**** I'm feeling productive and generous. I managed to get an exciting chapter. Ssssooo...  Enjoy. Don't forget to vote, comment and share. Don't you just love it! I do. I do. I do. Lol. Oh I hope I can keep the words flowing.. Cross  fingers***

Talbot transfered Jr's shift to coincide with Elle's. He wanted Jr to have other people around him. Over the next few weeks he watched as a friendship bloomed between Elle and Jr. Nathan was a big part of that friendship. When they stopped on an island the three of them went with Harv and Cook to search for herbs.

Talbot reluctantly decided that it was time to hold Bartard's trial.

The crew dinning area was transformed into a hearing chamber.

Hornsbee Cabe was appointed to represent Bartard. Bartard protested venomously. He implied that Hornsbee couldn't do the job. He accused him of stinking of goat sweat. He pointed to the man's beard and said there were undoubtedly creatures living in it. That was not the only faults he found with his appointed council.

Fed up with his attitude Talbot faced him. "He is what you get. If it were me I would have better sense then offending everything about the man that was meant to defend me and keep my head attached to my shoulders. You have little choice in the matter." Talbot looked at Bartard with undisguised loathing.

"You have until tomorrow midday to speak with your council. The trial will start at two of clock. The jury has been selected by drawing of names. You can precent any witness for your defence as  you choose. Your council may cross examine any of our witnesses. The judge has also been selected by drawing as I usually fill that role but am a witness in this. Any questions?"

The trial processed. Bartard insisted it was all a misunderstanding. Elle had taken his generous offer the wrong way as had all the others. Jr he said had performed fillatio (I have no idea how to spell this word.) in order to pay a debt because he had wanted to not because he had been made to proform. He insisted it was consentual and since Jr was of age it was not a crime. He had told them all that he had never intended harm to anyone. 

Hornsbee questioned the witnesses as he should but where others would be badgering he was not.

The whole trial took three days. Those three days were spent at anchor by the island. Crew that had nothing to do with the trial spent their time on the tiny dot of land.

By the end of the second day Talbot could see the stress on Jrs face. The boy didn't eat with the others when a break was called. He banished himself to the galley or the crows nest when the trial was proceeding. He refused to look anyone in the face. The only people he seemed even remotely comfortable with were Elle and Nathan. Nathan had nothing to do with the trial and spent most time in the galley or on the island.

Being at anchor didn't mean there was no work. Life continued.

Talbot suspected that Bartard would be found guilty. He sat at his desk and debated what that would mean. A punishment would be expected. Ship justice was much harsher then that on land. Even an all male jury were no guarantee of  leniency in sentencing. They could choose any punishment they all agreed on. Talbot knew he would put the man at the end of a rope. He still found it hard to recall Jr telling him about the event without vomit rising in his throat.

He couldn't imagine how Jr felt with the knowledge of first hand experience.

The third day of trial Hornsbee and Bartard called their own witness. It was a shock to everyone.

Max sait stiffly in the chair. He seemed to be as surprised as the rest of them.

Hornsbee asked him if he knew why he had been called.

"Um. I was told to be here today." He said and looked around the room.

"So you don't know why?"

"No."

"That's fine. I just have a few questions for you. First, how old are you?"

"Sixteen. But I aint got any family so I pay my own way juat like any other man." He said defensively. He held his body stiffly.

"Thats not what we want to talk to you about. Have you met Mr. Bartard?" He assured the boy.

"Yes." He said as he nodded slowly.

"Have you ever had problems with him? Has he ever said or done anything that made you feel unsafe around him."

"No." He was clearly uncomfortable.

"But you have spent time with him?" Hornsbee insisted.

"Yes. A little."

"Do you also know Jr?"

"Sure I do. We used to play cards." He said easily. His tone was clear that he still had a friendship with Jr. He swipped his hands on his pants to clear the sweat from his palms.

"But not any more?" The question was asked with out any emotion.

"No. He still owes me a few crowns, though." He smiled. He seemed pleased that he had won money and not lost it.

"You believe he'll pay you." It wasn't stated as a question. 

"Yes. He said if he couldn't get the money he'd work it off. I believe him." He glanced over at the jury crew.

"Work it off? What do you think he meant?" Hornsbee asked tapping his hand on his own leg impatiently.

"He never said.  I guess he'd work my deck shift on his day off." He shrugged his shoulders, clearly confused as to why any of this was important.

With that he let the prosecuting council take over the questions.

Max agreed that he still thought of Jr as a friend. He was insulted that anyone would think Jr meant "sexual favors" by "work it off." He said Jr was sweet on some girl where he lived. That why he joins the crew. He needed money to start a business so he could marry the girl. This information had not been stated before but Max was sure of it. Jr had told him when they were playing cards.

Max had been the very last witness.

Now it was up to the jury.  All twelve men were left alone in Talbot's office to discuss the details among themselves. Bartard was returned, again under his protest, to his cell to await the decision.

They took less then two hours. They were already seated when Bartard was led back into the room. Talbot saw the exact moment Bartard realized that this was the moment to reveal his fate. He still held onto his confidence but he began to study each person on the jury.

Even Talbot couldn't guess the decision they had made. Some of the men he had known for years but they gave no clue to the fate of Mr. Brit Bartard.

Bartard sat. He still looked calm. He said something to Hornsbee to low for anyone to hear. Hornsbee was not pleased. He leaned towards his client. He spoke quietly in his ear for a long moment. Whatever he said caused the color to completely drain from Bartard's skin.
A few minutes later the forman stood. All eyes were rivited to him. His choppy grey beard looked to be cut with a dull knife. His mustache was even worse than his beard. His big bushy eyebrows were the same color as his beard only lighter.

"We the jury of the ship Maid Mary find the defendant...."