by Kyle Belote
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Wouldn’t you?” Kayis countered.
“I am here in Ralloc and Judas is fleeing to only the gods could guess.”
“Is he?”
“What are you getting at?” Meristal snapped, perturbed.
“We are aware of the band of trolls that attacked Wizard’s Pass, and that goblins that slipped through the Corridor and sought shelter in Shadow City. The question is: how are you familiar with those facts?”
“Wait,” Meristal said, rising from her chair. “You knew about enemy movement, about both attacks, and have done nothing? How does someone as incompetent as you become elected? You realize war is starting and you are unprepared!”
Kayis’ smile stretched, oily and filled with contempt. Meristal wasn’t sure where he directed the contempt. Her? Judas? Ralloc in general? “Careful!” he hissed. “You not only address your Consul, but nobility as well, peasant.”
Cheeks flushed red, but her words came halting, fighting for control. She loathed narrow-minded, pretentious people. “You knew the goblins came through, and the vampires captured the elyves?”
“There is little I am not privy to. So the elyves want to play war, let them. Let them kill each other. What do I care? They are not wizardkind or Rallocan.”
Meristal rarely lost her composure. She could see all sides of an argument and value each opinion for its uniqueness. “You are repulsive! You’re cruel and xenophobic, no better than a boy playing with people’s lives like they are your toys! You have no honor or remorse, and your lack of morals makes you equal to Xilor.”
A flurry of murmurs rippled through the room. Hushed conversations erupted from all the delegates and aides below the dais of the Council. Some frantically whispered while others stood gawking. Whatever sway the Consul had vanished, shifted. She had torn him apart in front of his supporters, saying everything they already knew and thought. But she stated it openly, not only in front of his fellow delegates, but the few people from the public sitting in attendance and the aides. Kellis broke in before she could continue or the other erupt.
“Who informed you about the goblins coming through the Corridor of Cruelty? I don’t even know about that, and I’m a goblin! The elyves marched?”
“Yes, we know,” Dathyr confirmed, reluctant.
“We do?” Daylynn interrupted, surprised. Her head turned towards him. “I am just now hearing about it.”
“When did you hear of this disturbing news?” Lagelm queried.
“Word reached my ears shortly before the attack. I was pondering on whether to tell the Council or not, the outcome inevitable either way and the elyves defeat would not sit lightly here.”
“And lying to us would?” Sedrus the centaur yelled, stamping his hoof into the floor.
“It’s not a matter of lying…” Dathyr began.
“No, you just withheld important, time-critical information from us!” Daylynn clipped. Meristal noted the color in her cheeks.
At least, she has some sensibility left, Meristal commended silently.
“Council members–,” said Dathyr, holding up placating hands, but he was cut off.
“Clearly, you are not doing your job,” Kellis interjected. Both goblins had been uncharacteristically quiet since hearing their race was involved. Both Kellis and Lagelm were of the Palatine Caste and not Leviathan, the latter having sided with Xilor. Goblins hailed from two castes: the Palatine, comprising the ruling body–the most identical to wizardkind though shorter than dwaven–and the Leviathan, roughly ninety percent of the population and were far more grotesque creatures with multiple limbs, mouths, or eyes and ranged in height. The Palatine kept control because of their magical abilities.
“What would a goblin know of my job?” Dathyr shot at the little creature, demeaning him.
“What would a wizard know of mine? Withholding this information is a blatant contradiction to the vows you swore when you assumed office,” Lagelm stated.
“Don’t talk to me about vows! Your race is in open rebellion!”
“Which we could have sent troops to quell,” Sedrus barked. “There would be no uprising now.”
“And hampered Xilor’s plans,” Lagelm joined, barring his teeth.
“You can’t believe he’s returned. It was a sham, a hoax. For all we know–”
“We don’t know anything!” Daylynn argued, rising to her feet.
“You are so caught up in schemes that you can no longer do your job,” Lagelm seethed.
