Chapter 46
The next morning dawned without any immediate answers for the prisoners in the hut. Aeliana sensed the tension rising as the day wore on and Nori still hadn’t arrived with food or news. Had she found the starbridges in her parents’ room? Would she help them escape?
“If there’s no sign of Nori or the starbridges by the time they come get us,” Sylmar whispered, “we’ll have to rush the guards.
Gaeren and Riveran can get the starbridges since Gaeren’s seen where they’re at.
We’ll cover them as best we can before running to the hills in the east. Then we’ll meet up there. ”
Velden had Gaeren tear off a strip of his clothing to help him locate Gaeren in the hills with his pneumatic skills, but Aeliana still hesitated.
“What if their verdict is to let us go back?” she asked.
Several others’ faces matched Sylmar’s incredulous glare. “After hearing Riveran killed a sprite?”
“I just wonder if we should give it more time,” she said. “We don’t understand their culture. Maybe Nori is convincing them to wash their hands of us and send us back to Vendaras right now.”
“Waiting for the verdict will make it harder to escape,” Kendalyhn said.
“Will it though?” Velden asked. “We may not have our weapons, but we still have magic. I know I’m biased, but I’m inclined to wait as well. No sense ruining our chances with these people if we don’t have to.”
Indecision warred on the faces of most everyone else. Holm reached for Iris’ hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Fine,” Sylmar conceded. “We can try waiting for the verdict. But if you see my staff turn molten, we’re not waiting any longer.”
Aeliana wasn’t thrilled that he was going to be the one to decide when enough was enough, but at this point, she didn’t have other options.
When the day stretched into the evening and their stomachs all growled their protests, the door to the hut finally opened, but it wasn’t Nori whose head popped in.
“The elders have agreed to hold your trial publicly in the square,” one of the guards announced.
Aeliana and Gaeren exchanged glances, unsure about this new turn of events. Even Sylmar seemed taken aback.
“Publicly?” he asked.
The guard nodded. “It was Nori’s request.”
At this, they all paused. Any thoughts Aeliana had of rushing to escape were put on hold. If this was Nori’s request, maybe she had a plan. Sylmar seemed to come to the same conclusion, because he was first in line to leave the hut, his staff remaining a deceivingly plain metal.
Because all ten of them were being escorted from the hut, a few more soldiers showed up this time, dividing them in groups of two. Aeliana ended up with Velden, who still managed a grin for their parade through the village. When he started waving at onlookers, Aeliana smacked his hand down.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit disrespectful after all that’s happened?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I’m innocent. And I’m going to maintain my innocence while on trial. Hopefully they won’t kill Riveran. But I doubt they’ll kill the rest of us for something he did.”
“And you’re fine with him dying?”
“Of course not.” He frowned. “But I’m not going to walk around looking guilty because I know someone else in our party is.” Then he picked up his hand and smiled and waved once more at a few curious children, who giggled as green and purple scales sprinkled across their cheeks.
“You’re going to miss being here, aren’t you?” Aeliana asked.
“You make it sound as if we’re leaving,” he said.
She snorted but didn’t bother responding. They entered the square, where atop the dais, gallows had been arranged.
Aeliana swallowed hard. “Do you think this means their verdict has already been made, and we’re not actually on trial?”
Even Velden’s shoulders tightened. “It’s possible. But I don’t think Nori would lead us astray.”
The guards hushed them at that point, herding them up on the stage like cattle before making them sit on the rough wooden floor.
Aeliana was forced to hope that Velden was right. She scanned the crowd, but she only saw the hard faces of the elders and their wives. Even Elder Mishkel, whom she’d managed to compliment on his fancy rainbow fin, had apprehension in his eyes.
Where was Nori?
The crowd continued to grow. Those in the back were so far away their faces blurred, and the number of attendees quickly became impossible to estimate.
Some even entered nearby homes and businesses to lean out verandas for a better view, then a few climbed on rooftops.
The air almost turned festive as everyone discussed the foreigners’ fate.
It made Aeliana sick to her stomach, and when she glanced at Riveran’s pale face, she feared he truly would retch. He’d overcome so much and had been through even more. This couldn’t be his end, not after all he’d done to protect Gaeren.
