by K Schultz
“Now,” began Eideron, “Tell us what you know”
Aibhera and Simea told their stories in a torrent of words that blended like water in a stream, as they interrupted, clarified and corrected one another. The tension in the room and the barriers to friendship had evaporated like morning mist. Both Himish and Eideron listened, without comment. When Aibhera and Simea had both finished speaking, Himish looked grave as he spoke to Eideron.
“You were right old friend. The Synod needs this information. Perhaps we can get it on the next meeting’s agenda. It appears the Eniila and the Abrhaani are working together again, which fulfills the old prophecy. This means we must rejoin them.”
Eideron looked at Aibhera. “Why aren’t you apprenticed to someone? You are extremely gifted. What was your score in the testing?”
Both young people paled as if the room’s temperature had fallen near freezing.
“What is wrong?”
“The Synod has never tested Aibhera,” Simea blurted.
“I detect no falsehood in the statement but —” Himish started.
“Don’t try to protect me, Sim.”
Aibhera silenced Simea, when it appeared he would start again.
“All right then! Who tested you? Since by the wording of Simea’s half-truth someone tested you. Moreover, why didn’t we test you? It is compulsory that every youngster is tested at puberty, by Synod law.” Eideron’s voice rose in volume.
“It’s not her fault Master; they rejected her for testing.”
“Who? Who disallowed her? For what reason?” Eideron’s volume increased again and Simea trembled, but he wouldn’t back down, out of loyalty to Aibhera.
“Enough! Eideron, be calm!” said Himish. “Stop bellowing, and listen to them.”
“Aibhera, tell us what happened,” Eideron said, as he took control of his passions.
“Simea’s telling the truth. the Testing Committee refused to allow me to sit for the test. Simea felt it was unfair and smuggled the test to me so I could take it after he did.”
“What reason did Councilor Herron and his bunch of legalistic nitwits, give for disallowing you to test?”
“The Testing Committee said I was unfit because my mother had remarried”
“What does your mother have to do with it?” it was Himish’s turn to raise his voice.
Aibhera continued in spite of the interruption. “My mother had remarried, sir, and they said that I was morally unfit for testing because of it.”
“They can’t do that!” he spluttered. “The only reason for disallowing testing is for immorality.”
“Yes, they said her mother’s immorality prevented Aibhera from being tested.” Simea interjected.
“What!” Both men shouted, in unison.
The older men’s reaction baffled the youngsters who had expected a scolding, at the very least, for disobeying the direct edict of the Testing Committee. Now they saw two men they had begun trusting, both in fits of rage, but neither man was angry with them. They witnessed a whirlwind of anger and indignation, but Simea and Aibhera stood untouched at its center, nervous, and puzzled.
Himish was the first to comment on their bewilderment.
“The only reason for disallowing testing is moral failure,” he began.
“Have you had any personal moral failure, to your knowledge, or Simea’s?” Eideron asked.
“No,” they both said, still confused.
“You may only, be rejected for your own moral failure, not someone else’s immorality. There is a very good reason for that rule.” Eideron spoke slowly and with heavy emphasis.
“As a matter of curiosity,” Himish interrupted. “What was your score Aibhera?”
The youngsters understood the Testing Committee had overstepped their authority, and Aibhera could serve as an apprentice.
“Aibhera scored ten points higher than I did,” Simea boasted, proud of his friend’s spiritual and mental prowess.
“Those idiots! — Himish, we have sitting before us, the two highest test scores in at least eight generations, and that moron, Herron has disallowed the better of the two from testing!”
“I know. It’s no wonder things are going to hell here.”
“We must get her examined; otherwise they will not allow her to testify in the Council. This is too important to let those pompous bombasts win. I believe our interpretation of what Simea and Aibhera told us is correct. The Council will allow Aarda’s destruction, while we dither and debate. The Abrhaani and the Eniila are fulfilling the prophecy, while we, the supposed protectors of truth, cower here in Abalon, ignoring our responsibilities. They are ready and we must join them. They need us.”
“A few of them have joined forces,” Himish qualified.
