Dealings in the Council of Avalhein - Chapter 10

Dealings in the Council of Avalhein…

Chapter 10

“Are you sure you will return today, Geirrha?” asked Malkknrre while they were walking down the corridor. Malkknrre resisted putting an aleron around Geirrha’s neck, it was something that only couples did rarely, and not at all within buildings that housed officials. “The council will be surprised. I have to ask though, why today of all days?”

“I have made up my mind, Malkknrre. Today, because after all that has happened, I have realized that I might not have enough time after all,” said Geirrha almost wistfully. Her gait was a jolly but serious one. And she just had to sway her hips and her tail as she took each step. Malkknrre could really have sworn that she was teasing him.

“Very well, but let us enter at the same time to make sure we have the council’s attention,” said Malkknrre, he was surprised that he didn’t stutter. After all, he had been staring at Geirrha for a time now and he was barely capable of thinking about anything but her. After that, his mouth moved soundlessly, at a loss for words.

“I do not even support your plan, Malkknrre,” said Geirrha grimly. She had an impatient demeanor when it came to plans that to her did not seem well thought out.

“But I already explained to you why it would work!” protested Malkknrre. He wasn’t about ready to give up his point. “We will have the advantage of being in our own territory.”

“And what? Risk having one thing go wrong and bring the entire city down on our heads? No, I think not,” she interjected. “I have a better plan that I would propose when we are before the council,” she said. There was no point in arguing. One of the sayings that even surrounded the enigmatic councilwoman was that once Geirrha says that she won’t say anything more, she means it.

Malkknrre growled in exasperation. They were now standing before the hall of the council. They decided against going in just yet. Malkknrre had a mischievous look about him and Geirrha shot him a questioning glance when she noticed. She almost laughed when Malkknrre told her his plan. “Okay, I will agree to coming in with you for that.”

The door was heavily gilded with gold and the carvings on it included dragons that had their mouths open. A widely unknown feature of the door was that breathing fire into one of the many recesses on it will cause fire and mist to explode from the dragons on the other side of the door. Malkknrre had planned on doing what he had in mind for a last resort, but he decided that it was too attention-catching to pass up.

On his signal, he and Geirrha simultaneously blew flame into the recesses. Startled screams and strangled gasps echoed from behind the door and Malkknrre threw it open. His voice seemed to boom from every direction as he spoke. “Halt!”

The entire council fell silent and he heard a few solid thumps on the floor, indications that some of the councilwomen had fainted. He cleared the mist in front of him and declared “I Malkknrre, come before you, the council to present a new plan of war against the Dark One.” He did not allow the mist to dissipate beside him yet, though.

“Then what is this stunt about? Malkknrre?” demanded one of the councilors. He stepped forward and looked Malkknrre in the eyes. Malkknrre stood almost a head taller than anyone else in the room, but the councilor that had stepped up to him was almost as tall as he.

“I just wanted to grant someone a grand entrance, councilor,” said Malkknrre, grinning. Malkknrre let the mist dissipate and audible gasps were heard in the room. “Welcome back, councilwoman Geirrha.” More than a few of the others rolled up their eyes and fainted.

Before Geirrha could open her mouth to speak, the doors flew open and a few Ceree strode in. They wore the blue sigil of the sorcerer’s guild, all four of them. In their midst was a Ceree groveling and crying, but her eyes showed the blankness of one who had lost the will to live.

“Councilwoman Geirrha, we wish to welcome you. We need you to look at one of our former sisters; there is something you must see. We hope you can help her. We need one of your miracles, councilwoman” said one of the Ceree that had burst in so unceremoniously. She dropped a curtsy to Geirrha and virtually ignored Malkknrre. The business of women was theirs alone.

“For what rea—“ she was cut off as the woman wailed.

“The magic! I-it’s gone! I-I C-can’t f-feel it o-or u-use it a-anymore!” she blurted out. The entire council fell to an even deeper silence, something that had seemed impossible. The woman swayed and fell with a thump to the floor.

“I’ll see what I can do,” said Geirrha. She was taken aback by the outburst too, but she was the first to recover.