Ravenheart (48 page)

“Alterith Shaddler will be recorded as advocate for the witch,” said the bishop. “The trial is set for—”

“If it please the court,” interrupted Alterith Shaddler. “I will need at least three days to gather affidavits and depositions to support the defense. Such a right is enshrined in—” He drew more papers from his satchel. “—clause seventeen, paragraph nine, of the Church Constitution regarding heresy, sedition, and acts of desecration.”

The bishop flicked a glance to Arlin Bedver, and Maev saw him nod in agreement.

“The trial is set for three days’ time,” said the bishop. “Do you have any other demands, Mr. Shaddler?”

“I would ask, my lord, that Maev Ring be released from custody until the trial.”

“Denied!” The bishop heaved his huge bulk from his seat. “This hearing is over,” he said. Then he stalked from the dais. Two guards, bearing ornamental lances, took Maev Ring away. “I will come to you presently,” Alterith Shaddler called after her. Then he replaced the papers in his satchel and approached Arlin Bedver.

“I would appreciate sight of your affidavits,” he said.

“Of course, Master Shaddler. They make for grim reading.”

“How so?”

“Fifteen of Maev Ring’s … partners … have stated under oath that she cast spells upon them in order to swindle them out of their businesses. The widow of Parsis Feld maintains he was a changed man after Ring came to him. Before that he was a churchgoer and a man steeped in goodness. After they became partners, he began consorting with prostitutes and took to strong drink. The case is enormously strong against
her. My advice to you is to urge Maev Ring to plead guilty and show genuine remorse. The church will then strip her of her ill-gotten gains, sentence her to a public flogging, and then release her. Should she make a vain effort to plead innocence, the church will ask for the full penalty under the law. She will be flogged and then hanged or burned.”

Alterith looked into the man’s dark eyes. “I wonder, Mr. Bedver, if you realize that this is a travesty or you genuinely believe this is a case of witchcraft.”

“What I believe—or do not believe—is incidental, Mr. Shaddler. The church has brought the case, and I am the appointed advocate for the church. Now, the depositions and affidavits are here. Please feel free to read them. I shall wait until you have finished.”

Alterith carried the documents to the table so recently vacated by the panel and began to read. What he found there sickened him.

An hour later he was ushered into the cell at the rear of the cathedral. It had been built not as a dungeon but as a bedchamber for priests. There was a bed and a small table with two wooden chairs, and a lantern was hanging on a wrought-iron bracket on the far wall. A small window looked out onto gardens.

“Not so terrible a place,” he said as he entered.

“No,” agreed Maev Ring.

Alterith thought she looked tired. “Are they feeding you well?” he asked.

“Aye, they bring me food. Why are you doing this, schoolteacher?”

“I believe you to be innocent, madam.”

She shrugged. “What does that matter? Innocent or guilty, they will burn me.”

“They have fifteen witnesses who say you bewitched them,” said Alterith. “I have copied out their names. My understanding is that you have more than twenty partnerships.”

“Twenty-seven.”

“Then at least twelve of your partners refused to condemn you. I shall seek them out and ask them to speak on your behalf at the trial.”

“They won’t,” said Maev Ring. “The Varlish will close ranks. They will think of all the money they can make, of the debts they will not need to repay. I wish you had not made them wait another three days.”

“We need that time, madam.”

“I do not need that time. The result is a foregone conclusion. Better to let it reach that conclusion with speed.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t want Jaim here. Can you understand that? When Parsis died, I knew there would be trouble, so I sent Jaim to the north. He will be back within two weeks. It must be concluded before then.”

“You do not want him to have to watch you die. I understand that.”

She laughed then. “You don’t understand, schoolteacher. My death is written already. I don’t want to see
him
die. We are not talking about an ordinary man here. Jaim Grymauch would walk into the fires of hell to rescue me. He must not be here.”

“I think we are getting ahead of ourselves,” said Alterith. “The most important matter to focus on is your innocence and the proving of that innocence. Now, give me the names of all your business partners. We have three days, and I intend to use that time wisely. I do not share your cynicism, Maev Ring. There will be good men prepared to stand up for the truth.”

