“If he figures out that you are the Captain Kate who escaped from prison and cheated the hangman, you will be in serious trouble.”
Kate sank down on the bench, biting her lip until she tasted blood mingling with her tears.
“Did Dalgren know about this … this Banishment?” she asked, choked.
“He knew of the possibility,” Stephano replied, seating himself beside her. “He was clinging to the slim hope that the sentence would not be so harsh.”
“He will always have a home with me!” Kate said vehemently. “He will always be Dalgren to me. He knows that!”
“But you do not know him if you think that would be enough,” said Stephano. “He is a dragon without a name, without a nation, without a family. It is as if they had told him he is no longer a dragon.”
Kate knew he was right. A name for a dragon meant far more than a word by which he was known. A name was an integral part of the dragon’s being. The ceremony of acquiring a name was the most important event of the dragon’s life. His name became the standard that he carried proudly before him.
Since dragon names were extremely long and unpronounceable, dragons generally had two names: the sacred name by which they were known to dragonkind and a name used by humans. Dalgren had once told Kate his true name and she had likened it to the sound of rocks cascading down the side of a mountain. But to Dalgren, using even his human name would be a disgrace. The wounds the dragons had inflicted upon him were mortal. He would slink off by himself to die of grief and shame and she would never see him again.
She turned to face Stephano. “Let me go to him, sir. I will make him listen to me! I don’t care if they arrest me. I will give myself up after the trial.”
“Hold your fire, Captain,” said Stephano. “Now is the time for soft words, not bold deeds.”
Kate frowned, not knowing what he meant.
“There are such times,” Stephano added with a wry smile. “A hard lesson, I know. I had to learn it myself.”
Kate decided to trust him. After all, she didn’t have much choice. She resumed her seat.
“The convicted has the right to appeal this decision,” said Countess Anasi.
Dalgren sank down on his belly and lay flat, crushed into the ground. He did not speak. He did not stir a claw or move a muscle.
Stephano glanced around at his mother, at Sophia, at the two Trundler women, and Kate realized with a sudden thrill that he was summoning them to battle. She could tell by the tension in his body, the faint smile on his lips, the expectant glitter in his blue eyes.
Soft words, he had said. Not bold deeds.
Sophia rose majestically from her throne.
“The crown appeals this decision on behalf of the accused,” Sophia called out. “By the rights granted to Rosia under the Treaty of D’eau Brisé, the crown asks that the court hear one more witness—the Master of Dragon Lore.”
Kate had heard of the Master of Dragon Lore. Dalgren had told her about this person—a human who spent a lifetime maintaining a written record of dragon history, traditions, heritage, and laws.
In the early days, dragon families had lived isolated lives in their caves in the mountains and relied on oral tradition to maintain family history, handing it down from one generation to the next. Over the centuries, the dragons forgot events, misremembered them, or even attempted to expunge them. Dragons grew concerned that much of their history, laws, and traditions were being lost.
When dragons first started to interact with humans back in the days of the Sunlit Empire, dragons were impressed with the human concept of keeping written records. The families employed human scribes to keep records for them and selected a single human, known and trusted by all, to gather and maintain the records. The human was known as the Master of Dragon Lore.
“The Master is welcome,” said Countess Anasi. “We will hear the Master’s judgment on this case.”
Kate regarded Stephano in bewilderment. “What does the Master have to do with this?”
“When disputes arise between clans or family members, they can call upon the Master to resolve it, based on the reading of the dragon lore,” Stephano said.
“There is hope?” Kate asked.
“There is always hope, Captain,” Stephano replied.
Kate looked around Grayhollow and realized that the dragons had, of course, been aware of the presence of the Master of Dragon Lore. They had known all along that if the verdict went against Dalgren, the Master would have something to say about it.
Kate even had the impression they were looking forward to it, for they were making themselves comfortable, relaxing, settling down on their bellies, prepared to give the Master their full attention.
