The early morning sun was streaming through the golden leaves from the surrounding black oak trees found in the ancient Renshaw Forest. The morning fog was beginning to dissipate as the inhabitants of the enchanted woodland made their presence known. Sitting at the edge of a plush green meadow taking in the serenity of the moment was Kishi, an elven princess. She was sitting on the grass with her legs crossed and her eyes closed breathing in her surroundings. She always came to this same spot to meditate and to escape the pressures of being the eldest daughter of the great elven king, Ciel Tiranidrol. As she closed her mind to the drama that had consumed her life recently, her thoughts strayed to the trivial meeting she was required to attend in a few hours. Inwardly she groaned at the thought of participating in elven politics, which her father insisted was crucial in order to keep the kingdom united.
She had lived for six centuries in the beautiful, enchanted Black Forest where she had been able to avoid the pressures of political life until recently. She did not enjoy the restrictive nature of being royalty, which was something that she had no control over. However, today she was more troubled by the secret plan of her twin sis ter, Kira, than her preoccupation with her own fractious existence. Her sister was highly favored by their father and the people because of her pleasant nature and her desire to please others. This bothered Kishi because she was the eldest daughter and was the one the kingdom rightfully belonged to after their father's reign. She did not think the people would allow rule to pass to someone who was obstinately disinterested in the good of the people. Why do I even care? I do not need them, and they do not want me.
Her eyes flew open at these troubling thoughts. While she cleared her mind again, her gaze was drawn to a dragonfly zooming through the grass. She was mesmerized by the insect's fluid movements, and struggled to meditate again. The sun shone brightly over the ancient black oaks, which illuminated her stationary figure with its warm rays. The light outlined her beautiful black hair and slender body as she eased back into a tranquil state.
Her slight figure hid her physical prowess and agility. Her real power came from her innate and learned magical abilities. She had mirthless eyes that had a chilling effect on anyone who dared to look into them. She had trained for many years with the revered warlock Diikker who had taught her everything about the arcane arts. He had taught her that the source of her power was founded in the spark of magic that every living thing possessed. She had learned that magic did not require incantations except in cases where one had to focus their energies with external sources that exceeded the caster's capacity to control. Her dark mentor had also taught her how to steal the energy of sentient beings, something forbidden by the sacred laws of magic. This was something that her sister never bothered to listen to when these lessons were given. She was the only other elf aside from her mentor who learned such powerful magic.
She had also learned to discipline her mind to not only resist magical intrusion, but to reverse the effect to penetrate an attacker or even an unsuspecting opponent. Most learned the elementary version of mental barriers where the defender mimics an animal's thoughts, which happen to be centered on basic needs. This seldom gave away any insight into what they are thinking at that moment and when an intruder is sensed, they can focus their energy to expel the foreign entity. Kishi had learned the difficult process of constantly warding her mind against infiltration by using the mirror effect. This basically reflects the mind of the aggressor for a few moments and immediately warns her of the attempt. The energy required to main this is something that is rather insignificant due to her exceptional capacity. She was almost equal to her mentor's abilities in most respects.
The princess had developed serious trust issues over the years as she grew in power. Her father had always been wary of what he perceived to be unnatural abilities and even suspected that his eldest daughter dabbled in forbidden magic. This distrust was not hidden from the king's subjects. This only added to the distrust the elves held for Kishi. This was the primary reason she had decided to aid her sister with her secret plan for the upcoming meeting.
The tranquil morning was quickly ebbing away when the sounds of forest life abruptly ceased. Kishi's father and his guard appeared at the edge of the clearing opposite her. She, of course, had already sensed their presence with the magical web she had set up around the clearing to detect the approach of anyone or anything that could pose a threat. She accomplished this by invoking her will on non-sentient beings to send her warning of the approach of any sentient creatures. Kishi's eyes snapped open and locked onto her father across the meadow. It was clear that he had not seen her quite yet as they looked around. King Ciel never went anywhere without his guards these days because of the schisms that threatened to tear the elves apart. Their unity had endured for nearly a thousand years under his reign and was now in serious jeopardy thanks, in part, to his youngest daughter. She had violated one of the most sacred elven laws, which was the source of the division amongst the people.
