Chapter 518
Celandine was first of the High Council, her head high and her dark brown hair in a braid. Katelina caught her silver eyes. The world wavered, but Celandine turned away and the effect disappeared.
Obi came next, his skin dark and his expression neutral. He wore long sand-colored robes and a heavy golden chain around his neck. Behind him was Heng. With dark hair worn in a top knot, delicately slanting eyes, high cheekbones, and long thin fingers, he looked elegant.
Last was Eileifr. Though he was short, his years made him seem tall. His long blonde hair fell down his back, mingled with thin braids. A beard sprouted from his chin. His Nordic features were frozen in immortal perfection; his skin like polished marble and his gray eyes gleaming.
The four sat in their chairs in perfect unison. Eileifr's voice boomed, "This council has been called, based upon the complaint filed by Anya, fledgling of Josephus, previously of the old world."
A member of the Lesser Council stood and read Anya's official complaint. It detailed the raid on her den, the fight with her coven, and the kidnapping of Thomas. Though she didn't name names, she mentioned that one of her coven allowed the attackers to take her brother. If Katelina remembered correctly it was Des. The complaint went on to list Jorick and say he was with "unknown vampires", an interesting phrase, considering Joseff and Lennon were in Claudius' coven together. Surely Lennon would have recognized Joseff.
"From what I understand, most of her coven abandoned her before she filed the complaint," Jorick murmured. "No one wanted to war over Thomas."
When the Council called Jorick first, Katelina shot him a horrified look. He gave her a soothing smile and made his way to the front.
Though Celandine could read minds, Eileifr obviously didn't believe in using her talents. Jorick was forced to detail the attack and what provoked it.
"We now know it was Malick who had Kale kidnapped and given to humans for experimentation, but at the time Kale and his coven blamed Thomas. We took him as recompense for Kale's injuries. Kale was killed by Thomas in the assault. Joseff took charge of the coven and pronounced the old punishment for Thomas. I and others objected, but it wasn't my coven or my doing."
After several questions for clarification, Jorick was released. He was barely in his chair before Katelina hissed, "I thought you weren't on trial?"
"I'm not. They have to work through everyone listed in the complaint so they can officially charge Joseff. The process used to be much faster."
Katelina remembered the last time they'd been before the councils. Malick sucked all the secrets from their minds ahead of time. Any conversation was merely to amuse the ancient master. "And it was much worse."
Jorick's reply was a noncommittal shrug.
Saeed and Yaul gave similar accounts of the kidnapping and punishment. When they finished Eileifr announced, "After review of the complaint, it has been determined that the suspected perpetrator is one Joseff, fledgling of Kale. Joseff will step forward while the charges are read."
As Verchiel tugged Joseff to his feet, Katelina relaxed. They weren't charging Jorick. It was about time something went their way.
The trial passed quickly. Anya testified about the attack and about her first attempt to file a complaint. "One of the Executioners told me as long as I blamed Jorick I'd never get a trial. Even now he's escaping justice! He can say this is over Kale, but he's really angry because Thomas wouldn't take the fall for him. Jorick was the one who spied on our coven for Kateesha. Everyone knows they were lovers. What would Thomas have to gain?"
At the mention of Kateesha, Katelina growled low in her throat. Jorick and his sister-in-blood were many things, but lovers was not one of them.
Jorick shifted uncomfortably, and Katelina turned her glare on him. "You said she was too cruel for you."
"Yes," he murmured, and quickly looked back to the trial.
Eileifr motioned Anya's tirade to silence. She scowled as she was forced to admit Kale and his coven "might" have helped take Thomas, and that Kale came to the door and asked her to turn her brother over. "He mentioned a kidnapping, but the request was so absurd I knew it was a distraction to allow the others to get into position."
Eileifr dismissed her and called the other members of her coven. Des refused to look at her as he admitted that Kale led the charge, and that he'd let them go. "Sorry, but Thomas wasn't worth fighting for. I've never believed the stuff Jorick said about him being the traitor, but I didn't like him, either."
