Chapter 17
“Keeper, you’ve finally arrived.”
Mahntra’ Bhu nodded as he was beckoned inside. “The rest are already here.”
Mahntra followed the noble to the room of their first meeting. All were there, waiting. Even the chamberlain had been able to slip out of the palace. Well, that was good, this meeting would be important.
“I’m sorry to be late, my friends. I wanted to make sure I was not followed. I find I continue to have shadows with me wherever I go.”
Looks of concern spread over several of the gathered nobles.
“Rest easy. I wasn’t followed here.” Mahntra seated himself and looked around the room. One or two were missing. He hoped it didn’t mean they’d lost heart.
“Let us begin, then,” Mahntra said. “What have we learned?”
He turned to the chamberlain first.
“I’ve not been able to get into the dungeon, nor have I been able to learn who is in the tower. It’s guarded too closely, and I fear I am beginning to be suspected . . . I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t be sorry. We all realize you have the greatest risk.” Mahntra noted the chamberlain’s face colored. He really was sorry. Maybe he’d been wrong about the man all these years.
“I have learned something, however,” the chamberlain continued. “I don’t know how important it is, but I overheard Tranthra’ Joh giving instructions to Saballa to go and retrieve the Princess’ younger sister.”
“Dierni’ Lah!” Mahntra said. “I’d not even thought of her. Where is she? We must get to her before Tranthra’ Joh can, if only for her protection.”
“I’m sorry.” The chamberlain shook his head. “I definitely wasn’t supposed to hear, and I was almost caught. But I couldn’t hear where she was. Saballa left the palace immediately taking only a small group of men. I would think he’d want to take a larger force if he’s traveling outside the city.”
Mahntra wondered at that, too.
“Are there some guards we can trust to place outside the city, for when Saballa returns. Maybe we can take her then?” one of the noble’s ventured.
“It would be dangerous to the Princess. She might be harmed,” said another.
“But worth a try,” Mahntra said. “Sohlza’ Leh, you served in the forces for many years. You know of some who can be trusted?”
“I’ll lead them myself, Keeper,” the older noble answered.
“But be careful,” another noble admonished.
“You needn’t worry,” the older noble countered.
“It seems Tranthra’ Joh is moving things up,” Manhtra said to himself as much as anyone in the room.
"There are other things he's doing as well," the host noble said. "Several here have reported to me that questions they've been asking, have met with some questions of their own."
Mahntra looked at the group. Two stood. One spoke. "While I was making yet another request to meet with Tranthra' Joh, I perhaps made it too plain that I would take some action if my meeting were not granted. The only thing that did was give me an audience with Saballa, the head of the guard. He 'questioned' me quite closely."
"He all but threatened me," the other noble broke in. "It seems they are very serious about keeping us out. I was told that if I didn't desist, I'd find I would have to be confined for my own safety, and the safety of those I was seeking."
"That does it for me!" another noble in the group said. "There's no doubt in my mind that Tranthra' Joh is making his own grab for power. And he's willing to go quite far to do it."
"But what do we do?" said another. "Do we stir up the people to fight him, to have the blood of our own people spilled? We still don't have conclusive evidence."
"But we do have the law on our side," Mahntra' Bhu spoke out to calm them. "I agree that Tranthra' Joh is doing something he doesn't want anyone to know about. My personal feeling is that he's trying to seize the throne, but as you said," he nodded to the noble that'd spoken, "we don't have conclusive proof in order to lead a revolt. And besides, I'm in no hurry to pit our countrymen against the armed guards Tranthra' Joh has been able to amass. But what I do think we can do, which is perfectly legal, is resist any orders he gives. He is, after all, only the Conservator, and by law, as well as custom, he is supposed to only maintain the established order. Not change them in any way. That right belongs to the Queen, and her council of advisers, with the consent of the nobles." Mahntra inclined his head to the group.
"So what do we do?" asked the noble who'd burst out with anger earlier.
"I think I see what you mean," the chamberlain broke in. "And I support it whole heartedly. Tranthra' Joh's edicts can only work if the people follow. If he tries to use the force of the guard to enforce anything, then we can legally claim he is usurping his authority and push for him to be removed. There is legal weight behind our actions, and we don't have to prove anything about Tranthra' Joh's motives. He becomes the one who has the burden of proof, which would be pretty hard for him to make any case that he isn't changing anything, because it's plain to all that he already has."
"So what do we do?" the noble asked again. "How do we get the word out? Make the people see what they need to do."
"That's where all of you come in," Mahntra said. "It's a simple matter for each of you to discuss the matter with your households then talk discreetly with your neighbors. After that, ask them to do the same, spreading it on to their neighbors, and so on. Also ask them to report to you of any abuse of power, whether it comes from the guard, or other governmental bodies so we'll be able to maintain records."
"This is all perfectly legal, mind you," the chamberlain spoke again. "There is no law to prevent you from speaking about your feelings of the government with your neighbors. You are not asking them to break the law in any way, and they will not have to break the law. In fact, by resisting any edicts issued by Tranthra' Joh, they will be obeying our city's law."
"But you must be careful in how you say it," Mahntra' Bhu said. "Don't tell them that a group of the nobles are getting together to plan how to oust Tranthra' Joh. He could construe that to be treason."
A gasp erupted from the nobles. "No! We're not traitors!"
"That's not what I said," Mahntra' Bhu calmed them. "But you don't want to give fuel to any fire Tranthra' Joh may instigate. After all, us meeting, talking about how to remove the Conservator, though it's legal, could appear treasonous to some depending on how it's told. Just tell your household and neighbors that a counsel of nobles has convened, since the Princess has not been around to consult in the matter.
"Tell them that the counsel determined that Tranthra' Joh's edicts are not legal, and that they are not bound to honor them, nor does the counsel encourage their obedience. Tell them further that you are anxious to hear from the Princess, and you encourage them to continue to obey the laws that were enacted prior to the Queen's death. That's all. No! There's one more thing." Mahntra held up one finger. "Tell them that since the counsel has tried to meet and consult with the Conservator, in the absence of the Princess, and since the Conservator has continued to refuse, that he is outstripping his authority in giving any edicts without the consultation and consent of the counsel."
Many of the nobles nodded. That was concrete action they could take, and in an official capacity no less. Even though the counsel of nobles was ordinarily occupied, and run, by those nobles who’d disappeared, that same authority delved back upon the minor nobles in attendance, and hence, they were, in effect, the counsel of nobles for the city. They had official standing. And therefore could issue statements and render decisions of their own.
"Your declarations, as a council, actually will have more force of law behind it than anything Tranthra' Joh can do. If he tries to do anything against you," Mahntra said, warming to the idea that had just occurred to him. "Then the case could be made that he is the one committing treason."
&nb
sp; "Maybe we should make these statements as an official council proclamation, rather than just spread it from house to house," the host noble said. Many others nodded their heads.
"That's one thing you could do," Mahntra agreed. "But let's keep some perspective. If Tranthra' Joh has the Princess and the others of your families under his control, he could get desperate enough to use them as leverage against you. I have no doubt that if he really is making a grab for power, he won't hesitate. There must be a delicate balance in our strategy until we can insure the safety of your family leaders before we push too hard."
There was silence as this sank in.
"I would counsel that we do the house to house method, and not appear to be outwardly threatening Tranthra' Joh at this point. Still, we must try to get some of the answers we need. Like where the Princess is.
"There are some things I will try to do, and I know the chamberlain will continue his discreet efforts."
The chamberlain nodded.
"We don't want to lose your inside knowledge, my friend." Mahntra went over to clasp the chamberlain's hand. "And most of all, we don't want to lose you."