“Wait,” Caste ordered sharply before Judd could say or do anything, “just…wait.”

  Giordi was hauled into the meeting hall and thrown at the feet of Chief Elk who sat down on his throne, made from carved wood and elk antlers. Their twisted and pointed tips screamed danger while their resident sat silent, as kind and as welcoming as a block of ice.

  “Not a word.” Caste reiterated, sensing Judd’s urge to intervene.

  Chief Elk glowered at Giordi who looked up at him fearfully.

  “Gavoli.” Giordi’s ruddy good looks paled to parchment white and he swallowed. Elk leaned forward ever so slightly and Giordi recoiled. “Giordi Gavoli.”

  His accent was thick and hard but there was no mistaking Giordi’s name.

  Giordi didn’t answer. He just lowered his head, bowing in acquiesce.

  Elk’s son approached and Elk waved his hand at him. The son disappeared behind the throne into another area which Judd guessed were the chief’s chambers. There was a long silence, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire. Judd glanced at Chief Bear whose expression was grim.

  Long moments later, Elk’s son reappeared and stood to the side.

  A soft shuffling approached the throne from behind. A young woman, younger than Elk’s son, possibly younger than Emeri even, stepped into view. Her pale grey eyes were downcast, her ashen brown hair braided back from her face, clutching a cloak around her body.

  “Revna,” Chief Elk spoke softly yet coolly to the young woman, “Giordi Gavoli…”

  Judd watched their interactions, the girl trembling mightily, locks of her ashen hair escaping her braid, falling forward from her hood to frame her face or perhaps, to hide behind.

  “Caste,” he whispered, “what’s going on?”

  “I’m listening.” Caste licked his lips, frowning. “He…he’s saying…Giordi broke trust with the clan…when he was last here.”

  “But Giordi said he’d never been here before.” Verne said softly.

  “I can’t imagine someone like Gavoli keeping an accurate account.” Caste muttered. “Chief Elk…says…Giordi must be punished.”

  “Like Maul…” Judd went to step forward but Chief Bear’s outstretched arm stopped him. He looked at the heavy set chief who shook his head at Judd then moved forward himself. Chief Bear waited until there was a pause in the conversation before addressing Chief Elk.

  “Bear is advocating on behalf of Giordi because of what you did for the clan…” Caste interpreted.

  “Why is he advocating? What is he saying Giordi has done?” Judd hissed then huffed in frustration as Caste waved his hand at Judd to silence him, trying to concentrate.

  The chiefs’ conversation was becoming a little heated. Well, Chief Bear was becoming heated while Chief Elk was rigid and hard. The young woman beside the throne cringed away from the argument, unable to look at Giordi on the floor.

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  “Giordi has crossed Chief Elk…Chief Bear has no say in the matter.” Caste explained as Elk snapped sharply at Chief Bear who closed his mouth and stepped back. “Actually I think Bear might approve of Elk’s actions…”

  “What has Elk accused Giordi of?”

  The son of Chief Elk grasped Revna and pulled her forward, her hands slipping on her cloak, her bulging abdomen exposed beneath her silky tunic. The son then knelt and forced Giordi’s eyes upwards to look at Revna, guilt and shame flashing across both of their expressions. Giordi’s face dropped and Revna pulled out of her brother’s grasp, hastily covering herself back up.

  “It seems our minstrel’s ‘flirtations’ have not been so innocent.” Caste flinched at Chief Elk’s hard tone. Judd saw the conflict on the cleric’s face.

  “What is it?”

  “I…he…” Caste cringed and shook his head.

  “What is he saying, Caste?” Verne insisted as Chief Elk spoke so sharply, they were surprised Giordi was not cut into ribbons.

  Caste closed his eyes and concentrated. “He’s giving Giordi the option of marrying the girl or being whipped.”

  “Marry?” Verne looked at Giordi who remained kneeling with his face down. “But…”

  Chief Elk suddenly took a dislike to the amount of observers in the meeting hall. He waved his hand and the guards began to drive them out. Judd, Suvau, Verne and Caste stood in view of the meeting hall but far enough away that the guards did not take umbrage to their position. Chief Bear returned to his people, probably to warn them about Giordi’s reputation and Judd cringed, knowing that Bear had vouched for his companions.

  “This is…”

  “Please,” Caste folded his arms, “do not say it’s ridiculous or unbelievable or unthinkable. We all know Gavoli’s disposition. You can’t bed every girl wherever you go and not have the consequences of the actions eventually catch up with you.”

  “I know he’s popular with the ladies,” Suvau shook his head, “and I have not been travelling with you for that long…but Giordi never struck me as one who would seduce a girl just to sleep with her.”

  “He’s not acted like a monk, that’s for sure.”

  Judd was surprised by Caste’s venom. “What is it? What did we miss in there? Out with it, Caste.” Caste flinched. “You heard something more than what you relayed. What is it?”

  Caste clutched at the edge of his cappa clausa. “I…I got the impression from the son…it seems that the girl, Revna…might have been…forced.”

  Verne’s expression was horrified. “No…he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. I know Giordi’s a downright flirt but that…”

  “Don’t accuse me,” Caste stepped back, “I’m just relaying what I heard…what I think I heard…”

  “If that’s the case, how could Elk possibly allow Giordi to wed his daughter?”

  “Maybe the son knew something the father did not?”

  “Revna was trembling like she was frightened.”

  “If Elk was your father, you’d be frightened too.”

  Judd held his hand up for their agitated chatter to diminish. “We wait…and talk to Giordi…and hear his side of things.”

  “What side?” Caste exclaimed then recoiled from Judd’s expression.

  “We wait,” Judd eyed him darkly, “and hear his side.”

  Caste bit back his protestations. Verne offered to stand watch while Judd and the others returned to their tent, letting Yolana, Aalis and Emeri know what had happened.

  “I cannot believe it.” Aalis said weakly. “That Giordi…”

  “I cannot believe Revna would have to wed someone like that.” Emeri’s tone was pained. Yolana put her hand on her shoulder. “That poor girl…”

  Supper was eaten in silence. No one could think or speak about anything other than their incarcerated comrade and as the topic only went round and round in circles, they let it drop entirely, a silent agreement not to say what any of them were thinking.

  As they were preparing their beds for the night, the flap in the tent opened.

  “Guards are bringing Giordi to us.” Verne announced. Everyone stood up in expectation. Verne held the flap open and let Giordi into the tent before dropping it back into place.

  Giordi stood in front of them all, staring at the floor. He was not bruised or battered. It seemed Chief Elk had been restrained enough not to beat the daylights out of him.

  No one knew what to say.

  “So…” Giordi cleared his throat. “It seems I won’t be able to follow you to the end of your knighthood quest after all, Judd. My journey ends here.”

  “With marriage.” Giordi swallowed. Judd folded his arms. “Gavoli…what is going on?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? The foolishness of my life finally caught up with me.”