Ashar'an Rising (Nexus Wars Saga) (17 page)

Angered shouts went up from the other clans, and several others also stepped forward, drawing their own weapons in outrage at what Valdieron had done, but Akor and the Black Lions drew their own wooden weapons and stepped forward to show their support for Valdieron. Surprisingly, it was the big man whom Valdieron had humiliated on the first night of sparring that began shouting for the other clans to back off. He could only imagine the Darishi was saying that these men had taken the challenge of their own free will, and had known the possibilities. Slowly the Clansmen backed away and Valdieron retrieved his wooden weapons, eyeing the others warily. He twisted to see that Jalek had risen and was watching the proceedings with interest.

A booming laugh broke the tense silence that ensued, and another Darishi stepped through the crowd. He was dressed in a flowing Ulster that could not hide the sweep of twin swords behind him, and his tall frame slipped past the other clansmen with ease. His slender face, backed by long dark hair interlaced with plaited lengths at the back and before each ear, made him instantly recognizable to Valdieron.

Javin!

The slender Darishi inclined his head in greeting, thin mouth pressed into a smile. The two, although having fought at the Tournament, had not met on a social level, which made Javin's affable greeting curious. The Darishi stepped forward and clasped Valdieron by the wrist, and Valdieron locked his own hand around Javin’s.

“
Making friends, I see?” The Darishi smiled at his own joke, eyeing the clansmen around them, some of whom still had weapons drawn. Some drew back under his gaze, and most lowered or re sheathed their weapons. “Tell me, what have you done to be here?”

Valdieron studied the smooth face of the Darishi. He wondered at this sudden respect Javin had for him. He remembered after his victory over the Darishi at the Tournament, the proud Warrior seeming to have accepted his defeat. Maybe his respect came from seeing Valdieron as a fellow Warrior.

“
I think I am to be sacrificed to the Serpent,” he answered coolly, wondering if he had accepted what was going to happen to him. Javin's eyes narrowed, however.

“
The Sacrifice of the Serpent is reserved for those who have committed grave crimes against a Clansman.” Javin sounded as if he did not believe Valdieron could have done something so bad. “What did you do?”

Valdieron sighed and leant closer to the Darishi so the others around him couldn't hear, even though he didn't know how many of them could understand his words. “Khalan of the Black Lion Clan killed his older brother Dhalan, during a raid by Hara'kar, and he is blaming me for the death.”

Not knowing what to expect from the Darishi, he was still surprised when Javin sank back in thought, his eyes still boring into Valdieron. “That is a grave accusation by Khalan, Valdieron of Tyr. Is it warranted?”

Valdieron shook his head wistfully, eyeing the clansmen around them. It was obvious this meeting between the two was surprising the other clansmen. They had obviously expected the two to be fighting right now, not talking as if they were long  time friends. “On my word, no, but I don't think that will account for much in the end.”

Javin only nodded at this, not helping to waylay Valdieron's expectations. He cast a glance back at the Pavilion where the Equinaries were gathered already. “I will speak with my father about this, and also try to convince the Equinaries of your innocence, but I fear they will not vote against the new Chieftain of the Black Lion Clan.”

Valdieron nodded in thanks and began to turn away, thinking the entertainment for the evening was over, but as he did, a gentle tapping on his shoulder turned him back around to find the Javin had taken up a wooden sword and was testing it for balance. He settled his gaze and a smile played across his face.

“
For old times sake?”

Valdieron could only smile in return as he hefted his own swords and Javin was tossed another by a close Clansman. At the likelihood of a contest between the two, the circle around them widened, the crowd no longer grumbling as they expected Javin to humiliate this stranger as he had humiliated them. Maybe they did not know that it was Valdieron who had ousted Javin from the Tournament. The Black Lion Clansmen apparently did, however, and there began a boisterous chanting of his name as he waited for Javin to prepare. Some coins were even passed as a few made wagers, though Valdieron had to blot this out as he readied himself, knowing Javin was a different matter altogether.

