Layne had no personal enmity for her, only the vendetta of House Bloodbear against the person who had harmed one of their own. She had little hope he'd be merciful.
The Foxes nominated Eden, a greying woman with sharp eyes, a motherly face, and hands scarred from too many knife fights to count.
A slight, pale man in black-trimmed robes stepped forward. "House Scorpion nominates Journeyman Tyman for the position of acting House Master. However, as he is not here to preside over the proceedings, I have been chosen to sit in his place."
Bryden gave the man a short bow. "Journeyman Damean will represent House Scorpion until such a time as Journeyman Tyman can take his seat. Are all in agreement?"
Save for a few shouts from the Journeymen of House Bloodbear, the Guild accepted.
"So be it." Bryden nodded. "In accordance with Guild law, we will wait the customary ten days before choosing a new Guild Master. On that day, each House will vote to choose their House Master. But for now, it is us who are forced to deal with the unpleasantness of Master Gold's murder."
He snapped his fingers, and the two Bloodbears dragged Ilanna to the center of the open space.
"Just a few short days ago, Journeyman Ilanna of House Hawk stood before you in triumph, a legendary treasure at her feet." He shook his head. "Yet now she stands accused of murder, a very serious charge. Do you have aught to say in your defense, Journeyman?"
Ilanna straightened and swallowed. "It is a lie!"
Bryden's brow furrowed. "You were found lying atop Master Gold's body. His blood stains your clothing, your face, your hands. Can you truly believe us so foolish that we will disbelieve the evidence before us and simply take your word for it?" He made no effort to hide the sneer in his voice.
"Answer me this, Bryden." She deliberately left out his newfound title. "If I was going to murder the Guild Master in cold blood, why would I remain where I could be found?" She pointed to her blood-soaked clothes. "Even an idiot knows to hide the evidence of murder."
"You speak the truth, Ilanna." Bryden nodded. "But that does not prove that you did not kill Master Gold. Behold." From within his clothing he produced the dagger, still stained with Master Gold's blood. "Look closely, Journeyman. Is this not your blade?"
Ilanna opened her mouth to retort, but her words died in her throat. She would recognize the dagger anywhere.
"Can you deny that the knife used to kill Master Gold belongs to you?" Bryden asked.
Ilanna couldn't meet his eyes. "It is."
The dagger in his hands—a simple, practical blade with no adornment—had been given to her by Master Velvet during her days as a tyro. The blade had been taken from her by Sabat and used to kill Ethen, her friend. It had tasted Sabat's blood as she hacked him to pieces. She had buried it with his corpse, yet found it along with the first of the mysterious notes that had appeared in her room. For the last five years, it had sat at the bottom of a chest beneath her bed in House Hawk.
Had someone broken into her room and taken it? Few outside of House Hawk could defeat the locks on her door. Her gut clenched. Bryden certainly had the skills and the access.
"The knife is yours. Master Gold's blood stains your clothing. You were found atop the body. And still you maintain your innocence?"
"I do." Ilanna's voice came out far too quiet. She cleared her throat and spoke again. "I did not kill Master Gold."
Bryden turned to the assembled Night Guild. "She claims innocence, but the evidence against her is overwhelming. She was found lying atop Master Gold's body, her dagger in his chest." He held up the blade. "What is more, the Guild Master was found in a…vulnerable position."
Krew, a huge man with a blocky chin and a sloping forehead, leaned forward. "What are you saying?"
Bryden winced. "I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but Master Gold was found with…" He hesitated, and an eager tension filled the room. "…his pants around his ankles."
The crowd gasped. More than a few faces turned wide-eyed stares on Ilanna. Ilanna could read their minds. Everyone in the Night Guild knew what had happened to her—the horrible abuse Sabat had inflicted on her. The Bloodbear had escaped official sanction for lack of evidence. He'd disappeared the week after his acquittal. Rumors had flown around the Guild, all centering around what Ilanna had done to take her vengeance. She'd already had a reputation for ruthlessness and savagery after beating him years earlier. Though the Guild Council had found no evidence of her guilt—and they never would, considering that the bastard's body lay buried in the garden behind her house—no one doubted that she had a role to play in it.
