"Do not step any closer,” Maat thundered.
It was now apparent that the voice at the beginning of the inquest had been that of her own - and she did not need a loud speaker for it to be heard thunderingly.
Forsythe's manhood shrank and his shoulders slumped. He stayed fixed on the spot...
"We have but one question left to put to you" she continued.
"Thank goodness for that" thought Goober, after eleven days his enthusiasm had dulled.
"Think carefully before answering this final point:
"If you could have the chance to go back now and change all that you have done that did cause harm, would you so choose?"
It is hard to say if Forsythe thought this to be a trick question, where he would have to redress his sins for all eternity and be sentenced to some indefinite term of terrible work, or if arrogance just got the better of him - but he replied:
"No indeed, I would not."
The Goddess of Truth was easy to listen to - there could never be a misunderstanding as to what was meant by her.
She went on: "In conclusion therefore little Demon - I can give you the gift of Empathy, a true treasure that will open your soul. It is the seventh sense of nature and it does define oneself through the eyes of others. Will you now take this attribute I offer you?"
"No" he said adamantly, "I will not."
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
Demon beings are incapable of empathy and because they have not the reforms of Hell to periodically show them firsthand what it is to suffer, and their pleasure of causing pernicious mischief is unhindered from guilt or remorse. They feel free to straddle the world as though it was theirs to lay, and are deaf and blind internally to the pains of anyone other than themselves.
Marc-Marsden-Forsythe had been the cause of anguish for many a soul over centuries, and had used a great number names besides - having taken a body here and a body there, to suit his purpose. His ambitions were wide and grandiose. His vanity was strong.
And now that the Committee had a piece of him, he was no longer free to do as he would want. He had come to the end of the forty-two assessors, and was cowering before the Goddess of Truth - Maat. She kept her gaze steadily upon him.
"Come out from yourself" she said sternly.
Within a very long minute or so his form grew high, meeting the size of her own. His body fleshed wider, and became fur covered; his clothing broke off, revealing that his virility had quickened and stood out; and from his head sprang giant antlers that expired a thin red smoke from their tips.
He had become so fearsome to look upon that half of what was left of the hall's occupants audibly gasped.
Maat's gown of stars faded to black and taking her hand up to her head she drew down a jet-black feather and her hair fell loose, tumbling down to the ground.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
Word for word, Puck heard and recorded what was being said as the proceedings continued on. He had to concentrate hard, as the list of crimes was lengthy and becoming tedious.
Debauchery was never examined, as the Tribunal were far more concerned with recounts of the sociopathic harm, profiles of perversive pleasures were of no interest to them. Goober and Nervina had fallen asleep.
Puck's script was surprisingly beautiful for one hurried to keep pace with an endless parchment entry. He noted carefully the events and details of each of the accusing.
The area had grown noticeably brighter, and much hotter too. The intensity of the luminaries present could be deemed as they viewed and reviewed the akashic replays, sifting through uncensored scenes in their entirety - right up to the horrifying murder of Marley. There was little sympathy for his situation, after seeing his merciless ruination of others.
Puck could not help himself from thinking constantly of Marley. He had truly hoped that she might have been called into the inquisition - he wanted to hold her, to be with her. He suppressed this emotion and kept to the task at hand.
Eleven days of questioning ensued. Snacks and meals were brought in, but the elves were beginning to get restless and most of the gallery had now gone home.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
Forsythe addressed her saying: "I have come to you as requested".
She replied coldly, "You have come to us as compelled".
Forsythe did not react to this being said, and the little dog now moved along to the next one very quickly. After a waiting some length of time she asked with the tone of a schoolteacher: "What have you to say in excuse of yourself?"
"I have been an executive of a masterly justice" he began ... "I have overseen the collection of taxes and through my wisdom, I have been both creator and magistrate of the law ... not unlike yourself" he popped in knowingly.
"You have failed to be fair, however" she replied. "Courts of the Physical World were modelled on this supreme tribunal, yet their discernment is blighted and they lack credibility - for the talents of Man's perception are still immature."
