Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey Page B

dressy version of her Whites, was seated in the front next to Shantell and Jasper. Lord Teren was in the back of the chapel, trying to be invisible. Either he succeeded or Shantell didn’t deign to notice him, and the funeral service and the burial that followed it went as well as could be expected.
    After the funeral, it was customary to read the will. They gathered in the library: the priest, who had charge of the document; Lady Shantell; Jasper, who despite his young age was now Lord Jasper; Samira; Lena, partly because Jasper wanted her there and partly because Samira had requested her as a neutral high-born witness; and Lord Teren. Shantell protested his inclusion, but the priest told her it was needful, and her piety—at least for the moment—overcame her wrath.
    The moment ended abruptly when she discovered that her husband had named Lord Teren to be Jasper’s guardian. “Should my son be forced to face his father’s murderer?” she demanded indignantly.
    The priest said something about forgiveness; Lena couldn’t make out the exact words, because Samira’s voice overrode his.
    “Normally we could ask the local Magistrate to hear this case,” she started, but Shantell interrupted her.
    “ He ’s the Magistrate!” she exclaimed passionately. “Do you think he’ll rule justly on his own actions?”
    “That’s why Valdemar has Heralds,” Samira reminded everyone. “I ride this Circuit so that I can hear cases where normal practice cannot be used, and I believe that this one qualifies. Does anyone disagree?”
    Shantell fell silent.
    Lord Teren spoke sadly. “I yield this case to your judgment, Herald Samira. I agree that I am not the person to rule on it, being involved myself.”
    “Please,” Jasper added. “Everyone’s so angry, and they keep yelling.”
    The priest nodded agreement. “Obviously this was not the situation Lord Kristion envisioned when I drew up his will.”
    “Very well,” Samira said. “Lord Teren, are you willing to answer the accusation of murder under Truth Spell?”
    “Absolutely.” Lord Teren looked grim but not at all afraid.
    Samira cast the Truth Spell, and Lena watched with fascination as a blue glow appeared over Lord Teren’s head.
    “Who went hunting with you and Lord Kristion?”
    “In addition to the two of us, there were three servants and seven hunting dogs.”
    “Was it your arrow that shot him?”
    “Yes.” His voice held anguish, but the blue glow remained steady.
    “Did you intend to shoot him?”
    “No. Never. We became separated in the woods, and I had no idea that he had circled around so that he was opposite me. The servants were with me, so they didn’t know either.”
    “What was he wearing?”
    Teren looked blank. “I don’t remember.”
    Lena must have made some sound, for Samira looked at her. “Do you know what he was wearing, Lena?”
    “Yes.” And it was one of the most stupid things anyone could wear to go hunting. “Brown boots, brown pants, and a deerskin jacket.”
    Samira looked at her incredulously. “Deerskin? Are you positive of that?”
    I certainly can’t blame her for not believing me.
    “That’s correct,” the priest said. “I saw his body when it was brought home, and that’s what he was wearing.”
    Samira managed to refrain from comment on Lord Kristion’s clothing choices. “Lord Teren, do you swear that your shooting of Lord Kristion was accidental and that you had no reason or desire to kill him?”
    “I do so swear.”
    Despite the steady glow of the Truth Spell, Shantell cried out “That’s not true! He wanted the dogs! He said so, this morning in the chapel!”
    “That’s not what I said!” Lord Teren protested.
    “Was anyone else in the chapel with you?” Samira asked.
    Teren pointed at Lena. “She was.”
    I think he forgot my name again.
    “Lena?” Samira asked. “What did they say?”
    As Lena opened her mouth to answer, Samira held up a hand. “Wait. I’m going to put a Truth