Page 55 of The Source of Storms

He inclined his head to our group. “And fellow citizens of Rhyanaes. Please, have a seat. I am Ragnaric Calder, councilman and general of the Keepers.” He bowed his head to us again, and I immediately liked him.

He continued the introductions. “These are Council members Fínán, Celestine, Torin, Loganach, Creag, and Magnus.” He gestured to the others around the pool in turn.

He took his seat again, and others of the council followed suit. We took our seats across from them. Both the seating arrangement and the setting were intimidating, but Crow, El, and Byrgir all seemed at ease.

Councilwoman Nax Celestine, a thin woman with dark, silver-streaked hair, the head of the Rangers, addressed the assembly. “I have received the briefing from Kyrecrow on his crews’ progress in Avanis and distributed the information to the rest of the Council. Eilith Morceran is being held prisoner in the Temple of Enos by High Priestess Zisorah and the Paragons of the Light. We have had no communication yet as to the charges against her, or a potential trial.

“Members of the Paragon Guard openly attacked Eilith and Halja in their home,” Celestine continued. She had the confident mien of someone used to dealing with conflict, used to giving orders. “Eilith was taken by force. Several attempts to communicate with the High Priestess have been made, with no response. A team of Rangers remains in the city, and plans are currently underway to infiltrate the Temple itself for more information. Now, seeing as you all have a vested interest in her safety, and I know you would just harry me for details of action right after this anyway,”––she glanced at El and Crow––“we’ve decided to include you in our discussion of alternate means of intervention.”

“More direct means of intervention, you mean,” said another councilman. He was an older man, his dark brown skin wrinkledwith age, his hair trimmed short around his pointed ears. Calder had introduced him as Councilman Torin.

“Nobody is suggesting we break her out, or use any means of force or violence, so let’s get that out of the way now,” a small, round woman, Councilwoman Fínán, said. Her tone was definitive.

“Not at this point,” Celestine agreed.

“Do we even want to intervene on Eilith’s behalf?” Councilman Magnus asked. “She’s not a member of the Council, nor has she ever lived in Rhyanaes.”

“Of course we do,” Councilman Calder said calmly. “Might I remind you, Magnus, that our duty is to lead and protect all people of our faith, and all who follow the Old Ways, not just the city of Rhyanaes.”

“Indeed, but our influence isn’t what it once was, Councilman. You of all people know that,” Magnus replied. “We haven’t held a seat at the king’s table in over two decades. And we don’t have the means to support ourselves in any kind of conflict with him, even just a political one. Taking a stance against the king for the sake of one person may cost us the safety of the entire city.”

“Which is why we won’t intervene with force,” Councilwoman Fínán said. “We can voice our opposition to his decisions and advocate for the release, or at least the fair trial, of a woman who has committed no crimes. We should not fear backlash from our own king for stating our sovereign stance as a Council.”

“We shouldn’t, that’s true,” Magnus said. “And yet I do.”

“His relationship with the High Priestess runs deeper than we thought,” Celestine added. “We have our right to our opinion as a Council. Our very purpose was, and still is, to be able to oppose the poor decisions of our leadership when needed. But I will be the first to admit that the High Priestess concerns me.We have let her become far more influential than we ever should have, and now we need handle her carefully.”

“Then let us go speak to her,” El said. Councilman Magnus scoffed, and she glared at him, then continued, “We can’t just sit here and keep waiting for a trial that may never happen. We need more information. We know she’s in the Temple, so let’s go to the Temple and ask to see her. A few friends asking about her is hardly a threat,” El finished, the hint of frustration already coloring her voice.

“And how do we know they won’t arrest you too? You’ll be walking straight into the den of the bear,” Councilman Torin said.

“They came for the residents of Eilith’s steading, not just for anyone,” Byrgir countered.

Councilman Torin continued, “All the more reason for you and Halja not to go, then.”

“The only people who saw Halja’s face, and my own, are dead,” Byrgir said with a cold directness that made me shiver. I remembered how easily, how precisely, he’d killed those men.

“And Eilith was under my guard when she was taken,” he continued, his voice was still clear and determined, yet weighted with guilt. “I failed her, and I need to make it right.”

“We have to do something,” Councilman Calder said in agreement. “We must show the Paragons that they cannot get away with treating people like this, especially not our people. Eilith was guilty of nothing when they arrested her. Their twisted laws against Sourcery came after. The Paragons and their High Priestess can’t be allowed to do whatever they like to us, can’t think that nobody will come to her aid. They need to know we are paying attention, know we still exist, still have power of our own. And who better to send than one of our best Keepers and one of our strongest Sourcerers.” He looked at Byrgir and El.

A few others murmured their agreement.

Councilman Torin sighed. “We can’t risk exposing more people to them. We don’t know what they know, don’t know what their intentions are.”

I summoned my courage and spoke. “From what I have seen, their intention is intimidation. As Councilman Calder said, to back away and leave Eilith alone is to let them succeed. To come to her aid would be a show of strength, that we’re taking this seriously. That we don’t leave our own behind.” My voice sounded stronger than I felt, but it still shook. I looked around at each of them. “Eilith was my home for over a year. She took me in when I had nowhere else to go. She is my family, and I can’t live with myself if I sit here while she’s trapped in some prison. Let us go to the Temple.”

Councilman Magnus retorted with another scoff, “Ha. She arrives only a month or two ago and yet she speaks like she has some sway here. At a Council meeting of all places.”

My face heated immediately, and I glanced around for any support, unsure what to do.

“You all invited her here! And she’s right,” El snapped, glaring at Councilman Magnus. I was both touched at the gesture, and grateful that I wasn’t on the other end of that look as she continued, “Halja is one of us. She is a strong Sourcerer and a citizen of this city, and she is right. We cannot abandon Eilith. Let us find her and bring her home.”

Councilwoman Fínán interjected, “Our goal is deescalation. Sending delegates rather than a member of the Council keeps our response one step removed from direct political conflict. They should go as our emissaries.”

Councilman Calder spoke, his voice still calm. “I agree. We should send emissaries to deescalate the situation. Speak to her captors –– a High Deacon, if you can. But don’t make this conflict worse than it is.”

“Even just speaking to them within the Temple is dangerous. Especially for one so clearly fae.” Councilman Torin gestured to El. “I’m sorry, Elenwen, but your appearance is conspicuous.”

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