"What has the prince said against me?" he demanded. He thought of this afternoon's attack, while Gavril sat and watched, smiling. A cold chill ran through Dain, and with it came anger, deep and strong. Sir Roye had tried, in his gruff, hostile way, to warn him that more trouble lay ahead. But Dain hadn't expected it to come this fast. "Lord," he said to Odfrey, "please tell me what I stand accused of. A drawn weapon in his presence? But I was already fighting when the prince entered-" "Say nothing of this to me!" Lord Odfrey snapped. "You will speak to the a.s.sembly."

"But I tell you the truth!" Dain said desperately. "It's too late to appeal to me now," Lord Odfrey said harshly. "You defied me by running away. And now you have attacked Prince Gavril."

"No!" Dain said, horrified. In a flash, he finally understood. Gavril's evil, lying tongue had twisted everything. "Lord, you must listen to me. It was-" "The a.s.sembly will listen to you," Lord Odfrey said, cutting him off. "Master your fear."

"I did no wrong," Dain insisted. "Hueh was a witness to what occurred. Sir Roye as well-" "Dain, be silent!" Lord Odfrey said. "We cannot settle this now. If you are innocent, then you must prove that to the knights."

Dain stopped his explanations, feeling desperation clawing inside his chest. How could he explain? Who would believe his word above the prince's? Bitterness twisted inside him, and in his mind he could hear Thia saying, "Trust not men, Dain. They will always turn and betray you."

Lord Renald set his hand gently on Dain's shoulder. "Better I take him now." "No," Lord Odfrey said in a voice like iron. There was fear in him, and Dain's sense of alarm grew. If Lord Odfrey was worried about him, then truly he stood little chance.

Lord Odfrey shook his head. "Thank you, Renald, but please go and tell them that I'll bring him in a few minutes." The chevard's gaze swung back to Dain and narrowed. "He must account to me first."

"Be not long," Lord Renald advised him. "The more wine they drink and the longer they talk, the more trouble can brew."

"Dain's delay has already done the most harm," Lord Odfrey said bleakly. "More will matter little."

This remark did not seem to impress Lord Renald. "It will be better if he appears of his own accord. If they must come for him, it will look black against him indeed."

He left with that ominous remark.

Dain frowned at Lord Odfrey. "Who will take my word instead of his?" he asked without hope. "Even you do not believe in my innocence." "How can I when you have defied me so boldly?" Lord Odfrey retorted.

"I was angry."

"Anger maketh a fool," Lord Odfrey said as though quoting someone. Dain flushed hot. For a moment he wanted to shout curses at the chevard. But when he saw the anguish in Lord Odfrey's dark eyes, Dain's throat choked up and he could not stay angry. He had tried so hard in recent months to gain this man's respect. Now he saw how deeply he had disappointed Lord Odfrey. But Lord Odfrey needed tounderstand how much he had hurt Dain as well. Swallowing hard, Dain said, "I wanted to prove myself to you. I wanted to make you proud of me. When you withdrew me from the contest, I was angry, for I wanted to try, even if I entered at a disadvantage."

"But why run away over something so trivial?" Lord Odfrey asked.

"It was not trivial to me."

Lord Odfrey frowned, and for a long moment there was silence between them.

Dain broke it with a sigh. "I will never be a knight, will I?"

Lord Odfrey's brows knotted. "Dain-"

"I am eld. Neither Mandrian nor one of the faithful." Dain shrugged. "When the knights let me sit and listen to their tales in the guardhouse, I felt as though I belonged. When they taught me swordplay, I could forget what I am. But there is no true acceptance for one such as myself."

"Dain, I sought to protect you from harm," Lord Odfrey said, looking upset. "I feared Mierre would hurt you cruelly on the field, and conceal it as a jousting injury."

"Strange," Dain said, unable to believe him. "Mierre's dagger wounded me today, and now that I am accused of a terrible act I did not commit, you believe them, not me. How does that protect me from harm?"

"It will be the knights who judge you, not I," Lord Odfrey said.

That answer was meaningless, for Lord Odfrey still refused to take his side.

Dain stared at him, hurt beyond measure.

Someone pounded on the door. "My lord, bid us enter!"

