THE DEMON'S LEGACY
Chapter 19
Maysam hurried down the hallway, her steps silent upon the carpeting. She was not moving as quickly as she wanted to. After last night, she was a bit stiff and sore—it had been a long, long time since she had had sex, and she had been younger and…well…more flexible, among other things. She chuckled to herself.
Passing Talia and Bane's suite, she heard the deep rumble of Bane's voice. They were expecting her to entertain Henri this morning while the council met, but first she wanted to check on baby James and family.
When she knocked upon the infirmary door, Sanjana called for her to enter. Maysam expected to see Barsad with Sanjana, but she found only mother and child. The young woman was sitting in a chair next to the incubator. The blinds had been partially opened, letting in a bit of natural light.
"Good morning," Maysam said softly as she crossed the room.
"Good morning. You just missed John. He went to get dressed for the council."
Both parents had slept here and would continue to do so until baby James was out of the incubator. The hospital bed was big enough for both since it had originally been acquired for Bane when he was recovering from his surgeries following the Gotham siege.
Maysam smiled down at the infant. "Good morning to you, too, saghirti."
James was awake, but sleep was not far off. He wore the contented expression of a baby who had a bellyful of warm milk.
Seeing Barsad's child born yesterday had had a strange effect on Maysam. She had been both thrilled and melancholy about it, though she knew the latter emotion was pure foolishness. The truth of the matter, though, was that she still occasionally thought of Barsad as belonging to her, even after all these years. Perhaps if Barsad and Sanjana had been properly married by now, that crazy feeling would have died. Sometimes, she even wondered if his real reason for not marrying Sanjana was not the League but his former relationship with her. Feminine ego, she always berated herself after thinking such folly. But seeing Barsad's baby born had shredded those baseless fantasies, and it had saddened her as she saw the light of new life in James's eyes and looked in the mirror and saw the twilight of her own life approaching. Perhaps that was another reason why she wanted Barsad to live here at the palace—once he left with his family, she feared he would forget her, caught up in his family's lives, as he should be.
But then, last night had happened. Now, looking at James, she felt none of the sadness she had experienced yesterday. She felt only happiness for herself and Barsad, and she could forgive Sanjana for loving him.
"Did you get much sleep?" Maysam asked.
"A little."
"And John?"
"I think he got less than me. I've never seen him worry so much about anything. Well, maybe about Bane sometimes."
They both chuckled.
"A sleepless night for all of us, then," Maysam said, then realized how the comment sounded. She caught Sanjana's curious glance and blushed.
Maysam never revealed anything personal to Sanjana—the servant/master dynamic still lingered, after all. But Barsad's conversation about Sanjana's sensitivity to their past and current relationship returned and gave Maysam an idea. Perhaps if Sanjana knew about her burgeoning romance with Abrams, the girl would not feel so threatened. No new mother, especially one with her first baby living in an incubator, should have unneeded anxiety to disturb her, no matter who she was. Also, Maysam's ego urged her to share a bit to show the beautiful young thing that she, too, even at her old age, could still be attractive to a man.
"I will tell you something," Maysam said in a clandestine tone with a tiny smile. "But you must not tell the others."
Sanjana looked too stunned by the confidential words to reply and instead merely nodded.
Maysam glanced at the closed door to the hallway and to the one that led to an adjoining room. Then she leaned closer to Sanjana and said, "Aaron and I spent the night together." She felt like a ridiculous schoolgirl for saying this, yet it was also exciting to share.
Sanjana blinked and stammered, "That…that's wonderful."
Maysam almost giggled. "I feel a bit silly."
"Why?"
"Why?" She laughed. "I'm an old woman, Sanjana, older than Aaron."
"You are not old. And, besides, what does age have to do with it anyway? Love is for everyone."
Spoken like a true novice. But Maysam did not mind her naivete; she appreciated that the girl had not laughed at her.
"But why do you want to keep it a secret?" Sanjana asked, sounding disappointed. No doubt the girl wanted to tell Barsad so her foolish belief in his interest in her employer could permanently die.
