Unlike the Vorthenki the Anthorians had no tradition of speech making before getting their meat and their women served themselves. Azkun was surprised. The atmosphere was not as oppressive as it had been in Vorish’s hall. People wandered about talking and drinking. They seemed relaxed and happy, though each wore a sword. They were a contradiction. He saw the cat pestering one man for some meat. It climbed onto his shoulder and sat with its cheek beside the man’s face watching his every mouthful. Occasionally the man reached behind his head and stroked the cat and, in return, it snuggled against his neck. It was absurd. Swords and claws and teeth, all tokens of death, and yet there was affection displayed openly. Azkun did not understand it.
“Hey, Grath!” Drinagish shouted as he saw the northerner enter. They made their way across the hall towards him, Drinagish nodding greetings as he went. Althak also greeted a few people, but several turned away from him. It was as Neathy had said, Althak was not universally popular in Menish’s hall.
Drinagish and Althak greeted Grath warmly. To Azkun he seemed changed from when he had travelled with them in the north. But, of course, he was cleaner and dressed in court clothes now. He had some tale of raiding cows for them, a double raid on the same herd, which he told with relish. Azkun did not follow it very well. He was trying to avoid watching them eat.
Not long after Grath arrived Menish and Adhara entered the hall. The general noise of conversation subsided for a moment then rose to a cheer of welcome that Menish answered by climbing onto one of the benches and, with a smile, signalling for silence.
“By Aton, you all look well fed and ready to hear where I have been for the last few weeks.” There was a hearty chorus of yeses around the room. “Well you can wait until I've eaten. I'm not going to spend a moment longer up here with the smell of good Anthorian meat in my nostrils.”
There were good-natured protests, but mostly laughter as he climbed down and made his way to the food. Some time later, when he had eaten and moved among the crowd, and consistently shrugged off questions about where he had been, he climbed back onto the bench and spoke to them.
“Now that we've all eaten I'll tell you my tale,” he began amid laughter. He proceeded to give them a general description of his travels, though several things were left out. Azkun and Tenari were described as homeless wanderers and he left the impression that they had joined them from the pirate ship just as Keashil and Olcish had. He spent some time describing the fight with the pirates, dwelling on the valour of Drinagish and Althak, but he did not mention Thalissa at all. Their stay at Deenar was carefully described. Some of those present remembered Darven. Menish gave the impression that the Vorthenki chief was instilling Anthorian manners into the barbarous folk of the Vorthenki coasts, which was partly true.
When he told them of their time in Atonir he became serious. Vorish had heard from somewhere, he told them, of a possible attack from Gashan. It was only a rumour as yet, but Althak, Hrangil and Azkun were going north to see. Meanwhile they should all sharpen their swords “…for we may be hunting Gashans in the spring.” The spring games would produce a gathering point for the scattered folk of Anthor and, depending on what news the expedition brought back, they would take those ready to fight and march north when the games were over.
Chapter 22: Menish's Court
The next morning Menish held court in the main hall. While last night’s gathering had been an informal affair, mainly dedicated to eating and drinking and exchanging news, today’s was more carefully organised.
The benches and tables were pushed back to the walls and those who attended sat on the floor as they traditionally did in the Anthorian tents. There was no throne in Menish’s hall but there was a central pillar that he sat beside. Althak explained to Azkun that this represented the main post of a tent, the traditional place for an Anthorian chief.
Menish declared the court in session and asked for the first complaint. A man about Menish’s age rose to his feet to speak. Azkun heard a woman near him mutter “Oh it’s Marayhir again” with disgust in her voice.
“Three times this year my herds have been raided, twice by the King’s own household. I would like to ask when it became lawful for the King to raid his people’s herds.”
“Marayhir, I've not raided your herds. Anyone of my household will tell you that I've been journeying for weeks, not raiding. Who of my household has raided you?”
“Grath. I've witnesses who saw him.”
Menish shrugged.
“Grath is a member of my household, as you are at the moment. But your herds are not my herds. Neither are Grath’s. Don't say that I raided your herds.
“Were the raids unlawful in any other way?”
“Ah, yes, yes they were. He took all my best cows, most of them in calf. More than half of my breeding stock. They will have calved by now.”
“I protest!” Grath stood up. “On no occasion did I take more than half of what was there-”
“I had three hundred cows, now I have less than one hundred. You northerners can't even count your fingers-”
“Grath, how do you answer?”
“What he says about his cows is true, but there were two raids. I took as much as the law allows both times. No more than half the breeding stock there.”
Laughter rippled through the room and someone cheered. Marayhir was not popular, even Menish grinned.
“Is this true, Marayhir? How much time was there between the raids?”
Marayhir looked surly. “There were two raids in a sense. They were only a day apart. The raiding party lay in wait overnight and attacked again at dawn. It might as well have been a single raid.”
“And were the cows in calf, Grath?”
“Some of them, not many. Marayhir does not manage his herd well. Many were thin and ill. Hardly worth raiding-”
“Damn you, northern dung! Say that again and I'll see your guts writhing on the ground when I open you with my sword!” He drew his sword and brandished it above his head.
“Silence,” shouted Menish. “Put away your weapon, Marayhir. If you attempt to draw it again within my court I'll confiscate your herds and send you on your way with no more than a crust of bread.”
“I was sorely provoked-”
“If there was no substance in Grath’s claim you would have ignored it. Now here is the judgement of the King in this matter.
“First, I take exception to Marayhir’s accusation that I was involved in these raids. We have an ancient law: the King may not raid and no one may raid the King. Though most of you ate enough of my meat last night.” This brought a murmur of laughter. “That is the law, it hasn't changed.
“Second, Grath’s raids were lawful. He took no more than half the breeding stock.” A muttering came from Marayhir. “It seems that precious few of your folk were guarding them if Grath could raid you two days running.
“But Grath said they were hardly worth raiding and it is a hard thing to lose so many in such a short time. I rule that Grath returns one hundred of the cows. I'll send Drinagish with you to help you count them.”
“And the calves!” shouted Marayhir. “You've forgotten the calves.”
“I've not forgotten the calves. You'll treat my house with more respect in future, Marayhir, if Grath is allowed to keep the calves. You'll also keep better watch on your herds in future for the loss.”
There were two other disputes for Menish to settle: one of them related to a caravan raid and the other to a feud that was becoming tiresome to others. The former was a case where the clan chief had ruled against the caravanners and they had appealed to Menish who reversed the decision. The second dispute was more complex.