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anden 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 greed。 He raised his hand； received an answering hiss from the multitudinous jury。 There could be only one verdict…guilty！
Hurst screamed； a shrill yell of terror； seemed to crumble but hands stretched out and caught him before he fell； dragged him away。
Only one left now … Lola！
The Warrior moved in as though he did not trust Sabat； suspended only a few feet from where the robed high priest sat。 Sabat felt a tingling in the hand which held the sword as though the blade was conducting a small current； forming a link between Master and servant that stretched across thousands of years。
'And what of the woman； Sabat？ Hear what she has to say in frail defence'
'I had no part in this！' Lola shrieked。 'I did not know。 I was but Hurst's mistress。'
'It is true；' Sabat's voice was powerful； seemed to bounce back off the ring of mighty stone pillars。 'I know that for a fact。 Hurst deceived her； she only found out when it was too late。 Listen to me； all of you； without this woman I could not have brought her lover here before the Council tonight。 She helped me； tricked him。'
'Treachery is her nature；' The Hirschlanden Warrior hissed。 'A harlot who has a price。 Doubtless you paid a higher price than these others； Sabat； or else she would not have aided you in this treachery。 By druid law she is guilty。 Her part in helping you is no defence。'
'I did not put a price on her help；' Sabat answered angrily。
'You put her under your power。 First； for your own ends； secondly because she would not have helped you otherwise。 What say the Council？' The skull was brighter now； a luminous shape in the night sky； eyes glowing with fury as it sought to overrule Sabat。
'Guilty the answer was spontaneous； a throaty cry like baying wolves scenting blood and eager to move in for the kill。
'No！' Sabat was on his feet； an angry cloaked figure brandishing a glittering sword。 'You brought me here as judge and you have heard my ruling。 Innocent！ She is innocent！'
'Which is overruled by the Cult of the Severed Head！' the Warrior was hissing foul…smelling vapour； fetid mist gathering in the windless atmosphere。
Then I will have no further part in this！' Sabat tore his white robe from him； cast it aside。 'I have kept my bargain。 I owe you nothing。 Your part is still to be fulfilled。 So far you have wasted my time！'
'No； your part is not yet fulfilled；' the skull swung dose so that only a foot or so separated it from Sabat。 The prisoners have been found guilty but sentence has not yet been passed。 That is your duty； according to druid law； and there is only one penalty for these offenders。 Death！
Mortals have been tried by a mortal and they must die at the hand of a mortal if our vengeance is to be plete。 You have no choice； Sabat。 Otherwise your friend will join them！'
Sabat lowered his sword。 He had almost plunged the blade at the vile thing that was the Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal； trusted in his own power to dest