“The prisoner should remain standing,” Lord Morcaillo said in the slow drawl common to his country.
“The High Lady of Merrodin prefers to sit,” Jala countered, eyeing him coldly. “I have just spent a very uncomfortable night in a jail cell due to this nonsense and I have no desire to stand while you try to sort out the obvious,” she added, curtly drawing silent stares from all assembled.
“This matter is far from obvious. Do you have proof of who you claim to be?” Lord Avanti asked and by his expression he expected her to say no.
“Actually I do. Several witnesses in fact,” Jala responded without hesitation earning another stunned silence. With a smile, she regarded all of the lords in attendance and then turned her attention to Lord Dark. “Lord Zachary, is it true that you retained all of the souls from my lands when they were destroyed?” she asked.
Smirking, Zachary nodded slowly. “It is true, we gave nothing to Death.” He spoke quietly, the Oblivion he held made his voice pure monotone.
“Invalid witness. The spirits will be corrupted and controlled by Oblivion,” Lord Avanti protested, shaking his head at her. “I’m not sure what you are playing at, girl, but you will not win this vote with cheap parlor tricks.”
“I don’t expect any of this to come cheaply,” Jala replied, barely sparing a glance to him. She turned her attention instead to the Lord Reaver of Seravae. “Lord Reaver, is it true that the shamans of your land can compel spirits to do as they wish?” she asked.
“It is,” Jexon replied, his eyes narrowing.
“Well then I suppose one of your shamans could compel a spirit to tell the truth and could identify if it were in fact the correct spirit?” She spoke with confidence, her gaze never wavering from his face.
“Easily, are you expecting me to perform this service for you?” he asked and by his expression she knew what his answer would be, had she intended to do that.
“No, as you are a voting council member I would not ask that of you,” she said and turned her gaze to Lord Rivasa. “I believe you had a Soulreaver in your employ the last time I was unfortunate enough to visit your lands. Is that man still in your employ?” she asked sweetly.
“No, I’m afraid he isn’t,” Rivasa answered coolly.
“Excellent. I was hoping not. I would like his services for the questioning of the spirit. He can serve as a neutral party. As I do not even know his name and the only time I have ever met him, he was on the side that was attacking me, I scarcely think anyone can accuse him of showing favoritism in this matter,” Jala said, her eyes moving to each Lord for any sign of objection. “That is, if Lord Dark would be willing to summon the individual spirits here for the time it takes to question them,” she added, letting her gaze pause on Zachary.
“I would,” Zachary agreed with what she thought was a note of approval in his voice.
“Then if Lord Rivasa would be so kind as to supply the name we can arrange to have the Soulreaver summoned,” Jala said, looking back to Lord Rivasa expectantly.
Well played, Arjuna’s voice broke into her thoughts and she had to fight back the urge to look at him.
Thank you. Let’s hope this Soulreaver is the man I believe him to be, she replied without so much as flicking a finger to give indication of her use of magic.
“His name is Ash,” Rivasa replied with obvious reluctance and Jala noticed the Lord Reaver stiffen slightly in his seat. That had to be a good sign she decided.
“I will have my guards see to summoning the Soulreaver then,” Arjuna said with a curt nod in the direction of Havoc and Victory who stood quietly by the door.
“Perhaps while we wait you could explain why it is just now that you claim to be of Merrodin blood,” Lord Morcaillo spoke with so much venom in his voice she half expected him to throw something at her.
Raising an eyebrow at him she smiled coldly. “Tell me, Lord Morcaillo did you summon the people of the city and announce your arrival this morning?” she asked.
“Of course not,” he snapped his eyes narrowing.
“Then by what right should you expect me to announce my presence to everyone?” she asked. “I inform those I deem need to know. I’m terribly afraid your name was not on that list,” she finished, raising her chin slightly and looking away.
“It perhaps would have been wise to inform some of the council of who you were,” Lady Nerathane snapped in a high pitched voice that seemed comical for a dragon to possess.
“I know who she is. I above all else should know if a Merrodin lives. My father did kill most of them off,” Zachary said, his attention fully on the Lady of Nerathane.
Silence fell once again as the door of the council room slammed open and a tall man strode through the door. He was dressed in dark grey plate mail with pauldrons in the shape of upturned taloned hands adorning each shoulder. Small flashes of lightning danced from talon to talon as he moved, leaving no question to who he was. The General of Arovan, better known as the Lord of Storms, was a difficult man to mistake. Kicking the door shut behind him, he regarded the council coldly. Anger flashed in his dark blue eyes as his gaze trailed across Lord Avanti. “I truly hope I’m not too late. There were minor difficulties for me to attend to this morning. It would seem my granddaughter Devony has gone missing in the night,” he said, his voice nearly a snarl. “I have no doubt she will be found soon though,” he added, his gaze still locked on Avanti.