Read Online Have 2 Sky Magic (Haven Series 2) by B. V. Larson - Free Book Online Page B

and a witch!” he said, pointing to Telyn.
    Brand took a step toward him. He controlled himself with great difficulty.
    “You others are guilty of witchery, too. By your foul craft you have ended the Pact, which is treason against the River Haven,” finished Slet. He looked a bit nervous, but there was rage in his voice and his courage was bolstered by the support of the mob around him. There were snarls and catcalls from the crowd.
    Tylag, who had been walking behind the others, leading Tator with their supplies, stepped forward. “Where is your writ? I am of the council, and no one has come to me with such a request.” 
    Old Man Tad Silure stepped further out of the shadows of his dilapidated old shack. “I have scribed such a writ!”  he cried loudly. “They are in league with the Faerie, I tell you!”
     “You forget that I was once Chief of the Constabulary.  It takes three signatures from the council even for the writ to be legal. Who has signed it besides the Hoots and the Silures?”
    “Bah!”  roared Old Tad. “You are no longer a Constable, Tylag.  Take them, boys!”  In response to his command, many of the younger men surged forward. They slowed however, as Tylag’s clear, calm voice rose above the clamor.
    “Without the third signature even the arrest is illegal, and all of you are guilty, not us. Where are the Riverton Constabulary among you to perform the arrest?”  demanded Tylag.
    “The writ is legal, there will be no weaseling out of this, Rabing,” shouted Old Tad. “What’s more, Rabing Isle will be forfeited as payment for damages, after these witches are cast into prison! Forward!  Take them lads!”
    The front of the crowd surged hesitantly. Brand tensed for a fight. They were only rabble from the shacks along the docks, made up mostly of Silures and Hoots, but there were a lot of them. Then Modi raised his battleaxe and gave them pause. Gudrin waded forward, holding aloft her Teret, her book of the Kindred.
    “I am Gudrin of the Talespinners. Among the Kindred, the Talespinners hold the books of law. It rests with us to judge the guilt or innocence of our kinsfolk. I have sat in judgment over many of my folk. I can say from centuries of experience that you people want nothing of justice. What you want is a scapegoat.”  She gazed out upon the mob. Somehow, she seemed taller than a man then, and she burned the minds of those that met her eyes.
    “You are of the Battleaxe Folk!” shouted Old Tad, shaking with rage. “Your words bear no weight here, story-teller!”
    Gudrin affixed him with her gaze, and Old Tad all but swallowed his tongue. “You are the guilty one here!” accused Gudrin, leveling her finger upon Old Tad. “Speak if you dare to deny that you have misled these fine honest folk with your dark-loving words of fear. Speak if you did not drill these false wards yourself!”  Gudrin demanded. While she spoke, she held his gaze, burning into Old Tad’s head. Old Tad’s eyes appeared to be starting from his head and his lips worked, but no sound issued forth. Gudrin too, fell silent, while she and Old Tad strove against one another’s wills.
    Tylag took this moment to speak further. “I am loathe to say it, but Old Tad seeks only his own personal gain in this, good folk. He divides us against ourselves, and in the very face of the true enemy, which are the Dark Ones among the Faerie. Last night my home at Froghollow was razed and burnt to the ground. My eldest and strongest son Sam was killed. What horrors will this night bring to your homes while we stand here deciding who is to blame? On behalf of the Clan Council, I ask you all to pull together, set aside your recriminations, and answer the muster of the River Haven. Only united can we hope to stand against those that will come against us in the night. Behold!  Twilight is almost upon us!  Tonight the War Beacons will be lit, for the first time in a century!  Have you all readied your wards? Are