“We’ve been here forever!” someone shouted from the otrokar section.

Gertrude Hunt chimed in my head, announcing Orata coming through the portal. I pulled up a small screen showing the arrival chamber. She stepped out of the portal and made the universal motion for ‘wrap it up.’ Unlike the opening ceremony, the debate was being broadcast almost live with only a minute or two delay. The ratings had to be dropping.

A small table emerged from the floor, bearing six coffees in metal insulated tumblers of various colors. I took one and offered it to Kosandion.

“Thank you.” He opened the tumbler and sipped. “Delicious.”

It was interesting how he never simply accepted a gift or a favor. He always thanked you and then made sure to indicate that he valued your gift.

I handed the blue tumbler to Resven. He gave it a suspicious look, unscrewed the top, and took a drink. His eyes widened.

I kept one tumbler for myself and sent the rest through the floor to Sean, Gaston, and Tony.

“You are a saint,” Tony said.

Sean saluted me with his tumbler.

“Nectar of the gods,” Gaston murmured.

“…so how can we define ‘here’ if time is constantly flowing, since a single instant in which we anchor our definition will end in that moment?” Nycati wondered.

Prysen Ol smiled. “That concept is predicated on the belief that time actually passes, that it moves and, further, that said movement is measurable. I will concede no such thing. In fact, I reject entirely the notion that time can be reduced to infinite numbers. Rather, it’s best expressed through finite numbers. There is a limit to their precision, for nature is inherently random, chaotic, and imprecise.”

First Scholar Thek clapped his clawed hands in delight.

Orata held her hands in front of her, palms up, fingers spread, as if trying to bring an invisible melon to her face. The Dominion’s gesture for pleading. She was begging me to end it.

I accessed the First Scholar’s earpiece. “We have to cut this short.”

“But it’s so invigorating,” he whispered.

“My time is finite!” another knight yelled from House Meer. “Every moment that passes, or doesn’t, saps my will to live.”

“We concur,” the Donkamins announced in a chorus.

“You know why you’re here?” Surkar jumped to his feet. “To win!”

Applause broke out through the arena. He raised his arms, accepting the ovation, and flexed his award-winning biceps.

“And the debate goes to the otrokar,” Kosandion murmured.

I turned the First Scholar’s egg white.

“Alas,” the First Scholar announced. “We are out of time. It has truly been a pleasure. Please return to your seats.”

“Who won?” someone from Team Smiles yelled.

“Who cares?” a female otrokar yelled back. “We all lost.”

Gaston stepped forward. “We shall resume the trial after a short recess. Please take advantage of the refreshments to regain your strength for the second half.”