Author comment.
I've done a little research into ASL in preparation for this chapter since I wanted to be true to the General's character. If I understand the base concepts correctly, ASL is very much more conceptual, unlike English. Instead of saying "He eats the fish", ASL would read "He eat fish" or "Fish eat he".
Since Amaya is proficient in the language, I wrote her, translated as such, in English.
I wanted to portray Helmond as being extremely clumsy with his hands but I lack the knowledge to achieve this faithfully, so I chose to represent this by having him communicate simply and with unfitting but synonymous words.
I'm sure the lack of a finger alone would lend itself to a lot of interesting and amusing mixups. If any of you reading this would be interested in giving me pointers as to how to improve their parts, I would be ecstatic if you got in contact!
Helmond landed roughly in the inner court of Bastion Korhal, jumping off before Kandras had even stopped completely. The guards by the entrance recognized him, stepping aside with interested looks, as he breezed past them.
He quickly climbed the stairs to the senate chamber, hoping it was still in session.
As he shoved open the doors, a round two hundred heads turned to face him. The circular room was filled, not just with elves. A delegation of humans was standing in the center of the place. Helmond stopped in his tracks. This was unexpected. The human woman leading the delegation moved her hands and arms in a way he was able to read with some difficulty.
"What is going on here?", the man standing next to her translated, "Who is he and how dare he interrupt our parlance?"
"We would like the same answer, Legate." The voice of the Draconarch was not kind or paternal this time.
He was standing behind a lectern, in Chalise's body.
"Excellency", Helmond bowed walking into the center of the room, "I have information that is crucial to your immediate attention. Under no circumstance allow the Interpreter to regain control over herself at this time."
The senate erupted in whispers.
"You may bring your issue to us here. Now."
"I will summarize. You, Draconarch, ordered me to pursue the human prince to recover Azymondias. When I failed to do this, the Interpreter ordered my son's unit to attack us. In the resulting fight, elves clashed with elves. Fratricide ensued."
There was more audible uproar all around the room now, the humans next to him looking more and more worried. Their leader was staring intently at his face. Helmond turned more toward her, trying to reduce the disrespect he was showing the delegation by interrupting their session.
"The Interpreter submitted to him a sealed order...", he held up the document, "...requiring the murder and covert disposal of one Prince Callum of Katolis, one Rayla, Sicarius Assassin of the Moonshadow and one unnamed officer she described as a traitor. This officer was me! She was inciting not just murder between our people but within my own family!"
The Draconarch raised a hand to stop Helmond from speaking further. When the Plenum's furious whispers had calmed down, he motioned for Helmond to finish.
"You know my report and the orders you gave me subsequently, Excellency. She is in violation of Canon Dracii."
The Draconarch considered for a moment, visibly unsettled by the body he was in. Finally, he collected himself. "Be that as it may, you have failed your mission once more, Helmond. We do not see the aforementioned persons with you."
"Excellency, I did not think it wise to bring them here. I could not anticipate the Senate's response and would not dare risk their mission."
Hisses of indignation flooded the room. This had been as close to an insult to the Senate as had ever been spoken in the Plenum.
"Our response?", the regent whispered dangerously, exposing his lizard-like nature, "We ordered them here to recover the princeling. Your opinion on our response is secondary, Legate! The Lucid is not an independent organization! You are beholden to your civilian leaders and you will do and report as bidden with all due haste!"
"I do not believe that the princeling's recovery alone will assist us in preserving… restoring... peace between the Pentarchy and Xadia, Excellency. It is paramount for the human prince to deliver Azymondias through hardship. Only this will send a strong enough message to some among us, especially those in the white wing."
"We ordered you to recover our kin!", came the now openly angry response over the furious rebuttals of a few Sky delegates in the white wing, "I will say, once again! It is not your place to determine what course to take in the preservation of relations! You are expected to appear in front of this body again, later! Enter the Interpreter's incriminating order into official record, then depart this chamber!"
He turned to the human delegation. "We apologize for this… disorder. In light of this information, we would like to postpone further talks until later. We hope this is agreeable."
"We will stand by until you reach a consensus", said the translator and the five-strong human delegation bowed in synchronicity, leaving the Plenum behind Helmond.
The latter turned to the human general once the doors had closed behind them. She was already approaching.
"If I may", the human interpreter said, translating her signs, "Thank you. I believe your interruption will help our case. If you have a moment, I would like to hear of Prince Callum. He is my Nephew. I understand you had contact with him recently?"
Helmond's brows furrowed, then he looked at his hands, wondering if he should attempt it in the interest of forming rapport. He signed, clumsily.
'I am happy he feels good. Who are you?'
She seemed amused.
'You sign. That is a surprise. I am General Amaya. This is my interpreter, Rheza. How long ago did you see the prince?'
'Sorry General. I sign badly. Old wisdom. Do you want him?'
He pointed at her interpreter and she shrugged with bemused assent.
"How long ago did you see the prince?", Rheza voiced.
"I last saw him and his elven mate two days ago."
The interpreter and Amaya seemed baffled.
"Mate?"
Helmond's face showed discomfort. "I am likely as confused by their relationship as you are, General. Elves lack a fitting word for their in-between state, as it were, hence my clumsy approximation. They openly touch, and kiss, but are not summed. This is not… normal. Especially given their races."
Rheza's face sagged as he translated.
The general shook her head, a semblance of worry in her expression. "The last time I saw them, he was a hostage of hers. The last I heard of them was that they were good friends."
"I don't doubt there will be a conversation to be had with them once they fulfill their mission."
She nodded, then signed, "It is good to have second hand news of him. Both our King and I worry."
Helmond had an idea.
"General, if I may."
Helmond unhooked his bow and handed her an eagle arrow, explaining its function.
"If you send them a message now, they should be able to answer within the day. I would help you further but I am not sure what the outcome of the discussion in this chamber will be as far as my own person is concerned. You may use my office. Guard."
He instructed the guard to show the General to his empty room.
She signed her thanks and followed the woman.
Helmond sighed deeply, widening his stance in anticipation of a long wait. He had many admirers among the Senate, including the white wing. This had given him the necessary confidence to step into the circle so brashly. All he could hope now was that the voices calling for Chalise's removal were louder than those looking to imprison him.
Either way, he believed that democracy was a good system.
Good. But slow.