With a start, Lord Odfrey glanced in that direction. "Wait!" he called. Dain heard an impatient murmur of male voices outside the door, and Sir Blait growling a response. Fear dried Dain's mouth. If he could not sway Lord Odfrey, how could he prove himself to the rest? Would they let Hueh speak on his behalf? Would the child tell the truth, or lie? It took courage to accuse the prince publicly of lying.

I shall do it, Dain promised himself grimly. Though they cut out my tongue for it, 1 shall make them hear how infamous their prince is. The pounding came again on the door, more insistent this time. Dain looked at Lord Odfrey in appeal. "Lord, tell me the law I am to be judged by. If I am to defend myself, I must know how."

Lord Odfrey flung his ink pot at the wall. It shattered there, blotching the wall with a huge indigo stain.

"d.a.m.ne! Had you come straight to me, you would have had no opportunity to attack Gavril. I am certain he provoked you, but why in Thod's name were you so foolish?"

"Open your ears to my words," Dain said. "I did not attack the prince. Not once. Not in any fashion.

He came to watch while Mierre and Kaltienne fought me. Sir Roye told me I was wrong to have my weapon drawn in his presence, but was I to sheathe my dagger to avoid offending his highness, and let them stab me?" Lord Odfrey closed his eyes as though in pain. He drew in a sharp breath and openedthem again. "You will swear to this?"

"Aye, of course I will swear to it," Dain said fervently.

"Truth is the only defense you have."

"My word against Gavril's." Dain sighed. "Will Hueh be allowed to speak for me?

Will Sir Roye?"

Lord Odfrey's eyes were dark with anguish. He hesitated a moment before he said, "I have sent Sir Roye away. He is delivering a message from me to Geoffen du Maltie."

Dain stared in disbelief. Cold chills ran down his arms. "Why?" he whispered. "Thod help me, to save his life," Lord Odfrey answered. His face held momentary despair, then it grew harsh again. "The man has been my protector since I won my spurs of knighthood. I will not let him risk his life by calling the prince a liar."

The coldness in Dain spread. "And Hueh?" he asked.

"The child, by law, is too young to speak."

Dain shivered, turned away, and went to stand by the window. He stared blindly outside, his heart pounding heavily. "Then I am doomed." Lord Odfrey came up behind him. He touched Dain's shoulder, but Dain flinched away.

"Forgive me," Lord Odfrey said quietly. "They are innocents and I cannot let them be harmed by what has befallen you."

"Of course," Dain said bitterly. "As an eld, I am permitted no defense." "No!" Lord Odfrey spun him around and glared at him. "d.a.m.ne, boy! I would rather fall in battle than lose you. I lost one son. I do not-cannot lose another." "I am not your son," Dain said harshly.

"No."

Dain flung up his chin, facing the man. "Would you defend me if I were?" Lord Odfrey clenched his jaw so hard a muscle leaped there. "In Thod's name, how can I? When I became chevard of Thirst, I swore to uphold the law of the land. I tried to protect you, but you defied me, ran away, consorted with a foreigner, and have been traveling through Nold at a time when our lands are under fearsome attack. You defied Sir Terent by refusing to come straight to me. I could have protected you then, but nay, you fell into the trap set for you. Now you would accuse me of not defending you. How can I when you have rejected my every effort to protect you?"

Dain listened to him and felt his defiance crumble. His eyes stung, and he turned away, silent and wretched. His mistakes loomed large, and he saw now how wrong he'd been, how unfair he'd been to blame Lord Odfrey for his problems. His own independence and defiance had played into Gavril's hands. "What, then, can I do?" he asked. "For me to tell the truth will be to accuse the prince of lying. If I do that, will I break another of your laws?" "Yes."

Dain swore softly beneath his breath. The trap was even worse than he'd thought. Gavril had him from every side. "If I run away, for real this time? If I never return?" Sorrow creased Lord Odfrey's scarred face. "You will be wanted for life. You can never cross Mandrian borders again, for the king will set a price on your head. If I or any knight here see you, we will be bound by our duty and fealty to seek your life. I do not want that, Dain. Do you?"

"If I remain here and go through this trial, will I die?" Dain asked bluntly.

"I know not. I hope not," Lord Odfrey said with a sigh.

"But you cannot promise me."