A glance at the prince made her realize his mind was moving in the same direction, his eyes darting around for a possible escape. Her heart seized with the realization that if Riveran was deemed guilty, Gaeren wouldn’t make it out alive either. He wouldn’t let his friend die on his behalf.
Nori’s father stood, joining the prisoners and their guards on the stage. He raised a hand, and the crowd hushed like a wave receding on the sea. “As many of you know, it has come to our attention that our guests have not been completely honest about their history.”
Gaeren scoffed, the noise almost imperceptible, but Aeliana frowned, both at his risk of angering the Sayhleens and at Elder Algaen’s inaccurate representation of them.
“We have spent the last two days deliberating their actions. Because their murder of a sprite was seen through Elder Perla’s noetic skills, there was no need to question them for more information. Their guilt is clear.”
Aeliana tensed, but the crowd seemed to expect this. She supposed the elders’ deliberations had been kept from the prisoners, but they’d likely spread through the Sayhleen people like blood in water, attracting more sharks with each tiny spurt. They’d never even had a chance.
So what had made Nori request this public trial? Aeliana scanned the crowd wildly once more, and this time she caught sight of the younger woman at the dais’ edge, mostly hidden beneath a cloak. Despite her tense posture, she gave Aeliana an encouraging smile, a promise in her eyes.
“Instead,” Elder Algaen continued, “we deliberated how to address their guilt. It was clear the murder was committed by only one member of their group, with a second possibly complicit observer. Some among us felt only they should be held guilty for the crime. Others felt their group was guilty by association.”
His lips pursed, but Aeliana wasn’t sure which side of the argument he stood on.
“As much as we would like to collaborate with people across the barriers, we do not want to put our own people at risk. If these Vendarans are willing to kill a sprite, one of the creators we serve, how much less respect do they have for our people?”
Murmurs started up in the crowd, but they weren’t all in agreement. A tiny sliver of hope threaded its way through Aeliana, and she worked at it, trying to draw it out into something larger to latch on to.
“We also debated what punishment would fit the crime. An obvious option would be death.” He gestured toward the gallows.
Gaeren straightened, the defiance written all over his face in a way that made Aeliana even more nervous for him.
“But is it better to show justice for the crime or to lead by example and show the mercy we wish they would have given the sprite?” At this, the elders all stood, joining him on the stage. “We give you the results of our deliberation.”
“Are we not given a chance to speak in our defense?” Gaeren called out, earning him a boxed ear from his guard.
This time the murmurs grew louder, and Aeliana couldn’t get a sense of whether the people were affronted at his outburst or if they agreed with his question.
Elder Algaen raised his hand once more, and while the people closest quieted down, those farther away continued talking. Aeliana imagined his announcements being spread to the people in the back who likely couldn’t hear him, wondering how accurate the news traveled given its speed.
“As I said,” Elder Algaen repeated, “Elder Perla saw your memory. The guilt is uncontested.”
“And will he not let me show him the memory of what the sprites did to us first?” Gaeren asked.
A smile twitched on Nori’s face, and Aeliana sensed they were reaching the reason she’d asked for a public trial. Would receiving this evidence before the crowds work in their favor? Or had Nori found the starbridges and a public trial was the only way she could get it to them?
The elders exchanged glances, curiosity evident on Elder Kraken and Elder Mishkel’s faces.
“I can’t imagine how that would change our view,” Nori’s father said, “but if Elder Perla is willing, I will allow it.”
Elder Perla nodded and stepped forward, reaching out a hand.
One of the guards led Gaeren to the elder, and both of their faces went slack, their eyes blank for the span of a few moments.
What exactly was Gaeren showing him? He’d given the briefest summary to the others in their travels, but she sensed there was more to his story. Would it condemn them or save them?
When Elder Perla stepped away, he frowned, his gaze troubled, but he said nothing and strode to his fellow elders. Giving memories must have been his primary spoke, because it didn’t take long for all of their faces to reflect a deeper understanding of the situation.
That sliver of hope widened inside Aeliana as guilt and confusion flitted across Elder Gerot’s and Elder Kraken’s faces. They all eyed each other, but when Elder Algaen spoke, his face was still hard, his decision unchangeable.
“We do not expect kindness from the sprites,” he said. “They owe us nothing, for they created us.”