"Well, Aaron isn't ready for that. He has it in his head that it could infuriate my relatives."
Sanjana frowned. She would certainly understand this reason, considering her own parents and her scandalous relationship.
"Well, if you'd like," Sanjana said, "I'll tell Abrams he's being silly."
"Thank you, but please say nothing to him about it. I'm confident he'll come around eventually." Maysam looked down at James before saying, "I must be going. Haris and Talia are waiting for me to watch Henri so they can attend the council."
"I hope all goes well. I know John is even more upset about this Nyssa woman than I am. I told him to keep his head."
"Good advice."
"Thank you for stopping by." Sanjana smiled brightly. "I'm so happy for you and Aaron."
###
Yemi, standing guard, opened the double doors for Bane and Talia to enter the cavernous reception room where the council was to be held. The regional commanders and Barsad were already there, sitting or standing in pairs at the far end of the room where the furniture had been arranged into a quadrangle to accommodate the meeting. Everyone turned and fell silent. As they crossed the room, Bane's and Talia's footsteps were soundless upon the immense Persian rug that covered most of the floor.
This room was used only to entertain visitors, its décor formal and impressive. The exterior wall was dominated by floor-to-ceiling windows looking out upon the compound's interior courtyards, morning sunlight tempered by sheers. Three sparkling chandeliers hung from the high, mirrored ceiling, providing additional light, casting faint shadows from Bane and Talia. On either end of the room were fireplaces with gilded mirrors above them. Like many rooms in the palace, this one's main colors were gold, orange, and rich reds, along with blues in the carpet.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Bane's voice managed to fill the large room.
All returned his greeting.
The aroma of coffee originated from a long, low table amidst the arranged furniture. A silver service there displayed not only coffee and tea but breakfast pastries as well as other small food items to tempt them, a mixture from the various cultures represented by the council. Bane smiled at Maysam's thoughtful attention to detail.
"Please, sit," Bane said, sweeping an arm toward the chairs and sofa.
Bane sat in a straight-backed, formal chair at one end of the quadrangle, Talia seated in a matching chair to his right, Barsad on his left. His second-in-command looked peevish and sleep-deprived, pouring himself a steaming black cup of coffee. Behind him, a gold curtain draped around the frame of another large mirror, which reflected the imposing windows opposite, giving the impression that the mirror was a window itself.
"As long as we are gathered here," Bane began, "we might as well attend to any outstanding business prior to discussing the main topic. But let us speak in French, as an added layer of protection while in this house discussing League business. Finn, as senior regional commander, I open the floor to you."
Finn Donnell's small stature and benign looks were deceiving—he was a formidable man, intelligent, sharp-witted, and deadly. Several of his relatives had been prominent figures in the ranks of the Irish Republican Army during its heyday, and their fighting spirit and cunning flowed through Finn's veins. His forehead was broad, made broader by his receding hairline. His eyes were even blacker than his hair, like that of a hunting shark, made darker by his perpetually pale complexion.
Finn, the League's commander in North America, had worked closely with Talia during her years in Gotham prior to the siege. Naturally, the two had become close. He now discussed various operations taking place in the United States as well as Mexico. Once he was finished, Daichi Sao, the League's man in Asia, followed, then Guy Giroux, who detailed the League's status in Europe; the suave Frenchman adored Talia, the two often carrying on in French for long periods whenever together, making Bane's fingers twitch. On around the group of men, each giving detail and insight into their operations, problem-solving and receiving Bane's counsel. Throughout the discussions, Barsad remained silent, brooding over his coffee.
"Very well, brothers," Bane said. "If there is no further business, then let us proceed to the reason for calling this esteemed council."
All settled back in their chairs, some frowning, some—like Finn—stoic.
