Chapter 71
Cleric Councillor Pale had worked through many scenarios for catastrophes that could befall the Solaric Council, convinced that preparation was worth the time. Nobody had appreciated his careful plans and processes in life. Now, with two Councillors dead and another accused of Heresy, the man's foresight was invaluable.
“Thank you,” the Guardian said as he took an envelope sealed with the Cleric Councillor's mark. Mist, a high-ranking Cleric who was the front-runner to replace Pale, sat in the spare seat. The Guardian turned the envelope over and showed the assembled Councillors what was written on the front: 'More than one Councillor dies during a Disciple assault.'
“He thought of everything, didn't he?” Lord Councillor Blind said.
“He was a true servant of Sol,” the Guardian agreed. He cut the wax seal with a sharp knife. Inside were documents to be handed round.
Maya and Blind split the pile and passed the documents around the sparse gathering: with Starfish rushing back up from Port, only seven Councillors remained to advise the Guardian. Obviously Maya was not able to vote. The attendance didn't seem high enough to make meaningful decisions... but Pale's report on the rules of the Council stated otherwise.
“Thank you,” Octave said to Maya when he took his copy. He leant across and shared with Visit, the Mater's eyes still red and puffy. “You saved many Doctors, Acolyte Councillor. Thank you.”
Maya didn't know what to say. She'd kept silent since the session began, only confirming that the official report presented by a senior Contegon spoke for her experiences. Her reticence to speak came not only from her actions against the Shields and her complete lack of power in the Council, but also her concern that she may not have done the right thing in triggering the attack by the 'Black Widow' Disciples.
Pale's report was a long list of precedents, prior judgements and interpretations from former Guardians that ended with a summary of what the gathered Councillors could do. Maya skipped the jargon, to the meat.
“It seems we aren’t constrained,” Note said, having done the same as Maya. “We can make decisions as though there was a full attendance.”
“Provided we don't pass judgement on a Station not present,” Merchant Councillor Quill added. “Which, I suppose, we weren't likely to do.”
“Not with recent precedent,” Draw said, looking at Maya.
She held his gaze. Whilst she had to make amends, Maya would not apologise to that man. Especially not if her problem was a mental one... or from her use of Cyrus Force.
“Then we have much to discuss,” Maya said to dispel that thought. “Shall we get to it?”
“Yes, we shall,” the Guardian said. “We have not only yesterday's events, but two more Disciple configurations from a report from the Front.”
“Two more kinds of Disciple?” Note asked, leaning forward.
Draw opened a folder and held up a report and a sealed letter. “Acolyte Certainty of the western Front flew this across the Gravit Mountains and to a Mining Town named Stalk. From there, a pigeon was sent, which arrived two hours ago. The report came in two parts: one for my eyes and another for... for you, Acolyte Councillor. I have been assured that all military matters were in the erstwhile report. From its contents, I think it likely the failure to assassinate Maya caused this escalation in Disciple activity.”
The Shield Councillor threw the private letter across to Maya. It slid to a stop just before her. Maya looked down, recognising Snow's looping script. “I shall read this as soon as the session is done. If there's anything pertinent within, I will share it.”
“The sovereignty of the Stations is a wonderful thing, no?” Blind said snidely.
“Hush, Blind,” the Guardian hissed. “Draw, continue.”
The military man nodded. “Over a week ago, the western Front was attacked by mutated wolves or lions which killed almost two cadres of Shields, one Contegon, and injured many more. It was not known whether they were definitely Disciple creations, so a discretionary report was prepared instead. Octave, you'll be happy to know a Doctor is producing a study as we speak.”
“I was about to ask,” the thin Doctor said.
Draw gave him a false smile. “Acolyte Shield-General Snow and a Contegon tracked these creatures to a Disciple location, where they confirmed these ‘Lions’ were of Disciple origin. Not only that, they found a human-Disciple amalgam, one which resisted the powers of an Acolyte.”
Maya took a deep breath, looked away. “I believe I know what's in this letter now.”
Draw continued. “This amalgam – named an Acolyte Killer – was a weaker version of the standard Disciple, and shows some vulnerability to strong blows. It was the Contegon with Snow who killed it. Details and sketches will follow in three days, Note.”
“Thank you,” Note said. “I will arrange a Lesser Council for the day it arrives.”
“So, we are now dealing with three new kinds of Disciple?” Lord Blind said. He blew air out through his lips, looked to the sky. “The sneaking Black Widow, the Lion, and one specifically designed to counteract Sol's Gift. Lun has been busy indeed.”
“It's worth noting,” Maya said, “that Black Widows were involved in the Uprising at Buckle, and they may have been working for the Disciples for months. We may need to review all suspicious deaths over the last six months or so to confirm they weren’t assassinated.”
“We can get to that. But how could something overcome Sol's Gift, Maya?” Visit asked.
“I will have to read this letter first,” Maya said, holding the envelope up.
