Chapter 20: The Moon Court

I didn't answer him.

I didn't cry, either.

Not where he could see.

I walked back down the corridor and got into bed beside Aldric, and lay there with my hand on the moonstone until the window went gray.

At moonrise the next night, the whole continent came up the hill.

A hundred Alphas stood inside the ring of stones, in a wide circle, with their seconds behind them.

The Hunter's Moon came up over the valley, huge and white.

The thin rider stood at the center in a long silver-gray robe.

She was the Court's speaker.

Five old wolves of the Council sat on a stone bench behind her.

Mags was there on her crutches, between the twins.

Aldric stood across the ring from me, with the Langtry seconds.

Claimants stand alone.

Cordelia stood on the other side of the speaker, in white, her father at her shoulder.

"Two claims to the Silver Moon seat," the speaker said. "And a challenge filed against one of them. The challenge will be heard first."

"No," I said.

Every head turned.

"Let her shift first," I said. "The rite, then the challenge. I'll wait."

Mossgrave's face didn't move.

His finger twitched, once, at his side.

"The order of the Court is set," he said mildly.

"The order of the Court," said the speaker, "is mine."

She turned to Cordelia.

"The rite is old and simple. The heir shifts before the Alphas, under the Hunter's Moon. Show us."

Cordelia looked at her father.

He didn't look back.

She took off her white gloves and stepped out of her silk, and shifted.

It took her a long time, and when she was done, a pale yellow wolf stood shaking in the torchlight.

She was pretty, and ordinary.

"The silver comes with the crown," Mossgrave said. "Everyone knows that."

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