Their first pass was measured, all four swords making connection as the two swordsmen used the strokes to get into a rhythm, while at the same time seeing how the other was acting. Valdieron knew he had improved somewhat since their meeting at the Tournament, though even now he did not know if he was Javin's equal.

Then they met each other again, growing more fluid with each attack as cutting and thrusting weapons were swept aside with twists and turns, and feints one way became strokes the other way. If Valdieron had have been intent on the crowd, he would have heard a collective sigh of appreciation as they watched these two 'dance' inside the circle.

Valdieron twisted one sword with a flick of the wrist and stepped inside another parry, moving backwards for leverage against the Darishi who liked to be close, but as Valdieron knew, his own style relied on distance for him to incorporate his entire repertoire. Javin knew this and pressed him, however, forcing Valdieron to match him up close, but when the Darishi withdrew momentarily, Valdieron had not been struck, but conversely neither had Javin, who was still grinning as if this were a game. To his surprise, he found he was also enjoying himself, knowing it was good, clean fighting and that neither should get hurt too seriously.

A barking command halted their swords inches from each other as they moved for a third exchange, and both were instantly turned to the direction of the command. The crowd also turned, showing their displeasure at the interruption, though only for as long as it took them to recognized the Equinary of the Black Lion Clan standing at the edge of the rock platform, at which point they quieted humbly.

“
Valdieron of Tyr, you are summoned to stand trial before the Council of Equinaries.” It was not a statement, but more of a command, its gravity seeming to weigh heavily on the collective clans, whose eyes all seemed to turn on Valdieron, possibly expecting him to flee at that time. He did not, however, merely signaling with his sword to Javin to thank him for the fight, and then tossing both wooden swords to Akor, who caught them and dropped them at his feet, his face set in a mask of regret.

Javin stepped up beside him after tossing his own wooden weapons aside, offering his own genuine smile, but the Equinary motioned for him to remain as the two stepped towards the platform.

“
The council has much to hear and discuss this night, Javin of the Water Seekers clan. Any input you have can be given after the council have dismissed the suspect.” It was clearly a command not to be questioned. Javin inclined his head respectfully to the Equinary and stepped back off the platform, but not before giving Valdieron's shoulder a supportive squeeze.

A thin wall of hide encircled the central area of the platform where the combined Equinaries waited, as guards peeled back flaps for the two to enter, Valdieron respectfully behind the Equinary. The area within was not big, barely enough for the Equinaries from nine of the ten clans, with one position as yet unfilled. Obviously they meant to make a decision with this one still vacant, which Valdieron had to admit must have been because of the gravity of the charge against him. The sooner they reached their decision; fewer rumors could be spread throughout the Clans.

The Equinary of the Black Lion Clan sat in his appointed position, while Valdieron moved to the center of their circle, studying each quickly. They all appeared similar, of middling years with lithe and worn bodies that were a mark of their harsh lifestyles. Some had sparse grey hair, while one had gleaming white hair, while one was short for a Darishi at probably a head shorter than Valdieron, and another looked as if he would brush his head against the seven  foot ceiling if he stood, such was his lankiness.

It was the white  haired Equinary who addressed him, not rising or giving any indication of who he was, though the Foal emblem on his cloak marked him as the Equinary of the Daris Clan, which Valdieron would have probably guessed anyhow.

“
Valdieron of Tyr. It has come to our attention through our esteemed compatriot that you have been accused of murdering the Chieftain and future Heir of the Black Lion Clan. Your story has been imparted unto us, but we would hear it from your mouth so as to get some perspective on it, if you would.” He did not mention if Khalan had already given them his version of the story, but Valdieron figured the brother's story would have been heard almost immediately.

Valdieron frowned in thought, though knew it was not a good idea, probably giving these men the impression he was trying to recall a story, not a chain of events, but he began his telling quickly, beginning with his first crossing into Darishi, then his meeting with the brothers and the Haita'kar. During his telling, the Equinaries were silent, obviously weighing his words carefully, but occasionally one would nod imperceptibly or furrow their brows in concern or thought. Knowing these supposedly wise men would probably see through any exaggeration or overacting on his part, he kept his story monotonous and to the point.

