Security was tight around the Main Cameral’s High Council deliberation chamber. Eight guards stood silently, only nodding to the group as they approached. Mink knew each of them must represent a different Element, and figured they had some crazy effect or another chanted and ready to go as soon as they gave the implementation. All being dressed alike, it was impossible to guess each guard’s affinity.
Inside the chamber, the Advocates’ seats were arranged stadium style with four rows of sixteen seats. The few Advocates who had gathered were busying themselves at their seats and didn’t seem to notice Mink’s entrance. In front of the Advocates’ seating, a Wooden dais held a glass podium and eight high-back chairs. Behind the eight chairs, the Octernal flag hung, depicting a red eight-pointed Star of Order against a blue background.
Durren directed Mink up to the dais. Mink found four slots for holding crystals, each a different size, carved into the top of the glass podium. The Wood of the dais had grains, proving that it was natural Wood and not Materialized. Very fancy.
“Mink, please have a seat over there,” Durren said, indicating one of the eight seats behind the podium. They were also natural Wood and possibly thousands of years old. Mink had never sat in a chair worth more than his house before. “Thurbst is going to call you up at some point to answer some questions. Only answer what you are absolutely certain about and can verify.”
“That won’t be a whole lot, but we’ll see.” Mink shuffled off to the closest chair and plopped down.
Durren took his seat in the upper tier in the column of seats for the Floth Prefecture. Ready to call in the other Advocates for assembly, Thurbst went to the podium on the dais. He removed a crystal from a cloth pouch and placed it in the recess on the top left of the podium, where it began to flash red, signaling Advocates throughout the Main Cameral building to come to the chamber. Turning briefly back to face Mink, Thurbst winked and then put his game face on.
In no time at all, every Advocate had entered the chamber and taken their seat. Mink expected to have plenty of time to work up a maybe-next-time excuse for the party. His presence sitting on the dais did not go unnoticed, but it didn’t cause as much of stir as he had feared. Mink knew Advocates from the same prefecture sat in the same column of seats, two elected and two appointed. He made a game of trying to guess which prefecture each one represented. Thurbst stood statuesque at the podium, waiting quietly until all eyes were on him, and all voices silent.
“My fellow countrymen, I ask you here to work with me on addressing what will be the most significant turning point of our time.” Thurbst held aloft Juré’s crystal. “A classified message from one of our intelligence operatives in Floth, Juré Jolle, has been brought to me by his son, my friend Mink Jolle.” Thurbst gestured grandly toward Mink. To the mild amusement of several members, Mink waved to the Advocates.
“In just a moment, I will ask all of you to honor me by listening to Juré’s report. But first, I will ask all of you to empty your thoughts of the prefectures you represent and the agendas you have waiting for you back in your offices. Please, listen with unburdened mind and heart, thinking only of the country we serve. The direction this country’s history will take is in your hands.” Thurbst followed his preface by ceremoniously placing the crystal in the slot at the top right of the podium.
All of the Advocates, even Durren, placed their hands on the crystals that sat on the table in front of their seats. The room fell quieter than a thornball factory. Mink watched as some became emotional. At certain points, all members turned to one prefecture or another. No one said a word. Just before they released their crystals, they looked at Mink. The room then buzzed with chatter as the Advocates started discussing the message with their neighbors.
Thurbst raised his hands and stood at the podium until all focused silently on him again. “We must make ready for war!” shouted an elderly stateswoman from the left of the room. Conflicting reactions to the declaration filled the room simultaneously. Mink looked to Durren who reassured Mink with a patting motion of his hand.
“That’s a move for action of war from Briph Prefecture.” Thurbst presented, settling the room once more. “Do the other Advocates from Briph support this action?” One stood and voiced his favor, but the other two remained sitting. “The action has been quashed.” A long silence followed. Thurbst took the initiative, saying, “First we must secure the Tear of God for Octernal. Do the other Advocates from Millshur support this action?”
All three of the other Advocates from Millshur stood and gave their favor. “We have an action on the floor for securing the Tear of God. Does the assembly support this action?” Mink counted ten Advocates who remained seated. He wondered what reason they could have for not wanting to secure it, but guessed he might never know.
“Fifty-four for and ten against. We have decided on action for securing the Tear of God for Octernal. We will now hear suggestions for actions by which to secure it.”
“This is a Tear of God we speak of,” trumpeted a statesman from the middle section. “We must send all of our army to bring it here. We cannot risk losing it.”
“There is a motion for action of sending the army from Atriarb. What say the other Advocates from Atriarb?”
The stateswoman sitting behind the one who presented the action stood and declared, “I have an objection to the motion. Sending the army will be seen as an act of war.”
“Do the other Advocates support the objection?” asked Thurbst. None stood or spoke, and the stateswoman sat. “Do the other Advocates support the motion for action?” The other two Advocates from Atriarb stood and gave their support of the action. “The motion for sending the army goes to the floor. How does this assembly support the action?”
A small number of Advocates stood and gave their support, including the stateswoman from Briph. It was clear to Mink that there wasn’t enough support.
“The motion for sending the army has been quashed. Is there another motion?”