"As you know, we discovered that Talia has a half-sister who is demanding her birthright to the Demon's Head. DNA has proven her lineage. You have all received a copy of the dossier on Nyssa, so you know her history as a highly-effective mercenary. We have brought her and her mother into the palace and are holding them until we make our decision." Bane leaned back and exchanged a glance with Talia. She looked calm and cool as always, but he knew the turmoil within her better than she knew it herself. "We have a couple of options, brothers," he continued. "Uphold Nyssa's claim and subject her to training and initiation or ignore her claim and eliminate her and her mother, so they cannot reveal to the world that we survived Gotham; her survival would, of course, endanger my family as well as Barsad and his family." Bane allowed a small smile directed at his lieutenant. "As you know, Deadshot is now a father."
Murmurs of approval rippled through those gathered. This seemed to pull Barsad slightly out of his funk, and he thanked them for their well-wishes.
Sao, the second highest senior among the regional commanders, was the first to comment on Bane's proposal. "Since it has been proven that Nyssa is heir to the Demon and elder to our beloved sister, why would we even entertain the thought of killing her?"
"Because of the reason Bane gave," Barsad said, his tone harsh. "She could bring ruin on all of us. Her betrayal could decimate the leadership ranks. The League is resilient, but Bane and Talia have been our greatest leaders—do we really want to take the chance of losing them? And how do we know this hotheaded woman can even be trained? While we waste our time and resources on her, she could expose us, especially once she realizes she can't meet our standards."
"But," Sao countered, "her lineage dictates that we give her the opportunity to prove herself."
"And if she doesn't?" Finn asked.
"Then," Bane said, "this council would reconvene to make a new determination."
"Her motives alone should prohibit her from being trained," Barsad argued. "She only cares about the title as a way to spit in her father's eye and piss off Talia. She's jealous and holds a grudge against them."
"And what of Talia?" Alexej Kulikov, the Eastern European commander, looked to Talia. "The truth of the matter is that she is no longer the Demon's Head, so this Nyssa would have claim over Bane, as repugnant as that may be, even more so than over her sister."
"If the League sees fit," Talia finally spoke, "I would reclaim my position, whether to deny Nyssa or to lead while she is being trained, so she is aware of no impropriety where blood claim is concerned. As Bane knows, however, I prefer to keep things as they are because of our son, the next heir. But I will do whatever my brothers feel is necessary and honorable."
"She should be eliminated," Barsad growled.
"Your opinion is already clear," Bane said.
"I can't believe you don't feel the same way. You have a kid, too."
"This decision goes beyond my own desires, brother," Bane said darkly; it was very unlike Barsad to question him so bluntly in front of the others. "I would like to hear from everyone else. Sao, it sounds like you prefer to uphold the League's tradition. Finn, do you agree with him?"
With a glance at Talia, Finn said, "My gut feeling is to side with Barsad on this. Maybe if this woman had come to us years ago, but now…? How can we trust her motives? Perhaps we need more intel to make sure she has no clandestine ties to anyone."
"A spy?" Kulikov raised a scarred eyebrow.
"When has our intel ever been faulty?" Giroux challenged. "We know all there is to know about the woman."
"Probably," Finn conceded. "But when can we ever be a hundred percent sure of anything? She came out of nowhere, this one. It just seems very odd to me."
"But proof shows she's Rā's al Ghūl's daughter," Bandile Molefe, the League's African commander, said. "How, in good conscience, could we ever deny the bloodright of one of the League's greatest men and its greatest martyr? It would be dishonorable."
"And against the League's mandates," Sao added.
"Those mandates won't be worth a damn," Barsad said, "if Nyssa betrays us."
"What's different here, Sao," Finn said, leaning forward, "is that this woman came to us out of the blue. She's known of her parentage since Rā's died, but she just now reaches out to us. Like I said, there's something off. She very well could be working for someone, someone who wants to infiltrate our ranks. A paycheck might be more important to her than the League."
"Contacting the League, as you know," Sao said with a wry, humorless half smile, "is not an easy thing. From what I understand, she came here seeking the truth after seeing Bane's child with Talia's grandmother. She had a potential point of contact at last, believing Talia lived, as proven by her child's existence."
"She didn't know Henri's her child," Barsad said.