"Dain," Lord Odfrey said, his voice serious indeed, "if you wish to escape Thirst, there is a way out, a hidden way known only by me. It was shown to me by my father, and his father before him."

Hope flashed through Dain. He grabbed at the offer like a drowning man. "Where is it?"

"You will go, then?" Lord Odfrey asked.

"What choice have I?"

Lord Odfrey dropped his gaze and nodded. "Very well. I will show you the way."

The knights outside pounded on the door again. "My lord! We must have him.

Surrender him to us now!"

"A moment more," Lord Odfrey called back, and strode across the wardroom to the fireplace. He pressed a stone, and a small, concealed door opened in the wall. "Through here. Quickly."

Dain hurried to it and had started to duck into a cramped, musty pa.s.sageway draped with cobwebs and smelling of mice when a suspicion tickled the back of his neck. He paused, hesitating, and glanced back.

Lord Odfrey scowled at him and gestured for him to go. "Hurry. You have no more time."

"What will become of you?" Dain asked. "If I go, it will be known that you allowed me to escape. What will befall you?"

"Do not worry about me."

But Dain was thinking of what the chevard had said to Lord Renald. "You said I was your responsibility.

Will you be punished for defying the prince?" "No."

"Tell me the truth," Dain said fiercely.

"If you're going, you must go now," Lord Odfrey said with equal fierceness. "It is the only way to save you."

"Will you stand trial in my place?" Dain asked.

Lord Odfrey said nothing. They stared at each other a long moment in the silence, then Dain slowly backed out of the escape pa.s.sage and pressed the stone to close its door. "Dain!"

"No," Dain said softly, "I will not run if it means you will be destroyed in my place."

"I have a better chance than you."

Dain shook his head. "You have given me much kindness this year, lord. I will not serve you ill in repayment."

"In Thod's name, you must go!"

Dain turned away from him and resolutely opened the door. He found himself faced by a delegation of six knights, half Thirst men and half Lunt. His heart was hammering again, and from behind him he could feel a wave of despair pa.s.s through Lord Odfrey. Dain's knees felt weak, and he was sore afraid, but he forced himself to face the men with his head held high and his gaze steady. "Take me to your a.s.sembly,"

he said.

The Hall of Thirst Hold stretched long and narrow, with a high vaulted ceiling spanned by thick wooden beams and hung with Thirst banners of green. The head of a stag bearing immense, spreading antlers was mounted at one end of the Hall; the ma.s.sive head of a black, snarling beyar was at the other. Tapestries covered the wall on one side of the Hall, while shields interspersed with chevron-patterned arrangements of swords and rosettes of daggers adorned the opposite wall. Long trestle tables littered with trenchers, riddled wheels of cheese, bread crumbs, and platters of picked-over meat bones stretched the length of the room in a double row, leaving an empty aisle that reached all the way to the great hearth at the north end. Large enough to roast an ox, the hearth stood cold and empty this summer's night. Torches set in iron sconces on either side of the chimneypiece flamed vivid red, hissing and smoking and dripping hot pitch.

When Lord Odfrey walked into the Hall, the musicians fell silent and the knights sitting at the tables stopped their chatter. Pewter tankards of Thirst cider banged the tables. Benches sc.r.a.ped back, and the knights rose to their feet. The chevard had put on a dark green cloak over his gray tunic. The torchlight glittered on his jeweled cloak pin, signet, and marriage ring. Grim-faced, Lord Odfrey strode along straight-backed, with one hand resting lighting on his sword hilt.

Dain followed behind him, feeling the weight of every pair of eyes in the Hall, from Prince Gavril on down to the lowliest page. Next came the six knights in solemn procession.

The knights of Thirst were sober, but the men of Lunt were not. Dain smelled the fermented ale in their cups and on their breath. He read fierce judgment in their gaze. Their minds flickered against his: guiltyIguiltyIguiltyIguilty. At the head table, which was still laden with supper remains Prince Gavril sat with the priest and Lord Renald. Only Lord Renald had the right to stay seated in Lord Odfrey's presence but none of them rose.

The torchlight gleamed on Gavril's golden hair. He wore an indigo doublet of silk. His handsome face smirked with triumph, and his slender white hand toyed with the jeweled hilt of his poniard.

