She needed to find out some answers, and she needed to do it quickly. She had spent so much time spreading discord among the people that there very well could be another split. There were many who shared her concerns and were willing to uproot again to begin anew elsewhere. Some had even gone as far as seeking out a suitable location. A significant number of people had found the perfect place on the mountain directly west of Mount Quang. They had informed the princess of this spot and had told her that they felt they should start developing a new capital there. At the time, she had been so furious with her sister that she agreed with them. That had been two months ago. She needed to have all of the facts before entering that council room tomorrow, so she determined that she should go and visit this new settlement to see what the dissenters had completed thus far.
She took one last moment to look down on the capital city in all of its glory. The wind had increased steadily as she had mulled this matter over in her mind. The fog that had clung to parts of the dwellings below had been dispelled by the wind and the bright sun overhead. The rooftops glimmered and shined as the sun continued across the morning sky. She then saw signs of celebration below in the castle's courtyard. There were colorful banners and confetti flying through the air. Sounds of music climbed the side of the mountain as if it were a beast clawing its way to the top. At this moment, the feelings she had had for the past three months returned with renewed vigor. Those ignorant fools! Maybe change will shake them and wake them from repeating the mistakes of my father and the obstinate woodland elves.
Kishi began to climb a path made by carts and wagons at the base of Mount Konane. This mountain was situated directly east of Mount Quang and was a mirror image of its neighbor. She began to feel a sense of purpose and happiness envelope her as she traversed the trail. These were definite signs that the dissenters had been hard at work for some time now. She began to formulate a master plan for the meeting tomorrow. The plan was not too different from the one they had sprung on the elves. If the construction of a new capital city had progressed unhampered and undiscovered, they should at least have homes for the people who would be living there completed. She was too consumed in her thoughts to notice the buildings popping up before her eyes. It took the familiar voice of one of her most devout friends to bring her back to reality.
"Queen Kishi! Welcome to the home of the dissenters!" shouted a distant harsh voice.
"Diikker Aellenas? Is that really you?" Kishi queried as she trotted toward the source of the shouting.
"Milady, I am here as your humble servant," Diikker said with a bow and a wicked smile. He was so tall that he easily dwarfed anyone who stood next to him. His long, platinum-blonde hair was tied back in a braid so he could work more freely on the new High Council room. As he stood erect once more, his starling gray eyes pierced into Kishi's mirthless eyes. They were two of a kind in almost every way imaginable. Lord Aellenas was a powerful warlock who had helped train the princess in the ways of magic. He had also taught Kira, but Kishi was much more adept at commanding the mystical forces. As a result, she had learned magical powers that no other living person knew.
"I feel reassured now that I have seen you here working," Kishi said with an ever-increasing confidence in her voice. If there were two more of her friends here, she would be able to do what was needed at the meeting with the High Council.
"You do have two more loyal servants here. Jaali Thrarias and Harley Tenanden are both here for the same reason. Those fools think they have changed and that they have created a new system that will avoid the pitfalls your father encountered. They are no different than those we left behind in the Black Forest," Lord Aellenas explained with an icy edge to his voice. He saw a look of bewilderment on his mistress's face and laughed tonelessly. "You have forgotten already that you cannot hide your thoughts from me, young one. I will have to teach you how to do this someday. Once you have learned that skill, you will even be a match for the Elementals."
"You will always be the master, Lord Aellenas. I am indebted to you for your guidance and council," she said with a slight bow. She truly revered him as the most powerful magician in Tuwa. He was capable of accomplishing anything and could learn faster about an opponent than anyone else. She knew that with him at her side she would be able to lead a new nation … regardless of any potential opposition.
"I have merely been blessed to instruct a capable student who will one day be more powerful than anyone in all the lands ofTuwa." He smiled slyly and bade her to follow him with a slight turn of his body. "Let me take you to our friends. They will be delighted that you have come. They will especially like what you have planned for the meeting you have been summoned to." Kishi always felt like a mere pupil when he read her thoughts so readily. She did not know how he did it. She had learned how to block her father's intrusions, but she did not even understand where she needed to begin to block these invasions. At this point, she did not really care to hide anything from her master. He is the most deadly ally I could possibly hope for. With his help, I will be able to succeed.
They had quickly crossed the courtyard of a brand new castle that was still in the early stages of being built. "Have the dwellings been completed for the people?" Kishi questioned her mentor with mounting anticipation.
"Yes, you will be able to unleash the same surprise on your sister as she did on your father. She will not suspect it or even think it possible. She truly believes she is in the right and that you are the one who has been corrupted. I believe that she will try to make you an outcast because of your defiance," Aellenas explained knowledgably. He was in the castle the previous day when her sister had made this plan against her. He had read her thoughts then and knew what would be needed, so he immediately left for the new capital he had architected on Mount Konane. He knew that Kishi would come there seeking answers, and he would be there to provide her with the support she would need.
