wrapped my magic shawl around my shoulders and set out for the short walk to the Hallows. I might not have had as much spring in my step as usual, but for the first time, I felt like I’d accomplished something by getting there. Maggie was so overjoyed one might think I’d returned from being stranded on a desert island for years. Keir had been right. I need to pay more attention to Maggie and to the store.

“Dolan’s been dyin’ to show ye things that arrived from the Orient,” she said, leading the way to the workroom.

“The Orient?” I repeated.

“Aye. It means…”

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