"It was a calculated assumption," Molefe said, "after seeing the resemblance as well as observing his close relationship with Talia's grandmother. Any of us would have made the same connection if we had been in her shoes."
Barsad looked incredulous. "It's not as simple as you think it is. She's cunning. You haven't met this woman."
"They will have that opportunity shortly," Bane said. "But I first want to hear our brothers out."
The debate continued for over an hour. Sao was the only one completely for allowing Nyssa to be a part of the League. The rest of the regional commanders had mixed opinions for and against the idea.
"So, the six of us have discussed it," Finn said, indicating the other regional commanders. "And we know Barsad's opinion, but you and Talia haven't really said much, Bane. What do you think? Talia, this is your sister. Do you feel anything for this woman?"
"Any feelings one way or the other," Talia said, "have no bearing when it comes to this decision. It is a council decision; I am not on the council."
"True enough," Finn said, his gaze softening, as it did only for Talia or her son. "But you once led us, and you are the child of Rā's al Ghūl. Council or no council, we all value your opinion as well as respect your feelings. This can't be an easy time for you."
She smiled indulgently at her old friend. "Thank you, Finn. Your words are kind but foolhardy. My vote will only come into play if the eight of you are split."
"What about you, Bane?" Giroux asked. "You seem almost indifferent."
"I am anything but indifferent, brother," Bane said. "I am being objective. Perhaps if you speak to Nyssa now yourselves, we can make our decision."
When the others agreed, Bane sent word for Nyssa to be brought to the room. Within minutes, she entered, accompanied by Yemi, who looked as displeased as Barsad.
As Yemi escorted her across the room, all were silent. He walked her past the council then had her stand at the end of the gathering, facing Bane and Talia. Without blinking, Bane watched her, catching every nuance of emotion she tried to conceal. As before, she showed no fear, only caution as she took in the new faces—the reaction of a person with little to lose…except her mother. That was where the caution came into play. A lost soul, Bane thought. There was bemusement on her face as well, for she had not been forewarned about her inclusion in this meeting; Bane had not wanted to give her time to concoct some speech to try to curry favor. He wanted to see her caught unawares so he could witness how she improvised in such a high-pressure situation.
"Is this the jury?" Nyssa asked with that now-familiar sly twist to the corner of her mouth. Her pointed stare landed on Barsad.
"You might call it that," Barsad said.
Normally, Bane would have chastised his second-in-command for speaking out of turn, but, considering what Barsad had gone through in the past twenty-four hours, he let it slide for now. Barsad was the only person he would do this for, regardless of any reason.
"This," Bane said to Nyssa, "is the esteemed council of the League of Shadows. They have gathered to rule on your claim. After our initial discussion, you are being given the opportunity to speak on your own behalf prior to our final deliberation. I understand you speak fluent Russian. We will continue this meeting in that language, for security purposes."
Nyssa looked at each man, as if measuring them up, before resting her stare on Talia. There was a challenging glint in her eyes, but she had tempered some of the defensiveness and haughtiness. She was wise enough to discern that such things would not serve her well in present company. She is no fool, Bane thought again.
"I still don't understand why this is even being challenged," Nyssa said. "You have proof that I am who I claim to be. From what I understand, the League is bound to give me what is rightfully mine."
"The situation is different because we don't know your true motives or worth," Bane said. "With Talia, her motives and worth have always been beyond reproach. And she has her father's blessing; you do not."
Nyssa drew in a hard breath through her nose, seeming to rise on her toes.
"Do not misconstrue my comment as an insult," Bane growled. "It is merely a fact, one you have claimed to be aware of. Now, waste no more of the precious time we are giving you by arguing. You need to convince us. Speak."
Nyssa squared her shoulders and drew in a breath. "You say you don't know my true motives. You think this is all about getting back at my father."
"And your half-sister," Barsad grumbled.
Bane turned his head slightly to lay his displeased stare upon his lieutenant. Barsad's jaw clenched, and he begrudgingly dropped his gaze.
