The judge paused, just as startled by the disruption as the crowd of onlookers. He recovered quickly, though, and held up one hand to silence the buzz. "Ma'am?"

"Cinna was at the marketplace that morning." Mother told him, calmly. "I saw her there."

"That morning!" Miss Lisette crowed. "But she was at my school that afternoon!"

"No." Mother shook her head. "I chatted with her in the marketplace and walked with her back to the palace. She never went near your school."

Miss Lisette turned towards the judge in exasperation. "Your Honor, here is a woman who admits to spending her time socializing with a slave. Surely you'll not allow her to disturb the courtroom like this!"

"I am a free woman." Mother's quiet voice resonated. "My testimony is worth just as much as yours, Miss Lisette."

"She's already been found guilty!" the headmistress cried, angrily. "Whip her!"

"Are you certain this is the slave that you saw?" the judge asked.

"I am very certain. She is Cinna, slave to the Lord." Mother nodded.

The judge faced the slave, his expression thoughtful. "Very well. Cinna, on account of new testimony, I find you innocent of the charges. You will be released into the Lord's custody."

"You can't do that!" shrilled Miss Lisette. "I want her punished!"

"Miss Lisette, the authorities will work to find the actual perpetrator of the crime against your students. I will not punish an innocent woman. And for the record, madam, I can assure you that this I can do."

"Girls, come with me. We're leaving!" Miss Lisette snapped her fingers and her students hurried to obey. Ruth followed quickly, but the teacher's glare stopped her. "Not you."

"Ma'am?" Ruth felt the eyes of the crowd upon her.

"I haven't forgotten what your mother looks like! You can go home to her, you little peasant girl, and stay away from my school. I'd better not see you near my property again!" With that, the headmistress stalked from the building.

Her students tagged along after, but not before they'd managed to shoot glares in Ruth's direction. "That's your mother?" Samantha demanded confirmation. At her former classmate's nod, she simply sniffed, shook her head, and walked away.

But Ananda hesitated. "Hey, I'll miss you."

"Ananda!" Miss Lisette snapped, sharply. "Come along this instant!"

And then they were all gone, leaving Ruth alone in the pew.

Within moments, the children's exodus became uninteresting. An angry crowd called insults at the slave girl, who was hurried out a back door. The judge met their disapproval with a cold stare; unable to stand up to him, they soon began drifting away.

Ruth followed them out of the courtroom, since she had no reason to stay. But she had no reason to go either. She couldn't go back to school. She didn't want to go back home. Her parents had gone one step too far this time. They had taken away her school and all of her friends, humiliating her in front of the whole city. She might never go back, she thought, angrily.

So she went to Gregor's house.