I scrambled off of Phoebe onto my knees, but I did not rise. Staring down at us were Vi’den and Sevani, the former looking as serene as usual and the latter tempestuous.

“No,” I said irritably. I felt differently, but I was not going to admit to it. “I was not aware you were to visit tonight.”

“It was unplanned,” Sevani sneered. He was looking at Phoebe as though she were a homunculus, and my defenses rose. In her surprise, she had bolted upright into a sitting position and twisted her neck unnaturally far to see the Elders over her shoulder. I gently helped her turn toward them, though I added pressure to encourage her to remain seated. Sevani did not deserve her respect as long as he was staring at her so abhorrently.

“What can we do for you?” I addressed this question to Vi’den as I was uninterested in Sevani’s explanation of their impromptu arrival.

Vi’den smiled kindly at Phoebe before looking back at me. “We have come to speak to you about Venan,” he explained. “We felt you deserved to know what has happened.”

Though the desert night was already cool, I felt an icy chill shoot through me. My arms prickled with alarm, and several possible circumstances raced through my mind, all with the worst results. “What do you mean?” I demanded. “What has happened?”

“Venan has requested his trial date be moved up,” Sevani answered. Though I wished to look at anything but him, I allowed my gaze to turn to his choleric face.

The iciness I felt dissipated and left hot relief in its wake. I had anticipated news of something atrocious, like Venan’s health failing or an attempted escape. It had even crossed my mind that he would have done something so stupid as to get his hands on one of the guards’ weapons and attempt to take his life. To hear he had simply asked to have a trial sooner than planned was as slight as hearing he was discontent with the meals he was receiving.

“I appreciate your informing me, though I am uncertain why this warranted a personal visit,” I said.

Vi’den glanced at Sevani with an expression of hesitancy. Sevani, on the other hand, was grim with subdued approval. I looked furiously between them, sensing there was something further they needed to disclose.

“He has expressed a desire to submit a guilty plea,” Vi’den revealed gently. “He wishes only to receive his sentence and fulfill it.”

I jumped to my feet before I knew what I was doing. Phoebe clambered up after me, and I felt her hand close warningly around mine. I did not shake her free, but I did not acknowledge her caution either. My temples were throbbing.

“You cannot permit this!” I hissed hotly. “He has done nothing for which to plead guilty!”

“He killed an Elder,” Sevani replied with cool indignance.

“That was a mistake!” I shouted. Phoebe’s hand slipped from mine as I swung my fist outward in my rage and gestured at the A’li-uud before me. “He was trying to protect Kharid! What would you have had him do instead?”

Vi’den opened his mouth to respond, but Sevani overpowered him. “I would have trained him not to behave so rashly,” he returned. “A good warrior knows when it is wisest to act and the risks involved. If he had performed his duty appropriately, he would have realized Elder Kharid was in harm’s way, and he would have waited until the opportune moment to execute.”

“The Novai was stronger than Kharid! Every second Venan waited was a second closer to the Novai having the advantage!” I bellowed. “Not to mention the risk the Novai posed to the group of humans in the room!”

Phoebe shifted uncomfortably, and, again, she reached for me. Her fingers closed around my forearm, but I shook her free this time. I was furious, utterly out of control with wrath, and I was afraid she would become an unwitting victim if I lashed out. Vi’den reached for Sevani too, gently resting his fingertips on the Pentaban Elder’s shoulder to quiet him, but there was too much animosity between us for either to acquiesce to peaceable conversation.

“If you believe Elder Kharid had the disadvantage when he was flanked by three warriors and a handful of humans, perhaps the entire Dhal’atian militia needs to be retrained to prevent another incident like this one arising in the future,” Sevani snapped.

“Or perhaps the Pentabans need to take a leaf out of Venan’s book,” I snarled back.

Vi’den stepped forward then, placing himself between Sevani and me. “Enough,” he intoned. He did not yell, nor did he attempt to speak over us, but his voice was deep and unyielding. Lifting a hand to me to signal a demand for silence, he looked at Sevani. “You know better than to engage in petty arguments, Sevani, particularly when they are regarding a topic of this subject matter. Zuran is emotional, and that is to be expected. Allowances must be made.” Sevani started to speak back, but Vi’den dropped the hand in front of me and instead raised the other to the Pentaban. “And you, Zuran, need to remember Elder Sevani is your superior, no matter which kingdom is under his reign. He has earned and deserves respect from every Albaterran citizen, and that includes you.”

“He has decided my brother is guilty before a trial has even been held,” I growled.

“It is the duty of the Council and each of its members to examine every side of the story before making a judgment,” Vi’den said smoothly. He glanced at Sevani. “I trust Elder Sevani will uphold his part of that obligation.”

“Of course,” Sevani answered through tight lips.

Vi’den lowered his hand and rotated his body to fully face me, blocking Sevani from my view. “We only have come to tell you about Venan’s request. The Council has yet to review. When a decision has been made, I will return to keep you informed.”

It was not lost on me that he specifically indicated only he would be coming back to tell me of the Council’s decision, and I relaxed minutely. “Thank you,” I muttered. The gratitude was severely lacking in my tone, but Vi’den inclined his head anyway. Then, he turned.

“We best be on our way, Sevani,” he said. Without waiting another moment, Sevani leaped into the air and disappeared into the wind, a method of travel only bestowed upon Elders. Before Vi’den joined him, however, he looked back at us and said, “It was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Morris. I trust all is going well?”

“Yes,” Phoebe squeaked, eyes wide. She was either terrified or stunned that Vi’den knew her name.

“Wonderful. Zuran, I will be speaking with you soon.” And, with that, he jumped and vanished.