Buffy held the old pocketwatch Frances had given her in front of her face and let it swing back and forth, like a hypnotist in an old movie. The hands slowly spun; the seconds ticked away in a rhythm like a faint heartbeat. She could see the light through her window becoming more golden as the sun began slipping lower in the sky. People began to gather around the Keep, began clamoring to come inside.

Her arm still ached. Her stomach was empty and her head was light.

But she was ready.

Buffy spun the gold chain so that the pocketwatch was snapped back into her hand. She lay it carefully on the bed beside Angel's tunic. She took what she needed and went to the door. When it swished open, the two guards tensed. Fortunately, they were the same two as the evening before. Each man tensed, but Buffy made no move to fight them.

"I'm ready to go," she said. They stared at her blankly. She said, "I'm ready for the trial."

One of the guards looked over at the other, questioning. Buffy continued, "Markwith said that I could attend. You heard him. I don't have my strength, and I can't overpower you. Just take me there."

"If Markwith says you're to come back, you will," one guard said as he took her injured arm in a painfully tight grip.

Buffy didn't wince. "He won't," she said.

**

They took her to Ishak's Hall. When Buffy came through the doors, everyone in the room reacted -- some gasped, some stared, and a few looked angry enough to kill. Xiaoting was in this last number, but Agatha unobtrusively moved between them. Sumiko quickly walked to within arm's reach of Buffy, but took no further action.

Markwith raised an eyebrow. "Well, this should be good."

"I need to be here," Buffy said. "You have my absolute word that I won't try and break Angel out. I'm going to follow the rules. I just -- need to be here."

Ishak looked guilty -- as well he might -- but genuinely upset and fretful. "Buffy, you have witnessed one of these trials, have you not? Then you know what this will be."

"I know," Buffy said evenly. "That's why I have to be here."

Ishak shook his head, "I don't think that --"

"No," Markwith said. "Reconsider, Ishak. The people will no doubt have questions about Buffy's loyalty, given her association with Angel. What better way to demonstrate that she truly does stand with us? Could save us months of repairing the people's trust in her."

"If the people see her weeping or fainting, they won't be much convinced," Ishak said.

"I'm not gonna break down," Buffy promised. "I'm ready. I can get through this. I have to."

Markwith stepped up to her. "This show of discipline is very welcome, Buffy, if somewhat belated. But you don't mind if I just -- check --"

He quickly patted her down to see if she were carrying anything concealed. She wasn't. But when he came to her arms, she held out her hands so that he could see the stake she held.

Markwith looked at her in surprise. Buffy said, "Nobody does it but me. That's all I ask."

"Out of the question!" Frances came hurrying up, actually tearful. "Buffy, the strain's too much for you. You can't want to do this --"

"I did it before, Frances. You read that in Giles' diaries, didn't you?" When Frances nodded, confirming it for everyone in the room, Buffy continued, "It had to be done. And now it has to be done again."

"Of course she wants to do it," Markwith said. "She'd give him a quick death at the first stroke."

"I won't do that," Buffy said. "I'll hit for every crime you call out. Every one. I swear it."

"And I think I actually believe you," Markwith said.

"You guys are still going to want me to patrol after all this is over," Buffy said. "I'm telling you right now, I'll never do anything you ask, ever again, unless you let me do this. I know the consequences. I'm gonna follow the rules."

"Ishak?" Frances said.

Ishak looked at her for a long time. Finally, he said, "If you deviate for any reason, you'll be replaced."

"And I'll replace you," Xiaoting said in a low voice.

"If you finish Angel before we call the final stroke, you'll lose your liberty," Ishak said.

"Didn't much care for the Tower the last time I was there," Buffy said. "No big hurry to go back."

"Very well," Ishak said with a shake of his head. "The people have gathered. We will enter the Hall."

Ishak went to the door. Markwith hesitated by Buffy for a moment, then leaned forward and whispered, "Watch your step, Buffy. Remember -- we do have the blaster."

Buffy forced herself not to flinch. Markwith moved on to stand by Ishak's side. Xiaoting and Agatha got behind them, and Sumiko and Buffy took their places next. The Watchers began lining up in back. Frances, standing directly behind Buffy, whispered, "Are you quite all right? They wouldn't let me in to see you last night."

"I'm okay," Buffy said. "But thanks for trying. I mean it." When she half-turned her head, she could see that Frances was trying to smile at her.

