Mara's Consequences

by Susie Daniel

Chapter One

City of Mankind

3008

Mara held her head high and looked at her father as he stood before the Panel in the Hall of Consequence. He alone had the right to speak for her and it was her obligation to be silent and stand in total shame. Mara was too proud to bow her head before the Panel and refused to humble herself, in spite of the pleading looks her father gave her.

“What do you propose, Lightner?” the Chief Panel asked quietly, willing to give the man he knew as a friend the opportunity to speak in his daughter’s behalf. “As you know, the Panel is reluctant to enforce a Standard Consequence if you are offering a solution that will satisfy the Claims of Right.

“With the Panel’s permission, Mara will be given in marriage and removed from the city. Her new duties as a wife and assistant to her husband will prevent her from having time to create havoc in the streets.”

“Is the proposed husband in front of the Panel?” the Chief asked formally. It would not be the first time a loving, but overly permissive, father would stand before the Panel and misrepresent the facts to protect a beloved child. Lightner’s reputation, however, would not lead the Panel to suspect him, but it was the law that a marriage arranged to prevent the Panel from assigning Consequence must be attested to before the female could be released. The Panel could refuse the request if the man chosen was not suitable; the penalty for accepting money to pose as a husband was stiff indeed. The purpose of permitting a Panel Marriage was to ensure the young woman would be under command of another than her parent, who obviously failed in his duty.

“He is.” Lightner turned and nodded and a rather stern-faced man of about thirty years stood up.

“Come forward and state your name, sir,” the Chief Panel ordered, his expression revealing nothing of his innermost thoughts.

“I am Trand Zford, sir.”

“What is your contribution to society?”

“I am a provider who specializes in proteins.”

“An admirable profession, sir,” the Chief Panel nodded respectfully. “It is your intention to take Mara for your wife and assume responsibility for her actions, releasing her Father and the Panel from determining Consequence for her improper behaviors in recent weeks?”

“It is.” Trand Zford appeared calm and confident.

“Very well,” the Chief Panel nodded and looked at the men on either side of him. It was that quickly a decision was made. “Mara Lightner, you are hereby released into the custody of your husband, Trand Zford. You will obey him in all matters. If you appear before this Panel again, not only will you be bound over for Standard Consequence, it will mean your husband will also face Standard Consequence. You are no longer a child and a father’s protection will only work one time with this Panel. Trand Zford, the Panel would strongly advise you to take command of your wife immediately and deal firmly with the disobedience and poor behavior that resulted in her being held in the Hall of Consequence. The Panel wishes you well in your marriage. Dismissed.”

The Panel stood and left the Hall and once they were gone, those present relaxed. It was a solemn occasion when the Panel was in session. The three men were extremely powerful and those chosen to fill the three positions were selected carefully and after much scrutiny. They had final word over these proceedings, and there was no appeal. They were expected to make the correct decision and appointments were never final until every venue was exhausted. Justice for wrongdoings was swift; it was expected that parents would raise their children well and teach them right from wrong. One wrongdoing was harshly punished by Standard Consequence for the crime. Repeat appointments before the Panel were rare, but dealt with in such a manner there would not be a third appointment. A third offense required banishment to an unsettled colony and the offender would have to fend for himself or herself against great odds. It was believed by the majority that focusing on survival would preclude the urge to create havoc.

Mara was not happy but realized that she did not dare open her mouth to speak critically of the Panel, her father, or the man who had perjured himself to claim her as his wife. She simply wanted to leave the Hall of Consequence, go home, and lock herself within her chamber and cry herself to sleep. She would no longer be permitted to speak on behalf of the Assembly. Mara had foolishly permitted herself to lose her temper when the law officer asked her to stop handing out literature for the Assembly and she had taunted him and dared him to take a pamphlet home to his wife. The incensed officer told her she needed to be punished and Mara called him a narrow-minded fool. He arrested her and placed her in the Hall of Consequence. The Assembly was attracting a lot of attention, but not the kind of attention that they wanted. Mara received her dismissal from the Assembly once it was posted that she was awaiting her appointment with the Panel. Mara did not find that particularly fair, but The Assembly preferred to work in ways that did not draw negative attention.

“Father, now that this farce is perpetuated, may we please leave? I am more than ready for my own accommodations and a non-typical meal,” Mara said in a plaintive tone of voice, obviously trying to hurry her parent without seeming obvious or rude. She simply wanted to leave but could not go to the changing room without his permission. The law officer standing beside the door of the hearing room would not permit it.