Sir Los stood behind his young master's chair, looking stolid and bulky. His expression was stony, his eyes forever watchful. The priest was a short, swarthy man with a sunburned tonsure and worried, nervous eyes. Wearing his robes, he looked hot and unhappy. With his own protector standing behind his chair, Lord Renald leaned back, seemingly at his ease, but his dark eyes held a frown. When Lord Odfrey reached the table, Lord Renald rose to his feet and bowed.

Lord Odfrey inclined his head stiffly in return. Their exchange of courtesies made Gavril look haughty and churlish. When the prince continued to sit in Lord Odfrey's presence, a faint murmur of disapproval spread across the room. Gavril seemed to ignore it, but his dark blue eyes flashed with disdain. Glancing to one side of the Hall, Dain found the worried faces of Thum and Sir Polquin among the crowd. Sir Polquin scowled at Gavril and Thum looked furious. Lord Odfrey's gaze pa.s.sed over Gavril coldly and sought out his captain-at-arms.

"Who have been chosen judges?" he asked.

Sir Bosquecel, looking stern and official in his mail and surcoat, came forward.

"The judges will be Lord Renald, his captain-at-arms, and myself." Dain blinked worriedly. Lord Renald seemed fairly neutral and open-minded, but Dain had already heard the man warn Lord Odfrey not to risk offending the king. Dain did not think Lord Renald would fail to follow his own advice. The second man Dain knew not at all. Sir Bosquecel had always been kind to Dain in the past, but now he stood rigid and stalwart before Lord Odfrey and did not glance at Dain once. Even if Sir Bosquecel took Dain's side, that left two whose votes were at best uncertain.

Prince Gavril finally rose to his feet. "A representative of the church should also be a judge," he said.

The priest beside him jumped up hastily, looking more nervous than before. "I shall serve as I am called to serve, my lords," he said in a thin, breathless voice.

Ignoring the priest entirely, Lord Odfrey looked at Gavril with scant patience.

"Such is not the law."

Gavril flushed, and for a moment hatred for Lord Odfrey gleamed in his dark blue eyes. "It is the custom at court to include the church as a courtesy." "We are an a.s.sembly of warriors, your highness," Lord Odfrey said in a voice like stone. "We will follow law here, not lowlander custom." The pink flush in Gavril's face darkened at the rebuke, and some of the knights laughed. Gavril glared at them. "Very well!" he said a bit shrilly. "Let us begin."

Sir Bosquecel looked offended by the prince's brusque command. Watching, Dain got a glimmer of an idea. If he could cause Gavril to lose his temper and display to these men his true personality, then perhaps they might believe what Dain had to say. It was a thin plan, but all he had.

The ceremony began with the head table being pushed back and Dain placed in front of it to face the entire Hall.

A herald wearing Thirst livery came forward and cleared his throat. "Lords and knights," he announced, "let it be known that the trial of one eld youth, known as Dain, has now begun. Let truth be spoken by all. Let all hearts be open to receiving the truth, as we are taught by Tomias, servant of Thod the Almighty." Someone pounded his tankard on the table at the rear of the Hall. "Hang 'im!" the man shouted drunkenly. "Hang 'im in a river tree an' let the keebacks peck out his eyes!"

Lord Odfrey whirled around. "Seize that man!" he roared. Two Thirst knights strode down the length ofthe Hall toward the offender. "Gently," Lord Renald said with an apologetic shrug. "Chances are he's one of mine."

Lord Odfrey was not listening. His fist was clenched at his side and he fumed, "Drunkenness in my Hall.

I will not have it."

The knight who was pulled forth to stand on wobbly knees was not a Lunt man, however, but Thirst.

With food and ale spilled down his green surcoat, he let his head loll a moment before he waved and flashed a drunken grin. It was Sir Vedrique, a.s.signed to Gavril's company of guards.

Lord Odfrey looked livid. "Get him out!" he ordered. "Secure him in the guardhouse."

"Aye, m'lord."

Sir Vedrique was hustled out, and Lord Odfrey gazed long and hard around the Hall. "If any other man here is drunk, let him admit it now and leave without censure. Stay, and if I learn you have voted in this trial with your judgment impaired, it will be a public flogging."