The king finally spotted his eldest daughter meditating within the shadow of a particularly large black oak at the opposite end of the meadow. After he caught Kishi's eye, he nodded and made his way over to her.
"Enjoying another sunrise, daughter?" King Ciel asked as he smoothed the front of his silk robes. He would not look her in the eye knowing he would see hatred in those gray, depthless eyes. It was no secret that she did not trust him or even care for him. At this point, he was beginning to feel the same way due to her lack of empathy for the elves and their plight.
"I was enjoying the quiet tranquility of this serene morning when you and your guard so rudely interrupted," she said disdainfully.
This contemptuous remark angered her father, and he was unable to hide his displeasure from his daughter. She could feel his ire toward her growing with each passing moment. So he is already upset, and the meeting has not even started yet. How delightful. This thought brought a quick smirk to her beautiful face.
As her father came to a halt in front of her, she felt the pit of her stomach knot and turn as revulsion swept through her at his proximity. She knew by the look on his face that he was extremely disappointed with her aversion to side with him or to carry out her royal duties. King Ciel had been the ruler of the elves for millennia and had had peace during his reign until recently. The elves had made the enchanted woodland of Renshaw their home for the past four thousand years and had prospered considerably under his rule in particular. The people adored him and loved his temperate leadership. His singular ability to say what people wanted to hear had only increased their devotion. Kishi respected his powers of persuasion but hated him for the uses to which he applied his gift.
The king was a powerfully built elf that towered over the slight figure of his eldest daughter as she sat on the lush grass. He was a proven master with the sword, though he was known better for his abilities as a leader. His primarily used his magic to read and manipulate unprotected minds whenever it suited his needs. His daughters had learned how to protect themselves from his unwanted intrusions. Kishi was particularly difficult for him to read. However, his gift had made him a superior orator and negotiator among his people and a leader the other races of Tuwa respected and looked to for advice.
"I hope that you will be in attendance today at the elven High Council. We must continue our discussion about your brother-inlaw and Kira's treachery," King Ciel said in an even tone.
"Why? So, you can publicly condemn her for following her heart? Do you honestly believe that punishing her will do any good?" she asked angrily. "You merely want to prove to the people that you will uphold the law no matter what! We share the same blood … silinde turgon elanesse aldarion!' Her eyes flared as though flames were about to shoot out of them.
Kishi felt all the painful emotions she had been building walls against since the marriage of her sister pushing for a release. While she vehemently disagreed with Kira's marital choice, she distained their father's chosen response. She was torn as to which side she would take while in the council meeting. She, of course, blamed her father for this predicament because of his need for order and propriety. Maybe I should let Kira and father fight this out. Maybe it is about time I left Renshaw. As long as I stay here, I will not have peace and I will never be accepted.
"You know as well as I do that my dispute with your sister is well grounded in elven law, as well as steeped in our traditions," the king replied smoothly. "No elf is permitted to mix or marry with anyone from the lesser races. Why your sister wants to bring death upon herself is truly beyond my comprehension." His face was unfathomable as he looked down at Kishi. Why must my children vex me so? What have I done to them to justify their obstinance?
"Not to mention how your sister's illicit union diminishes the elven standing that has been respected and revered by the peoples of Tuwa for centuries! Now death will be introduced to the elven people like never before!" King Ciel raged on. He was clearly concerned that Kira's actions were part of something much bigger and more sinister in nature. He could not allow the situation to get out of his control; he would do whatever was necessary to prevent the elven nation from being ripped apart by members of his own house.
The king's feelings were beginning to surface, and he was no longer making an effort to hide his disappointment. He was furious with the pair of them because of their purported belief that love and choice are factors in marriage. This entire situation is a front for something else; this marriage is merely a catalyst for their secret plans. If it were not for the powerful magic his daughters possessed, he would use forceful means for finding out what they were really hiding from him. However, he could not use his power on them because of their training. He simply could not afford the backlash from the people if he chose to use other means of discovering the truth. As such, he was left to use political means to uncover their real intentions.
