Chapter Seven
Peach blinked wearily as a knock sounded on the bedroom door. She hadn't slept a wink, worrying about this council and what would happen to them.
Anna groaned and rolled out of the top bunk almost mechanically, swinging herself around to land upright.
"We're up!" She called groggily to the door.
"Are you sure?" Malachi sounded far too cheerful this close to dawn.
"Yeah!" Anna responded. She must not have been awake, Peach thought, using slang like that.
Peach yawned and got out of bed, feeling stiff and not at all refreshed. "Morning." She said sleepily.
"Glah." Anna replied.
An hour later they were showered, dressed, fed breakfast, and heading for the council meeting to hear the decision.
The group of magikoopa from yesterday were seated in a circle, save for six empty chairs. Peach quickly discovered they were meant for them, and they were seated.
Malachi and Anna were tense, and Karina was brooding. Kammy was still furious, and Kamek was-
Was he actually resorting to so obvious an expression as scowling? Peach blinked in surprise, and the next minute his face was impassive as ever.
It took a while for them to get started what with people being so formal and Kanri addressing each member of the council by name-
Or each person here, Peach realized as he bowed and identified her as the Princess Toadstool of Mushroom Kingdom daughter of the King Toadstool.
And MalachiaMelchizedekaMalchi, Anna's father.
And KarinaMoreaMindoleth.
And AnnaaKarinaaMore.
And KamaraaMoreaMindoleth.
And Kamek.
Why was he named differently? Peach barely had time to wonder before another magikoopa spoke.
"Princess Toadstool of Mushroom Kingdom. Rise." Peach stood, wondering what would happen next. "You are an inhabitant of the Mushroom Kingdom. As such, there is no claim outside of the Mushroom Kingdom that may be laid on you. As promised, you will be guided back home by one of our people."
"And-" Peach started to ask about Anna, but was cut off.
"Anna. Rise." Peach sat as her friend stood.
"The council has found that when you did swear loyalty to Kamek, you swore loyalty to him and to him only. As such, you are not under the jurisdiction of Koopa Castle. However, you have gone back upon your sacred oath and-"
"Wait!" Karina interrupted the magikoopa. "Sir, this is, or should be a family matter. A contract was made between those connected by blood and by none other. I ask that it be dealt with as such."
There was some murmuring, and Peach tried to work out exactly what that meant.
Finally Kanri spoke. "The council will see it done. Malachi."
"Sir?"
"You were not involved in this?"
"No, sir."
"Kammy."
"Sir?" She replied sulkily.
"You also were not involved." It was not a question.
"No."
"This is between Anna and her mother and her uncle, then. Kamek."
"Yes?" Kanri was annoyed.
"She has broken an oath of loyalty to you. What does the law demand?" Peach realized Anna had gone terribly pale.
Kamek glanced idly in her direction. "She will not return to me. She is a traitor who has no respect for her mentor's teachings." He said the words with a note of finality.
"Karina."
"Yes, sir."
"She has shamed you, and made you party to this act. What does the law demand?" As expressionless as Kamek, she turned to face her daughter.
"She is no longer a daughter of mine." She said coldly. "She will leave the village immediately. Perhaps the Princess will take her."
Anna stood silent and still. Then she bowed her head. "So be it." She said. She turned to leave.
Peach followed her.
