Why did I come back? she asked herself yet again. Why did I talk myself into thinking this was a good idea?
It wasn't a good idea, it was the only option, she told herself. It was this or die. You made your choice. Even back when you agreed to follow Tauran. You could have left all this long ago, when you first woke up in the storm dragon's lair. So too late for regrets now, fool girl.
She heard that final comment in Kaanyr's voice. It made her wince. Fool girl, indeed, she thought. Kaanyr was right. This place did change you.
Aliisza cast a quick, furtive glance at Kael, who stood next to her. He stared at the floor, apparently deep in thought. A frown filled his mien, and she could see his hands clench and unclench. Her heart went to him.
He's watched so much of what he believed in crumble. He struggled so hard to embrace this life, this world. He would have done anything to serve the angels. Tried to impress them with his loyalty. Some thanks he's received. But why does it hurt me so much? she wondered. Because they disillusioned my son.
Bastards, all of them.
On the knight's other side, Pharaun gazed around in fascination. The drow seemed almost delighted to be there, witnessing such events.
Aliisza felt a hint of a smile cross her face, watching the wizard. So typical, she thought. No matter how dire the circumstances, he never sheds that clever glee. Does he ever feel regret? He may today. At least this time, we had the chance to-
The doors opened and Tauran entered, escorted by his own trio of archon guards. He had his hands manacled too. His face was furrowed with lines of sorrow and regret. It made Aliisza's heart weep to see the angel so run- down, so trampled by events. He never looked up at the rest of them standing there, waiting for him.
She remembered what she'd said to Kael. He doesn't want to be here, she realized. He can't bear to face this. Not what's coming for himself, but for us. Gods and devils, this isn't fair. He deserves better. We all do!
The acting High Councilor brought the court to order. 'It is this court's intention to determine what, if any, acts of conspiracy have been committed against the House of the Triad and the Court of Tyr by those standing before us this day. We will begin with each defendant providing what testimony he or she wishes. Afterward, sentencing will be carried out.'
Tauran began, offering in exacting detail everything that had happened to him in the time since Aliisza had first come into his care. Eirwyn followed, providing her own perspective, and then each of the others, in turn, were able to testify. By the time Aliisza had finished, her legs ached and she wanted to sit and rest. But she couldn't think of another thing to add. The councilors asked a few questions, mostly as points of clarification. When they were finished, the acting High Councilor addressed the group.
'We will adjourn for a time so that the council can deliberate. Guards, separate the prisoners.'
The archons guided each of the defendants to a separate place within the chamber as the solars vanished.
Aliisza asked if she could sit, and the archons led her to a bench. She sank onto it gratefully as the three celestial hounds surrounded her. She looked across the room to where each of her companions also waited, each one permitted to sit, none allowed to speak. She tried to meet the gaze of each one in turn, to smile hopefully at them, wanting so badly for the council to find them faultless and at last recognize the service they had done for the Court.
Only Tauran never looked up to meet her stare.
It did not take long for the councilors to come to a consensus. They reappeared and instructed the guards to bring the defendants before them once more.
The acting High Councilor addressed the group. 'Through these hearings, it has become apparent to this court that you stand before us not as conspirators, nor as allies. You simply acted in accordance with your own beliefs and did what you thought at the time to be right. Some of your choices seem questionable in hindsight. Some might have turned out better had others listened to you more closely. Your hearts may have been in the right place, but you failed to uphold the laws of the Court and the House, and sentence must, by law, be meted out.'
Aliisza closed her eyes. They're really going to go through with it, she thought. Even after all that's happened, they can't get out of their own way enough to see the folly. Damn them!
The High Councilor continued. 'It is therefore the decision of this body that each of you be sentenced, according to your role in this fiasco, as follows:
'Eirwyn, in accordance with your previous pardon, you are free to pursue your personal agendas and keep your own counsel, provided you make no further effort to aid and abet any of your co-defendants.'
Aliisza looked at the angel and saw her shaking her head, frowning.
'Kael, you will be remanded into the care and custody of a suitable representative of Torm, where you will continue your studies under a new tutor.'
Kael flinched and closed his eyes, and Aliisza's heart broke for him.
'Pharaun Mizzrym, you occupy a body given to you by those who had no right to offer it. Furthermore, as has already been discussed with you, we have determined that the Vessel into which you entered was imperfectly formed and is deteriorating. You cannot survive in such a fashion for long, and based on your life's achievements, we do not see fit to grant you succor here. Therefore, this court sees no alternative but to banish you from this Vessel and send you back from where you came.'
Aliisza saw Pharaun grimace the slightest bit, but that smug smile soon replaced it. 'I think we can all agree that I should have seen that coming,' he said. His voice was unusually soft.
Damn you all, she thought. There's more compassion in him than in the lot of you put together.
'Aliisza,' the High Councilor continued.
The alu swallowed hard and braced herself. Do it, she thought, directing all her anger at the speaker. I don't care anymore. May you all rot in the Abyss!
'Your time spent with us in the Court has proven to be… chaotic. While we cannot in good conscience find fault in your actions these last days'-How noble of you, the alu thought, feeling no pride in such a revelation-'we also cannot comfortably justify permitting you to remain within the Court or the House. Therefore, we are banishing you from this plane forevermore. You will be returned to your homeland immediately.'
Aliisza felt numb. She supposed it was the best that she could have expected, but they had still punished her more cruelly than imprisoning her forever could have. Her friends, her family, had been stripped away from her. Forever. And she had nothing to return to. She felt like a vagabond.
Finally, the acting High Councilor turned to Tauran. 'Your exemplary record is long and storied,' she said. 'And your heart, as it has been revealed to us, is true. Your actions were indeed those of one who believed he was working in the best interests of the Court, and of the House. However, your judgment is now what is under question. You deliberately chose to disobey this council on several occasions, you attacked your fellow devas in order to thwart them in their own duties, and you have repeatedly called into question the rightness and righteousness of Tyr and his decisions. Most importantly, you seem unrepentant. Do you deny this?'
Tauran drew a deep breath before answering. 'I do not,' he said, his voice clear. 'I stand by my judgment.'
Aliisza could see, though, that the accused angel's hands shook. She clenched her own into fists to keep them from doing the same.
The High Councilor frowned. 'I see. You leave us no choice, then.'
What? Aliisza thought. There might have been a choice? Tauran, repent! she silently screamed at him. Beg Tyr's forgiveness! He will embrace you again!
But the alu knew what was in Tauran's heart.
The High Councilor continued. 'I therefore sentence you to be stripped of your divinity and your immortality forever. You are banned from the House of the Triad.'
Tauran bowed his head and said nothing.
The only sound filling the chamber was Aliisza's sobbing.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
