So last chapter was short, this chapter is long. May have some redundancies still hiding out in there so if you spot any, let me know! :-) The High Priestess and the Council Leader chat...

SIMAR

It had been more than a year since Simar had found herself in the Great Meetinghouse of the Elder Council. She had never particularly relished dealing with the men who fancied themselves as the leaders of the Senmin people and it was her practice to have as little contact as possible with Avery Trenton and his councilmen. Still, there was a certain appeal to the Meetinghouse itself. A place of so much power. Power so different than that contained in Sithrah. The power to influence the Senmin throughout the Empire. To influence the Empire itself.

As she walked down the aisle, she could hear her footfalls echoing in the empty hall and, after a moment, Avery's following close behind. Without waiting for him to catch up, Simar walked to the raised dais at the head of the room and climbed the steps to the chairs set for the leaders of the Senmin to preside over Council meetings. She took the seat reserved for the Nita and patiently waited for the Council leader to take a seat opposite her.

"I see you have no difficulty making yourself comfortable here," Avery commented with a small scowl. "You sit in the chair of our leader, you presume to command my men as if you have right to do so."

"And why should I not?" Simar answered cooly. "Aside from the Nita, I am the highest ranking leader of the Senmin."

"Among the Initiate," Avery corrected. "But here in Gregorn, it is my word that is obeyed."

Simar could hear the bitterness in his voice. The childish assertion of his own power. She smiled slightly and bowed her head in contrition, assuaging his fragile ego.

 "Forgive me, Council Leader," she replied, "I meant no offense. But the matters at hand pertain directly to the Initiate do they not? While I fully respect your authority here over your Council, you have no choice but to hear my findings regarding the student of Manna Sayers."

"The bastard child of the Nita," he corrected. "And though the matter of choosing our next Nita is indeed a task within your purview as High Priestess of Sithrah, the betrayal perpetrated by Manna Sayers and Karina Amoral against the Elder Council is another matter entirely. The former Nita broke unbreakable vows sworn before myself and the Cainell Council, as did her student. They must now face the consequences. 

"I should think you would be eager to see justice served. Manna's actions have called to question the integrity of the Initiate as a whole after all. Your cooperation in these proceedings will, therefore, give you the chance to prove your loyalty remains to the Senmin people and our leadership. Indeed I thank you, Priestess, for returning the fugitive for sentencing."

Simar did her best to maintain a neutral expression as she held his gaze, fighting back her annoyance with Avery's unmasked arrogance in presuming his authority so high above her own.

"The Initiate had no knowledge of the Elder Nita's deception Council Leader," she replied. "I have no reason to defend myself or the women of Sithrah for crimes committed by another. As for my action in returning Karina Amoral to Gregorn and the Council's jurisdiction, perhaps you did not hear me a moment ago when I spoke to your men. I have granted the girl protection and found her innocent of all charges that have been laid against her. In fact, it is my ruling that Karina Amoral be set free as soon as possible."

"I heard your words, Priestess," Avery answered evenly, "and given her cooperation in submitting herself for judgment, I allowed the girl to be kept from prison until our ruling on her crimes is official."

"Karina Amoral has committed no crime," Simar answered, feeling a bit of anger creeping into her tone. It was clear the Council Leader had already decided how he would rule and was confident the Elder Council would be swayed to follow his command. He intended to satisfy his hurt pride in finding that Manna Sayers had betrayed his trust by condemning the Elder Nita and her student to death. He had no interest in the girl's guilt or innocence nor in understanding why Manna acted as she had. Did he truly believe she too would simply nod her head in agreement with such a travesty of justice?

In Simar's momentary silence, Avery smiled condescendingly.

"I understand it is unpleasant," he said in an attempt at sympathy. "Fiona's daughter is young, it is difficult to imagine ruling against her given the consequences of such a verdict. But we must steal ourselves against emotions, Priestess and not allow ourselves to be deceived by the girl's false tears and contrition now that her evil has been uncovered. "

Simar pressed her mouth into a flat line. His audacity was impressive. It seemed Avery imagined that, as a woman, Simar could not imagine harming a young girl and that her desire to protect Karina Amoral was motivated by pity alone. The idea might have been amusing if he were not clearly using this misconception to dismiss her outright. Though Avery had not yet heard her report, he already believed her ruling of innocence as invalid.

