Chapter 18: The Man on the River Road

The guard walked to the foot of the dais and stood to attention.

"State your name and your post," the eldest said.

"I held the river road eleven years ago, Elder. I'm a sergeant of the castle watch now."

"Swear."

He put his hand on the black marble beside the Moonstone, and the stone gave a small gold pulse.

"I swear by it," he said.

Verity smiled at him.

It was a small, warm smile, the one she used on people she needed.

"Tell the Council what you saw at the Black River," she said.

"I will."

He turned to face the court.

"I was on the road above the bank, with a lamp," he said. "The king had gone into the river at dusk. A hunting party had lost him."

"And?"

"I saw a white wolf come out of the water."

A rustle ran through the packmasters.

"It was dragging a man," the sergeant said. "It hauled him up the mud by the shoulder of his coat and laid him on the grass."

Verity's smile had not moved.

"It stood over him," he said. "Then it changed. It became a girl of about eighteen, naked and shaking, with long wet hair."

He looked at me.

"Chestnut," he said. "She took off her own coat and put it over him. She put her ear to his chest. She said, 'Breathe, you stupid man, breathe.'"

I had not known anyone heard me.

My eyes stung. I kept them on him.

"Then she heard people coming and ran into the trees," he said. "She did not hurt him. She saved him."

"That is not what you told my uncle," Verity said.

It came out too fast, and too sharp.

The sergeant turned his head.

"No, Miss Lorne," he said. "It isn't."

Her uncle was on his feet in the front row, white beard trembling.

"Sergeant," he said. "You are confused."

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