The afternoon crowds were beginning to thin as Leeza and Rufus left the court house.  Blue and white people movers rumbled past transporting groups of workers away from the industrialised areas and back to their homes.  Private skimmers whizzed in and out of the traffic.  The sun was well past its zenith and the purplish shadows had started to lengthen.

            “I can't believe it,” whispered Leeza.  “He couldn't have done it.”

            Rufus stepped forward to stand beside her.  He nodded joining her sightless observation of the street below.  “It is a hard thing to contemplate.”

            “Valdon's lying,” Leeza's expression tightened.  “He's furious over the treatment he got from Mavra.  He wants vengeance anyway he can get it.”

            “Is that what you believe?” asked Rufus cautiously.

            Leeza frowned. “What else can I possibly think?  Rufus, Terinu's just a boy.  He's not even sixteen yet.”

            Rufus gave her an apologetic smile.  “I don't recall that age being much of a barrier for myself... I mean... not that way of course, Holy Mother forbid...”

            “Are you saying that he did it?” said Leeza incredulously.

            Rufus sighed and rested a guiding arm around her shoulders. “Let's take this discussion somewhere a little less public.”  He murmured.  “I spotted a nice little coffee shop on the way in here.  I think a hot drink is exactly what we need.”

            Leeza nodded and followed Rufus across the grass to a quiet little cafe nested amongst the tall buildings.  The establishment boasted a small, secluded court yard out the back and, given the warmth still present in the evening air, it was here that they chose to sit.  Leeza toyed with the napkins arranging them in their synth-silver holder while Rufus wandered back inside to purchase a cappuccino and a delvian tea.  She looked up as he set the two steaming mugs down in front of her.

            "Thanks," she said.

            "You're welcome," replied the vulpine taking a seat opposite her.

            Leeza picked up a sugar tab and broke it open above the chocolate dusted froth of her beverage.  "I won't accept that he's guilty.  The idea's insane."

            Rufus stirred his tea, scooping out the sachet of lemony smelling herbs with his spoon.  "I'm very fond of the lad too.  He's shown himself to be quite capable of admirable acts of bravery and maybe even compassion.  But I think," Rufus tapped his spoon on the edge of the mug, "It would be a mistake for us to ignore his background."

            "But he's not like that," said Leeza.  "I mean I know he can be bad mouthed and pig headed.  But this...?"  She gestured helplessly.

            Rufus carefully placed his spoon down on the saucer and leaned forward over his crossed arms.  He picked his words carefully.  "Leeza, I don't like the idea any better than you do.  But I think we would be making a huge error if we were to discount the type of life style he lived and nature of the things he experienced as part of his upbringing.  Remember up until only a few short months ago the only home he knew was a warlord's galleon with all of the distasteful influences associated with it.  Acts of violence like the one he has been accused of must have been an almost every day occurrence on board such a vessel."

            Leeza lowered her eyes.  She remembered the time not so long ago, back on board the Treona, when Terinu had given her a brief account of what happened when the Celestial Marauder ran its quarry down.  It was the only time he had spoken about his previous life as a pirate warlord's slave.  She remembered the flat, emotionless tone of his voice as he spoke of the savagery visited upon the hapless merchant families by the pirates.  Was he hiding something more?

            Rufus sighed.  "I'm not saying he would initiate such an activity himself, that I find very difficult to contemplate, but perhaps he could have present when the unfortunate child was assaulted.  Valdon did say there was another man with him at the time."

            Leeza rested her head on her hands and massaged her temples.  The dull throb under her fingers warned her of the tension headache building up inside.  "Do you know what the problem is, Rufus?"

            "Hmmm?" Rufus sipped his tea.

            "The problem is," Leeza slapped her right hand down onto the table. "Is that we only have one side of the story.  There are two other people on this planet who know exactly what happened and neither of them has spoken yet."

            Rufus shook his head.  "If you're considering attempting to discover the truth of this tale from the young lady herself I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed.  The women of this culture are not allowed to stand as a witness in court.  By the law of this land they can only give evidence through a close male relative.  I doubt that Valdon would be willing to relay a story contrary to his own."

            "Maybe if we could just reach her, talk to her," Leeza said desperately.  "Surely if there is a discrepancy between her story and his that would make it admissible in court."

            Rufus shook his head.  "Not here.  Her father's word would overrule hers.  And that's if it were possible to reach her alone and convince her to speak to us.  Even then," Rufus's voice softened. "There is no guarantee that her story would be any different from her fathers."

            Leeza chewed her bottom lip.  "That leaves Terinu.  He wouldn't so much as look at me when I last saw him."

            "So you said," Rufus looked grim.  "I'm afraid that worries me.  Though it could also mean he simply feels insulted by the accusation."  He quickly added at the sight of Leeza's stricken expression.  "Look," he said swallowing the rest of his tea.  "I took the liberty of calling my lawyer to help represent the boy in court.  Maybe an impartial third party can convince the lad that he needs to open up about this incident."

            "Good thinking, it's worth a try," Leeza nodded.  "We don't have much time.  The trial date has been set for the day after tomorrow.  They don't like mucking about here."