Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 05_ Allies - Christie Golden [100]
She supposed she could deal with that.
The bouncer-bailiff faced her. “State your name.”
“Tahiri Veila.”
“Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
“I do.”
“Furthermore, do you solemnly swear to not utilize the Force in any way, large or small, trivial or significant, to influence the outcome of the jury’s verdict and the judge’s ruling?”
Tahiri gritted her teeth. Still, having to take such a vow was more palatable than having to deal with an entire special Jedi court for the trial.
“I would not have done so in any case, but yes, I swear.” There was a slight rippling through the courtroom at her tart response. She knew she shouldn’t have said it, and Eramuth’s ever so slight frown of rebuke confirmed the fact, but she couldn’t help herself.
The bailiff trundled off to his usual position, his footfalls so heavy Tahiri thought it a wonder the floor didn’t shake. The Chagrian took the bailiff’s place in front of her, smiling with artificial pleasantness. Tahiri didn’t bother to smile back, just looked at him quietly, expectantly. She wondered if he’d feign solicitude to get her to drop her guard, or go in like an anooba for the kill.
“Before we begin, would you care for some water?” he asked. Solicitude, then. She eyed the pitcher of water and the empty glass to her right.
“No thanks. Even without using the Force I can pour myself a glass of water if I want it.”
There was another murmur of disapproval, but she caught a few chuckles as well.
He gave her a thin smile. “Then, since you are obviously not thirsty, would you please tell the court about your … relationship with Jacen Solo?”
Now he was going in for the kill. He could switch gears fast. She’d half-expected Eramuth to leap forward with an objection, but he seemed completely at ease.
“Of course,” she said, taking her cue from her lawyer and not rising to the bait. “I knew Jacen Solo half my life.”
“So there was no personal relationship?”
She’d known this was coming, and replied calmly. “There was.”
He tried and failed to hide the gleam of excitement in his eyes. “Please elaborate on the nature of this relationship.”
“Objection,” said Eramuth. “Surely, the court has no prurient interest in the details of Tahiri Veila’s private life.”
“Your Honor, I am trying to establish how deeply involved the accused and Jacen Solo were, whether their relationship was personal or professional.”
Judge Zudan considered, then said, “Overruled. The prosecution may continue.”
Tahiri felt heat rising in her cheeks, but kept her face calm. “So, would it be accurate to say that you and Jacen Solo were lovers?” Dekkon continued.
“We were involved,” Tahiri said bluntly. “Love had nothing to do with it.”
“So we may assume that you were physically—”
“Objection!” Eramuth said again. His whiskers bristled, and he was the very image of wounded propriety. “Further questioning along this line verges on the salacious. A relationship has been established. No one here needs to know details. This is a trial, not a holodrama.”
“Sustained,” said the judge. “Prosecution may continue with another line of questioning.”
The rest of her history was gone through, all with a subtly negative cast. She felt some agitation, but pushed it down. She’d expected this, and if there was anything Eramuth felt was damaging, he would revisit it and correct it in the cross-examination.
Finally, the prosecutor arrived at the most recent events. Eramuth looked relaxed, perhaps even a trifle bored, but sufficiently attentive so that the jury did not think he didn’t care. The press had been recording everything, but now they started paying more attention. One positive that had come out of the siege was the fact that, while her trial was still obviously news, journalistic attention was now divided. Still, she hated those hungry looks they gave her.
She thought about the Solos,