Trand thought Mara an exceptionally pretty female, even in the bright purple shift that proclaimed her a resident of the Hall of Consequence. She did have one stripe of orange on the hem of the right sleeve of her garment, proclaiming her to have a tendency and proclivity to disobedience and temper. Trand knew precisely how to deal with those episodes and had to admit he was looking forward to correcting her upon occasion. He was one of those rare men who preferred a woman with spirit, which was the only reason he considered taking a wife in this manner. He did not wish to be paired with a timid and shy female.

“Mara, your marriage is not a farce,” Lightner answered his daughter. “You will be leaving this Hall with your new husband. I will no longer be responsible for your actions.” Lightner held himself with dignity as he continued in the face of his daughter’s disbelief, “I have seen to the conveyance of your personal belongings, and we will say our farewell here and now. I hope you will make an effort to adjust to your circumstances and be the willing partner and assistant you were raised to become.”

“Father?” Mara could not believe she was hearing her parent correctly. “Surely you are jesting? You have paid this man to act a part, as everyone knows these Panel Marriages are not real!” she exclaimed. “I would go home now, Father. I have seen enough humiliation for this day.”

“Lightner does not speak falsely, wife. You will be attending me as we depart the city for my home. You will retire to the changing room and attire yourself in the clothing provided, and then I shall permit you a few minutes to say farewell to your Father.” Trand knew he was going to have to take command of his feisty wife immediately lest the law officers hold him in contempt and make known to the Panel that Mara was already creating havoc, and within the Hall itself.

“I do not recognize you, sir, and it is not my desire to accompany you. I did not agree to a marriage, and I will never agree to a marriage, as my Father well knows.” Mara hoped her words would discourage the tall man. She would not live in marriage with any man and serve his whims to the exclusion of all she desired of life.

“Yes, Mara, he did mention that your temporary residence in the Hall of Consequence permitted him the opportunity to arrange a Panel Marriage for you without your consent. He was of the opinion that left to your own you would choose to forego marriage altogether, thus ensuring no grandchildren to carry on your family, or to provide your father the pleasure of Grandparenting.”

“I do not wish to be married to you,” Mara stated quietly, careful to keep her voice from carrying. The law officer would be required to remand her in the Hall of Consequence, as well as her Father and the man claiming to be her husband! This simply would not do one thing to help her situation.

“You do not wish to be married, period, but you ARE married, Mara, and like it or not, you will be my wife.” His voice was low as well, but quite stern.

“Father, why would you do this to me?” Mara demanded of Lightner.

“Because your head is filled with nonsense and I believe this young man will provide you with a life of purpose instead of the foolishness you have exhibited in the last weeks. When you wreaked havoc in public, you gave me the opportunity to take command, and I did so with your best interests at heart. You will soon learn that I chose Trand Zford because he will keep you out of the city and away from those who have filled your head with improper ideas. He will father children for you to raise, and I feel that is a better contribution to society than facing Standard Consequence.”

“I will not go with him, Father.” Mara tossed her long red hair and then headed for the changing room. Her Father nodded at the law officer and she swept past him and across the large gathering hall to the changing room assigned to her. Mara’s blue eyes narrowed in disapproval when she saw the garments hanging in the room. They were not her own, and they proclaimed her a married woman! Mara could not leave the Hall of Consequence wearing the purple uniform dress; she would set off alarms if she attempted to do so, and then she would be held for not following the rules. In spite of her bravado of the last few days, she did not relish staying within the Hall of Consequence one moment longer than she had to do so. But, to wear the clothes provided by the man her father chose for her? It went against her basic beliefs. She did not wish to belong to any man, or to be forced by law to obey him. She did not wish to wear the clothing that proclaimed her the property of another, but unless she was to leave the Hall wearing nothing at all, that is precisely what she would have to do. It was shameful to don the long skirt that hid her legs from view and the long sleeved tunic that hid her arms. There was a lacy chimet for her hair, a very decorative and expensive one, and unless she wished to be held in violation of Married Custom, she would have to pin up her hair within the chimet. Once she was finished, Mara looked like any other Matron. She would never forgive her Father for doing this to her.

Trand Zford was standing outside the door to the changing room, waiting for Mara to come outside. His dark eyes expressed obvious approval as he observed her state of dress. He thought the chimet he chose for Mara’s hair was exceptionally lovely. Only one thing remained to proclaim her his wife, and he quickly stepped forward. “Place your left hand in mine, Mara.”