Buffy smiled back as best she could, then faced forward once more. As they began walking toward the Chamber doors, she thought, well, the easy part's done. But if the hard part doesn't work --

She blinked her eyes hard. Today she'd spent more than enough time envisioning Plan B, which ended with Angel turning into dust even as she pulled the stake out of him and plunged it into her own heart.

Instead, she took a deep breath and cleared her mind as they walked into the Chamber.

The roof was already open, and the crowds were loud -- not cheering, not exactly, but shouting. Throughout the amphitheater roiled the same angry, demanding sound Buffy had heard at the last trial, amplified a thousandfold. Buffy stumbled a bit as she took it in -- it felt as though the people's fury and bloodlust had been made physical, could actually strike her in her gut. But she kept walking.

As the Watchers began moving up into their seats near the center, Ishak headed for his chair. Desperately, Buffy whispered, "What do I do?"

"Stand near Ishak's chair," Markwith said without turning around. "And move forward when it is time."

Buffy tried to follow Markwith's orders, but Sumiko grabbed her arm. Buffy pulled free, but Sumiko tried to push past her. "No, dammit," Buffy said. "I'm doing this. I am," she repeated, patting her chest. Sumiko stared at her, then tried to push her toward the stands. "No!" Buffy repeated, her voice trembling. "I don't care how much you hate him. I don't care if you want to do it. I have to do this! I have to! Don't make me fight you --"

She shoved Sumiko away again. Sumiko stood still for a moment, then tentatively raised a hand to Buffy's cheek and held her face. When Buffy met her eyes, she could see that Sumiko was crying. Buffy took a sobbing breath and covered Sumiko's hand with her own. "It's okay," Buffy whispered. "It really is. Just let me do this."

Sumiko either understood her or gave up, and turned away to go into the stands beside Xiaoting and Agatha.

Ishak could not quite look into her eyes as he seated himself. "Buffy, I truly did not want matters to come to such a pass," he said.

"I believe you," Buffy said. "And that's the worst thing I could say about you. You don't want any of this, but you'll let it happen anyway."

Ishak flinched from her words, but he moved his chair into position and held up his hands. The amphitheater fell silent instantly; the quiet was more ominous than the shouting had been. Buffy shivered.

"People of London!" Ishak called. "We have lost one of our beloved Slayers. And though that tragedy alone would be great enough to break our hearts, we have another to bear. Sky Kahurangi died at the hands of one of our own. At the hands of the vampire Angel, long trusted by this Council. His betrayal has cost us one of the city's protectors, and has made clear to us all that his past crimes were unwisely ignored. And for these crimes, we bring Angel to trial."

On Ishak's motion, one of the side doors opened. Two heavyset Watchers pushed their way through, Angel between them.

The crowd began screaming -- truly screaming, shrieks of rage unlike anything Buffy had ever heard before. All her self-control nearly broke at the sight of Angel; he was dirty and his wrists were manacled together. They'd taken the bloodstained tunic, and on his face and body she could see cuts and bruises that hadn't been there when she'd seen him last.

His head was bowed, but as they pulled him to the center of the circle, he lifted it slowly, looking directly at her. Angel's expression betrayed surprise at first, and then a kind of sad gratitude that made tears spring to Buffy's eyes.

She blinked them back again and tried to smile for him. "I love you," he mouthed.

"I love you too," she whispered.

The crowd continued to jeer. Ishak let them go on for a very long time.

Finally, Ishak held up his hand again. As the crowd settled down -- it took them a few seconds, this time -- he said in a low voice, "Go forward now. Obey your promise."

The guards pulled away from Angel as Buffy walked up to him, stake in hand. Angel wavered slightly on his feet, but his eyes were clear.

"The vampire Angel, for one hundred and fifty years, savaged the people of Europe, Asia and the Americas," Markwith began. "What he has done in the three and one-half centuries since feigning his virtue is largely unknown. His murders have included the young, the innocent, the elderly. Angel is guilty of crimes beyond number --"

"Hold," Buffy said loudly. The crowd buzzed. Angel stared.

Markwith cut in, "Remember your word!"

"I said I would follow the rules!" Buffy said, letting her voice carry. "And the rules say that the Slayer's right to speak in the Chamber is sacrosanct. That means it can't be taken away, no matter what." Then she paused, doubting, and glanced quickly over at Frances. "That is what sacrosanct means, right?" Frances nodded quickly, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Ishak looked at her, his face grim. Behind him, Markwith was glowering. Ishak said, "Speak, then."

