I'm in trouble now.

Dorac strapped his dagger to his right thigh in proper clan-style and made sure the tassels hung correctly over the top of the scabbard, the green one laid between the two red. It was the first thing his birth mother would look for. He made sure every item of clothing was correctly in place. Of course, the pride of the clan was at stake as well, but the absolutely correct display of clan regalia was of paramount importance in his mother's eyes.

He walked out of the room and down a long sloping corridor of white stone to where his mother and sister sat ready for him. The eyes of Sasha-Dorac Maru Serria Elsibala flickered from the dagger on his leg up and over her son's clothing and then up to make sure his hair was brushed in the appropriate style. He'd taken more than usual care with the cut of his beard, too. It had been necessary to consult the clan archives to ensure the trim he'd given it the night before didn't offend traditional styles.

'You pass,' she said.

'Yes, Maru.'

The dagger on Maru's thigh was encrusted with gems and the hilt was traced delicately in fine platinum wire. It outshone even Hera Rani's weapon, and Dorac couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the thing. Perhaps one day he might do something honourable enough to earn such a blade. Of course, that was problematic now—it was more likely his own blade would be taken from him for his stupidity in shooting at the police officer two nights ago, for failing to protect his sister, for allowing Maddy to remain outside during a riot. For so many things.

'It is time,' said Maru, and rose. A fraction of a second later, Hera Rani also stood, falling in behind her mother as the older woman proceeded out of the door. Dorac took his place at the rear. Another long corridor, and down further into the lowest part of the house, the place with most honour, the assembly room of the clan. Some obscure cousin of Dorac's—he forgot the boy's name—opened the door and Dorac bowed to the assembled clan-parents sitting in an assortment of armchairs at the far end of the room. Cool white stone surrounded them and the sound of a tinkling fountain came from the underground fore-court.

The Clan-father who sat in the centre chair acknowledged Dorac's bow with a wave of his hand. He was both Dorac's Clan-father and his semi-brother, and a powerful man within the influential clan of Sasha. His black beard flowed across his chest, styled in an intricate pattern of tight plaits that looked impressive but painful.

'You are Dorac Malanu Rhudana Landa Misentu-Rish Heruda Mistana Elsilunda of the Sasha clan,' said the Clan-father.

'I am.'

He remained standing, as was required, while Hera Rani and Maru were permitted to sit, since they were female and therefore theoretically outranked every male in the room. Of course, it was a ticklish matter when the Clan-father was there. Protocol was turned upside-down when assorted mothers and fathers gathered together on clan business.

After Maru had taken her seat with a jangling of jewellery Dorac removed his dagger from its sheath and held it out before him, hilt towards the row of clan-parents, the point aimed at his heart in ceremonial sacrifice.

'I offer my retuka as a clan blade to my parents who raised me and who benefit me,' he intoned. He'd had to look the words up that morning on his fone. It had been ages since he'd last uttered them. 'May it be used in their service in a way that honours the Sasha clan and the Dorac family.'

And that was the end of the ceremony. He breathed a little easier as the frown on the Clan-father's face dissolved. Even Maru seemed to sit back as if allowing herself to relax.

Dorac managed to raise his eyes to look directly at the Clan-father, who breathed loudly for a while in the silence that followed. Then he shifted in his seat, smiled from under his beard, and nodded.

'Are you a complete idiot, Dorac Landa?' he asked.

He'd expected the question, or something similar, and an answer was ready.

'I apologise to the clan if my actions have caused dishonour, father.'

In her corner, Maru coughed loudly and beside her Hera Rani smirked. Dorac ignored both. So did the clan-parents.

'Your actions have not caused dishonour, Landa,' said the Clan-father, and his use of Dorac's informal name surprised him. 'But they have caused some embarrassment.'

'For that, too, I apologise, and will perform whatever penance is required.'

'Don't talk!' One of the clan chiefs had spoken for the first time, a dark, sallow-looking old woman. He'd never been fond of her, and vice versa. He bobbed his head and waited in silence.

The Clan-father turned towards the old woman as if to say something, then he shrugged and turned back to face Dorac. 'It would be better for you to remain silent for the time being, Landa,' he said. 'As the Mother-of-all demands.'

Having been forbidden to talk, Dorac could say nothing in reply.

'Your actions on the night of the riots were complicated,' the Clan-father continued. 'On the one hand, you assaulted police officers of the Sape Elite, which I suppose was necessary given the circumstances. You were protecting your sister from arrest, and your actions in freeing yourself of the restraint were commendable and within the skills expected of the Sasha clan. However, you may well have heard that the body of one of the male officers was found under the Twisted Bridge.'

It would have been hard for Dorac to miss that item of news. It looked as if the man had jumped to his death, but there was no known reason why he should do so.

'So on the one hand you have the thanks of the Sasha for dealing with attackers; on the other, you have no doubt aroused the ire of the Elite. They will regard the death with suspicion. You encountered the officer and put up resistance. Shots were fired. A little later the man is found dead. Suspicion will fall on you first, and the Sasha second.'

He gestured to one of the other parents who inserted a data crystal into a holovision at the back of the room. All turned to watch a Sape news report covering the riot. It had been brought under control fairly quickly, when clan elders and Sirian police managed to quell the wrath of the crowd and directed people towards fighting the fire rather than the Sapes. Only one police officer had been killed—the one found under the bridge. Inter-clan brawls had, as usual, been directed more at causing dishonour than casualties among the Sirians. It would be a long time before grudges were ironed out, but open war had at least been averted.

