THE ONLY THING better than Minister Sinda’s face when he saw Banneth was when he recognized Alex standing beside him. They strode into the room together, Alex three steps behind the king, as the council erupted in shouts. Several ministers fell out of their chairs and to their knees, thanking the Spirit. Sinda’s complexion took on a greenish cast, which only worsened when Lani came to stand by Sage.
Banneth had cleaned up and changed, looking imposing and in complete control, unlike anyone else in the room. When the chaos had died down and everyone was back in their seats—except Sinda, who was rooted to the spot—the king called the council to order.
“Gentlemen,” he said, then paused to nod to Lani and Sage. “As the full council is present, I invoke an emergency judgment trial, for the good of the nation, that we may resolve this matter quickly and decisively.”
No one objected. Sage imagined they were still too shocked to understand what was happening.
“At any time, any member may call for a judgment that will end the proceedings if the vote is unanimous in favor of guilt or innocence. The accused is allowed to call any witness in his defense until such a judgment is made.”
“Palandret,” said the minister of roads weakly. “Who is on trial and what are the charges?”
“Dev Sinda stands accused of treason, conspiracy, and attempted assassination of a sovereign. I am sure we could add bribery, but those will do.”
“I object,” said Sinda, finding his voice. “I will never vote in favor of my guilt—this trial is nullified.”
Banneth had anticipated that. “The minister of finance is engaged to marry the Princess Alaniah. By law, such a close relationship to the royal family removes him from his post. Dev Sinda is no longer a voting member of this council.”
Before Sinda could protest that a full council no longer existed, Lani spoke up. “I nominate Darit Yamon for the vacant position of minister of finance.”
“As king, I have the right to make an interim appointment,” said Banneth. “Darit Yamon, do you accept?”
Darit bowed. “Yes, Palandret.”
“So be it.”
Guards appeared on either side of Sinda, stripping him of the knife he carried and searching him for more weapons. Sage was speechless at how well coordinated everything had been.
“Now,” said Banneth, taking his seat at the head of the table. “I suggest we begin with my first two witnesses, as one isn’t likely to live much longer.” The doors were opened and four guards entered with the dolofan. At the look of hatred from the Kimisar clutching his bloody stomach, Sinda panicked and bolted for the door, but the guards were faster. In one last stroke of justice, it was Alex who produced a set of shackles to hold the accused.
The first and only vote was held an hour later.
*
Casmuni law required a full day between sentencing and execution. Two mornings later, Dev Sinda was led to the block in the market square in front of the prison. Though Lani looked calm and regal as ever, she was on the verge of collapse, and Sage had her arm around her friend’s waist to support her.
The charges of conspiracy, treason, and attempted assassination of a sovereign were read aloud and the verdict and sentence announced. Sinda stood silently, his shackled wrists hanging in front of him. His unkempt hair and lined face no longer looked handsome and distinguished, but rather cold and calculating.
Banneth stepped forward, and the crowd sighed in audible relief. Despite the immediate shutting down of the palace, rumors of his assassination had spread quickly, and people were glad to see for themselves they weren’t true. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?” the king said.
Sinda then turned his eyes to Sage and Nicholas. “Do give the Kimisar my regards when you return home.”
The dolofan had failed, but the smug look on Sinda’s face made Sage sick to her stomach. “Wait!” she shouted in Casmuni.
The executioner froze with his harish in the half-begun swing and looked to Banneth, who held up his hand to indicate he should halt. Sinda rotated his head from the block and looked up at her. “Yes, my dear?” he said mockingly.
“You sent the order for the garrison to stand down as soon as you thought the king was dead, didn’t you?” she said. “The pass is open.”
Or it would be within days.
Sinda only smiled. “Bas medari, Saizsch Fahler.”
He turned to resettle his neck on the block. “Let’s get this over with.”
101
THE DEMORANS ARRIVED in Osthiza that evening to find a city in an uproar. Banneth was organizing as many troops as possible to march the next morning for the pass to the west. The distance was far, but the desert ground was solid enough that a road linked the capital to the fortress. Seven days was considered the minimum time needed. Banneth planned to do it in fewer than five.
The king was busy, so Sage, Nicholas, and Alex rode out to meet the Demorans as they set up camp on the plain outside the city gates. Ambassador Gramwell was there as Sage expected, but she was surprised to see Clare next to him. Alex stepped up to Colonel Traysden and saluted formally before requesting permission to report. While he explained everything to the ambassador and officers, Clare filled Sage in on what had happened on the Demoran side.
That Sage and Nicholas went into Casmun was known within a day. When Alex and two volunteers had gone into the desert after them, Casseck returned to a camp occupied by Colonel Traysden, who assumed command of the Norsari. While dispatches went flying to the capital, the Demorans pursued the Kimisar to the foothills of the Catrix, where they crossed into Casmun, and the Norsari did not follow. Extra troops came across Jovan in case the Kimisar came back, but the Norsari and the unit Colonel Traysden brought headed for Vinova, anticipating permission from Tennegol to go after Nicholas the long way around. As soon as they had the authority, the ambassador and almost all the soldiers at Vinova headed south. Thanks to what Sage and Clare had learned, the Demorans never considered trying to cross the desert.
Everyone finished their stories at about the same time, and they all stood looking at one another for a minute. Colonel Traysden cleared his throat. “Captain Quinn, I hereby formally return command of Norsari Battalion One to you. It was my honor to serve as commander in your absence.”
Alex saluted, and Sage could see he was holding back tears. The colonel returned the salute, and the moment was over.
“So, Captain,” said Traysden after the officers took turns shaking Alex’s hand and welcoming him back. “When do we leave for the pass?”
*
They returned to the palace with Ambassador Gramwell, Clare, their retinue, and the news that the Demoran soldiers would march with them in the morning. Banneth took one look at the Demoran horses and insisted on providing Casmuni mounts for the officers, saying the lighter, slender breeds they rode would be more reliable on a journey across the desert. Alex looked a little insulted, but he acknowledged the Demoran horses were exhausted from pushing so hard to get to Osthiza.
Lani offered her white stallion to Sage, and when that was translated for Alex, he shook his head. “You’re staying here with Nicholas.”
Sage crossed her arms. “Who’s going to choose your meals and underclothes if I’m not there?”
Alex opened his mouth to protest, then clamped it shut and exhaled through his nose, frowning.
“I’m going to have to watch you ride away for years, Alex,” she said, stepping close to him and lowering her voice. “I’ll be damned if I do it when I don’t have to.” She put a hand on his crossed arms. “I’ll stay back from the fighting, I promise.”
He sighed. “Is this the wrong time to tell you how much you remind me of my mother?”
“Is that an attempt to dissuade me?”
“Only if it works,” he said, dropping his arms and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Ten minutes later, Clare committed to coming, too. “Sage can’t be out there alone,” she said. “Think of her reputation.”