"I'll carry out the Council's sentence," Buffy said. "I'll do what they ask me to do. But after today, I'm not going to follow their orders anymore. They -- they'll try to tell you," she motioned up at the crowds above the Watchers, "that it's because they did this to Angel. Because I believe he's innocent -- and I do. But the real reason I'm quitting is that I refuse to keep fighting a war they won't let me win."

The crowd rumbled slightly at this -- this wasn't what they were expecting. But they were listening, which was almost more than she had dared hope.

Markwith was staring at her now. His old veneer of superiority was gone; his gaze was intense, even fearful. Buffy took courage from that and continued. "Ask yourselves why the Council forbids magic as evil when the Council uses magic themselves. Ask yourselves why the Council won't let anyone else learn or practice the spells they have for protection."

Ishak said, "This is enough --"

The heavyset Watchers moved forward to get her, and Buffy tensed, but the people began to yell. Buffy could only make out a few words here and there, but over and over again, she heard, "Let her speak!" A few people got to their feet as the Watchers headed toward Buffy -- they looked as though they might begin to climb down into the center. Ishak quickly motioned the Watchers back, looking daggers at Buffy.

She held up her hand for silence, and the people were quiet immediately. Buffy looked back up into the crowd. "Human beings can kill demons and vampires too. It doesn't take a Slayer. And the Council has about a zillion weapons. Ask yourselves why they don't arm you and teach you. Ask yourselves why the Watchers don't pick up some crossbows themselves and help patrol this city to keep it safe."

Buffy gulped in a quick breath and kept on. "Ask yourselves why some of you -- some of you right here, today -- have seen the Council or a Slayer participating in burnouts. You have to have known. Word gets around this city overnight; I bet you all know. But you're too scared to ask why."

She motioned wide with her arms, taking in the whole room. "Look around you. You live in crowded rooms in buildings that aren't safe. You don't have enough to eat. And the Watchers live in a palace. They have everything they could ever want -- everything you could ever want -- and they keep it for themselves. And why do you let them?" Buffy laughed. "Because the Council keeps telling you we're fighting the war. And they're gonna keep fighting it. But they're never gonna win, because the day they win is the day you don't need them anymore. And the power and the wealth go away. The day they win the war for you is the day they lose."

Frances was staring at her in pure horror; Buffy realized that Frances truly hadn't realized this. About half of the Watchers wore the same expression of stunned realization. The other half -- Ishak and Markwith among them -- were looking at her with cold fury.

Above them, the people were murmuring louder and louder. Ishak held up his hand. It took the crowd a very long time to be quiet this time. "We have heard enough of a young girl's fantasies. Perhaps someone else should take this role --"

"No," Buffy said. "I've said what I wanted to say. And I'll do what you command. Call out the crimes."

Angel had been watching her with a mixture of amazement and pride. He managed a smile for Buffy as she turned back to him. "You got them," he said. "I can go, knowing you've won."

Buffy dropped her gaze from his eyes. "Don't look at me," she whispered desperately. "If you do, I can't get through it."

After a moment, Angel said, "I -- I'll need to look at you at the end --"

Buffy did not trust herself to answer out loud. She just nodded and tightened her fist around her stake.

The crowd was restless now, visibly and audibly unhappy, and those Watchers who hadn't been in the know were openly whispering among themselves, moving around. Ishak turned quickly and said, "This court has historical documents and proof of the following twenty-three crimes: the murder of Gregory Abbott --"

Buffy forced herself to plunge the stake into Angel's shoulder. He stifled his cry of pain, and she choked back her own sob. The crowd roared, but they were not cheering.

"The torture and murder of eighteen nuns of the Lady of Perpetual Sorrow convent --"

Buffy struck Angel's arm this time, and he couldn't stop himself from a quick shout of pain.

Oh, God, she thought, oh, God, please get me through this, please get us through this --

"The murder of Corinne Debevais --"

In his thigh this time. Blood on her hand. Blood on the floor now.

"The murder of Anthony Crenshaw --"

In the side. Angel staggered back. Buffy forced herself to step forward, to stay close.

The crowd was louder now. She could hear them calling for the Council to stop.

