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had also been poisoned then he had actually poisoned the guest cup. It was an enormity that made Aurien's attempted kin-murder at her own table look almost acceptable.
    Veniva came forward quickly. Daldaf was struggling in my grip. I had thought I was weak and tired, but I had no trouble keeping him pinned. "Did you do that?" she asked. He said nothing. I shook him, and he still said nothing. Veniva stooped to the broken pieces of her precious red cup and sniffed at one. "Henbane?" she said, in a horrified voice. "Daldaf? Why?"
    "I'll never speak," he said. "The White God will protect me!" He tried to spit at me, and missed.
    "It's even worse than that," I said, holding him at arm's length. "Aurien tried to poison me yesterday. Then she sent troops after us when we were on our way here, and killed Garian and Conal the Victor." I think it was the first time I'd ever referred to him as anything but Fishface, and it was then I really believed he was dead and
    I'd never hear his outrageous statements again.
    "Aurien did?" Veniva said. "And Daldaf is invoking the White God?"
    "I'll make him talk," I said.
    "He is my steward, Sulien," my mother said. "I think I know my duty. I will make him talk."
    "I'm entitled to a fair trial," Daldaf said, looking frightened, as well he might.
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    "So you are," Veniva said. She clapped her hands, and the hall was suddenly full of servants and people of the house. I expect they had been listening around the comers. My three decurios were shuffling their feet on the porch; she called them in as well. I gave Daldaf to ap Madog, who took a firm grip on him and pinned both his hands behind his back.
    "Before all the gods who care to listen!" I said, in my loud lord's voice. "Daldaf ap Wyn, you stand accused of attempted murder of your lord and of a guest of the house by poisoning the welcome cup." This was the most impromptu justice I had ever given, but it was all quite legal.
    "Have you anything to say?"
    "I won't speak," he said.
    "The pieces of the cup are here and the smell of henbane is still on them," I said. "I am witness to this act, and so is your other attempted victim, Emer ap Allel, queen of Dun Morr. If any would smell the cup, come and do it. That the poison is in it is not in dispute. If you did not set it there, tell me who did."
    Daldaf just shook his head and said nothing.
    "I ask you again if you will name the others who conspired with you in this act, or if you have anything to say that can mitigate your offense?"
    "I won't speak, you can't make me!" he said again. Veniva took the curved gold comb out of her hair and twisted the loops up without it. She ran her fingers over the sharp points and smiled.
    "The punishment for attempted murder is death, and the punishment for treachery is death, and the punishment for the impiety of poisoning the guest-cup you will find after death."
    "The White God will protect me!" Daldaf said. There was a murmur among the onlookers, many of whom had taken the pebble.
    "You are no martyr, Daldaf, only a murderer," I said. I picked up the copper cup he had given me and set it upright so anyone who wanted to could come and smell it. "I sentence you to death. As the conspiracy you are concerned with touches on matters of deep importance, and since you will not speak, you will be put to the question before you are executed. Ap Madog, take him—" We had never had to torture anyone before that I could remember. I couldn't think where would be a good place to do it. "Take him where my lady mother tells you." Ap Madog dragged him off, struggling. I gestured to two of the other armigers to go with him in case he needed help. They made their way toward Veniva. She stood and watched him for a moment, her hand on the teeth of her comb.
    "You have brought disgrace on my hall," she said to Daldaf, loudly, so that everyone could hear. Then she went off toward the store rooms, the others following.
    I found another cup and welcomed Emer properly to Der-wen.