Bones of the Dragon - Margaret Weis [229]
“Retreat, my lady!” Torval shouted. “I will cover you!”
He redoubled his attack, slashing furiously. Several serpents lay dead at his feet, including the one Skylan had slain, and the others were keeping their distance. Vindrash folded her wings around her mauled body and dived headfirst into the sea. Two serpents sped after her, trying to catch her, but at the last moment, the Sea Goddess relented. An enormous wave rose up to receive Vindrash and carry her safely into the depths of the ocean, where, it seemed, the serpents were loath to follow.
Skylan landed on the ground, the soft sand absorbing his fall. The last he saw of Torval, the god was swinging his axe tirelessly, felling serpents who now swarmed him.
The world went black as night for Skylan for a moment, and then it was bright as dawn. He found himself lying on his face in front of Garn’s bier. The warriors were gathered around him. Treia stood over him, gazing down on him. Vindictive, triumphant, she was about to swallow him whole.
“Skylan Ivorson,” Treia said, pointing her finger at him, “you have heard the charges against you. You have heard me denounce you before men and the gods as a liar, a cheat, and a murderer. Because of you, good men are dead and the Dragon Kahg has abandoned us. What do you say to this, Skylan Ivorson?”
Skylan gazed up at her in bewilderment. He had been fighting the battle with Torval, yet he must have been here, as well, for he remembered, dimly, Treia summoning the warriors when they woke that morning. He remembered her telling them of his crimes. How he had conspired with Draya to murder Horg and rob Torval of his judgment. He had then rid himself of Draya, for fear she would expose him. He had plotted with a slaver to abduct Draya and take her to the Southland. His plot had been foiled by the druids, who had murdered Draya and changed Skylan’s men into rabbits. When Bjorn demanded angrily how Treia knew all this, where had she come by her knowledge, she had claimed she had been told by Vindrash.
Skylan knew that was not true. Vindrash had forgiven him. It was Treia who lied. He smiled bitterly. Convicted by a lie. How fitting.
Perhaps the battle had been a dream. He looked down at his chest and saw an angry red weal slashed across his naked breast.
The battle with the gods had been real. He was living the nightmare.
“What do you say, Skylan Ivorson?” Treia cried.
She regarded him smugly, eager to see him twist and wriggle, struggle to try to free himself.
Skylan lifted his head. He drew a deep breath and spoke quietly and calmly. “I say that you have spoken the truth.”
CHAPTER
16
Treia seemed disappointed. His calm confession sucked the air out of her.
“We cannot trust this man. He may yet try to escape justice,” she said. “Bind him and take him on board the dragonship. Lock him in the hold. We will carry him back to Vindraholm for the Vutmana.”
“He is god-cursed!” Sigurd said. He drew his axe. “Let us kill him now!”
The men growled their agreement.
“Skylan is guilty of robbing Torval of his judgment!” Treia cast a flashingeyed, sweeping glance around the circle. “Would you risk angering the god by doing the same?”
Sigurd glowered at his stepdaughter, trying to intimidate her. Treia faced him, unafraid. Sigurd, muttering, flung his axe into the sand and picked up a length of rope.
Skylan held out his hands, wrists together. He was prepared to accept his punishment, yet he could not help but flinch when he saw that Aylaen was among those who came to bind him.
She wrapped the rope around his wrists and leaned over to hiss in his ear, “I saw the battle in heaven. I heard Vindrash speak to you. The gods may forgive you, but I do not. I will always hate you!”
She gave the rope a yank, pulled it tight. The rope bit into his flesh, but it was her words, not the rope, that drew blood. Aylaen walked away and went to stand beside the pyre. Men held flaming torches, ready to set it alight.
They bound Skylan’s legs. He could not move his hands or arms, and they had to drag him