But Buffy now knew the Council would not stop. Ishak's voice was only growing more assured. Name after name, he called out. Time after time, Buffy struck. Her heart was pounding, and the combination of horror and physical weakness were catching up with her. She had to go on. Angel fell to his knees and she had to go on, she had to do it, she couldn't run away from it this time --

It didn't work, she thought despairingly. It didn't work.

"The murder of Jennifer Calendar."

Buffy's eyes widened. She'd lost count during all the horror, but she knew Jenny's death would be one of the last crimes they called out. This is the end, Buffy thought. This is the end.

She struck again in the shoulder, near the first wound, and Angel cried out. She was sobbing now. He managed to whisper, "Almost over -- just two more --" He finally lifted his head to look at her face, so she would be the last thing he saw. Blood had spattered on his cheeks and forehead. Buffy wondered how much blood was on her now.

"The torture of Watcher Rupert Giles --"

Buffy struck in the shoulder again. Just two more, she thought. One for Angel, one for me.

Ishak said, "And finally, for the murder of Sky Kahurangi the Vampire Slayer, this court sentences you to --"

Brilliant white light flashed around Angel, flashed from within him, and Buffy gasped in surprise. The cries from the crowd changed to shouts of panic and shock. Angel went rigid, his back arching as though he had been electrocuted. For a moment, he remained frozen in the light -- mouth open, eyes shut. Buffy was too stunned even to reach out to help him. Then the light faded, and he slumped to the ground.

Dimly, Buffy was aware of Frances hurrying to join her. Angel's eyes were still shut. He wasn't moving.

Unbelieving, Buffy stared at his bloodied, broken form. Too late, she thought. It worked -- it worked too late -- I hurt him too much --

Angel opened his eyes. He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. Then again. And again. He looked up at her in dazed wonder. She stumbled back, stared at the stake in her hand. It glamed red with Angel's blood -- and, deep within the grain, with traces of silvery-white from the Mohra demon blood it had soaked in all day.

Frances stooped at Angel's side, touched him gingerly. Then she put her hand on his chest and began to smile. She stood up and announced, "Angel has been transformed into a human."

"It's a miracle!" someone in the crowd yelled, and the people took up the chant. They were happy now, better than happy, ecstatic with the proof of Angel's innocence and the further proof of Buffy's semidivnity. Buffy fell to her knees, cradled Angel close.

"Oh, God, Angel, I'm sorry I had to hurt you --"

Angel shook his head. "You never give up, do you?"

"Not anymore," Buffy whispered. She looked up at Frances. "He needs a doctor --"

Markwith was staring, horrified, at the bedlam in the amphitheater. Ishak was watching too, but his expression was resigned, even sad. Frances called out, "Angel's guilt or innocence must still be determined -"

The crowd didn't want to hear this and began to boo, but Buffy held up her hand to silence them again. Frances continued, "As a human, Angel is entitled to the protections of law. And to a full investigation into the death of the Slayer Sky. Rest assured that we will not stop until the truth is revealed. We must now begin these investigations and see to Angel's medical care. Go back to your homes!"

People cheered again. Ishak lowered his chair as the dome began to close.

Buffy kissed Angel's forehead. "Hang on, Angel. We'll get you a transfusion or something -- I could donate blood --"

"You've done that enough," Angel said. He was weak, but his expression was actually more focused than it had been moments ago. "I'll be all right. The Mohra demon blood --"

"Yes," Frances said. The dome was finally sliding shut now. "Yes, that's right. It should heal these wounds quickly. But you'll still need a doctor --"

The dome slid shut, and Markwith shouted, "You mean to destroy this Council!"

Buffy glared up at him. "I just told the truth. Finally."

A Watcher Buffy had never met stood up. "If what she says is true, maybe it's time this Council was destroyed. Or at least made to do what it's meant to do --"

Frances said, "I've followed these procedures so long I never asked what they were for. I think we all know now."

Ishak's head was bowed, but he looked up at them again. "This Council must run as it has always been run. You know how much good we have done in the past. Don't question us now because an upset girl wants to help her lover. You all want to believe her words are false. Believe that."

"You're the real vampires here," Buffy said. "More than Angel was. More than Kean, even. At least his audience knew the price of admission to his show."

The Watchers were arguing among themselves now, moving around. Two small groups -- the corrupt and the outraged -- were already clear. But the largest number of Watchers were still uncertain, confused, upset. Buffy could feel the situation getting even more tense. Angel whispered, "They don't patrol, Buffy, but they do know how to fight --"

"Understood," she said, reaching back to grip the stake she had dropped.

