MANNA

Determined not to be caught unawares, Manna had done what she could to prepare for the Council's arrival. She had first needed to tend to Fiona. If they were to make a stand against the Seven, they would have to make a showing of absolute strength, and for that, Manna knew Fiona would have to appear more powerful than she was currently.

Though she rejected an offer of food, Manna finally forced Fiona to nibble on some bread and drink the tea she had prepared, both of which she managed to keep down. After the woman could take no more, she anointed her temples with oils of lavender and chamomile to calm her nerves, and left Fiona to rest while Manna prepared her a pallet by the hearth in the main room of the house. She laid Fiona's staff beside it. The Nita would have to face her accusers the moment they walked through the door and could not appear to be hiding herself in any way. She knew was unlikely Fiona would be able to even hold her staff, let alone use it if the need should arise. Still, as a symbol of the most powerful among their people, Manna hoped that the staff's mere presence beside the Nita might give the Council pause, if only for a moment, before attempting to use force to achieve their ends.

Once the makeshift bed was finished, Manna returned to preparing Fiona herself, doing her best to make the Nita presentable. She had bathed her, brushed and plaited her hair and dressed her in a set of fresh clothes. There had not been much to do for her pallor but Manna hoped that Fiona's improved appearance would be enough to convince the Council that she was in better health than she was in reality.

After helping Fiona to her place by the fire and assuring she was as comfortable as possible Manna tended to her own appearance, dressing as if to attend an official meeting in her ceremonial colors of blue and gray. Manna knew she would likely have to make up for Fiona's diminished strength and must show as little weakness as possible. It would help if she looked the part of a Nita. Of course, Manna had held the position for over twenty years, and was confident none of the councilmen had forgotten that fact. 

These men still held enough respect for, and fear towards her to have avoided her counsel in the matter of the baby after all. Perhaps it would be enough to prevent them from taking any drastic action against Fiona in her presence. Manna certainly had no intention of allowing them to take the Nita from her sight until she was certain that Fiona and her child would be safe. With the preparations complete, Manna had made herself a strong cup of tea and sat in silence, keeping vigil as the night slipped away.

----

The knock came around nine o'clock in the morning. It had taken them even less time than she had predicted, but Manna was ready. She gave Fiona a reassuring nod as she rose, calmly walking to the door and opening it, back straight, chest out, staff in hand. Manna found herself staring into the fiery grey eyes of Avery Trenton. She could see a small mass of men behind him, the councilmen who claimed Cainell as their home. All seven were in attendance. Manna kept her voice even as she received them. "Please come in," she said, putting out her hand in welcome, as if she herself had invited the group of disgruntled men that quickly filled her home.

"Council Leader Trenton," she said, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your company and that of the Cainell Council?"

"Manna, we search for Fiona Amoral."

"You will address me by my proper title, "Manna replied calmly, "and the current Nita as well."

"She may not long hold the title." A voice spoke from within the group, and a wave of assenting grumbles filled the air.

Avery held up a hand to the councilmen and they were quiet. "We know she has sought refuge here," he said. "Give her to us now or face the consequences."

"Gentleman, I had no intentions of hiding the fact that our leader arrived early this morning. But pray tell me, on what matter do you seek the wisdom of the Nita?"

"That business is none of yours!"

She recognized the voice now. The cry came from Ralf Perthy, Avery's strongest ally among The Seven. The short man stood just behind the Council leader, his squat face red, and filled with indignation. Manna trained her eyes him, staring him down.

"My dear Mr. Perthy," she said, her deep voice carrying through the room. "I do believe it is my home you have invaded. As your former leader, I should think I have the right to know the cause." Manna felt a certain satisfaction to see the man visibly shaken by her gaze. She watched him shrink back behind the other Council members mumbling something inaudible under his breath. Avery placed a reassuring hand on Perthy's shoulder before addressing her again.

"Manna," he began, but one look at the anger in her eyes stopped him mid sentence. He tried again. "Elder Nita, we mean no disrespect upon your home. We sent word by messenger requesting the Nita's presence regarding official Council business. To refuse such a call from the highest ranks of the Elder Council is a serious offense against the Senmin people. We have come to retrieve the Nita and impose upon her the requested assembly as is our right."

"My former student has refused nothing nor has she hidden herself from you," Manna said, gesturing broadly to where Fiona sat propped up by pillows on her pallet near the fire. "Nita Amoral was stricken with a sudden illness last evening and came here seeking remedy. I provided it and advised that she rest under my roof. That is all."

