by Namita Singh
wish to listen to the opinion of the other council members, Ana.” Father asks politely, “Surely, Pleve’s opinion alone doesn’t matter.”
Pleve, the man, inaudibly snorts but chooses to remain silent.
“Of course,” Anastasia says, “We’ll take a vote. Dr. Pleve was only supposed to bring the situation to light, not declare a conclusion.”
“Oh?” Pleve glares sideways at Anastasia.
“Yes.” Anastasia snaps. “We’ll deal with this case in an orderly fashion, Pleve. You’re letting your opinions hinder the procedure.”
Pleve snorts, an unbelievable expression on his face.It is easy to make out that he is thoroughly displeased at being dismissed like this.
“If anyone thinks it’s perfectly fine for Dr. Pleve to derive a conclusion over the matter, without proper proceedings, then raise your hand. If in majority, we’ll go with it.” Anastasia says confidently, her tone challenging as she looks at her fellow council members.
Only a single, old man raises his hand. The rest do not. I don’t think it has much to do with Pleve’s ‘decision’ as much it has to do with ‘Pleve’.
Pleve scoffs, “Go on.” He says to Anastasia, as if sure the conclusion will still be the same.
“We will definitely take a vote-” Anastasia continues.
“A vote, what for?” the man standing at the window speaks again, the one who had raised the hand, interrupting Anastasia, “I do not think any of us think differently than Dr. Pleve. They all just do not want Pleve to solely state the end result.”
Everybody looks with displeasure at the old man, not liking the honesty that comes with age, perhaps.
“I still demand a vote.” My father says, glaring at the man.
“And you shall get one.” Anastasia says, ignoring the man at the window.
“This is ridiculous.” The man at the window quips in his throaty voice.
“Ser Daeve,” Anastasia says, turning to look at the man, “We have to do it by rules.” She stresses.
“Do we?” Ser Daeve snaps.
Anastasia turns forward and ignores the man much like a teenager may ignore a nonsensically speaking oldie. “First we vote for the membership.” Anastasia announces loudly. “Let’s begin the vote by the council. Vote in favor if you consider the vaticinator to be a part of this realm. I shall begin. I consider Neal a part of our realm.” Anastasia declares. She looks upon the edge of the table, urging the last person to speak up his opinion.
“Is that even a point of debate?” Ser Daeve snaps.
“I do not consider Neal to be a part of this realm.” Dr. Pleve says before the person in the corner could speak.
“Of course, he is not.” Ser Daeve thunders, making my father sigh restlessly next to me, “there is no authenticity for even Lichinsky’s son, the question of Lichinsky’s grandson’s partner is out of the topic.” I realize that he referring to my grandfather as he says ‘Lichinsky’. He continues, “And even if we ignore Lichinsky’s son’s infidelity then also there is no proof that the boy is being truthful about his association with the vaticinator.” Much to my offense, Ser Daeve is looking at me as he says the last sentence.
“Excuse me?” I say, thoroughly ticked off at this old man insinuating that I am lying about Neal being my partner.
“Josh, don’t.” father warns me, giving me a fleeting sideways glance.
“Oh, I’ll excuse you, boy.” Ser Daeve says, looking at me, “Everybody knows how highly unlikely it is for the vaticinator to have a male partner.”
I am stumped by this. It is the second time I am hearing this and I do not understand why people would blindly believe this.
Neal chuckles humorlessly next to me, “I do not know why I keep hearing this.” He mutters, mirroring my thoughts.
“Because it’s the blatant truth.” Ser Daeve says, his voice surprisingly much polite as he talks with Neal, “Vaticinator mating with a male,” he disgustedly continues, “invariably means no child for you, son.”
I feel my ears bursting into flames at the implication. Why does everyone believe that partners are bound to be engaged in a sexual relation? Despite knowing that theory doesn’t necessitate that.
“Is that so?” Neal mutters, dazedly looking at Ser Daeve. I seriously hope he is not being doubtful again. I am going to flip a switch if he does.
“Of course. The vaticinator’s legacy is to continue indefinitely. You do not have the senses to recognize your partner.” Ser Daeve continues, “But you should know that being with a male is by no means a natural disposition to have a legacy in future.”