Lennon and the others had similar stories. Finally, Thomas was called.
"How is he supposed to answer questions?" Anya cried. "They took his tongue!"
"Bring him forth," Eileifr commanded.
Anya grumbled but pushed him to the front. Thomas huddled in his chair. His wild, terrified eyes shot around the room. Katelina felt a sudden wash of burning terror. It took all her willpower not to bolt. It's not me, she told herself. I'm not scared. It's Thomas. Thomas is scared, not me.
Celandine stood and moved in front of him. Her face held no emotion, but the horrified throbbing in Katelina's head grew worse.
Jorick caught her hand and the feeling disappeared. Katelina met his eyes. He gave her a nod, as if to acknowledge he was using his mental shielding abilities. She was too grateful to chastise him.
Celandine announced in a clear voice, "I have seen his memories. The testimony given thus far is correct. It was Joseff, fledgling of Kale, who administered the punishment."
"Of course you'd say that," Anya snapped. "You aren't going to admit it's everyone's favorite pet."
Celandine turned cold gray eyes on her. "I speak what I see. I have witnessed your brother's memories, both before and after he was taken from you. I have seen things even you have not. Do not press me."
"Are you threatening me?" Anya demanded. "Go ahead. Give away his 'secrets'. My brother has nothing to hide."
Celandine looked down her nose and Katelina could feel the vampiress' carefully controlled power breaking the bonds of its imprisonment to swirl around the room. "Does he not? His midnight meetings with Kateesha? I saw the promises she made him, and the loyalty he gave. How he lured others in your war coven to betray those they had sworn to fight beside, and how he tried to recruit still more. Your brother was the traitor he was so named. If I peer into your mind, I shall see you already know, though you wish not to."
"I don't have to listen to this!" Anya jerked the wheelchair back. Thomas tumbled out and hit the floor with an echoing plop. Celandine stepped back, as if afraid of letting even the hem of her dress touch him.
Anya scooped her brother up and stuffed him back in the chair. He slid sideways and she huffed as she righted him, her movements jerky and her face pinched.
"She's afraid," Jorick commented. "She's never been before the Council before, or dealt with vampires as old as these."
Katelina nodded. If she remembered correctly, Celandine was over a thousand years old.
As one, the High Council stood. "We will deliberate," Eileifr announced. The council turned in unison and walked through the back door to their chambers, their movements even and graceful. Something about their long robes and the way they moved made Katelina think of a cult.
The Council was only gone a few minutes before they returned. After they took their seats, Eileifr raised his hands for quiet.
"Bring the prisoner forth."
Verchiel prodded Joseff forward. He snarled and jerked away from the Executioner but, with nowhere to go, he made his way to the dais. He glared at the Council members as Eileifr said, "Joseff, fledgling of Kale, this council finds you guilty of unlawful kidnapping, as per the complaint filed by Anya, fledgling of Josephus. With further testimony and evidence, this council also finds you guilty of attempted unlawful murder, of improper implementation of illegal torture, and of unlawful maiming. The Laws give only one penalty for such misdeeds. Joseff, you are hereby sentenced to death by Executioner, to be carried out tomorrow at midnight in the execution chamber."
Joseff's face paled, then hardened. "Thomas deserved it and more. You sit on your thrones and pretend to deal justice, but your justice is blind. He killed my master!"
"Enough." Though Eileifr didn't stand, he seemed to grow taller. "Kale's death was the result of battle, and so legal. In regard to you and yours, Thomas did nothing against the law."
Joseff howled in rage and lunged forward. Verchiel grabbed him, but the scarred vampire spun around with a kick that caught him off guard. As the Executioner flew backwards, his sword fell from his coat. Joseff snatched up the fallen weapon and snapped it out of its scabbard. The threat was written on his face; a death sentence for anyone he could get his hands on.
