CHAPTER
23
“COME FORTH! COME
FORTH!” HEATH COULD HEAR the Herald’s voice even through the walls
of the antechamber. “Come forth, all that would petition and submit
to the Queen’s Justice!”
“They’re already in
there,” Atira said, standing by the door. “Why does he
bellow?”
“Tradition, more than
anything else,” Lara said.
“And to remind the
people of the Queen’s absolute authority,” Othur said firmly. He
adjusted the sash of the Sword of Xy over his chest.
“Prest and Rafe are
already beside the throne,” Heath said. “And I’ve put castle guards
along the walls. Atira and I will stand with you, and there are
guards outside the doors as well.”
“I will be the
brooding presence beside the throne.” Keir offered his arm to
Lara.
“You do that so well,
beloved.” Lara took his arm. “Then let us be about
this.”
Atira opened the
door.
The Herald pounded
his staff of office on the floor three times. “Lord and ladies, all
hail Keir, Warlord of the Plains, Overlord of Xy, and Xylara, Queen
of Xy, and Warprize.”
Heath’s gaze swept
the room as everyone knelt at Lara’s and Keir’s approach. There was
no sign of trouble, but the fact that many bore swords in the
Queen’s presence was a concern.
The Herald had done
his work well. The Xyian families had all been herded onto the left
side of the throne room, and the right had been kept empty for the
Plains warriors who would appear and answer to Korvis’s demands.
Between the two areas were two groups of clerks and between them
the aisle for the Queen.
Heath looked over at
the old Herald and nodded his head in respect.
Kendrick’s face never
changed, but there was a definite glint of acknowledgment in his
eye.
Lara reached the
throne and sat with Keir’s help. Anna had seen to it that there was
a thick pad on the marble seat. The participants rose to their feet
as she settled down.
“Good morning to
all.” Lara sat straight, looking regal and calm. “We will limit the
petitions heard within this Justice to the one that was interrupted
by the illness of my warden. All others must wait upon a future
date. But my warden has our authority to act during our absence,
and we trust in his wisdom and impartiality. Apply to him if your
claims cannot wait.”
Heath had to chuckle
softly. Lara was doing it again; either using the royal
we or referring to herself and Keir.
Either way, it kept the nobles confused as to how to
respond.
Keir stood next to
Lara, feet apart, arms crossed, his expression just this side of
grim.
There were murmurs
among the observers. Heath was fairly certain that some had planned
to press their claims this morning. He ran his eye over the crowd,
and sure enough, Lord Durst was toward the back, Lanfer not far
from his side. Like damn vultures hovering over a dying
wolf.
Still, Heath hoped
Lara knew what she was doing. It wouldn’t take much to get the
nobles riled up enough to take their swords out, and the warriors
of the Plains would not stand by without pulling their own
blades.
“Herald, summon the
first petitioner,” Lara commanded.
The Herald bowed and
struck his staff three times. “Lord Korvis, approach and make thy
petition.”
An older man, thin of
body and face, stepped forward and bowed to the Queen. “Your
Majesty, I petition for your justice. I turn to you to right a
wrong done to me and mine by an individual under your protection.
Nay, under the very roof of this castle.”
“Lord Korvis, I will
hear your petition.” Lara gestured for him to rise. “It concerns
the wedding of your son, Careth?”
“It does, Your
Majesty.” Korvis’s voice was harsh, his anger clear to everyone.
Heath frowned. His father had said that at the time, Korvis had
been almost trembling with rage, so much so that he had trouble
getting his words out.
Korvis continued. “My
son and heir, Careth.”
A lad stepped forward
to stand at his father’s side, a sullen look on his pimply face. He
had his skinny arms crossed over his chest, his shoulders hunched.
He was the very portrait of sullen childishness, and Heath
suppressed a grin. He remembered that feeling all too
well.
“Careth was to marry
Aurora, the daughter of Craftmaster Bedell.” Korvis gestured, and
another man stepped forward. A working man, that one—stout of limb,
he wore the sash of a guild master and was looking about nervously.
No warrior there.
“The wedding
procession was nearing the church when a group of Firelander women
waving swords and screaming war cries burst into the procession,
seized Aurora, and made off with her. We pursued, but were unable
to rescue Aurora before they took refuge within the
castle.”
Oh, and clearly that
grated. Heath could not resist looking over at Atira and raising an
eyebrow.
The corner of her
mouth twitched.
“We demand that she
be returned to us,” Korvis continued, lifting his chin. “So that
the ceremony can go forward.”
“Well and good, Lord
Korvis,” Lara said firmly. “But it is not for the petitioner to
dictate terms. What you receive at our hands will be justice, as we
deem it so.”
Korvis flushed at her
admonishment, but did not look away. “As you decree, Your
Majesty.”
“Herald, summon the
offenders to our presence,” Lara commanded.
The Herald strode to
the door with his stately pace. As he approached, the guards within
opened the double doors wide.
Again, the Herald’s
staff rang against the floor three times. “Elois of the Horse,” the
Herald announced. “You are summoned to the Queen’s
Justice.”
