“I will speak to Aho’Ain’Kalevi at once.”
“He will not see you, but it may be that Samit will listen. They already gather at the Da’amera-ja, Place of Challenge.”
Ronan shook off Cynara’s hold and pulled Sihvaaro aside. They spoke in hushed Voishaaur, Ronan agitated and Sihvaaro unshakably calm. At last they seemed to reach a conclusion, and Ronan turned back to Cynara. He kissed her, grinding his mouth into hers with a warrior’s passion.
“Sil akai,” he said harshly, and strode for the door. With the Ancestors.
Cynara charged after him, running full into Sihvaaro. “Stop him,” she demanded. “Don’t let him do this.”
“You love him.”
The question barely penetrated the roaring in her ears. “Yes—in the human or shaauri way, take your pick.” She glared up at the big shaaurin. “He gave me the final farewell. He thinks he’s going to die.”
“Arv’Darja will send its most skilled and powerful ve’laik’in against him. It is their right.”
“Will they let me fight for my own life?”
“Challenge permits no weapons. You would die.”
“But Ronan would be safe.”
Sihvaaro’s eyes seemed to reach inside her head. “He was angry with you. Why?”
There was no point in prevarication. “He discovered that my mind carried planted Concordat intelligence designed to mislead the Kinsmen who sent him to kill the Archon. Ronan previously believed this information to be genuine, and had used the promise of it to bargain with your First for my life. I’d hoped the Kinsmen would take this intelligence, act on it independently, and reveal themselves as traitors to shaauri.”
“So you deceived my student.”
“In the interest of peace, yes. But that changes nothing.” She tried to push past Sihvaaro, which was very much like attempting to move a boulder. “Let me go. I’ve got to try—”
His powerful hands stopped her. “This information may still damage the Kinsmen if they do not know others possess it.”
“That’s what it was designed to do.”
“Then you may yet have an opportunity to give it to them.” He released her. “Follow the rightmost path to its end, and you will find Da’amera-ja. I will come when I can.” Nimbly as a young foal, Sihvaaro bounded away. Cynara set off at a run, shooting past shaauri in ones and twos headed in the same direction.
She expected to have to fight her way to the Place of Challenge if she encountered any ve’laik’i, but it seemed they had all gone ahead of her. The path ended in a cluster of impressive buildings that she assumed must be the Kalevi administrative center. A large assembly of shaauri, all adult but of many fur patterns, formed a silent circle about the space that resembled a primitive arena. A banner of black and gold had been planted at one end, and a blue banner at the other, clearly marking two camps. Darja, and Kalevi.
Ronan stood with the Kalevi, speaking to a shaaurin that Cynara recognized as Samit, the House Second. Even from a distance she could see that the conversation was an argument; Ronan’s hands swept in broad gestures, as if he were shouting, though his voice wasn’t raised.
He was arguing for Cynara’s life, urging Kalevi not to give her up. Asking them to permit him to fight for her. Cynara picked up her pace and dashed across the open space of the arena.
A hundred shaauri faces swung toward her, accompanied by ominous sounds of anger. Ronan didn’t turn until she was at his shoulder.
“Be silent,” he whispered, and resumed his speech with the shaaurin. Cynara stepped past him.
“Aino’Ain’Kalevi, ” she said, “I have brought this conflict upon your House. I ask permission to make it right.”
The shaaurin’s ears swiveled in amazement. She spoke sharply to Ronan, who hesitated so long that the Second repeated her demand. Ronan shook his head in human denial and answered.
“Did you tell her?” Cynara asked. “I want the chance to fight.”
He swept back his arm, pushing her behind him. The words he addressed to the shaaurin had a desperate sound of finality to them, half plea and half threat. Cynara braced herself for attack.
None came. After a long pause, the Second turned to another dark-striped shaaurin. They consulted in almost inaudible tones. Finally the Second spoke to Ronan again, and her words were those of grave ceremony.