"Sir, I hate to interrupt, but we really must be off. The meeting is in about two hours, and it will take us almost that long to get to there," interjected one of the king's guards boldly.
The king stood there looking at his daughter with a much deeper understanding of how she felt about him … inwardly his heart was breaking. He knew that she disagreed with Kira's choice, and he was clearly bewildered about his eldest daughter's stance in this matter. He had felt that Kishi would be on his side when Kira broke elven law, but now it was clear that she too had betrayed him. He sensed that she was somehow a part of the conspiracy against him.
"Kishi, please be on time for the meeting. It is very important," the king asked clearly dejected about their interaction.
"I will be on time, but do not think that you will somehow win my support in this pointless venture," she retorted. She gave him a look that was filled with both anger and sadness.
Kishi felt her body temperature rising even though the spring morning was quite cool. Her temper was always just under the surface these days, and she was growing weary of being told what to do and how to think. Today that would all change, and nothing would ever be the same. She would do what she wanted regardless of what her sister chose to do. Her father, the king, would not have the satisfaction of using her as leverage against Kira. He would be on his own in that meeting and would be sadly disappointed in both of his daughters, though for very different reasons. The poor fool.
Kira sat in her bedchamber staring out the balcony with a look of someone who was a keeping a secret so sweet that she would soon burst if she did not reveal it. She had a twinkle in her deep brown eyes as she thought of what would take place later at the elven High Council. Ifher father only knew ofthe plot against him … He would be livid! A smile of fierce pleasure crept across her face at the idea of finally revealing her plans.
The princess felt happier than she had been in years as a result of her recent marriage to the man, Yukio. She had decided that now was the perfect time to unveil her true intentions to the elven leadership. She knew that the joy she was feeling was a mix of her feelings for her husband and for the plans she had been working on for months. She knew that revealing her true intentions would likely mean a revolt of some kind. While a revolution would bring tragedy and death, it would lead to the freedom they yearned for.
Princess Kira had an elegant, slim body like her twin sister, Kishi. Her long brown hair swished slightly as she walked to the balcony and began to pace back and forth. She too was a very powerful sorceress, but she did not like to use her power to get her way or enhance her capacity with magic the way her sister did. Instead, she relied on her womanly wiles to get what she wanted, which had worked very well on her husband and several other failed suitors. However, the welfare of the elven people was desperately important to her, and that made her drastically different from Kishi, who cared only for herself.
She sighed pleasantly as she turned to look at her husband who was resting peacefully on their bed. He was an enormously built man whose stature resembled most of the elves, though a bit more muscular. He was taller than his new wife by a few inches, which was not a common occurrence since elves were almost always taller than men. He had long reddish-brown hair dangling loosely over his silk pillow. He had several scars on his back from the many wars and battles he had fought in service to his queen. He had the look of man who had been made by difficult circumstances and one who could withstand a great deal more than most.
General Yukio stirred at the sound of his wife's incessant pacing and sat up on one elbow to look at her. He thought that she was very beautiful and had such youthful-looking skin that it was difficult to believe that she was several hundred years old. I am truly blessed by the gods for such a treasure. She is a prize far greater than any jewel or horde of treasure. I will not allow her father to ruin our plans. If he should pose a threat, I will end his reign.
As the general rubbed his bleary eyes, the morning light illuminated the red mixed with the brown in his eyes as he gazed up at his wife. It has been said of him that while in the throes of battle his eyes burned red as though they were on fire. The intensity of his look could pierce the most accomplished magician's magical web and penetrate any mental barrier. He was a fierce warrior and a good man to have on your side when things were going wrong. If he were against you, the gods themselves would not be able to protect you from his wrath.
"What is vexing you this early in the morning, my love?" he inquired in his deep, husky voice.
"I am going over our plans to make sure that what we do today plays out as we have foreseen," she replied after a long moment of thought. She was pinching her lower lip as she nervously continued to contemplate.