A silent moment ensues, making me angrily clench my fist. I wish my father had not restricted me from speaking because I really desire to retort in colorful words that I am no liar. I may also love to add how much of a prick this old man is to turn my own partner against me. The next words that are spoken, however, take me by complete surprise.
“I didn’t know therians could be homophobic. That too in a freaking realm.”
The wonderment amusement accompanying Neal’s sentence ensues a much longer moment of silence. When nobody speaks, even Ser Daeve only managing to watch Neal agape, Neal continues, “I thought homosexual couples are common in a realm.”
“They are.” Anastasia manages to reply, a small understanding smile on her lips.
“So, I don’t expect homophobes to be common.” Neal says, looking at Ser Daeve, “or maybe it’s the orthodox thinking that is common in old age.”
“The realms are known to be orthodox.” My father says, looking at Neal. “That was one of the reasons why I left the realm in the first place.” He turns to look challengingly at the council members, almost daring any of them to contradict him. “But,” father continues, “No realm ostracizes their member simply because the member decided to not stay in the realm anymore. It’s a free choice for us to stay wherever we want to. I will not take my two decade absence as the reason why my son and his partner will not be considered a part of this realm; neither will I take your presumptuous reasons behind my absence to affect the membership of my family. As to my son having the vaticinator as the partner,” father looks specifically at Ser Daeve, “I will not, henceforth, tolerate anybody calling my son a liar or anybody threatening his rapport with his partner.” He pauses for a moment, again, silently daring anyone to contradict him. Father looks at Anastasia. “We will hear the rest of the votes.”
Ser Daeve is glaring at Neal but says nothing, settling to express his disappointment only through his glares. Anastasia clears her throat, “We have one in favor vote and two negative votes yet. Again, it is for the consideration of Neal as a member of our realm.” She silently looks at the corner of the table, prodding the man at the edge to speak.
The middle aged man sits straight and clears his throat, “I accept the vaticinator as the member of the Ninth Realm by his association with Mr. Lichinsky’s grandson.”
Next is a young woman, almost as young as Jennifer, “I vote for Neal to be a part of our realm.”
“I consider the vaticinator to be a part of this realm, owing to his association with the Lichinsky family, both with his partner and his protector.”
“The vaticinator belongs to the First Realm, irrespective of his associations with anyone from any other realm.”
“The vaticinator serves for the wellbeing of all the therians through the world.” An elderly woman speaks, “He serves to assure no impending danger to our world. He belongs to no realm in specific. However, if he wishes to belong to the Ninth Realm because of his association as a partner with one of the members of the said realm then he shall be accepted.”
Out of all the votes, the last one makes more sense to me than anything I have heard since I am here.
“I agree with lady Fatima.” The next man says in a deep, sober voice, looking at the elderly woman, “If the vaticinator seeks belongingness, then he shall receive it.”
“I accept the vaticinator as the member of the Ninth Realm only if the O
ccultists allow it.”
“I’ll consider that a negative.” Anastasia says.
“Accepting the vaticinator comes with rebelling against the Occultists. I do not stand by that, hence, I do not accept him as the member of our realm.”
“I accept Neal as the member of our realm.”
“Okay.” Anastasia says, “That is seven in favor, and five negatives.” She smiles. I notice that they have skipped one person. The same elderly person that I had noticed. The one who was looking at me. The man is staring at the table in front of him, a pondering look over his face. “Now, the question of his membership is clear.” Anastasia continues, Dr. Pleve looking disgruntled beside her, “So, it is of no question that our realm will offer whatever possible help we can. That’s the motto we follow. To stick by and protect our fellow people, provided they are in the right. But you,” she looks at us, “do not only seek belongingness. You also seek support to stand against the First Realm and their Occultist. For that, we will judicially consider your case as we do with all the members of our realm. As Dr. Pleve has brought to notice before, we shall still be seeking the opinion of the common folk. A judiciary get together shall be held with the folks of this division and the head members of the other divisions in two days’ time at the field behind our headquarters. The situation shall be brought to their notice with emphasizing on Neal as being one of us. Depending on the biometric votes, you all shall then know if the common