“I regret from my heart that I broke a taboo of the Lagon, and I offer my apology. Yet I did it without knowledge of my sin. If breaking a taboo in ignorance is still a crime, then punish me—yet should not the punishment be different from that reserved for a crime committed in full knowledge?
“Think of this, too: were I truly a demon, it would have been a simple matter for me to bewitch those who found me with a spell, and leave the valley with your salt in secret. Yet I did not do this, but instead threw down my weapon, returned the salt, and was brought to your village to be thrown into prison.
“I did not choose to fight with the Lagon, because I want to be your friend. I have come here, braving many hardships in my journey, to ask for your mighty aid.
“How will you Lagon treat me now, knowing the truth I have told you—can you be as fair as you claim? Will you kill me without considering what I have to say? I leave that to your sense of justice.
“This is my explanation. I offer it before you, Kah the Wise, and all the fair people of the Lagon.”
Guin fell silent, and boldly looked around at the gathered wildlings. The effect of his words on his audience was clear. Throughout the crowd Lagon turned to each other, gauging their companions’ reactions, and began to whisper in hushed voices, seeking a unity of opinion. It appeared that Kah’s silencing of the young warrior early on had quieted the younger generation, leaving this decision in the hands of the elders.
Kah the Wise said nothing. He merely stared at the leopard-man from under his bushy brows for so long that even Guin began to worry. In silence the ancient wildling clasped his hands—Guin now saw that they both bore six fingers—together upon his lap, and sat still.
Guin was about to ask if some decision had been made when Kah’s voice cut him off. “Judgment will come after all has been heard. Now, Warrior with the Head of a Beast, let us hear how you intend to prove the most important words you have said: that you were sent here to lead the Lagon to the true path by Aqrra.”
“Well…” Guin began, then stopped.
“Have you no answer?” Kah demanded. “You said you were a messenger from Aqrra. Then let me ask: What is Aqrra? What is Aqrra’s form? Have you seen Aqrra? Show us proof you are a messenger.”
“Proof, proof!” the crowd chorused behind him.
Guin felt cold sweat trickle down his back. He had not anticipated standing here under the pale wildland moon to be asked questions about the wildlings’ religion. He searched his patchwork memory for anything that might help, but came up with nothing. Guin shook his head, unsure of how to reply.
“Aqrra is everywhere,” he said at last, feeling much like a small craft setting out to sea in the middle of a storm. At the mercy of the waves, he would paddle for all he was worth. “Aqrra is known by many names. As the Lagon know him by one name, I know him by another. None can know where Aqrra resides, for he is everywhere, and nowhere. No man has met Aqrra, for no man may stand in his presence.”
“Indeed,” Kah the Wise replied, quite unexpectedly. “Continue.”
“There are none who can describe Aqrra’s form, for none are able to see him. Yet he exists above us all—he is the creator of all.”
“Enough!”
Again, Dodok the Brave’s voice boomed above the gathering. His tone bespoke terrific rage. The leopard-man fell silent immediately. He had tried to keep his descriptions so vague they couldn’t possibly be faulted, but perhaps he had said too much.
Dodok the Brave rose to stand on the broad seat of his stone chair. The hard lines of his face shone wetly in the moonlight, his features twisted with fury.
“Enough! This beast-man is no messenger of Aqrra. He knows nothing of Aqrra at all. All his words are blasphemy, all that passes through his lips. Aqrra is not as he says. Aqrra can be seen with the eye. Aqrra is not everywhere and nowhere. Aqrra is where it is. Do we not say that if it is lost, the Lagon will be destroyed? He says Aqrra has a different name. But Aqrra is only Aqrra. Why? Because none other than lagon know Aqrra, The beast-head lies! He says the creatures of the outside world know Aqrra. He claims to have come on Aqrra’s orders, to proclaim Aqrra’s will. Yet he does not know Aqrra! I will not hear another of his lies! Kill him, kill him, kill him! Do any contest the judgment of Kah the Wise and Dodok the Brave?”
“None, none, none!” rose shouts from the crowd.
“Kah will give his blessings to Dodok!”
“Kill the beast-head!”
“Kill him!”
The shouts of the crowd echoed off the heights of the mountains around them, drowning out the far-off crying of the wolves.
“Kill him!” Dodok howled.
Guin’s thoughts dissolved in bleak dismay. Apparently, this Aqrra was not a person, nor a god, but some sort of object. Something was tugging at the back of Guin’s mind, but he didn’t have time to pay it any attention.
“Kill, kill, kill, kill!”
“Kill the demon!”
All around the clearing, the hirsute giants stood and thrust clenched fists into the air. Guin knew the situation was grim, perhaps the worst he had ever faced. Yet, a thin shred of hope remained.