She stopped pacing and stared out over the balcony's edge without seeing anything in the distance. She knew she should feel some guilt about what she was thinking, but her father's obstinance had only cultivated her aversion to his wishes. I cannot wait to see my father humbled! These were not typical feelings a daughter should have toward their father. Then again, her father was the king of the immortal race of elves and had never really been a true parent by any stretch of the imagination. He cared more for his kingdom and himself than for his own blood. If mother were still alive, things would be dfferent. I would not have to take such drastic measures against my own father. She would have made him see reason. Mother would want me to go forward; she was always able to see the big picture.
King Ciel had lost his beloved wife five years to the very day when she was waylaid by a pack of savage wolves as she journeyed along the southern edge of Renshaw. The king had forgotten about this as a result of the current political turmoil. Kira and Kishi, on the other hand, would never be able to forget such a traumatic day. These two sorceresses blamed their father's lack of military skill and unorganized home guard for the tragic loss of their mother. Neither of them could ever feel safe again within the forest, and that was one of the reasons why they both must leave. The council convened by their father actually played into their hands without him being any the wiser.
"Yukio, you must get ready for the meeting," she said playfully over her shoulder. "I think that this will be a day long remembered in the history of my people, so you need to look your best." She turned to look at her husband and gave him a quick smile as the sun silhouetted her slender figure.
After several moments, General Yukio reappeared from the closest dressed in his military uniform he wore when meeting with royalty. His medals shined and glistened as he walked up to his wife on the balcony. Out with the old and in with the new. He was going to be the first king of the elves from the race of men. A male elf always ruled the kingdom, but that was going to change now that he was part of the family. He would have liked to force the change, but he could not doubt the brilliance of his wife's plan. It was going to work.
"Well, we should not keep the aged council members waiting," he said with a sly grin. He took her arm in his, and they left Tiranidrol Castle together. They had an hour to get to the sacred Edrdne Minyatur, the sacred meeting place where the elven High Council met. That was on the other side of Tarisdell, the capital city of the elven nation. The city was located at the heart of the ancient and enchanted Black Forest, also called Renshaw, so they took their time to enjoy their last day in the remarkable woodland. They would be sad to leave such a beautiful place, but their new home would be just as breathtaking with views that could not be found anywhere else in Tuwa.
The Earane Minyatur was silent aside from the shuffling of feet as the members of the High Council took their seats. The room had stunning vaulted ceilings made of marble with gold and silver inlaid into it. The round table the council members sat around filled the center of the spacious hall. The table itself had been hand crafted by King Nognili's dwarves as a gift for King Ciel's five hundredth anniversary as the ruler of the elven nation. At the center of this table there was a large open area that had a gold-and-silverembossed cauldron resting in the very middle. There was a silvery black substance that was simmering and turning inside the ornate pot while giving no reflection of its surroundings.
The cauldron was used for the purpose of casting votes and for revealing glimpses of the future for those who looked into its portents. The name of this magical device was Thraalillith. Most of the predictions made by this powerful object were not to be taken as entirely serious because it showed only half-truths. There were several occasions that the council had used the mysterious power of Thraalillith to try and foresee outcomes of their decisions. Each time they acted on what they had perceived to be the truth, they ended up worse for wear. It was now believed that the magical properties of the cauldron were too powerful to be controlled by even the most potent elven magic. Hence the reason why it was no longer used for anything aside from voting.
When the members of the council used the cauldron to cast their votes on debated issues, they would throw a piece of paper into a magically created fire that would hover above the silvery black portents of the Thraalillith. An affirmative vote would turn the fire bright blue, while a disapproving vote turned the fire crimson red. The council secretary recorded the number of votes for each side of the debated issue. The elves relished in using their magic whenever they could, and this was another frivolous way for them to use their power. They loved being reminded of their supposed superiority over the lesser races of Tuwa by using magic.
The side door of the High Council chamber opened with a snap to admit a stoic-looking king who was followed by his guard and his daughters Kira and Kishi. They were all adorned in the finest silk and cloth made by elven seamstresses. The king wore an impressive crown that was encrusted in a wide variety of dwarven jewels and gems. This crown was another gift from the dwarves. His daughters wore simple-looking leaf crowns made of silver and gold. Everyone stopped talking and stood up at their abrupt arrival. This show of reverence was an elven custom that had been practiced for centuries and had become a requirement since King Ciel took the throne. When royalty entered a room, everyone must stop what they were doing, stand if they were not already doing so, and face them. A slight bow was also required as they passed by. In this case, everyone bowed as the royal family made their way to their seats at the head of the round table even though they did not walk by them.
