Tap, tap.

My finger silently struck the desk.

Two years, just for this. My father's clothes clenched upon my back as my eyes gazed upon the lawyer they expected me to become; before falling upon the others in his shadow. They had worn an entire wardrobe in a week. Though being a lawyer in name, it was a mere joke. Mr. Cumberbatch took center stage, and they were the props. This field was the best position left in the city.

I chuckled to myself.

The courtroom was spacious, with Corinthian columns and round arches. A gaze of light passed through its true arch windows. It made those entering its halls feel insignificant compared with its grandeur. The hanging candle chandeliers and mahogany finish were a display of authority. The gluttonous, crooked teeth judge sat above everyone and looked down on those brought before him. He wore a black silk gown with a white band around his neck. The judge claimed impartiality but, at his discretion, could push back all today's proceedings. Those who could not afford the actual found themselves stuck in what Mr. Cumberbatch had referred to me as the Lion's Den.

If you weren't a criminal, you would be then by the time your case came back.

I scratched my head. This place was supposed to be a court of justice.

Mr. Cumberbatch moved across the room, swaying his hand at the judge and those proceeding to render a verdict as he spoke. On the other side was the defendant's lawyer; he objected, sneered, and fought him at every turn.

"Your honor, the defendant stands not guilty of the crimes alleged against her," the snub-nose lawyer said with a grating voice. He strutted his lanky self around, his gaze falling upon Mr. Cumberbatch. "This woman has been unfairly arrested and convicted of a crime that she did not commit."

"Not guilty?" Mr. Cumberbatch roared. His voice was thick and boomed as his hand slammed on the desk beside him. "If that was the case, why was she caught trying to vote?"

The lawyer stopped an inch away from Mr. Cumberbatch before his eyes fell back onto the judge. "The lady was there, but she was not trying to place the vote for herself. The vote was for her son, who is serving honorably in the war of the land."

"It is against the law to vote on behalf of others, Donald," Mr. Cumberbatch said.

"In what section!?" Donald shouted at Cumberbatch's face.

Mr. Cumberbatch's gaze fell to me.

"Women cannot vote, and no one can vote for another," I said.

"The fourteenth amendment permits it!" the woman shouted beside the judge.

The judge hammered his judgment on the table. "The defendant is fined."

The woman shouted her further intolerance at the situation. Court officials held her and escorted the woman out in cuffs, what many would call airin' the lungs.

I sorted the cases coming up next from my desk overlooking the proceedings. I paid attention to the notes, pinpointed, and gathered the relevant law. The judge motioned for a break, and Mr. Cumberbatch approached me. He rubbed his wrinkled, fair hand on his shaven face. The others in the room also stepped outside, leaving only the two lawyers and me.

Mr. Cumberbatch placed his hand on my shoulder. "Good work Ronny, let's keep winning like this."

"Thank you," I replied.

Mr. Cumberbatch turned to the other lawyer, Donald. "What is the score now? Oh right, I am three, and you, you're zero."

Donald laughed, scratching the back of his gray hair with his frail, spotted hand. "The day has only just started just wait. There are plenty more cases to come. I will have you beat before the end of the day."

"Keep dreaming," Mr. Cumberbatch's voice boomed.

"Ronny is the one that saved your neck in the first two," Donald said.

"Like any apprentice should."

"You can't keep this up, though."

"You want to put a bet on that?"

"How much?"

"The same as last time."

"Alright, you're on."

Mr. Cumberbatch smiled. "Alright, Ronny, from here on out we are on our A game."

I looked over the stack of cases in the proceedings. Most had an obvious outcome. Those persons with actual stood highlighted, and I ticked those without off. In those cases, the lawyers and judge were in on the scheme. I had been explicitly told as a reminder that these were people of high standing. Most of them I had already seen or rubbed shoulders with at some point. Mr. Cumberbatch repeatedly said: look out for people who will look out for you.

These cases ranged from inheritance and land disputes, but most were on mischievous unpaid fees and tax evasion offenses. Ten, fifteen, it was twenty-one pages of names. There was no way we would get through all of them today at this pace, with the judge constantly taking breaks. My finger flicked over a murder case from yesterday. Even murders had a purpose. They sent the murderers, after being convicted, straight to the front lines of the war of the land. As the church had said, it was a way to find redemption before God.

My father had told me that being a lawyer was about representing the people, and I believed it. Maybe what he said was true and what he thought, but from where I stood, being a lawyer in Mannorland was about who paid more. Would I be able to make a change? Would I be able to stand as he did for something? What real choices did I have? It was this or the army to join the very thing my father hated.

The door opened. The judge wiped his mouth and found his bearings back towards his chair. I sighed as the court door opened. The lawyers took their place, and the cases began.

I gritted my teeth.

The day soldiered on, and Mr. Cumberbatch won at the end. He smiled and gloated as we all walked outside. Bowlegged with sloping shoulders, Mr. Cumberbatch took the lead.

Mr. Cumberbatch collected his actual, and discussions fell from lawyers to the judge about other topics of the day. It ranged from clothes to horses and the current affairs of the state and chances of winning the war.

"We are going to the lush-crib for a drink. You coming, Ronny?" Mr. Cumberbatch asked.

