The Ealdred came into the recovery room, followed by Sid who was carrying an injection. "It's a stimulant," he explained for Soren’s benefit, placing it against Arion's shoulder and giving it a quick press. "The tranquilizer is much heavier though," he added, speaking to the Ealdred, "so you'll have to be brief."

He nodded and came over, standing beside the bed. "Arion. Arion, can you hear me?" His lips parted in a sigh and his eyes moved beneath their lids, but otherwise he did not respond. "Arion. Try to wake up for just a minute. Can you hear me?"

His eyebrows went up, dragging his eyelids halfway open. "Hey," he breathed.

"Hey," the Ealdred answered. "Can you hear me?"

His eyes moved, dilated and unfocused. "Yes," he whispered, "but I can't see you."

"That's okay," said Sid quickly. "That'll come later. Don't worry about it." Arion closed his eyes.

"Arion," said the Ealdred. "AJ says you attacked him."

He frowned. "nhh.... I j's'.. wanted him to stop."

"To stop hitting you?"

"...Ril..."

"The venator. What was it doing?"

He frowned, sighed. His eyebrows began battling between maintaining the frown and trying to reopen his eyes. Another sigh as he gave up, his face relaxing. He tried again, this time succeeding, but his eyes seemed to find Sid and rested there. "Ril... Is he okay?"

"You wanted him to stop hitting the venator?"

His eyes moved, tracking the sound, then closed again. "Yes."

"Is that why you attacked him?" Again he frowned. "Why did you want him to stop hitting the venator?" he asked then.

"...Promised," he said, still whispering.

"What did you promise?"

"...Promised," he repeated, almost inaudible now.

"Promised what?"

But he didn't respond. "I'm sorry sir," said Sid, "but I'm afraid that's it for now. More stimulant would be bad for him."

"Thank you, Sid," he said, rising. "I want him set up in an isolation unit. Top security. No one, absolutely no one is to be allowed in with him."

"Yes sir."

"I'd like to stay with him," said Soren.

"No. I'm sorry, but that included the both of you, too. No one."

"Why?" asked Soren, knowing the answer.

He turned and faced him, firm and determined. "I want him questioned very carefully and very thoroughly, and I don't want any outside interference from anyone. Is that clear?"

Soren felt cold and numb, but he nodded. "Yes, sir."

In his quarters, Soren listened to the general broadcast, transfixed as if in a nightmare, yet with the sick, hollow certainty that it was real.

"Be it known," said Ealdred Tovi in a formal, somber manner, "that the individual currently hailed as Arion Dorios has, by his own admission, attacked a Cedrychad in defense of a venator. Furthermore, series of blood tests have consistently shown his blood to contain a moderate level of iragon. It is the opinion of the full council that he is an imposter and a Lenisat, and that he has conspired with the Rikshastika to bring division and confusion to our family.

"We shall be made whole.

"In recognition of, and with deep sympathy for those who still believe him to be human, he shall be granted a test. This is the decision of the full council. The Alexandria is in possession of a venator. By the provision of God, it is without injury. The individual will be placed with the venator. If he defeats it and survives, we will accept God's judgement and beg forgiveness. If the venator triumphs and he is killed, we will accept God's judgement and he will be known for the imposter that he is. The name of Arion Dorios will be cleared of all doubt, to be listed with all due honor as one who laid down his life on the planet Lenis for the good of the family. God is our judge."

The image lasted a moment longer, then disappeared. Mark shut the vid off, but Soren continued to stare at the blank screen. "Just like that. How can they do that?" he asked softly, stunned. "When did they ever get that kind of power?"

Mark said nothing.

"Of all the things they could do to him... They're throwing him to the lions!" he shouted then, turning, pushing for a response.

"Daniel survived the lions," he said softly. "Remember that."

"And how many others were eaten?" he retorted, furious. "It's obscene!"

He shrugged slightly. "He kept Ril off of you.”

Soren stared at him. “You aren’t sure either, are you?” he demanded, almost in a whisper. “You think he’s imposter?”

“It’s the decision of the full council, Soren,” he said defensively. “If that guy is an imposter, then we need to know. Now. And if it’s Arion, then God will protect him, because that’s what the council was directed to do.”

"You're saying this mess is God's idea?" he asked, chastened but not yet ready to surrender.

“Look at it this way,” he said irritably. “If, when Arion survives, then people will have to stop picking on him, won’t they? What I want to know is, if Arion survives, what will that mean for the rest of us? You know, you’re not the only one with questions, Soren.” And with that he left, slamming the door behind him.

