Chapter 360
After an exhaustive argument between sides, they agreed that though Jorick had perhaps had ulterior motives, it was for the best, insofar as Malick the malcontent was concerned, that he beat him to the heart. However, there was much concern over Samael, and both councils dropped into silence and stared at the "accused" for the answer.
Jorick cleared his throat and said, "I doubt Samael will be a problem. Should he prove to be so, the Kugsankal is more than capable of controlling him."
Both councils whispered fiercely, and then broke. The left hand vampire said, "Is it true that the human belonging to the Executioner Jorick was bitten by the one known as Samael?"
Jorick's back went stiff and Katelina tried to sink back into the bench, as if she could hide like a chameleon if she only wished hard enough.
The right hand vampire quipped, "Being fed upon is not a crime."
"Perhaps. In which case we demand access to those memories." The left hand vampire glared at the group.
"As you should be able to see, your Excellency, neither of the accused were present at the time of occurrence, and one did not even know it had occurred." The right hand vampire looked rather pleased. "If it satisfies you, we suggest the human's memories are ruled suitable for the purpose of this trial."
There was so much in that sentence to alarm Katelina that she didn't know where to start. Trial? What happened to an informal conversation? What happened to her not being good enough to talk to?
The left hand vampires whispered together and then the gold robed vampire said, "It is agreed and decided that as the Kugsankal, in their superior and infinite wisdom, called upon the human child in the past to testify concerning Malick the malcontent, she is deemed suitable for the case in question."
She sat frozen on the bench, even as the guard motioned to her. Neither Jorick nor Verchiel turned around, and without some kind of reassurance she couldn't force her legs to work.
"You've been called," Wolfe hissed. "Go!"
She made herself stand and straightened her shirt nervously. She'd been ready for this earlier, but after the reprieve it was worse.
The entrance to the dock-like box seemed a mile away, but she made it without incident and stepped inside. A bench ran the length of the back, though since neither Jorick nor Verchiel sat she thought she shouldn't, either.
Jorick caught her hand and squeezed it tightly. He gave her a pained smile, as if to say it would be all right. Without the sincerity it was hard to believe.
The robed vampires turned their eyes on her and she could feel them in her mind all at once. She gasped and clutched the sides of her head and stumbled backwards. Jorick caught her and she squeezed her eyes shut. Get out! she thought furiously. All of you!
Jorick jolted next to her and the other vampires gave an audible gasp, then fell into a flurry of conversation. With her head free of their invasion, she relaxed and opened her eyes to see Jorick staring at her with naked alarm.
"What?" she whispered.
The gold clad vampire pounded the wooden rail and the councils fell silent. He then stared hard at Katelina, and his expression went from cold irritation to near fury.
"This human has been tainted by the one known as Samael!" he cried. "It is this council's finding that this matter is of too great import to be decided on, except by the Kugsankal. Therefore, the human and her Master are to remain here until the Kugsankal can be consulted and come to an agreement on what is to be done. Final judgment has been made." He pounded the rail again, as if it was the punctuation to his sentence.
Katelina gaped and turned to Jorick, but he stared straight ahead, his expression hard and his eyes like two dark flames.
Verchiel bowed. "If I may address your excellencies? What of myself?"
Katelina felt a sudden urge to smack him. Himself indeed! What in the hell was going on?
"You may come or go as you will, or as your guild commands." The gold robed vampire gave them all a sharp once over, stopping on Katelina. "You are dismissed to the confines of the stronghold."
Wolfe moved before them and bowed low. Verchiel did the same, and Jorick gave them a vague incline of his head, then they filed out of the box and followed the Scharfrichter to the door.
Katelina could hear the councils whispering behind them, like buzzing bees. She didn't understand. What did they mean tainted? Why did she have to stay? What in the hell was going on?
Before Katelina could demand an explanation Wolfe gave them a stiff half bow. His face was as inflexible as ever, but his eyes were intrigued. "Jorick, you are free to roam the stronghold, but not to leave it. Verchiel, if you would like to contact your guild, then you may do so at the Scharfrichter office, or at the main desk in the entrance hall. Should you require anything else, no doubt someone will be happy to assist you. If you will excuse me, I have other duties to attend to. Guten Abend." Then he turned on his heel and strode away.
Katelina turned to Jorick, "What's" but he shook his head.
"Not here."
She wanted to ask, "Then where?" but he took her hand and tugged her down the corridor. Verchiel followed. Despite his casual attitude, she caught worry in his violet eyes when he glanced at her.
The elevator was crowded and Katelina huddled against Jorick's side, as if she could sink into him and disappear. The doors swished open on their floor, and Jorick strode down the corridor. He unlocked their bedroom door and then motioned Katelina in.
Verchiel followed, and Jorick barred him with an arm. "You're not invited."
"Ah, come on. This involves me, too. It's not like I could go home in good conscience while you guys are stuck here."
"I said no!" Jorick roared.
Katelina flinched and spun back to stare at them through the doorway. "Does it really matter?"
"See?" Verchiel said with a wide grin. "She wants me!" He disappeared then reappeared inside the room next to her. "To come in, I mean," he added with a wink.