For their part, the human officers were alarmed. Dragons are passionately fond of legal arguments and can sit for days, happily debating some fine point of dragon law that went back a thousand years.
Only Dalgren paid no heed. The dragon crouched on his haunches, his head bowed so low that his twisted horn brushed the ground. Sunk in despair, he had no hope.
The red-haired Trundler woman, Miri, rose from the bench and, to Kate’s astonishment, went to stand in front of the assembly. The dragons greeted her with respect, dipping their heads and gently thumping their tails. Kate recalled the countess saying that Miri’s arrival was good news for Dalgren and now she understood why.
“Thank you, Countess Anasi,” said Miri. She turned to the dragons and made a formal introduction, although by their looks of respect, they already knew her. “I am Miri McPike, the Master of Dragon Lore, and I am honored to be among you.”
Miri was about Stephano’s age, close to forty years, perhaps. She smiled at him as she took her place; Kate saw him return her smile.
Kate realized that they must have planned this all along. Stephano had known they would convict Dalgren. He had known that they would sentence him to the Banishment, and he had come prepared. Kate reproached herself. She should have trusted him.
Miri cut an odd-looking figure, bundled in her peacoat, her red curls flaring out from beneath the stocking hat, far different from the elegantly dressed princess and the Countess de Marjolaine. No one seemed to care how she was dressed. Miri certainly did not. She spoke with confidence and authority. The dragons listened with attentive interest.
“At the request of His Grace, the Duke de Bourlet, and His Grace, the Duke of Talwin, I have been asked to delve into the history of the sentence known as the Banishing.
“The sentence dates back to the time of the fall of the Sunlit Empire, being one of a series of laws created by the first Gathering. This is according to a human scribe who was given the task of recording these laws,” Miri stated. “The Banishing was to be used for only the most heinous crimes, such as the willful killing of a human or another dragon. When the Dragon Brigade was formed, the dragons instituted the Banishment as the proper punishment for desertion, based on the fact that humans punish this crime by death.
“The Banishment strips a dragon of his name and exiles him from the land of his birth. The sentence is the most severe that can be handed down among dragonkind. Both the Duke de Bourlet and the Duke of Talwin have expressed concern, as have many of you, that the sentence is excessively harsh and cruel. Unlike other forms of punishment, the Banishing is singular in that it offers the guilty no hope of redemption.”
The dragons appeared struck by this argument. Several exchanged glances and nodded their heads.
“I discovered in doing my research that when the Gathering first instituted the Banishment, they made provision that the dragon given this sentence could have the chance to earn back his name, restore his honor, and return to the land of his birth, if he so chooses.”
“Oh, I am so glad!” Sophia cried, jumping to her feet and clapping her hands.
Countess Anasi and everyone else in Grayhollow looked at her. Abashed, Sophia blushed and sat back down.
Kate was watching Dalgren. He had at least raised his head; his eyes had
lost their dull, uncomprehending stare.
The other dragons appeared to be reflecting on what they had heard, considering the possibilities.
“How can the Banished redeem himself, Master?” Countess Anasi asked.
“According to the old records, my lady, if the judges approve, the Banished can find redemption by—and here I quote from the old records—‘undertaking a quest both perilous and selfless.’”
“Do you know why the chance for redemption was dropped from the records, Master?” the Duke of Talwin asked.
“I cannot be certain, Your Grace. We can only surmise that it was lost during the Dark Ages when records were destroyed in flood and fire.”
“And what should be done?” Anasi asked.
“Provided the judges agree that the Banished should be given a chance to redeem himself, the court would devise a suitable quest for him. If the court pleases, I have a quest in mind which would, I believe, fulfill the requirements of the old law,” Miri said. “I am friends with Father Jacob Northrop of the Arcanum—a human known to many of you for his interest in dragonkind, particularly dragon magic.”
“Father Jacob is known to us,” said Anasi, nodding her head.
