cylinder, held it at armâs length and dropped it with quiet contempt to rattle and roll on the stone flags. Still ignoring the Agli, she walked briskly across to Nilis (one heel coming down on the end of the parchment roll). She stopped in front of Nilis, eyed her for a moment until Nilis looked down, unable to endure the accusation in her motherâs gaze. With a soft expulsion of air, not even a sigh, she slapped Nilis hard across the face, hard enough to send her stumbling against the Agli, the loud splat of hand against face lost almost immediately in the explosion of cheers and stamping from the loyal ties. Annic walked with quiet dignity to the stairs. When sheâd gone up several steps she turned and stood with one hand resting lightly on the banister. In the sudden silence her quiet voice rang out more clearly and strongly than any shout. âDecsel, do what you must, but I call on you to search your conscience and restrain the excesses of your masters. To you who are still my friends, I say, do what you must to live but never serve with willing hearts or willing hands. For you, I ask the Maidenâs Blessing and pray that you will see better times. To you who have sold yourself body and soul to this abomination, I pray that you get exactly what you wish, no more no less.â She watched them without further words, her light brown eyes filled with contempt, then she turned and continued up the stairs.
For several moments there was only the sound of breathing in the great hall and the scraping of booted feet on the stone flags. The tableau held until they heard a door close above, then the Agli touched Nilisâs arm, led her across the room to the Highseat where Tesc adjudicated disputes and awarded prizes and oversaw the celebrations of the seasonal festivals. Tuli sucked in a shocked breath as Nilis mounted the steps and took her fatherâs place. Nilis heard, glared at her, then smoothed her face into a smile as she looked up at the Agli who had mounted the steps to stand at her shoulder. He snapped his fingers.
The Decsel bowed his head very slightly as if his neck were stiff, again evidencing distaste for what he was doing. But he would do it, being a man who left moral judgments and strategy to those who gave him his orders, a man who circumscribed his honor in duty well performed. He called one of his Ten, pointed to the scroll on the floor. The guard scooped it up, brought it to his leader, saluted smartly and stepped back to his line. The Decsel popped out the place where Annicâs foot had flattened it and stood tapping it against his thigh. âBy order from Oras the entire harvest of this Tar is forfeit to the Doamna-regent.â His voice had the same dull lack of resonance. âGradin-ties who wish to remain on the land must apply to the Agli Urith or Nilis new-torma Gradin-daughter for food and other necessaries. Who will receive and who must leave will be theirs to judge.â The loyal ties stirred. Tuli heard muttered protests, saw people whoâd been her friends glance furtively or openly at the three of them, Sanani, her and Teras. She couldnât help them; she couldnât help herself. Though they oppressed her spirit and irritated her mightily at times, the ties were her folk, she was Gradin and bound to them as strongly as they were bound to the land, bound by blood and custom and law, yet she couldnât stop what she saw happening. Some would leave, she saw it in their faces, knew theyâd never bend knee to Nilis or the Agli; some would stay, awhile at least and be miserable with it. A culling , she thought. Theyâre culling the ties. Theyâll keep the weak and send the strong off to starve .
The Decsel was still speaking, sheâd missed some of what heâd said, but now she heard, â⦠return to your houses and cast out everything proscribed, every book or picture or other artifact touching on the Anathema. When this is