Tedric brought the ship straight down, breaking the dive only at the last possible second. The ship struck belly-up and bounced across the soft ground, scattering a thick cloud of reddish dust.
‘Let’s make a dash for it,’ Tedric said, leaping from his seat as soon as the ship came to a halt. ’Try to find cover -anything. Make them hunt for us.’
Juvi looked at the screen on her console. ’They’re taking their time but they’re coming. We won’t get a hundred yards.’
Yod opened the lock and led the way out. Ky-shan followed, carrying the still unconscious form of Matthew Carey under one arm and the considerably heavier bulk of Pal Galmain under the other. Tedric was concerned about Carey’s condition, but Ky-shan assured him that Carey had twice awakened during the flight through space. ’On both occasions, I laid him back to rest as you ordered, Lord Tedric.’
‘If he wakes up again,’ Tedric said, following the Wykzl through the lock, ‘let him alone. Carey has as much right as any of us to witness his own death.’
The dust at their feet was soft and deep. Walking was extremely difficult and running next to impossible. As he trudged away from the ship, Tedric cocked an ear but the silence was total and ominous. The sky was a dingy shade of brownish grey, the air thin and tilled with dust particles. Everywhere he could see, the land was flat and completely devoid of distinguishing features. Not a very pleasant place to live, he decided - or to die.
‘I don’t think we’re going to find a place to hide,’ Wilson said, from close behind Tedric. ‘I think we ought to stop and make a stand.’
’They’ll just burn us down from the air,’ Yod Cartwright said.
Wilson shrugged. ‘Probably. But do you have a better idea?’
‘I guess I don’t,’ Yod admitted.
’Then we might as well die on our feet.’
Tedric knew Wilson was right. There was no reason to run with no place to hide.’* Let’s form a defensive circle,’ he said. ‘Maybe, since they’re knights, they’ll give us a lighting chance.’
Wilson laughed bitterly but moved as directed. Tedric stood between Yod and Ky-shan, who still clutched the two unconscious bodies.
‘I think I hear something,’ Juvi said softly.
Tedric listened and heard it too. A shrill whistling sound, distant but growing louder in the vast silence. Several more minutes passed before the ships finally appeared. Two of them, moving slowly, hovering overhead, from which group he could not tell. Tedric removed his heatgun from its holster. The weapon was next to useless against armoured ships, but he felt comforted by its weight in his hand.
The two ships simply hung in the sky. At every passing moment, Tedric expected to see the glint of the yellow heatray lashing out to mark the end of his natural life. A third ship floated down and joined the others in a triangular formation.
’They’re toying with us,’ said Wilson. ‘I’ll bet they’re ail up there laughing.’
‘I don’t think Villion would want to take time for laughter,’ Tedric said, feeling a dim flash of hope.
As if in response to his feeling, one of the ships fell away from the others. Tedric watched the smooth streamlined shape as it descended towards the ground.
‘It’s going to land,’ Juvi said.
Tedric nodded. He glanced hopefully at Pal Galmain, but the vemplar was as rigid and lifeless in Ky-shan’s grasp as before.
‘Maybe it’s Fra Villion himself come to gloat at our fate,’ said Wilson, balancing his heatgun menacingly in his hand. ‘If it is, I swear I’ll kill the beast if it takes the strength of a hundred men.’
The ship came neatly to rest, dropping on its belly a few hundred yards from the watching circle. Three additional ships had joined those overhead. The formation moved in a stately circle.
‘Someone’s coming out,’ said Yod.
Tedric saw a door in the side of the ship opening slowly. He raised his heatgun and took a slow breath. He knew it wouldn’t likely be Villion. But who? A large, dark, sinister figure dressed in a black cape and jumpsuit emerged through the door. Automatically, Tedric felt his hand tighten on his gun.
‘It is Fra Villion!’ Yod cried, springing from the circle and rushing blindly forward, heatgun raised.
A booted foot lashed suddenly out of nowhere and sent the gun flying from his hand.
‘It is not Fra Villion,’ said Pal Galmain. ’That is Dol Watlat.’
