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.Muina was hushing Lisula whose cheeks were wet with tears.Griane was dry-eyed but very pale.Callie clung to her skirt, sucking his thumb; it had been years since he’d done that.Somewhere behind them, he could hear Faelia sobbing and Hircha murmuring comfort.Keirith stepped forward.Incredibly, he smiled.“It’ll be all right, Fa.Really.It will.”Between them, no words were needed.But even if Keirith understood his intentions, he was clearly fighting for calm.As much as Darak wanted to hold him, he knew such a gesture would shatter his son’s control.In the end, all he could do was smile back.“Aye, son.We’ll get through this.Together.”Before he could say more, the bearskin was drawn aside.Darak recoiled when he saw Nionik.He remained in the doorway, wise enough to know he was not welcome.“I came to inform you of the council’s decision, but I see that’s unnecessary.Believe me, Keirith, this was not easy for—”“What do you want?” Darak interrupted.Ignoring him, Nionik said, “Nemek and Mintan are waiting outside to escort you to Jurl’s hut.You’ll remain there until the sentence is carried out on the morrow.”“Nay!” Griane exclaimed.“For mercy’s sake, let him spend this night at home.”“Post a guard.” Darak made no effort to keep the bitterness from his voice.“If you’re afraid he’ll run off.”“You don’t need a guard,” Keirith said.“I won’t run away.But please.”His voice broke.Damn Nionik for making his boy beg.“I’m sorry.Your family is free to visit you, but the law requires—”Darak started for Nionik, only to be pulled back as Keirith seized his arm.“Don’t, Fa.It doesn’t matter.” He turned toward the others with that same forced smile.“We’ll talk later.But now, I.I’d better go.”Again, his voice broke.Before Darak could stop him, Keirith pushed past Nionik.The chief bowed formally, once to him and again to Griane, and left without speaking.“I’ll speak with the elders,” Gortin said.“Perhaps I can convince them to change their votes.”“They won’t,” Darak said.“But I thank you.All of you.Your friendship means a great deal.Lisula.the things I said before.”“Hush.I know.”Finally, he forced himself to meet Griane’s eyes.“I’m sorry.”“It’s not your fault.”“I shouldn’t have let him come back.”“It was Keirith’s choice and he made it.Just as the elders made theirs.There’s no time now for regrets or recriminations.We must prepare ourselves.”Although her voice was quiet, she seemed to blaze as she had the morning he had awakened in the grove of the First Forest.Her fiery hair.Her bright eyes.Slender and pale as a birch, but stronger than any oak.When he’d fled with Tinnean, she had chased after them through the cold and dark of Midwinter.Even then, she had known without words what was in his heart.The hard knot of pain in his chest eased.“Aye.We must prepare.”Chapter 53KEIRITH SHOOK HIS head when Nemek brought in the bowl of stew.“I’m not hungry.”“I know.But you should try and eat.”And because Nemek looked so miserable, Keirith took the bowl and thanked him.Nemek lingered a moment as if he meant to speak, then rushed out.Keirith heard Mintan say, “There, lad.Get hold of yourself.It won’t help poor Keirith to hear you making such a fuss.” Mintan probably thought he was whispering, but deaf as he was, his softest comment always came out as a shout.He knew he should eat—the gods only knew when he’d have hot food again—but after choking down one bite, he put the bowl down.At least he’d kept Fa from attacking the chief.He just hoped he wouldn’t do anything foolish like trying to free him.He’d seemed calm enough when he’d first entered the hut.It was all an act, of course.Just as he’d been trying to act calm so he wouldn’t upset his family further.Perhaps that’s why the law said a condemned man had to spend his last night alone.As hard as it was to be away from his family, it was a relief to abandon the pretense of calm.He had never witnessed a casting out, but every child knew what was involved.Worse than the shame of the ceremony itself was the thought of his family witnessing it.Unwilling to think about that, he rose and paced.Five strides across the hut.Five strides back.There was nothing here to remind him of Jurl or Erca.Someone had placed a pile of rabbitskins near the fire pit, along with a waterskin and a stone bowl in case he needed to relieve himself
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