"Forgive me, Council Leader," Simar answered calmly, forcing down her mounting impatience, "but in your words, it seems you have already decided how you intend to rule on the matter at hand. Given the fact that an official trial has yet to be held, I find this puzzling."

"Do you?" he asked, as if his surprise were genuine. "You have heard the evidence against the Elder Nita. It is quite damming. Though the Council has yet to convene officially on the matter, I assure you the outlook for a favorable verdict towards the accused is indeed grim."

"Yet there is no evidence yet brought forth against Karina aside from her lineage," Simar countered. 

There was no question Manna had committed a crime in breaking her vows in training the girl to take on Fiona's position. She could hardly contest what the woman had already confessed to willingly and, given that fact, there was little chance that any explanation would save the Elder Nita. But she would not allow Karina to face condemnation as well. Avery had no right to attempt to circumvent her opinion and judgment so blatantly.

"In fact, to my understanding," Simar continued, "it was my mission to obtain what information I could from the girl, and assess her crimes or lack there of. Thus I am indeed confused by the fact that you seem to have no interest in hearing my report, only in passing sentence. If one of us is acting on emotion and not reason, it is you Council Leader. Your anger at the Elder Nita can have no bearing on your ruling regarding Karina Amoral."

Avery's eyes narrowed considerably at her final comment, but Simar ignored it. Unlike the Nita, it was not her job to compromise with the Council of Elders. She had made her decision on behalf of the Initiate and the Council Leader would be made to accept it. It was not within his rights to deny. Since Avery could not possibly understand the implications of Karina's strength it was Simar's duty to preserve the girl's life for the sake of the Senmin people and ensure her power was not lost to a hastily passed death sentence.

"Allow me to correct some misperceptions you seem to harbor regarding my person," Simar said when he offered no response to her accusation. "I am not some weak-hearted woman who can be manipulated by the tears of a child, nor the threats of an overly ambitious man. I assure you my instigation into Manna Sayers's testimony regarding her student was thorough and unbiased. 

"I have ruled that the girl is not culpable in the treachery perpetrated by her mother and teacher based on the facts presented. Moreover, I have found the Elder Nita's analysis of the girl's powers to be consistent with what I myself observed in her presence. As such, I affirm Manna's appointment of Karina Amoral to the exalted position of Nita."

"It is not within your power to do so," Avery replied, making no effort to mask his annoyance with her words. "Karina Amoral has lied to the Council and must be punished for that transgression. As for our next Nita, it is generally agreed by those I have spoken to thus far, that we will accept Fiona's intended successor Mina Krin, and be satisfied with no other. Should the Initiate reject our choice, they will lose all representation among the Council of Elders."

"Is that so?" Simar asked, staring him down. She could see the fear in his eyes as she pressed her power upon him. The effect was subtle. Avery squirmed slightly in his seat as he tired to maintain her gaze against the force of energy she projected towards him. He could sense it, though he likely had no idea the cause for his unease. But of course, this was to her advantage. In their denial of the Initiate's true powers the Council was entirely vulnerable and had been for many years now.

 While she could not go so far as to sway the Council Leader's mind by using magik against him directly, she needed his defenses lowered enough to take the edge off of the arrogance that kept him from hearing her words. If it took added persuasion to do so she was not afraid to use such force.

"You are unfortunately mistaken on multiple points Avery," Simar said. "As High Priestess I do indeed have the power to rule on all matters pertaining to magik and the Initiate. The naming of our next Nita cannot be accomplished without my say so and I will not accept this ultimatum you seem to believe you have right to give. Karina Amoral, not Mina Krin, will be Fiona's successor. No matter how loyal the Council may be to you, Avery Trenton, I assure you on this matter, they will agree with me."

"You have no right to speak to me so..." he sputtered, so flustered by the audacity of her statement that he seemed to have difficulty forcing the words from his mouth to protest, "You have no place to stand here and name a criminal as our next leader. You can't just..." but Simar cut him off before he could continue.

