Chapter Six: Kelanar

Kelanar sits in a small cell, playing the last few hours over and over in her mind. The blood still stains her hands. She doesn’t know what happened, she just got angry and then Gage was lying there, covered in blood. Sheriff James told her that if Gage dies, then she will be charged with murder. She prays he survives.

Sheriff James comes in and sits on a chair by her cell.

“I have some news, Kelanar. He will live, thanks to the doctor,” Sheriff James says.

“That is good to hear. I am glad he will make it,” says a very relieved Kelanar.

“Tell me, girl, what was going through your mind when you hit him with a rock?”

She stands up and paces the floor.

“I don’t know. He was bad-mouthing Hector, and I was angry. I remember picking up the rock, and then there is nothing but blackness. When I came back to myself, he was on the ground bleeding. I didn’t know what happened until I saw the bloody rock in my hand.” 

“So, you blacked out, acted in rage, and you didn’t realize what you had done. Am I getting that right?”

“Yes, I don’t know why it happened or how.” 

“Well, most people will not believe that story. My advice is to admit to your crime. The judge might take it easier on you if you do and his father might not call for your head,” he says matter-of-factly.

“My head! He is alive,” she shouts. Her palms are sweaty and she feels a lump forming in her throat.

“His father is on the council, and he wants you to be charged with attempted murder.” 

“What attempted murder? I didn’t try to kill him,” she yells. Dread fills her as she tries to stay calm and takes a deep breath.

“Try or not, this is what you’re facing unless the judge sees it differently.” 

“Oh wow, does my mother know, and when do I see the judge?” 

“Your mother has been informed and you will see the judge tomorrow morning.”

Sheriff James gets up and puts the chair back.

“I would try to get some sleep and pray if I were you. You’re going to need it.”

He goes to his office, leaving her alone in her cell.

Kelanar lies on her cot and tries to sleep, thinking about what is going to happen to her.

The next morning, Sheriff James wakes her up. He handcuffs her and takes her to the town hall to see the judge.

There is a crowd, and many people are there to boo her and throw things at her. She sees Gage’s parents and knows this could be terrible.

“Folks, please get out of the way. The courtroom is closed to the public. You will hear about the outcome after it is over. Move aside,” calls Sheriff James.

“Murderer!" they scream at Kelanar.

James gets her inside, takes her to room two and sits her down in a chair.  He sits with her to wait for the judge.

After two hours, the judge comes in and he is with Gage’s father, who takes a seat in the audience.

“Good morning, Judge. The case is against Kelanar Blade for assault and attempted murder on Gage Potter, whose father is present for him since he is still in recovery,” says Sheriff James.

“Thank you, Sheriff. I will hear the case from the witness first and then the accused. Call in the first witness,”

Steven brings in one of Gage’s friends that was present at the incident.

“State your name and your connection to the victim and the accused,” says Steven.

He clears his throat and moves his blond hair out of his face before he speaks.

“I am John, and Gage is my best friend.” he says

“How do you know the accused?” asks Steven.

“She is the girlfriend of my old friend Hector,” says John.

“Tell us. in your own words, what happened yesterday?” says Steven.

“Gage, me and a few other guys were hanging out by the fountain.  Gage saw Kelanar and he blocked her path on purpose so he could talk to her. Gage made some unfriendly remarks about her late boyfriend. Kelanar got upset and we saw her bend down to pick  something up. We weren’t sure what it was.  You could see the anger on her face. Then she charged at Gage and bashed his head in with the rock. Once he hit the ground, she just stood there. It was like she woke up from a sleep and she looked shocked at what she had done.”

“After she woke up, as you put it, did she seem sorry it happened?” 

“Yes, Sir, she did. She was very upset about it,” says John.

The judge listened to each witness. They all have the same story: she hit him but felt sorry after the fact. He soon calls for Kelanar to tell her side of the story.

Kelanar's legs shake with fear as she takes the stand.

“Tell us in your own words what happened,” says Steven.

“It's just like the others have said. Gage was not being nice to me and I got angry. I don’t remember picking up the rock or even using it. I was so mad at Gage and when it happened, I blacked out. I don’t remember doing it. Gage was on the ground as I woke up with a bloody rock in my hand," she says with fear in her voice.

“Are you sorry this happened?” 

“Yes, I am very sorry and I know it is not an excuse, but I haven’t been myself lately with losing Hector and I just was so angry,” she says with tears falling down her face.

The Judge listens and then addresses the room.

“I have heard enough, and I will give my ruling in an hour. We will take a small recess  until then,” orders the Judge.

Sheriff James takes her to a small cell at the town hall to wait.

“How bad do you think this will go?” Kelanar asks him.

Sheriff James sits in a chair.

“I don’t know, Kelanar, the Judge could be lenient or harsh.  If harsh, you're looking at prison time. If he is lenient, you could be assigned to a task or become a slave or something else.” 

“That is the part that scares me.” 

“We will know soon, and you will have to face whatever is decided.”

After an hour the Judge calls everyone back to the courtroom and tells Kelanar to rise.

“As a father, I understand the need for justice and losing a loved one. Kelanar, you've been through a lot, and I can see that you’re truly sorry for your actions. I fear it could happen again as well, for you don’t remember doing it. That being said, we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and you need to be around people who can stop this from happening again. So my sentence is for you to spend a year at the guard tower working there.  You will only be allowed to return home two days a week. If for some reason, you decide to attack someone else, they will stop it. This is my ruling, and you will be taken to the guard tower tomorrow. You are released to your family for the night and will report to the sheriff in the morning. Do you understand?” asks The Judge .

Kelanar was near tears, still trying to understand it all.

“Yes, Your Honor,  I understand and thank you for being understanding.” 

Gage’s father is outraged.

“That is all?  To be sent to the guard watch for nearly killing my son? Is this some kind of joke?” Mr. Potter demands.

“No, my friend it isn’t, but from all his friends' testimony he started it and set her off with everything she has been through.  So he is as much to blame as she is. As such, this is the fairest treatment I can give, while  still giving your son some justice. Court is dismissed.”

Kelanar is uncuffed and released to go home to pack for her time away.