The Red Wyvern - Katharine Kerr [134]
“You’re lying!” Maddyn snarled. “Aethan told me the tale, and it was a different one.”
“And how could he have known what my brother—”
“Oh hold your tongue, slut!” Maddyn spun round to face the prince. “She deserves death.”
Nevyn stepped firmly in front of Maddyn and forced him back. Back in the crowd a woman cried out, a long wail of pain. Nevyn spun around, expecting to see Lilli, but the woman who wept was someone he’d never seen before—so Merodda had had at least one friend, apparently. But where was Lilli? He turned, scanning the crowd, and finally saw her halfway up the staircase. She stood watching, her face as expressionless as her mother’s, while Tieryn Anasyn stood behind, his hands tight on her shoulders.
“Does anyone speak for Lady Merodda?” Maryn said.
On the staircase Lilli started forward, but Anasyn grabbed her and hauled her back, talking all the while. Nevyn caught Maryn’s attention and pointed her out.
“Tieryn Anasyn!” the prince called out. “Let your foster-sister come forward.”
The crowd in the great hall sighed in a vast murmur as it parted to let the lady and her foster-brother through. Lilli kept her head high and her expression composed, but Nevyn could see her trembling. She curtsied to the prince without looking at her mother. When she started to speak, Anasyn drowned her out.
“My prince,” Anasyn said. “Merodda had my mother murdered. I add my voice to the silver dagger’s.”
Lilli opened her mouth, but the prince spoke first.
“Tieryn Anasyn, my thanks,” Maryn said. “With all that’s happened, I’d forgotten that.”
“My liege.” Nevyn decided that it was time he spoke up. “I can understand the tieryn’s desire to avenge his mother, and the bard’s to avenge his friend, but I’ll still ask you to spare the woman. My reasons will come clear later.”
The prince hesitated, thinking hard. Lilli seemed to have given up trying to speak; she was leaning back against her foster-brother as if she were too exhausted to stand on her own. From behind him Nevyn heard Maddyn swear; then the bard shoved him bodily to one side and strode forward.
“My liege,” Maddyn said, “once not so long ago you granted me a boon, that whatever I asked you for should be mine. I ask for her life, that you hang her as she deserves.”
“Maddo!” Nevyn snarled. “Don’t!”
“I will, curse it all!” Maddyn fell on his knees in front of Maryn. “My liege, I ask you now for the boon you granted me.”
“By all the gods!” Prince Maryn said. “I’d meant you to have somewhat glorious, not this!”
“My liege, this is the boon I ask for. And so no man will speak ill of you, let it be known that it’s my demand that’s caused the hanging of her. Have your scribe write it into the judgment.”
“Very well,” the prince said. “Lady Lillorigga, it aches my heart after all you’ve done for me, but I can’t deny a man a boon I granted before the gods and my vassals. I hope and pray that you understand this.”
Lilli merely trembled for an answer. When Anasyn put a brotherly arm around her, she seemed not to notice. With a helpless glance Nevyn’s way, the prince shrugged, palms upward.
“So be it,” Prince Maryn went on. “Lady Merodda of the Boar, you will hang by the neck until dead, out in the courtyard this morrow noon.” He glanced around, then gestured. “Guards! Take her away.”
Merodda flung her arms above her head as if begging the gods, then let them fall to her sides. When the guards grabbed her by the arms, she let her eyes flick their way once. As they marched her out, she looked only straight ahead. In Anasyn’s arms Lilli began sobbing—for Lady Bevyan as much as for her mother, Nevyn assumed. Maddyn got up and bowed low to the king.
“My liege, my humble thanks.” His smile was terrifying. “I’ll glorify your name forever for this.”
The prince inclined his head. With a gesture to Branoic to follow, Maddyn bowed, and left the prince’s presence. Maryn watched him as he sat down with the few remaining