length of wood back into its covering and slid her arms into her sleeves.
"There is no reason for the Outclan Council to interfere in this parlay," de Allyon said. Which took a lot of nerve, I thought.
"You drew the eyes of the legal apparatus of this nation with the debacle in Natchez. You will be judged and governed no matter the outcome of this parley. Take your seats." Sabina walked between the enemies and across the room. Sat in her chair. Point to the priestess.
I held my breath, waiting, watching the thoughts flit across de Allyon's face. Moments passed, and I let my hand drop to my hip and the weapon there. But the old conquistador knew when to fight and when to talk. He moved after Sabina and took the seat to her right. Leo took the seat to her left. Their vamps filled in the places in the expanding rows behind them.
"We are now gathered," Sabina said. Cold energy sparked through the air as her power shot out, and I heard gasps from de Allyon's people. Yeah. Go, Sabina. "De Allyon has issued accusation of murder against the Enforcer of Pellissier. Therefore de Allyon has first salvo."
And that was my cue, which had come way too early. Bruiser's men had better be rescuing Katie. "Point of order," I said from the back of the room.
Leo turned shocked eyes to me. Surprise must be a difficult thing for an old vamp to experience. After a few centuries of life, there is nothing new. Right? Wrong.
"While acting as Pellissier's Enforcer, I was attacked, without cause, without proper challenge. I was forced to act in my own self-defense. That unwise action on de Allyon's part precipitated a blood-feud and this accusation of murder. Therefore, as per the history of the Sedorov versus Nikitn blood-feud of the fourteenth century, and the Sergius versus Giovanni murder trial of the tenth century, I challenge the new Enforcer of the Master of the City of Atlanta to personal mortal combat, as a way to determine my innocence or guilt."
The place went dead silent, not a vamp breathing, everyone thinking, putting together what I had just done. Sabina blinked once, an unusual motion on the face of the ancient priestess. Then she turned her head to me and smiled. It was not a happy moment for me. I was hoping she had figured out what I was trying to do and approved, but she was just as likely to be happy that I was about to be killed.
"Does anyone wish to speak to this point of order?" Sabina asked.
Bruiser, his voice careful and measured, said, "I wish to speak to the point of order. The challenge of mortal combat as a means to determine innocence or guilt is an outdated legal concept."
Sabina said, "Outdated, but well within her rights." The place went silent again, and I could feel the weight of Bruiser's eyes on me. He was ticked, and I had no idea if he would understand what I was doing or why.
Whether I lived or died, Leo would win, because my challenge, if accepted, would force de Allyon back under the directives of the Vampira Carta. Of course, if de Allyon didn't accept, we were back where we started, with me going to trial, but I was betting on hubris and ego to make him accept, and also betting that he didn't know what was in the VC codicil about personal mortal combat.
The Enforcer, Jude Talley, raised his eyes to me and grinned, exposing huge, white fangs.
Crap. De Allyon's new Enforcer was a vamp, an old, powerful vamp. I had fought a master vamp once, and I would have lost had Leo not been snared in the insanity of grief, and run off. This guy was at least as old as Leo, and better trained. A warrior.
Beast pressed down on my mind. Beast is not afraid, she thought at me. We will hunt him and eat his heart. His mass will make him slower than other vampires. I/we are fast, have silver-edged claws and Beast strength.
Which made me feel better, but still . . . A vamp with three-inch fangs was no easy prey. Jude was more than six feet six, and his muscles had muscles. The ones on his chest started dancing beneath his thin-knit shirt. If he had been wearing pasties, they would be twirling. Beast hacked with amusement at the image, and suddenly I grinned. Eat his heart, eh? I thought.