"As for Karina Amoral's guilt of the crimes with which she is charged," she said. "Correct me if I err in my understanding of the situation, but the child herself made no oaths to the Council. In fact, she has, for these past fourteen years, remained unaware of her linage as well as any of the Nita's plans for her future and thus is innocent of any deception perpetrated against the Council. To commit treason, I believe one must have volition."

Simar watched as the man took a deep breath in an attempt to once again regain his composure and respond to her words.

"Is it your assertion that the girl was entirely ignorant of her teachers' treachery?" he asked, incredulous. "Do you truly expect me to believe that on the basis of your word alone? Do you believe the Council will do so?" he gave a short, derisive laugh.

"What you choose to believe is between you and your maker Avery," Simar answered curtly, "but you have sent me with a task to retrieve information and I have done that. I do indeed expect that your Council will treat my words with the respect and authority I am owed given my position."

"You are a fool to be so easily deceived," Avery spat.

How exceedingly childish, Simar thought to herself. Such a direct insult was entirely intolerable, but she had no intention of allowing his inappropriate conduct to shake her.

"All talk of deception aside," she replied, "you must concede to my assertion that the girl made no vow before you and your men."

He did not answer.

"Thus, even if you do reject my assessment that the girl was ignorant of her teachers' intentions, Karina cannot be guilty of the charge of high treason you have laid against her. She was not yet born when the original pact was made."

The Council Leader continued to stare at her in silence, no doubt attempting to think of any response that might negate the truth of her words.

"Do you find flaw with my reasoning, Council Leader?" Simar challenged, daring him to object to her logic when there was no rational objection to be made.

"High Priestess, " Avery said carefully, perhaps finally realizing that he would indeed need to be more persuasive in convincing her to comply if he were to achieve his goal of ridding himself of Fiona's daughter. "There is indeed truth in your words. Still, I believe you know as well as I that the Council's issue with Fiona's child has little to do with broken vows."

Simar did not answer. Of course she knew the true reason the Council would wish the girl dead. Still, she would not give ammunition to his cause in bringing up the concern neither of them had yet spoken of aloud.

"Oh come now Simar," Avery said finally, clearly frustrated by her feigned ignorance. "The story of Astar is accepted by all as proof that the child of a Nita is dangerous. Fiona should never have brought that girl into this world. Manna was my friend, our Nita. I believed her assertion that the child herself was no threat. That she and Fiona had no intentions to put the girl in power. But now I see I was deceived. I acknowledge my mistake in allowing a soft heart to prevent the ruling I should have made fifteen years ago. That mistake must be rectified and the girl ended."

And there it was. The real reason no words from Manna's mouth would have been enough to spare the child. The woman had used the Council's sympathy to prevent them from destroying Fiona's unborn daughter years ago. In training and naming the girl as Nita, any assertion Manna made of the Karina's innocence had now been rendered invalid. But Simar had no interest in proving the girl's innocence. In the end such a trivial matter was irrelevant after all. What mattered was Karina's power and potential.

"I suppose you expect me to agree with you wholeheartedly," Simar said finally. "To acknowledge every one of your fears as valid and change my ruling to comply with the one and your men seem so eager to reach." She paused, watching Avery's face carefully to gage his reaction. There was no question he was listening intently now. A clear improvement of the situation to her mind.

"Of course I am aware of the baring Astar's story has on the matter at hand," Simar continued, "but I have given this careful though as well Avery. The great book does not claim the mere birth of Astar's daughter heralded great evil. It was the Nita's misguided decision to put her daughter in power and forgo the appointment of the child chosen by the God for that purpose that brought about her end at the stake."

"Your point?" Avery asked irritably, crossing his arms against his chest as if closing his body from her might somehow gird him against any words she might use to convince him to change his position.

"There is no question that Manna and Fiona lied to the Council to keep the girl in life," she answered. "But I have met her, Council Leader. I have met and assessed both Karina Amoral and Fiona's protégé Mina Krin. I tell you there is no question in my mind that the gifts bestowed upon Fiona's daughter by the heavens mark her as our next leader."