“Then it’s time for us to join those that are working together, before the Nethera gain strength.”
“I agree. The Nethera will destroy them without our help. How can they win, when they can’t even see what they are fighting?”
“Or who is on their side.”
“I will talk to the ones I trust on Council.”
“As will I. I hope we can gain support.”
“What can we do to help, Master?” Simea asked.
“Nothing for now. Aibhera, we will contact you with the time for your exam. Until then, both of you return to your duties, and leave this matter to us.”
“I believe I hear my bed calling me, so I will go now,” Himish said. “It appears the Bright Host is active again too. We have seen nothing of them since the sundering. That alone is a momentous event.”
“Yes, momentous indeed,” Eideron seconded.
“Simea, see your friend home. I will tend to your chores tonight. You have both done well and I am proud of you.”
Simea blushed again, as he received the words of praise from Eideron. Aibhera knew it was not embarrassment this time. He basked in the warm glow of his mentor’s acceptance and approval.
As they left, Eideron removed the plates from the table. It felt good doing honest work again. He had suffered pampering and coddling long enough, so had the rest of the Sokai. It was long past time, for the Lion of the Synod to roar again. He doubted that he had many more opportunities.
Chapter 34
Laakea and Isil spent the day preparing, so they could leave as soon as Rehaak returned with Laakea’s leather strips. Isil packed provisions and blankets, while Laakea tested the balance and weight of his new weapons. Once satisfied with the wrapping on the grips he took some practice cuts at the tall stump he and his father had used as a practice pale. The weapons sliced a span deep gash into the hard wood, with only light effort.
Laakea padded the backside of the breastplate and tied it in place, with cords instead of leather straps. By midday, satisfied with the weapons and armor, Laakea set everything together, and added his leather forearm guards to the pile. The leather had protected him from sparks when he worked the forge, so he suspected that the heavy leather would also protect him from weapons.
They expected Rehaak to return in the early evening, so they planned to set out at first light the following day. Isil had prepared another meal to share. Laakea had recovered from his ordeal, in The Creator’s forge but his belly seemed bottomless and he amazed her with the amount he ate. Isil supposed he required more fuel than an Abrhaani, because of his large frame and muscles.
“Thank you for cooking again Isil, you and Rehaak have the knack of it. I don’t.”
“Dat be a bit o’ understatement, methinks, but yer welcome,” Isil teased, though she did not have firsthand knowledge of Laakea’s infamous cooking.
“Could you tell me more of Voerkett, your husband, if you don’t mind?”
“Sure I’ll tell yuh bout him if yuh likes. I got most o’ duh hate outta me now. Whaddayuh wanna know?”
“Do you know his history before you met him?”
“Sure, he told me stuff ‘bout how he used tuh live in Baradon. Does dat interest yuh, lad?”
�
�Yes, very much. Go ahead.”
“Voerkett’s folk wuz rich merchants. He wuz born an grew up tuh be a strappin lad like yerself in duh port city o’ E’shook. His kin were important folk in dat city.”
“What caused them to leave?”
“Dat’s duh story I’m getting to, if yuh keeps yer britches on.”
“Sorry,” Laakea apologized, taking another bite.
“Duh city was under siege by yer Pa’s folk, an duh gates of duh city were about tuh fall. Young Voerkett’s folks hid him into a secret room above duh portico, in dere mansion, tuh hide him from duh invaders. He wuz a small boy, maybe eight or nine summers.”
Laakea remembered the name of the city from stories his mother told him. Aelfric, his father, led the Eniila forces that took E’shook, and forced the Abrhaani out of Baradon. According to Shelhera, E’shook was the last of the Abrhaani cities in Baradon to fall. It was the Eniila’s final victory for control of Baradon. It forced the Abrhaani out and sent them packing, back to Khel Braah. The victory set the Eniila free and left them in control of their own homeland. Laakea’s attention shifted back to Isil’s story.
“While he was in hidin, he could see duh city below him from duh window of his secret room. Voerkett watched as duh Eniila broke duh gates and stormed into duh city. Our people fought, tuh defend dere homes and dere families, but dey was no match for duh bloodthirsty Eniila invaders.”
