Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The Eliksni Council of Elders sat situated at the highest habitable point on Eliksnios, the arrowhead-shaped Mount Skola. The mountain had a lush forest at its base that extended three-quarters of the way up and then changed into craggy rock that smoothed closer towards the summit. The summit itself was largely flat save for a large complex of rectangular buildings connected by enclosed hallways minus one building. Isolated from the others sat a circular building with no discernable path from any of the other buildings to it. This circular building was the Hall of the Elders, a sacred meeting hall where the Councilors met and discussed political and economical matters between Houses. One house sat as the chair and directed discussion but whose vote counted just as much as the others. Currently, the House of King's Councilor, Talish the Wise, sat in the middle of his two-year term as the Council "Leader."
The chamber itself was largely polished wood collected from below and constructed as elegantly as the clouds that crossed the sky. A chair for each house encircled a pit used for presentations or hearings.
As of yet, there hadn't been a presentation today. Instead, a harsh debate over the recent attacks that now had a link between attack and attacker.
"I stated in my report, a trade caravan passed through the attacked village shortly after the attack. They arrived to the village about 7 Lavs after sunset. They contacted Council Protectors shortly after, who arrived and did a thorough search of the village. The inhabitants...had been butchered, most hadn't gotten the opportunity to defend themselves. Those who did...never managed to damage the attackers. Strangely...ashes were present near the bodies of those who had put up a fight, in one case...the Protectors present at the scene found that a pile of ash had a dagger stabbed through it. And...the only group known to leave ashes at a battlefield is the House of Wind. And...several dull fragments were found at the seen. One casualty was suffered among the Protectors when one attempted to pick up one of the fragments. The Protector died, however the reason why is unknown. After they gathered all the pieces, their investigators later determined that the fragments were pieces from some kind of large oversized sword. The autopsy is still being done to determine the cause of the Protector's death. The House Of Wind's honor guards...also happen to use large oversized swords, however from what I've known the only blades they use are made of hardened iron, rather than...whatever material the fragments discovered were made of. Examination suggests it to be made of bone...but no creature on eliksnios has black bones. None that we know of..." Viksis said, eyeing Kaltriz quietly, taking a moment to grab one of the tubes next to him and take a heavy breath of steamy white ether.
The Councilor from the House Of Wind froze for a moment at the accusation, probably thinking of the best way to respond, knowing her words would be speaking for all members of her house. The accusation seemed to upset her, the hair on the back of her neck stood up with agitation.
The Councilor for the House Of Winds stood up from her chair, standing tall, her posture straight, her eyes staring at the Devil Councilor.
"House Wind has no reason to attack the Devils. We have not waged a war against anyone for centuries! Our blades are dull, more effective as plowshares than as weapons of war. Our honor guards would never commit such an attack on innocents!" She proclaimed, speaking in a proud but venomous tone.
The male eliksni seemed to recoil slightly, pulling his mouth out of the clear tube, with a small amount of ether seeping out from the gap between his mandibles and the tube and flying up to the ceiling. He licked his mandibles in thought.
"In the past...your Kell has argued for the construction of a border to keep any Devil pilgrims from passing through your territory. Is that correct?"
"Yes it is. But why would they order an attack on a village? There is no motive for this attack, House Wind has no reason to attack anyone."
A small smile formed on Viksis's lips as he put his elbow on the arm of his chair and held his hand out like a royal ordering a servant, one of his bodyguards immediately put a large holopad in his open hand. The Kell took it and held it in front of him, reading whatever was written on the thin device's screen.
"There is a reason...according to this map...the attacked village is an intersection for three of the major travel routes between the House Of Wind's and the House Of Rain's territory. And the House Of Rain has a large number of travelers from my house...who happen to be making a pilgrimage to the Great Machine. Destroying this village would effectively lower the amount of travelers through your territory by 70 percent. Which would save your house the trouble of having to deal with as many travelers as you built your border."
The Councilor from the House Of Stone yelled out a loud immature
"BUSTED!" The Stone Councilor yelled out, his voice echoing throughout the room. Brevik was one of the youngest to be given a seat on the council, given the offer to be a Councilor only because of his remarkable gift with statistics. Silence filled the room, all the fallen turned to Kaltriz, who probably felt like she'd shrink with all the judging eyes upon her.