Whoever set her up had painted the perfect picture. Master Gold had tried to force himself on her, and she had killed him. With her reputation, who could doubt the evidence? Her dagger, her reputation, and the blood on her clothes: all pointed to guilty.
But she wasn't done yet. "Tell me this, Journeyman Bryden, you say the Guild Master's body was found in a state of undress?"
Bryden's eyes narrowed. "Indeed," he said in a slow voice.
"As if he had made an attempt to force himself on me?"
Bryden nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Then I declare myself innocent of murder." She held her head high.
Bryden flinched. "What? On what grounds?"
"On the grounds of self-defense." Ilanna met his gaze without hesitation. "Is it not a woman's right to defend herself when her honor is threatened?" She turned her eyes on the assorted Night Guild. "If a man were to insult you, call you a coward or a traitor, would you not draw steel or strike a blow in your defense?"
More than a few heads nodded.
"Just as you men have your honor, so, too, a woman has her own honor to defend." She stared at Journeyman Eden of House Fox, her gaze piercing. "If I was put in a position where my honor was threatened, I am fully within my rights to protect myself."
The acting Master Fox inclined her head. "It is so." She turned a glare on the two bristling Bloodbears, her hand dropping to her dagger. "Either of you two says a word against that, I will gut you where you sit."
Krew and Layne glared, but held their peace.
Ilanna turned to Errik. "Acting Master Serpent." The Serpent straightened as she continued. "You have spent the last years training me to fight, did you not?"
Errik nodded. "I did."
"If you were training a Serpent in the ways of your House, how would you instruct them to face a larger, stronger opponent?"
Errik stroked his fine beard. "I would tell them to get in close and find their opponent's weakness."
Ilanna bowed. "Thank you, Master Serpent." She turned back to Bryden. "Master Gold was far larger and stronger than I. If he came at me with ill intentions, I would be forced to defend my honor, would I not?"
Bryden gave a glum nod.
"I regret Master Gold's death, and for my role in it." She chose her words carefully. "But I claim that the Guild Master was not murdered by my hand." Someone else had murdered him and made it look like she had. But no one would believe that. Whoever had poisoned them and killed Master Gold had cleared away any evidence. But without that pitcher of wine or the cups, any claims would come across as desperate. She had only one choice.
"I claim self-defense."
Bryden turned to the Guild Council. "You have heard the evidence presented. Unless anyone has aught to add, let the Council cast their vote."
As expected, Krew snarled, "Guilty!" Layne echoed the sentiment a moment later.
"Men!" Eden sneered. She turned to Bryden. "Self-defense, says I!"
Ilanna's eyes went to Allon. Without changing his pensive expression, he gave her a reassuring wink. "I must say the Journeyman makes a compelling argument. I must find her innocent of murder."
"As do I," Errik added.
Septin nodded.
Bryden's face went blank, his voice calm and cold as a frozen lake. "So be it. The Guild Council has spoken. Journeyman Ilanna acted in self-defense. Master Gold's death is to
be mourned, but there is no call for punishment."
More than a few angry voices rose from among the assorted Bloodbears. Relief flooded Ilanna. The Mistress' own fortune had smiled on her today. It had been a close thing, but she'd triumphed. She felt a pang of regret. Master Gold had led the Night Guild to prosperity, had ruled with a fair, firm hand. Yet now he would be remembered as the man who had died trying to violate her. He deserved better, but he was dead. She had to keep living to carry out vengeance for Kodyn, for Ria. And now for Master Gold.
The Bloodbears' grip on her arms sent a shudder down her spine. She tried to tug free, but they held her fast.
Bryden's expressionless face grew smug. "The Journeyman may be innocent of murder, but not, I fear, of larceny." He gave her a smile; the expression a cat gave to a mouse before it pounced. "I accuse you, Journeyman Ilanna, of stealing from the Night Guild!"
Chapter Ten
"What?" Ilanna jerked against the restraining hands. "What are you talking about, Bryden?"
Bryden strode to his chair, upon which sat a sheaf of papers held in a leather binder. He held up the binder. "I have here the proof that you, Journeyman Ilanna, have withheld funds from the Night Guild."
