105 lines
4.6 KiB
Plaintext
105 lines
4.6 KiB
Plaintext
Sarla couldn't quite believe her luck.
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―You could attend, as my proxy.
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I believe that would be allowed.
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―But, surely...
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You don't think this is an important meeting to attend yourself?
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Auroklos scoffed.
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―Of course not, I have other work I'd much rather do.
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If, of course, it would not prove too inconvenient for you.
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It would indeed be inconvenient for Sarla to attend a private Council meeting.
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Not just as an observer either, but as the representative of a Master whose rank afforded him a Council seat.
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―I'm sure I will manage, Master.
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---
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The Council met in the Hall of Roots, in a spacious yet tastefully minimal room on the top floor, mostly decorated in rich, dark woods and a plain white stone.
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A long table, dark wood framing a white stone top dominated the room.
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Sarla had tried to arrive early, but found that the table was half full.
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Master Yury, the Council Head, sat in his chair at the head of the table.
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With Yakaterina in prison, and the Council as the last instrument of governance left to the Hierarchy, Yury was almost as powerful as a Hierarch, Sarla supposed.
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Auroklos had tried to brief her on Council standards, which effectively boiled down to her staying silent unless asked a question.
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But he hadn't mentioned anything as important as where to sit.
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Her confusion apparently noted, Master Yury cleared his throat, to get her attention.
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―Young one, this is a private Council meeting.
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You should have been barred at the doors.
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Sarla felt herself sweat, oddly nervous, despite Yury's calm tone.
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―Well, Master, I'm here to represent Auroklos in this meeting, with his blessing.
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She pulled out the signed, sealed letter he had written only half an hour earlier.
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As she walked to the head of the table, she hoped Master Yury, or anyone, would tell her to stop and just pass the letter up.
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But for some reason, she made it all the way to Yury, and he took the letter from her.
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He slowly opened it, snapping the seal with a precise move, and took great pains to read the letter carefully.
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Then, equally meticulously, he folded the letter, and put it back in the envelope, and finally handed it to Sarla.
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―It seems you are correct.
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Take a seat there, he said indicating a region on the far end of the table.
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A yak with red-brown hair sputtered in outrage.
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―This is unacceptable.
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If Auroklos couldn't be bothered to attend, he should have not attended, like usual.
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―Auroklos was called to this Council on the basis of rank, and has the right to send a representative, Master Yury said softly.
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―Get real, Yury.
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That right was meant to cover people stuck across the country when a Council meeting occurred.
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Not for a Master no one gives a shit about suddenly trying to pull some nonsense.
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―Hobard, enough.
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It is in the Convocation of this Council.
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The will of the Hierarch is clear.
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Hobard said nothing more, looking aggrieved.
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Sarla started to turn, but Yury stopped her.
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―This is the first time you have attended a Council meeting.
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It wasn't a question, but Sarla nodded.
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―Then I should make this very clear to you.
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The secrecy of these proceedings is considered absolute.
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Minutes taken are sealed for a century, a seal only breakable by the Hierarch.
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If you divulge anything you hear today, you will be punished most severely.
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―Of course, Master Yury.
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A half-formed wave dismissed her, and Sarla took her seat, feeling her legs quiver with tension.
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The Ennearchs eventually filed in, or five of them at least.
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The Ennearch of Strength was obviously absent, given his death.
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One yak with Aspirant robes sat near the Ennearchs, presumably a proxy like Sarla for the Ennearch of Reason, who had jurisdiction over the East.
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Not just jurisdiction, her home and Office would be there too, Sarla thought.
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Ennearch Hatzin's Flocks tended to be in the north, yet he lived primarily in the City.
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Behind the Aspirant standing in for the Ennearch of Reason stood a white-sashed Practicant, one of Simeon's Farcallers.
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Another Farcaller in the East would pass messages to and from the Office of Reason, advising the proxy Aspirant what to do and say.
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Some short time later, the table filled and exactly on the hour, Yury stood to open the Council meeting.
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―We are called to this Council to advise her Holiness, Hierarch Yakaterina on matters of practice and doctrine.
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Let us meditate upon our purpose.
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{INSERT_PRAYER?}
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Yury sat, and the rest of the table followed.
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A heavy sigh, then Yury began to speak again.
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―Friends, our problem has two hearts.
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First, this murder risks calling the attention of the Republic.
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President Laurence will make demands we cannot hope to meet.
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And second, I do not believe this Council can name a successor to the Ennearchy of Strength.
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