"I wasn't given any information from my Kell about his border continuing construction. He canceled it two years ago. However I do see your point Viksis." The vandal said, lowering her head submissively in an embarrassed sort of way as she sunk back into her chair.
Talish, the oldest of the Councilors, leaning back into his chair, nails digging into the tanned Juv hide as he thought, staring at the yellow banner of his own House of Kings at the side of his chair as if it would give answers or at least a hint as to what he should do. Seconds flew by like snow blown by the howling mountainside wind. Then he spoke.
"I believe you Kal. You have sat in this Council for a long time, and your mouth has never told me anything but the truth. However...Viksis has a good point. This attack has helped you by reducing the amount of travelers coming through your territory."
Kal maintained the submissive posture, looking down at the Councilor of the King's feet...with...what? Shame? Embarrassment? Fear? Kaltriz hid her emotions with the skill of a child, yet for that moment no one could tell how she felt. When she spoke, her voice was plain and stale.
"I am not aware of any command given by my Kell for the border to continue construction. And I know my Kell would never give the order to attack the village, and that the House Of Wind's honor guards would never carry it out if they were given it. I will immediately speak with my Kell and get to the bottom of this. I shall also hand over all my communication data. Will this satisfy the Council?
Viksis took another lungful of ether from the tube, handing the holopad back to his guard and leaning back into the chair in a lazy and carefree way. He took the tube out of his mandibles to speak.
"Works for me..."
The Rain's Councilor, Sahlin, spoke up. Her head was shagged and stained by droplets of melted water, which gave the hair on her back and shoulders a slight puff.
"Giving the data that will certainly clear the fog..." She said, speaking with the slowed tone of a poet. Her mere breath seemed to exhale her wisdom onto the Council.
The Councilor from the House Of Scars looked over to the King Councilor, speaking over to him in a tired sounding tone "We mustn't allow Kal to access any data. She may delete ones she wishes to keep secret from us."
Kasvis, House Of Winter Councilor, gave a small nod, agreeing with The Scar Councilor.
"Her voice certainly seemed surprised...but I agree with Sevis. We should prevent them from accessing any of their communication data to ensure it stays complete."
Talish nodded along with them, agreeing with the plan.
"Then we are all in agreement. I will have a Guard gather all the data from her ship. Kaltriz...you will stay here while they do."
The aged councilor gave a seated bow of approval, letting out a huffed breath as she did.
Talish seemed to be satisfied with her response.
"Good...This dissapearance is very similar to the ones we've had in the past months. Similar ashes were found at the villages. However none have ever left any weapons behind. And...none have ever left any survivors. Until now."
Kaltrik's upper shoulders seemed to perk up upon the news, surely believing that the survivors would prove the attack was not made by any of her people.
"Perfect. A witness can tell us what transpired, and confirm that this was not an attack by any members of my house."
"I'm afraid it is not so simple. The witness is but a child at 3 years of age. He was injured in the attack. He likely wasn't paying enough attention to give us any clear information...however we must gather whatever can nonetheless.
Sevis put his upper right elbow on the arm of his chair and holding his head up.
"Hm...What condition is he in?"
Talish seemed to speak of the witness as if he were one of his own. The King Councilor always did care too much about the value of life, especially for someone in his position.
"His leg was shattered during the attack. He was found under rubble. We have him scheduled for surgery in two days time."
The Devil Councilor spoke as in the same calm casual tone as he always did whenever he spoke. "Young bones heal quickly, I suggest we bring them before the Council. Time is of the essence, and it is our duty as Councilors to preserve lives whatever the cost."
Sahlin let out a ragged grunt, shaking her head left to right with distain.
"I disagree. The Council must rule with compassion."
Viksis: "True. But...You, like all the Councilors here have a firm understanding of sacrifice. Compassion is the love of others. Although the witness has been weakened by the attack...physically and mentally...as I stated, it is our responsibility to protect the lives of members of every house, at whatever the cost. Any information we can gain from questioning the survivor could save lives!"
Sahlin cowled under her breath, obviously disagreeing with this.
"A fair point...I am in agreement with Viksis. Whatever information we can acquire could save lives."
The Scar Councilor shifted his head to Talish. "Shouldn't we consult our judgement scribes before we make such a decision?"
The King Councilor shook his head firmly.
