The tree house was surprisingly spacey and comfortably furnished with dark tapestry. They kneeled around a low square table. They had been provided with water and food and the councillors had watched them patiently serving themselves. Neri and Mera had instantly poured water all over themselves. Jason couldn't tell what the councillors thought of him just drinking it. He had the impression Pietre was slightly amused but he wasn't sure.
"We want Malakat," Zheri said without a warning.
Jason swallowed his reply. Something told him to better leave the talking to the girls.
"There is no way we can deliver him to you," Mera responded. "But you knew that."
"You know what evil he has done," Neri added, "and what evil he had planned for the future."
"We only know the lies Shalamorn keeps telling the people," Shekat replied harshly.
"These are no lies," Neri said insistently. "He kept my mother as a prisoner."
"He did what he thought was best for our people," Zheri responded calmly. "Shalamorn is weak. An idealistic, naïve fool! She would have let her folks die, prioritising the survival of a primitive species over her own."
She didn't look at him but simply ignored Jason completely.
"There was never any imminent danger to our planet," Mera said. "Malakat was the one who poisoned the oceans in the first place."
The three pairs of eyes instantly grew hard and cold.
"And who told you that?" Sherkat asked. "Shersheba? The traitor?"
"Shersheba wasn't able to lead our people anymore," Pietre tossed in. "Her position got weaker, so she framed Malakat to stay in power."
Irritation rushed through him and Jason had to force himself to keep his mouth shut. Their ignorance and their twisting of the facts strengthened the urge to defend Shersheba, to set things straight.
Neri shot him a quick glance. "Shersheba was afraid for her people," she said. "Malakat just wanted power. He did not care about people."
"He told us himself," Mera added. "When our mother confronted him he told a room full of people that all he did was just a gambling to get control over the pyramid on Earth."
"And whom do you think he did it for, child regent?" Zheri replied, now with a hint of anger. "He needed it to produce an antidote for the Red Virus."
"Which he created himself!" Mera exclaimed. "And he was already in control of the pyramid for weeks. He could have started with the antidote right away but instead, it took releasing it into Earth's oceans by Shersheba."
"Lies! Propaganda!" Sherkat hissed. "Malakat served the common people. He would never poison our own planet!"
"Why don't we talk about the real crimes against the people of the Oceanplanet?" Zheri asked them with a challenging expression. "Queen Shalamorn allowed taking the synchronium away from us. And you wasted it on Earth!"
"Saving lives is never a waste," Mera shot back.
The argument went on but they spoke so fast now, Jason could not longer keep up. The tension in the room rose and the anger was showing even on Zheri's face, who had seemed to be in control of any emotions before.
"Stop," Neri said finally – very gently but yet she had everybody's attention. "This is not helping," Neri ran on. "Neither us, nor our people. This is not about Malakat, Shersheba, my mother, or the mistakes they made."
"And how do you suggest, we go on, Your Highness?" Pietre wanted to know. "It's the mistakes which lead us here."
"But it is not what will lead us forward."
"Nicely said," Sherkat replied mockingly, "but I can't see how. We still believe in Malakat and we won't accept Shalamorn's reign, not to speak of yours."
"My sister is the Chosen One," Mera exclaimed.
"Chosen by whom?" Pietre intervened calmly. "And what for? By your – admittedly – strong gifts as a saviour?" He turned to Neri directly. "Do you also believe that?"
Neri hesitated. "I don't care for titles," she replied. "I care for the well-being of the people. I want to serve my people in the best way I can and if you think, I will not serve them well as Queen, I accept this."
Jason exchanged a look with Mera, who seemed just as startled and shocked as him. She opened her mouth but Neri cut her with a gesture and ran on.
"But I was born as the daughter to my mother, the anointed Queen of the Oceanplanet," she said firmly and even though she didn't move, she somehow grew and her presence filled the room. "So it were the Ancient Ones who chose me. To your eyes, I might be young and naïve, maybe even foolish, but I still believe in the kindness of our people. We have an obligation to protect and preserve life itself where we can. This task had been given to us by the Ancient Ones and the only way to do that task justice is together."
"Spoken as a true princess of the Oceanplanet," Zheri said after a few seconds of thoughtful silence. "I honour your words. Maybe you have the potential to be a great Queen after all. But the fact remains, that you spent nearly all your life on Earth. You even chose a human as your man, – " she gave Jason a quick look, "so forgive me if I still doubt your devotion to the people of the Oceanplanet, for your devotion to Earth seems so much stronger. May I remind you, when our people needed you, you sent your sister."
"Yes," Neri replied. "I chose to fulfil my father's mission."
"One of many choices in support of your father," Sherkat responded, "not of your mother, as it should have been. I heard Earth People have a long history of men's dominion. To me, it sounds like you have adopted more of their ways than you are willing to admit."
Jason grew more frustrated with every minute passing by. This dance of diplomacy led nowhere. They put Neri's questions into question while it should have been the other way round. Trapping Neri in this corner was clever, though, for as long as she was in the defence, they kept having the upper hand in any negotiation.
A guard appearing at the door brought him back to reality. "We have another visitor," he informed the councillors.