The rows of seats surrounding him were filled with several thousand attendees, many of them from the noble houses of Takara, as well as members of the media covering the ten-day trial. He knew what was coming, and although he did not look forward to it, he was well aware of his responsibilities to both the people of Takara, as well as to the member worlds of the Alliance to which he had pledged his world’s support. More importantly, he had a responsibility to Nalaya, whose face was all he saw every time he looked at any of the defendant’s faces. His position required his impartiality, which he could not promise. For that reason, he had insisted on a jury trial for Lord Dahra and his cohorts. He might still hold the right of passing sentence, but the guilt or innocence of those accused would be in the hands of their fellow nobles, a majority vote of which would seal their fate. The doors on the side of the arena floor to Casimir’s left opened, and the three defendants, Lord Dahra, Lord Tammer, and Lord Markly, were led in by members of the Takaran security forces.