"Queen Kishi, over here," beckoned Harley Tenanden. Standing next to him was the powerfully built Jaali Thrarias. He was an elf that no one would ever dare to upset. His temper was only matched by his unimaginable strength.
"Jaali, Harley, I am so glad you are here," she said as she ran up to them. She threw her arms around each of them in turn. She felt that these high elves were comrades, her equals. "I am sorry to come to you at such a late hour. I assume Lord Aellenas has explained what will take place tomorrow?"
"Yes, we are prepared for the dissenters to arrive tomorrow. We have made arrangements with those who wish to depart to pack their belongings during the night. They will then leave when the council meeting is in session. The queen's guard will be focused around the chamber, and that will leave the soldiers at the gate for us to deal with. The departure will go unnoticed until the meeting is done," Jaali stated as if he were making a report to a superior. He was, in fact, the consummate military man and could not help such behavior. He would be the perfect leader for Kishi's army.
"Who will lead the people?" asked Kishi.
"I will lead the people from Alanderas while Harley watches our rear to ensure no one follows after us. Lord Diikker will wait here to receive your faithful followers," reported Jaali.
"Excellent. We are ready to proceed then. I will return now to finish preparations for what I will say to the council and my impetuous sister. I will see you soon, my friends," she said as she reached out to embrace Jaali and Harley again.
"Lord Aellenas, any last words of advice?" she asked.
"Yes, I do in fact have some last-minute council to give," the warlock said gruffly. "You must remember to direct everyone's attention in the council room to your sister and her husband. Their union is not against the law of the high elves, but it was consecrated by an Elemental. They never interfere unless it is to torment or punish the peoples of Tuwa. This line of logic will persuade those that we need and plant seeds of doubt in the rest. If you do this, you will be most successful in your argument." She will be able to sway those fools! Then they will see what real pow
er is all about.
"That is wise council indeed. I will definitely use your approach. Be ready for my triumphant return tomorrow then," she said with a bow to her teacher. She turned around and went back down the path she had come without glancing back. She had her plan, and she would execute it without any further hesitation. At this time tomorrow, I will be the queen of the true high elven nation and I will be the one with real power.
The sun rose high into the sky as the heat of the day increased gradually. The air was thick with moisture as storm clouds began to gather from the north. This combination made for a very humid and unpleasant feeling for anyone who decided to venture outside. Princess Kishi walked purposefully toward the council chambers in the capital city of Alanderas. The streets on this particular day were void of life. The pending storm had driven everyone into their homes for cover. As the black clouds rolled in, the sound of thunder boomed and lightning crackled all about the mountainside. The sun disappeared as the winds sped the storm with great velocity toward the city.
As she neared the meeting hall, she could see the queen's guard in their jet-black armor surrounding the building. She looked more closely around the scene, and she noticed there were archers stationed on the rooftops. Horsemen were positioned on the opposite side of the courtyard and were armed with swords and spears. She had never seen such security for a council meeting and knew that her sister must be scared. She also knew that her friends had been right in their decision to move the people at this time. There would be a very light guard at the outer wall, which would make the evacuation of the loyal high elves relatively easy.
"Princess Kishi, the council and her majesty are waiting for you inside. Please proceed," the guard said as he opened the door for her with a slight bow. The double doors opened inward to admit the crowned princess of the high elves. She looked around the room while carefully hiding any hint of her intentions or feelings. She smiled graciously at the council members and bowed slightly to her sister as she neared her seat at the round table. She sat directly across from the queen, which pleased her because she wanted to look her in the eye for what she was about to do. She wanted to make her mentor proud of his faithful pupil.
As she took her seat, the doors of the domed hall slammed shut with a resounding boom. Silence engulfed the tense council room as Kishi continued to look at the members in attendance. This meeting place was very different from the elven High Council's chamber in the Black Forest. The ceiling was made of magically reinforced glass that could withstand whatever the elements could throw at it. The round table in the middle was made of solid black oak from the northern edge of the Forest of Renshaw. There were etchings of gold, silver, and precious gems inlaid in the intricate carvings in the wood. The walls had murals of elven history and in particular of the recent division of its people. It clearly outlined the rise of the high elves and displayed pictures of Queen Kira and her husband, General Yukio.
Kishi fought hard to hide her loathing. She needed to present her case for the throne carefully as to not give away her hidden motives. She really did not care to rule over all of the high elves because she did not believe that all of them would be accepting of her. She was here to convince as many members of the council as possible. The rest merely had to have the seed of doubt planted in them.
"Princess Kishi, welcome," Chairman Merindiel greeted her. "Now we may begin."
"First order of business on the agenda today is the legitimacy of the right to rule the high elves as a sovereign monarch. The eldest daughter of King Ciel, Princess Kishi, has petitioned Queen Kira to hear her argument for the right to the throne. Her majesty has convened this council to definitively determine whose claim is most just." Bronwen had a friendly warm smile as he spoke to the council members. He had a particularly kind look on his face when he looked at Kishi. He respected her as a powerful sorceress and as an intelligent person. He knew that if she was making this claim there had to be something to it.
