As you (Haidere) enter the courtroom, you are very aware of the large man in heavy armor walking beside you. His face seems somber, though his pace remains steady as he walks with you up to the front of the courtroom.
You take your place in a small box with a podium that sits facing a raised seat with a larger podium. In that raised seat is the honorable Judge Vincent Avan, Senior Judge of Lictor Mary Cul Tricuspis and the appointed judge for this trial. He is weathered but not old, with a non-aggressive yet stern looking face and demeanor.
You look around the room and notice the jury, all 12 of them, sitting off to the side of the judge. You don’t know these people, and many of them seem to be angry or sad, though some just seem tired. Their attention is completely devoted to you as you wait for the trial to begin.
You take one last look behind you to see a courtroom packed completely full of onlookers. People came out to witness the trial and seem to hail from all corners of Mardrun. There are almost two hundred people backed into the courtroom pews or standing in the aisles. Almost a dozen fully armored Lions of Arnath stand resolute and vigilant, keeping security during the trial.
The judge’s voice grabs your attention as you face forward again.
“Haidere, you are the son of Al-Haddad, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” you quietly respond, not quite sure of where this is going.
“Do you know why you are here?”
“No, sir,” your manners seem to garner a smile or two from the jury assembled.
“Your father has done some very bad things, and is in a lot of trouble. I know you’re scared, and too young to understand, but we are going to have to take your father away. You will be sent to Newhope, where there is a home for children like you who can’t be with their parents. You’ll be happy, safe, and loved there, and you will be away from the past which will haunt your father. Do you understand?” Judge Avan’s compassion is clear as his stoic face softens. He is not happy that this is the outcome, but he feels it is the best course of action for you.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” Judge Avan says, banging his gavel on the podium. “Your trial has ended.”