Kripa lets go of Mosheh, who falls backward onto the sand, coughing.
Dronaja
What is this? Gil? Kiddu? Are you alright?
Kripa
A stoning, Chief Dronaja.
Nobody says anything. The mystic just stands next to Dronaja. He looks tired, just-woken-up. Without his turban, his hair blows in the wind.
Ayan leans over to look at Kiddu’s wounds. Then she turns back to the crowd, her eyes slits.
Ayan
Is this how the Azkazraj Tribe treats its prisoners? Idiot shudra! You should be ashamed of yourselves!
Jaruna
Did I not say the prisoners were with me? All of you have disobeyed me.
Mosheh steps forward, past Kripa, and bows deeply on one knee before Jaruna.
Mosheh
Young master Jaruna—I beg your forgiveness. I am responsible for this. Punish me as you will.
Jaruna
There will be no more punishments today, please. We have a long way to march—
Mosheh, still bowing, clears his throat.
Mosheh
Mujashatriya, I think you should know—the boy, perhaps in an ill-conceived effort to evade punishment, claimed to be a prophet of the mujashatriya.
Jaruna turns to Gil, shocked. It takes the mystic a minute to compose himself.
Mosheh
I can call witnesses.
Jaruna
No need. Gil is a guest in our lands. He is not subject to our Law.
Mosheh
A guest, lord? We had thought they were prisoners.
Jaruna slaps his own forehead with his palm.
Dronaja
Mosheh! You shame our tribe! Do not dare contradict the mujashatriya!
Dronaja’s harsh pronouncement does nothing to hush the angrily murmuring crowd of natives. In the aftermath of Jaruna’s blatant self-contradiction, the mystic’s aura of infallibility seems to dissolve before Gil’s eyes.
Hushed Old Native
Who does this boy-mujashatriya think he is? He told us they were prisoners just last night!
Wild-eyed Native
Guests? In our land? Death first!
Jaruna stands speechless, eyes darting nervously from one angry face to another. Finally, his sister steps forth.
Ayan
Calm down, everyone, please! Yes—the Akkadians are guests in our land. What is the problem here? Have you forgotten that Asham is a God of mercy as well as justice? They were born in the shadow of the Empire. Would you punish them for being born into darkness? Or would you instead help show them the light of the True Path? Truly I tell you, the True Path is not just for the mujashatriya and the desert tribes—it is for all the people of Quu!
That silences most of the crowd. But a low, hostile murmuring remains. Mosheh, again, clears his throat.
Mosheh
Princess Ayan … Lord Jaruna … forgive me, but please, allow me to understand—just as the True Path lays open for all people, surely the Law of Asham applies to all people as well, yes? Asham punishes sin wherever he sees it. The Akkadians violated the Law with their disgusting behavior. And worse, this boy claims to be a prophet, in front of all of these witnesses! Surely such blasphemy must be punished by swift death, lest it taints the lands—
Jaruna
That is enough, shudra! Who are you to speak out of turn to my sister? You are lucky I do not shoot you where you stand! This is not a debate. Nobody will harm them! Is that understood? We have decided to bring them to Harrappa with us, and that is that!
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