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Silhouettes。 Skeletal upright structures； towering pillars of ancient strength that peted with modern architecture； silent giants on the starlit skyline。 Even from this distance Sabat could feel their vibrant power； a force that transcended centuries； the immortality of the old ones。
Kent was trying to hold back； shying away； struggling with them so that they had to drag him forcibly the last fifty yards or so。
'What's the matter with him？' Boyce grunted。
''He knows；' Sabat replied。 'It will not be long now。'
'There's 。 。 。 somebody over there！' the bishop halted； peered into the shadows cast by the huge structures； drew back。
Sabat caught his breath； gripped the hilt of the sword tightly； brought the blade up。 Boyce was right； two figures hung back in a patch of darkness as though they were afraid to show themselves。 It could only be 。 。 。 'Hurst；'he called out softly； 'is that you？'
Relief as he recognised Lola's long blonde hair； the rest of her almost invisible because she was dad in a dark denim suit。 Her panion towered above her as he strode forward； perplexed and angry。
'Would somebody mind explaining what all this tomfoolery is about？' he demanded； but in spite of his arrogance there was a tremor in his voice。 'What's going on； Bishop？'
'I think only Sabat can answer that。' Boyce released his hold on Kent so that the journalist would have fallen had not Sabat caught him。 'He's up to something； Hurst。 And why have you brought this girl？'
The two men whirled angrily on Sabat but even as they did so they fell back in alarm； their cries of anger dying away to whimpers of fear。 For the whole area seemed to move； a sea of shapes materialising from out of the shadows； figures garbed in long flowing cloaks； either sandalled or barefoot； their faces hidden by the shadows cast by cowls or crude fox…skin caps。 A circle of nameless beings that stood and regarded them in malevolent silence。
'Who 。 。 。 who are 。 。 。 they' Bishop Boyce made a shaky sign of the cross with a trembling finger。
'They are the ancient Oke Priests；' Sabat spoke in a whisper。 'And you two have been summoned before their Council of Justice。 I have fulfilled my promise and now I shall ask them to keep theirs； to restore my friend to sanity； and hopefully to have mercy upon Lola for in truth she did not bring about the corruption that has resulted in madness and death。'
They felt the coldness； the sheer evil of these silent ones and in that instant Lola screamed loudly for her hypnotic spell was broken。 High above the gathering they saw the cause of her terror： that same floating head that had destroyed Walter Stone and unbalanced Kent's reasoning … The Hirschlanden Warrior of L'Impernal had arrived！
Even the ring of watchers moved back in awe at this terrible apparition； the fearsome skull with no body that hovered several feet in the air； its glowing orbs centred on the five mortals。
'I have kept my word；' Sabat's voice broke the silence； staccato tones that held no fear。 'Now it is up to you to keep yours； O Hirschlanden Warrior！'
'Indeed I shall； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t；' the lipless mouth moved slightly。
'Then give this man Kent his sanity back and let us go。'
'Be patient； for we； the old ones； have need of you yet。'
'What trickery is this！' Sabat held the sword aloft； its jewels glittering in the faint starlight as though it had a life of its own。 'I have the sword of Alda。 I can destroy many of you with this sacred weapon。'
'Perhaps。 Yet would you not rather serve the old ones？'
'I already have。 I have saved your sacred ground for without these men the sale will not go through。'
'The woman is one of them。'
'No。 She was tricked by the man； Hurst。 You have already meted out your justice to the guilty woman； his wife。'
*Sa 。 ； 。 ba 。 。 。 t 。 ； 。 ' an impatient hiss； 'we cannot spend the night bargaining。 You have done well in bringing the guilty ones to our Council of Justice in the highest temple of them all。 That is why we bestow upon you the greatest honour of all。 Tonight you shall be High Priest； to hear this case； to pass judgement。 。 。 and carry out the punishment on those found guilty！'
Sabat's brain reeled。 The Warrior's words were almost beyond mortal belief。 These Oke Priests had bestowed upon him the role of Judge and Executioner。 To refuse would incur their wrath。