A stone settled in Ilanna's stomach. The Night Guild had two crimes punishable by death: murder and larceny. Stealing from the Guild came in a close second to killing a fellow Journeyman or apprentice. In the eyes of the Guild law, failing to disclose all her income was the same as if she'd stolen money from the coffers of House Hawk. Whoever had found the knife—the one used to kill Sabat—had found her hidden fortune.
Panic sent icy feet dancing down her spine, but she couldn't let it show. She stopped fighting her captors and plastered a calm, disdainful expression on her face. "Lies," she said in a quiet voice. Any sign of desperation would make her seem guilty.
"We shall see," Bryden whispered. Triumph shone in his eyes. He turned back to the assembled Journeymen. "As you know, the accusation of larceny is a serious one. Before the Journeyman has a chance to speak in her defense, do I have the Council's permission to present the evidence against her?"
Errik and Allon both hesitated.
"Yes!" Krew shouted. An eager smile spread across his fellow Bloodbear's face. If they couldn't get her with a murder charge, they would settle for larceny. The outcome would be the same.
Septin, Damean, and Eden inclined their heads. "Proceed," Septin said in his gravelly voice.
With a bow, Bryden opened the binder and drew out a small notebook. The confidence in the Hawk's limping step sent a chill down Ilanna's spine.
What does he have? He wouldn't have spoken against her if he didn't have concrete proof of her guilt. The stone in her gut grew to a boulder.
Bryden held up the notebook. "When I discovered Master Gold's body, I found this sitting beneath a stack of papers on his desk. The writing within is in his own hand. The contents of the notebook lay out a series of payments made directly to him. The name "Ilanna" is written beside each payment, along with the sum total. Gentlemen, if this ledger is true, Journeyman Ilanna has stolen thousands of gold imperials."
"So what?" Ilanna rolled her eyes. "We all know that I'm the best of House Hawk."
"Ah, but therein lies the problem." Bryden tapped his lips. "The payments made to Master Gold far surpass what you are owed by House Hawk. As the record-keeper of House Hawk, I know your precise worth. There is no way you could have paid House Hawk its dues and still turned over this amount to the Guild Master."
Ilanna ground her teeth. No way Master Gold would be foolish enough to keep a ledger. He was too smart for that.
Aloud, she said, "Surely you can't expect us to believe that was actually written by the Guild Master."
Bryden shrugged. "In my service as record-keeper of House Hawk, I have received many communiques from Master Gold and Journeyman Entar. I have learned to tell the two scripts apart. There is no doubt in my mind that this is written by the Guild Master himself."
She cocked an eyebrow. "And we're supposed to take your word on that?"
"No." Bryden turned back to the crowd. "Were Journeyman Entar here, I would ask him to corroborate. Indeed, I would ask any of the Guild Council, but none remain alive. Are there any here familiar with the Guild Master's handwriting?"
Ilanna studied the assembled Night Guild. She immediately discarded Houses Fox, Bloodbear, and Grubber. Few of them knew how to read; few outside the House Masters or seconds-in-command would have received messages from the Guild Master himself. She had to hope someone from the other Houses spoke up.
"I do." Allon stood. "I have seen messages from Master Gold to my uncle, Master of House Hawk. I have also been charged to deliver his missives to Master Hound."
"You would recognize his script?" Bryden asked.
Allon nodded and held out a hand. After a few moments of scrutiny, he met Ilanna's gaze. His mouth formed the word, "Sorry", and he nodded. "It is the Guild Master's handwriting."
Bryden whirled to the crowd. "Two witnesses to corroborate that this book belongs to the Guild Master. Do we have a third?"
Journeyman Damean stood. The Scorpion examined the book and gave a curt nod. "Looks like his."
Bryden held up the book. "Three House Masters to verify the claim. Can there be any doubt?"
The assorted Guild members muttered among themselves.
"But that is just the beginning!" Bryden's triumphant cry cut off the chatter. "I would call Goodman Filch to present testimony."
Ilanna's stomach clenched. Filch, an unkempt figure that looked more scarecrow than man, stumped through the crowd.
