All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 65

Jano stood and looked around the room, his eyes moving from individual to individual. He carefully weighed what he was about to do. Though Kithia had removed some of the apprehension, he still was sure what he was about to do would be disruptive to many people. His position demanded he do it, but that made it no easier.

Jano wrung his hands and waited for a moment. The council head raised his eyes and spoke. "Lord T'palo, you have our rapt attention. By all means, please address the council."

"Councilors, I come to you today as the representative of Deren, its chosen T'palo. The lord sovereign sends his regards and wishes. It is the sovereign’s hope that he is along shortly... I am, however, left with the obligation to act as the sovereign’s agent in matters most grave..."

Jano was taken aback as an expulsion of air and clash of blue light indicating apportation silenced him. Tralin stood in the midst of the chamber, clothed in temple robes. At his left side hung the Sword of Deren, a ceremonial weapon more than a combative one. The symbol of Tralin's robe was unfamiliar to Jano but he could guess its import. He felt both relief and terror about Tralin's arrival in K'eld Ner. His direct apportation violated several acts of protocol and he was very early, which suggested something was amiss....

"We thank our T'palo for his service. Please take an honored position. We shall address the councilors ourselves...."

Several of the standing Drakel gasped and looked undecided about how to respond to Tralin's intrusion. He had circumvented the magics that protected the city and violated every sort of custom in Drakel society. Finally, one of the councilors spoke...

"Lord Regent. Your rather unusual arrival is noteworthy; you certainly have our attention."

Tralin spoke in soft and directed words. He did not speak the Drakel language but Common Derenian, which spoke to his alliances.

"Councilors. We are most pleased to be here; our throne looks forward to a potentially benevolent relations with the Drakel people. However, we have a serious issue to discuss... The issue of my service to the Krutha'ri. I hereby terminate my service to the People. I must, for I am a servitor of the powers. I am a communicant for the Creator..."

Several councilors get to their feet and looked around... One sadly turned to a servitor. "Begin the expulsion of the T’Palo’s family... They shall have no place in the De'me'thar or the K'eld."

"Not only will you NOT expel my family from this K'eld, you will give them the land and respect due the queen and princes of a foreign nation...."

The same councilor turned less sad and more angered now. "You know the rules, T'palo.... They are NOT to be circumvented even by you... The Krutha'ri will never recognize royalty organized among the outcasts... Or else we start toward the road of independent nations..."

"It is not nearly that simple, lord councilor. You will attend. If you plan to declare your obligations to Deren nullified, Deren will enforce her prerogatives!"

"You prepare for war against us? What is this madness?"

"This is a war the Krutha'ri bring. I am still regent by proclamation of the late King Draynor. I am his son by adoption and the King of the Derenian peoples. There can be no question that my position is sealed and signed, not by the outcasts, but by a recognized nation. Are you prepared to dictate how non-Drakel nations choose their king? Are you prepared to tell them they may not have me as their king...?"

"You have planned this to be a disruption, T'palo... and a disruption it shall NOT be... Too much is at stake. Arrest him as an agent of an enemy forces. Arrest his family and his T'palo as well... We shall..."

"If you place a hand upon US, we will level the walls of this K'eld in a moment... It is over. You have taken our land and we have catered to your invasion. You were the militant one. We have shown understanding in the events that took place because the Uncreator is everyone’s enemy... But the game ends here. You place yourself above Deren. You act toward war, not us... Have no doubt, I have NO further obligation to the Krutha'ri. I am no outcast... I am the sovereign of another nation. My loyalty is to my people and you are not them..."

"Kill him..."

Jano turned in horror...

"Use whatever force that is necessary to destroy the T'palo; he is clearly a servitor of destruction and the agent of the Uncreator. He claims to be Lorithia's communicant but Lorithia has no temple... He will attempt to destroy us..."

With a lurching dread, he watched as the councilors began their magical assault upon his king...