Elois appeared with
three other women of the Plains behind her. She strode forward, and
at her side trotted Aurora. Heath hadn’t seen the girl before. She
was a lanky thing, all legs and knees and elbows. Her lips were
pressed tightly together, but Heath saw the fear in her wide, brown
eyes. They walked right up to the throne.
“Elois of the Horse,”
Lara said in greeting. “We have summoned you to answer the claims
of Lord Korvis.”
“Warprize.” Elois
went to one knee, as did the other warriors. “Warlord.” Aurora
knelt with the group, following their example, and rose when they
rose.
“Gladly will I
answer,” Elois said, her head held high. “We chanced upon a
procession, Warprize, as we were returning from checking the herds.
They were walking to the church, except this little one, who was
struggling with that one.” Elois pointed at Bedell. “Aurora was
arguing with the man, saying that she did not wish to marry that
stripling over there. But the man gripped her shoulder and demanded
that she obey him.”
Bedell’s face grew
red, and he opened his mouth as if to argue, then thought better of
it.
Elois shrugged. “When
Aurora saw us standing by, she broke away and wrapped her arms
around my legs, crying, begging for help. When I understood that
the Xyians were forcing a bond upon her, I hied her off in order to
protect her.”
“Were swords drawn?”
Keir rumbled in the language of the Plains.
“They were,” Elois
acknowledged in the same language. “But not ours, Warlord.” She
flicked her glance over to Korvis and his son, then gave Keir an
apologetic look. “They are not very good with them,
Warlord.”
A ripple of laughter,
then, among the Plains warriors, but Lara held up a hand before any
Xyian could protest. “The Overlord inquires as to the use of force.
Lord Korvis, was blood spilled in this incident?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
Lord Korvis clearly wished there had been by the look he gave
Elois. “These warriors must be punished for—”
“No.” Lara cut him
off. “No one in this kingdom need fear being punished for trying to
aid a child.”
Lord Korvis pressed
his lips tight.
“Aurora?” Lara turned
to the group of Plains warriors.
The girl stepped out
from between the women and stared at the Queen with wide eyes. She
remembered her manners and dropped into a clumsy
curtsey.
“Aurora, what say
you?” Lara asked.
Aurora drew herself
up. “I don’t want to marry him, Warprize. I want to ride and hunt
and play with my dogs, but Mama says I can’t. I have to be a lady.”
Aurora screwed her face up. “And Careth is mean, and I don’t like
him.”
That stirred Careth,
who glared at the little girl. “Brat,” he said.
“Pock-face.” She
glared right back.
“Aurora,” her father
stepped forward, his hand spread as if in apology. “It’s a good
marriage, Aurora. With Lord Korvis’s aid, our trade will grow and
prosper. And you will be a noble lady, with a fine house and
servants to care for you.” He drew himself up. “It is an excellent
marriage, Aurora.”
“But I’d have to live
with him,” Aurora wailed. “I want to stay with you and Mama.” The
tears were coming now, and Aurora sniffled and wiped her nose with
her sleeve.
Elois reached down
and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “This one is not ready to
leave the thea’s tent,” Elois said, giving Bedell a steady
look.
Lord Korvis responded
angrily. “We are not monsters, Firelander. The marriage would not
have been consummated. Aurora would have come to live with us, that
is our way. The business matters would have gone forward, but the
other . . .” he hesitated. “The other matters would have been
delayed until later.” Korvis glanced at his surly son, and Heath
felt a twinge of sympathy for the man.
“It is not our way to
sell our children into bondings,” Elois said firmly.
Both Korvis and
Bedell went white with rage, and the entire audience stirred.
Korvis sputtered, his hand going to his sword hilt. Heath tensed,
ready for—
“Hold,” Lara’s voice
rang through the throne room. She lifted her head, looking around
the room, waiting for everyone to settle. It took a moment and
ended in an uneasy quiet.
“Elois, it is not the
Xyian way to sell children,” Lara corrected her. “But it is the
tradition of Xy to arrange the marriages of our young people to
benefit them and their families. It is a tradition that has served
us well in the past and will continue to do so in the future.” Lara
paused and gave Korvis and Bedell a considered look. “However, in
the future, the consent of the young people will be required. If it
has not been honored in the past, it will be so now. I decree that
no marriage is to go forward without the consent of the couple,
freely given before neutral witnesses.”
Lara shifted on the
throne, placed a hand on her belly, and took a deep breath through
her nose. Heath kept his smirk off his face.
She let the breath
out slowly and then continued. “The two families are of Xy and
follow the traditions of Xy. The arranged marriage has long been
planned, with business agreements that will be strengthened by the
blood ties. The Crown will not interfere in those matters. The
betrothal stands.”
Smiles started to
spread over the faces of Korvis and Bedell as the meaning of her
words sank in, but Lara raised her hand. “But our justice also
includes the wishes of Aurora and Careth in this matter, and it is
clear that neither is ready to make the pledge of marriage to the
other.
“But while the
betrothal stands,” Lara continued, “the wedding will not go
forward.”