Konniger raised his hands to quiet them. “It’s your turn, Persephone. What motive do you put forth, for I can see no reason why three of our most distinguished men would attack you without provocation.”
Persephone shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to figure that out since it happened. But these three were with me, and they can testify as witnesses on my behalf.”
It was Konniger’s turn to shake his head. “It’s reasonable to assume they’ll take your side. We would need someone impartial. Was there anyone else?”
Persephone clenched her fists. “No. But can’t the same be said of Hegner? Who are his impartial witnesses?”
The chieftain stroked his beard. “You make a good point. But two men are dead; that fact isn’t in dispute. I find it difficult to accept that two experienced hunters would merely fall to their deaths.” He focused on Raithe. “And Dureyans are well known for their murderous ways.”
Raithe shoved the two people in front of him aside and climbed the steps to stand before Hegner. “He called me a murderer.” The words rolled out in a growl. “In Dureya, an accuser will defend their claims in battle. I imagine this custom holds true in all dahls.” He glanced at Konniger. “I demand that he take it back, and his lies against this woman, or we’ll let the gods decide the truth. We can settle this matter right now.” He let his hand rest on the handle of the sword.
“You challenge a one-handed man?” the wife said. “How like a Dureyan.”
“What does that matter?” He pointed at Hegner. “If he tells the truth, the gods will award him victory even if he had no hands and just his vile mouth. Or don’t you believe in the gods?” With a disdainful shake of his head, he added, “So like a southerner.”
“You are violent, disrespectful, and no doubt a liar,” the wife declared, shaking her head. “Don’t you see how you’re proving Hegner’s point? You don’t think we can see what is really going on?” She lifted her voice to the crowd. “What more proof is needed? The killer who helped Persephone is a Dureyan!”
“The gods will tell the truth of it,” Raithe barked, and moved toward Hegner.
Konniger stepped between Raithe and the one-handed man. The angry murmur of the crowd rose.
Raithe had hoped to get a meal, a decent night’s sleep, and maybe some food for the road. Instead, he found himself accused of murder and facing off with a dahl chieftain on the steps of their lodge in front of a herd of pampered villagers. Perhaps Shegon wasn’t a god, but he sure must have been favored by them. Since he had killed the Fhrey, Raithe’s life had been cursed. His only consolation was that it couldn’t get any worse.
Then the horn sounded. It blew once, twice, then three times.
Everyone’s attention turned toward the far end of the broad pathway, as men scrambled to seal the gate with a thick wooden beam.
From the wall came the shout, “The gods are here!”
—
Persephone watched as fear ripped through those gathered. All eyes turned to their chieftain, but Konniger didn’t inspire confidence. He stared at the gate and swallowed hard.
“Turning at the crossroad!” Cobb shouted from his perch on the wall beside the gate. “Definitely coming this way.”
“What do we do?” Bergin the Brewer asked. He twisted the dirty towel in his hands.
Even Tressa looked to her husband expectantly, but Konniger didn’t move, didn’t speak.
“How many are there?” Persephone shouted across the dahl.
“Nine,” Cobb yelled back. “Well, there’s seven gods and two…other things.”
“What do we do?” Tressa whispered to her husband.
The chieftain ran a hand over his mouth. He looked left and then right, breathing heavily.
“Konniger, you need to go out there,” Persephone said. “Meet them on the road before they reach the dahl. Talk to them. I’ll come with you to translate.”
Konniger looked at her then. She expected anger, a seething glare; maybe he would hit her now. Persephone would have preferred a slap to what he gave, a terrified bewildered expression.
He thinks we’re already dead.
“I’ll do no such thing.” Konniger shook his head. “That would be suicide. Our walls are thick and our gate strong. We’ll be safe here.”
Persephone searched the crowd and found Malcolm. She came down from the steps and grabbed him by the arm. “Will the walls hold them?”
Malcolm shook his head. “Your walls are made of wood. Even stone would only slow them down.”
Persephone looked out at the faces. Mothers took the hands of children, their heads turning back and forth between the gate and Konniger. Husbands held their wives close, and tears formed in the eyes of many as hope faded. They all began to understand that their chieftain wouldn’t save them.
There are things beyond the control of men, and the will of the gods is one of them.
“They’re at the grazing line,” Cobb shouted, his voice starting to shake.
Persephone turned away from Malcolm and focused on Raithe. He stood on the steps, one hand still on his sword. He was big, his shoulders broad, his face stern.
God Killer.
“Everyone!” she shouted, climbing back up the steps. “Listen to me. This is Raithe of Dureya. The God Killer!” She looked at him, trying to determine their chances in his expression. He was definitely angry, maybe even furious, but she saw no fear.
“Cobb says there’s nine of them. How many did you fight last time?” Persephone asked Raithe.
He didn’t answer.
“Thirteen,” Brin said. “According to the stories, he faced Shegon and twelve of his men. After he defeated the leader, all the others fled.”
“Fewer this time. Can you do it again?” Persephone asked.
Raithe exchanged a hard look with Malcolm. “There’s a big difference between that story and what really happened.”
“Perhaps, but if they plan on repeating what happened at Dureya, then you’ll die with us,” she said.
“You’re sure the gate won’t hold them?” Raithe asked Malcolm.
“No more than a garden fence.”
“So there really isn’t a choice, is there?” Raithe sighed in resignation. “Tell them to open the gate.”
“No!” Konniger came to life. “You can’t let them in!”
“Didn’t you listen?” Gifford said, hopping forward and leaning on the crutch Roan had made. “They’ll smash the gate.” He looked at Malcolm with his squinted eye. “Maybe being gods they might just tell it to walk away and up it will go.”
“We have the God Killer,” Brin said. A smile bloomed across her face. Hers was the only one. “They’ll probably run when they find out he’s here.”
“Brin, for the love of Mari, be quiet,” Sarah pleaded with her daughter.
Raithe started down the steps. The crowd parted to grant him a path.
“Open the gate!” Persephone shouted, and then returned to Malcolm’s side. “He can do this, right?”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“They’re gods!” Konniger shouted. “Men can’t fight gods!”