Chapter 16
"Come in, honored Keeper."
Mahntra' Bhu bowed his head in courtesy and stepped into the noble's home.
"This way please."
Mahntra was lead through the finely appointed home filled with hangings, rich tapestries, and gilded vases filled with fresh florals towards the back, the private areas of the house. He watched his host as they walked. He was stiff, nervous. Why?
His question was answered when he was shown into the family's gathering area. Instead of family, however, was grouped many other familiar faces. Faces of the noble's families who'd turned up missing. Like the noble in front of him, they all appeared pensive.
"Please be seated. I see from the look in your eye, you've surmised why I asked you here."
Mahntra took the offered seat and stared around the group. He remained silent, not sure what to say. But the need to speak was soon eliminated by his host, who, still standing, addressed the assemblage.
"Now that the Keeper is here, I think we may begin. I don't think I need to mention to anyone here it would be best for all concerned we keep this little gathering to ourselves. While it is not against our law to meet together in whatever fashion we desire, I think you all understand the need to keep this private.
"Like many of you here, when I pushed to find out the whereabouts and well being of my father I was told by Tranthra' Joh's representative that I should keep my nose out of it. It was further inferred that if I continued to push, it wouldn't be 'healthy' for me, or my family."
Mahntra noted that several others in the group nodded as the young noble continued to speak.
"I wouldn't put it past Tranthra' Joh to do something foolish. Indeed, the way he has overstepped his authority already is quite audacious. It wouldn't take much to push him over the edge completely -- if he hasn't already passed it long ago."
There was a slight commotion as someone stepped in from the other side of the room. Mahntra gasped in surprise.
"The chamberlain!' The words were out of his mouth before he realized it.
Others turned and murmurs of worry started to fill the room.
"Don't worry my friends," the young noble lifted his hands. "The chamberlain came to me! He has the same concerns we all do."
"Whatever you may think of me," the chamberlain spoke loudly, his voice officious as it had always been, but out of place without his robes and staff. "None of you have ever known me to be disloyal to the Queen -- or the Princess. And certainly none of you doubt my love for our city!"
"No," Mahntra' Bhu rose and crossed the room, taking the chamberlain's hand in a warm clasp. "My friend, though we've had our differences, you have never had a disloyal thought in your life. I know it."
Visible relief filled the chamberlain's eyes. "Thank you. I thought that if it got any worse, people would start to think I was working for Tranthra' Joh rather than for our city!"
"Please, let us all sit and discuss this further," the young noble gestured for Mahntra and the chamberlain to be seated.
"I think all of us, to one extent or another, have been pressing a bit to see what has happened. For myself, I was spurred on by the courageous words of the Keeper. It got me thinking. And then when the chamberlain approached me with his own concerns, his suggestions made sense.
"I think the time has come for the nobles to band together to call an accounting of the Conservator. It is within our right. After all, he is to have no real authority, only hold the city at the point of the Queen's death until the Princess can marry and assume the throne. I have seen edicts and orders which clearly supersedes this authority, as well as the other things the chamberlain has reported to me which aren't visible to the population at large.
"Did you know, for instance, that Tranthra' Joh has subtly started increasing the size of the palace guard from his own retainers?"
"What!" "How can he?" "Does he think to get away with this?" The voices of the group rose.
"Is it true?" Mahntra turned to the chamberlain. Everyone became silent to hear.
"Yes. I've pulled the pay records and noticed the change in assignments. Also those who've been moved into the palace have started to receive an inordinate amount of pay for their duties."
"Does that mean what I think it means?" one of the nobles asked.
The room fell silent. All eyes were on the chamberlain. Finally Mahntra broke the silence.
"I'm afraid it might." He looked at all the faces in the room. "Let me tell you what I know to this point."
Mahntra then related his foray into the dungeon below the palace. He also related his suspicion that if he was right, and he hoped he wasn't, that they will find all the missing members of their families there.
"That's not all of it, then," the chamberlain interrupted. "I didn't think to look in the dungeon, but I do know that there is someone being held in the tower. I've asked Tranthra' Joh about it, but he's told me it is an important emissary from another city. I was not to even think of going near it, or trying to learn who it was. He intimated that important negotiations were going on, and that the Princess would be most displeased if I interrupted them by poking into things that were none of my concern."
"Could all of this be true?" another noble spoke up. "Could Tranthra' Joh be telling the truth?"
"If that's the case, then we very well might be jeopardizing our families," still another said.
"True," Mahntra agreed. "I think it might be too early to move against Tranthra' Joh at this point. Even if the worst were true, acting now might still jeopardize the life of the Princess and your families. It's clear that Tranthra' Joh knows where they are -- and probably has control of them." He didn't finish the thought. It was clear from the faces in the group that everyone understood what he meant.
"What do we do then?" the host turned to Mahtra. "It seems we're at an impasse."
"It only seems that way," Mahntra said, rising to his feet. "We must plan first then act according to the plan. The first step is to see if we can learn who is in the tower and confirm the numbers in the dungeon are all your missing family members. Everyone here can be trusted to know what is going on, if Tranthra' Joh really is telling the truth -- which I personally doubt. But if we can find our people and set them free, then Tranthra's Joh's hold would be gone, and we can act without fear."
"How can we find out if the guard is so tight?" the chamberlain asked.
"That is the first problem we must solve. And we'll certainly need your help," Mahntra said.
The chamberlain looked nervous, but nodded. "I'll do whatever I can."
"It will be dangerous."
The chamberlain swallowed. "I know. But it must be done."
"It will be dangerous for all of us. We definitely must keep this to ourselves if we are to succeed." Mahtra looked at all the nobles in the room. They nodded as he looked at each face, gauging their commitment.
Now we begin. Mahtra thought as he saw the resolve on all the faces.