"Elder Nita Sayers," Avery said, a patronizing tone laced within his words. "We would not wish to question the intensions of one as honorable as yourself."

"Then don't," she replied curtly. Manna now grasped her staff more firmly in her hand, the power within her rising to a simmering fury. She had done her best to stay her anger against the Seven for their attempt to circumvent her authority on the issue of Fiona's pregnancy, but now Manna had taken a closer look at the men assembled. 

Though they carried no knives, nor chains, she could feel their intentions clearly. These men had gone to Fiona's home prepared to take the Nita by force when she had not appeared before them. They were relying on her weakened condition, relying on the fact that she likely could not fight back, acting more like mercenaries than leaders. It was unthinkable. Would they dare attempt such treachery in her presence?

"Again, we do not wish to question your intentions," Avery said, ignoring the hardened edge in Manna's tone. "But as you must know, your former pupil has given us some cause for concern as of late. I'm afraid we must insist that the Nita come with us now and answer for her actions." As he spoke, the Council Leader stepped between her and Fiona. Manna felt her heart beat quicken. "If she will not come willingly," he continued, "we are prepared to use other methods to ensure her compliance." Avery gave a nod to two of the men, who broke from the others, flanking Fiona's makeshift bed and grabbing hold of her arms. The Nita did her best to stifle a cry of panic.

In an instant, Manna rounded on the two men and prepared to raise her staff. Seeing their clear sign of aggression, she could no longer contain her anger. To use magiks as a weapon was forbidden, but she would not let the Council take Fiona without a fight. Avery Trenton's arm came up to stop her as he placed his hand over her tight-fisted grip on the wood.

"Avery you fool!" she snarled, tearing the staff from his grasp and pointing it directly at his chest. "If you or any one of this group lay a hand on her so help me I will..."

"Peace, Manna, peace," He held up his hands in surrender, but his face remained unrepentant. "We wish only to discuss some matters of import with the Nita."

"Yet you come to take her by force! Did you not feel the need to seek my presence in a discussion of that magnitude? Am I suddenly too senile to be thus included in official Council business?"

"Nobody has implied any such thing."

Manna took a deep breath in an attempt to temper her anger before she spoke again, "Then as a member of the Elder Council I elect to remain in attendance at this assembly you have called, as is my right,"

The other members of the group looked uncomfortable. As she scanned their eyes, she found that each and every one of the men, aside from Avery himself, seemed unable to meet her gaze. Even the two by Fiona's side appeared to have loosened their grasp on the woman's arms as they focused on the floor in front of them. So much the better. If it took fear to force them to reconsider their actions, she would make them cower. But that still left the matter of the Council Leader. Avery was clearly not cowed and had no intention of backing down. Neither did she.

"Manna, you know we all have the utmost respect for you," Avery said.

"You would do well to show it," Manna shot back. "Do not for a moment forget that I led our people for twenty-five years."

"No one is forgetting anything. The Nita has simply misunderstood our intentions."

"I do not believe she has."

Manna took another deep breath. She knew that, in the end, arguing like this would get her nowhere and threats would be meaningless. Avery was too convinced of his own self-righteous justice, and the councilmen knew that she could not use true force against them. But now that Manna had regained her composure enough to take a more accurate measure of the situation, she could sense the hesitation of the men more clearly.

 It was not fear as much as shame that motivated their downcast eyes. They were questioning their actions now that their deception was laid before the presence of the Elder Nita. If their sense of honor and respect towards her as their former leader was strong enough, there was a chance that they could be swayed from Avery's influence. Manna attempted to will her voice to absolute calm.

"If you truly wish a peaceful discussion, I would suggest your men unhand Nita Amoral," she said.

Manna watched as the two men holding Fiona's arms release their grip almost instantly at her command. Backing away slightly from the pallet where the Nita lay.

Avery glared at them before returning his gaze to Manna. She could see his mask of calm certainty cracking along the edges. His mouth flattened, his face tightened, no doubt infuriated that they had obeyed her so willingly.

"You know as well as I the consequences of this child's birth," he said.

"It is a child."

"The child of a Nita."

"A child. Innocent of any wrong doing, as is Fiona."

"I would hardly say the Nita is innocent."

"And what has she done wrong?"

"You are well aware it is what she may do that worries us."

He was no longer attempting to maintain a pretense of civility and was visibly agitated now. Manna could see his frustration at the change in the room, at her rational demeanor, at his men's lack of conviction in going against her. He was losing them.