“Father Jacob currently lives Below with those called the Bottom Dwellers. Many of you who served with the Dragon Brigade accompanied Captain de Guichen Below to put an end to the contramagic that was killing your children. After the war, the world Above forgot about the Bottom Dwellers, leaving them to survive in a land ravaged by terrible storms, bereft of sunlight and the contramagic that kept them alive. Father Jacob has been working among the people, helping them to rebuild their lives.
“I suggest to the court that if the dragon who has been Banished is willing to undergo a year of hard, physical labor assisting Father Jacob, he could petition the court for the opportunity to restore his name. While this is not exactly a ‘quest perilous,’” Miri added with a grave smile, “many of you know I have traveled Below and can attest to the fact that the journey is dangerous.”
“Thank you, Master of Dragon Lore,” said Anasi. “The judges will retire to consider this new information.”
The human officers rose with alacrity; hoping that the end of this trial was in the offing and they could return to their yachts or their inns. The dragons joined them and they retired once again to the field.
Kate turned to Stephano. “Will they agree to let Dalgren make this quest, sir?”
“I believe they will,” said Stephano, smiling. “The Master is held in high regard.”
Kate sighed in relief. “How long have you known who I was, sir?”
Stephano smiled. “The truth wasn’t very hard to figure out, Captain. I knew that Dalgren had a human partner in the Aligoes. I had read the stories in the Haever Gazette about a ‘dragon corsair’ known as Captain Kate and her dragon partner. I would be a simpleton, indeed, if I did not make the connection when I heard your name.”
“Does your mother know?” Kate asked anxiously. Before he could reply, she hurriedly added, “I should have told her the truth from the outset. She and the princess were both so kind to me—”
Stephano laughed. “My mother knew the truth the moment she heard you tell the innkeeper you were desperate to reach Cieleterre. Very little happens in the world that my mother does not know,” he added dryly and somewhat grimly.
“And the Princess Sophia?” Kate ventured.
“She knows, as well, for the countess told her,” said Stephano. “Indeed, you were the subject of much lively discussion at the dinner table between Lord Haelgrund, myself, my mother, and Her Highness last night. I am surprised your ears did not burn. We agreed you were most shamefully treated by the Rosian navy and that bastard Favager.”
“I do not understand, sir,” said Kate, bewildered. “How could you possibly know that?”
“My friend Captain Dag Thorgrimson wrote to tell me that your ship was fired upon after you had surrendered. Dag had heard that you and your crew were privateers, men holding letters of marque from Freya, and, as such, you were not subject to arrest or execution. The Lords of the Admiralty also received a letter from His Highness, Prince Thomas Stanford, accusing Captain Favager of submitting a false report and asking for pardons for your crew. You will be pleased to know that Favager will face court-martial himself. He has subsequently been relieved of his command.”
Kate heard Thomas’s name and a warm flush stole over her. Stephano had been so kind, she felt honor bound to tell him the truth now as she had done when she was a little girl and he had caught her sneaking onto the base.
“I did surrender my ship, sir, that much is true,” said Kate. “But you should know that my surrender was a ruse. I planned to escape if I could, sail my ship down into the Deep Breath.”
“I suspected as much,” said Stephano. “I know that trick myself. I used it on occasion during my own smuggling days.”
Seeing Kate’s amazement, he added with a laugh, “I was not always a duke. I did not desert the Dragon Brigade, but I resigned my commission following the battle. My mother and I were estranged at the time. I would have starved to death before I asked her for a crust of bread. I had to earn a living somehow. But now we must worry about you.”
“Do you think Captain Porcelli or any of the others suspect?” Kate asked.
“They have said nothing to me,” said Stephano. “But I would not remain in Rosia long if I were you, Captain. Porcelli cannot arrest you while you are in the Dragon Duchies. Once you leave these borders, however, you will enter Rosia and you will be subject to Rosian law. I do not think they could execute you, since you were a privateer, not a pirate. But you did break the law by escaping from prison. I fear at the very least you would find yourself back in a Rosian jail.”