The vemplar from the ship continued to advance at a steady pace.
‘You made it!’ cried Juvi, rushing forward and throwing her arms around Pal Galmain in a warm embrace. For a moment, Tedric actually thought he might have glimpsed a display of real emotion on the vemplar‘s face, but it was over as soon as it had come.
Pal Galmain stepped back and bowed to Juvi. ‘I was indeed able to complete my mission. I apologise for the delay, but it was a delicate operation, as I warned you it might be. Dol Wadat is an old vemplar who, fortunately, once knew me well. He will help us.’
The vemplar stopped in the dust a dozen paces away. The hilt of a whipsword showed in one hand. ‘You, Pal Galmain, exiled traitor to your own blood oath, are hereby placed under official arrest and ordered to face judgment for the crime of willful disobedience to the terms of the ancient code.’
Wilson looked sceptically at Pal Galmain. ’This is the fellow who’s going to help us?’
Galmain shrugged. ‘I’m afraid it’s the best treatment we can hope for, but at least we’re alive. Dol Watlat will see that we reach Sanctuary. After that, it will be a question of who is to be believed, Fra Villion or myself.’
‘Still, he’s not going to be overjoyed to see us,’ said Wilson.
‘Maybe he really will tear out his fur by the roots,’ said Juvi with a laugh.
‘You must dispose of any weapons in your possession at once,’ Dol Watlat said. ‘Drop them where you stand and approach the ship with your arms in the air.’
Tedric let his heatgun slide from his hand. He would miss the weapon’s comforting feel, but there appeared to be little choice in the matter.
Tedric trudged forward through the dust of Tavera.
Chapter 14
Judgment
The tableau was indeed an impressive one. In a basement cavern of the castle Sanctuary, the vemplars of Tavera had gathered to pass judgment on Pal Galmain, an exiled comrade recently returned with terrible accusations against another of their own, Fra Villion. Along the walls close to the high ceiling, bright torches burned brilliantly, casting wild shadowy patterns against the white stones of the floor.
Tedric was the only person present at the hearing who was . not a vemplar. The knights - as many as three hundred strong - occupied tall chairs arranged in widening concentric circles. At the centre sat Pal Galmain, his hands folded in his lap, his back slumped, his human-like face utterly blank. Tedric stood at his side. He had been called to testify as a witness.
The questioning began with the first row of knights, where Fra Villion himself sat, although, when his turn came, he frowned and shook his head and did not choose to speak. Most of the others did, however, each standing and asking questions of Tedric until, seemingly satisfied, the knight resumed his seat and let the questioning pass to the next in line. As he answered their questions, which had quickly grown repetitive, Tedric let his gaze fall upon Fra Villion, who looked up and met his eyes. There was no real animosity in Villion’s expression, nor in the faint smile that momentarily crossed his brightly coloured face. If anything, Villion seemed supremely confident. He and Tedric had met in battle once before, but no clear victor had emerged from that initial confrontation. Villion seemed to be saying that this time - on his own world, among his own kind - the outcome would be different.
Pal Galmain, on the other hand, looked like a sick and beaten man. Part of the problem was undoubtedly simple exhaustion. Tedric assumed that the hearing had been convened hours earlier, immediately upon their arrival at the castle - and Galmain’s human-sized form made him appear
frail and weak among these huge hairy giants. Still, in the time he had been present in this room, Tedric had not heard Galmain offer a single word in his own defence. His demeanour was dreamy, as if he no longer understood or cared about the events swirling around him. Tedric was deeply concerned. Without Galmain’s active assistance, he did not see how Villion could ever be brought down.
As for the others - Juvi, Ky-shan, Yod, Wilson and Matthew Carey - Tedric was uncertain of their exact whereabouts, though he assumed they were being held somewhere in the castle. He himself had at first been taken under guard to a small room far above this one and kept there until the summons had come for him to testify.
By now, the questioning had reached the farthest and final row of the knights. One vemplar, an exact replica of Fra Villion except for his pale face, was asking a series of questions. Tedric tried to concentrate on the knight’s words. ‘Would it be accurate to say that you personally are not in possession of any direct evidence linking Fra Villion with the darker forces of our universe?’