"Have we come to the point where we condemn people based on future actions they may take?" Manna asked. "Perhaps I should condemn you to death on suspicion that you may soon seek to commit infanticide."

The furrow in Avery's brow deepened, his eyes narrowing to mere slits.

"The words of the Great Book cannot be unwritten Manna. This child is dangerous."

"As is the uncontrolled use of power by the Cainell Council."

"Fiona willfully ignored the lessons of the past. As long as I am head of this Council the story of Astar will not be repeated."

"And the Nita has no intention of doing so. If you would only listen."

"She had her chance to come before us and make her case," he said, cutting her off. "The Nita forfeited that right when she failed to appear this morning."

"The Nita is not at the beck and call of the Council."

" You are mistaken Manna," he answered. "Fiona is a servant of the Senmin people and must indeed answer to us when her actions are called into question. I tell you now, the Council has no intention of taking chances concerning the child of a Nita."

"By the God Avery, are you so convinced of your own judgment that you would break the laws of our people to override all those who might dare disagree with your presumptuous conclusions? The Seven do not speak for the entire Council. They do not speak for the Initiate!"

Manna felt her control over herself slipping. The tension in the room was palpable. The men nearest Fiona stood at the ready, uncertain whose command to follow, but in her anger, she knew the advantage she had gained was slipping away. They had come here for a purpose, no matter how conflicted. They believed in Avery's fear, no matter how irrational it might be, no matter how many pacts they might be breaking. Manna's staff rose again in spite of herself, her subconscious clinging to her only defense. But they were outnumbered. Even if she managed to fight their way out of the house, all would be lost. In using forbidden magiks against them, she would only confirm their fears of the Nita, the Initiate. She could not act with force against the Seven without destroying herself and Fiona as well. Running would be an admission of guilt. There would be nowhere for them to hide from the wrath of the people.

"Please, stop." Everyone turned in surprise at the sound of Fiona's voice, frail and trembling, climbing from the pallet where she lay. The Nita struggled to prop herself up on unstable arms until she was seated facing the Council. "Honored Council members," Fiona said, "I am not your enemy. I am your leader and my powers are sworn in allegiance to the Senmin. Manna, lower your staff. Avery, I will come with you willingly. I understand your fears and concerns. I never intended any malicious action against you or our people and I humbly ask forgiveness if I have led you to believe otherwise. But please hear my request. I wish only that my child be allowed to live. Take my life if you must, but do not punish my baby for any sins I may have committed in bringing it into this world. As Manna has said, the child is innocent."

The room echoed in uncomfortable silence.

"The Nita spoken honorably."

Manna looked for the source of the voice and found it to be that of Aaron Baker. It was nice to know that the Nita had some allies among the highest ranks of the Elder Council. Manna smiled in his direction though he did not meet her gaze.

Trenton was livid as he rounded on the man, but it was too late. Fiona's strength and Aaron's words had already hit their mark.

"I second the opinion that we should reserve judgment of the Nita," said another from within the group.

"Thank you, Mr. Collins," Aaron said, seeming to ignore the Council Leader's glare. Within moments nearly all of the Council members present were beginning to turn.

Avery's anger was plastered clearly across his features. He seemed to be at a loss for words as control of the situation sipped from his grasp entirely.

"Council leader Trenton, it appears that these men have reconsidered their position on the issue at hand," Manna said, unable to fully suppress the smile that threatened to form on her lips. For a moment, the man looked as if his fury might get the best of him, but as the Council Leader eyed the faces of the Seven, he must have seen the truth. He had already lost the battle. He could not risk the chance that these men would fight to directly subvert his command and undermine his presumed authority in doing so. Manna watched the look of agitation in his face begin to morph into one of discomfort.

"Now see here, Manna," he stuttered, "I told you from the first, we had not yet made an official judgment. As the leaders among the Elder Council, it was our intention to hold a formal meeting with the Nita before deciding anything."

"Well," she said, "given Nita Amoral's present condition, and given that the highest ranks of the Council are already in attendance, I suggest you simply have the meeting here. The Nita is in no condition to be moved." Manna walked to Fiona's side, cleared her throat, and rapped her staff against the ground before Avery could protest.

"Honored Council," she said. "We have come together to discuss the matter of the Nita's child. Fiona has made a noble plea for her baby's life. What say ye Council of Cainell, highest among the Senmin Council of Elders? Will you ignore the request of your leader to spare the life of an innocent?"

No one spoke.

"What of the offer to exchange her life for the babe's?"

Again, silence. All eyes were now on the Council Leader, waiting to hear his response.

