67 - A Report in the Unity

“… AS THE HONORABLE MEMBER FROM UPPER COMO HAS REPEATEDLY SAID – Order! Order in the Unity! Members, please do not be a DIS-unity – HE’S SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!

Ky put his hands over his ears, muffling the roar of voices in the Hall of the Host. It was unreal. The Hall was an oval room with two levels, the rows in the balcony all raked to let everyone see the floor below. On the floor there were five chairs, three and two, the two in front slightly lower to let everyone see the higher three and they also had desks before them.

All guests sat in the designated bank of seats that would, one day, become chairs for more representatives.  They'd have to build a viewing gallery when that time came.

Usually the Konsiliarch and the Surdeniliarch sat side by side, with the empty chair reserved for guests or witnesses, speakers of any kind, called to speak to the Unity. There were six banks of seats in the oval, each capable of comfortably seating fifty people. Only the middle four banks were used for representatives' seats since the Milari had not grown to the population that they thought their country could support.

The one hundred and eight current representatives were all on their feet, it seemed. Order had completely vanished no matter what the Konsiliarch said. 

Once he couldn’t hear the words any longer Kyrus just looked at all those angry faces, all those mouths working. Bare faces, bare emotions.

His father stood, bare faced, in front of the guest chair, hands clasped behind his back, apparently listening to all their rage. He didn’t seem angry or upset, more intent, careful.  

EnLightened and EnDarkened may I be like him one day. So I don’t need a veil to hide my emotions. Beside him, Ilax stood as well, standing with his inamor. For all they were so different, they were both similar in their calm. Is it because they’re warriors? Or because one’s a politician, their ‘he who has mastered war’… or as they think… a peace keeper?

The noise was awful and finally the Konsiliarch, Vidarna Xshathrita, a statuesque woman who, if Kyrus had seen in the street, would have thought was someone’s favourite grandmother, got up and stepped over to a stone altar. Kyrus pressed his hands tighter over his ears. Here it comes.

She picked up a kernel from a box on a separate table and placed it on the pedestal and waited, the metal hammer in her other hand. The top of the pedestal was dished in, battered, chipped, cracked and burned. 

The noise didn’t ease so she picked up a second kernel, ostentatiously, hammer held so everyone could see it.  Then a third.

Ky could see her mouth move but not hear. Even in this debate he’d only seen a two-stone before. EnDarkened, a three stone summons to order, EnDarkened… He squeezed his eyes shut but couldn’t not see and opened them again.

She brought the hammer down sharply on the stones with a CRACK loud enough that Ky jumped, even with his hands over his ears. A cloud of smoke billowed to the ceiling where it was caught by the slow-turning fans and whisked away.

I think it is partly the smoke that shuts them up, forcing them to cough instead of yell, as much as the noise.

Ky’s hands went from his ears to his nose, holding a cloth to breathe through. It is so funny, they all look like their veil strings broke, clutching kerchiefs over their noses and mouths.

“Honourable Members of the Unity,” she said finally. Probably when the air cleared enough for her not to be gravelly, but that translated into a solemn dignity as she sat down again in the sulphur-smelling Hall. “We have heard the Surdeniliarch and Kyrus Talain both tell us their whole story. What they did. Why they did so. We have also,” she paused and held up the hammer demonstratively at one member who dared raise her voice from the back.

"—And we have heard the upset and anger expressed.” She drew a deep breath, paused to cough. “I regret that the issue devolved into fisticuffs between Honourable Amrav and the Honourable Ushtra. The server informs me that both are well and apologizing to one another.” Enough of the Unity was recovered that they could slap their desks in approval for that. She waited another moment. “As Konsiliarch it is now my duty to inform the Unity of things that have not been mentioned, for your consideration.”

She rose and murmured to both Ilax and Kyrus to be seated. 

“The Unity is no doubt aware, that the war in question is over.” That got a mutter though not a chuckle. “The Emperor of Lainz has shown his willingness to cease warfare, under our Surdeniliarch's prompting.” A dozen voices cried ‘hear!’ ‘hear!’ and she waited for them to subside. “To answer the first question posed…”

No, Ky thought. It’s too soon! He had dropped his hands after the concussion and he could hear Haraklez, next to him and Werfas on her other side... and, oddly enough, Verpiccaus, on his left, all of them holding their breaths.

“Ilaxandil Vania a Ruikart -- Vidarna added the ancestral designation to his name -- "Admits to both deceit and deception, for reasons of passion and compassion. And we Milari pride ourselves in being both passionate. And compassionate. Yet he still did his duty and an enemy of our state was neutralized, though not quite in the way that was demanded.” Ky could see that his father and Ilax, when they’d sat down, had clasped hands. Can’t they see how much they love one another?

“I also note that as surdeniliarch his service to the country has been exemplary and he has so far moved people to request his top stipend be extended, since there was no legal way for us to laud him further, for work above and beyond his mere duty.” She paused to nod at the ambassadors in their chairs, who had scrupulously kept their silence while the Milari raged, but no doubt had been taking good note. They nodded back.

They still need him. He’s gotten some pretty tough sticks of diplomats to not only talk, but work together and Xshathrita knows it. “Moreover, as we have always accepted those injured, even the enemy, because of our unwillingness to send more people early to our ancestors, Kyrus Talain was saved by our healers and has, since his salvation, been working to teach our children, taking over the duty from Agalia and Corydon, by their will. I remind you that they were our finest Dees and our finest Zon. I suggest that the Honourable Members perhaps should argue his worthiness, with those shades…”

The murmur this time was more wry and gave Ky a sense of ‘oh no… you talk to those ancestors if you want… not me…’ partially humorous. Almost a laugh.

“I speak specifically to those who were their students.”

This time there were hands thrown up, a barrier of fingers. “Honourable Konsiliarch,” the Member from Tzatzkim called. “We concede the point.”

She looked up at him and then around at the other Members. A second came from Member Ruvan. “A quick show of hands, yes... the point is conceded?” She asked. “Clerk?”

“Passed, Konsiliarch.” She nodded. “So. It is moved that the Surdeniliarch be censured for his deceit of the punters.” Their word for voters… or those who opt. “The option for his removal already having been punted down, I call for a show of hands.”

There was a pause and then hands began rising in the Hall.

She stood, waiting as the clerk counted. “A firm yes or no, ladies and gentlemen, no half-hearted hands, please.” The clerk handed her the tally and she looked down at it. 

“Passed that the Surdeniliarch be censured, 74 to 22 with 10 abstentions and two Members out for medical treatment.” She sat down again. “I open the floor for discussion on the nature of this censure.”

This is going to go on for days, Ky thought. But he could see his da’s posture had eased a bit. Do I know him well enough so fast? I suppose. Werfas reached around Haraklez and punched him in the arm.  He couldn’t make it more than a brush, around her. “They’re all right!”

“Hey, what?” People around  shushed them. “What did you do that for? They’re still going to cut him down some,” he hissed to his wing-brother.

“It’s good because nobody re-opened the ‘throw him out option’.” Haraklez whispered in his ear. “That was what the pause was before people started putting their hands up. Now it’s all about fines and stuff, not whether he can get kicked out or not. And you’ll be able to start the proper wedding party plans, since they never had one.”

“Me?” Kyrus squeaked loud enough that he got shushed again. "Why not you? That's stuff girls do."

“Yeah, you,” Verpiccaus whispered.  “It's not girl stuff in Milar.”  Werfas hissed “—jerk,” from the other side, making his head whip back and forth.  “You and her work together since you’re both old enough, and you’re both representatives of the pair.”

Wonderful. But he couldn’t put a lot of intent into his groan.