King Ciel took up his seat and nodded to the members of the council to be seated. His throne was made by some of the greatest craftsmen from Mount Carrick by the order of the dwarven king, Jarvis Dagnolir. The chair was encased in silver and gold in a magnificent swirling fashion. The high-backed chair had the crest of the Tiranidrol house carved into it. There was a depiction of a forest resembling the Black Forest with the Blaine River running parallel to it, which appeared to be moving.
The tension was increasing and the meeting hall became as quiet as a tomb. Before King Ciel could even begin the meeting, the double doors at the main entrance opened without warning. There was a loud resounding boom as the doors hit the solid oak walls. General Yukio Ibreshri marched in as if he had been the most anticipated guest. He was the general of the armies for Queen Daria Thejar, but he had no authority here among the elves. Daria was the monarch of the Nairi Canyons to the northeast of the Black Forest and an ally of the elves. However, this alliance was always strained because men were not allowed in the forest.
The general's enormous stature caught the eye of many of the council members. King Ciel felt uneasiness and a twinge of dread come over him at this unexpected appearance. However, the king hid his fear deep within and put on a look of contemptuous expectancy. He was not about to give an inch in the presence of this unworthy man who had besmirched his good name by stealing one of his daughters. He would take charge of this new development and leave no doubt in the council members' minds that he was still in charge.
General Yukio's interruption was not welcomed by the majority of the council members. They gave him malevolent looks that left no doubt as to their disgust and wariness of his presence. The general had anticipated nothing less from these shortsighted traditionalists. He was equal to the impending confrontation with the council, and he knew full well what the result of this encounter would be. He smiled at the thought of knowing something that the pompous king did not and did nothing to hide his pleasure he felt because of the disruption he caused.
"What do you mean by this intrusion?" the king demanded. He made sure to keep his tone even to hide the fear within. What are they playing at? How will his presence help his daughter's secret plans?
"The matter you are discussing today affects me as much as your daughter, King Ciel," General Yukio replied calmly. "You certainly did not believe that I would miss an opportunity to visit my in-laws." He smiled at the astonished looks on many of the council members' faces. He could sense that his presence had caught the king off guard and that he was not prepared for what was happening. The old fool did not believe that I would dare come!
The room filled with murmurings at this ridiculous statement about the royal family being in-laws with such an unworthy man. They could not believe that an infidel would dare address their king in this manner let alone make such outrageous claims. No one in the royal family should permit such an impure creature into their midst and spoil the sanctity of their meeting. No one in the hall had known that the man had been allowed into the forest aside from the Tiranidrols.
The king fixed his daughters with such a piercing glare that any other elf would have withered before such a furious look. Kishi and Kira stared unblinkingly at their father in a way that made it clear that they had invited the general and that is was within their power to do so. His allowed his stern look to quickly dissolved, and he put on a reluctant smile to ward off the rage building within him. Many of the council members noticed the king's subtle slip of emotional control. Many shifted in their seats uncomfortably at the scene unfolding in front of them.
"General Yukio, this matter does concern you, so I am glad you are here so you can hear this council's verdict regarding your crimes against the elven kingdom and its royal family," King Ciel stated coldly. "Please come and sit so that we may lay this matter to rest." He gestured to the empty chair next to his daughter Kira and then returned his attention to the council members.
Without saying another word, the general walked up to the king and gave a brief nod to him and sat down. He looked around the table at the stunned council members and read their innermost thoughts with his unknown prodigious skill in mind penetration. They all thought that the king should kill the unworthy man and banish his daughter Kira for life. He gave a hearty smile and inclined his head toward members of the council he recognized or knew personally. I am certainly glad that I did not miss the show! This is going to be well worth the wait!
