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She keeps her eyes on the floor.
If she looks up, she knows she is lost.
Kotallo is in much the same boat, a nervous presence at her side. He keeps his gaze skyward, somewhere just over the Chief's head.
And they decidedly do not look at one another.
So, Aloy chooses to maintain unwavering eye contact with her new best friend, an oddly-shaped pebble on the ground.
This is a formality, she reminds herself. As penance for the disruption to the Sky Clan. Chief Hekarro cannot be seen so obviously taking sides.
"It has come to my attention," says Chief Hekarro, "that a serious act of vandalism has been committed in the name of our capital."
Aloy thought the Chaplains would be in a better state, but the twinkle in Dekka's eye says otherwise.
"And that you, Champion Aloy, and Marshall Kotallo, stand accused of destruction of the walls of the Bulwark, a structure which has stood in protection of the Sky Clan for generations. You also stand accused of mutiny, trespass, and-" he pauses, voice wavering, "-identifying Commander Tekkoteh as an 'arrogant shit'."
At this, Chaplain Gerrah turns around, unable to face the audience. Aloy can see her shoulders shaking in the corner of her eye.
Beside her, Kotallo lets out a short sharp breath through his nose. She takes a deep breath to steady herself and nudges him in the ribs with her elbow, hard. "You're supposed to be a very serious Marshal," she hisses out of the corner of her mouth.
Kotallo nudges her back. "Be still," he says, and presses his lips together into a thin line.
Hekarro continues. "As your Chief, it is my-" another pause for breath "-Solemn Obligation," (there goes Jetakka, she notes) "to inform you that such acts of disrespect should not be tolerated."
"No," Aloy agrees, though her voice cracks. "It shouldn't be."
"And we apologise sincerely for the damage to the Bulwark," she adds, electing not to mention Tekkoteh.
Somewhere in the audience, Tekkoteh makes a noise that falls somewhere between an incensed shout and a hiccup.
Hekarro's lips twitch, and he joins Kotallo in looking skyward for strength and composure. Kotallo is visibly trembling.
She waits for more.
"Anyway," Hekarro says, apparently at his limit, "that will be all. Dismissed."
---
They take their leave together.
Kotallo walks a few steps ahead, still unable to make eye contact with Aloy. "I hate you for this."
She jogs ahead a few steps and playfully checks him with her shoulder "No, you don't."