The Room of Meeting was located in the very centre of the Dome of the Sixth. Unlike most in the complex, this room had been forged from one very large and very expensive block of ice. Far-a-mael’s attention, however, was on the semicircular table that ran parallel to the wall behind it. It was at this table that the high elders sat. Having learned long ago that with their combined abilities the high elders were able to pick out a lie almost as easily as El-i-miir, Far-a-mael had decided to err as closely to the truth as he could when explaining the events of his journey. Naturally, there’d been a few details he’d had to omit due to their sensitivity.
‘Gil’rei Far-a-mael,’ Gez-reil said formally, despite their having been close friends for many years. ‘We’d like to hear your suggestions in regards to the matters with which you’ve presented us?’
‘What do I suggest?’ Far-a-mael replied with mock humility, smothering a victorious grin beneath his hand. ‘I suggest we go to war, High Elder Gez-reil. We have her now, and I’ve brought back living proof of an impending silt invasion. I believe it’s time to reach out to our people stationed in Old World. If we do not strike now, I assure you that the enemy will.’
The high elder of the Third Cleff rolled his eyes dramatically and muttered distastefully, ‘How useful do you really expect her to be? Even if the abilities of which you speak are true, she’s hardly an army.’
‘Who knows what she’ll become capable of with more training,’ Far-a-mael urged. ‘As it stands, we can use her to keep tabs on every military movement the silts make. Do you doubt how useful that would be to our spies in the Lowly Order?’
‘She’s not even Elglair,’ the high elder insisted. ‘Not really, anyway. And one silt is not a good enough reason to trouble our people in the south.’
‘She is able to know in the most profound way imaginable, through projection. With a little more practise, I suspect she’ll even be able to know into the past and even see the future,’ Far-a-mael stated in exasperation. ‘As for the silt, well, we all know they’re like snow roaches. If you find one, there’s a hundred more beneath the iceboards. We infiltrated the Sat’Tanist ranks over a hundred years ago and we did it for a reason. Already we’ve ignored Old World too long, often bending over backward making excuses for their whims. Enough is enough. The line must be drawn here.’
The fifth high elder slammed down her notes and stood up abruptly. ‘We cannot declare war on Old World,’ she snapped. ‘Even if we should succeed, Maker knows with all odds against us, can you imagine at what cost?’
‘Many will die,’ Far-a-mael stated bluntly, recentful that he should have to explain himself to a woman. In his day High Elder Tes-ar-ni would never have been allowed into such a position. ‘I know that . . . of course. The girl herself will likely die, but we’re talking about a chance to retake Old World. I believe that the cost will be well worth the reward.’
‘Damn it, Far-a-mael!’ Gez-reil slammed his fist against the table and leapt to his feet. ‘Do you think I don’t suffer still, too? I remember your pain. I know your hurt, but for Maker’s sake, we’re talking about your granddaughter.’
‘No,’ Far-a-mael whispered turning his back on the group. ‘I disowned her mother a long time ago. Seteal is no relation of mine. She is the product of an illegitimate marriage . . . a thing of shame. The girl whom we discuss is nothing more than a tool with which we can bring peace and security to New World and reclaim what was once ours by right.’ He spun around to face the the high elders. ‘In any case, what you speak of is irrelevant. Who cares if she’s my granddaughter or your neighbour’s cat? I am giving you the opportunity to fix everything.’
The room fell silent, Gez-reil’s and Far-a-mael’s eyes locked, until finally the high elder lowered his. ‘You’re right.’ Gez-reil shook his head after another moment in silence.
‘I’m glad you’re able to see that,’ Far-a-mael replied as the majority of the surrounding elders began nodding in agreement.
‘I’ll have no part in this.’ The high elder of the Third Cleff pushed himself away from the table and stormed out of the room, followed closely thereafter by Tes-ar-ni.
