The screech was the same as the many I had heard from the Novai, but it was no less alarming. In the circular room, the sound echoed off the walls and sounded a million times louder than it ordinarily would have, and I clapped my hands over my ears and screwed up my eyes with discomfort. I felt fingers close around my forearm and pull.

“You cannot hear if you cover your ears,” Rex said with amusement.

He was an attractive A’li-uud, like so many of them were, but he was noticeably different than Khrel. His form was much lither rather than bulky, and his skin was a true cerulean blue in contrast to Khrel’s shimmery teal. Humor was prominent behind his white irises too, while Khrel’s humor needed to be drawn out to be evident.

“His name is Eejah,” Rex explained. It was hard to hear him over the wails filling the hall, so I leaned closer to him. “He is the head of the colony, and a general ranked just below the Novai Commander.”

Vi’den responded to the Novai with a screech of his own, but his sounded somehow elegant and restrained rather than primal and threatening. The Novai waited for Vi’den to finish before replying, and, again, my ears felt like they were on fire. I forced myself not to cover them.

“Vi’den asked if Eejah was aware that he had two rogues outside of the camp in the middle of the night, and, if so, what their intentions were. Eejah did not know, nor could he be certain of their intentions, but he would like to assure the Council that their actions do not reflect the feelings or intentions of the rest of the camp.”

“How do we know what he’s saying is the truth?” I whispered.

“We cannot know, but it is irrelevant,” Rex replied. “It is his turn to make a statement. If he chooses to lie in the statement, that is his choice. But there will be consequences.”

Khrel was screeching now, and to hear that horrific sound bursting from his mouth was more unsettling to me than hearing it straight from the Novai. I tangled my fingers together, twisting them into a knot near my midsection, and waited for Rex to translate.

“Khrel is explaining the attacks to Eejah, his and yours. He says the Novai were aware of their restrictions when they accepted the offer to colonize in Pentaba, that they were told they were not permitted to leave the camp and any who tried would be risking life and limb. Eejah says he understands, his people understand, and, again, the two who failed to uphold their end of the agreement were not doing so under his command or knowledge.”

I watched my savior of a War Chief interacting with the Novai leader. His hands were flying in rapid gestures before him, and his features were crumpled both in anger and with the effort of emitting the shrieks required of the Novain language. I wanted to go to him and calm him, but I had not been bidden to return to the platform and stayed put.

“Now they are discussing your capture. Khrel is reminding Eejah that there are more rogue Novai than the two who were killed, as you were taken from the swamps of Pentaba well outside of the camp boundaries.”

I nodded vehemently. If Eejah felt the rest of the camp were in control unlike the two of his kind who were now dead, he was either in deep denial or attempting to deceive the Council.

“Vi’den would like to know about the orb in the fire.” Rex glanced up at me. “I believe it was you who mentioned that to Sevani, yes?”

I nodded again, this time to him rather than myself. “I saw it when I was in the cage. It was white and big and floating, but I don’t know what it was.”

“Eejah says it is part of a Novain ritual of fertility and propagation of the species. Having been space-bound for so long, they were unable to celebrate and honor such things. Now, they feel they have a home on Albaterra and performed the ritual for the first time in over a century,” Rex translated. He spoke as calmly as he had since the beginning of the conversation, but his brow furrowed. I flicked a gaze to the Novai.

“What? What’s wrong?” I asked quietly.

He shook his head and ignored my question, instead continuing to explain what was being discussed. “Vi’den has asked if the Novai are seeking restitution for the deaths of their brothers.”

I swallowed hard. This was the question I feared most, whether the Novai sought vengeance against Khrel that would lead the Elders to make a severe decision about discipline. As Eejah responded, however, Rex’s eyebrows not only unknit but flung up to his hairline in surprise. His mouth dropped open an inch.

“What is he saying?” I demanded, my stomach rolling with anticipation.

“They do not want anything,” he murmured in awe. “Eejah feels Khrel was right to do what he did. His only wish is that the rest of the camp is not punished and ordered to leave for the actions of a few. Their sole desire is to remain on Albaterra.”

Every nerve in my body came to life, and I felt an overwhelming desire to sing with glee. If the Novai weren’t harboring vengeance against Khrel, certainly the Council couldn’t come down on him. A massive smile split my face nearly in two, and I beamed toward the platform where Khrel stood. His back was to me, but I saw his shoulders lift slightly, and I hoped it was because he could feel my joy.

“Vi’den says the Council will need time to consider if there will be any consequences for the Novai in response to the attacks and kidnapping by their fellow colonists and thanks Eejah for his candor. He is bidden to leave.”

“So that’s it?” I asked in an excited whisper. “It’s done?”

Rex turned to me, and, though his humor was still present in his gaze, his expression was serious. “No,” he said. “Khrel is still facing sentencing, and there is the matter of the colonists’ relocation to Dhal’at.”

“How can he still be facing sentencing?” I cried. My voice was no longer a whisper, and all eyes turned to me. Rex didn’t have a chance to answer.

“Lena, you may return to the platform, please,” Vi’den called.

I strode back into the center of the circle and looked around, first focusing on Vi’den but eventually positioning my eyes firmly on Sevani. “How could you possibly blame Khrel for what he did? How can you even consider putting him in prison for defending himself, not to mention me? What is wrong with you?”

“Lena,” Khrel intoned, grabbing my arm to silence me.

It was too late. The Elders around the circle were in an uproar, snapping retorts and jumping up from their chairs and crying for my removal. I braced myself for whatever was about to come.