Krane cut across them, 'The issue here is not whether Garvin's testimony is accurate. The child has already admitted her part in what happened. This is not in dispute. Rather, we are here to decide what must be done and I think that, at least, is clear.'
'But you still don't know…' said Alex.
'Enough!' bellowed Barthia, in a voice which even quieted Alex. 'Krane is right, the issue is clear. We must decide.'
From the back of the room, a small disturbance was developing. The main doors opened onto the corridor. Alex turned to see her father entering behind her, initially with relief, but then with confusion. Beyond him, a number of disreputable looking people were being held back by Tate and Amber, filling the corridor beyond them. Even Garvin was taken aback, until he stepped forward, long blade drawn.
'What is the meaning of this?' Garvin demanded.
• • • •
As I entered the court, I wondered for a moment whether Garvin would lose it and precipitate a bloodbath. I was relying on him to be his usual dispassionate self, but it was clear that I'd hit a nerve. His face was flushed and I thought I saw the reflection of light from the long blade quivering with contained rage.
'Lords, Ladies,' I said quickly, 'I beg your indulgence and your consideration.'
'Warder Dogstar,' said Kimlesh. 'Please explain yourself. Who are these people?'
'And what are they doing in Court?' asked Garvin.
I turned briefly to Garvin. 'You asked for them,' I said. 'You said they were all to be brought before the court — without exception.'
His face registered surprise, then anger.
I turned quickly back to the High Court. 'If I may explain?'
'I wish you would,' said Teoth.
'These,' I said, 'are the children of mixed blood, those that some call mongrels and others call half-breeds. Each of them has been through a great deal, not least because they were imprisoned and subjected to experiments at the research facility at Porton Down. They are the children of both humanity and the Feyre.'
'Get these people out of here,' said Krane to Garvin.
'Wait,' said Kimlesh. 'I would like to hear what Dogstar has to say.'
'And I,' said Yonna.
'Are we in danger?' said Barthia.
'I will vouch for their conduct,' I said. 'I have persuaded them to come before you to hear your deliberations on their fate, not one by one, case by case, but first-hand as a group of people who share a common cause and a common heritage.'
'This is preposterous,' said Krane. 'How can we deliberate their fate when they are standing there watching us?' he asked.
'How can you deliberate their fate without seeing them?' asked Kimlesh. 'Come forward, all of you, into the light, if you will.'
They filed into the court around Alex and Sparky, until they were arrayed in a semi-circle that echoed the thrones before them.
'Have you a speaker?' asked Kimlesh.
There was muttering between them and I caught Andy's eye. He stepped forward. 'I'll speak, if you'll let me?' There was a general muttering of assent.
'What is your name?' asked Kimlesh.
'Andy — Andy Warner, from Southwark.'
'And what are your sympathies, Andy of Southwark?' she asked.
'My sympathies?' he said.
'What are the aspects of your power?' she asked. 'What elements call to you?'
'I don't know what you mean,' he said. 'I keep bees. Is that what you want?'
'An honourable craft,' said Yonna, 'and an ancient one.'
He smiled at that.
'Do you know who we are?' asked Yonna.
'Not so much,' said Andy. 'Niall here, he explained some of it, but there wasn't much time.'
'Do you know why you are here?' asked Barthia.
'Maybe,' said Andy. 'It's to do with all of us, isn't it? Whether we'll be able to live in peace and keep to ourselves.' The others murmured agreement around him.
There was another commotion at the back. I saw Angela coming forward into the group.
'You I do know,' said Teoth, recognising her.
'I have been your guest, my Lord,' said Angela, 'but though the accommodation is more comfortable, and the regime kinder, perhaps, I find a prison is still a prison.'
'You rush to judgement at your peril,' said Teoth.
'I do not rush, my Lord,' she said. 'It's been some days and I have had no word.'
'Well now that we've all got to know one another,' said Krane, 'Can we clear the room? We have matters of import to decide.'
Blackbird came forward. 'If I may speak?' she said.
Yonna inclined her head.
Blackbird walked to the front of the group. 'I stand here with Niall, and all these people who have come before you by their own consent. They have come as one to hear your judgement on matters which concern all of them.'
'Why, what have they done?' asked Krane.
'They are not being judged for what they have done,' said Blackbird. She reached behind her and pulled forward Alex and Sparky to stand beside her. 'Even these two are not judged for their actions. We have already heard that they saved us all, at risk to themselves. In other circumstances we would be thanking them.'
'We are not in other circumstances,' said Teoth.
'Instead,' said Blackbird, 'they are being judged for what they are. Even Angela here, is held a prisoner at Lord Teoth's disposal. What has she done to merit this imprisonment? Nothing.'
'She petitioned for a place in the courts,' said Teoth. 'I must consider the matter carefully.'
'Must you?' said Blackbird. 'If any other fey were to petition for a place they would be granted it without question.'
'But they are fey,' said Teoth, waving towards Angela. 'I do not know what she is.'
Angela bristled at this, stepping forward, but Blackbird stayed her with a gesture.
'That is my point, my Lord. You are not treating them as fey.'
'Because they are not,' said Krane.
'And yet they are not human either,' said Blackbird. 'These are the children of your grand experiment.' She swept a hand around the people in the arc. 'They are few in number, but there are more children here than the Feyre have seen in five hundred years, are they not?'
'If they are fey,' said Krane, 'which we have not yet established.'
'You mistrust them,' she said. 'Oh, please, do not deny it. They are not what you expected, are they? What you wanted was a generation of fey children to swell your ranks and rejuvenate the Feyre. In short, you wanted yourselves, only younger.'
'That's not true,' said Barthia.
'Then what did you want?' said Blackbird. 'You sowed the seed in humanity and expected to reap what, exactly? How did you expect them to return to you?'
'Are we done with this?' said Krane, affecting boredom.
'Lord Krane. You are Lord of the Eldrekin Court. You represent those who can take another form, the shape- shifters and were-creatures.'
'This is not news,' said Krane.
Blackbird reached to pull Andy forward. 'Will you accept this man into your court? Will you give him sanctuary and protection according to the customs and traditions of the Feyre?'
'He's a shape-shifter?' said Krane. 'What shape does he take?'
