A Scripta

Grim followed the Midnighter down the hall. He had gotten the voice mail early in the morning to come to the Midnighters at 9 a.m. Kalius woke him up at 5, an hour before he normally woke him up, and took him out for a run in the dark. Kalius didn't speak to him unless to give him orders. Kal released him at 8:30 so he could go to the Midnighters, but promised that he would look for him later. Grim didn't like the look Kal gave him when he said that.

As he went up the hall, he wondered what the Midnighters wanted with him. Did he know some magic that they might want? Did they want him to teach something? Someone came down the hall, dressed in robes similar to the technomancers. The man said as he walked by, "Lady Blue's on the rag today." Grim took note, and continued following the Midnighter.

He opened the door into a room, where two women and three men sat behind a large table. There were three chairs opposite them.

"Grimaulkin?" said the man in the middle.

"Yes."

"Please sit down."

Grim looked at each of them in turn, and noted one was a woman in blue robes. He pulled out the middle chair and sat down.

"You have been called here for violating the core rule of attempting to assimilate into the culture of a different time, and therefore changing the time stream."

Grim raised an eyebrow. "Say what?"

Another man said, "You purchased a house in Cimerora."

"Yes," Grim said. "It was a vacation home."

"For you and your lover."

"Yes..."

"And you've since given it to your lover exclusively for his use?"

"Well, yeah. Though I still pay for the upkeep."

"You do realize that is against the rules for us to be allowed to stay there."

"It is? I didn't know that."

Said the blue woman, "You lie, mage."

Grim looked at her steadily. "Really? I know of some heroes and villains who rent apartments there."

"Do you?" she stared at him.

"Yes, and you're going to have to rip their names out of my brain because I'm not going to tell you." Grim immediately intensified his "wall of porn" that telepaths met up with whenever they would try and look into his mind.

The woman sat back, and looked at the man in the center. He ignored her. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"Yes," Grim said, and spread his hands out on the table. "Kalius has been looking for Dimitrius for over 2000 years. They're both from ancient Greece, and they died in a battle there. They belonged to the Sacred Band of Thebes."

"We know," said the man. "Kalius told us last night."

Grim looked up. "This is Kalius' last life. He's found his love, and will go to the Elysian Fields when he dies. Dimitrius...I don't know what'll happen to him. Can you please let them enjoy the time they have left together?"

They all looked at each other. They communicated telepathically, because Grim could see some of them register emotions on their faces, especially the blue woman who looked disgusted. The man in the center leaned forward.

"Grimaulkin, you can keep the house under the following conditions: One, you will pay the fine that Atticus Titinius Silanus has demanded, 2000 denarii. Two, those who live there will not hold or attend social functions, or interact with the natives of that time, except as necessary and to assist as heroes. Three, they cannot stay there as a permanent residence. Four, you are banned from Cimerora."

"Wait, I'm banned?"

"You have given a good reason for Kalius and Dimitrius to be there, yet there is none for you," said the other woman, not the blue lady. "You knew when you purchased the property that you weren't allowed to do so."

"You cannot be allowed to further damage the time-stream," said the center judge. "Next you'll buy a business, or a ship, or slaves. That is not allowed."

"Can I promise I won't?"

"No," snapped the blue lady.

"I have a wedding to go to there!"

"Too bad."

Grim muttered something darkly. Obviously she had pushed for that.

Said the center judge, "You will have to appoint someone as your proxy to pay your taxes and interact with the Silanus family to pay the fine. We will be happy to do it for you."

"Fine," Grim grumbled.

"We will inform Kalius of Thebes that he and Dimitrius are allowed back to Cimerora with stipulation two and three. We expect the fine to be recieved here within the hour."

Grim got up. "I can give it to you now, but you'll have to convert it."

The man nodded. "We can do that."

Grim pulled out his wallet. "How much?"

"$100,000."

Grim stared at him. "I'm sorry?"

"One denarius is approximately $50."

Grim closed his wallet. "I'll get it to you in the hour."

"Thank you." The door behind Grim opened. "Good day."

Grim turned around and went quietly out the door. The door closed gently behind him. He sighed. At least Kal and Dmitri were allowed back, which was his whole purpose.