Abtalion waited for several moments before speaking. “Very well. But I can think of one person who would like to speak right now and try to explain this all. Thealos Quickfellow—approach the Circle.” He looked over at the Council Elder with a small smile. “Nordain—I believe your prayer to Vannier has just been answered.” With that, he stepped back and seated himself.
A rumble of disbelief filled the room as Thealos stood and lowered the cowl of the Warder robes. He could not help but smile a little at the shock on Nordain’s face. Looking at Correl, he saw shock and relief. With all his heart, he longed to approach his father and clasp him in a tight hug, but their estrangement loomed like a chasm.
Thealos walked to the center of the floor. He turned to Laisha and dropped down to one knee, bowing his head. “I am grateful to be permitted to speak, Your Majesty.”
Laisha motioned for him to rise. Her face was calm and controlled, revealing nothing of what she felt or thought.
Thealos turned and looked over at Correl and said in a small voice, “I am sorry for disappointing you.” Steeling himself, he cast his gaze around the rest of the chamber. “I will be brief, as your time is very precious. On the eve of my coming of age, I said some rather rash words in the presence of many of you. But I would like to say here and now that those words were just that—born of frustration and not deliberation. I honor the Silverborne family as the rightful rulers of Avisahn. I never have, nor do I intend, to try and place my family’s heritage above theirs. For my ill-chosen words, I humbly apologize.” He turned slightly and looked up at Nordain. Stone-cold fury chilled the Council Elder’s expression. “You have always brought out the worst in me, Elder Nordain. It’s a gift you have, truly. But you have other gifts as well, don’t you? Many gifts, like patterns and colors from my family’s stores, to safeguard your goodwill towards us.”
Nordain gripped the padding on his seat. “Must I suffer through a Kilshae’s insolence, or may I question him? Your Majesty?”
Chancellor Abtalion nodded. “You may speak, Council Elder.”
Nordain rose and came down the steps like a younger man this time. His eyes stormed with anger. “Tell me, Kil-Quickfellow, how you managed to return to Avisahn?”
“My name is Thealos Quickfellow. I have not been attainted yet.”
“You were attainted in Sol when you refused to follow a Crimson Wolfsman Lor who placed you under arrest. Tell us about the Sleepwalker who has abused Her Majesty’s royal protectors.”
“His name is Jaerod and he brought me to Avisahn. I surrendered to the Princess of Avisahn personally. I humbly submit myself to her punishment.”
“Yet your Sleepwalker acted against the emissaries of the ruler of Avisahn. Why would he do that if his intentions are innocent?”
Thealos kept his temper in check. “I have no answer for that. How can I possibly judge a man by his intentions? Only the gods can, Council Elder.”
Nordain gave him a cutting look. “How old are you, Thealos?”
“I am very young and very na?ve, Council Elder.”
Fury splotched Nordain’s face. “It is insolence like this that got you into trouble, Thealos. You have rebuffed the traditions of this people. You forsook the Shae homeland. You went among the humans and partook of their ways—you were seen in Sol, young man. Cavorting with a human girl—a serving girl no less. There were witnesses, Thealos. They saw you.”
Thealos felt a flood of anger bloom inside him, but he clenched his fists and took a deep breath. He calmed his thoughts, remembering what Jaerod would say. Don’t let him goad you.
“I know they saw me, Elder Nordain. But you are painting a picture without using all the colors. You are leading this debate away from the matter at hand. The charge is treason, not the Rules of Forbiddance. According to the rules of the High Council, that is the only charge you leveled against me. So let us speak about that charge. I want it noted that you instigated my outburst in the Council room that night. You told me and my Correl that night that you had intended that outcome. You tried extorting wealth from my family in consequence.”
“That is a lie,” Nordain said, his voice choking with anger. “How dare you…”
“Only my Correl and I were there to hear what you said, Nordain. You baited me deliberately. Since I am young and na?ve, I let myself be deceived by what I thought were your honest intentions.” Thealos shook his head. “I do not trust you now, and so I submit myself to the punishment of Her Majesty for my serious lack of judgment. I have nothing else to say to you, Council Elder.”
Nordain paced in a half-circle, under the intense scrutiny of everyone in the High Council.
“You have raised a serious charge, Thealos,” Abtalion said in his feather-like voice. “The High Council will remember that we are not here to question Elder Nordain as to his motives that night. The issue at hand is the matter of Thealos Quickfellow. Are there any other witnesses to be summoned in regards to the charge of treason?”