When he finished, there was silence as if the nine men were waiting for more, but they were probably waiting for the Daris Clan's Equinary to rise and dismiss him, which he did after a thoughtful pause. He had expected some questioning, so the dismissal surprised him. Maybe there was no need in their minds to go over anything or clear anything up, which made him shudder slightly.

“
Valdieron of Tyr, the Council have heard your words and will weigh them appropriately against what other details have been presented. Return and rest, for on the morrow your decision will be made public.

At that, a guard pulled back a flap and motioned to accompany him, which Valdieron did almost mechanically. He had a terrible feeling from being near these men that they had already made their decision, and it was not a good one for him. His mind, though shocked, screamed for him to try and escape. It told him that come the morning, his fate (and perhaps that of the rest of the Realms), would rest in the hands of nine old Equinaries from the plains of Kil’Tar. Should he have told them of his quest: of the portals and the demons? Somehow he did not think they would believe him.

Wondering then at how fickle destiny could be, he hardly noticed as he was returned to Jalek and his bedroll, past the gazes of a hundred clansmen and more. Food was pressed into his hands and he ate, this also without taste or desire, and when he was done, he rolled over to sleep, his mind restless and jumbled. Sleep was not easy in coming, and when on occasion he did look around, he saw that double the usual amount of guards were surrounding him. Obviously the Equinaries did not want him to wander during the night.

After a time, he did find some solace in sleep, though it was troubled and for some reason he could not enter Kel'Valor, despite his trying, and the dreams that replaced it were not the most calming, with most of them entailing his demise in many number of ways, though all incorporated snakes. So it was, that when a hand shook him firmly to awaken and he looked up into the eyes of Jalek, he thought he had better take a good look at the rising sun, because it would probably be his last. Surprisingly, he accepted this, knowing to fight it would mean an even worse fate. At least this way, he would have his dignity as he accepted that which had handed to him, however grim.

With this newfound tranquility, he rose to meet with the Council of Equinaries.

Valdieron
could not have hoped for a better morning, considering it would probably be his last. The sun was beginning to climb over the low walls of Stonemere, bathing it in pure light. There were no clouds to break its efforts, nor would there likely be throughout its sojourn over the lands. A sense of purity marked this morning, which seemed somehow fitting and lamentable.

The Pavilion was already packed with members of the royal families as his entourage of guards, led by Jalek, brought Valdieron to it. From the press of people, servants included, the nine Equinaries emerged wearing pure white capes with only the Symbol of their Clans covering the upper half, both front and back. They formed a line at the perimeter of the stone platform, while Valdieron was left below them.
'Not a promising position!'
he mused, though he did this with a smile, seeing some mirth in it somewhere, but not quite recalling where.

It was the Equinary of the Daris Clan who addressed the collective Clans turned out to view the sentence of the council. Surprisingly, there was a pervading silence among the usually flamboyant clansmen as they waited, as if expressing their attitudes towards the coming event.

“
Fair morning, Clansmen of the Darishi!” Valdieron did not know this man's name, having not heard it spoken, and he suddenly wished to have known the name of the man who would be sending him to his doom. It was only a minor thing, but it was one of the many things he rued not having done or known. Not surprisingly, his mind began to wander as the weight of his demise pressed at him, and many images came to him, mostly of people he had met in his past. They included his father and brother, Kylaran, Natasha, Kitara, Kalamar, portly Will Otterman and old Bart Letterman, who he would liked to have gotten to know better. There was Thorgast and Llewellyn, Nagus and Hubert the drunk Wagoner, with whom he had shared his first hangover. There was also the woman, Kaylara, who had seduced him at the Inn at Garthtown, whose face seemed to loom clearer than the others, while the spectral face of Astan-Valar and Ka'Varel made sudden appearances and were gone.