At one end of the long room was a dais and on it an imposing magisterial bench. Behind the bench there were two throne like chairs, and on the wall above them the golden crest of Philastan.
Below the dais at floor level was a long desk, behind which sat the two Clerks of the Ordeal Tribunal clad in their traditional dark blue robes, murmuring to each other and shuffling papers. Beyond them in the body of the room a number of green clad figures – Stewards of the Ordeal - sat or stood either in silence or whispering as they openly or surreptitiously looked at the two white robed figures seated in the front row.
Those in the white robes were a man and a woman; the woman very beautiful and the man, looking younger than the woman, bore a distinct facial resemblance to her. Their physiques could not be judged since the loose fitting robes allowed no clear view of their figures.
A door to the right of the dais opened and an Usher in the chocolate coloured robe of his office entered.
"All rise," he called out, "The Tribunal of the Ordeal is now in session, Eminences Raka and Matia presiding."
Two scarlet clad figures, the crest of Philastan embroidered on their left breasts, entered; a man and a woman who appeared to be in their fifties and of immense dignity and handsome looks, made their way to the two thrones.
As they stood before the thrones the usher continued, "The gods protect Philastan."
All present responded, "The gods protect Philastan."
Raka and Matia sat. Raka nodded to those assembled who also sat, and then leaned over the bench and said, "Master Clerk, the business."
The clerk stood and said, "Eminences, Breni and Nurina have applied for incestuous hand fasting and the Registrar of Hand Fasting has requested that they be put to The Ordeal." He handed Raka and Matia each a sheet of paper.
For a few moments Raka and Matia studied the papers in silence, and then Matia, looking at Breni and Nurina, "You are mother and son?"
Both replied, "Yes Eminence."
"You have engaged in bodily union?"
"Yes, Eminence."
"For how long?"
"For seven months, Eminence," replied Nurina.
"How did your bodily union begin?"
"Eminence, we came upon each other naked and desired bodily union, and so I took Breni to my couch." Matia sat back and Raki took up the questioning.
"As you know, in Philastan all bodily unions are accepted whether within hand fasting or not. Why then do you seek hand fasting?"
Nurina answered again, "Eminence, it is our desire that our bodily union should bring us progeny, but it is forbidden by Philastan law that progeny should be produced outside hand fasting."
"It is well that you are aware this, Nurina and Breni, for you know what happens to progeny born outside hand fasting."
"Yes Eminence; they are taken from their begetters at six years of age, and must serve all their lives as acolytes in the temples of the gods."
"That is the law," Raki said, and smiling grimly went on, "If you lived beyond the borders of Philastan in Atraps and had been detected engaging in incestuous bodily union you would have been tied facing each other and burned at the stake. But here in Philastan we are civilised."
Matia commented, "Nurina, you have been hand fasted before."
"Yes, Eminence."
"And you are now unhand fasted?"
"Yes Eminence."
"Unhand fasting is a serious matter, why did the Registrar of Hand Fasting permit you to be unhand fasted?"
The Clerks hunted through papers as Nurina replied, "The law of Philastan states that if one hand fast refuses bodily union to the other hand fast, then the Registrar may unhand fast them."
"That is so..."
"Eminence;" the Clerk handed Matia a sheet of paper. She studied it for a few moments.
"I see the Registrar reports that your hand fast claimed that you are insatiable for bodily union."
"Yes Eminence."
"Your hand fast admitted he was unable to cope with your demands for bodily union and he had withdrawn from you. Ah, I see; the Registrar granted unhand fasting under the law which says that for a hand fast to refused bodily union without reasonable excuse the hand fasting is null and void."
"That is so, Eminence."
"And Breni is able to sate you?"
"Yes, Eminence; he is the only male who has ever been able to do that."
"And you, Breni, you can sate Nurina with pleasure and ease?"
"Yes Eminence, I love her."
"Ah yes, love, we shall come to that."
Matia glanced at Raki who nodded and called out, "Stewards of the Ordeal."
"Eminence?"
"Lay bare Breni and Nurina."
Two Stewards came forward. Breni and Nurina stood as the Stewards untied the cords that held their robes together. They stood naked.
Eminences, Clerks, Stewards gasped.
"You are both of great beauty," Matia exclaimed; "Your breasts, Nurina, are like two halves of the fruit of the Ahab vine. And your phallus Breni is like the mighty Shofkah tossed by our young men at the Philastan Games to test their strength."
"Is it not lust for Breni's phallus that drives to ask for hand fasting, Nurina?" asked Raki.
"And you, Breni, is it not desire for Nurina's breasts that urges you on?"
"Eminence," protested Nurina, "I loved Breni in the womb, and have loved him unfailingly through his childhood and now in his manhood. It is true that I rejoice in his mighty phallus, but it is for love I join with him in bodily union."
"Eminence, although Nurina is the only female who has been able to receive the fullness of my phallus, it is for love that I enter into her," cried Breni.
"You have spoken much of love; have you both read the Sacred Scriptures of Philastan?"
"We have Eminence."
"Breni, do you recall verse fifteen of chapter six in the Missive of Blessed Epithum, 'Love can bear all things; love can forgive all things."
"I have known it since Nurina taught it to me as a child," Eminence.
And do you believe it?"
"Eminence, the Sacred Scriptures are from the gods; they cannot err."
"Clearly you are a pious young man, so tell me, is there anything that Nurina could do that your love could not bear and your heart not forgive?"
"There is nothing, Eminence."
"So you say...so you say." Raki leaned back in his chair smiling ominously as Matia spoke.
"Breni, our learned Professors of Erosology tell us there is one thing that that few lovers can bear and forgive."
Eminence?"
"It is to see the beloved in bodily union with another."
"But Eminence, if she has been overcome, if she is being forcibly..."
"Yes...yes Breni, I perceive you are a compassionate young man, but I am not speaking of force. I speak of her entering voluntarily into bodily union, and furthermore, delighting in that union. Would your love bear and forgive that?"
"Eminence, Nurina would never put me to such a test."
"You think not; then let me explain. In the case of incestuous hand fasting it is written in our laws that the love the applicants claim to have for each other must be put to the test. The test is known as 'The Ordeal.' I emphasis that it is a test and not a punishment, and if you now revoke your application for hand fasting, then this Tribunal will come to an end; so how say you Breni and Nurina, do you revoke your application?"
"I cannot, I love Nurina, Eminence."
"And I love Breni, Eminence."