The wind was soughing in the branches of an oak tree； seeming to pick up the whispers of the waiting throng； their awe； their anger at what these mortals had attempted to do。 There would be only one oute to such a trial； one finding… guilty！ And the punishment would be death！
Sabat let his gaze rove around the circle of druids。 One he recognised； the tall Alda； eyes ablaze with hatred and jealousy for the mortal who had stolen not only his rightful status but also his soul。 And the power was Sabat's； power supreme except for the Hirschlanden Warrior of L'Impernal who ruled over these ancients。
'I am honoured； O Warrior；' Sabat lifted his sword； implanted a kiss upon its blade。 'But what of my colleague； Kent？'
'He shall be restored to his former self after the trial。'
'And the woman； Lola？'
'She must face trial； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 ； t； along with the others； for evil spawns evil and we cannot be sure of her innocence。 The Council will decide and you must abide by their decision。'
Sabat sighed but he knew he had no choice。 His only chance lay in agreeing to carry out the wishes of the Oke Priests。 'All right； I accept your offer； O Warrior。'
'Good。' The head might just have smiled； the mouth stretched wide。 'Then let us begin。 You have the sword of Alda； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。 Take his robes and don them； and take your place upon the Seat of Judgement！'
So unreal； as though he was on the astral looking down on his physical body。 Alda meekly disrobing himself； handing over the voluminous cloak and the gold gorget； a wreath of oak leaves。 The cap； smelly fur that had dried hard。 Bowing； his features a mask of anger but pelled to obey the mand of the Warrior。
Sabat … Arch Druid！ He sensed a new power； a cruelty that transcended his own ruthlessness； the priests from the shadows bowing as they escorted him up a flight of steps to the Seat of Judgement … looking down on the throng below and knowing how they feared him。
The prisoners were pushed forward； two big men and a very frightened girl； forced to kneel； their guards having produced long…bladed knives from the folds of their garments。
〃Begin the trial！' The Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal was now upon a large central stone； presiding over the gathering。 These three are charged with the conspiracy to corrupt and desecrate druid ground。 Let them speak； the holy one who is thought to be unholy； first。'
Bishop Boyce was on his feet； a figure that swayed； his florid features suddenly deathly pale。 'I am a bishop； a man of the Church。 Would I do anything that was not in the interests of the Church？ The money from the sale would have gone into church funds。 I did not know the land was sacred。 I ask pardon and forgiveness。'
'You did not know it was druid land；' Sabat spoke with a haughtiness foreign to his character； leaning forward and resting on the hilt of his sword。 'Yet your sole motive was personal greed。 Money would have gone to your Church but a sum would have e secretly to you as a result of bribery and corruption that enabled the land to be released for sale。 Is that not so？'
'It is a lie！' An almost hysterical shout。
'It is the truth。 What say the Council？'
'Guilty'：
Whispers of anger； growing； like a gathering sandstorm in the desert as Boyce was dragged back into the shadows。
'Let the tall fair one state his case。'
Silence again as Darren Hurst was pushed forward； glancing wildly about him as though he sought some avenue of escape。 But the ranks had closed； death awaiting anyone foolish enough to try and run the gauntlet of sacrificial knives。
Sabat's eyes narrowed； he sensed his own hatred； the power bestowed upon him pounding like liquid fire in his veins。 Suddenly he was God； the giver and the taker away of life。 Almost； he was but a pawn where the Council of Justice were concerned。 The final decision was theirs so why did they need him？ The awful realisation came suddenly。 The guilty had to die； there had to be an executioner and what could be more fitting than that a mortal should take mortal life！ This was their ultimate revenge！
Darren Hurst could barely stand。 Trembling violently he looked about him and finally raised his eyes to Sabat。
'For God's sake； Sabat； I didn't know it was druid land。 I swear it。 For God's sake； I didn't know！'
Ignorance of the law is no excuse for a breach of the law； the law then as it is now。 Sabat's features were impassive。 He was one of the ancient ones now； loathing this avarice and