“You betrayed our trust, your office, the people you are sworn to serve,” Sedrus glowered, crossing his arms.
Dathyr opened his mouth, but Kellis cut him off. “You tied our hands, shaken our faith, and can no longer serve as Consul.”
“You can’t be serious!” Dathyr scoffed. He searched for support among his peers, but Capraro and Poplu wisely remained seated, silent. There was nothing they could do. Kayis had lied or omitted facts, kept information from the assembly, and they held the capability to depose him. Meristal was sure he had done so before, in the past, but such acts never reached their ears, let alone become public knowledge. In a closed session, Kayis might be able to slither out of his demise, but aides and members of the public were present. Tomorrow morning, his calamity would be in a special publishing of New Suns Times.
Todd might like this story, she mused. Might even get his to stop hounding Judas.
“Yes, I am serious. You allowed your hate for your former master to consume you, bent on discrediting him. Your effort to brand him renegade failed, and we denied you permission to hunt him as an outlaw,” Kellis retorted.
“Yet you sent guards and lackeys to search for him without authorization,” Sedrus divulged.
“The only thing you care about is power and not the people or the Realm,” Lagelm amended. “You sit here and send personal japes to Madam Raviils, who came of her own volition to report.”
“Luckily for us, she did. Otherwise, we would never appreciate the depths of your dereliction!” Daylynn snipped.
“Ha … you can’t be–dereliction?” Dathyr sputtered, trying to play it off as a joke.
“I am afraid so. You’ve brought great dishonor to your position, and the House of Dathyr,” Kellis intoned. He looked down the row at the ensemble. “All those for Consul Kayis Dathyr’s deposition, speak now.”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
Sedrus, Kellis, and Lagelm turned to Daylynn, expectant. Meristal watched her dither under the pressure of the tally and the scrutiny of their gaze. Three others remained, and the vote was tied. Piero Capraro and Vamor Poplu would never go against Kayis, staunch supporters in political and House alignments.
The deciding factor came down to Daylynn Reese and her penchant for ambiguity. Daylynn caught Kayis’ gaze, eyes filled with questions asked in silence. Neither the plea or implied threat in his eyes could keep her from bowing to the Council’s wishes.
“Aye,” she concurred. The other two kept silent. With a four-two majority, the deposed not allowed to voice, and the decision became formal.
“It is the Council’s decision, Kayis Dathyr, you will step down immediately,” Lagelm declared.
The time-honored procedure between the relieving of a Consul, whether voluntary or involuntary, was for the Consul to bow to the body, showing respect of the office, position, and responsibilities it held. The committee would return the bow, acknowledging the respect of that person and the job they had done for the people. Dathyr, prideful like his cousin, Vamor Poplu, spat on the floor before stepping off from the platform, his face livid.
“Who shall take the mantle?” Sedrus hypothesized.
“I suppose you want it?” Poplu jeered. “It’ll be a cold day in the Underworld before I let that happen!”
“It is cold in the Underworld, sycophant!” muttered Kellis.
“We have a problem,” Lagelm voiced.
“What?”
“
There is no way for us to choose who the Consul is and pull the majority to pass if we are voting ourselves. It must be a four to two, minimum, and Poplu and Capraro will veto anyone we nominate within our ranks.”
“Damn right,” Poplu finished.
“What do you suggest?” Daylynn moaned, hesitant.
“We elect in a temporary solution until elections can be held. There is a rectification if there is a cause, which there is: war,” Lagelm informed.
“I’ve never heard of such an amendment!” Capraro choked.
Lagelm turned his attention to Meristal. “Advocate? Can you shed some light on the statute I am speaking of?”
Meristal nodded, “Yes, you are correct, there must be a precedence. With a war coming, you can select a temporary appointee under the pretense that once the war is over, elections are held.”
Daylynn frowned, then asked Meristal, “What are the limitations of such an individual?”
