“I’m sure we will have our answers soon. I would greatly prefer that we not start this off on the wrong foot by fighting amongst one another before the council even starts.” Elijah Arovan said in a calming voice and pointedly looked to each of his peers that had spoken up.
Neph had to resist the urge to roll his eyes when the High Lord of Arovan’s eyes landed on him. It would have been a childish gesture and he knew it, but to be chided like a child twice in a row gave him the overwhelming desire to act like one. With a snort of disgust Neph rose from his chair and paced around the small enclosed dais that had been provided for his house. The other High Lords had entourages that had accompanied them, but his space was utterly empty aside from himself, which meant he alone had the luxury of stretching without elbowing a friend in the face.
“I wasn’t trying to make a fuss High Lord Arovan. I’m simply bored of waiting and curious who Rivasa is raping and pillaging while we sit here like good little fools.” Neph announced casually and motioned a hand toward Truce. “I assumed they sent their weakest link to dampen our suspicion on the matter.”
“Do not presume to insult House Avanti in my presence.” Truce replied sharply and Neph laughed in response.
“I was there at your surrender, Truce. Save it for someone that hasn’t seen you grovel before.” Neph shot back in amusement.
“Neph!” Jala snapped with anger thick in her voice. The skirts of her long purple dress rustled noisily as she rose from her chair and glowered at him. Leaning forward she rested both hands on the railing and gave him her best Lady Bendazzi glare. “You will stop trying to pick a fight. We are here to seek peace.” She informed him coldly.
“Difficult to reach any sort of compromises when we are missing several High Lords and our Empress.” Jin Han’Shy observed quietly.
Jala’s mouth opened to reply but snapped shut as the double doors at the front of the hall opened and the Empress strolled into the room followed by Faramir and several guards in polished plate mail. Silently Jala dropped back into her chair and watched the procession as it passed by her dais.
Symphony inclined her head with in the barest of nods to the assembled High Lords as she crossed the room in slow dignified steps. Her long dark hair was swept up and held in place by a platinum circlet that was emblazoned with the mark of the Justicars at its brow.
Neph frowned at the sight of it and glanced to Jala, but the High Lady of Merrodin seemed entirely focused on the Empress’s bejeweled gown and Neph could see the annoyance creasing Jala’s brow. She had noticed the same thing he had about the Empress’s garb then. Unlike Jala’s own fine dress, Symphony’s was not crafted with magic, which meant each of the jewels lining her dress and glittering on her fingers had been bought.
The only real question was where the money came from. If Neph had to hazard a guess he would say taxes from the city, but given the state of a few districts in the city spending that much money on clothing would be beyond stupid. There were people starving in some quarters, and every High Lord assembled knew it. With the war destroying so much farmland, and keeping other crops from being harvested food was costly, and flaunting jewels during such a crisis was a slap in the face to the more hard pressed lords.
The Empress seemed perfectly oblivious to the hard stares she was getting from the High lords and ascended the stairs with a look of perfect serenity on her beautiful face. She turned slowly back to the High Lords as she gained her dais and held her hands out for silence though the room was already so quiet that a pin dropping would have rang like a bell.
“I have been informed that certain of our High lords have been detained and will arrive shortly. I realize you all grow impatient and so I have decided to start the meeting with a few personal matters that have been brought to my attention and do not require the presence of my entire council.” Symphony’s voice rang through the room with the musical quality of the Fae, but from the expression on the High Lord of Faydwer’s face Neph guessed the Fae were not currently claiming her as one of their own.
“May we enquire as to what has detained our fellow High Lords your Grace?” Lord Arovan asked in a voice that held more reason than Neph could have mustered if his life had depended on it.
“It is a matter between their three lands, an alliance of terms that they were negotiating that has taken longer than intended. They will bring this matter to our attention when they arrive or so I am assured and you will have all of the details then High Lord Arovan.” Symphony replied calmly and her gold eyes moved across the room to settle firmly on Jala. “As to the other matters, High Lady Merrodin will you rise please.”
“Of course your Grace.” Jala replied as she rose once more from her chair and bowed her head respectfully to Symphony, but Neph could clearly see the look of apprehension on her face.
“You are accused of charges of brutality in the maintenance of your borders Lady Merrodin.” Symphony announced then glanced down as Faramir supplied her with a small stack of papers. The Empress scanned the papers and her brow creased slightly as she looked back up to Jala with narrowed eyes. “Would you please define your protocol for defending your borders for all assembled?” Symphony said in a voice that turned the politely phrased question into a command.
“I have put strict rules upon my borders as to who is allowed to cross. Those who break those laws are branded for the first offense and sent back to their homeland. For the second offense they are branded a second time, fined and jailed for one week before they are returned to their home. For the third transgression we brand them, fine then and expedite their return in a fashion that keeps them from bothering us a fourth time.” Jala explained in clipped tones her gaze locked on Truce Avanti as she spoke.