"Do not misunderstand me," Avery replied, carefully weighing his words. Keenly aware of the change in the Council's loyalty, he seemed to be attempting to maintain an appearance of authority as best he could given the new circumstances presented. "I never asked that the Nita forfeit her life." His eyes darted around the room looking for support. "Those words came from Fiona herself."

"I wish that we might all be satisfied with the Council's decision." Manna said. Now that the odds had turned in their favor, she felt the confidence that she might gain full control of the situation.

"And what do you propose?" Avery asked. His tone bordered on sarcastic, though Manna could tell he was checking himself as best he could.

"The child of the Nita will be allowed to live but he or she will be raised as an orphan. The Council members present here today will know the truth of the child's birth, but for all else, its lineage will be stricken from memory. It will be made known to the General Council and the Initiate that the child announced at the Spring Assembly did not survive, and shall never be spoken of again."

She looked around the room in an attempt to gauge the group's reaction but could not quite read the expression on their faces. Manna watched as the Council members began to whisper among themselves, Avery rejoining their ranks. He bent his ear towards one man, and nodded his head in affirmation.

"We agree that this indeed could be a solution to the problem," he said. "Of course it goes without saying," he continued, with a glance in Fiona's direction, "if a girl child is born, she will not be chosen as Nita."

Manna nodded her head once in assent and Avery stroked his beard in thought.

"If those conditions are met," he said, "we see no reason why this baby should be a threat." He turned to Fiona." Will you swear an oath to that affect?" he asked." Upon your good name and your very life? Will you swear that the child you now carry will be, to you, as a stranger, and that you will relinquish all claims of kinship? Will you also swear that you will find another from among our people to name as your successor, and that the child of your womb will never be named as the Nita of the Senmin?"

Manna watched as Fiona slowly nodded, forcing herself to proclaim her assent to his terms. She could see the distress in her face and imagined the pain Fiona must be feeling as she publicly rejected the child as her own even before it breathed its first breath. Manna placed a hand on Fiona's shoulder, hoping to give her strength.

"I do so swear," Fiona said. Manna helped her lay back down onto the pillows.

"The Nita needs her rest," she said. "If you are all thus satisfied, I ask that you leave us to our privacy."

"Of course," Avery replied, with an overly generous smile. "When the baby is born we will come to collect it." He turned towards the door.

"Hold one moment," Manna said. The councilmen looked at her uncertainly, though Avery merely looked annoyed.

"I thought we were concluded," he said.

"Almost," Manna replied. "I would add one caveat to the negotiated terms."

"And that is?"

"I will raise Fiona's child."

Dissent began to buzz through the councilmen anew but Manna would have none of it.

"Silence!" Manna's voice was not angry, but she did not mean to be contested. "You have come here with malicious intent, acting against a woman who has done nothing but serve her people. She has agreed to all of your terms. I think it only fair that the Council should comply with one of ours. Do not misunderstand me. The child, will as you have decreed, have no knowledge of its mother but you will allow me the responsibility of its care."

Avery gave her a hard stare.

"Is it not preferable?" Manna asked before he might speak again. "I only wish for Fiona's child to be well cared for. Surly you can understand that the Nita might be concerned with her baby's wellbeing. In providing a home for the child I can ensure that our leader need not worry about the matter and instead focus on her duties more fully. And as for your concerns regarding any danger the child might present, in allowing me to act as the baby's guardian you and your men will be able to watch her well. I think this request is one that will benefit both of our interests.

Avery's glare did not abate. She could feel every one of the Seven's eyes turned towards their leader again, waiting to see how he might respond to her words before voicing their own opinion. For a moment, Manna was certain the man would protest, and she prepared herself to further argue her point, but then Avery's face relaxed again as he raised his hands in surrender.

"So be it," he said walking towards the door. The rest of the Seven followed close behind, apparently willing to accept the Council Leader's decision. As they left Avery paused in the doorway.

"You will inform us as soon as the baby is born," he said, giving a pointed look in Fiona's direction. "As you correctly assumed Elder Nita, the Council will indeed wish to keep a close watch on this child to ensure that all of the terms of our agreement are met. Oh, one more thing." His gaze shifted again towards Manna. "Of course you understand that any deviation from the terms we have discussed here today will constitute an undeniable act of treason by both of you. I'm certain you know the consequence of treason against our people. Though we would be loathe to do it, as the Elder Council, we will invoke the law."

Manna's gaze was fearless and resolute as she answered his threat without hesitation. "I have no doubt," she said.