“I felt it would be a good lesson, having her here submitting to my will. In fact,” he turns toward the servant next to me, “give her the jug, she can keep my glass full.”
The servant next to me thrusts the jug at me. Wine splashes on my cloak. I grab hold of it and try to mimic how the others are holding it. It's heavy.
A murmur fills the room.
“He's brilliant,” Councilman Daniel says above the noise. “Jonathan, fetch my wife.”
The servant behind him scurries from the room. The chatter grows louder. I almost don't dare hope Annabelle will arrive. Through my lashes, I watch the Grand Chancellor's body grow taut. Next to him, Zade lounges back in his chair, content to study the paperwork before him instead of the growing fray around him.
The voices speak too fast for me to keep track of.
“Can they really do this?”
“There's no law against it.”
“We should make one.”
“Wait, let's not be too hasty. Maybe it's a good idea.”
“It's a good idea. Did you see how pale she was? I thought she was going to faint.”
“She's still pale. I'm still expecting her to fall on the floor.”
I grip the pitcher tighter and keep my gaze lowered.
“Women don't need to hear warlock's work.”
“Not like it'll make a difference to them. Except maybe to teach them to be more respectful.”
Their comments increase my desire to hold myself together. The debate continues. More are for it than I supposed would be. Not for the reasons I'd like, but it's better than nothing.
Finally, the door opens. Risking a peek, I see Annabelle wandering toward her husband looking confused. Relief fills me. She's halfway across the room from me and I can't say a word, but I'm no longer alone. Councilman Daniel motions for her to get behind him and promptly ignores her. She's given a jug like me, which she cradles to her body. She risks a peek at me, her face free of emotion, then lowers her head.
The Grand Chancellor taps a finger on the table. The arguing quiets, attention shifting to him. “First order of business?”
“Isn't it that there are women present?” Father asks.
“Clearly not, Councilman Stephen.”
Father's face is a livid red.
Someone clears his throat. “Last time we didn't finish discussing the latest changes to the tarnished law.”
Though I was already listening, I fix my full attention on the discussion and push the discomfort of the situation to the back of my mind.
“We've been arguing over this for months. Let's just pass it and get on with it,” a warlock says.
“Or not pass it and get on with other things,” another argues.
“I've given this a lot of thought over the break,” a third, whiny voice says. “What if we compromise? Instead of forcing the tarnished to get marked and tracked monthly, they're rewarded for it. And before you brush this aside, I want you to really think about it. If we give them a reduced tax rate, it would be a good incentive and we'd get a good turn out.”
I suppose this option is better than the original. Yet they'd still make them check in, taking more freedom, making them more bound to the warlocks. That would really affect Katherine. Would she be allowed to come to my house if they're tracking her? Or anywhere else she wants to go? What would it be like having someone always know where you are?
“How much of a tax break are you thinking?”
“We can discuss that, of course,” says the man with the idea. “I think my biggest point is that we'd be getting what we want accomplished, but with less work for us and other warlocks.”
“Why didn't you bring this up sooner?” Father asks.
Good question. Is this why Zade thought I'd want to be here today? And how did he know it would come up now?
“Didn't cross my mind earlier.”
A previously silent Councilman says, “They'd still have to abide by our rules.”
“And check-in regular like.”
“You're forgetting one thing. How are we supposed to find funds to pay for this?”
“Raise taxes.”
“Always raising taxes. You think we've problems now, we keep raising taxes and they'll get worse.”
“Things aren't free, people have to learn that.”
“We could make another tax on those who don't get monitored monthly.”
“Added incentive,” Chancellor Ryan says. “It'd be a good addition.”
“You've been quiet, Chancellor Zade.” The Grand Chancellor faces him. “What is your opinion?”
“Sounds like they've finally learned to compromise.”
Does that mean Zade agrees? He's always so nice to Katherine, I thought he'd be different.
The Grand Chancellor turns back to the other side. “And you, Chancellor Ryan, you're for it?”
“I'd like the law to be stronger, but it'll do. As long as I don't have to do any of the tracking or ink spells myself.”
“Let's vote then.” The Grand Chancellor addresses the group. “Those for the tarnished opting in to be tracked and marked in exchange for a tax break and raising taxes for those who don't?”
I hold my breath. Zade's shoulders are stiff.
The room fills with “Ayes.”