‘If anyone else is in disagreement with Gil’rei Far-a-mael’s proposal, let them speak now,’ Gez-reil said softly. The remaining high elders maintained their seats, so Gez-reil continued. ‘All right, Far-a-mael. Tell me . . . promise me we won’t regret this.’
‘I don’t live with regrets.’ Far-a-mael lifted his chin.
‘That’s what I’m afraid of.’ Gez-reil held his gaze for an extended moment. He dipped a pen into his inkwell and turned one of the pages on the table before him. ‘Let it be as you’ve outlined in your proposal.’ Gez’reil sighed, signing the paper before passing it on to the others. ‘Congratulations, War Elder Far-a-mael of the Unified Cleffs.’ Gez’reil slowly stood up, his expression bearing no pleasure in using his new title. ‘I hope to Maker you know what you’re doing, old friend.’
‘You will not be disappointed,’ Far-a-mael said with a sly smile. He picked up the signed papers from the table. ‘I’ll have copies made immediately.
‘After you do that, have a chat with the Sixth Cleff military coordinator and see if she has any suggestions on the possibility of alliances with outlander countries,’ Gez-reil said. ‘If we’re going to attack Old World, we’re going to first need as many friends as we can get.’
‘Indeed.’ Far-a-mael nodded his agreement. Gez-reil had always felt the need to state the obvious in an effort to remind those around him that he was in control of any given situation.
‘Now then,’ Gez’reil shuffled through his papers. ‘On to other matters.’
‘Yes,’ Far-a-mael agreed. ‘What of the silt’s fate?’
‘We’ve decided to interrogate the silt in the traditional manner utilised for such creatures.’ Par-e-lin, the high elder of the Seventh Cleff spoke for the first time, a nasty glint in his eye. ‘Once we’ve extracted whatever information we can from the creature, it will be executed on the grounds of its existence.’
‘And the seeol?’ Far-a-mael enquired.
‘I find it very difficult to believe you’ve encountered a true seeol,’ said the high elder of the Fourth Cleff , his voice wheezing and frail. ‘A separated thread coming into existence against the will of the Ways. As such, it is an extraordinarily rare phenomenon. I might also add that I’m disappointed you’ve been unable to deal with the creature to the point of luring it all the way to our doorstep. Having said that, we shall assign a small group of gils to dispose of your seeol if and when it becomes a problem.’
When Far-a-mael didn’t excuse himself, the elders paused to glance at one another, double checking that they hadn’t missed anything on the agenda. ‘You’re dismissed, Far-a-mael,’ Gez-reil said. ‘Given your new responsibilities, your rei will be reassigned to another gil.’
‘Ah, yes . . . my lovely little rei,’ Far-a-mael murmured as he turned to the door across the room. ‘Bring her in,’ Far-a-mael ordered the guard holding El-i-miir with a gun to her temple. Surrounding him were ten additional hadoan soldiers trained well in armed combat. To the untrained eye, having so many men stand guard seemed preposterous in maintaining the security of one little girl, but Far-a-mael knew El-i-miir could affiliate three or four of them and possibly even more if she was pushed.
‘What on earth is this all about?’ Gez-reil gasped, his expression one of disbelief.
‘I have condemned her to Vish’el’Tei,’ Far-a-mael said without emotion.
‘Please don’t let him do this,’ El-i-miir sobbed, lifting her head, appealing to the high elders beneath running makeup and tears.
‘Vish’el’Tei?’ Gez-reil failed in keeping the horror from his voice. ‘Why El-i-miir? She’s the most gifted and least arrogant student we’ve had in five hundred years.’
‘Not anymore.’ Far-a-mael almost smiled at the thought of Seteal’s power having been placed so freely in his hands.
‘We cannot approve this.’ Gez-reil leant back
in his chair and crossed his arms.
‘Oh, thank you,’ El-i-miir choked out. ‘Thank you. Thank you!’
‘Quiet, girl,’ Far-a-mael grated, before returning his attention to the high elders. ‘I demand that you hear me out before you decide against my decision. Besides, it’s written in the ancient law that a gil has the right to punish his rei however he sees fit. Seeking your permission is merely a courtesy.’
