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When they get there, Illan has Jorry and Uther keep an eye on Faetherton while he and the guard proceed into the cemetery. They all watch Illan as he and the guard make their way through the headstones and crypts, toward the last resting place of his beloved Alaina. About midway through the cemetery, they come to a stop and Illan falls to his knees.

It looks as if the guard says something to him and then Illan replies. The guard then begins walking away from where Illan is kneeling beside his wife’s grave.

“Should we stop him?” Jiron asks James indicating the guard.

Shaking his head he says, “No. Illan told him he could leave if he showed him where his wife was buried.”

The guard glances toward them and by the time he’s reached the edge of the graveyard has broken into a run and looks to be fleeing for his life. “Guess he felt there might be a change of heart,” offers Miko.

“Looks that way,” agrees Jiron. Turning to James he says, “How long should we wait?”

“As long as he needs,” he says quietly.

Faetherton stands there quietly for several minutes. Then when Illan isn’t making any move to leave he says, “You know you all are in a lot of trouble.”

Jiron laughs, “I suppose.”

“So?” Yern says.

“If you let me go I’ll go easy on you when the time comes,” he says.

“I doubt if you’ll live that long,” Uther says.

“Are you threatening me?” he says offended.

Uther looks at him and nods over to where Illan is returning, “I’m not the one you should be worried about.”

Faetherton turns to see Illan stalking from the graveyard wearing a grim expression. The color drains from his face as he sees Illan’s hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

Illan comes to stand before Faetherton, the others gathered around. “I charge you with the death of my wife, the wrongful imprisonment of my son and his family. I also charge you with the illegal seizure of power here in Seastar. How do you plead?”

Faetherton gasps when he hears that. “How do I plead?” he replies indignantly. “Who are you to make charges against me? You, who killed with reckless abandon many years ago. You hold no authority here.”

“Is there anyone here who has anything to say on this man’s behalf?” he asks. A silence hangs in the air as he looks to each in turn, finally settling on James, of everyone there, he’s the most likely to voice an objection. To the surprise of all, he shakes his head.

“So be it,” he says and draws his sword.

“Wait!” Faetherton cries, the doom of the moment finally becoming real to him. He tries to make a break for it but Jorry and Uther grab him and drag him back. Forcing him to his knees, they hold him there to face Illan’s judgment.

“You are found guilty, the sentence is death!” he says as he lashes out and severs his head from his body. Jorry and Uther quickly back away to avoid being sprayed by the blood as it fountains from his neck.

“Battlefield justice,” Potbelly says.

Wiping his sword on the dead man’s clothes, Illan says, “Let’s go.” Moving to his horse, he mounts and leads them back through town and to his estate. As they leave, James glances back to the dead man and shudders.

Arriving at the estate, they find two of Ceadric’s men standing watch in front by the gate. They come to attention when he arrives and one opens the gate to allow them through. Up at the manor house everyone’s in a flurry of activity.

As they leave the gate behind them and make their way toward the house, word begins to spread of their return and all activity ceases. The front door to the house is open and before they arrive, Ceadric, Delia and the others come out to greet them.

“Are they settled in?” Illan asks Ceadric.

“Yes, sir,” he replies. “They’re in the dining room having a bite to eat, they were all quite famished. I have riders out to gather those who will have time to reach Brook’s Hollow by dawn.”

“Good,” he says as he dismounts. Caleb and Moyil come forward to take their horses. Illan moves into the house.

James signals for Delia, Jiron and Miko to follow him and he takes them from the