Thanks to NCCJellybean for inspiration for this chapter!

VERY little belongs to me...sob...

Chapter Six

Brystianne smiles softly as Matt storms into the Tribunal room, fuming. She has always had a bit of a soft spot for the young Immortal (as well as Neriah), partly because the their addition into the Tribunal has made them the youngest on it. For centuries, Brystianne has had to put up with endless ribbing by the other Tribunal members for being the newest addition, and how even Arkarian is older than her…

"I don't believe this!" he says as he takes his seat at the center—where Lorian once sat. Brystianne swallows the lump in her throat at the fresh memories, noticing suddenly that Lady Arabella has not come. For the past few days, she has remained in her chambers, inconsolable after Lorian's death.

"What?" Neriah asks innocently.

"Dillon! And Isabel! You know how they went to 1495?"

"I think we all do, Master Matt," Brystianne says in an amused voice. "I seem to recall how we all approved the mission…"

Matt just scowls at her. "Well, they caught an Order member! A high-ranking one, at that!"

A gasp ripples around the room.

"Already?" Lord Alexandron asks.

"Her name's Merle Sullivan. She hasn't told us anything yet, but Arkarian believes she may've been Lathenia's right hand man. Woman."

"And?" Brystianne asks gently, sensing Matt's hesitation.

"And…he and Dillon—who actually knows her—questioned her and somehow seem to have convinced her to join the Guard!"

Lord Penbarin scoffs, cynical as always. "And they believe her? If I got a denarius every time a caught Order member said that—"

"Then you would be unfairly discrediting Dillon and Rochelle," Lady Devine cuts in mildly.

"My dear Lady, Dillon and Rochelle proved themselves," Lord Penbarin shoots back. "And Rochelle, at least, was Named. This Merle was caught trying to alter history catastrophically, and has caved under pressure."

"We should at least give her a chance!" Brystianne pipes up. "If she wants to join the Guard, then let her join the Guard. Caved or no, we can still get valuable information out of her."

Lord Penbarin looks at her condescendingly. "Brystianne, I mean no offense when I say this: I have been in the Tribunal for much longer than you have. I was there with Lorian from the start; you are younger than almost everyone here. I have seen Order members come and go. Nine times out of ten, no, more, when an Order member says that, they're just trying to infiltrate the Guard."

"Lord Penbarin, this is an equal Tribunal," Lord Syford says disapprovingly.

"Exactly!" Brystianne says triumphantly. "I think we should let her join. If she's earnest, then I'll be right! If not, then I'll accept the consequences."

"We need a vote on this," Matt says decisively. "All that's necessary is a simple majority either way."

Brystianne swallows, knowing that odds are not on her side. "Fine."

"Lord Penbarin?" he asks.

"Nay!"

"Lord Alexandron?"

"Yea."

Brystianne looks up, elated. If I'm not the only one… She doesn't know why she was fighting so hard for this girl she doesn't even know, but something tells her she should…

"Lady Elenna?"

"Yea."

"Queen Brystianne?"

"Yea!"

"Sir Syford?"

"Nay."

"Lady Devine?"

"Yea."

"I vote nay," Matt says, turning to the last member. "Neriah…?"

Brystianne holds her breath, knowing Neriah is the one who will decide the girl's fate.

Neriah smiles calmly. "You all accepted me, even with my father being who he is…so I say yea."

"O.K." Matt says, looking a little troubled. "Let it be remembered that Lady Arabella, King Richard, and my father are absent. I'll tell them, Arkarian, and Merle the results of this as soon as I leave. But this now leaves a few things to be tended to."

Lord Penbarin "harrumphs" loudly, but otherwise remains silent.

"Queen Brystianne, you are to be with Merle and Arkarian during Merle's debriefing, which will be here, at Athens. A room must be prepared for Merle immediately. Also, a Trainer needs to be chosen for her." Matt hesitates. "I think…it would make sense if…her Trainer ought to be Immortal…just in case. That means it will be one of…us."

"I think it should be Brystianne, if she's so eager," Lord Penbarin says.

"Brys—Queen Brystianne?" Matt asks.

"Well," Brystianne starts, but is interrupted by Neriah.

"I want to do it."

"What? Neriah, she's high-risk—"

"Like I was."

"And has bad ties—"

"Like I do—did."

"And would be very, very dangerous to Train—"

"Matt, I'm Immortal."

"And, and…"

"Please?"

One look in her eyes and he's gone. "Well, O.K."