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“What’s conscription?”
Reva turned to find Ellese standing at the library door, wrapped in a blanket and rubbing her eyes “Couldn’t sleep?”
The girl nodded and Reva patted the couch next to her, Ellese trotting over to sit beside her “I had a drea forback the now-unmatted hair froazeat the fireplace, back stiff and eyes averted “What’s conscription?”
Veliss’s shoulders slus, love A hard sell”
• • •
“All es of seventeen and forty-five are to report to Alltor by the last day of thewith them any bows or other weapons in their possession Any childless woe may also volunteer her service All who serve will be paid at the same rate as the Realm Guard and will receive a pension for the rest of their lives at the conclusion of the war, this pension to be paid to theor surviving children of any who sacrifice their lives in this cause”
Reva fell silent, handing the scroll to Veliss and trying not to make her scrutiny of the crowd too obvious Veliss had placed a wooden crate on the top her a co, some five thousand people in the square itself with , clear surprise showing amidst the sea of faces before her, but for the most part they were silent, the predominant expression one of expectation They await the Blessed Lady’s word, she thought, keeping the sour grimace from her face
“We have suffered gle long I wish I came before you with news of peace, I wish I came to tell you our battles are over and we can at last rest, but that would make me a liar You trustedyou to trust th, her oords loud in her headthat would make me a liar
“And trust that I have heard the Father’s voice” She put all the force she couldthem echo from the walls of this wasted city “And he will per from this path Many of you will have heard of the so-called Eleventh Book I tell you now that book is a lie, worthy only of your scorn But the Father has ordained there will be a new book, the Book of Justice, written by the Father’s own hand with us as his hty instrue, rising from the throat of every soul present There was hate on their faces now, every head no doubt filled with uglyhomes, a hatred permitted free rein by the Blessed Lady who spoke with the Father’s voice We drowned in their blood, Reva thought as the sound washed over her And still it wasn’t enough
She stepped down fro her head in Veliss’s skirts, small face tensed with fearful tears as she tried to hide from the crowd’s roar Reva knelt beside her and wiped the wetness froht,” she said “They’re just happy to see reeting the old guard coiven me yet, my lord?”
“My lady comh she could detect the vestiges of a s at the line of shackledyour enelory”
“There was no glory to earn Just more blood” Her eyes tracked over the captives, about twenty eedness, so at her in sullen defiance “The Sons”
“Plus a few outlaws Thought it best to hang them in front of the people, make an example”
“Unless they’ve raped or murdered I’ll send them to the queen She’s keen to make use of all men, even those of meanest worth”
“Word of the edict flew far and wide Not all were glad to hear it”
“They hen they’ve heard the Father’s word I’m afraid I’ll need you and your ave a precise bow “Of course, my lady” He turned a baleful eye on the prisoners “What do you want done with the Sons?”
“Lady Veliss will question them When I return we’ll see justice done”