Call Jace gazed around the room at his thirty war chiefs and listened as one by one they reported the progress of the fighting men under their command. Kaelin, sitting across the table from the clan leader, watched him intently. Call had spent an hour with Chara and when he had returned had questioned Kaelin about her state of mind. Kaelin had little to offer. He told the Rigante leader that she had been withdrawn and hostile
for most of the journey. Call’s hands had trembled with suppressed fury, and he had spoken of “taking his vengeance” and killing every Varlish in Black Mountain.

Even now, with the meeting into its second hour, Call’s face was still ashen, his eyes angry.

Rayster gave a report on the enemy’s strength at both passes. Two thousand men were camped before each one. Both forces had twenty cannon. “If we come out of the mountains,” said Rayster, “they will cut us to pieces before we get within sword range.”

“What about a night attack?” asked Call.

“Losses would still be enormous. They have fires burning behind each cannon. It would take mere moments for them to haul away the canvas covers on the weapons and set flame to the touch holes.”

“They will have to pull back once winter sets in,” offered another warrior.

“No,” said Call. “They will not wait for winter. Reinforcements are on their way. Five thousand men of the king’s regiment. Then they will launch a twin assault, blasting away our gates and then swarming into the valley. The Dweller tells me that another three thousand Beetlebacks are on the southern road, heading north. They are the king’s troops and are coming from as far south as Baracum.”

“The king’s troops?” put in Rayster. “Why would the king seek to destroy us?”

“The murder of Colonel Linax is being attributed to me,” said Call. “Linax had friends at court. The question is: How do we counter this threat? If we attack, we lose. If we defend, we also lose—albeit more slowly.”

There was silence around the table. Kaelin pushed himself to his feet. “I know that I am not of this clan, though I am Rigante,” he said. “Might I speak?”

“You have earned that right, boy,” said Call. “By heaven, you have.”

“Then I say we should attack one of their forces, but not through a pass. I came here over the mountains. I could lead a
force back the same way during the night. We would emerge from the forest on their unprotected left flank at dawn. All the cannon are pointed at the pass. If the cannoneers were routed or killed, there would be nothing to stop our main force from coming out of the valley. Then we would have them between hammer and anvil. We would also—if successful—capture twenty cannon, plus powder and shot and whatever weapons and stores they have.” Kaelin sat down.

“The cliffs above the forest are sheer,” said Bael. “I applaud your skill in bringing Chara over them. Many of us here have climbed rock faces. It is far easier to go up than down. And at night? We would lose men, Kaelin.”

“I agree,” said Rayster. “Even the thought of such a climb makes my stomach churn. I’ll risk dying facing an enemy with a sword in my hand, but to topple from a cliff face in the darkness—I don’t think so.”

“There are a series of ledges,” said Kaelin. “With enough ropes we can lessen the danger. But you are both right. Men will likely fall and be dashed to the rocks. If the plan works, however, we will destroy one Beetleback army. That will demoralize the Varlish and perhaps make the winter safe for us.”

“How many men would you need in this force?” asked Call Jace.

“At least three hundred,” said Kaelin.

Call Jace glanced down the table to where a powerfully built middle-aged man had been sitting quietly for the entire meeting. “What think you, Arik?” he asked.

Arik Ironlatch gave a bleak smile and rubbed at his graying beard. “My men are fine climbers, Call Jace. I don’t doubt I’d get volunteers for such an enterprise.”

“You think it will work?”

“It will or it won’t,” Arik answered with a shrug.

“Are you for it, though?” persisted Call, an edge of irritation in his voice.

“Always preferred
doing
to
jawing
,” answered Arik. “I say let’s have at it.”

“Then you’ll lead the raid?” said Call.

“I could,” said Arik, “but it’s the southerner’s plan, and I’ll follow any man with the guts and the ice to walk into an enemy castle and spirit away a prisoner. Leaders need a little ice in their veins. They need to think coolly at all times. Me, I get carried away in the heat of battle. Let Kaelin Ring lead.”

Call looked suddenly uncomfortable. “We are talking of the future of our clan,” he said. “If we win, we gain time. If we lose, we are finished. I mean no disrespect to Kaelin Ring—for he has proved himself an exceptional warrior—but he is untried in battle and leadership.”