Mara felt angry tears sting her eyes as she realized the tall man’s intentions. She did not wish to wear his ring. In fact, she could not imagine one thing that would make her feel more like a slave than wearing a band that proclaimed her his property, his wife. The ring meant that she could not give permission for her actions, and it would be a constant reminder that all decisions regarding her life must come from the man who placed it on her finger! Mara shook her head no, and put her hands behind her back. “I will not wear a ring, sir! It is against my beliefs.”

“Your outlandish beliefs are what landed you in the Hall of Consequence and granted you an appointment before the Panel. You should be very grateful that your parent thought to your well-being and gave you protection from Standard Consequence.”

“Thankful?” Mara raised her voice, mindless of the Law Officers standing about. “I would rather face Standard Consequence than be given in marriage against my will. At least the Standard Consequence would end at some point and my freedom granted to me once again. Now I have no freedom. I will not wear a ring that is merely a constant reminder that I am no better than a slave.”

“I had hoped it would not be necessary to take command of you within this Hall of Consequence, Mara, but I can see you are determined to test my patience and my resolve, so we shall have done with it here and now.”

Mara was extremely embarrassed when Trand Zford stepped forward and wrapped one large hand around her arm just above her elbow. He led her across the large gathering room into a short hallway. Mara tried to hold back, knowing full well what the rooms in the hallway were used for. Trand stopped in front of one door, which bore a sign saying, Room of Applied Consequence. It was unoccupied, so he opened the door, pulled Mara inside, and then locked the door behind him, insuring privacy.

Mara’s blue eyes opened wide with dismay as she saw various items used for correction hanging upon the wall and lying on a table. There was also a bench with straps that could be adjusted in many different positions, and a simple wooden chair. “It would not be prudent of you to deal harshly with me, sir. We are just met and I do not recognize you. You do not recognize me, either. All this will serve is to create great animosity.”

“That might work with your father, Mara, but as your husband I will not be swayed by such pitiful arguments. You have behaved with contempt and caused your parent great expense and great shame. You have been excessively rude in speaking to me and greeting me as your husband. It is not to be tolerated, and I will take command of you immediately and without further argument from you.” Trand took a seat on the sturdy wooden chair and pulled Mara down over his thighs. “Your behavior has been childish, Mara, and I am going to spank you as I would a child! I hope this lesson inspires you to behave as an adult woman is expected to behave in this society.” He raised his hand and brought it down on her bottom with a loud splat.

Mara could not believe how much the simple spank hurt, even through the long skirt and her undergarment! She braced herself for another, and did not have long to wait. Trand kept up a steady rhythm and it did not take long for her bottom to start burning furiously. The more she burned, the harder she kicked, and within a couple of minutes her legs were scissoring as quickly as the spanks were falling. When she could no longer control her voice, she started pleading with him to stop, “Please, no more. I shall be polite!” When her new husband did not stop, she spoke louder, “Please, sir! I will do better!” Still, he did not comment or acknowledge her words. Finally, Mara begged, “No more! Please, no more! I am in considerable pain and cannot bear it another moment! Have mercy on me, sir! I beg you!”

“Are you amendable to receiving my ring, wife?” Trand asked pointedly, giving her a hard spank to encourage her to give the correct answer.

As much as it distressed her to do so, she simply could not bear any more of the painful punishment. “Yes, sir,” she agreed quietly.

Trand promptly stood her on her feet and stood to tower over her. “Place your left hand in mine, Mara,” he said for the second time that day.

Mara did as he ordered, the silent message that he would spank her again if she dared to break her word translated by Trand choosing to stay within this room to place his ring on her finger. Tears filled her eyes as she came to the realization that she was to face the worst consequence possible for taunting the law officer. Instead of merely facing Standard Consequence, Mara was sentenced to marriage for the rest of her natural life… A harsh penalty indeed. She could see by the expression in his dark eyes that he was growing impatient with her, but when he glanced toward the wall display of implements, Mara knew she could not hesitate any longer. She placed her left hand within his right hand and was startled to feel the heat radiating off of his palm; apparently the spanking made his hand sting as much as her buttocks did. She took perverse satisfaction in that.

Trand took the simple gold band from his pocket and slipped it onto Mara’s ring finger; as was the custom, he was wearing the matching band on his ring finger already. He placed his left hand over hers, resting the bottom of his ring on top of Mara’s ring. “These rings bind us as husband and wife until death separates us. The command for my wife is respect and obedience in all things. My husbandly promise is respect and protection.” Trand released her hand, and then smiled, “We will go now and bid your parent farewell. It is a lengthy journey to our home.”