"The court finds it undeniable that Aelfir Arond did hunt, torment, and slay over four score humans during the period beginning in the third year of the second reign of Queen Earigoth and ending in the eighth year of the second reign of King Haelminoth." The lawspeaker addressed the queen and the accused with a rather smug look on his face, ignored because elves always look rather smug. "Does the accused have any final statements before hearing passage of sentence?" asked Queen Imfaer Palmiar. Her voice was distant like a third echo.

"No," spoke Arond. "No fate you can consign me to will take away the pleasure I have stolen under your noses. Perhaps one day you will realize the joys you deny yourselves." Arond looked smug even for an elf.

"Very well," spoke the queen. "We sentence you to community service." The smug look fell off Arond's face at once. "Your new name is Fizzbert. Report to Santa's workshop by morning or face severance from the elfinstone. The accused's durance is to be until the third year of Queen Earigoth's fourth reign." The gavel struck.

Lawspeaker, queen, and audience departed, leaving only an empty courtroom, and Fizzbert, who wept.