Laakea always imagined the battle, as a glorious uprising of the Eniila people, to repel Abrhaani interlopers. The story, told from the Abrhaani viewpoint, with Eniila forces described as bloodthirsty invaders of a peaceful and prosperous city disturbed him. Laakea wanted to correct Isil’s account, but he resisted out of loyalty to her. Isil had earned the right to her opinions, without argument from him, although he knew she was wrong.
“Fightin flowed right up to duh house where Voerkett wuz hid, as duh Abrhaani forces fell back to duh center of duh city. Duh last of duh city’s forces made a stand on duh steps of duh house, with Voerkett’s father and dere household-guard. Duh guards withstood several vicious charges from duh Eniila warriors. Dey held on, until duh King of duh Eniila arrived.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but what did he look like?” Laakea asked, hungry for details.
“Duh King wuz an enormous man, with a fearsome look in his eye, covered in duh blood o’ his victims. He wore a great round helmet an carried a big two-handed sword. Dere wuz a big gash on his left cheek, so dat side o’ his face an chest wuz covered in blood. Voerkett tol’ me he looked like a rampaging demon, escaped from hell.”
Isil’s description awakened memories in Laakea as he remembered his father’s many battle scars that covered his body and face. Aelfric, had a big scar on his left cheek that glowed like coals from the forge when he was angry, but many Eniila bore similar scars.
Aelfric called his scars, “Evidence of hard lessons learned and bitter memories best forgotten.”
Isil went on, “Once he got dere, things changed. Duh King organized duh forces dat had bin skirmishin with duh household-guard and led duh final assault on the house. He cut through duh defenders’ like a hot knife through lard. His men followed him, fighting dere way up duh blood soaked stairs and over duh bodies o’ duh fallen.”
Duh household-guard surrounded Voerkett’s father, tryin tuh protect him but duh King, an his blood crazed horde, cut dere way through dem. When duh guards wuz dead, he made Voerkett’s Pa kneel in front o’ him, while dey brought duh servants, duh women, an Voerkett’s Ma. He made ‘em kneel beside Voerkett’s Pa, while dey looted duh mansion.”
“Once duh valuables wuz hauled away, duh King said to Voerkett’s Pa, ‘You Abrhaani can expect more of this, if you ever set foot in Baradon again. This is our land, not yours. I suggest you return to Khel Brah. You may only remain in Baradon either dead or in chains. What is your choice? You may give your answer to my men.’ He turned and walked away through duh bodies without waitin for duh answer.”
“Voerkett said, dat he would never forget dat face, as long as he lived. He swore to get vengeance on duh Eniila, an dere King fer what happened dat day.”
“Why was he so bitter, when the King allowed them to leave?”
“But dey weren’t laddy. Dose bastards stripped and raped duh women; even Voerkett’s ma. Dey forced his Pa tuh watch it.”
Voerkett watched too, from duh window above duh portico. Some o’ duh women died from bein raped multiple times. Once dey done dere worst tuh duh women, dey cut off Voerkett’s Pa’s head an stuck it on a spear, a trophy tuh parade around duh city. Anyone dat survived, dey took away in chains tuh be slaves.”
Laakea felt sick. He no longer wanted to correct her version of the story. Laakea imagined his reaction, if he saw his mother raped and his father butchered like an animal, in front of their home. Those images could poison a life forever. Laakea felt sorry for Voerkett, and ashamed of his father’s people. There was no honor, or justice in such behavior. He couldn’t bring himself to ask if Voerkett’s mother had survived the rape. Isil never mentioned it, perhaps Voerkett never told her.
Isil continued, “Once night fell duh Eniila got tuh celebratin dere great victory, with more raping and burnin. Voerkett slipped out o’ his secret room. It took days of hidin in duh sewers, eatin rats, lizards, an other filth before he found a small yacht anchored offshore. He swam out tuh it and climbed aboard duh boat. Duh Eniila don’t put much stock in boats, so dey had left duh boats alone. Most had sailed away tuh escape duh carnage but dis one’s owner waited too long.”
