The grumbling in the courtroom began again. What now? I was just being honest.

Maion was the first to interject.

“Just listen to him Reuel . . . me, me, me, I, I, I . . .  Kendi is just plain selfish. Never once has he considered Jah’s ultimate plan. He doesn’t understand because all he thinks about is himself and what he wants. It is rare to see this egotism among our kind, but we all know what happens when this type of behavior is identified. We don’t need to prolong this travesty any longer.”

“What other decision is there to make other than exile?” Haamiah added.

I felt like my knees would buckle. Maybe that is what this court wanted—me on my knees begging for my life.

“Kendi will appreciate what he once had when he is running with the Dominion.” Sraosha agreed.

“My brothers, let’s pause a minute to consider the consequences of our final action today. Kendi was created, hand chosen, and appointed to the office of Guardian by Jah himself. His knowledge is far greater than any of us can possibly fathom. Can we just cast that aside so easily? There would be certain repercussions from a decision to exile.”

Micah stood quietly in the far corner of the jury box facing me as he continued to speak to Reuel.

“There must be a higher purpose for Kendi that this great quorum is failing to recognize today. Jah knows it because he placed it there. And though we can’t see it, we will have to put our trust in the one that we serve and not lean on our own understanding.”

“So you think we should just let Kendi off the hook . . . again?” Maion retorted.

“It is not about letting him off the hook, Maion,” Paschar began. “We mustn’t fail to consider the greater purpose that Jah wants us to see and to cultivate in Kendi. It is our responsibility to nurture the very purpose for which he was created.”

“This is ludicrous. It’s time to pass judgment. I refuse to listen to future epilogue in defense of this rogue,” Maion continued.

“I concur. We are just wasting time here. The majority agrees with a sentence of exile.” Haamiah quickly added, “I say it is time to put this to a vote and get this farce over with. We all have duties to which we should be attending.”

I turned now so that I could see the ruling judges and the Advocates. Haamiah was standing so that he was facing the other judges.

“Brothers, all those in favor of exile it is time now to state your intent.”