Rydysh had. But her father was actually considering the problem, no matter how it bothered his Verenthane soul. This was why Kessligh had served the man so unswervingly for nearly twenty years. King Torvaal, cold as stone and about as impassive, was one of the fairest men in Lenayin.
“Your Highness,” Lord Arastyn said stonily, “Master Jaryd must face Tyree justice. This is imperative. We have enough great lords present for an appeal to be lodged, should you not allow Tyree's rightful justice.”
“Any more out of you,” Sasha told him, with darkening temper, “and I'll challenge you myself. I am Verenthane and such is my right, since you've made no finding of law or any other of your pointless horseshit against me. Unless you fancy yourself more than an equal to the departed Farys Varan with a blade, I'd suggest you shut your mouth.”
“You would require fair cause to challenge the Great Lord of Tyree,” Arastyn bit out, with barely restrained frustration and anger. “Your father would have to decide if your challenge was valid, and there is no fair cause that you could offer that would…”
“Fair cause!” Sasha said loudly, placing both hands flat to the table as if preparing to rise. “I am the uma of Kessligh Cronenverdt, the daughter of King Torvaal Lenayin, the saviour of the Udalyn people, and you're making me angry!”
Arastyn swallowed. There were great lords who would have accepted her challenge, not because they were fools, but because they were brave, and honourable, and Lenay. Lord Arastyn, Sasha was sourly noting, seemed to have dubious claims to all three.
“A personal insult seems a very fair cause,” Damon offered from the back of the room. He was considering his cup, offhandedly. “You're trying to kill a friend of hers, Lord Arastyn. And a friend of mine. I think you'd best quit while you've still a head on your shoulders.”
Arastyn gave a bow. “I must discuss with my fellow Tyree lords,” he said. “If I can be excused…” He left without waiting for confirmation, following the path that Lord Rydysh had taken out the back door.
Sasha ran her gaze along the remaining lords. “We're losing them fast this morning,” she remarked. “I wonder who shall be next?”
“I have one more term to state,” said the king.
“Only one? Name it.”
“You yourself shall be banished from Lenayin for the rest of your life.”
Sasha gazed at him. Her father's expression held no remorse, and no pity. From Koenyg, she saw cold satisfaction, as if there were at least one good thing to have come from these events. She was not surprised. She knew the trouble that her continued presence in Lenayin would cause the lords, and therefore her father. But it hurt all the same.
“Absolutely not!” Captain Akryd exclaimed. “There can be no question. The men shall not accept.”
“The lords call for your head,” Torvaal said, looking only at Sasha. “By the king's law, I can pardon the soldiers of a rebellion. But the law demands death for its leader. I offer you mercy.”
“No deal!” said Akryd, angrily. “You assume too much, Your Highness! We are the victors in this fight, not you!”
“For how long?” Koenyg retorted, standing grim-faced near his father's side, thick arms folded across his mailed chest. “Every Lenay region or province to rise up against the Cherrovan always won its initial encounters. But once the Cherrovan brought their full weight of force to bear, the uprising was crushed. The throne has not even begun to bring its full weight of force to bear. We had hoped such drastic measures would not prove necessary.”
“Oh aye, your mercy and forbearance are well known throughout Lenayin, Prince Koenyg!” Akryd retorted sarcastically. Sasha held up her hand to silence him.
“It's all right, Akryd,” she said quietly. “I knew that this would happen. My father has no choice. Maintaining a balance of power in Lenayin is difficult at the best of times. My presence here, having led this rebellion, now threatens that balance.”
“That's the point!” Akryd exclaimed, striding to the side of the table so he could look down on her. “M'Lady, you rode for the Goeren-yai!”
“I rode for Lenayin,” Sasha corrected solemnly, looking up at him.
The long-haired, plain-faced Taneryn man shook his head in frustration. “What's the difference? We had to choose a leader, and it was between you and Krayliss! We chose you and now you would abandon us?”
Sasha sighed, tiredly. “Please, Akryd, just…just think. This isn't about us and them. It's about Lenayin. Far more than I