Bryden clasped his hands behind his back, much as Master Gold had. "Goodman Filch, you are the official fence in service to the Night Guild, correct?"
"Aye, ‘tis so." Filch shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable at the center of attention.
Bryden lifted a stack of papers from the binder. "Do you recognize these?"
Filch squinted at the papers. "Aye."
"Could you please state for the Guild Council what they are?"
Filch shuffled and scratched his pathetic beard. "They're payment stubs for items brought by Journeyman Ilanna to be fenced."
Bryden handed the stubs to Filch. "Could you please read them for all to hear?"
Filch licked his thin lips. "One silver dagger bearin’ the inscription Strength and Courage, Dagmon Graves, stub for five hundred imperials. One golden urn bearin’ the inscription The Long Keeper protect you, Drusus, stub for two hundred sixty imperials. One ruby necklace bearin’ the inscription To the keeper of my heart, yours forever, Adann Ulimar , stub for three hundred imperials."
Ilanna's jaw dropped. What in the bloody hell? She'd been a heartbeat from protesting. She'd never seen the first two items, had never visited the homes of Count Drusus and Lord Graves. But the last item froze the words in her mouth. She had stolen that necklace item from Lord Ulimar's mansion.
Her mind raced. Had someone brought the items to Filch in her name? She hadn't received the coin for them, thus Bryden could claim she had stolen from the House.
"Thank you, Goodman Filch."
With an awkward bow, Filch shuffled away.
"Journeyman Ilanna, each of these stubs bear your mark. Tell me," he held the papers up to her, "is this your signature?"
Ilanna studied the stubs. Her blood turned to ice. "Th-they are, but I did not…" She trailed off lamely. Anything she said would sound like a pathetic excuse. Her mind reeled. How is this possible? Someone had forged her signature, just as they had Master Gold's handwriting.
Bryden turned his attention to the crowd. "I have kept meticulous records of every copper bit brought into House Hawk by all its Journeymen and apprentices. The only item recorded in my ledger is the necklace of Lord Ulimar."
The crowd muttered. Ilanna bared her teeth. Because I didn't steal the rest!
"That means the Journeyman has defrauded House Hawk of eight hundred imperials." He shook his head. "But th
at is not the worst of it." He drew out a sheaf of papers from his binder. "I have here official complaints made to King Ohilmos by a number of Praamian nobles." He turned a savage grin on Ilanna. "Would you like to hear what they complained about?"
Ilanna's eyes narrowed. Where are you going with this, you bastard?
"Lord Graves claims his home was broken into, a number of items stolen. Among them was a silver dagger bearing an inscription. Do you know what that inscription read?" He made a show of squinting at the paper. "Strength and Courage, Dagmon Graves."
Bryden let the parchment fall to the earthen floor. Silence hung like a thick blanket in the Menagerie.
"Count Drusus’ complaint is similar. Among the items stolen, he mentions the golden urn in which he stored the ashes of his beloved wife. Upon the urn was an inscription. The Long Keeper protect you, Drusus."
Another parchment fluttered from his hand.
"Lord Ulimar's claim echoes the previous two. He discovered the thieves had stolen a valuable ruby necklace belonging to his wife. Need I read the inscription?"
Ilanna knew what it said.
Bryden waved a final page. "The final complaint was lodged by Count Chatham. One of the items taken was a brooch in the shape of a golden hawk, with a silver dagger in its talons and a diamond eye." He drew something from within the folds of his robes and held it up.
Ilanna's eyes widened. She knew that ornament only too well. Master Gold's brooch.
"This brooch has adorned the vest of our Guild Master for months. We have all seen him wear it." Bryden toyed with the jewelry. "The letters etched into the back of the pin match the inscription cited in Count Chatham's complaint. There is no doubt that they are one and the same."
Ice seeped into Ilanna's veins. Watcher's teeth!
Master Gold had given her an odd look whenever she mentioned it. Suddenly, that look made sense. He thought it had come from her! No doubt the real thief had told him she was the one behind it. And without Master Gold to point out the real culprit, she had no way to disprove the accusation.
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