“I disagree, Call,” said Rayster. “I followed Kaelin’s lead when we entered the fortress. If we are to try this hazardous plan, then I agree with Arik. Kaelin Ring is the man for it.”

Kaelin saw Call glance down at the splint on his left arm and guessed that the Rigante chieftain was wishing he were strong enough to lead the attack himself. “Let us put it to the vote,” said Call. “Those in favor of our friend Kaelin leading this attack raise their hands.” Of the thirty men present, seventeen voted in favor, including Bael and Rayster.

“Then it is decided,” said Call. He swung to Kaelin. “How soon?”

“Tomorrow night,” answered Kaelin.

“Very well. This meeting is now over. Arik, will you join Kaelin and myself for a dram before you leave.”

“I never say no to Uisge,” said Arik.

For Alterith Shaddler the next twenty-four hours were filled with disappointment. Of the twelve businessmen left on the list, seven had left Eldacre unexpectedly, traveling south to Baracum. Four refused point blank to speak up for Maev Ring, and Gillam Pearce was “not available” to speak to the schoolteacher. His wife maintained that Gillam was ill with a fever.

Close to despair, Alterith sat in a small eating house, sharing a meal with Banny. The youngster had grown in the last year. Though still slim, he had strong shoulders, the
legacy—though Alterith did not know it—of days spent with Jaim Grymauch, learning to fistfight and to wield a wooden sword. He was more confident now, especially after the fight in the summer with Kammel Bard. He had downed the Varlish youth three times, the last with a left hook that had spun Kammel from his feet and pitched him to the cobbles unconscious.

“There is still time, sir,” Banny told the dispirited Alterith. “We have two more days.”

“There is no one left to call, Banny. I am filled with despair—not just for the admirable lady but for the soul of the Varlish. I know the clans believe us to be cruel and spiteful, but there is in our race courage and nobility of spirit. To see so many of my people ready to lie for wealth, to see a good woman die in order that a few more coins can line their pockets—it is a disgrace, Banny.”

“Those we saw today were not willing to lie for gain, sir. Could you not see that they were just too frightened to speak the truth?”

Alterith nodded. “I saw. They have been visited by the knights, who have filled their heads with tales of burning and retribution.”

“I saw two of them today,” said Banny. “They looked very fine with their white cloaks and their silver armor.”

“They are—were—a fine order,” Alterith told him. “I don’t know what to make of them anymore. They are pledged to uphold the purity of the tree and to combat evil wherever they find it. Yet in the last few years I have heard tales of torture and murder. The knights, by the nature of their order, do not pledge allegiance to the king. And with the trouble in the south between the king and the covenanters, they are a law unto themselves now.”

“What can we do?” asked Banny.

“I will return to Gillam Pearce. By all accounts he is an honest man. I cannot bring myself to believe he will allow Maev to face execution.”

They finished their meal in silence. Alterith gave Banny
money to pay for the meal and left the eating house. It was dark as he stepped into the narrow street.

Three men emerged from the shadows. Alterith stood very still. All three wore white cloaks and silver helms.

“A word with you, schoolteacher,” said the first.

“What can I do for you, sir?” asked Alterith.

“Step away from evil,” he answered, “for a man is judged by the company he keeps, and the company of witches can lead only to the burning. The witch Ring will be punished. As will all those who seek to aid her in her dark ways.”

“We must be talking of another Maev Ring,” said Alterith. “The woman I know is a good woman with no pretensions to dark powers.”

“I see that I am not making myself clear, Mr. Shaddler.” He stepped in close. Something struck Alterith on the side of the head. He fell back against the wall, dizziness swamping him. A mailed fist hammered into his belly. Alterith fell to his knees, vomiting his meal to the cobbles. “If you approach Gillam Pearce, you will die. I promise this,” said the man. “I tolerate no evil and crush it wherever I find it.”

Alterith struggled to his feet. “If you … tolerate no evil,” he said, “how is it that you can look in a mirror?”

The mailed fist struck him in the face, and he pitched once more to the ground, blood seeping from a cut under his right eye.

The three knights of the Sacrifice walked away. Alterith vomited once more. Banny found him there.