After a long stretch of silence, Durren stood. “I move that we send a smaller team, just large enough to extract the Tear of God and bring it here.”
“What say the other Advocates from Floth on the action of sending a smaller team?”
“I object to the action,” said Maino, who Mink recognized as one of the two Advocates appointed by the Prefect in Floth. “It puts successful transport of the Tear of God at risk, as well as jeapordizing the lives of the entire team, should the enemy catch up with them.”
“Do the other Advocates support the objection?”
Brop stood and supported the objection. Mink remembered that Brop was related to Pulti somehow and had met him once many years ago at a picnic. He never really liked him and figured he wasn’t going to start now.
“The motion has been quashed. Are there any other motions for action in securing the Tear of God?”
The ensuing silence became crushing. Then the elderly stateswoman from Briph stood again.
“If there are no new actions, I would like to state my case for preparing for war.”
Thurbst inquired of the assembly, “Are there any new actions to move?” Silence was the reply.
“Advocate Plisthb, please state your case,” Mink detected a tone of animosity in Thurbst’s voice.
“As we all know from the report,” Plisthb began. “Machinists have been collecting data on sites where ore can be found on our land. They are running out of their own resources and plan to expand their borders, with force if necessary. How long do you think the ore in the wilderness will satisfy them? The largest lode in Octernal extends into my Prefecture of Briph. I have the safety and lives of my constituents to consider. I do not propose that we initiate war. I say that war is already upon us!” Plisthb remained standing, seeming to expect approval.
“The lode you refer to is mostly located in my Prefecture of Millshur, Advocate Plisthb,” Thurbst countered. “Millshur has more to risk than Briph and yet I do not advocate war.”
“Wh
ether or not you care for your constituents, I must leave for them to—”
Thurbst cut Plisthb off in Smranksth. “Nyskth Arphk Phobst!” Mink didn’t recognize the words, but they couldn’t have been kind. Plisthb sat down in a huff. Exhaling a long breath, Thurbst addressed the assembly. “War is not upon us. And if we bring war to our borders by sending an army, then we only have ourselves to blame.
“With the Tear of God secured inside our borders, we can ensure all of our constituents’ safety for thousands of years. Within a matter of days the Machinists may take the Tear of God for themselves. I think Durren’s action of sending a smaller team is the wisest option. A smaller group can move faster.”
Thurbst continued his speech. “We know more now about the Machinists’ surveillance capabilities from Juré’s report. We must not send a message of aggression. Before we act, we should have as much information as possible. Juré’s son, my friend Mink, has agreed to be available for your questions. Let us all have a clearer picture before we discuss further actions. Mink, please help us with your answers.” Thurbst stepped aside and indicated where Mink should stand.
MINK’S LEGS felt heavy as he approached the podium. Thurbst left the dais and took his seat in the Millshur column. In front of the assembly, Mink found it difficult to concentrate. He felt unsure of anything he knew. The sixty-four people that ran his country all turned their attention to him.
Then something happened that caught Mink completely off-guard. Every member of the High Council stood and applauded him. He felt both reassured and embarrassed. As they took their seats, he persuaded himself that they greeted all guest speakers this way.
“Thank you.” Mink bowed his head in gratitude.
The senior Advocate from the top row in the far right column stood and introduced herself. “Mink, I am Dyarna of the Eternsa Prefecture.” Mink had passed through Eternsa a few times, but his mother had pulled them so fast he never got a feel for it. “May I assume that your being here means that your mother succeeded in placing the Quick Legs effect on you?”
“Yes. She did.”
Another round of applause filled the room.
“You were able to use it well, it seems. This is extraordinary. Were your parents all right when you left them?”
“Yes, ma’am. They were.”
“Did you see any Machinists while you were with them?”
“Just an ore scout and his vehicle.”
“You saw the scout?” Dyarna asked, surprised.
“Yes.”
“Did you watch him die?”
“No. My father and I returned to camp before that.” Mink felt anxious about this line of questioning. On one hand, his mother’s success in turning a self effect into a target effect could earn her praise and recognition. On the other hand, Mink worried that killing the scout might get her in trouble. For the life of him, Mink couldn’t remember why the scout had to die.
“I have no more questions and will pass the witness,” Dyarna sat.
The senior Advocate beside her stood. “Mink, I am Shmecu, Advocate from the Hewl Prefecture.” Mink noticed she had a light Pashmeetan accent, like Gyov. The zee sound over the ‘th’ was a dead giveaway. He relaxed a bit at the thought of her. “Did your mother tell you how she disposed of the scout’s Body or vehicle?”
Mink racked his brain. If Nyam had told him or his father, Mink couldn’t remember. Not the kind of thing that someone just forgets, so Mink opted to respond, “She never said. I’m sorry.” Having a Spirit user for a dad, he learned to be evasive.
“Do you have any information about the scout that you can share with us, other than his appearance?” Shmecu’s tone was so coddling that Mink got the feeling she was laying a trap. He remembered Juré, Durren, and Thurbst cautioning him to only answer with information that was personally verifiable. Even though his dad did share some details, Mink wouldn’t know if they were the truth, or even if he remembered them correctly. Did he actually know anything at all about the scout?