Avery took a deep breath through gritted teeth. "Are you telling me that the child is as powerful as Manna seems to believe?"

It was almost amusing to hear him ask the question as if he understood the implication of his query. She doubted that Avery even truly believed in powers of the fae at all. Like many among the Senmin he had faith in magik only enough to fear it. But his fear could still be enough to condemn the girl if she was not careful.

"I can say only this," Simar replied. "Manna is correct in her assertion. Karina Amoral is the future Nita."

"I cannot accept that." He answered bitterly.

"Why should I push this belief upon you if it were not the only choice I might make? Simar challenged. "It would be far simpler to condemn the girl and accept Mina Krin as our next Nita. I assure you that the highest ranking among the Initiate will be just as concerned as the Council to see the child of a Nita named as the leader of our people. I will have to defend my decision to them as well and could risk my own position in doing so. Yet I have no fear. I know that they will reach the same conclusion as I have once they meet Karina Amoral and assess her power. As I asserted before Council Leader, matters of magik and the Nita are for the Initiate alone to judge. You will yield to my ruling on the matter."

"And what of the prophecy?" Avery shouted in a burst of anger. "The prophecy Manna hid from both the Council and the Initiate. The prophecy that sites the girl as the instrument of our destruction!"

Simar resisted the urge to smile. This uncontrolled rage was nothing more than a final denial of the truth the man had clearly seen. She had already won the argument.

"Once again Council Leader," Simar replied. "I remind you that Manna's deception must have no baring on our judgment of the girl. I agree it is unforgivable that such an important piece of information was kept from the leadership of the Senmin. Manna had no right to do so just as you and your Council had no right to keep the birth of the child from the Initiate.

" You are no innocent in this story, Avery Trenton. Had the Nita and the Council been more forthcoming in revealing the truth of Manna Sayers's student and her identity, perhaps we would not be in such an unfortunate position as we are now, forced to make immensely important decisions under duress, without the chance to consult all ruling members of the Senmin. But we cannot change the past, and I agree that a ruling must be made as soon as possible."

Avery opened his mouth as if intending to protest her unveil accusation against the Council's actions, but he closed it again without uttering a word. He knew there was no defense to be had.

"As for the prophecy," Simar continued, "it is not as straightforward as you seem to believe. If Karina is indeed the 'child of power,' Astar spoke of, her words sight the girl as having the potential to provide us salvation."

"The Council will not take such a risk!" Avery answered irritably.

Simar glared at him. "The decision is not your's alone," she replied. "But if you will grant me the curtsey of listening to my full report I am certain I can assuage your concerns regarding any danger the girl's existence may present."

"You certainly are confident," he answered, face still tight with anger.

Simar smiled slightly. "The Council worries that the child's power can bring only misfortune upon us, am I correct?"

He nodded.

"But that is because you and your men are closed minded in your vision of her potential value to our people.The potential value she might have in gaining the Senmin respect and power within the greater Empire."

"Indeed?"

Simar's smile deepened. She could see his interest peaked although he clearly remained skeptical. It was no secret that Avery Trenton was an ambitious man with particular desire to gain back the Senmin's representation among Erestia's leadership. No doubt he hoped to take on that role himself. It was a desire she could use to her advantage.

"All prophecy aside, if she is trained fully, the girl may gain greater powers than any before in our recoded history. Just think of how we could use her to change our place within the Empire."

"Your talk sounds as dangerous as that of our former Nita," Avery answered with a frown. "Fiona Amoral too was all too eager to wage war. To distrust the King. But Henry has made agreements with me on behalf of the Council. Our continued rise under his reign is already assured."

Fascinating, Simar thought to herself. Fiona had long claimed that the Council was secretly exchanging correspondence with the King. It seemed from Avery's words that it was true. But she was amused to see the degree to which Council Leader appeared to trust Henry's secret pledges to hold weight.

"When has the Empire ever stood behind the Senmin?" Simar asked with a slight laugh. "Do you have documentation of these supposed 'promises?' The King does not recognize the sanctity of the Council Avery Trenton. Henry would annihilate us all with the snap of his fingers if her thought it were in his best interest to do so. Was it not clear enough after the fall of Chancellor Dirham? Henry is a man who takes whatever action he deems necessary to obtain his goals. Those who stand in his way are cut down." 