As she said this the thirty seats behind Yang suddenly filled. Puck recognized the monks from Tooke's community, along with other spirits of deceased soldiers, related to them. They had come to join with the accusers attesting to the cruelty and exploitation he had brought to the world in his time as Sheriff.
Sirius, who had been sitting patiently, now leapt up and ran to bite Forsythe’s ankle, this time taking a small flap of flesh in his pointed teeth. This moved him very quickly onto the next judge.
More and more seats were becoming occupied - his accusers were congesting the hall.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
A voice that seemed to come out of nowhere, projected itself very loudly as though broadcast through a public address system. It spoke several languages consecutively, including Angeloi, ending with a universal dialect that was plain enough for the Elves to comprehend. It went something like this:
"Daemon Man,
you have been summoned here for authentic scrutiny
that you may decide your value to Humanity, and its associated realms ...
"If it is found that you hold no great love for either Heaven or Earth, if you are no respecter of their destinies or have no care and concern, for their wellbeing then you will be freed of this district and sent hither to that sphere of another kind.
"It is with respectful sadness that we proceed.
"The Tribunal wishes you well.
"Go now, and follow Sirius as he will take you to each Appraiser to whom needs must you shall truthfully answer to."
The little dog had been lying upside down in Goober's lap, until hearing its name called. He sat upright and jumped into the air, sprinting over to where the very dazed Forsythe stood, greatly sobered.
The small animal tugged sharply on his pant's leg and then bounced down the stairs - Forsythe followed behind him obediently. He did not seem to recognise Nervina as he passed him by.
Sirius led him to the furthest of the judiciary, who had all been sitting motionless behind their veils, this entire time.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
The two plates were engraved with a language he did not recognize. The central portion was smooth like a mirror, but the outer rim was in-scripted all over. Nothing happened. The grey shrivelled organ just lay there.
A loud gong resounded, signifying the completion of that segment, and as Nervina turned to go back down the stairs. Forsythe materialised right in front of him - the heart must have compelled him to be present.
As ever, he was dressed impeccably, and looked almost proud to be invited. He was defiant, arrogant and peculiarly noble. Forsythe had all the presence and confidence of an actor out on stage.
Goober turned to Puck and whispered, "How can they judge him as being disincarnate, when he is still alive in the world?"
"Oh, he has been dead for a very long time - sequestering the bodies of those living, did not make their lives his own." said Puck emphatically.
"Oh" said Goober, who did not understand how this all worked, but was completely enraptured by this high society he now felt so very at home in. He looked down to see that the small golden dog had fallen fast asleep on his lap.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
Puck leaned over to Nervina and said solemnly "It is time now for you to go up and deliver the heart."
"Can't you do it?" asked Nervina in a very strained voice.
"No, it is important that you do it. You have been the keeper ever since it came to us. I am now in two minds as to who might have sent it. We always thought it was Marsden, but now I realize, it was verily a gift from the Gods."
"I shall start my reporting soon - that is part enough to be had." He continued "you see that silver platter up there on the dais? All you have to do is go over to it, walk up the eight steps (they get bigger as you rise) and open the box, to then tip the heart carefully onto the plate. Oh, and make sure it is the one on the left and not the right that you aim for".
"Left, not right" said Nervina repeating his instructions - it was obvious to him that there was an enormous hall of beings waiting for this next part to come, and it was now down to him.
"Will this redeem me?" he asked hopefully.
Goober who had been listening in, stuck his head in front of Puck's, saying encouragingly "I'm sure it will Nervina - they all look like a really friendly crowd here."
"Well, maybe to you they do" Nervina faltered. "Goober, were you being facetious then - sometimes I really can't tell if you are having a lend?" Puck elbowed him to get going.
Awkwardly he pulled the box from his satchel, drawing a deep breath. Mumbling something, he clumsily, yet importantly, took his stride with dignity.
Speckles of silver had infiltrated his boots and had become abrasive. He took to the steps with care and once at the top, drew open the box, letting it slip from his fingers.
Later he suggested that the heart itself had leapt out of its container, as though it had a life of its own - spilling squat bang onto the centre of the great silver disk before it.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
