For the first time he felt a ripple of fear.
Fighting it down, he climbed to his feet and began exploring the door to see if there might be a way out. They had taken all of his weapons, even the viper–prick, and he had nothing with which to spring the lock. Nevertheless, he kept searching, running his fingers along the seams and across the door, then all along the base of the walls, hoping that his captors might have left something useful lying around.
He was still engaged in this futile effort when he heard their footsteps approaching. He moved back to the center of the room and sat down again.
The door opened, flooding the room with daylight that spilled through high slanted windows from across the way. His captors numbered four–big and strong, too many for him even to consider attacking. So he let them bind his wrists and lead him out into the hallway and from there down several different corridors and up a series of steps to a room filled with people.
The only face he recognized was Tessa's. She was seated in a chair facing a long table occupied by three men. An empty chair sat next to hers, and he was led to it. No one said anything to him. No one in the room did more than murmur softly. There must have been two hundred people gathered, perhaps more. The men leading him released his wrists and pushed him down in the chair.
One bent close. "If you try to run or cause trouble, we'll tie you up again. Understand me?"
Hawk nodded without replying, his eyes on Tessa. His captor hesitated a moment, then moved away.
"Are you all right?" he asked her quietly.
Before she could answer him, the man seated at the center of the table across from them slammed his hand down on the tabletop so hard that it caused Hawk to jump. "Be quiet!" he said. "You will not speak unless asked to. You will not speak to each other. This is a trial and you will obey the dictates of this court!"
The man was big and craggy, his face and voice unfriendly, and his eyes dark with anger. Hawk looked at him, then at the other two, and his heart sank.
Their minds were already made up about what they intended to do to him. The best he could hope for was to deflect their anger from Tessa.
"State your name," the big man said to him.
He took a deep breath. "I am Hawk," he answered. "I am a Ghost, and I haunt the ruins of my parents' world."
There was subdued laughter from the audience, and the big man reddened.
"Is it your intention to mock this court, boy? Do you think this is a game?"
"Your Honor, he is only stating what is true," Tessa said quickly. "He is a member of a tribe called Ghosts. Hawk is the name he has taken."
The big man looked at her, glanced at the two seated next to him, and nodded. "We will call him whatever he wishes to be called so long as he remains respectful. He is accused–you are both accused–of stealing stores from the compound for personal use. The evidence is clear. Tessa, you were observed in the medical dispensary when you had no right to be there. Medicines were found missing. You claimed to have been conducting an inventory, but no inventory was authorized. You met this boy outside the compound walls without permission, a secret assignation, and you gave these medicines to him. If any of this is wrong, say so now."
Tessa's mouth tightened, and she straightened in her chair. "I took the medicines to save a little girl who was dying. Why is that wrong?"
"Your reasons for what you did are not relevant to this trial. Just answer the question. Is any of what I have recited wrong?"
Tessa shook her head slowly. "No, it is correct."
"You, boy. Hawk." The big man gestured at him. "What was your part in this? What did you do with the medicines?"
Hawk glanced at Tessa. "I used them to help the little girl."
"A street child?"
He nodded.
"Answer me!"
Hawk felt his cheeks burn was anger. "Yes."
The big man bent close and whispered to the other two, then looked back to Hawk. "There is no defense for what you did." His gaze shifted to Tessa. "No defense for either of you. The law of the compound is clear in this instance. All violators are — "
"Your Honor," Tessa interrupted quickly. "I claim the right and protection of marriage bonding."
There was a muted exclamation from the crowd, and some of them began to mutter angrily. Hawk forced himself not to look at them, knowing what he would find in their faces.
"Are you saying you married a street boy, Tessa?" the judge asked quietly.
Her beautiful, dark face lifted defiantly. "I did. I took him to me, and I carry his child."
Cries of outrage exploded from the assemblage. Hawk glanced quickly at Tessa, but she was looking straight ahead at the judges. He wondered if what she had just told them was true. Was she carrying his child? He stared at her, trying in vain to read the truth in her face.
The judge presiding signaled for quiet, then said, "Compound law does not recognize marriages made to those who live outside the walls. It does not matter that you carry his child. Even if your marriage were sanctioned, it would not save his life. He is an outsider and he has broken our law. In any case, I am not sure that I believe you. Clearly, you are infatuated with him and would lie to save him."
"Where is my mother?" Tessa cried out. "I want her to come forward and speak for me."
The judge hesitated, and then glanced toward the crowd. There was a moment's pause, and then a small, dark–clad woman who bore more than a passing resemblance to Tessa appeared out of the crowd. A few hands reached out as if to assist her, but she brushed them away with her crushed, gnarled fingers, with her hands turned withered and streaked with vivid red scars. Hawk cringed as he glimpsed them, thinking of the pain she must have endured. He had never seen her before, but there was no mistaking who she was. Once, when she was younger, she must have been beautiful like Tessa. Now, however, her face was pinched and tight, and there was no warmth in her dark eyes.
Those eyes shifted momentarily to find his, then slid away again. She rolled up to her daughter and stopped.
"Is it true," she demanded. "Do you carry his child?"
"Mother, please tell them — "
"Do you carry his child!"
Tessa flinched, her face crumpling. "Mother — "
Her mother spit on her, her face contorted with rage. "You have disgraced us, Tessa. Betrayed us! You were told not to see this boy again. You were forbidden! If your father …"
She was unable to finish the thought. She took a deep breath. "Do you know what you have done? Do you have any idea? What will happen to me, Tessa? Have you thought of that? Your father is gone. Now you abandon me, too. I am crippled–useless to all! Do you know what that means? Do you?"
Her face turned hard and set. "If your father were here, he would not speak for you, and neither will I."
Tessa looked stunned, her blank eyes filling with tears. Her mother held her gaze a moment, and then turned away and disappeared back into the crowd.
"Wait!" Hawk leapt to his feet. "I know what you intend for me, but you can't blame her! She did it because I threatened to hurt her if she didn't do as I said!"
The judge barely glanced at him as two of his captors took hold of him and forced him back into his chair. "Tessa and Hawk, you have been found guilty by this court. The penalty for stealing stores is death. You will be taken to the walls of the compound at sunset today and thrown over. We grant you forgiveness for your acts and wish you a better life in the next world. This court is adjourned. Take them away."
Shouts rose from the crowd mingled with scattered applause. The guards descended on Hawk once more, seized his arms as he tried in vain to break free, and swept him from the room.
The last thing he saw, looking back over his shoulder, was Tessa sitting where he had left her, weeping into her hands.