The king waved his right hand for silence, and the murmurings immediately ceased. There was a feeling of anticipation and expectancy filling the still air. The king looked at the head of the High Council, Conary Aerasrril, and nodded slightly, which meant it was time to begin the meeting. Everyone in the room followed the king's gaze to look at the chairman, who sat opposite the king near the front entrance where General Yukio had entered.
Conary was a very tall, slender elf who had a youthful look despite his many years of service. He had served on the High Council his entire adult life. He was made the chairman of the elven council when Ciel Tiranidrol was made king. They had been the best of friends growing up, and this matter with the king's youngest daughter was almost too much for him to bear. The chairman loved Kira like she was his own daughter. He knew that at the moment he had to be strong. Conary was used to taking care of the king since the passing of his wife five years ago. King Ciel was a good person, and everyone respected his decisions; therefore, as the chairman of the council, he would support this trial and uphold its findings.
"The purpose of this emergency meeting is to address the violation of our laws by the Princess Kira Tiranidrol. General Yukio Ibreshri is in attendance to hear the judgments of this High Council against him," the chairman stated evenly. He had to hide his personal feelings in this matter so that the council would not question his leadership.
General Yukio felt a pang of anger inside as he looked around the table. He could tell that the members had already made up their minds after that biased introduction. How could these council members be considered wise when they rush judgment? What a bunch of cold-hearted, ignorant fools! They will rue this day! He kept his facial expressions neutral to hide his adverse feelings.
"The charges against the two accused, which they are guilty of, are as follows-" the chairman began to read the council's findings.
"The charges that they are guilty of? What is the meaning of this?" Princess Kishi interjected sharply. She thought that there would be a trial at the very least, not an immediate verdict. She became so furious that her shimmering gray eyes began to smolder. Her chair flew back into the wall behind her and shattered into tiny pieces. The council members were taken aback by this unexpected outburst. They could tell that this was going to end badly no matter what the outcome of the impending votes.
"I have called the council here for the purpose of determining the guilt of your sister and her illegitimate husband. They are here today to hear the judgment of this just council. They will accept whatever punishment we deem appropriate and acknowledge their folly," the king replied sharply. He did not think that Kishi would react with such anger. She should know that these two were doomed the moment they crossed the forbidden line and married. I cannot allow their treachery to go unpunished.
"Dearest sister, do not be concerned with these proceedings and the inevitable fallout. We are here of our own free will and have a full knowledge of what this council plans to do," Princess Kira cut across her sister in a kind, yet airy tone. She had been secretly hoping that her elder sister would react with such intensity. Elven twins had a way of knowing what their other half would do before they would do something. They were powerful in magic and were equally rare amongst the immortals.
Silence swept through the hall as the chairman waited for King Ciel to indicate whether or not he was finished. Princess Kishi turned to the chair she had destroyed, and, with a wave of her hand, it repaired itself. Once the chair was in place once more, she dropped down sharply into her chair with a look of utmost contempt for what she had just heard. She could not believe that her father was not going to have a trial. This meeting was about sentencing. This should have been a private matter. Why did he have to take it this far? She did not bother to hide her feelings anymore and thought, more than once, to use her magic to shake the council members from the ludicrous course of action they were taking.
"Please continue, Chairman Aerasrril, with the reading of the charges," King Ciel said with a slight nod. He did not want to lose control of this meeting; this sensitive situation had to be cleared up today. Any more delay would destabilize the king's already weakened control over the bureaucracy. If he mishandled this politically charged issue, then he would lose all creditability with the High Council and with his loyal subjects.
"General Yukio and Princess Kira did knowingly engage in an unlawful intimate relationship. They further violated our laws by marrying one another a fortnight ago. This was a direct violation of the marriage statute, which states that no elf shall marry a person from any of the lesser races. They did break these laws knowing full well the penalties and severity of what crimes they were committing," Conary read aloud. He was doing his best to hide his severe disapproval of how this personal matter was being handled.