Tedric tried not to seem irritated. He had heard this same question several times before and answered it to the best of his ability. ‘I can only repeat what I’ve already told you. Skandos, the Scientist, informed me directly that Fra Villion was in the employ of these forces. I also believe that Villion’s activities in the Empire of Man constitute additional proof of where his current loyalties lie.’
‘But where is this Skandos now?’ the knight went on. ‘If he is in possession of definite proof, why do you insist he will refuse to come forward and offer it?’
Tedric had answered that question, too. The manner in which the subject kept coming up convinced him that Villion had more than likely planted the question in a deliberate attempt to cast doubt upon the entire case against him. It was plain from what Tedric had seen and heard in this room that Villion’s position among the vemplars was indeed a strong one, which might in part explain Pal Galmain’s apparent despair. The old knight had been away from home a long time and might not have realised the enormity of the challenge he faced.
Once more, Tedric could only repeat what he had told the assembly before. ‘Skandos is a Scientist and as such it is his sworn duty to avoid interfering in the affairs of the Galaxy whenever possible. He is an observer and teacher, not an active participant. That has always been the way of the Scientists. Everyone in this room must be aware of that.’ The knight smirked, as though he had scored a victory. ‘Then you admit that we have only your word, that of a mere human, to support any of these charges against Fra Villion?’
“My word,’ said Tedric, ‘and that of Pal Galmain.’
The knight’s smirk grew broader. It was clear that he regarded Pal Galmain’s word as less than reliable and wanted to be sure this opinion was communicated to his fellow knights.
’There’s also the matter of the red clouds,’ Tedric went on stubbornly, deciding this was as good a time as any to reiterate the entire case. ‘Fra Villion was seen to enter one cloud upon his departure from the Empire of Man. Later, he reappeared here among you. No one disputes that the clouds are tools of the darker forces. And I can offer you proof - sworn testimony - to confirm what I’ve said. If you’d care to wait several months, I can have witnesses brought here. It’s even possible that Matthew Carey, once he has recovered from his recent ordeal, will be able to convince you that Villion did indeed enter the cloud.’
The knight shrugged. ‘I can speak only for myself, but I fail to see the necessity for such testimony. Fra Villion has explained to us that he entered the cloud in an attempt to discover its true nature. Such a cloud presently threatens our realm. Fra Villion merely wished to aid his own species.’ ’At a time when the entire Imperial fleet was attempting to destroy him?’ Tedric laughed and shook his head. ‘If Fra Villion told you that, then he’s a liar, and if you believe him, then you’re fools.’
The knight’s dark eyes flashed with anger. He started to voice a strong retort when Villion lifted a hand and wagged it languidly in the air. The knight fell immediately silent, leaving no question of where his loyalty lay. He sat down and the questioning passed to the next, only somewhat less overtly hostile interrogator.
As the questioning moved onward to its end, Tedric struggled against his own welling despair. It was clear that a majority of the knights supported Villion, and no amount of testimony was about to sway them otherwise. There were a significant few who, as Tedric continued to repeat his case, cast anxious, worried glances in Villion’s direction, but not nearly enough to carry the day.
The last interrogator completed his questioning and sat down. There was a long moment of silence and Tedric did not know whether he was expected to go or stay. Then Dol Watlat started to come to his feet. Tedric recognised him in the nearest circle, seated directly across from Fra Villion.
Dol Watlat spoke to Pal Galmain. ‘Have you anything to add in your defence, noble knight?’
Galmain raised his head as if only just now aware that he was being addressed. He shook his head weakly. ‘I…no. Not as a defence. Tedric has spoken well cm my behalf. The case against Fra Villion has been made as best it can.’
Tedric heard snickers around the hall.
’Then do you wish me to call a vote?’ Dol Watlat said, his voice almost sad.
‘Yes…no.’ Galmain waved a hand. ‘I can see that I am beaten. I have no desire to see Fra Villion given another triumph at my expense.’
’Then I must ask you to leave the room. The matter of your own crime in returning here must now be discussed.’