I got on my horse. "No, Mr. Cumberbatch, I have something that I must attend. It's a gathering for a friend that's leaving the city."

"Ah," he replied, "tomorrow we will meet up at the library to continue our work. I want you soon to move up the ranks and become like one of them." Mr. Cumberbatch pointed at the other lawyers beside him.

Mr. Cumberbatch made it sound like an improvement; there was no increase in pay, just less work.

I nodded.

The glares the other lawyers were giving me were intense. Did they want to be around this grouchy man?

Mr. Cumberbatch had dealt with most of the cases despite what he had said. The only time the two seasoned lawyers had passed off the work was when they went on breaks. It was disastrous when they both believed that they were winning. The lawyers they left took up their stead and overperformed with inexperience.

"Tell Mrs. Davis that I said hello," Mr. Cumberbatch said, smiling.

"Okay, I will let her know," I said.

I waved to the gentlemen, turned my horse, and headed towards my home.

#

There was a biting chill in the atmosphere as I stood alone on the balcony, observing the night sky and the stars. This time there was no thick haze obscuring the view. The manor's interior was filled with laughter and soft jazz as people chatted and joked.

Where was Karen? I flicked my gold pocket watch. The time was getting away.

"Why am I not surprised you're out here looking at the stars, Ron?"

I turned to the voice. Albert's black hair was styled and curled. He wore a white waistcoat, a black tailcoat, and trousers.

"I didn't want to socialize with the others, Albert. I already know what they are going to ask and what I am going to say. That's not a delightful conversation."

"It seems your mother didn't make it again tonight."

"My mother had other engagements for the night."

"Mr. Cumberbatch?"

I crossed my arms. "Albert, I don't want to talk about it."

Albert drew closer to me and placed his ivory hand on the banister. We both looked down at the fine-cut hedges below us.

"What do they ask you?"

I turned to Albert. "About my father, long drawn out conversations about the man. Then they try to pry me."

"Pry you about?"

"About my current well-being and ask if I could even become a man like him. It's the same questions and the same answers."

Albert chuckled. "You don't think I get asked the same stuff? Why did you choose to join the army? Why don't you stay in the city despite not getting work? You could die, Albert, think of your pregnant wife."

I scratched my head. "How is your wife taking that?"

Albert's unruly eyebrows rose. "As good as any other person would." He paused, looking towards the sky. "Royse knows that many people don't return."

"It's not like you're going to be on the direct front lines."

"True, but you never know in war. Where is Karen?"

"She said she would come, probably still working."

"Karen is dedicated, and a tough one. I would give her that. 'Three Gun,' I keep hearing all around the city."

"Yeah, how long are you —?"

"Seven years' compulsory service. I won't be able to write home much either."

"Seven years, that's a long time. Is there nothing else you can do?"

Albert shook his head from side to side.

I exhaled. "You know, almost all our friends have moved into the war in some capacity. You're the last friend I have in this city."

"Now you're sounding like everyone inside."

"Ah, I am just concerned, worried about your safety."

"Your father wanted to stop this."

"Yeah, and look where that got him. Shot and killed in broad daylight. All it did was add more fuel to the fire." I sighed. "He had good, noble intentions."

"True. I wonder if he was successful, what would have been the outcome?"

"I wonder that sometimes myself when I think about him. What would he do?"

"We can only take his message and try to move forward and find that change."

"With what? A city crumbling slowly from the inside with nothing else to offer anyone. We created our own hell. Now Factories only produce weapons to feed an endless war."

"War is all there is. Well, at least for me now to become distinguished."

My hand rested on the banister. "I see. I guess the last piece would be my father's statue standing in the middle of it all."

"It was not by his own design that twisted words would make the locals clamor for further war."

"But it happened."

"Yes, it did." Albert cleared his throat. "If I am sorry about one thing..." His hand touched my back. "I won't be here for the marriage."

"That should be the least of your concerns. You won't be here to see your child, wife, or you might even die."

"They both will be fine." Albert ran his hand over my shoulder and squeezed. "Don't worry about me. I will be well. Besides, it seems your lady has arrived."

In the corner of my eye, Karen waited by the balcony door. She wore a velvet silk dress, and I saw the discomfort she felt on her face.

"What do you see when you stare at those stars?" Albert asked.

"Peace," I paused. "An escape from reality."

"Maybe I will find that too on the battlefield. I am going back inside, Ron." We shook hands, and Albert departed. "A pleasure to see you, Karen."

"Same to you Albert, safe travel."

Karen's steps were pronounced upon the ground as she halted behind me. I turned. Karen's sharp hazel eyes lay upon me. Her ginger hair was pinned behind her head. I raised my right hand and ran it down her face to her pointed chin.

"Sorry, I am late, Ron. Mrs. Davis didn't give me an easy time about it. I was working."

My eyes scanned every detail of her dress. From her slim fitted shape to her small breast. "It's fine."

"I think I messed up on some of the greetings. Was I supposed to bow or extend my hand?"

I chuckled and extended my hand to her.

"Don't worry about it. None of it matters."

Karen took it. Her hand was delicate within mine, and I pulled her towards me.

"But your — Mrs. Davis —"

"Shhh." I pointed my hand to the sky. "Let's watch the stars together."

Karen smiled as my arms embraced her.

"Okay, darling."