A Legal Argument and Decisions

 

           Of course, nothing happens in the big forest, certainly not around the fire circle, that Maeve doesn’t know about. She pays attention. It’s for the good of everyone, naturally.

        Now, Twigg didn’t mention at first that there were other things down inside the burrow, because his attention had been diverted by the portable portal. It was a very diverting article, to be sure. But later he got to thinking of the things Mike Dingle had listed before his sudden departure. Treasures, actually. Gold, in the form of a few coins, and some jewelry. Stuff.

           Twigg liked stuff too, so one day he said to Ralph, “you know that Mike guy said he had a bunch of other stuff in the burrow, but I can’t reach it.”

            “Well, we probably don’t need it anyway, Twigg,” said Ralph. “Don’t we have everything we need already?”
            “Yeah. I guess so,” said his son. But he wasn’t sure. He liked his own collection pretty well and could see the value of more and better items.
            Hearing this, Maeve began investigating.
            It was comical. Maeve is a rather large bird, but she can fit into a hole in the ground.
            She located the correct burrow. It must have been difficult for a creature of the air to creep down that little tunnel. But she did it. It was pretty dark down there, but some light entered.
            “Ah,” she said, and picked up a ring. She bit it, to make sure that it was really gold. She put her left foot through it by bunching her toes together. There it stayed.
            Then she picked up an ancient golden coin. So her big black beak was occupied. When she turned around to hunch down and creep out, she found that someone was blocking her way.
            Now, she had never seen Mike Dingle, but this someone looked an awful lot like his description. Brown papery skin and pointed tufty ears, black button eyes, plaid coat, and he was just about the size of a common wild rabbit.
            “Ho, Blackleg. Pirate! Where are you going with my gold,” said this person in a raspy little voice and not budging.
            She put the coin down between her feet and said, “since when, Imp?” She considered what her beak could do about this person.
            “Who are you? I know the name of the Imp who left it here,” croaked Maeve, impatiently.
            “It doesn’t matter what my name is, Blackbird. It’s mine by descent. I am of his flesh. His son, in a word,” said the small person.
            “Fiddlesticks,” said Maeve. “By the laws of Treasure Trove it belongs to the first person to find it! Therefore, mine, or whoever I give it to.” This last was a new idea, that had just occurred to her, and she rather liked it. Noble. Generous! Her breast swelled with the wonder of it.
            “I’ll tell you what, Plaidie, instead of pecking my way past you, let us go apply to the Lord of this Forest for a decision. He will know what is just and right,” said Maeve at last, since they were at an impasse.
            “Very well,” said the anonymous Plaidie, having observed her beak for a moment.
            “Come along then,” said Maeve, and she picked up the coin again and they both came out of the burrow. Maeve flew low so that the Plaidie could follow her. They made their way to the fire circle where Ralph was discoursing on natural wonders with his son and bouncing Cherry on his knee while Ramona stirred something over the fire.
            Maeve flew to Ralph and laid the coin at his feet, then removed the ring from her foot and laid it there also. The Plaidie came up close too.
            “Maeve, my birdie,” said Ralph. “Who is this fellow, and what have we here?” Though Ralph knew a Plaidie when he saw one, he didn’t know them by name.
            “This is a business call, Ralph,” said Maeve. “We crave a decision. I crept into the burrow where Mike Dingle abandoned his treasures when he hopped into the portable portal, and I found these golden things. By the right of Treasure Trove they should be mine. But this person who will not give his name says that they are his by right of descent. He claims that Mike is his father, which I doubt. So, sir, which of us shall have the gold?  We will abide by your ruling.” Then Maeve bowed her head and spread both black wings out wide.
            “What say you, Plaidie?” inquired Ralph, peering down at the small nervous person below him.
            “Sir, my name is Matthew O’Dingle, since I am of Dingle. But that’s not the point. Yon hoard is a Plaidie hoard and the next Plaidie to find it, regardless of any others, should possess it. It’s only right, sir!”
            Ramona, hearing all this, came and sat beside Ralph to listen to the legal arguments. She was still holding her wooden spoon. She had never seen a Plaidie in person either.
            “I believe I know how I shall rule,” said Ralph. “Do you both promise to abide by my ruling with no further argument or fussing?”
            “I do,” said Maeve.
            “Yes, sir,” said Matthew O’Dingle.
            “Alright. This is my ruling. Maeve shall possess the two things she brought out of the burrow. Matthew O’Dingle shall possess whatever is left down there. That’s it!” said Ralph, having trouble to not laugh.
            “Oh, thank you sir! I did not expect such wisdom and kindness,” said the Plaidie.
            “Go your way, Matthew. I wish you the joy of it,” said Ralph, more amused than ever. And with that Matthew scuttled off into the woods as fast as his tiny legs could take him.
            “Thanks, boss,” said Maeve. “I didn’t know how you were going to sort this, but you did!” She strutted around his feet for a few minutes, deep in Raven thought.
            “I have reached a decision also,” said Maeve.
            She picked up the coin and carried it to Twigg. He took it from her, smiling. Then she brought him the ring also. “For your collection of interesting stuff, Twigg,” said she.
            She flew up to Ralph’s left shoulder, and said, “a Raven has no need of gold. I have the very sky and my wings and my friends. What else could I want?” She closed her eyes and made a few Raven knocks.
            “You’re a wise old bird, Maeve,” said Ralph with a twinkle.