As the holo finished, the Clan-father said, 'We regard resistance as a necessary thing, as I said, and an honourable one—but the Elites will investigate all aspects of the Nuncio's assassination, including the riot, the deaths of the Sirians and Sapes in the explosion, the wounded—and the death of this police officer. The clan will be examined carefully by visiting Sapes who might well find things they do not like about us.'

All in the room knew the Elite loved to know what the Sirians were doing. And since no Elite could legally come to Eridu without permission, spying on them directly wasn't easy. Any excuse to snoop around, such as the Nuncio had been going to do, was seized upon. The assassination had given the perfect excuse.

'It could mean war,' said the Mother-of-all.

It was hard to tell if she meant civil war or war with the Elite. The latter would only end one way.

'Do you deny what you have done?' said the Clan-father.

The Mother-of-all said, 'You may speak now.'

Dorac opened his mouth and closed it again after a second. He could speak, he wanted to speak, but there was little he could say that would justify anything. He'd spent much of the previous night, since the summons to the clan meeting had come, thinking about what he might say. Now it all seemed rather absurd. Still, he had to try, or else come across as the complete idiot he'd been called.

'My actions were dictated as a result of a stressful evening,' he said, and instantly regretted it. Such a sentiment made him sound weak. 'What I mean is, my sister had been attacked. And my friend, Maddy Hawthorn, was also in danger.'

A sigh rose from most of the people in the room. Dorac felt hot now, as if the warmth of the blazing suns outside had started to penetrate even the cool white walls of the house. He knew he'd done wrong to mention the name of a Sape in the meeting. Maru spat on the floor, followed by Hera Rani, to demonstrate their contempt for the keeping of a Sape in the family. The Mother-of-all merely narrowed her eyes and nodded in approval at the two women's gesture.

'I appreciate your concern for the Sape woman,' said the Clan-father. 'In future at this meeting, should it be necessary to refer to her, she will be addressed as the Sape.'

The clan had met like this six months ago when Maddy had first arrived on Eridu seeking sanctuary. She had been addressed merely as the Sape then, too. Only her not being an Elite had prevented her imprisonment.

'The Sape helped me in the riot,' said Dorac. 'She is most capable and was of assistance in the saving of Hera Rani.' That drew another spit from his sister. He didn't bother to turn and look at her. The clan knew the circumstances of Hera Rani's rescue; not even she had denied the help Maddy had given. But it didn't mean she had to like it. 'And in the heat of the...the rendering of assistance to my noble sister, my emotions were overcome with concern for her. I fired at the officers out of necessity at the time, without thought and in fear of further harm coming to my sister.' The sea of faces stared at him. 'Her retuka had been taken from her, so...'

They had viewed the camera files on the night. The arrest in the street had been recorded. His actions, and those of Hera Rani and Maddy, were all known. There was nothing, Dorac was fairly sure, anyone could say to criticize what he'd done. Not if they'd been there themselves.

'So,' said the Clan-father after a pause. 'What do you think should be done, Dorac Landa? You mentioned a penance.'

Yes, he had. But this was a ceremony, and things were said and done in ceremonies that weren't meant to be taken literally, weren't they? He stood for a moment with his mouth half-open, his dagger held loosely in his hand, the point having drifted down from his heart to the floor. He didn't raise it up again in case it gave anyone ideas that he should plunge it in between his ribs.

'You decline to dictate your own judgment. That is good.' The Clan-father leaned forward. 'You will remain a faithful and loyal member of the Sasha clan. We allow you to keep the title and family name of Dorac and all your other names.'

'Thank you, father. Thank you, Mother-of-all.'

'And you will leave Eridu so that the honour of the family and the clan may be preserved. If the Elite come here—and we are sure they will—to arrest you for murder, then it would be wise if you were no longer with us.'

Somewhere unseen, a gong sounded. Even as he heard the words that exiled him, Dorac couldn't help thinking that some man had been standing around waiting for the judgment to be handed down so he could hit a gong at the right moment. Some people had lousy jobs.

'I accept your judgment, father. But what of the Sape? She is under my protection.'

There was another stir among the clan-parents. The Clan-father looked to the Mother-of-all who put her head down for a moment and consulted with her sisters, and then she straightened and stared at Dorac. Her eyes were gleaming.

'The Sape shall be given a choice: to remain here in prison or to enter exile as well. It is for her role in releasing you from the restraints placed on you by the police officers, and thereby saving the honours of yourself and Dorac Hera Rani, that she is not now imprisoned for life.'

There was the sound of Hera Rani sucking in a huge breath as if about to spit on the floor again, but as all eyes turned to her she shrank back in her chair and turned the gesture into a cough instead. Only Dorac noticed her mother's hand reach out to touch her daughter lightly on the arm.

So it was exile. For how long? He knew the answer already: until he had redeemed himself. He had joined the Elite Navy, risen higher in rank than any other Sirian, had fallen again when he quit the Navy and defied his superior's orders. And now he had fallen even further. It would be a long climb back to the good graces of the clan, a long while before he could once again stand proud before his birth mother and have her smile at him.