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behind her. Én'nish pushed into view through a cluster of Anmaglâhk and came
downslope with something cupped in her hands. Fréth took it and proceeded
across the clearing. As she approached Brot'an's table, Wynn saw a sacred
white flower in Fréth's hand. The same as the one that Sgäile had warned her
not to touch.
White velvet petals shaped like leaves gathered the sunlight that struck them
and returned it in a soft glow. The base and stem of the flower were a dark
green, close to black.
"We saw some of those on our way here," Leesil whispered.
Fréth held it up for the clan elders to see.
"Anasgiah the Life Shield. Prepared by a healer in tea or food, it sustains
the dying, so they might yet be saved from death. It is vibrant with life
itself, and feeds the life of those who need it most."
Anxiety grew in Wynn's stomach. By all she had heard, the ancestors were
thought to weigh and render judgment according to an'Cróan needs. This flower
was an inert thing, void of such intelligent consideration whatever its use
might be in these proceedings.
"The accused will come out," Fréth ordered.
Magiere approached in an echo of Fréth's own self-confidence. Wynn trotted
after, uncertain if protocol allowed it, but no one stopped her.
Without warning, Fréth slapped the white petals across Magiere's face.
Wynn gasped as Leesil tried to rush out. Brot'an pulled him back and then
walked up behind Magiere.
"What is the meaning of this?" Brot'an demanded, as Sgäile moved quickly to
join them.
Wynn grabbed hold of Magiere's arm, fearful of what she might do in return.
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Magiere barely flinched, but her dark eyes locked on Fréth's amber ones. Then
she began to shake uncontrollably. Fréth watched her with a startled
satisfaction.
Wynn wrapped her arm around Magiere's waist. Fréth raised the flower for all
to see.
The white petals darkened. First to dull yellow, and then ashen tan as they
withered. The flower died in Fréth's hand, and crumpled petals fell away to
float to the ground.
Rumbling grew among the gathering. The shrill voices of the Äruin'nas shouted
above all.
"Only an undead could cause this!" Fréth cried. "Anasgiah'spotency is such
that an undead does not have to consume the petals to consume what it offers.
For that is what an undead truly feeds upon life!"
In horror, Wynn craned her head around up at Brot'an.
His face was tight and hard, but he was caught as unaware as anyone else by
this trick Fréth played. At the field's far end, Most Aged Father watched with
ardent eyes, and the barest smile stretched his shriveled mouth.
Wynn tried to force calm as she held on to Magiere, but she found none. Fréth
could know little more of the undead than anyone present. She could not have
known how the flower would react to Magiere. This was Most Aged Father's
doing.
The old one's test challenged Brot'an's perhaps even canceled it out.
Brot'an motioned Magiere and Wynn to return to his table. Wynn walked Magiere
back, steadying her until she grabbed the table's edge. Sgäile had to shout
for silence again, but one of the Äruin'nas elders rose to his feet, screaming
back at Sgäile in his strange tongue.
"Do not throw another demand upon these proceedings!" Sgäile replied. "No
vote has been called. You will hold for deliberation."
The short old one spit one more vicious utterance. Sgäile did not answer, and
stood waiting until the Aruin'nas elder settled cross-legged upon the
depression's edge.
Fréth stalked back to her table as the crowd's rumble settled. She removed
three stilettos and a shining garrote wire from her sleeves and belt and
dropped them all upon the table.
Most Aged Father did not look at her. His ardent satisfaction remained
focused across the clearing upon Magiere.
"Brot'ân'duivé sought the ancestors' judgment," Fréth cried out. "I do so as
well. But words and tests will not settle this. I disarm and call for trial by
combat. Let the ancestors guide my limbs in the old ways. Let them decide who
speaks the truth."
The gathering's murmurs rose into a cacophony. Most Aged Father sat back in
his chair, milky eyes glittering.
"Confer!" Brot'an shouted.
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Sgäile nodded in discomfort and barely contained his distaste as he looked at
Fréth.
Brot'an turned to Magiere as Wynn hurried to catch up in translating. She
faltered and staggered as Chap shoved in beside her.
"What's happening?" Leesil asked.
"Old ways," Brot'an sighed. "All but forgotten. When a dispute cannot be
settled through deliberation, trial by combat may be called, though it has
never been sought in my lifetime. And it must be sanctioned by the elders. The
victor must put the opponent down, or the opponent must verbally yield. It is
believed that the ancestors support the victor's truth."
"That is not all she wants," Wynn said. "She goads Magiere into revealing her
nature. Fréth wants them all to see Magiere transform, and if she cannot
defeat Fréth without calling upon her inner nature& "
Either way, Magiere could lose, and she was still shaking.
Magiere's eyes shifted back and forth. "I might& might control it long
enough& still win& "
"No," Leesil snapped. "You're not going out there!"
Magiere was barely able to speak between shudders, and Wynn knew she could
not hold her dhampir half inside if a fight ensued. In Nein'a's clearing,
Magiere had lost herself in this same shaken state.
"Most Aged Father told Fréth to do this," Wynn said. "She reported everything
she saw in Nein'a's clearing, but only he would know how the flower would
affect Magiere."
Brot'an turned hard eyes on Wynn, likely wondering how she knew this, but she
gave him no chance to question her as she rushed on.
"He knows Magiere may not be able to hold back. The instant she succumbs, she
will be finished. This has nothing to do with Fréth putting the outcome in the
hands of her ancestors."
Magiere leaned back, half-sitting on the table's edge, and closed her arms
tightly about herself. All Leesil could do was stand before her, holding her
steady by the shoulders.
"A vote must still be taken," Brot'an said.
He pushed off the table and headed toward Sgäile. Fréth joined them. An
unknown anmaglâhk came out as well and handed Sgäile two small baskets.
"Let us hope the vote fails," Wynn whispered as Leesil turned to watch. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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