Shea was not and never had been a Lowlanderor a woman of loose moral fiber.
“You forget, boy. The Hawkvale needs only hisown council for proof,” Caden said.
“We never said Shea brought evidence againstyou,” Darius observed.
Cale blustered, “Well, who else would seek toturn my brother against me. She is trying to destabilize us so herpeople can rise against the Trateri.”
When Fallon said nothing in response, Sheadrew back. He didn’t believe his brother’s words, did he? She haddone nothing of the sort. She hadn’t even been the one who fingeredhim originally. That had been all Indra.
Shea put as much distance between the two ofthem and prepared to jump down if it became necessary.
“My lord,” one of Fallon’s men steppedforward holding rolled up paper. “We found this in hisquarters.”
Fallon reached down and took the paper tubefrom him and unrolled it. Curious, Shea peered over his shoulderand then bared her teeth.
It was one of her maps or at least areplication of her map. By the markings, it looked like they hadindeed broken one of the ciphers. Now that she saw Paul was withthem, she even knew how they had done it.
“So, what did Paul promise you?” Shea asked,running one finger down the map in Fallon’s hands. “Did he say hewould take you to his village and give you their weapons? Too badthey only have one boomer in the entire place, and that was takenas part of the tithe when my party was handed over to Darius. Thatwouldn’t be near enough fire power to sufficiently arm yoursoldiers to gain an advantage.”
Paul would have used his knowledge oflandmarks on their route down to Goodwin of Ria to give Cale’speople a starting point on the cipher. It wouldn’t have gotten themall the way back to Birdon Leaf, but it would have gotten themabove the cliffs at the very least.
“Brother, she’s lying,” Cale saiddesperately.
His time had run out, and his words held noweight. He could see that in Fallon’s impassive regard not a singlehint of brotherly affection leaked through.
“Please,” Cale tried again.
“Cale of the Lion Clan, I no longer claim anyties with you. You are to be excised from the clans and given myjudgment. Your men will follow your fate and any other supportersof the traitors Indra of the Snake Clan or my former brother Calewill be put to death.” Fallon’s voice rumbled through the clearingso all nearby could hear the pronouncement.
He nodded at Caden, who lifted his hand andlowered it. The two men flanking Cale grabbed him, holding him firmand forcing him to watch as Fallon’s men slew the other men theyhad rousted from the tents.
“Shea, wait. You can’t let them do this,”Paul desperately pleaded as he backed away.
Shea forced herself to watch as Paul’sbegging abruptly ended with a sword thrust to the stomach.
“Goodbye, Paul,” she said softly.
It was over as quickly as the executions ofIndra and her men. In the end, Cale was the only one leftstanding.
Fallon turned his horse and gestured for themen holding Cale to march in front of him. They forced Cale tomove, with him pleading and screaming the entire time. Fallon andthe rest of his men followed the slow procession out of camp to thetop of one of the nearby rolling hills.
As they crested it, Shea saw a crowd waitingfor them. All of the clan leaders were present, watching grimly asCale was led towards them.
Brightly colored rugs covered the grass. Calewas forced onto them while the two men escorting him bound hishands behind his back and then did the same with his feet.
Cale’s pleas had fallen silent and his raggedbreathing was the only sound.
The men laid him flat and then rolled him upin two of the rugs. They wrapped several lengths of rope around thestruggling form and stepped back once he was properly secured.
Shea couldn’t figure out what they intendedor why Cale hadn’t been killed back at the tents.
Seeing her confusion, Darius spoke quietly,“Since Cale is a member of the warlord’s family and the same bloodruns in his veins, it would be considered treason to spill it withsteel. Instead, they roll him in rugs to protect his skin. They’llpile rocks on top of him until he suffocates or is crushed. Thisway the sanctity of the blood is protected but those he put inharm’s way will be avenged.”
Shea watched as they began piling largestones on the form. Two men worked in tandem to complete theirwork.
“It is a brutal and long way to go,” Dariussaid almost as an afterthought. “I think I’d prefer to meet my endby the sword instead.”
“I second that,” Caden said.