“Take an educated guess, Acolyte Councillor,” the Guardian said.
Lacking a proper response, Maya gave the nonsense answer. “Lun must be helping them. If Sol can grant powers, it's possible Lun can. But allow me to read Snow's account first. I will report to you then, sire.”
The Guardian gave her a long look. “Draw, work with Maya and whomever the Contegons choose to replace Councillor White to alter our strategies. We cannot be caught short again.”
Draw nodded. “I will, sire, particularly in light of a final revelation in Snow's report: the Disciples have networks of tunnels deep beneath the soil.”
The man knew he would get gasps of surprise and bluster. Maya couldn’t help her reaction, was on her feet, rage filling her system, before she knew it. Deep breaths and an admonishment that she should have expected this after Nephilim's underground home narrowly prevented another episode.
“Would you care to explain?” the Guardian asked once everyone had calmed down.
Draw dropped the report onto the table. “I don't know much: there is a decision to make about committing manpower to exploring this network with the elevated threat against the Fronts, so we know only that there are miles of tunnels, and workshops, down there. These workshops were used to create the Lions.”
“Could they extend underneath the Front?” Maya asked.
“Snow theorised they probably do, yes.”
“Which explains how the Black Widows were brought to Aureu,” Note said.
A hush fell over the Council as they faced the reality that their decades-long strategy to destroy Moenian had been for nothing. It was one thing to know that their ranks were infested, but the Disciples quietly bypassing their defences was another altogether.
“Well, that explains your progress north over the last few years, doesn't it?” Quill asked, looking from Draw to Maya. “We thought the Disciples were terrified by the Acolytes, when really they were withdrawing to regroup and tunnel beneath whatever we put forth.”
“That thought has occurred to me,” Maya hissed.
“And me,” Draw said slowly, his wounded pride as obvious as a facial bruise. “Our Fronts can no longer be considered safe, or our territory.”
“Can I disagree with what Note said a moment ago?” Blind asked. “You said that the Disciples used these tunnels for smuggling. I disagree. I believe they smuggle materials in through the Fronts.”
?
??What makes you say that?” Draw asked. “I ask particularly as it'll be my Shields who would be involved in such an activity.”
Blind gave Draw the smug smile Maya was often treated to. “I can't share how I know.”
“Either way,” the Guardian said, “it doesn't matter. These tunnels, and these new models, are the key threats. I will advise the Contegons to rush their selection of a new Councillor, then Draw and Maya will sit down with her to form a cogent plan for dealing with them.”
“There is something else we could consider,” Maya said. “As well, I mean.”
“And what would that be?” the Guardian asked.
“Allowing the Artificers to access Disciple technology.”
“Not this again,” Blind said, shaking his head.
“We've discussed this so often I'm getting bored of it,” Visit said, always Blind's parrot. “Why waste our time again when the rebuilding of Aureu and our response to the war declaration need our attention?”
Note shook her head. “I disagree. This could be more important than all else as it will influence our response to these new dangers. If my Station were to use what we might learn from the Disciples, imagine what new armours and weapons we could produce to help in a clearly-escalating war?”
“I must change my previous position and agree with the Artificer Councillor,” Draw said, much to Maya's surprise. “I lost almost two-dozen men to three Lions. We have lost more than a hundred citizens to the Black Widows. This... Acolyte Killer nearly killed Snow, our second-greatest Acolyte. We need every advantage we can get: we need our Artificers more than ever.”
Maya didn't interrupt by suggesting Chalk was Snow's superior, but said, “Now is the time to decide, before we choose a strategy that could waste manpower, whether Disciple technology will be included.”
“The Merchants will always look to benefit from new inventions,” Quill said. “Now that our Shield friends have changed their position, we will too.”
“And I supported it from the start,” Octave said.
“Shall we bring what looks to be the final vote on the matter to the table?” the Guardian asked. “Who here opposes the Artificers' sanctions against the use of Disciple technology?”
Visit and Blind raised their hands.
“Who here supports it?”
Everyone bar Maya raised their hands.
“Then it is settled,” the Guardian said. “Note, I expect a report every week on every single thing your Artificers find, from now until the end of time. If you develop a new kind of screw, I want a full report, schematic, and a copy of each document associated with it circled to every Councillor. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sire,” Note said. She smiled, a private, victorious gesture.
Maya tried to feel victorious, pleased that her will was finally imposed on the Council, but her mind had already moved on to this Disciple designed to nullify Cyrus Force. Much as this Acolyte Killer would do to her Spirits, the letter and what it represented robbed her of her joy and left her cold, numb.
“Very well,” the Guardian said. “You will also be a part of the strategy meetings for the war, Note. Draw, Maya, ensure she is included. Now, shall we move on?”
Blind tutted, folded his arms, but made nothing more of the issue. He had lost. A small ghost of a thrill passed through her at seeing his expression, but nothing more. She felt numb throughout the rest of the Council, a feeling which remained right up until she opened Snow's letter that night.