“I only saw him briefly as he came out of the mine entrance and got into his vehicle. After my dad made him sleep and my mom and I went into the caverns, I never saw him or his vehicle again.”
“Did either your mom or dad tell you anything about the scout?” Shmecu pressed.
Mink had to risk the lie. “No. They didn’t talk about him.”
“Your dad reported that he used Silent Signal Fire on you while you were in the caverns, and thusly communicated information to you and your mother. Is that true?”
“Oh. True.” Sweat beaded on Mink’s forehead and he resisted the urge to wipe it.
“And what information did he communicate?”
“Directions. He was telling us where to go so we wouldn’t get lost.”
Shmecu became quiet and pursed her lips. “I have no further questions and pass the witness.”
Mink got dizzy and realized he was holding his breath. As the next Advocate stood, he consciously breathed deep and slow.
“Mink, I am Senior Advocate Hashem, from the Gynsgade Prefecture, and I only have one question.” Mink tended to find the Pashmeetan accent to sound haughty coming from males, but something about Hashem made Mink like him instantly. “Are you certain that what you saw is, in fact, a Tear of God?”
Suddenly, Mink remembered that Hashem was one of the ten Advocates who had remained sitting during the vote to claim the geode. He worried that Hashem’s stance would leave his parents alone and without rescue. Mink wanted to say that he did indeed identify the enormous crystal as the Tear of God, but how would he know? It was really his mother who was convinced, having touched it.
“Yes, sir. My mom and I verified it.”
“How did you verify it?”
“We went up to where the ore scout had broken off a section of the geode. My mom touched the crystal.” Mink did not like the sound of the gasps that followed.
“How many Tears of God have you seen before?” Hashem challenged Mink rhetorically.
“None.”
“I have no further questions and pass the witness.”
Mink couldn’t let it rest. “It’s larger than this building. It gave my mother enough power to—”
Hashem stood quickly and yelled back at Mink. “No one has asked you a question! If you cannot keep quiet, you will be arrested for contempt!” Whatever respect Mink had held for Hashem hardened to resentment.
Mink’s nervousness and embarrasment were replaced by anger. His Uncle Durren would be next to question him, and Mink hoped to God that he would help get the story back on track. Durren stood with a calm that led Mink to doubt whether his uncle had been paying attention at all.
MINK, I am Durren, Advocate from Floth. You are my nephew and we are well acquainted, correct?”
“Yes.” Mink was glad that only a few from the assembly seemed surprised by this information.
“My sister was the one who took you through the caverns, identified the Tear of God, and killed the scout by herself. She effected you with Quick Legs, Tunnel Vision, and Regenerative Cells, and then sent you back to Advocate Thurbst with the confidential message from your father, Juré, who is an intelligence operative. Is this information also correct?”
“Yes,” Mink replied, and then added with aplomb, “All of it.”
“What were the three of you doing out at Rift Ridge?”
Mink trusted that his uncle wouldn’t ask a question that would endanger himself or his parents. “I still haven’t discovered my Elemental affinity, so they were testing me with some advanced methods they developed.”
The murmur that circulated around the chamber satisfied Mink. The looks he had been getting were increasingly dubious and hostile, but now there was a palpable atmosphere of awe and respect.
His uncle continued. “As we also know from the report, your father first saw the scout while using the Mental Vacation effect in search of you.” The leading look Durren sent Mink telegraphed don’t-screw-this-up. “Then he brought you and yo
ur mother to the spot above where he found the vehicle was parked. Do I have that right?”
“Yes.”
“Had you finished your training?”
“No.”
“You stated earlier that your father is able to communicate with you through Silent Signal Fire, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Had he put other effects on you prior to that?”
Mink laughed. “Many, many times. Ever since I was very young.” The rest of the room chuckled.
“So,” Durren continued. “I guess you’re not a Body user.”
“That would be impossible, yes.”
“Okay. And yet, you were able to make it here from Rift Ridge in less than three days using an intermediate level Body effect? Are you sure it was Quick Legs?”
“Very sure. My mom has carted me around with Quick Legs my whole life. I’m familiar with the effect.”
“But how many times have you used Quick Legs before?”
“None.” Mink was confused. His mom had quite possibly just made history as the first known person to change a self effect into a target effect. He couldn’t have used Quick Legs before. Stupid question.
“And yet, you are positive, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it was Quick Legs?”
Brop shot up from his seat. “Objection. Asked and answered!”
“You are right, Advocate Brop. I have asked the question before and he has answered it. I will withdraw the question.” With that, Brop sat back down.
“When did your mother put Quick Legs on you? Before or after touching the alleged Tear of God?”
“After, sir.” Mink began to see where Durren was going and he liked it.
“How long after making contact with the stone? Minutes? Hours?”
“A few hours. First, she had to dig her way up through two miles of dirt, rock, and ore. We met up with my father, they deliberated over what to do about the scout, and she went off to kill him while my dad and I returned to our camp. She met up with us later. That’s when she put the effects on me and trained me on how to use Quick Legs.”
Elements (Tear of God Book 1) Page 10