Soren stared at the door, thinking. Part of him agreed with Mark, but struggle as he might, he couldn’t bring himself to accept it. He rose, and after a frustrating search he finally found the Ealdred in Central. Following such an announcement he had not expected him to be so readily accessible, and consequently had created his own difficulties, a fact which did nothing to lessen his frustration.

"Soren. I've been expecting you," said Ealdred Tovi.

"And?" he answered, not attempting to conceal his anger.

"I regret your pain. I also understand your anger, but when this is over, I hope it will it will be directed against the venators who have done this to us."

"They're not the ones doing this," said Soren icily, an obscure corner of his mind awed by his temerity.

"Yes, Soren, they are. They are the ones who murdered the real Arion, the ones who have the infinite heartlessness to send us this imposter."

"Who gave you the right to play games with his life?" he demanded throatily. "Of all the vicious things you could do to him, did you choose this as the worst? Why don't you just sell him back to them?"

The Ealdred's face darkened. "Do you think I have stopped loving Arion?" he whispered with muted emotion. "No. I have lost him a second time, and I will not allow this.. this freak of genetics to mock his sacrifice! I know you can't see it yet, Soren," he said, straightening his shoulders, "nor many others, and it is for this very reason that we are forced into such act. This was not my decision. It was decided by the full council. ...It is in God's hands now."

Soren stared. "You're doing this for the people? You're going to put this obscenity across the vids?" he demanded incredulously.

"No. In private. It will be witnessed and recorded, but not broadcast. The results will be announced. ...It's necessary, Soren,” he said, his anger subsiding and his pain evident. “I do understand your frustration, but we are responsible for so much more than any single battle, or any single individual. We have the entire family to consider. We can't just put him down. We must, somehow, satisfy the people that it is correct. You're not alone in your outrage, but it has been placed in God's hands by the decision of the full council. When it is over, will you deny God's decision?"

"...I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I couldn't understand how you could do this, and I still don't agree, but.. well, I guess I understand now. ...What convinced you?"

"He admitted it, Soren. AJ had it exactly right. Even if he thought they had souls, would Arion, the real Arion, have ever put the venators first before us? Would he ever fight against a Fadey in front of a venat that wasn't restrained?"

Soren dropped his eyes, unable to answer. "May I talk to him?"

"No."

"Please."

"No. Absolutely not. I'm not going to risk you. You trust him, but he knows now that he's in trouble. He could be dangerous, and you're simply too vulnerable when you won't believe it."

He nodded, defeated. "But I'm going to be there. When..."

"No."

"Yes. I think Arion's mistaken, misled, whatever you want to call it. You're putting Arion to the test, trying to destroy him. It's only right that he see someone there who believes in him."

He hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. Perhaps it will make people feel better. I didn't want to put you through that."

"Thank you, sir, but I need to be there."

Soren was surprised to discover how elite the witnessing team proved to be: Himself, Ealdred Tovi, the Ealdred Thomas from the Alexandria who had brought the venat, and two councilors from each of the two Hammerstars. The Sagira was too far away for physical representation. Councilor Adne and Councilor Maken he recognized of course, but the other two he did not know.

He had hoped for a chance to see Arion beforehand, but he was disappointed. Ealdred Tovi led the group straight to detention, and Ealdred Thomas would be bringing Arion in shortly. He whispered a short prayer, asking God to protect Arion, to somehow bring him through this.

As the group walked into detention, Soren’s breath caught when he spotted the venat. Was this the miracle that would save Arion? It was a striking individual, the black of its brindle so pronounced as to be almost solid. Was it the same one? With such unusual coloring, it had to be.

It sat up straight as they entered, instantly alert though it remained seated, watching them intently. Did the Ealdreds know which venator they had? Soren couldn’t ask since they had been warned to silence. This venator spoke Homonic.

They stood silently, waiting. The venat was clearly wary, but it relaxed when no one did anything, also waiting. Its yellow eyes passed over each person in turn, studying them. Soren met those eyes, wondering if it would recognize him. One ear cocked back, and it seemed as though it studied him somewhat longer, but whether this signified anything he didn't know. It said nothing.

It tensed as the door opened again, rising as Soren turned away to look at the doorway. Ealdred Thomas held the door open and Soren's heart sank as Arion walked in, escorted by AJ and Tony. All three were in uniform, but Arion was wearing a practice mask that totally concealed his face. It would attack the uniform regardless, he thought angrily, and they knew it. Arion faltered as he came in, but AJ and Tony didn't allow him to stop until he reached the cage door. There, Tony stepped to the side, aiming his laser through the bars at the venat; it would not be allowed to rush the door.

