Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 371
remember you now," he said. "You were with those foreign
spies at the banquet. You were sick, if I recall. Nearly spoiled
dinner."
Jordan glared at him. "I’ve done nothing wrong."
Sheia’s sword flashed up. "You brought the Heaven
hooks against our house! You destroyed our ancestral home,
incited the Hooks to kill my ally Turcaret, and when you were
done you ran into the night, and the Hooks followed! We have
it from our witnesses."
His confrontation with Turcaret in the Boros courtyard
had been seen, Jordan realized. But had Axel and Calandria
been arrested as well? "What about--" Sheia hit Jordan across
the jaw. He staggered, and was grabbed roughly by two men
and hauled to his tiptoes.
"Stop it!" screamed Tamsin.
"Silence," hissed her uncle.
Sheia bowed to Suneil. "Lucky thing you chanced on
Mason, old man. You’ll get your honor and your title back. I
can’t guarantee the money and lands, of course... but in this
new age, what guarantee have we of anything?" He flipped a
hand negligently at Jordan. "Take the boy."
The two soldiers holding his arms yanked Jordan into a
quick-march; then they were out in the streets, and he was
being thrown over the side of a horse, hands and feet bound.
The good citizens of Rhiene watched and commented,
but did nothing to help as Jordan was carried away.