Markwith was staring at her. "I do not know how you did this," he said. "But this was no miracle worked by the Powers."

"Wasn't it?" Buffy said. "I think the Powers had a lot to do with this. And you'll never convince the people of London that they didn't."

"The people of London believe what we tell them to believe," Markwith said.

"She just raised the dead in front of thirty thousand people," Frances said. "You're not going to have much luck discrediting her after that."

"Even when we explain the full truth behind Sky's death?" Markwith said. "Angel was certainly involved, but I think we all know the full blame lies elsewhere."

"Yes," Buffy said. "I killed Sky. She was killing witches -- human beings. I saw her and she tried to kill me. So I killed her."

The Watchers reacted to this, but in different ways. Some were glaring at her, others at Markwith. Agatha clapped her hands to her mouth, and Xiaoting's face was twisted in confusion and rage.

Ishak said, "We have a confession. An investigation can follow. For now, Buffy must go to the Tower."

Buffy lowered Angel to the ground, got to her feet. "I'm not going without a fight."

Frances said, "If Buffy goes into the Tower, she's not coming out again. And -- you can't take her. I won't let you." She squared her shoulders, and Buffy hoped Frances was a whole lot better in combat than she generally looked in the practice room.

Ishak said, "Xiaoting? Agatha? Please see to Buffy."

Xiaoting went quickly to do it. Agatha was crying, but she followed Xiaoting. Frances began to look a little pale. Buffy took a deep breath. This was the last thing she wanted, but she'd do what she had to do --

She heard the rustle of clothing next to her and turned to see Sumiko standing by her side, sword at the ready. Buffy bit her lip before whispering, "Well, that's one more on our side."

"I'm all you need," Sumiko said. Buffy stared. Beside her, she heard Frances gasp.

"Buffy is speaking the truth," Sumiko announced. At the sound of her voice -- speaking perfect, crisp English -- the entire Council was apparently shocked into silence. Markwith stepped forward, his mouth agape, but could say nothing. Sumiko continued, "I have proof of her words about the Council's acts against those who use magic outside the Keep. I have taken the documents and records from Markwith's rooms and placed them in my own. And if anyone doubts Buffy's words about Sky, they may hear Aaron Markwith confirm them himself."

She took one hand from her sword and put it into her pocket to pull out the small recorder. Buffy, unable to put together a more cogent statement, said, "I thought you didn't know how to use that."

"To play, you press play," Sumiko muttered. "To record, you press record. The principle is fairly elementary, wouldn't you say?"

Ishak said, "You -- you speak English."

"Your powers of observation are awe-inspiring," Sumiko said.

Markwith was staring at her with what looked like real pain in his eyes. "You lied to me," he said. "You lied to us -- why didn't you tell us?"

"All warfare is based on deception," Sumiko said. "Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable. When using our forces, we must seem inactive. Sun Tzu, The Art of War. The first thing I saw when I woke up were the instruments of dark magic. The darkest magic, a spell no one could use for any good purpose. I knew I could not trust those around me. And I pretended ignorance so that others would disregard me. Apparently people will say almost anything to a person they think will not understand."

Markwith flushed. Frances collected herself enough to say, "You realized the same things Buffy realized. And you set about proving it."

"I did not understand the Council's motivations, as Buffy did," Sumiko said. "I did not know why they committed murder, but I knew that they had. So I kept my silence until I had proof and opportunity. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. Sun Tzu again. My Watcher taught me that. He was a true warrior, and a scholar, and he knew his work in life. He did not play at being a monarch. Though, if he had seen the lot of you at it, he would have told you that both war and scholarship could prepare you better."

The mood in the room had changed now -- the group near Markwith and Ishak was smaller, and the other substantially bigger. Agatha had relaxed entirely and was crying openly now, but apparently from relief. Xiaoting folded her arms uncertainly, both shielding herself from Buffy and demonstrating that she would not strike.

Buffy went to her knees again beside Angel. "I don't believe it," he said wonderingly.

"Me either," she said. "But we made it, Angel. We made it."

Sumiko bent down near them. "Are you all right?"

"You rock," Buffy said. "That's a compliment, by the way."

Sumiko smiled. "I lived for fourteen years as a Slayer," she said. "Did you think that was luck?"

*

continue