In the morning, Raya left her home as soon as the sun had surpassed the eastern horizon; it had been difficult to sit on her hands that long. She wanted to run, hide, hunt… not wait. Her parents had been up most of the night, sharing pleasant memories of Novar. Of course, he had not treated them well in years either. He had used their home as a roof and a food supplier, little more. But his loss was still upsetting to them, understandably so.
Novar’s execution was scheduled for two days hence, the first of the 10th Moon… which left Raya only two days to save him.
Her father was awake, sitting at the table, reading a book. He had taught her mother to read, and it was now one of the things they did the most. Her mother was still asleep, as far as Raya could tell. “I’ll be back later,” Raya told her him, as she strode out into the warm morning.
She went to Melik Kama’s house again, up on Old Sun Rock. The Council’s housing area was still quiet, despite yesterday’s chaos. She knocked, and waited.
Melik opened up, and paused when he saw her. He was wearing a simple sandy-shaded robe, which hung around his shoulders thinly, leaving his weathered arms bare. Parting his pursed lips, he said, “Raya, welcome. Come in, please.”
She followed him through the wooden door and he latched it behind him, so the breeze wouldn’t stir it. He took a deep breath. “Raya, I’m so sorry for what is happening. If it’s any consolation, such a horrid consequence was not my vote.”
“It’s too much of a consequence,” Raya said. “It was a crime of fear, not malice.”
Melik shook his head, and his grey hair swayed. He had not tied it back yet. “Our hands are tied, my friend. I cannot change the Council’s verdict.”
“Can I?” Raya asked.
“I suppose,” he said. “You would need more than four votes to overrule the… execution. That would only put it back to a vote of the other options. But, Raya, this will not be easy. The Councillors understand that changing votes makes them appear fickle; if their say can be changed once, what’s to stop a citizen from showing up and demanding yet another revote?”
“It won’t happen,” Raya said. She stood on his threshold, making statements she couldn’t promise; she realized this with a slight dizziness.
Councillor Kama spread his hands to either side. “If it does, then there’s only two options left. Another complaint with sufficient backing… and there’s only one option, whatever is left. Don’t you see? It’s not justice anymore, and it’s not even governance. The Council of Olston should not allow re-voting, but we do. Just realize how difficult it will be to earn those votes. You have mine already, but…”
“What other options do I have?” Raya asked.
“Two,” Melik said, holding up his hands. “Go talk to Viker. We spoke last night, with Councillor Lorr Thana too, and he had… an unusual suggestion. We swore secrecy, but I think it is safe to tell you.”
Raya bobbed her head, her tail of hair bouncing against her neck. Her worn leather tunic felt tighter than usual, and she missed the press of her bow above her heart. “And the other option?”
Melik stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. “Novar killed the only thing he’s cared about, because of his own instability… he won’t be able to go back to peaceful life, and he doesn’t want to. Your brother might already be gone, Raya, and you need to consider just letting him go.”
Raya trembled. “This isn’t about my brother. Same as how your trial wasn’t about him either. It’s about what’s right and what’s wrong, and killing him for this is no more sensible than his crime was in the first place.”
“I’m sorry, Raya,” Melik said. “I can’t help you any more than that.”
Raya sighed. “Thanks anyways,” she said. “I’ll see you soon.”
The sun was higher in the sky when she left, though the conversation had not been long. She was just glad it wasn’t raining. She descended Old Sun Rock, past the barracks there, and waved to one of the guards as she passed. As a huntress, she recognized almost all of them—an odd network of acquaintances to be sure. She headed west, after descending the hill, and sought out their benefactor’s house.
By chance, Viker was stepping out of his house already. He noticed Raya pacing up the street and smiled. “Walk with me, friend?” he asked.
“Alright,” Raya said. “But the thing I wanted to talk to you about… I was hoping we could keep it to ourselves.” She smiled, openly.
Viker blinked. He spun around, his back to her, and said, “Then we’ll just walk this way.” She hurried to his side, and they walked further east, into the skeletons of unfinished homes. The workers were out, but their racket kept each house a quiet din. They worked on three at a time, but had cordoned off plenty of space for more. They had already moved the palisades back enough to lengthen the town’s blocks. Once they were away from the others, Viker asked, “How can I help?”
“I don’t think Novar should be killed,” she said, quietly. “I spoke with Melik, and getting the verdict turned over could take some work. We only have two days.”
“Two days is plenty of time, if that’s what you want me to do,” Viker said, coyly. “I voted for banishment. There was no way to save Novar here. Best to give him a second chance out there. I can still make that happen, I think. It’ll cast suspicion on you, either way.”
“Just don’t let me know the plan then,” Raya said. “Unless you do need my help.”
Viker grinned. “Nothing like that, my friend. Rest assured, whatever happens, I will see Novar safely out of Olston, if you ask me to.”
Raya sighed a breath of relief. “Please do,” she told him. She would be twice in his debt, but Lotha and he had continued to be her loyal friends. “Let me know if I can help you and your workers in any way… you’ve done so much for Olston, and for me.”
Viker nodded. “Don’t fret,” he said. “Have a good afternoon. I better get some plans in motion.”