Windhaven

Sena thumped a fist on the table. "What is this? What is going on? S'Rella has a right to the wings, more right than anyone else. She challenged Garth and he has failed the test. How can you speak of not giving her the wings?" She looked from judge to judge furiously.

Shalli, who seemed to be the spokesman, gave an apologetic shrug. "We have a disagreement," she said.

"The question is how tomorrow's contest should be scored. Some of us feel that if Garth does not fly, S'Rella must be given the victory by forfeit. But the Landsman is of the opinion that we cannot vote on a contest in which only one flyer flies. He insists that the decision be made on the basis of the two legs already completed, and on them alone. If that is done, Garth is presently ahead six stones to five, and would retain the wings."

"But Garth has renounced the wings!" Maris said. "He can't fly, he is too ill."

"The law provides for that," the Landsman said. "If a flyer is sick, his wings are given over to the Landsman and the island's other flyers to dispose of, provided he or she has no heir. We will give the wings to someone worthy of them, someone who is willing to take up residence in Skulny. I offered that chance to the girl here and you all heard her answer. It must be someone else, then."

"We had hoped that S'Rella would consent to remain on Skulny," Shalli said. "That would have resolved our differences."

"No," S'Rella repeated stubbornly, but she looked miserable.

"What you propose is a cheat," Sena said bitterly to the Landsman.

"I am inclined to agree with that," put in the big man from the Outer Islands. He ran his fingers through unkempt blond hair. "The only reason Garth stands ahead now is because you cast a stone for him today, even after he fell into the ocean, Landsman. That was hardly fair."

"I judged it fair," the Landsman said angrily.

"Garth wants S'Rella to take his wings," Maris said. "Don't his wishes matter in this?"

"No," the Landsman said. "The wings were never his alone. They are a trust, they belong to all the people of Skulny." He looked around at his fellow judges, imploring. "It is not fair to give them away to this Southerner, to reduce Skulny to only two flyers without cause. Listen to me. If Garth had been well, he would have defended his wings ably against any challenge, and it never would have come to this. If he had been sick and had come to me and told me, as your own flyer law requires, then by now we would have found someone else to wear the wings, someone capable of retaining them for Skulny. It is only because Garth chose to conceal his condition that we are in this predicament. Will you punish all the folk of my island because a flyer kept a secret?"

Maris had to admit that there was some justice in the argument. The judges seemed swayed too. "What you say is true," said the small woman from Southern. "I would be glad to see a new set of wings come south, but your claim is hard to deny."

"S'Rella has rights too," Sena insisted. "You must be fair to her."

"If you give the wings to the Landsman," Maris added, "you will be taking away her right to challenge.

She is only down one stone. She has an excellent chance."

Then S'Rella spoke up. "I didn't earn the wings," she said uncertainly. "I was ashamed of the way I flew today. But I could win them fairly, if I had another chance. I know I could. Garth wants me to."

Shalli sighed. "S'Rella, my dear, it isn't that simple. We can't start the whole competition over for your sake."

"She should get the wings," the Outer Islander grumbled. "Here, I cast tomorrow's pebble for her already. That makes it six to six. Will anyone join me?" He looked around.

"There are no pebbles here to cast," the Landsman snapped, "and you cannot have a contest with only one flyer." He crossed his arms and sat back, scowling.

"I fear I must vote with the Landsman," the Southerner said, "lest I be charged with unfairly favoring a neighbor."

That left Shalli and the woman from Eastern, both of whom looked hesitant. "Isn't there some way we can be fair to all?" Shalli said.

Maris looked at S'Rella and touched her on her arm. "Are you truly willing to fly again in contest, to try to earn the wings?"

"Yes," S'Rella said. "I want to win them right. I want to deserve them, no matter what Val says."

Maris nodded and turned back to the judges. "Then I have a proposition for you," she said. "Landsman, you have two other flyers on Skulny. Do you think them able enough?"

"Yes," he asked suspiciously. "What of it?"

"Only this — I propose that you resume the match. Keep the score as it stands, with S'Rella down one stone. But since Garth cannot fly, name a proxy for him, another of your flyers to bear wings in his place.

If your proxy wins, then Skulny retains the wings and you can award them to whomever you choose. If S'Rella wins, well, then no one can dispute her right to go south as a flyer. What do you say?"