Chapter 23: The Oath

The Council Hall stood on a shelf of grey rock above the treeline, with nine tall chairs and no windows.

We drove up in two trucks.

Ewan had told me I did not have to go in through the front.

I had told him I would go in however I liked.

Brigid came in on my left arm, with her stick.

Daphne came in on my right with her chin up.

The Pinecrest Elder came last, in his stoop and his good coat.

He was carrying a long flat case under one arm and would not say what was in it.

The nine were waiting in black.

In the middle of the floor, in a clean coat with his hands free, stood the hunter.

He smiled at me when I came in.

"Miss Corvane," said the senior member. "We have a petition before us. Hear it."

"Gladly," I said.

The hunter bowed to the nine.

"The Old Writ binds a silver wolf to the Council by her oath," he said. "She has sworn none."

He turned a hand over, politely.

"In law she is unsworn, and an unsworn silver wolf is forfeit. I ask the Council to take her into the Hold today."

"The petition is heard," said the senior member. "Miss Corvane?"

"May I read the Writ?"

A few of them looked at each other.

"The Council holds the only copy," said the senior member.

"Not the only one."

I turned.

The Pinecrest Elder stepped forward and set his case on the floor.

He opened it with shaking old hands.

He took out a scroll as long as his arm, brown with age, tied with a faded thread.

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