triumphant look in his eyes.
He may never see Cabryce and his friends
again. If his parents had still been alive they would have been mortified with
shame. He was glad that Jadde now sheltered them from their son’s downfall. Guy
would now be favoured and his succession to the people’s hero would surely be
approved.
Bredon the Fox cleared his throat, bringing
Malkrin’s numbed mind back from the bitter thoughts. In an unsteady voice the
Fox warbled, ‘two show innocence, six proclaim guilt – Jadde’s justice is done.
He stared at Malkrin and shouted. ‘ Malkrin
Owlear is guilty .’
A growl rose from behind Malkrin; his
highsense heard Nardin snarl through gritted teeth. ‘Some justice, the divine
stone has judged without pity.’
He stabbed a thought back, quiet you
idiot, k nowing Nardin had no highsense to hear him .
The Fox’s eyes fastened on Nardin. ‘Still
your tongue Nardin Fleetfoot’, he hissed, ‘lest you suffer a similar fate.’ His
words were as cold as the verdict.
The swords showing innocence hovered for a
moment longer then clattered onto the altar. Their owners formed a processional
line and reverently retrieved the symbols of Jadde’s justice. They returned the
swords to their scabbards with a mere rustle of leather. Then the old men
returned to their stone seats as if controlled by a single mind.
The whole hall was hushed as the gathered
Seconchane people waited for the final summing up.
The Fox pointed the court staff at Malkrin,
the runes embedded within now glowed a fierce blue.
Malkrin again felt that strange tingle from
Jadde’s altar. His resurgent highsense, now finely tuned, detected a shaft of
magic connecting the glowing staff to the altar.
‘According to Jadde’s justice I now
sentence the once high-person and favoured one Malkrin Owlear.’ The Fox’s
voice croaked in the charged silence, echoing around the cold stone hall.
Malkrin’s heart pounded even harder as The
Fox began to intone the sentence ritual.
‘You will be banished from this land and will
roam the wilderness to find your lost abilities. Should you not retrieve them,
then in death your spirit will not find its way back through the deadlands.’
The Fox’s stony eyes locked onto Malkrin’s. ‘You have forfeited the right of
partnership with any Seconchane woman and surrendered your safety in our valleys.
Should you regain your highsense you will be retested before being permitted
entry through the stockade. For concealing your highsense loss; and thereby causing
an unnecessary death you are shamed before your deceased parents, your wife and
those companions you have hunted alongside. Therefore the retest will not be
allowed for at least four seasons.
Gasps sounded from the folk behind him.
The Fox’s voice soared above the disbelief. ‘You will be led from Cyprusnia forthwith. May Jadde show mercy on you, for
you will need her aid in the deadlands.’
Malkrin’s mouth felt as dry as old leather.
He just stared as he calmed his heart which felt as if it would burst.
He heard Cabryce from the front of the
peoples benches scream.
‘NO. The verdict is unjust. NO, NO.’
A rumble of incredulity rose from the
gathering behind Malkrin. A retest had never before been refused until a
certain period had elapsed.
CHAPTER FIVE
H ow could it have come to this? Nardin
Fleetfoot thought as he stood surveying the Brenna court as if in a dream. He
stared at Malkrin’s shackled legs as his friend was led away by the Brenna
guards. Malkrin was the peoples’ favourite; a hero who was always willing to
help any in need. He was a master at hunting deer and boar. He could stalk, run
down prey then kill with a single arrow or spear then even give his meat share away
to aid deserving folk in plight. He would even help out harvesting their crops
in summer, asking nothing in return. Nardin knew that his friend would have
been just as benevolent without his and Cabryce’s generous
He may never see Cabryce and his friends
again. If his parents had still been alive they would have been mortified with
shame. He was glad that Jadde now sheltered them from their son’s downfall. Guy
would now be favoured and his succession to the people’s hero would surely be
approved.
Bredon the Fox cleared his throat, bringing
Malkrin’s numbed mind back from the bitter thoughts. In an unsteady voice the
Fox warbled, ‘two show innocence, six proclaim guilt – Jadde’s justice is done.
He stared at Malkrin and shouted. ‘ Malkrin
Owlear is guilty .’
A growl rose from behind Malkrin; his
highsense heard Nardin snarl through gritted teeth. ‘Some justice, the divine
stone has judged without pity.’
He stabbed a thought back, quiet you
idiot, k nowing Nardin had no highsense to hear him .
The Fox’s eyes fastened on Nardin. ‘Still
your tongue Nardin Fleetfoot’, he hissed, ‘lest you suffer a similar fate.’ His
words were as cold as the verdict.
The swords showing innocence hovered for a
moment longer then clattered onto the altar. Their owners formed a processional
line and reverently retrieved the symbols of Jadde’s justice. They returned the
swords to their scabbards with a mere rustle of leather. Then the old men
returned to their stone seats as if controlled by a single mind.
The whole hall was hushed as the gathered
Seconchane people waited for the final summing up.
The Fox pointed the court staff at Malkrin,
the runes embedded within now glowed a fierce blue.
Malkrin again felt that strange tingle from
Jadde’s altar. His resurgent highsense, now finely tuned, detected a shaft of
magic connecting the glowing staff to the altar.
‘According to Jadde’s justice I now
sentence the once high-person and favoured one Malkrin Owlear.’ The Fox’s
voice croaked in the charged silence, echoing around the cold stone hall.
Malkrin’s heart pounded even harder as The
Fox began to intone the sentence ritual.
‘You will be banished from this land and will
roam the wilderness to find your lost abilities. Should you not retrieve them,
then in death your spirit will not find its way back through the deadlands.’
The Fox’s stony eyes locked onto Malkrin’s. ‘You have forfeited the right of
partnership with any Seconchane woman and surrendered your safety in our valleys.
Should you regain your highsense you will be retested before being permitted
entry through the stockade. For concealing your highsense loss; and thereby causing
an unnecessary death you are shamed before your deceased parents, your wife and
those companions you have hunted alongside. Therefore the retest will not be
allowed for at least four seasons.
Gasps sounded from the folk behind him.
The Fox’s voice soared above the disbelief. ‘You will be led from Cyprusnia forthwith. May Jadde show mercy on you, for
you will need her aid in the deadlands.’
Malkrin’s mouth felt as dry as old leather.
He just stared as he calmed his heart which felt as if it would burst.
He heard Cabryce from the front of the
peoples benches scream.
‘NO. The verdict is unjust. NO, NO.’
A rumble of incredulity rose from the
gathering behind Malkrin. A retest had never before been refused until a
certain period had elapsed.
CHAPTER FIVE
H ow could it have come to this? Nardin
Fleetfoot thought as he stood surveying the Brenna court as if in a dream. He
stared at Malkrin’s shackled legs as his friend was led away by the Brenna
guards. Malkrin was the peoples’ favourite; a hero who was always willing to
help any in need. He was a master at hunting deer and boar. He could stalk, run
down prey then kill with a single arrow or spear then even give his meat share away
to aid deserving folk in plight. He would even help out harvesting their crops
in summer, asking nothing in return. Nardin knew that his friend would have
been just as benevolent without his and Cabryce’s generous
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