Free In the Earth Abides the Flame by Russell Kirkpatrick Page B

Haufuth had been last winter, pulled himself to his feet by gripping the table, and began speaking with the Bhrudwan in another language.
    The warrior obviously understood, for he began to answer in the same tongue. The fat Councillor translated the questions and the answers: is an army planning to invade Faltha?
    No, Great Lord, there is no army. What are you doing in Faltha? I have travelled to this backward land to pursue a man who stole my master's fortune. Is that man in this room?
    Yes, Great Lord. He sits opposite you. To whom do you owe your allegiance? To Vartal, my Trader master. As one the members of the Company sprang to their feet to protest, but they were ordered to sit down. Leith felt as though he and his friends sat locked inside a cage.
    'You are not telling us what the Bhrudwan is actually saying,' Kurr complained to the fat Councillor once the charade finished.
    'Are you questioning my honour?' came his sharp reply.
    'Of course we are,' the old farmer replied frankly. 'We're questioning the honour of the Council of Faltha. That's why we're here.'
    'Do you believe his report?' Mahnum asked directly, addressing his question to the Council at large. 'Surely even the appearance of a Bhrudwan warrior in Faltha speaks of danger?'
    'I believe it,' the fat Councillor said flatly. 'For some reason of your own, perhaps to gain advantage in the exchange of goods, you bribed or coerced a Bhrudwan citizen to impugn the good name of the Council of Faltha. You are a Trader, are you not?'
    'But his presence here?' Mahnum pressed.
    'Is not unusual,' the fat man insisted. 'Many Bhrudwans travel through Faltha every year, on their way to the slave markets of Ghadir Massab.'
    'Traders, not warriors.'
    'Are you the expert on the affairs of southern Faltha, northerner? Perhaps you would care to explain to us how these Bhrudwan traders protect their cargo against desert thieves? Do they perhaps use warriors?' The fat Councillor's cruel voice cut at Mahnum, who had no reply.
    'Where did you learn to speak Bhrudwan?' Saraskar asked the fat man.
    'It was deemed necessary for someone on the Council to study the devices of the enemy,' said the Arkhos.
    'But if Bhrudwo is no threat, why study them?' Kurr shot out.
    'Simple prudence,' the fat man replied, but the answer was patently false.
    This is not how it should be happening! thought Leith. The Council should be listening sympathetically, and offering us aid — or taking this burden from us, and rushing out to organise their defences against the invasion to come! What has gone wrong?
    Finally the Arkhos of Treika leaned forwards and asked the question everybody was expecting. 'Trader, you say you were given the names of various traitors within Faltha. Now, answer me carefully. Are there any such here in this room?'
    Mahnum seemed undaunted by their treatment. 'Yes, there are,' he replied simply. Indrett's pride in her husband shone from her face.
    'Then you have a responsibility to name them, so that we may judge the reliability - or otherwise - of your story.'
    So be it. They might as well be ordering our executions.
    Gently he spoke. 'There are seven traitors among the sixteen members of the Council of Faltha. They are the Arkhoi of Firanes, of Treika, of Favony, of Tabul, of Straux, of Nemohaim, and of Vertensia.' He deliberately looked each man in the eye as he spoke their names. Two of their number would not respond to his gaze, while the others stared at him with a contempt bordering on hatred.
    The room settled to complete stillness as all waited for the Trader to continue.
    'I have told no one the details - how the treachery was committed, who was involved, how deep it all runs - not even my companions. I will now relate the acts of betrayal these men engaged in, as told to me on Andratan; acts that can be verified should anyone wish to do so.'
    Mahnum spoke quickly, determined to say as much as possible before he was silenced. 'The Arkhos of Firanes conspired with Wisula,