[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

"Do not be dull-witted," Gleann answered. "I represent our clan. Hui'u-vâghas
could not attend, but one of ours should hear and judge this claim."
Sgäile was openly distressed. It occurred to Wynn that Gleann had arrived a
little too quickly compared to her own long journey down the river, and
apparently he had more than a passing acquaintance with Brot'an. Why would a
wry humored old healer have anything to do with a master assassin?
Across the clearing, Most Aged Father who never replied to Gleann looked both
offended and anxious as he gestured Fréth to his side.
"Can we continue?" Fréth called out.
Sgäile rushed Gleann upslope to their clan. Brot'an waited politely until the
elder was settled before addressing the gathering.
"I call no witnesses at present. Rather, I begin with a test, as it will
require time."
Even Most Aged Father grew attentive.
"In the burial ground of our ancestors," Brot'an continued, "reserved for
those first in this land, rests the ancient ash tree that began all things
here Roise Chârmune, the Seed of Sanctuary. Those who come of age seek it out
and take the true name they bear for life. Most all here have done this& have
felt the strength of hallowed ground beneath their feet& felt the presence of
our ancestors close upon them. But Magiere is human and not allowed to attempt
what I propose."
He let his pause hang until all curious eyes were cast his way.
"A proxy must go in her place to Roise Chârmune and the ancestors to plead
for a branch."
A rumble spread quickly around the clearing. Brot'an raised his hand but had
to shout over the crowd.
"What greater counsel is there than that of our first blood? No one can
approach the Seed of Sanctuary without just cause, and a branch would only be
given if the cause served our people. That would settle any claim against this
human woman."
Page 226
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Wynn translated as fast as she could. Leesil stepped out before she even
finished. Both she and Magiere tried to grab him before he could unwittingly
commit some breach of custom, but he slipped out of their reach.
"I'll go," he demanded. "I'll do it."
"Leesil, no!" Magiere hissed, but he ignored her.
Most Aged Father crackled something at Fréth, and she called out, "Léshil
does not know the way and should not. He is not pure of blood, and he is not
an'Cróan."
The crowd's rumbling grew uneven.
Brot'an's voice hammered the gathering into silence. "Do you now speak for
the ancestors as well? Do you wish to raise claim concerning Léshil at this
time?"
Fréth hesitated for a long moment. "He will not survive," she said finally.
"He will not be allowed in, as he is not one of us."
"That is a decision for the ancestors, not you," Brot'an replied. "But if
Léshil returns, and the accused takes hold of the branch without harm, then
neither of them could be a threat to us. Or would you, Fréthfâre, care to tell
how some 'human trick' could fool the spirits of our first blood?"
Leesil stood too far off for Wynn to tell him what was said. He looked about,
at a loss, and Brot'an did not translate his words.
"What's happening?" Magiere whispered.
Wynn told her and then grabbed Magiere before she went after Leesil. "Do not
say anything!"
Fréth made no reply to Brot'an's final barb. Stranger still, Most Aged Father
watched the elders around the clearing with concern.
"A guide must be chosen for Léshil," Brot'an added. "Someone acceptable to
the people by their elders."
Osha stepped forward. "I will take him."
"No!" Sgäile shouted, too loudly. "I am adjudicator& I am the impartial here&
I will guide Léshil."
Soft murmurs grew slowly, but no voice lifted in dissent. Wynn caught a
flicker of surprise on Brot'an's face before he regained stoic composure.
"Sgäilsheilleache, it shall be. As Most Aged Father said, no one would doubt
his word. I ask for adjournment until he and Léshil return or for three days
as the limit."
All around, elders rose amid their clans in implied consent. The gathering
broke into smaller clusters, talking among themselves in a low-voiced
cacophony that filled the depression between the encircling oaks. Across the
clearing, Fréth and Most Aged Father were lost in conspiratorial whispers.
As Leesil returned, Magiere grabbed his arm. "What did you do?"
"You do not know what is involved," Wynn added.
Page 227
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Leesil didn't answer either of them.
"Sgäilsheilleache will lead you," Brot'an said in Belaskian. "I do not know
why, but he is a better choice than I had hoped for."
"Hope?" Magiere snapped. "You hoped? That's all you've got?"
"No one will doubt his word," Brot'an assured her.
Wynn tried to calm Magiere and then noticed Sgäile.
Anmaglâhk were difficult to read except the plain-faced Osha and Brot'an and
Urhkar were the hardest of all she had met. Wynn could not take her eyes off
Sgäile.
Osha approached him with open worry, but Sgäile did not react. He seemed
weary, and flinched when Osha touched his shoulder. Sgäile turned his head,
watching an oblivious Leesil.
Fear passed across Sgäile's narrow features.
Magiere pulled away from Wynn, closing on Brot'an like a wolf.
"What have you gotten Leesil into?"
"How could you blindly agree to this?" Magiere ranted.
She paced the open space of their domicile elm, watching Leesil shove the
last of the grapes and a blanket into a canvas pack.
"You don't know the forest," she went on. "You don't know what you're
facing!"
When Leesil looked up, Magiere went numb at his familiar expression. Cold and
hard desperation suggested he would try anything without a thought for the
danger.
"I'll face an ash tree," he said flatly. "What's so dangerous about that?"
"Didn't you hear Wynn? Ancestors& spirits! You don't know what that means."
Magiere ran a hand down her face. "I can't believe I trusted Brot'an."
"Did you think this would be settled through persuasive oration?" Wynn asked.
"The elders must see that you are not what Most Aged Father claims. I do not
understand it, but if this branch provides disproof of the claim, then we will
use it."
Magiere turned angrily on the sage, but her voice failed.
For the first time, she understood how Leesil felt in Venjetz. While she'd
moved freely about, he'd remained trapped inside Byrd's Inn. But the thought [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]