“He took more dan a tenday tuh sail across duh Syn Gersuul by hisself, tuh Khel Braah. Voerkett wuz almost starved, and he was sick from dehydration, by duh time he got tuh Khel Braah. He used tuh wake up with nightmares from duh memories.”
Chapter 35
After hours of debate, they were no closer to a resolution than at the beginning. What began as an orderly meeting had descended into chaos. Amoreya regained control of the meeting, by pounding her staff of office on the dais. The volume of a hundred voices dropped, from the roar of a waterfall to the trickle of a brook. She stared down the few remaining speakers, until she had complete silence.
“On the motion of testing for the girl, Aibhera Liara, we will vote,” she declared. “The vote on whether to allow her to give evidence to the Synod Council will be deferred, pending the outcome of the vote on testing.”
“It is unnecessary to vote on this matter,” Herron shouted with contempt in his voice. “This young — woman.” Herron looked at Eideron and Himish with deliberate disdain. “The Testing Committee found her unfit, and their judgment should be final. If you overrule them, you set a bad precedent.”
“The Committee already set the bad precedent, Herron,” Eideron interrupted. “Overruling that stupid mistake, is simply a step in the right direction.”
The noise level of the combined voices rose again, as people voiced their agreements with either one side or the other.
“Silence! All of you!”
Amoreya voice could carry across a crowded room, no matter what competed with it. “There will be a vote! Right now! No further debate!”
“All in favor!” bellowed the Steward of the Chamber, as he rose out of his seat beside the speaker. He counted the vote and wrote it on his tally sheet.
“Those opposed.” The Steward counted again.
“Abstentions.” He made the final tally.
Himish and Eideron saw it was a near thing either way. They never expected this result. They had prepared for weeks, cajoling their friends, as they tried to convince them to right the injustice done to Aibhera. Eideron sensed he was out of touch with the Synod, when he realized how influential Herron had become. Eideron cursed himself for not noticing. Herron was busy, accumulating favors, while Eideron was busy, standing on principles. It had come to a vote based on politics versus principles.
“If the Synod has descended to decision making based on nothing more than popularity,” he whispered to Hi
mish. “The Sokai are doomed.”
Herron and his cronies did everything in their power to save face. They had slandered Aibhera, and her younger sister, who they claimed was a seductress. They brought several young men forward with testimonies against her. Eideron asked why they branded Kyonna as iniquitous, and excluded her from testing, when the young men, guilty by their own admission, could still be accepted. Eideron asked what made Herron allow admitted lechers to test, when they had disqualified Aibhera, in spite of no proof of wrongdoing. That caused a furor, which Amoreya eventually quelled.
Herron and his cohorts maligned Simea, for associating with Aibhera and her sister. They alleged there was impropriety in their relationship, but could not offer any proof of the allegation. They argued that based on those allegations Simea’s testimony was suspect and disallowed on the same grounds as Aibhera’s.
Eideron countered, “If you have witnesses to any moral failure by Simea or Aibhera, where are they? Unsubstantiated claims are not, nor have they ever been, proof of anything, other than the accuser’s prejudiced mind. If there was any failure, it was the failure of my colleague and his friends on the Testing Committee, to treat every applicant with impartiality and fairness. Their failure is obvious to anyone who values the truth.”
Those comments provoked another uproar, which led Amoreya to pound on the podium with her staff and call for the vote. The debate had concluded and the Steward counted the raised hands. The murmur of conversations subsided as everyone waited for the result
“This has not gone well old friend,” Himish whispered.
Eideron nodded in agreement but his mind contrived alternative plans. His gut told him they would lose this vote.
The Steward rose, walked to the podium and handed the speaker the tally sheet. The crowd went silent, expecting the announcement.
“On the motion to allow testing for the girl Aibhera Liara, daughter of Riessa Liara, the motion fails,” she said. “The vote is forty five in favor to fifty one against, with four abstentions. The full Council was present with no members missing, so quorum was not in doubt.”