"So, Martian law is built much more from the ground up than Earth law and every law on the books has an on-record justification or several of them, and in Martian law the primary reason self-defensive violence against kidnappers is permitted is the threat of physical harm - they might be taking you outside an arcology to have fewer witnesses, say - so I'd have to lean on secondaries, mostly the daughter..."

" - would it also help if the dead summoner was in fact alive and well, and it was known to the demon that would happen?"

"...Do explain?"

" - some humans become daeva when they die. Elves don't, so we only learned that this was the case recently when some daeva told us and then we did conjuration to confirm it. It's a minority but a substantial minority - fifteen percent? and daeva can tell which ones. That summoner is now a fairy. Celendra knew this before she did it."

"Hrm. I assume his family didn't know, and he couldn't straightforwardly return home, which means all the secondary reasons murder is illegal remain in place."

"Yes. But - he kidnapped her, she kidnapped him back, so to speak."

"Yes, I can see the argument. This could become very drawn out and I'll probably have to open by suing the GCP so I'll need to contact a colleague; possibly several. What's your legal budget?"

" - uh, I would have to ask somebody about that. I expect we can spend as much as is needed. Especially if we could also get anywhere on establishing that the GCP's current trial procedures aren't good enough and daeva on trial should have the rights humans on trial would, I'm pretty sure they'd be willing to spend anything to achieve that."

"That is... harder. There being some practical difficulties with bail and so on. I am confident there are improvements to be made but the bindings have to serve as arrest and prison guard both. I can call in an expert if that's a priority."

"We can make arrests without the daeva taking a summons willingly but an effort to convince the GCP to do that stalled because we were just sending them home under a binding so they could never leave their respective realms again, instead of keeping them prisoner on a planet here."

"What about that did the GCP object to?"

"You'd have to talk to Prince Nelyafinwë, I'm really not sure."

"All right, does he know to expect to be contacted about this? Does he have a private address or should I go through the office of embassies?"

"He knows to expect this, yes." And he has a private address; she gives it.

"Now, I am a defense lawyer, so Celendra will need to accept me as representation; are you confident that she will do that?"

"Well, she can't talk, so you'll have to take our word for it that we're communicating her wishes accurately, but yes, I'm confident she will."

"There's precedent for the use of interpreters."

"I don't know if the gag would let her confirm a transcript of what she said to me. I think they usually let the demons make pieces of paper with writing at trial."

"That's my understanding, and that they can nod."

"Then I can get her confirmation she wants you as representation, and Prince Nelyafinwë's that the money isn't a constraint."

"Very good. It's a pleasure to work with you."

And Maitimo grimaces but confirms that there's enough trade to make the financials work and she goes to report to Celendra - I think there's a good chance she can get you cleared and you can go home, do you want her to represent you?

That would be nice... the lawyer I had before didn't seem to want to be there.

This lawyer is supposed to be really good and seems excited about taking the case. Want me to interpret so you can draft a letter confirming you want her to take the case?

Yes please.