There was a buzz of excitement coming from the council members because the crimes were most egregious. They were all sitting on the edge of their seats now awaiting the opportunity to vote so they could convict these obviously guilty parties. The tension in the room was so high that it seemed like no one was going to take another breath until they voted. Many of them thought that this was truly a historic moment and a political victory for their king. The condemnation of the princess and this general of Nairi would reaffirm the supremacy of elven law and re-establish their superiority throughout all of Tuwa. They were not even taking into consideration the fallout that would occur with Queen Daria and her subjects if they executed the iconic Nairian general.
"Members of this most noble and honorable High Council of elves, it is time," Conary Aerasrril proffered solemnly. As the High Councilman spoke these last words, a brilliant fire burst into life just above the surface of the Thraalillith.
"If you believe that the accused should be cleared of all charges or if they should be convicted on all counts, please vote now." Every council member cast his or her vote into the cauldron of fate, and the fire burned bright blue as each piece of paper came into contact with the magical fire. There was not a single vote cast to clear either of the accused. They had been found guilty by the entire High Council. The chairman abstained from voting because of his mixed feelings. The general and the royal family were not permitted to vote because they were not members of the council.
Princess Kishi placed her hands on the table in anticipation of what was going to happen next. She was not happy at all with what had taken place thus far. How can the entire council vote against both of them? I understand why they convicted that idiot General Yukio, but why convict my sister? Is this what it has come to? The burning in her eyes turned cold as ice as she looked around at the council members. She made it clear that she was not pleased with what they had just done. Not one council member would return her icy glare. They were all determinedly looking elsewhere; they were terrified that she might unleash her venom on them.
"The voting has been unanimous in favor of conviction. Now we will have you cast votes to determine the appropriate punishment. If you want the punishment of lifetime banishment, your paper will burn blue. If you believe that they should be put to death, your paper will burn red. At this time, please vote for the fate of General Yukio Ibreshri." The chairman gestured toward the burning Thraalillith. The cauldron burned bright red repeatedly, condemning the general to die for his crimes. The members had rather smug looks on their faces after casting their votes against him.
"Please vote now to determine the fate of Princess Kira Tiranidrol." The fire burned bright blue as the papers hit the flames. They had chosen banishment for their fallen princess. It was clear that they believed she deserved a break. It was obvious that the council thought she had been beguiled by the treacherous general.
The debate was over now, and there was little that Princess Kira or General Yukio could do or say to alter the decision. This was the moment that the couple had planned for. This was what they had looked forward to for months now. While it appeared that the king had the upper hand and the council had all of the power, it would soon be clear that they were not taking one simple factor into consideration. Kira and Yukio would now have to show their hand before this perfect opportunity passed them by. Their announcement would render the decision of the council inconsequential and set things in motion that could not be stopped.
"It appears that the vote has been unanimous for the exile of Princess Kira Tiranidrol from the Forest of Renshaw. As for General Yukio Ibreshri, all votes were in favor of the death penalty. General, you will be executed by beheading in the morning. The penalty for returning to any part of our land by the princess will result in her immediate execution," Conary explained coolly. He struggled to keep his feelings of regret in check while pronouncing the punishments. This will not benefit the elves; only death will come of this. He thought the king would have intervened and put an end to this travesty, but apparently Ciel was at the heart of this debacle.
There was an intense look of relief on all of the council members' faces after the punishments were announced. They thought that they were rid of this evil man and the king's gullible daughter. The council did not know that the new couple had anticipated this grim outcome. There was one person who did not expect their ruling at all, and that was Princess Kishi. She was so enraged by how things had developed that she was ready to explode.
"You imbeciles cannot be serious! You shall pay for what you have done this day! I promise you that!" Princess Kishi exclaimed. She kicked her chair out once again, and it shattered again as it hit the wall. She moved her hands in a complicated series of movements; this was the physical manifestation of her drawing power from non-sentient entities outside the hall, which shot a long dart of ice at the Thraalillith. The cauldron rocked back and forth from the force of the ice bolt hitting it. The pot quickly froze, and an instant later it exploded into tiny shards of gold and silver, which went flying off in every direction. Everyone in the room ducked in order to avoid these minuscule projectiles. She then turned toward the side door she had come in and sent a ball of fire at it. In a split second, the door burst into flames and was gone. She stormed from the room cursing each council member as she stalked past them.