‘No,’ said Galmain, and suddenly his voice was loud. He rose to his feet slowly but once there stood proud and rigid. ‘I have something I wish to say.’
‘But you have already informed us that your case has rested,’ said Dol Watlat in surprise.
Galmain shook his head. ‘You misunderstand. I do not wish to address myself to the subject of my own defence. Rather, I wish to speak concerning you - all of you -and…’ he paused and, turning sharply, pointed a finger at Villion *…and him.’
’This, as you know, Pal Galmain, is not an accepted part, of the ritual of judgment.’
’True, but in this instance, I request a special dispensation. The fact is that I have come a long way to be among you. I am an old man and not well. Even if you sentence me to die, as I assume you will, I doubt that I will live long enough to give those of you who are my enemies the satisfaction of seeing my head severed from my body.’
‘Then speak,’ said Dol Watlat, sitting down. ‘I at least will not refuse to hear you.’
Tedric glanced at Villion who, for a moment, seemed ready to raise a protest. Then he relaxed. It was clear that Villion no longer regarded Pal Galmain as a possible menace.
‘Years ago, as most of you will recall,’ Galmain began, ‘I was an acknowledged leader among the black knights of Tavera, the Biomen vemplar.’ His voice showed no indication of hesitancy now. He appeared to have discovered a hidden reserve of strength and was putting it into his words. ‘I was proud of my position and proud of my colleagues. The blood oath of the ancient code served us and served us well. There were many who hated us. Even among our own kind, the Biomen, we were often regarded with fear and distrust. It was said that we were amoral, lacking in principle, but I believed, as all of you did, that the ancient code constituted a higher principle of loyalty, devotion, and trust that loomed far above the mere temporal affairs of the Galaxy.’ Turning his head, he stared fixedly at Villion. ‘I now admit that I was wrong. There is one among you who has brought shame to your ranks and confirmed the judgments made by others. This individual has proved at long last that the ancient code is a limited creed. In my opinion, the salvation of the universe we all inhabit must take precedence over any blood oath. Fra Villion appears to dispute this claim.’
Tedric heard a sharp intake of breath but he could not immediately identify its source.
‘In his heart,’ Galmain went on, his expression intent, ’Fra Villion un
doubtedly believes that he is correct in continuing to obey the code. When he first accepted employment from the darker forces, Fra Villion…’
Galmain was forced to break off as a general murmur of discontent sounded through the room. He waited until it had ebbed, then said, ‘I am fully aware of how most of you pretend to believe but at the moment I do not care. To me, the facts are plain to all who are not blind and I prefer not to argue them now. I know that I was approached with an offer of employment, which I refused. Fra Villion was later approached similarly and he, for whatever reasons, accepted. He has since served his masters to the best of his ability. If the universe falls as a result, he will no doubt continue to believe that the ancient code required him to act as he did.’
Galmain, pausing, took a deep breath and appeared to waver on his feet. It was clear that the old knight was seriously ill and that it was not simply a matter of exhaustion. For his part, Villion seemed unmoved by Galmain’s bitter words. His features were as cool as ever, though the smile had vanished from his lips, at least for the time being.
‘Because of this,’ Galmain went on, his strength asserting itself again, ‘it is clear that in his own opinion Fra Villion has committed no crime. You, in your actions today, have apparently confirmed this judgment. Therefore, only one thing can possibly save the universe and release Fra Villion from a position he may very well no longer wish to hold. To that end, out of my respect for him and my devotion to you, I offer Fra Villion the challenge of a duel to the death.’
These last words seemed to catch the entire assembly by surprise. There was a loud gasp of amazement and then, from a few, openly derisive laughter. Pal Galmain stood his ground with dignity.
’Fra Villion,’ he said, ‘I have offered myself to you in a duel to the death. What is your response?’
Villion looked distinctly uncomfortable. He shook his head and, for the first time since Tedric had been present, spoke directly to Galmain. ‘No, old knight, you are too ill. A duel to the death between us could have only one conceivable outcome. I am no executioner., You must wait for the axe.’
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