"They are not required for something like this-"
"They are only required for official matters. Plus...they'd only slow our decision down. Saving lives is always good. I can arrange for whatever medical treatment the boy needs to be paid after we have questioned him." Kasvis said, rudely interrupting Talish before he had the chance to continue. The interruption earned him a display of teeth from Talish, who obviously didn't appreciate the Winter interrupting him. The King Councilor was much larger than any of the other vandals, more muscular and tall, yet aged. The Devil Councilor's body had begun to grow taller as well, it seemed like he grew a foot every few weeks from that ether he was inhaling...
Talish closed his mandibles back up, satisfied with the display he'd given to the Winter about how he felt about interruptions.
"As you'd all expect...I disagree with this method. But the majority have spoken. And the majority has always ruled this Council. This survivor will be brought before us..." The Councilors tone was filled with shame.
Viksis detected the shame, immediately speaking up to the Councilor, this time changing his tone for the first time since this debate had commenced.
"It is a necessary evil Talish." His tone, which normally was casual and devoid of guilt, actually seemed to sound like he felt bad about this decision, but logic always ruled the leader of the devils, who had changed the role of Councilor, instead choosing to have the Kell of the House Of Devils have a seat on the Council. Probably motivated by the ether, which none of the other Councilors chose to indulge themselves in, except for Viksis.
Talish gave a slow nod of approval to the devil.
"Yes...but an evil nonetheless. I will arrange for the boy to be brought before us. We will see what information we can gather from him." Talish pulled a holopad from his thick fur robes, which was encased in polished hard wood. Which was a very exotic selection for a councilor.
The Devil Councilor seemed satisfied.
"And when we have the information, Kasvis will provide him the treatment he requires."
Kasvis nodded.
"And so I shall...I will have one of my Hands, Captain Giln, bring him to my personal ketch. He will receive whatever treatment he needs there after he is brought before us, including the surgery to have his leg fixed once again."
"That sounds like the best course of action." Talish muttered.
"Agreed." The Devil Councilor said bluntly.
"We must go easy on the boy. Don't yell at him, it might freak him out." Sahvin said, feminine worry coating her voice. She'd had children of her own, so she probably knew how to handle the boy best.
"I will do whatever gives me the most information in the quickest manner possible." The devil said plainly.
She let out a worried sigh. "Yeah...that's exactly what I'm worried about.". The devil gave her a look of disgust. Much like a few of the cultures from the House Of Winter, the culture of the House Of Devils valued strength over all else. Emotional and physical. Seeing the female eliksni show weakness...especially in her position, seemed to disgust him. But of course he kept it to himself.
Sevis didn't notice Sahvin's weakness. Instead he turned to Viksis, giving him a stern look.
"Frightening him would do us no good, it would only take us longer."
Brevik spoke up, the Stone Councilor standing up from his chair as he began to speak, facing Talish as he did.
"Why not just have one of our guards question him?" The young fallen asked, the furry gray mane hanging around his neck, still primed by his youth.
"You forget the rules Brevik. Only the Council can handle a situation like this. Having the boy speak to anyone else would allow someone involved in the attack to give us information that the survivor didn't actually say." Tal seemed annoyed by the young councilors inexperienced question.
"Understood." Brev said, giving a small bow as he sat back down.
An idea came to Sahlins mind shortly after Brevik sat down, which she believed would help gather information quicker.
"Perhaps I can handle the questioning King Councilor. You know I have experience with younglings. He would probably be much more talkative to me..."
Talish seemed to be pleased with that idea, knowing that having a much more friendly face question the boy would make him tell what happened quicker, but he still knew the rules, and looked over at the Councilors of the Devils,Stone,Scar and Winter. All nodded in approval. Talish felt the relief course through his body, terrified of the mental damage the four fallen could do to one so young if motivated by what they believed was the greater good.
"So we are all in agreement then, the boy will be brought before the Council, but only Sahlin shall speak with him. The rest of the Council will remain quiet and only watch and listen." Talish said, with all the Councilors nodding in agreement. They couldn't have Sahlin speak with the boy alone, because doing so would violate one of the rules of the Council. All Councilors must hear the witnesses of an attack speak, to ensure that no important details had been left or changed by the one who questioned the witness. Videos and recordings could be manipulated. The Council couldn't afford to hear anything but the full story.
Sahlin knew this fact, and the Rain Councilor couldn't help but to stare at the other Councilors of the Houses of Devil, Stone, Winter and Scar with a worried expression, knowing the patience of some was lacking.