“But they didn’t create me,” Gaeren said.
The crowd gasped, even though they had to know his words were true.
“I may not understand your worship of them, but I respect it. Even so, they are not my creator, and they threatened my sister’s life and my own life.
Riveran’s actions were to save me and in turn himself.
Do you not have allowances for acting when threatened? ”
The crowd grew louder, and Elder Algaen scanned the people, clearly recognizing he was losing his audience. His gaze landed on Nori, and she tucked herself further back under her hood. His lips pursed, and Aeliana debated how much trouble she was going to be in for requesting a public trial.
“Our verdict still stands,” Elder Algaen called out, trying to regain control of the crowd. “Our first vote was to determine the guilt of the individual members of the party. The elders unanimously determined that Riveran was guilty of murdering the sprite.”
Every one of the elders lifted their right hand as if replaying their deliberation before the crowd. Riveran’s face took on a greenish tinge.
“We then determined if Prince Gaeren was guilty by association for his presence during the sprite’s murder.” At this, Elder Algaen, Elder Perla, and Elder Gerot raised their hands, the latter far slower.
“What does that mean?” Aeliana whispered, wondering if in their judicial system guilt for murder could be determined by majority or if it had to be unanimous. But the guards were too invested in the drama to shush or answer her.
“We then determined the guilt by association for the remainder of the prisoners.” At this, only Elder Algaen and Elder Perla raised their hands. Aeliana pressed her fingers against her temple, trying to process what this might mean.
“As a result, Riveran and Gaeren will be hanged on the gallows. Aeliana and Velden will be given the opportunity to return to Vendaras, provided they take two of our people as ambassadors, who will then return alone so the silver fish is placed back under our control.”
Several in the crowd nodded emphatically, but here and there people’s brows furrowed.
“And what about the rest of us?” Kendalyhn asked.
“If our ambassadors return unharmed, we will deliver the remaining prisoners to Vendaras.” Elder Algaen didn’t need to explain what would happen if they did not.
The silence rang out until it was a deafening hum in Aeliana’s ears. She expected Gaeren to protest, but his shock was as thick as Riveran’s. He’d been prepared to defend his friend, but it seemed as though he hadn’t been prepared to defend himself.
Aeliana’s entire body shook with the conviction that she needed to do something.
If only she could reach Durriken, if he could cross the barriers.
The risk they’d taken in coming here had been far too great and the price too high, especially considering they wouldn’t even see Lady Merinnia or learn anything to save her mother.
The solution came so swiftly it terrified her, but she still stood, placing a hand on Velden’s shoulder to keep herself from toppling over. “I wish to invoke my right to receive judgment from the Seer.”
Another collective gasp spread through the crowd, followed by a few titters.
Nori pulled her hood back, her face pale, her lips parted in horror. The elders showed equal surprise but schooled their features much faster than the crowd.
Elder Perla even laughed. “You’re not Sayhleen. You have no right to call upon Lady Merinnia for judgment.”
“After speaking with Sylmar, you determined that Gaeren and I held positions of authority. Does that not allow us the right to defend our people? To seek justice to protect them?”
“Not when your authority has been corrupted by murder.” Elder Algaen’s scowl shifted to Gaeren.
“What about me?” Velden stood as well. “Am I not owed anything for being Rhoda’s son?”
The elders leaned in to whisper, and Aeliana closed her eyes, praying they might agree, then feeling guilty that the idea of him going to the Seer instead of her left her far too relieved.
But it didn’t matter. Elder Algaen shook his head. “You have forfeited that right by associating with murderers. We are grateful that you returned your mother to our waters, but you are no longer welcome here.”
The clear rejection of Velden seemed to pain him more than the refusal to let him see Lady Merinnia.
But then, from the corner of her eye, Aeliana caught Nori rising. The young woman stepped on stage, drawing everyone else’s gaze.
“What are you doing?” her father hissed, which only made her stand straighter and raise her chin higher.
This time the crowd hushed of their own volition.
“They may not have any right to request judgment from Lady Merinnia, but I do.” Nori faced her father, the brilliant orange scales flickering on her cheeks the only evidence of her fear, or maybe anger.
“I have one chance to go to the Seer—one opportunity to request her guidance in my life—and I choose to use it now.”