"Milady, will you please present your argument at this time? There will be no questions until you are finished. When you have reached that point, please indicate that to me so I do not interrupt you at any point," the chairman said kindly.
"Thank you, most noble chairman. Your kind words warm my heart and give me the courage to speak to you all this day." As Kishi was saying the last few words, an ear-piercing crackle of lightning followed by an earth-shaking boom rocked the hall. The storm was beginning to unleash its fury upon the mountainside.
"I will keep my presentation of what I believe to be the facts as short as possible. I do not want us to be kept here while there is such a vicious storm raging outside," Princess Kishi began eloquently. "I believe that high elven tradition dictates that the heir to the throne is the spouse of the departed monarch. In the event of his or her spouse passing before them, then the eldest child is crowned to rule in his or her parents' place." Lightning streaked across the blackened sky. The frequency of the strikes was becoming more intense and frequent. They were also striking much closer to their current location. This storm can't be natural, she thought.
"As I was saying, the tradition and the law of the high elves are that the right to rule is passed down from the parents to the eldest child. If that child is not fit to rule or is otherwise unable to take over the monarchy, then the next sibling in line would be crowned. What I perceive to be the current situation to be is either a misinterpretation of the law or a change in the law that I was not aware of." She did not want to appear to be overtly confrontational, so she continued with her polite presentation of the facts.
"Many do not know that my sister Kira is actually younger than 1. Though we are twins, I was the first out of our dear departed mother's womb. So, according to our laws, I would be the rightful ruler of this new nation. Noble Merindiel, have I misunderstood the law? Are the laws and traditions of the high elves, in this respect, unchanged?"
Bronwen stood from his seat next to the queen and said, "You are quite right about the law and its interpretation. Also, we have not altered or amended the law that you have brought to our attention." He nodded slightly to Kishi to show that he was done and to give her the floor back.
"Thank you, Chairman. I believe the only possible question in anyone's mind should be why did we stray from those laws? Is it because my dear sister thought of the plan and facilitated all of the necessary elements of it? If so, then why has the law governing the right to rule not been changed or amended to allow for bravery and foresight to be requirements for the crown?" She had reached the point that she had been yearning to get to. There should be a significant number of council members who would now follow her. The others should have sufficient doubt in their minds to suit her needs.
"Gracious Chairman, I am done with my presentation. If you please," she gestured to Bronwen to take over the proceedings. There would be questions now, but not too many. There would be a significant amount of debate over this issue, and she was not going to stick around to hear all of it.
"You have presented a strong case for the council to consider. At this time, I would like to open the floor for questions for either myself or for Princess Kishi." He looked around the room at the bewildered looks on everyone's faces. He was caught off guard too because of their apparent oversight. He did not see how they could go on justifying Kira as their rightful queen and ruler. Kishi's presentation of the facts was too direct and to the point to be misunderstood.
Silence fell over the room. The sounds from the storm were growing worse still and seemed to be filling the silence in the council chambers. No one had the look yet of even forming a question on their faces. However, when Kishi looked at her sister, Kira was giving her a look of mingled indignation and disbelief all at once. The princess did not need the ability to read minds to know what her younger sibling was thinking. She knew that she felt betrayed by her older sister and by the faces of those who clearly agreed with Kishi. She could not believe that she would ask for the right to rule after doing nothing on h
er part to secure it.
Queen Kira could take it no longer. She was too incensed to sit quietly on her throne and say nothing after such an attack. She stood up, and as she did so her, eyes began to have blue mist coming out of her eyes. No one had ever seen her so angry before that she would use her magic unknowingly. "You traitor!" she bellowed at her sister. "What gives you the right to come here and belittle what I have done to save these people? Who are you to question my ability to rule? You are no better than those that we left behind! They were ignorant fools who wanted to do the minimum and still reap the rewards of hard work off of the backs of others!" The blue mist was now surrounding the queen and seemed to be freezing the very air about her.
Kishi smiled at her sibling's reaction to the truth. Everything was going better than she could have wished for. She had sufficiently provoked her sister into attacking her verbally. That should give everyone sufficient doubt in her ability to rule. She just needed to egg Kira on a little more to reach her breaking point. Now she would attack the queen's illegitimate husband who was king. He will be the perfect trigger to push her over the edge.
"Dear sister, you question my right to come here to petition this just council of high elves? What about your own violation of our laws in marrying a member of a different race? Have the laws changed for everyone in this regard, or did we bend the rules for you and this pathetic excuse for a spouse? Haven't you defiled yourself enough by marrying him? Why bring these good people down with you through your inept leadership?" She had a triumphant smile on her dark face. She had done it. Let the storm come. I am ready!
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