Soren watched, suddenly desperate. The faith and hope he had struggled to build evaporated. It was happening too quickly, too simply. It would all be over in moments and Arion would be dead.

He showed no resistance, the fingers of his hands curling but not clenching, as AJ unlocked the cage and guided him in. Arion had to know he couldn't be recognized. Soren wondered suddenly why he had thought that Raach might be willing to spare Arion. This was the same venat that had torn Arion's shoulder open. It was already tensed, poised and ready to fight as AJ locked the gate behind Arion. Soren felt very suddenly very ill...

...And the two stood, staring at one another, each waiting for the other to strike. Finally, like a snake, the venat began to move, carefully, cautiously stalking forward. Arion held perfectly still. Standing before him, it studied him, and Soren could see Arion's chest rising with deep, controlled breaths.

Glancing at its audience, the venat's eyes found Ealdred Thomas and lingered briefly. Then, turning back to Arion, it reached out and delicately removed the mask. Soren resisted the desperate hope this brought him, but even this was forgotten beneath a sudden wash of anger. Arion's mouth had been taped shut.

His first reaction was pure resentment against such a handicap to his breathing. Why, he asked himself next, had they done it? Not to hamper his breathing, but to prevent him from talking to the venat. To stop him from talking it out of killing him. His anger deepened, but he had no more time for thinking.

"Shirtatka manona broka ba nasba," it said quietly, "so brondanel ashte." It handed the mask to Arion, and turned to face its audience. "If you want him dead, you will have to murder him yourselves," it said calmly, then walked back to its cot and sat, back against the wall, relaxed.

Soren laughed and shouted at the same time, shocked by victory. "What do you say now?" he crowed. "How do you like that, huh? What do you say now?"

"I say he hasn't killed it yet," said Ealdred Thomas with quiet acid.

"What?" asked Soren, incredulous.

Ealdred Thomas ignored him, speaking instead to Arion who was gingerly pulling the tape from his mouth. "Kill it."

"No, sir. I can't do that."

"Then you may stay where you are," he answered, and turned to leave.

Soren jumped in front of him, furious. "What's wrong with you? What more do you want? He passed your test, now let him out!"

Ealdred Thomas’ eyes were cold and angry. "You were instructed to keep silent," he said in answer. Before Soren could protest that he had, he spoke again. "It clearly knows him. Their alliance is obvious. Not what I would call proof of innocence. He stays." His words were clipped and frozen.

Stymied, he turned to Ealdred Tovi, questioning. This was the unmistakable, inexplicable grace of God; why then was it failing this way? The Ealdred was clearly shaken, but he simply shrugged briefly and shook his head. Soren snorted in disgust, infuriated.

He looked at Arion then, simultaneously apologetic and angry... Arion, too, shrugged and shook his head. Soren snorted again, suddenly feeling as if he were in the middle of an irrational nightmare. Finally he looked at the venat, which stared back at him with solemn interest.

"You will leave now," said the Ealdred Thomas firmly, reaching out to guide him to the door.

Soren shrugged him away and looked back at Arion. "We'll get it straight," he said, finally persuaded in his own mind that Arion was not in danger. He turned then and allowed the Ealdred to herd everyone from the room.

"How can you expect him to kill it when you know perfectly well that he thinks it has a soul?" demanded Soren when they reached the privacy of the council room.

"Those were the terms agreed upon by the full council," explained Ealdred Tovi tiredly. "Either he was to kill it, or it was to kill him."

"Maybe God doesn't like your lousy test!" retorted Soren.

"Your loyalty is admirable," said Councilor Adne soothingly, "but not altogether objective. We must consider all possibilities before making a decision."

"Very diplomatic, sir," replied Soren with thinly covered sarcasm. "At least let me go in and talk with him. What's been done is bad enough, and if you won't let it end now, at least let me talk to him."

A low, negative murmur passed through them.

"Look," he said, forcing his voice into calm persuasion, "you say I'm not objective, but if you stop and think about it, I'm the most objective one here. People either thinks he's guilty or right on the money. Everyone except me. Yeah, I've got a hot temper. That's because I care. But I'm the only one here that's really in the middle on this. I may think he's wrong, but I don't believe he's a Lenisat. Please. At least let me go in and talk to him."

"We'll give you our decision in the morning," said Ealdred Tovi with a marked look. Soren hesitated, then nodded. That was the best he was going to get for now.