Nyssa, for once, ignored her critic. "I'm here because the Demon's Head is rightfully mine. Plain and simple. And I am qualified to be in your ranks. You'll see that in time."
"When did you learn of your lineage?" Sao asked, though they already knew the answer.
"When my father was killed. I saw his picture on the news and recognized him from a photo my mother has. She confirmed my suspicion, and your DNA test proved it."
"But," Giroux said, "you had no interest in the League until now?"
"I had an interest, of course. But I was married at the time, and my husband argued against me trying to contact the League; he figured it'd just get both of us killed. And, as you know, you guys aren't exactly in the phone book or on Google. When I saw Talia's kid in the bazaar with Maysam, I started to put two and two together. Unlike the rest of the world, I knew about the connection between Rā's al Ghūl, Melisande, and Maysam. People could say Talia had some other mother, but my mother knew what Melisande looked like, and when she saw Talia on the news during the Gotham siege and later heard who her father was, she knew that was Melisande's daughter. But, like I told Bane, I couldn't just walk up to the palace doors and ask if Talia was here, not unless I wanted a bullet in the head."
"How long have you been divorced?" Finn asked another question that had been answered in the dossier. Like Sao, he was checking to make sure her story matched their intel.
"Not that long."
"And why did your marriage end?" Kulikov asked.
Nyssa shrugged one shoulder, and her brief glance downward told Bane that the divorce had not been without pain. "Why does any marriage end? Infidelity, finances, differences of opinions and philosophies, bad decisions. Take your pick."
"Who was unfaithful?" Sao asked. "You or your husband?"
"What the hell difference does that make?" Nyssa growled.
"Fidelity is a key virtue among our ranks," Bane said.
"I've heard League members can't marry," she countered.
"In life, fidelity does not encompass only marriage," Bane said.
While Nyssa considered, her attention drifted to Talia then Barsad.
"Answer the question," Barsad demanded.
Her lip curled in distaste. "Let's put it this way—you might call the infidelity in my marriage a two-way street."
"So, your husband couldn't trust you," Barsad said. "How can we?"
"I guess I'll just have to prove it to you."
"What do you know of the League's purpose?" Sao changed directions.
The switch in topic seemed to befuddle her for a moment as she pulled her attention from Barsad's glowering face. "The League facilitates balance in the world. That's its mission."
"And you think you are prepared to direct that mission, to do whatever is necessary to meet the League's goals?" Molefe asked skeptically.
"Yes."
"Even if that meant killing your own mother?" Finn asked.
Again, Nyssa faltered as if taken aback but recovered with almost a snarl. "I don't see how killing my mother will bring balance to the world."
"No," Barsad said, "but it would prove your commitment. When someone joins our ranks, he renounces everything from his personal life."
"And yet," Nyssa countered, "Talia is living with her grandmother."
Talia stirred in her seat, but Bane spoke before she might say something that could reveal her withdrawl from the League. "It is more accurate to say Talia's son is living with his great-grandmother. I would think his aunt would approve of the protection Maysam, her family, and this remote region offer."
"The League can't protect him?"
"The League does protect him. You have noticed the men guarding this room and your own, surely," Bane said with a bit of condescension.
"Have any of you had to kill your mothers to join the League?" Nyssa asked with a bite.
Bane gave her an indulgent smirk. "We would not ask you to do such a thing, at least not at this time. However, if we decide to accept you as an initiate, your mother will indeed be killed if you betray us. So, you must tell us again if you are indeed committed to this path?"
"And if I'm not, you'll just kill us both anyway."
Bane nodded. "Indeed."
Nyssa addressed Talia. "You would allow your own kin, your only relative besides Maysam, to be murdered?"
"To protect my child and our father's work, yes," Talia said. "And you would do the same if you were in my place."
"What'll you do with my mother while I'm being trained?"
"We haven't agreed to your inclusion yet," Bane said.
Again Nyssa directed her words at Talia. "Why do you let him do all the talking? You're the Demon's Head."
