Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

the moment the mate bond hit,
     but the charm marked her acceptance of that joining.
    The
toltoi
, they called the little charm. The
toltoi
wasn’t magic. Not exactly. Lily felt something when she touched it, something so
     faint it almost wasn’t there, and that faint trace didn’t quite feel like magic. She
     didn’t know what it was, and that was annoying, but she’d gotten used to not knowing.
     Mostly.
    Lily turned to look at her witnesses.
    Maybe forty people waited to do as she bid. Six of them were male. All of them were
     anxious. “First,” she said loudly, “does anyone have information that’s urgent? Not
     just important, but urgent?” Some shook their heads. None spoke. “Okay, then. I want
     everyone who spoke with or was questioned by someone from Laban to move to your right.
     Everyone who spoke with or was questioned by someone from Vochi, go to your left.
     If you’ve been questioned by people from more than one clan, get in the middle and
     sit down. If you’ve been questioned by someone not from Vochi, Laban, or Nokolai,
     get in the middle but don’t sit down.”
    You sure couldn’t do this with witnesses anywhere else. They all did just what she’d
     told them to do. There were a few murmurs as they determined where the perimeters
     of each group lay, but otherwise they were quiet.
    It was spooky as hell. “Thank you,” she said, taking a quick count. Only six on the
     Laban side. Thirteen—no, fifteen on the Vochi side. Nine sat in the middle and eleven
     stood. “I’m talking to the ones standing in the middle now,” Lily said. “If any of
     you are up here because you talked to or were questioned by someone from Leidolf and
     onlyLeidolf, go sit…” She looked around. “Got sit on the west side, near Cynna.”
    Everyone who’d been standing in the middle began moving. They were careful not to
     encroach on the open area where Isen, Lily, Rule, and the others stood. Once they’d
     gotten themselves over by Cynna she asked, “Is there anyone who was questioned by
     someone who is not clan? Not from any of the clans?” She waited. No one spoke or moved.
     “Okay. I’ll probably want to talk with each of you one-on-one, but not quite yet.
     You can sit down while you wait, if you like, but stay in your groups and don’t talk
     to each other.”
    So much for the willing witnesses. The two reluctant ones had arrived, escorted by
     two very large wolves, who prodded them to stand directly in front of their Rho. One
     was thirty-ish, blond and blue, five-three, about one-twenty-five. That one-twenty-five
     was arranged in a traditional hourglass shape. She looked miserable. The other was
     younger—maybe twenty—with a narrow face, long dark hair, very straight, and olive
     skin. Five-nine, but about the same weight as the other woman. Long and lean. Lily
     couldn’t see her expression clearly. She kept her head lowered, letting that long
     hair curtain her face.
    “Isen,” the miserable one said, “I didn’t do anything wrong!”
    “No?” he said. “You won’t mind answering Lily’s questions, then.” He made a small
     gesture with one hand. Rule moved to stand between the two women.
    “Cullen, would you bring the mage lights lower?” The lupi might go by scent, but Lily
     needed to see faces. “Thanks,” she said as the lights bobbed down to hover at head
     height. “We haven’t met,” Lily said to the two women, “but I guess you know who I
     am. What are your names?”
    “Sherrianne,” the blond said. “Sherrianne Jacobson. I’m Sam’s daughter.”
    Lily blinked. Sam was a dragon…but obviously there was another Sam.
    “Sam Posey,” Isen said. “He’s running the vineyard now,but he lived here for many years. Sherrianne grew up at Clanhome, but moved away as
     an adult. At her father’s urging she returned soon after the hostilities began—she
     and her son, Will. He’s
ospi
, not lupus, and she and her ex share custody. I believe Will is with his father for
     the holiday?”
    Sherrianne nodded unhappily. “Can we talk privately?”
    “You will talk to Lily now.”
    Lily said, “In a moment.” Sherrianne might have started out reluctant, but she was
     longing to confess now. Whether her confession would be helpful remained to be seen,
     but Lily wanted to let her build up more steam. She looked at the dark-haired young
     woman. “And you?”
    She didn’t look up. Her voice was low. “Brenda Hyatt.”
    “I’ve seen you