Meristal shrugged and shook her head. “The statute does not specify limitations. In every regard, the person nominated and voted in by the majority of the Council will be in every sense a regular Consul with the exception that once the precedence has passed, they must either step down or hold an election and be voted in. At any given time, if a challenge is issued to the current appointee, special elections must be held within the governing body, just like normal circumstances until the term has expired.”
“What is the length of term they can serve?” Sedrus asked.
“As long as necessary.”
“See?” Lagelm posed to his equals.
“Who do you suggest?” Kellis questioned.
“For now, we let Madam Raviils finish before deciding. Then, with all the facts presented, we can better decide.”
“Excellent suggestion, Councilman Lagelm,” Sedrus said. He shot Kayis a withering glance and turned his attention to Meristal. “Please, continue.” His expression gave nothing away. Per the agreement of Judas’ inner circle, outside of the circle, they were to treat each other as near-strangers, only familiar by association to their professions. Sedrus had abandoned them, and Meristal couldn’t guess how he would act.
Meristal resumed her seat as did the representatives. She took a few moments to collect her thoughts and then launched back into her message. “Warlock Lakayre suggested Xilor’s next move will be against the Corridor, specifically Cape Gythmel. With three attacks to date, Dlad City, Wizard’s Pass, and the counter attack at Shadow City, he is poised to bypass the Marcoalyn Domain and invade Ralloc’s Domain. The trolls aligned with him, evident at Wizard’s Pass, and he has a strong foot in the Ralloc Domain with his vanguard of goblins in Shadow City. It is all but certain that the vampires are with him, either by choice or force.”
She paused briefly to catch her breath and to look at the governing body. “He deduces that the Domains of Marcoalyn and Stratu’Geim hold no significance at this time, with their limited resources and little strategic focal points. We believe that if he controls Ralloc, the rest of the Realms, and possibly all Ermaeyth will fall without a fight.”
“Is that all you have to report at this time?” Kellis asked politely.
“One other thing. The Wcic in his care fled, left on her own accord in the night. I don’t know how wise that was, nor did he say why or where she went because he is unaware. I can only pray she knows what she is doing.”
“I have faith in Warlock Lakayre’s wisdom. As to the Wcic, I am less sure. Warlock Lakayre has never been wrong before, and I don’t think he would start now. However,” Kellis took a breath, “you need not worry about young Julie at this time. We cannot weigh the risk of her life against all others.”
“I concur,” Lagelm added. “We should see if the fairies will lend aid, and if we can persuade the saricrocians to come, all the better. Those are some pretty big ‘ifs’.”
“Agreed,” said Daylynn Reese. “We shall deploy half our standing army to march against the Corridor by way of a portal. For the other half, I think it would be wise to leave here in case the vampires or goblins make a fast attack against Ralloc.”
“Sensible,” said Sedrus. “The only order left to fulfill is who will lead the army and who is the new appointed Consul. We should also nominate a representative to the front lines to assist with communication.”
“There is something else,” Meristal broke in. “The Heir of Valin sent a squad of the Black Tide to conduct war game scenarios before knowing about Xilor’s return. Since they are already mobile, we should send them a Port Master and teleport them to Cape Gythmel.”
“The Krey are marching?” Sedrus asked, his voice dripped with suspicion and worry.
“I thought that was against the law!” Daylynn shrieked. “What is to stop them from marching on Ralloc?”
“It isn’t against the law, I checked,” Meristal spoke up. “They have committed no crime. The Council of War convened and signed off on their expedition. They are not marching to war but for training purposes. As far as I know, they are oblivious to this fact, but now that we are at war, we should use them to fortify Cape Gythmel.”
“Those are some amazing coincidences,” Kellis said slowly. “How did they realize we were at war before we did?”
“As I said, ‘war game scenarios’ and from what I understand, you were told before they did when Staell gave one of your members a warning to deliver, right?” Meristal said hastily. She was on dangerous ground if the group dug too much into her story.