Kate nodded absently. Her gaze was fixed on Dalgren. She didn’t know whether to hope the judges granted him the right to redeem himself by undertaking a journey Below or to uphold the sentence of Banishment. Either way, it seemed to her Dalgren was doomed to die.
“You made the journey Below, Captain,” she said. “What is it like? Is it as dreadful as they say?”
“I will never forget it,” said Stephano. “To reach the land of the Bottom Dwellers, Dalgren will have to fly far below the Breath. He will have to endure bitter cold that freezes the blood and rimes his scales and his wings with ice. If he survives that journey, he will be forced to live among people who have no love for dragons. He will have to endure the fearsome wizard storms that still sweep the land and keep it in near constant night. He will rarely see the sunlight and never feel its warmth. And he will be constantly hungry, for the food supply is scarce for humans and far scarcer for dragons.”
“Do you know this Father Jacob Northrop?” Kate asked.
All she knew about him was that he was a famous savant who had discovered the seventh sigil and revolutionized magic. But he was also a priest of the Arcanum, the most feared order in the Church of the Breath, tasked with upholding the laws of the Church and mercilessly tracking down malefactors. One glimpse of the priests in their black robes and people crossed to the other side of the street.
“Father Jacob is a good man,” said Stephano. “Though a bit peculiar.”
Kate sighed and chafed her cold hands. “I wish they would hurry! What is taking them so long?”
“You acted bravely and nobly, Captain, coming here to speak in defense of your friend when you risked discovery yourself. Keep up your courage,” Stephano advised.
The judges did not confer long. They returned to Grayhollow and this time Kate could see that the humans, at least, appeared pleased, for they were smiling. The dragons were more difficult to read, but Kate saw some of them nod to Dalgren, when last time they had studiously avoided even looking at him.
“Have you reached a decision?” Countess Anasi asked.
“We have, my lady,” said Captain Porcelli. “We have agreed that the Banished should be given the chance to redeem himself by performing the task su
ggested by the Master of Dragon Lore. The Banished is to spend one year Below, assisting Father Jacob with whatever he requires. At that time, he may return to the Dragon Duchies to petition the court to restore his name. We do stipulate that in so doing he will not regain his title nor his land holdings. He will, however, have the right to mate, start a family, and make his own way in the world.”
Countess Anasi summoned Dalgren to come forward.
“Does the Banished choose to accept this challenge?” she asked.
Dalgren stood at attention, his head held high, his wings tight against his sides, his tail flat along the ground. The fire burning in his belly seemed to have illuminated his entire being. His eyes shone with newfound hope.
“I accept the challenge,” said Dalgren. “I am grateful to the court for granting me this chance to redeem myself. I will travel Below and there I will work tirelessly to restore my name.”
“Then this court is adjourned,” said Countess Anasi.
TWENTY-FIVE
After court was adjourned, the dragons and humans were free to relax and mingle. Captain Porcelli and his fellows spoke of past times in the service with several dragon members of the Brigade. Humans and dragons alike were relieved the trial was over and that they could feel good about the outcome.
Sophia hurried over to hug Kate and congratulate her. Cecile expressed her pleasure to her son that all had ended well.
“The Battle of the Royal Sail has been a stain on the reputation of the Royal Navy for many years,” Stephano said. “The recent treaty started to heal the festering wounds between the crown and the Dragon Duchies. This trial threatened to undo all that by forcing us all to relive it.”
“I hope this puts an end to it,” Cecile remarked. “I hope I never hear the words ‘Royal Sail’ again. We can put this tragedy behind us.”
“So long as Dalgren pays for your sins,” Kate muttered.
Stephano rounded on her, his expression grave. “What Lord Dalgren did was wrong, Captain. He deserted his post. He broke the oath he took when he joined the Brigade. Lady Cam gave her life for the honor of the Brigade. Lord Dalgren fled. He deserves to be punished and he, at least, appears to know that.”
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