Simar thought of Manna's claim that the Henry Bastario had in fact been responsible for Fiona's death, of Avery's comment of Fiona's eagerness to fight against the King. Perhaps the Elder Nita's suspicion had more merit than she had previously thought. Still, without proof it served no purpose to bring forth the accusation now. Avery was already hesitant to believe the King capable of any misconduct and, given his mistrust of Manna Sayers at present, it was unlikely he would give her allegations credence.

"To fight against The Empire is impossible," Avery answered irritably. "Even if that was my desire. You are mad to believe otherwise just as Fiona was mad to suggest turning to the rebellion."

"You misunderstand me," Simar answered. "I do not speak of rebellion, nor outright battle against the Crown. Politics are a game of nuance and strategy Council Leader. The King invited Fiona Amoral into his presence time and time again, in spite of her hostility towards him. For what purpose we still cannot be certain, but the Nita made it clear to the Initiate that she feared Henry had a troubling interest in learning secrets of Senmin magik."

"She did indeed make that claim to the Council as well," Avery answered, "but I don't understand the relevance that has in the matter of her child."

"I believe Fiona's daughter may be the key to ensuring the King's relationship with the Senmin remains cordial in the wake of our leader's untimely death. If there was any truth at all to Fiona's claims regarding Henry's predilection towards learning more of Senmin magik, a child of power is something I am certain our King will take great interest in. 

"In the end, the exact words of the prophecy and the child's lineage are irrelevant. We need only make it clear that the girl is well imbued with power spoken of in our great texts and, in naming Karina as our next Nita, we will have both a leader that Henry will be eager to meet and may simultaneously, fear to attack. She will be our assurance that he will honor his promises to you and our people."

Avery was silent as he considered her words. Simar waited patiently.

"And you believe you can control the girl?" he asked finally. "That you can prevent her from ever becoming the force of destruction spoken of in Astar's prophecy?"

She hesitated a moment in answering. Of course it was best to assure Avery that in allowing the girl to live, all of his dreams might become reality. That Karina presented no real danger and could bring the Senmin great gains. Still, she could not make promises beyond the scope of reality. 

There was risk in boasting of the girl's powers as the reason she must be spared and she knew well that  Henry's interest in magik could quickly turn sour bringing his wrath against them. The Council too had once turned against the Initiate and if they perceived the girl as a direct threat to their own power they might do so again. Though she deemed these dangers worth the risk, Simar recognized that and assurances she gave the Council Leader now would have to be answered for one day.

"Prophecy is a very uncertain thing Council Leader," she replied carefully. "Astar's words may have many interpretations and thus I can make no guarantee of my ability to create the savior spoken of nor prevent the emergence of a force that may one day be dangerous. In spite of my assessment of her strength, Fiona's daughter may not even be the child of the prophecy at all. 

"I can assure you only of this; Fiona Amoral was headstrong. She believed that working with the King was not an option and remained resistant to true negotiations with the crown until the end . As High Priestess I had no right to advise her otherwise. She was my leader. The Council too had no power to fully control a woman of her strength. Her daughter on the other hand is another matter.

"As Karina has not completed her training, she will be entirely reliant on the Initiate to fully claim her powers. Moreover, the girl knows well enough how precarious her current situation truly is. If she is permitted to live, her gratitude and continued fear of both the Initiate and the Council will be enough to control her entirely."

"And if you see danger in the girl, you will, of course, report it to the Council," Avery added. "You will agree to take action against her for the good of our people."

"But of course, Council Leader," Simar replied easily. "Karina Amoral is still little more than a child. She will not be able to take on her role as Nita alone. Until she is at least eighteen years of age, the Initiate will allow me to act as her regent. If I see in the girl a force which concerns me, there is still plenty of time to reassess the decision to spare her life."

Avery continued to eye Simar carefully, no doubt trying to reconcile ambition with his own stubborn nature that still resisted giving into her will.

"I see the potential you speak of, Simar Temdin," he answered, his body relaxing slightly, the hint of a grin at the edge of his lips. "I admit the possibility of raising a compliant Nita appeals to me greatly."