"Bane is my right hand," Talia calmly said. "We are one and the same, part of the same body. He speaks for me when I will it. You and I have a familial connection; it could potentially cloud my judgment. Bane has no such ties to you, so he will think more objectively than I in this matter. He has my complete confidence, as he always has. I am sorry you have not had someone like this in your life. It has made you bitter, a trait that concerns me and my brothers."
"Spare me your pity," Nyssa growled. "Let's get on with this."
Everyone paused before Sao asked, "Why do you want to become the Demon's Head? You claim superseding Talia has no personal taint to it, and that you don't desire this as a way to show contempt for your father."
"Aye, what is it?" Finn added.
Nyssa hesitated before answering, and Bane caught a brief flash of vulnerability in the way her gaze momentarily dropped to the coffee table. "Everyone in my line of work has heard the legends about the League of Shadows. I've heard them since I first picked up a gun. Then when I found out my father had been the Demon's Head, I was intrigued even more. But, I admit, I was a bit hesitant to seek you out, especially thanks to my husband and his fears. I think he'd heard one too many fables about the League. He wanted to run from the idea, like it was a raging fire, but I wanted to go toward the fire, especially after seeing Bane on TV during the Gotham siege. The scope of that operation was mind-boggling to me, exciting. Then when I heard about Talia's involvement—and that I had a half-sister, someone who knew the father that I never knew—I was even more curious. Everyone looks for meaning in their life, a purpose. I've never really had one. Gotham gave me a glimpse of what I might have. I'd been toying with the idea of trying to make contact once I was divorced, but I had no idea how…until I saw Henri." She wet her lips, her arrogance having drifted away while she spoke. "My nephew. For better or worse, he and Talia are my family, the only family I have beyond my mother. I think the League could also be my family."
No one responded, some exchanging thoughtful glances, some skeptical, like Barsad who barked a small laugh.
"Nice story," he said. "I'm not buying it, though."
Bane kept his stare upon Nyssa, reading her, looking for deceit but finding none. She quickly banished her weakness, but it left behind a softening, a desire, a genuineness. That look took Bane back to his early days with the League, when there was nothing he wanted more than to belong, to impress Talia's father with his abilities, perhaps to gain a father after his own had rejected him.
"My father," Nyssa continued, "obviously wanted nothing to do with me. He probably thought I would amount to nothing, coming from such a poor background. Maybe I can prove him wrong, maybe I can show him that I am just as worthy to be his daughter as Talia."
Silence fell over the room. Bane exchanged a glance with Talia. Normally he could read her so well, but oddly enough he was uncertain as to her thoughts.
"Is there anything more you wish to say?" Talia asked her sister in a cool tone.
Nyssa seemed almost surprised that Talia had spoken instead of Bane. "I don't know what else I can say to convince you, so, yeah, that's it."
"Very well," Bane said and gestured to Yemi to remove her. "We will finish our deliberation and summon you afterwards."
All were silent until Nyssa was gone, then Bane addressed the council in French again, "Do we require further discussion, brothers? Or shall we put this to a vote directly?"
"I hope none of you are buying her bullshit," Barsad said. "She knew she wasn't getting anywhere so she throws in her little personal sobstory about impressing her father when it's plain she only hates him."
"I am not so sure," Giroux said. "If her emotions were false, then she is a skilled actress."
"Well, you can bet on that," Barsad said. "She's a beautiful woman, isn't she? No doubt she knows how to play men."
"Brother," Sao said with a displeased frown, "are you insinuating that such base things could sway this esteemed council?"
"Not necessarily. I'm just saying we don't know how skilled she is at manipulation and deception." He looked to Talia for support. "After all, we know how talented Nyssa's sister is at those things, don't we?"
Bane was quick to growl, "No one can compare in any way to Talia."
"Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves, brothers," Talia said with a light touch on Bane's arm. "Let's get this over with, shall we? We have all the information we need. Let us vote."
Barsad made an unhappy sound deep in his throat but said nothing more.
