His eyes widened slightly. "Isn't Ctvar able to handle his own trouble?"
"Ctvar is dead."
He seemed unable at first to find the words to speak. At last he said, "It happened in a fight that he started. Why should they seek revenge?"
"They would be poor clan brothers if they did not avenge him," I answered.
"Won't your sentinels do anything to stop them?" he asked.
"They won't help you," I answered. "You make no contribution to the state that would entitle you to their protection."
"Don't you have laws against this sort of thing?"
"An undetermined number of persons wish you dead. You, and perhaps I, want you to live. The majority is against us."
"But I'm at least entitled to a trial."
I puzzled over his meaning of the word, but could find no sure answer. "I don't know what the purpose of a trial would be," I said. "But it could change nothing. You have the ill will of many citizens."