Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [175]
Rakzan Kral, however, sat scowling at the scene by the table. He crossed his arms over his chest, then never moved again, never looked at anyone or at anything except the growing heaps of black stones. Finally, when a scant handful of red stones had fallen onto the table from the last red urn, Kral rose to his feet. Chief Speaker Admi left off counting and walked over to face him. At the table the other councilmen let the tally stop and turned to listen.
“Good councilmen,” Kral growled. “There be a need on me to spare us all this tedium. I do concede this decision. Your townspeople did foolishly choose to turn their backs on the strong, who would help them, and ally with those as weak as themselves. So be it. When your Wyrd falls upon you, let none say that I refused to warn you.”
“Your concession, it be welcome,” Admi said. “But this talk about Wyrd—truly, Rakzan, were I you I would watch my words more carefully.”
Kral snarled and tossed his head. The charms in his long mane of hair caught the lantern light and glinted. Unsmiling but calm, Admi caught his gaze and held it. Slowly, quietly, Rhodry rose to his feet and waited, but in only a few moments Kral looked away with another snarl.
“So be it,” Kral repeated. “I trust that your guards will let me and my man leave?”
“Of course,” Admi said. “And if you do wish to attend the trial on the morrow, you may do that as well.”
“Trial? And what justice can our priestess expect? It be clear enough, Chief Speaker, that your town did try and condemn her long ago. I do wonder why you waste effort on a trial. Why not kill her now and be done with it?”
“Kill her?” Admi said. “You know naught of our laws, Rakzan. We all did see her draw that dagger and threaten the prince's child. Her other crimes—they be whispers and rumors, not charges. Unless some person step forward with proof, then I'll not allow them into court.”
“Oh.” Kral paused, thinking. “Well and good, then, and I do apologize for my harsh words. This charge of threatening to do harm—what be the penalty for that?”
Admi hesitated, glanced Verrarc's way, then spoke. “Exile. Never more may she set one foot on Cerr Cawnen and our lands round about.”
“Then attend we shall.” Kral bowed, smiling. “Since as you say there be many a witness, she shall ride with us at the end of your proceeding.”
Rhodry felt his rage as fire, rippling up his spine. He stood, shaking and burning, then reached for his sword— which was, fortunately, still in Dallandra's keeping. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Prince Dar getting up. Rhodry took one stride toward Admi, but Dar smoothly stepped in front of him.
“No strife at a Deciding, Rhodry,” Dar said. “Stand back.”
Zatcheka rose and laid a heavy hand on Rhodry's arm.
“The prince, he did speak,” she said. “Why are you not obeying him?”
Rhodry shook her hand off, but he did step back, turned and walked away in fact. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, then stood at an uncovered window and looked out at the night and the rain. Behind him he could hear voices, but the rage had got into his blood and roared in his ears. He clutched the sill with both hands and tried to will himself calm. Outside the rain fell steadily, straight down in a windless summer storm.
“Rhodry?” The voice was Dallandra's. “They sent for me. Are you all right?”
Rhodry turned around. Except for Dallandra, carrying a lantern, the Council House stood empty.
“I'm not,” he said. “Where's my sword?”
“Dar's taking it back to camp.”
Rhodry swore with every foul oath he knew, but Dallandra merely waited for him to finish.
“I was right,” she said. “You were planning on killing Raena straightaway.”
“Well, ye gods! These stupid peasants and their stupid laws! They're going to let her go. Just let her ride away with Kral and her filthy sorcerer.