There was no secret ballet; all decisions were voiced for everyone to hear. The verdict of the six regional commanders split down the middle, and Barsad was a resounding no, leaving Bane to tip the scale fully against Nyssa or to force a deadlock.
As a father, Bane wanted to eliminate what could very well be a threat to his son and lover, if Nyssa proved false. But as commander of the League—he never thought of himself as the Demon's Head—he also wanted to uphold the organization's traditions. Then there was the undeniable empathy he felt for Nyssa because of her father's treatment of them both, as well as his soldier's appreciation of another soldier's skills. Yet, even more than all these things, the determining factor on his vote was to force Talia to break the council's stalemate. Ultimately, this decision should be hers, from both a personal and professional standpoint. No one would be more impacted than she.
"I vote for Nyssa's inclusion," Bane said, staring at Talia and ignoring Barsad's immediate muttered curse. "So, our sister must cast the deciding vote."
Talia showed no reaction but held his gaze for a moment before turning back to the council. "Perhaps in this case I should recuse myself because of the personal nature of this matter."
"No, Talia," Bane said. "We all know that you are quite capable of taking your emotions out of any decision. And, as far as I am concerned, there is no more appropriate person to decide this matter. Do you not agree, brothers?"
All concurred, even Barsad, who surely expected Talia to side with his view.
Talia dropped her gaze to her hands in her lap, her fingers moving restlessly. Though Bane normally refrained from showing Talia any physical affection while in the company of their brothers, he now reached to take one of her hands.
"What is your verdict, my dear?"
"Talia," Barsad began before Bane cut him off with a deadly glare.
"You will not speak another word, Barsad, until she has voiced her opinion."
"Peace, brothers," Talia said then again considered the patient men before her. "As Bane said, I have done my best to take my personal feelings out of this matter, especially where it concerns my son. I have my doubts about Nyssa, like Barsad and you three others. However, I believe I should uphold the League's traditions and at least allow Nyssa to be trained. If she fails, then that will be the end of her claim. I don't know why my father never allowed her the right to take up this mantle—perhaps his reasons would sway us against her now—but he is gone, and we must make our decisions on the information we have. We must trust to fate. All precautions will be taken, of course, while she trains. The training will be rigorous as usual. Let that decide her path. If she's true to the cause, she will succeed; if not, her failure is predestined."
"And when she fails," Barsad said with a cautious glance at Bane, "what'll we do with her?"
"As we said," Talia reminded, "the council will convene to decide her fate."
Bane squeezed her hand then let go. In satisfaction, he nodded at her. Her appreciative smile trembled once before she hid her trepidation.
When Nyssa stood before them again, Bane saw the skepticism on her face, a face used to such an emotion in life.
"By the narrowest of margins," Bane said, "the council has decided to allow you to be trained."
Nyssa's mouth dropped open for a moment. "I…I… Well…shit. Thank you." She made an awkward bow to the stoic council. "I'm honored."
"As you should be," Bane said. "You will leave tonight. My men will transport you to our training facility. Your mother will remain here. I assure you she will be treated well. She will, however, earn her keep, so to speak. Maysam is in need of a servant."
Nyssa scowled. "My mother is no one's servant."
"She will be," Bane growled. "That is part of the deal. As I said, she will be treated fairly. I am your commander now, need I remind you? You will obey my orders without question. Understood? Or are you choosing to fail so quickly?"
"What if she refuses?" Nyssa asked.
"Then you can tell her the other option," Bane said.
Nyssa's hands balled into fists. "She's the mother of Rā's al Ghūl's heir."
"She is the mother of a League initiate," Bane said, "nothing more at this point."
Nyssa simmered. Barsad grinned.
"I suggest you return to your room," Bane continued, "and enjoy your last hours together. It will be many months, perhaps a year or more, before you see your mother again." He nodded to Yemi nearby.
Nyssa briefly looked at her half-sister as she passed by on the way to the door. Talia ignored her.
Once Nyssa was gone, Bane said, "Now, brothers, let us discuss the issue of Talia's reinstatement or my continuance as your commander."