An audience had assembled on the tiered seats. The spectators were predominantly dwarves, but she saw several humans, too. Viran swung from the saddle and helped Keriya off the horse. Telbrush brought her to the dais, leading her to the chair in the center of the stage.
She sat, awkwardly arranging Sethildras’s scabbard beside her. The guards were closing ranks by the door, barricading her in. She saw spears waving at the edges of the theater high above, too. The only exit was a central path stretching in front of her, bisecting the stone seating and leading into darkness.
A lone dwarf trotted out from this tunnel, and the audience quieted. Viran, Telbrush, and Gavoch retreated to the side of the arena as the dwarf stopped before the dais and turned to address the crowd.
“Today, the Sma
