Page 61 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

It seemed to take a moment for Themis to realize what I meant. When she got it, she sank down slowly giving me looks that said I could be turned into a cockroach at any moment.

Once again, to Alex, I said, “Go on.”

“When my client was freed from Athena’s curse, she was also stripped of her immortality and a range of extra-human abilities such as that of understanding all languages. Not only does she have no friends or family, but she has no cultural pointof reference in the modern human world. Since the time of her last memory, human empires have risen and fallen. Entire civilizations have come and gone. In short, she must completely relearn what it means to be a person in today’s world.”

Alex was so gifted with words, it seemed she was almost weaving a verbal spell. I couldn’t help but glance at Medusa and feel a measure of pity. Medusa was indeed a stranger in a strange world.

“My client is agreeable to the terms of banishment, Your Honor. In fact, she welcomes it. However, the damages she has suffered at the whim of Athena, far outpace anyone’s ability to compensate. We ask the court to order the Olympians to pay £150,000,000 in local human currency for compensatory damages and £150,000,000 for punitive damages so that my client may be safe, secure, and comfortable while she attempts to find a place in human society.”

Themis practically jumped to her feet. “YOUR HONOR! That is outrageous. We owe this human nothing and that is what she will get.”

I gave Themis a long, hard look. “I don’t like repeating myself. Consider this the last time I stop the proceeding to remind you how things are going to go. The Olympians, represented in this courtroom by you, are here asguestsof the judicial system organized fae to serve the magic-kind community in this part of the world. Since Greece is in this part of the world, Olympia is part of this jurisdiction. Please remember that,as a guest, you will be expected to behave like any other legal counsel. I will ask for your thoughts when the Pais has finished presenting her case. Sit down, please.”

It was evident to all that Themis was barely containing her fury. To say the least, she was not accustomed to being told what to do.

“How dare you, human.” She seethed. “I invented the concept of justice!”

“Well done!” I said. “And I mean that from the heart. Even though we rarely rise to the true aspirational concept of justice, we’ve made lame attempts and countless persons have benefitted. You have every right to be proud. Good on you. Now SIT DOWN!”

I heard a soft growl to my right and knew the enforcer’s godlike form was being aroused by my passion. Fortunately, Themis decided to play ball and park her fanny before she saw my husband in all his glory.

“Alex,” I said, “ Again. Please continue.”

“Save one more item, the defense will rest its case. My client has begun her transition by changing her name, for obvious reasons, I think. She is heretofore to be known as Mercy.”

The name the girl chose pulled at my heartstrings all the more.

“Very well,” I said. “The defense has presented its case. Does the plaintiff have anything more to add?”

“Shall I stand now?” Themis asked.

Ignoring the attempt at sarcasm, I simply said, “Yes.”

When she was on her feet, Themis said, “The Olympians accept the part of the settlement regarding Medusa’s banishment.”

“Mercy’s banishment,” I interrupted.

“Whatever,” Themis said. “We will not agree to pay for her to learn to be human.”

“You decline to settle?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Are the Olympians claiming financial hardship?”

Themis turned red in the face, something I hadn’t known might happen to gods. “Olympians have no reason to beconcerned with such things. The idea of money for acquisition is beneath us. It is the principle. Paying the human to learn to be human is ridiculous, as is the suggestion that one of us bears guilt. This is our position. I’ll be on my way.”

“You’ll be on your way when I say the matter is concluded for the day. Since you refuse to settle, other language will suffice. The court finds in favor of the defendant and awards her damages, both compensatory and punitive, as recommended by her counsel. The Olympians are hereby ordered to pay said sums to the Bureau within seven days according to the human calendar. In exchange, Mercy is restricted to living out her life in the human world.” I looked directly at the former Gorgon sister. “Should you ever make an attempt to gain access to Olympia, this decision will be reversed. You’ll be found guilty of attempting trespass and will have to return the award, in full, to the Olympians.”

I banged the gavel and rose from my swivel chair. I caught Mercy’s smile when her translator had completed interpretation and I took that to mean that the last thing she wanted in this, or any other life was anything to do with Greek gods.

As I began making my way to my chambers, Hengest rapped his staff and said, “All rise. Court is adjourned for an hour.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Themis expand to her giant stature. She did not, however, leave as she’d come. Instead, she simply vanished in a huff.

As soon as Keir closed the door behind us, I asked Lochlan, “Do you think they’ll pay?”

“Hard to say. I believe they want to stay on good terms with the Bureau. They got what they asked for. The money? It’s meaningless. They can steal as much human currency as theywant with minimal effort. They don’t. Usually. Because they have no use for it. But they might be intractable just to make the point that nobody tells them what to do.”

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