Chapter 4 :: The Council

Lirael awoke to Sabriel's voice, softly calling her name. She stood up from her bed, realizing that in her tiredness of the previous night, she had gone to sleep on top of the blankets, still wearing her clothes. Hastily she changed before meeting her sister outside of the room.

Sabriel looked worse for wear. Lines of weariness etched her face, and she appeared as if sleep had increased her exhaustion rather than cure it. Nevertheless, she gave a tired smile for Lirael before taking her to breakfast in the Hall.

"Have a nice sleep?" asked the Queen.

Lirael nodded. "Yes, it was refreshing. I'm ready to…well, I'm ready to sit around on a table and talk," she said, with a mild joke.

Sabriel gave a small smile, which quickly vanished as she replied. "Yes, Lirael…today we talk. Tomorrow we take action…if we can. Though," she added grimly, "it will be hard to decide what we can do about something as natural as the Glacier melting. Perhaps…perhaps it is just time…the Glacier is, after all, very old."

Lirael nodded but did not answer. She did not trust herself to open her mouth, lest all her fears and tears come rushing out. Though most of her memories of Clayr's Glacier were of being a misfit, and not particularly happy, she did remember being a Second Assistant Librarian; of creating the Disreputable Dog; of the twins, Sanar and Ryelle…and she did not wish for the Glacier to be reduced to nothing but a few sparse memories.

The two walked on in silence, respectable of one another, until they got to the Hall, were a great feast of a breakfast was laid out for them. Sabriel took the seat beside her husband, Touchstone, who smiled at her, and Lirael took a seat between Sam and Nick. Both greeted her enthusiastically, and she smiled and spoke to them in return, but she seemed distant; her eyes kept staring into space, focused on something neither boy could see.

At last, it was time for the council. Sabriel, Touchstone, Ellimere, Sam, Nick, Lirael, and Mogget (who had devoured an entire plateful of fish at breakfast) went to the council room. It would be a private sort of meeting, discussing something that was not yet ready to be made public yet. What if the news of the Glacier melting was only rumors? It would be, on top of everything else, horribly embarrassing, after they had made such a big deal out of something that was only fiction…

Once they had all seated around the council table, the King began it. "You all know why we are here—you are the only ones I trust with these news, until we can be sure. We'll start out by listing all the facts of the case…will anyone take notes?"

"I will," Nick volunteered, accepting the parchment and quill Touchstone proffered.

"Now," Sabriel picked up where her husband left off. "Three days ago, a message-hawk came to us, screeching that Clayr's Glacier was melting." Nick instantly began jotting information down as the Queen went on. "We were unable to confirm who sent it, however, since it was in a voice no one had ever heard before. Also, the frantic shrieking of the voice was able to distort any familiarity in the voice. However, for the sake of the possible danger, we will assume this report is indeed true, and now will further discuss what is to be done."

"Go to Clayr's Glacier," Ellimere suggested tentatively. "See for ourselves."

"A trip to the Glacier is absolutely necessary, of course," agreed her father. "But the question remains, once we're there, what should we do?"

Silence greeted this question, since it was the question that the council was based on. Finally Lirael said, "On our way here, Mogget hinted that the binding of the Destroyer might have to do with the Glacier melting…" she let the sentence hang, and looked expectantly at the white cat, who was lounging carelessly on the table near Sabriel. Mogget looked up, seemed to be deliberately not answering, but then nodded confirmation.

"Yes. It is a curious coincidence, I might say, that a few years after a such an event, that an age-old structure begins to erode. In fact, it is possible that the Glacier had begun to melt on that very day, only it hasn't been noticeable until now. Which means," Mogget added, dramatically pausing to look each council member in the eye, "whatever is causing this erosion is getting stronger."

Everyone was now staring at the cat, almost disbelieving. Nick had even paused in his frantic scribbling to blink at Mogget, as though he couldn't believe such a conclusion could come from an animal so seemingly harmless and innocent. Mogget alone seemed unperturbed by the uncomfortable silence, bending over to indifferently clean a paw.

Finally Sam spoke. "So…somehow, Orannis has to do with this…"

"That does appear to be the case," agreed Nick, wincing upon hearing the name of the Destroyer, who had possessed him.

"Indirectly," put in Sabriel. "Perhaps, when we bound him, some power escaped. Remember, it did have the wrath to…" she didn't finish, glancing at Lirael. Suddenly Lirael knew what she had been about to say, and averted her eyes. She didn't want to be reminded of her grief of the Disreputable Dog's death, especially not now, after so long, and now that they're confronted with a new enemy, of sorts. "…to make a marvelous display," the Abhorsen finished, quite lamely. But no one was fooled, with the possible exception of Nick, who hadn't been there at the binding.

"In any case," Touchstone said, "given that information, I doubt…" he paused, and looked apologetic. "It grieves me to say it, but I doubt there is anything we can do to save the Glacier. However," he went on quickly, as Lirael looked up sharply, "we can save the Clayr who reside there, and many of their portable possessions. We will also have to find a place for them to stay, though I doubt there is any one structure equivalent to the Glacier in size or convenience. It is the only possible solution," he concluded heavily.

Another period of silence. There seemed to be many of them in this particular council. Lirael was fighting the sudden tide of emotion that had swelled up within her, as well as the image she fantasized. Hundreds of Clayr, faces both known and unknown, trekking to some unfamiliar, foreign land, lugging rucksacks, sad looks on all their faces, with the little ones demanding why they had to leave…

Lirael was interrupted in her depressing daydream by Sam, who said, "If they can find a place in the mountains…I can help rebuild their colony."

The others looked at him. It had been discovered in the past that Prince Sameth had inherited talent not unlike the legendary Wallmakers, and this had been proven time and time again. Of course, he had never yet built anything as large scale as the Wall that divided the Old Kingdom from Ancelstierre. Plus, if he took on such a huge project, he would be the only one with his skills. It would undoubtedly be a hard task, yet his aid in building something of a second home for the Clayr would be extremely helpful.

"Let us hope it does not come to that," said Sabriel gravely. Lirael nodded mutely, not trusting herself to say anything.

"I think that we should go to the Glacier without delay," announced Touchstone. "But we should not all go at once, so that we do not attract too much attention. We shall go in little parties." He hesitated, seeming to glance at his wife almost tenderly before going on. "Any volunteers to go first?"

"I will go," Sabriel said immediately, and Touchstone nodded, but he did not meet her gaze. He had known all along she would go, of course; there was nothing he could do to prevent her will.

"Me too," said Ellimere.

Touchstone looked affectionately at his wife and daughter. "So be it, then," he said quietly. "You two shall take the Paperwing and go. Send us a message-hawk if you find out anything important. Another party will join you soon." He was trying to seem nonchalant and brisk, but his eyes betrayed him. Lirael saw they held loving concern for Sabriel and Ellimere, and fear that something might go horrendously wrong. He loved his family, that much was clear.

"Well, if there is nothing else to say…?" Touchstone inquired. When no one answered, he nodded. "Then, this meeting is adjourned." He added, more quietly, "May the Charter be with us."

There were murmurs of agreement as everyone stood to leave. But Lirael was still looking at Sabriel and Ellimere, having a horrible gut feeling again, and hoping against hope that they would be all right.