‘You . . . what? You can’t just condemn her without consulting us,’ Gez-reil spluttered.
‘That is a very old law, Far-a-mael.’ The fourth high elder shook his head disparagingly. ‘We simply don’t behave that way in modern times.’
‘I’ll admit freely that I had to use some rather unscrupulous methods in order to lure Seteal to the Frozen Lands.’ Far-a-mael frowned. ‘It was necessary to do so. El-i-miir chose to reveal certain deceptions to Seteal without my permission and now we’ll be lucky if we can get her to behave at all.’
‘That’s not all you did,’ El-i-miir squeaked.
‘Be quiet, El-i-miir,’ Gez-reil cautioned, before turning his attention back to Far-a-mael. ‘That’s not enough for Vish’el’Tei. What in Maker’s name is wrong with you, Far-a-mael?’
‘I’m not finished yet,’ Far-a-mael sneered. ‘It gets much darker than that. Rei El-i-miir conversed freely with our captive silt. She became increasingly friendly with the creature, even attempting to trick me into leaving her alone with it on multiple occasions. Today she tried to set it free.’
‘He’s innocent,’ El-i-miir cried desperately. ‘Don’t you see that? He was raised by humans in Sitnic! There is no silt invasion.’
‘Lies!’ Far-a-mael thrust out his hand. ‘Just look into her aura. It speaks the truth that she won’t. Don’t you see the compassion she vomits up for that retched demon? She took me for a fool at every turn and I don’t doubt for a minute that she’s even stooped so low as to have sexual relations with the silt.’
‘No,’ El-i-miir cried. ‘It’s not true.’
‘Is it true?’ Gez-reil asked her simply, staring deep into her aura. ‘Did you have intercourse with the creature, thereby committing the heinous act of bestiality?’
‘No,’ El-i-miir choked on the word.
Gez-reil continued to stare for a moment, before sitting back with a satisfied nod. ‘I believe you.’
‘You asked the wrong question, old friend,’ Far-a-mael reprimanded Gez-reil and turned malevolently toward El-i-miir. ‘The question isn’t whether you’ve had sexual relations with the silt, but rather more importantly whether you’d like to?’
‘No,’ El-i-miir lied through shaking lips.
Gez’reil sat back heavily. The lie had not escaped his, nor the other high elders’ notice, as it bounced fleetingly across El-i-miir’s aura. ‘Did you try to set it free?’ Gez-reil’s voice was hoarse.
‘I did,’ El-i-miir sobbed after a long pause filled only by silence.
‘Dear girl, silts are never innocent.’ Gez’reil rubbed his forehead and turned to Far-a-mael. ‘As the high elder of the Eighth Cleff, I am belatedly granting you my support to enact this rei’s condemnation.’
One by one the other high elders confirmed their agreement.
‘No,’ El-i-miir whimpered, crumpling to her knees. ‘No! Please. I’ll do anything.’
‘You may wait outside, child.’ Gez-reil frowned pityingly at El-i-miir as she exited. ‘You as well, Far-a-mael. You’re dismissed.’
Far-a-mael bowed deeply and backed out the door only to give El-i-miir a disgusted glance and continue on his way. He had not expected such passion from Gez-reil, especially in regards to Seteal’s being his granddaughter. Far-a-mael’s motives were entirely logical. When he was just a boy, his parents had been murdered by silts. Years later, his wife, Sar-ni, lost her life because of a whisp. And, of course, Jil-e-an ended up suffering that very same fate. That’s why Gez-reil’s attitude confused Far-a-mael. Sar-ni had been his sister. Surely, he of all people should’ve recognised that using Seteal for vengeance was poetically brilliant.
The high elders were such old fools, apparently having forgotten to consider the depths of Far-a-mael’s knowledge on legal matters. They clearly had no idea what the title of 'War Elder' actually entailed. If they had, they never would’ve granted it to him.