Simar smiled in kind. The Council Leader had taken her bait, as she knew he would. He presumed that in agreeing to her demands, Simar would be certain to keep the girl faithful to the Council. Of course, that was not her goal. It was true that Karina Amoral would be a great weapon, but Simar fully intended to use the young Nita's power to take back the Initiate's place among the Senmin. Once she had returned to Sithrah with Fiona's daughter Avery Trenton would be powerless to stop her from doing so. He would remain in Cainell, in blissful ignorance as a champion for the Initiate was raised to bring the arrogant councilmen down from their place on high.

"Fine," he said after a moment. " Take the girl. I will convince the Council to accept your findings and Karina's new position among our people."

Simar bowed her head. "I thank you Council Leader for being so exceedingly reasonable," she said.

"And what of Manna?" Avery asked as she returned her gaze to his once again, his tone hardened. "I suppose you are to tell me now that the traitor is also an invaluable asset and that the Council should simply forgive a breach of its highest oaths?"

Simar could hear the challenge in his words, daring her to push the bounds of her power in advocation for Manna's life and knew she could not risk doing so. She needed Avery to commit fully to his defense of Karina Amoral among the Council and if Manna's life was a concession she was forced to make towards that end, she had no choice but to do so.

"The issues concerning the Council and the Elder Nita's pact are not within my jurisdiction," Simar replied without hesitation. It was the truth after all. The loss of the Elder Nita would indeed be regrettable, but she had known all along there was little chance Manna might find forgiveness in the Council's eyes. Her priority had always been the girl. "I do acknowledge that Manna broke the oaths she swore to you. "

"Indeed she did," Avery answered, the bitterness in his voice undisguised. In the end, she knew he had every right to it. She was somewhat bitter at Manna's secrecy herself.

"I will say only this in Manna's defense," Simar added, unwilling to leave their discourse without some attempt to support the woman's cause. "The Elder Nita perpetrated great deception against the Initiate as well, yet I still am willing to forgive. Fiona and Manna acted to spare the life of our future leader. Though I cannot condone the method they employed to do so, I do understand the motivation behind their crimes and thus grant them both pardon."

Avery did not respond. She hadn't expected him to. In gaining his favorable ruling towards the girl, Simar knew she had already sacrificed any hope he would compromise his beliefs further. 

"Still," she continued, in placation. "I recognize that I have no authority to force that same merciful ruling on the Council of Elders."

Avery nodded. "I appreciate your candor, Priestess, and your respect towards the Council's right to seek our own justice for the crimes committed against us," he said. "I will of course take your ruling on behalf of the Initiate into consideration and present your findings to my men before we render our verdict."

 The falseness in his words was transparent. He would never forgive Manna Sayers for having broken her vows nor allow the Seven to do so. For having disrespected his authority as she had, Avery would make her pay. Simar could only hope that the forgiveness she had granted the Elder Nita might mitigate the harshness of the Council's sentence.

"The Elder Council will convene this evening and will be prepared to make our ruling official at an assembly by tomorrow at noon."

Simar nodded and rose from her chair. There was nothing left to discuss and she did not wish to leave Karina alone with Avery's men for any longer than necessary.

"Meet with your men," she said. "Make what rulings you will on the fate of the Elder Nita. After the announcement at the assembly, Karina will have the acceptance of the Elder Council. I wish to take the girl with me to Sithrah before the week's end and must prepare for the journey."

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So there you have it. Simar is one tough lady and it seems that Avery will ensure the Council reaches the right decision. As for Manna? her fate still remains to be seen. Avery sure doesn't seem very forgiving, but at least Simar has granted her pardon...

Would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Simar reveals a bit more of her character here. Avery does as well. Is your understanding of the power dynamic between the Council and the Initiate becoming any clearer? This has been something certain writing group members have found confusing at points but i have been trying to clarify the Senmin leadership structure in this draft so id love to get feedback on that if you have any. Anyhoo, one more chapter this week. It's a short one, but i promise its the last short one of the book;-) If you liked the chapter don't forget to click the star. Your support means so much to me! :-)