The other six chieftains stared from Piers and Cantrell to Athlone and Gabria. Before they had time to really think, Koshyn drew the lords together and began talking heatedly to them. Lord Jol continually shook his head, and Lord Caucus looked doubtful, but at last they seemed to reach some son of agreement.
Lord Koshyn stepped forward. He said to Gabria, “I suppose it is too much to demand that you never use your sorcery again.” Gabria held tightly to Athlone’s arm, her heart pounding.
“My lord, I cannot promise that,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “There may come a time when I will need my power. Lord Branth is still missing and the Book of Matrah with him. But I will promise this, I will never use magic in any way that will harm the clans. I swear on the honor of the Corin.”
The Dangari chief glanced back at the other lords. They merely nodded.
“Then listen to our decision. The council frees you, Gabria, from the punishment of death in gratitude for your courageous rescue of our clans. But the law forbidding magic must stand until such time as the council can decide what to do about this issue. Lord Athlone, you are to be held personally responsible for your actions as well as those of Gabria, Piers, and Cantrell. If at any time they break the laws that are decided upon, they and you will be put to death. Is that acceptable?”
The watching crowd broke out in an uproar of mixed relief and anger. They had no choice but to accept the chieftains’ decision, but many of the clanspeople, especially those who had not been involved in the battles with Medb, were not pleased.
But at that moment, Gabria did not care. Athlone swept her up in a joyous embrace and Tungoli ran to embrace them both.
Athlone went up the steps with Gabria and faced Koshyn. The younger chief grinned broadly at them both.
“We accept your decision,” Athlone called to all the chiefs. To Koshyn, he said quietly, “Thank you, my friend.”
Koshyn’s blue eyes twinkled. “Just don’t make me regret it.” He turned to watch Gabria as she went to embrace Piers and Cantrell. “I can see now the laws must be changed, but it will take a great deal of time and persuasion.”
“Thanks to you, we have the time.”
“How will you handle Gabria’s punishment with the Khulinin?” Koshyn asked curiously.
Athlone grinned. “I will make her marry me.”
Koshyn burst out laughing. He clasped Athlone’s arm, and the two men went to join the other lords.
The evening light lingered softly in the sky as Athlone and Gabria walked alone by the Isin River. They followed the grassy banks past the encampments to a place where a burial mound had been built on a small hill overlooking the fortress and the valley.
There had been many dead to mourn after the battle with Medb’s army. The bodies of the exiles and mercenaries had been burned and buried without ceremony. Medb’s body was burned and dumped in the river. The dead of the clans were buried in a large mound near the fortress. Savaric, though, had been sent to the Hall of the Dead with every honor. His body rested now in the large mound crowned with a ring of spears.
Athlone and Gabria stood by the mound as the quiet twilight dimmed. Overhead, a hawk soared in the cool evening breeze.
“Do you think he was terribly disappointed with me?” Gabria asked, looking up at the spears silhouetted against the sky.
“I doubt it. Surprised, maybe. But he would have been proud of your courage,” Athlone replied.
She laid her head back on his shoulder. “Do you suppose he would have put me to death for joining his werod?”
Athlone chuckled. “Father would probably have considered marriage to me punishment enough.”
“But what. . .”
He tilted her head up. “Enough questions.” Then he gathered her close and kissed her.
High above them, the hawk cried once and swept away into the darkness.
A Short Glossary
Corin - Dathlar - Red
Khulinin - Savaric - Gold
Geldring - Branth - Green
Wylfling - Medb - Brown
Dangari - Koshyn - Indigo
Shadedron - Malech - Black
Reidhar - Caurus - Yellow
Amnok - Ferron - Gray
Murjik - Jol - Purple
Bahedin - Babur/Ryne - Orange
Jehanan - Sha Umar - Maroon
Ferganan - Quamar - Light Blue
Hearthguard: The chieftain’s personal bodyguards. These men are the elite warriors of the clan and are honored with this position for their bravery, skill, and loyalty.
Herd-master: The man responsible for the health, breeding, and well-being of the horse herds.
Holdings: Land granted to a clan for its use while in winter camp.
Outriders: Those werod riders who guard the herds and the camp or act as scouts.
Treld: A clan’s permanent winter camp.
Weir-geld: Recompense paid to the family of a murdered person in the form of gold or livestock, or by death in a personal duel.
Werod: The fighting body of a clan. Although all men are required to learn the rudiments of fighting, only those who pass certain tests make up the werod.
Wer-tain: The commander of the werod. These men are second only to the chieftain in authority.