Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [178]
Throughout the crowd the townsfolk began muttering to themselves, angry words from the men, the women shocked at her arrogance. Admi once again called for silence and, eventually, got it.
“Very well then,” Admi said. “If the other judges do so agree.”
The other judges all spoke at once, stating that indeed, they did agree. Dallandra noticed that a fair number of townsfolk looked disappointed.
“So be it,” Admi said. “Since there be no other charges against you—”
“But there are!” Rhodry called out. He rose from the bench and strode forward to face the five judges. “I do bring a charge, that she practices witchcraft of the dark sort and foul sorcery.”
Raena's face drained white. “You lie!” she snarled.
“Indeed?” Admi ignored her. “Tell me, Rhodry from Aberwyn, have you proof of this charge? Under our laws it be a grave one.”
“I have witnesses, good sir.” Rhodry bowed to him. “Arzosah of the Lofty Wings, and Jahdo, Lael's son.”
When the dragon lumbered to her feet, the townsfolk gasped, swore, and moved back yet another distance while they chattered among themselves. Jahdo left his mother's side and trotted over to stand beside Rhodry. Admi had to call for silence for a good while before at last they fell quiet.
“Raena,” Admi said. “Do you deny this charge?”
“I do.” Raena's voice was shaking badly. “He does hate me for a supposed wrong I paid him, when never I did such a thing.”
“Oh, you've done me many a wrong,” Rhodry said. “But not me alone. Jahdo, tell the judges about the woman you saw out in the water meadows.”
“I will.” Jahdo was trembling a little as he turned toward the table, and he took a deep breath before he could go on. “It were before I did leave our town with Meer the blind bard. I did go among the meadows gathering herbs for Gwira, and I did see Councilman Verrarc. He did talk with a woman all wrapped in a cloak, and here it were a summer day. And I did find a talisman lying in the grass.”
Rhodry took a little metal disk out of his pocket and laid it on the tray next to the dagger. “Judge Zatcheka,” Rhodry said, “can you tell us what the mark upon this disk means among your people?”
Zatcheka leaned forward, glanced at the disk, and made the sign of warding against it. “It be a foul thing,” she said. “The sign of havoc and chaos.”
The watching townsfolk stayed dead-silent, straining to hear. Raena made a little sound under her breath, more a moan than an angry cry, Dallandra thought.
“Chief Speaker,” Arzosah rumbled, “I have seen this foul woman turn herself into a raven. She's what the Horsekin call a mazrak, and truly, the raven suits her. She's a scavenger like them, and like them, she'll kill a baby in its mother's nest. Isn't that what she tried to do last night?”
“You have no proof!” Raena screamed at her. “It be your word or mine, and none in this town will ever believe me, but you lie lie lie!”
“You claim you don't know sorcery?” Rhodry strode forward. “By your leave, Chief Speaker? Here's the dagger she carried when we caught her.” Rhodry pointed at Yraen's silver dagger, lying on the table. “Kiel, all of you—am I right?”
“You are,” Kiel said.
The other men of the town watch nodded their agreement.
“Then look at this.” Rhodry picked up the dagger and held it high.
A pale bluish light bloomed on the silver and flared like a fire in straw, clearly visible despite the sunlight.
“She's bewitched the metal.” Rhodry turned, holding the dagger so all could see. “And for dark purposes, no doubt.”
“Curse you!” Raena snarled.
Rhodry ignored her and laid the dagger back down on the table. “One final thing, most honored judges,” he went on. “You've heard Jahdo tell of the war against Cengarn, how the Horsekin besieged an innocent city, all to capture the prince's wife and kill their unborn child. Raena was at that siege, and she worked witchcraft for them. I saw her, Arzosah saw her, Dallandra, the prince, all of his archers— need I go on? We'll all swear that she goaded the army on, and all to kill a woman heavy with child.”
At that the crowd could endure