Chapter 27: Nine Hands

We reached the capital at ten in the morning, unwashed, with Southbay dust in our hair.

By noon the Council hall was full to the gallery rail.

I had been in that hall twice, and both times I had stood alone at the front of it.

This time Corwin sat in the King's chair on the dais, one seat to the right of the white-haired Councilor, and did not look at me once.

I understood why. If he looked, the whole hall would see what was in his face.

The Southbay Alpha sat on the front bench with his cane across his knees.

Eight men and women in deep blue coats sat behind him, the rest of his nine votes.

Father stood between two Guards at the rail, hatless, gray in the face.

Mother stood beside him. She had been brought from the palace in the same gray dress she had worn for three days.

The crowd outside had been shouting for an hour. We could hear it through the doors.

"The final session of the inquiry is open," the white-haired Councilor said. "The Southbay bench has a motion. Miss Ashworth, you may speak first."

I walked to the clerk's table and laid down the page.

The Alpha's blue seal was at the head of it. Father's looped W was at the foot.

"This is a betrothal," I said. "It was drawn up in Southbay yesterday afternoon, in the Alpha's own library."

"It says my sister's life is the price paid for me. It says the Rite's claim was declined in my name, to stand."

"My father signed it as my guardian. I did not."

A murmur ran around the hall, rising up the gallery.

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