Rebel Fay

Clan elders were not difficult to pick out, due to their age. Each was accompanied by attendants, though many had larger retinues.

Then she caught the yellow and russet of the Coilehkrotall, Sgaile and Leanalham's clan, but she did not see an elder sitting before them.

Chap crept in beside Wy

At either end of the clearing's floor were oval oak tables. Brot'an stood behind the nearer one, sifting through scrolls among leather-bound sheaves of paper. He looked up, his expression passive but for those severe-looking scars skipping over one eye.

Sgaile led the way downslope, and Wy

"Well met," Brot'an said.

He looked solid and distinguished in his green-gray, though he wore no cloak. Without it, his shoulders seemed too broad for his tall frame. A forest-green ribbon held back his silver-streaked hair. Sgaile and his guards retreated to the slope's base.

"What are we waiting for?" Wy

"Most Aged Father," Brot'an answered. "It should be a quietly dramatic entrance."

Wy

"Who's the prosecutor?" Magiere asked in a low voice.

"The council has not chosen one," he answered, "as the claim against you must be settled first. Frethfare is 'advocate' for your accuser. Sgailsheilleache serves as 'adjudicator' of proceedings."

Leesil sighed.

From the depression's upper edge and bridge-branched trees, a swarm of amber eyes looked down upon Magiere-and Leesil. Those behind Brot'an's table were close enough for Wy

As a child, Wy

Caramel faces among the crowded turned, one by one, and then more. Wy

Freth came down the far slope, dressed the same as Brot'an, with her hair pulled back. Four Anmaglahk followed behind her, bearing the ends of wooden bars over their shoulders.

Between the bearers, Most Aged Father sat upon an ornate chair with rounded sides that cradled his frail body. He was wrapped in a blanket or long shawl of the gray-green, the color of his Anmaglahk. Whispering murmurs filled the clearing at his entrance.

Most Aged Father's face was overshadowed by a fold of his wrap, but Wy

Sgaile stepped to the clearing's center and lifted his face to the gathering, calling out in clear Elvish, "I welcome the people and their clans, as represented by their elders, to hear the claim in dispute."

Not a breath passed before Frethfare's voice rose. "Brot'an'duive, you are already in breach of our ways. Only the accused may stand at your side. The others will be removed immediately."

Brot'an stepped around his table past Magiere. For all his calm ways, his voice thundered across the clearing.

"Leshil is involved by implication and has a right to be present. And I choose the one called Wy

All eyes turned to Wy

"The accused has the right to hear all that is said," Brot'an continued, "as it is said and not thereafter. I will not allow the accuser's advocate to complicate matters by requiring me to be Magiere's translator as well as her advocate! That would be a breach of courtesy… if not law."

Sgaile cut off Freth's retort with a hand raised toward Brot'an.

"The accused's advocate is within custom and law. The advocate for the accuser"-and he turned toward Frethfare-"has no further grounds for this challenge."

Frethfare scowled and went to crouch beside Most Aged Father.

Wy

Wy

Brot'an stepped further into the clearing. "I thank the council for being present to render judgment, but I fear your time is not well spent."

Frethfare stood up. Both she and Most Aged Father turned rapt attention on Brot'an as he gestured toward Magiere,

"Most Aged Father gave this woman and hercompanions safe passage and sent Sgailsheilleache under oath of guardianship to escort them to Crij-heaiche. Now, her own host claims that she is one of the humans' undead-something u

Wy

"Look upon the accused in the full light of day.Human, without doubt. For as little as we know of their kind's… 'undead'… our land and the spirits of our ancestors have never tolerated such before. By both these ancient authorities, the claim against her should be dismissed as superstition."

Wy

Brot'an returned to his table as Wy

Leesil smoldered with satisfaction-perhaps surprised and pleased by the strength of Brot'an's statement. But this was only the begi

Most Aged Father leaned toward Freth, whispering, and she crouched briefly to listen.

Freth shook her head emphatically, and Most Aged Father squirmed in seething frustration. She stepped around her table, but Most Aged Father shouted out before she reached the clearing's center.

"Twister of truth!"

The wizened old elf jabbed a bony finger at Brot'an.

Brot'an dropped his eyes to the table, and Wy

Murmurs faded among the gathering as Freth turned in shock to Most Aged Father.

"She is undead!" he shouted weakly. "I know her kind, as the rest of you do not. My caste witnessed her change withtheir own eyes. Sgailsheilleache was present, and who among you would doubt his word?"

"Do something," Leesil hissed at Brot'an.

"Be quiet," Wy

Brot'an did not look up. Neither did he seem affected by the old elf's words.