“It is,” Kellis said. He gave Dathyr a withering glance.
“Even if they did march on Ralloc, which they are not, one squad of Krey could not take the city. You have nothing to fear.”
Lagelm stirred. “For our representative on the front lines, we should send Kayis Dathyr. Those in favor?” He looked around at the delegates, and everyone nodded in agreement except Capraro and Poplu. “Very well,” he said, turning his attention to Dathyr. “You are in charge of the mission and its completion until relieved of duty by one of higher authority or commanding officer of the Grand Royal Army. Should you fail to act in a proper, responsible manner, you shall be exiled, like your former mentor. Your shame will haunt your family’s honor and community standing.”
“Speaking of your former mentor,” Meristal started, without being able to stop, “I think it is only suiting that you should answer to him at the Corridor. You are in charge of the army, but you will ultimately answer to him.” Once realizing what she did, she quickly closed her mouth. She looked at the committee with a placid face, still in shock from her blurt.
“That … is a great idea,” Lagelm said to her at length, letting the thought form into its conclusion.
“I concur,” Kellis approved. “It is settled. Now then, on to the new Consul. Who shall take the slackened reins from Kayis?”
“I would be honored,” Sedrus demurred with a bow.
“Yes, you would be good,” said Lagelm, “if a war wasn’t upon us, but bloodshed does not suit you. Poplu and Capraro would block your nomination because you cannot vote for yourself. We must think outside the immediate Council.”
“I agree, but who? Master Jynerul Tyku?” Daylynn Reese suggested.
“No,” Kellis said. “He would serve us best on the battlefield. Madam Meristal? Have you ever considered politics?”
“Yes, but I was considered too radical for most, and my tenure as a politician amounted to only having my name on the ballot,” Meristal explained. “I am an Advocate of Law, not politics, and retired. Perhaps Judas?”
“Under the circumstances, I would say you are the best choice. Powerful, wise, logical, an absolute grasp of legislation, and absent an apprentice. Besides, though Judas would be our best choice, he is a warlock and cannot hold any title or office of authority,” Kellis answered. “You have ample time as you are retired.”
“You are the next best choice,” Daylynn concurred. Meristal could see she struggled with the words, knowing how hard it must have been to admit. Daylynn attempted
to let go of her animosity for the better of the people.
Just this once, Meristal thought sardonically.
Lagelm encouraged Meristal. “You are admired by many, from noble to peasant. When word reaches the people’s ears that you stood beside Judas despite the cost of public shaming, and he was right all along. Truly you are the best choice, temporary or not. You served as an Advocate for many years and took additional duties, tours, taking you far from Ralloc in the service of our Republic.”
Kellis approved. “Not to mention that you have regular communication with the Archangels. Shades! Most people never see them, but you commune with them on a regular basis. You and Daylynn. I find that most…”–he searched for the right words, looking from Meristal to Daylynn a few times–“peculiar.”
Both women’s eyes flashed to one another, and their gazes locked. Both held pain, Daylynn with anger, Meristal with a righteous hatred. A slight quiver of fear trembled behind their eyes, looking back at Lagelm.
“It’s time for a vote,” Sedrus called. “All for Meristal as the new Consul? I agree to the appointment and place my vote with her.”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
“Aye,” Daylynn said after a beat.
Poplu and Capraro only glared at Meristal and the others present.
“It is agreed then! Consul Meristal? What is your first act?”
***
Chapter 56 : The Place Of Origins
Imposing, fog-covered mountains filled Julie’s vision. Eyes tracked up until the elevation became lost from sight, peaks hidden in the obscurity of white cotton swirls. The task of climbing the daunting beasts persuaded her to turn back, but the mantra kept vigil. The subtle impulse to turn away grew stronger by the moment; the urge was mystical.
Who commands you? An arcane urge? You came here to do something, and you’re not about to walk away now just because someone else wants you to.
But she could not deny the desire with the mountains so close.