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Authors: C. Greenwood
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needed to make it clear I was
wholeheartedly serious about this scheme, and by being there to greet each
outlaw as he arrived, I hoped I was fixing it in all their minds that I was
taking the bulk of the risk and responsibility for this treasonous meeting.
Dradac kept at my elbow, trying to wheedle out of me the
truth behind all the secrecy, but I kept my silence until I was certain
everyone who meant to attend had filtered in. When the men started shifting
impatiently at the prolonged wait, I exchanged looks with Ada, who gave a
slight nod. It was time. The gathering fell silent as I scrambled to the top of
the big rock shaped like a horse’s head where I could look out over my small
audience.
No verbal agreement had been made between Ada and I, but I
had settled it in my mind that I should be the one to open the meeting. If
things didn’t go as planned, I wouldn’t have her taking the blame for my idea.
Looking out over the expectant faces, each palely lit beneath the light of the
full moon, I almost lost my nerve. How could I be certain none of them would
betray me to Rideon? I took a deep breath and the moment of uncertainty passed.
I said, “Friends, I know many of you are wondering why we’re
here. Maybe some have already guessed and come to lend your voices to the
discussion, while others attend out of curiosity. First, let me say that
whatever your reasons, I’m glad you all chose to come. Secondly, I have to warn
you that the things we’ll discuss in this circle tonight are of a secretive
nature. Any of you who cannot hold your tongues are given this final
opportunity to leave.”
There was an indignant stirring within the group at this,
but I had to be clear on the point. Rideon wasn’t the man to tolerate
dissention and anyone speaking up tonight would risk everything on the silence
of the rest.
I held up a hand to still the murmurings, saying, “I’m
sorry. I know I can, and have, trusted many of you with my life in the past. You’ve
all been deemed dependable men—if it was otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.”
A balding man I recognized as one of Dradac’s friends spat
and stepped forward. “As both Rideon and his second in command are
absent, would I be safe in guessing what you’ve got to say doesn’t meet with
the Hand’s approval?” he asked.
I hesitated before admitting, “Rideon hasn’t forbidden this
meeting, but only because he has no notion of its existence. If he did, we
would not, any of us, be here. That is the reason for the secrecy.”
I held my breath, but no one stormed away yet. There were a
few uneasy glances, but most shrugged and waited to hear what would be said
next. Relived to have kept my audience this far, I launched into an explanation
of the Skeltai raids and of Rideon’s determination to keep the facts from his
outlaws.
Everyone had heard of the attacks but few knew the details.
As I told how the villagers at Hammond’s Bend had been slaughtered by the
Skeltai invaders, I sensed their growing anger at the fate that had befallen
our woods allies. I emphasized the cowardly nature of the attacks, and the way
the enemy had sprung out of nowhere in the dead of night. I didn’t give any
dire predictions but insinuated a similar fate could befall us or others of our
friends at any time. When I had finished the tale, I called up the two scouts
who had been the first to bring Rideon news of the destruction at Hammond’s
Bend. I had instructed Ada to be sure to install them in the audience to lend
weight to our case.
They now gave chilling descriptions of the sights they had
encountered and the barbaric treatment of the helpless villagers. When they
left off speaking, Ada came forward and gave the others the same information
she had shared with me on the blood rites leading up to the Skeltai celebration
of Sagara Nouri. This was a calculated move on my part, saving the gruesome
fates of the stolen villagers as the final words the outlaws would hear.
When Ada
wholeheartedly serious about this scheme, and by being there to greet each
outlaw as he arrived, I hoped I was fixing it in all their minds that I was
taking the bulk of the risk and responsibility for this treasonous meeting.
Dradac kept at my elbow, trying to wheedle out of me the
truth behind all the secrecy, but I kept my silence until I was certain
everyone who meant to attend had filtered in. When the men started shifting
impatiently at the prolonged wait, I exchanged looks with Ada, who gave a
slight nod. It was time. The gathering fell silent as I scrambled to the top of
the big rock shaped like a horse’s head where I could look out over my small
audience.
No verbal agreement had been made between Ada and I, but I
had settled it in my mind that I should be the one to open the meeting. If
things didn’t go as planned, I wouldn’t have her taking the blame for my idea.
Looking out over the expectant faces, each palely lit beneath the light of the
full moon, I almost lost my nerve. How could I be certain none of them would
betray me to Rideon? I took a deep breath and the moment of uncertainty passed.
I said, “Friends, I know many of you are wondering why we’re
here. Maybe some have already guessed and come to lend your voices to the
discussion, while others attend out of curiosity. First, let me say that
whatever your reasons, I’m glad you all chose to come. Secondly, I have to warn
you that the things we’ll discuss in this circle tonight are of a secretive
nature. Any of you who cannot hold your tongues are given this final
opportunity to leave.”
There was an indignant stirring within the group at this,
but I had to be clear on the point. Rideon wasn’t the man to tolerate
dissention and anyone speaking up tonight would risk everything on the silence
of the rest.
I held up a hand to still the murmurings, saying, “I’m
sorry. I know I can, and have, trusted many of you with my life in the past. You’ve
all been deemed dependable men—if it was otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.”
A balding man I recognized as one of Dradac’s friends spat
and stepped forward. “As both Rideon and his second in command are
absent, would I be safe in guessing what you’ve got to say doesn’t meet with
the Hand’s approval?” he asked.
I hesitated before admitting, “Rideon hasn’t forbidden this
meeting, but only because he has no notion of its existence. If he did, we
would not, any of us, be here. That is the reason for the secrecy.”
I held my breath, but no one stormed away yet. There were a
few uneasy glances, but most shrugged and waited to hear what would be said
next. Relived to have kept my audience this far, I launched into an explanation
of the Skeltai raids and of Rideon’s determination to keep the facts from his
outlaws.
Everyone had heard of the attacks but few knew the details.
As I told how the villagers at Hammond’s Bend had been slaughtered by the
Skeltai invaders, I sensed their growing anger at the fate that had befallen
our woods allies. I emphasized the cowardly nature of the attacks, and the way
the enemy had sprung out of nowhere in the dead of night. I didn’t give any
dire predictions but insinuated a similar fate could befall us or others of our
friends at any time. When I had finished the tale, I called up the two scouts
who had been the first to bring Rideon news of the destruction at Hammond’s
Bend. I had instructed Ada to be sure to install them in the audience to lend
weight to our case.
They now gave chilling descriptions of the sights they had
encountered and the barbaric treatment of the helpless villagers. When they
left off speaking, Ada came forward and gave the others the same information
she had shared with me on the blood rites leading up to the Skeltai celebration
of Sagara Nouri. This was a calculated move on my part, saving the gruesome
fates of the stolen villagers as the final words the outlaws would hear.
When Ada
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