Princess Kira and General Yukio stood to make their announcement after this violent outburst. They were not thrown off by what happened; instead they saw it as a perfect lead in to what they were about to announce. They smiled at one another in a way that unnerved the council members as they sat back in their chairs looking at the council. Many of the members thought that Kira was about to lose control like her sister. They had not expected a reaction so extreme from Kishi, so they did not know what to expect from the youngest Tiranidrol.
"We have come here to unveil our secret plans and not to hear your meaningless verdict," General Yukio said with an edge to his voice. He was no longer smiling. He had such a hypnotic look in his eyes that no one could look away. He was about to use his hidden mental powers to get his way yet again. There was no turning back once he revealed his psychic abilities on these supposedly superior elves.
"The spirits of this ancient forest have shown us how the elves have become too entrenched in their archaic traditions and beliefs. An evolution of the elven race is the only way that the elves can be saved from utter ruin," Kira stated succinctly. She was making reference to the Seda, which are spirit creatures that reside in the Black Forest. These spirits give glimpses of the future to travelers that enter their realm. They unfog the future to those that can manipulate relevant events to bring about the future they have predicted. It is not wise to trifle with these powerful beings because they are allies to no one. They believe themselves to be vastly superior to every living thing in Tuwa.
"It was also shown to us that this inept High Council would convict the two of us based on antiquated laws. The Seda informed us of what we would need to do to save the elven race from certain annihilation," the general said confidently. He was enjoying this feeling of knowing more than these high and mighty elves.
At this point, it dawned on King Ciel what these conspirators were playing at. He did not like what he thought they were about to do. His ability to reads minds did not work on his daughter or the general for some reason. However, he was able to read the effect that the general was having on the minds of the council members. He was able to deduce that they were plotting treasonous acts. The elven kingdom had stood for countless millennia united in the common cause of caring for Tuwa, and he was not going to allow these two to ruin that. He realized that he would not be able to stop what was about to happen without force. He readied himself to command his guard to seize the traitors and to execute Yukio immediately while forcibly ejecting Kira once she was restrained. He, just like the council, did not think of the consequences of such rash actions.
"You may think that we will allow you to carry out the assigned punishments, but you could not be more wrong. We have been planning to leave for some time now, and today was designated to be the day we leave the main body of the elves, as foretold by the Seda. We will not depart alone either… " Princess Kira said boldly. She could not wait another moment; she had waited too long for this day to arrive.
"We will be accompanied by no less than one-third of the entire elven nation!" the general exclaimed triumphantly.
The astonished looks on the faces of those seated around the table made all of their planning worthwhile. The council had had no inkling that they were so out of touch with their own people. The weighty significance of this mass dissension was beginning to sink in. No one spoke because they were all too dazed and confused with what was happening. The elves had always considered themselves above such selfish motives; the lesser races were the ones who fought among themselves, not the enlightened elves.
With a mischievous grin, the princess cast her hand down toward the ground where an explosion of fire erupted violently and shot upward so that the flames licked the polished marble ceiling. Everyone had directed their attention toward the roof and did not notice that the rebels had vanished completely. General Yukio and Princess Kira had left the council with flare and style that would be remembered for years. The king immediately called for his guard to search for the convicts. Both of my daughters are dead to me! They will soon find out what happens to traitors! He was going to make it clear to his subjects that those who dissent and leave the magical realm of the elves would suffer the consequences.
While the king's guard searched for the treacherous pair, a massive number of elves were leaving the Black Forest with all of their possessions. They were heading north toward Mount Konane and Mount Quang. They were making their way to their new homes in the mountains. The king would not be able to stop them in time; they were no longer his subjects, and they were out of the reach of his guard. They had established themselves a queen who was truly enlightened and did not fear change. They would follow her wherever she led them. They felt peace and happiness in their hearts about the prospect of a new life outside the woodland. They had lost that feeling many years ago when the elves turned to isolationism and their government became so corrupt that they would no longer listen to the people. Now they would have a new beginning, a new hope in the mountains of the north.