So, Henry made some somewhat surpassing remarks at their last audience. Lets see how Fiona feels about the King after their latest interaction...

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Fiona

As Fiona rode towards Gregorn early the next morning, her mind played her conversation with the King over and over as it had throughout the night. She had suspected the man of sinister intent from their first meeting, but she had never expected to hear Henry speak of matters pertaining to the Initiate or magik. 

The Council was convinced the King had intentions of granting their people equality within the Empire. They believed that his discourse with Fiona would prove that the Senmin were not only loyal, but posed no threat towards the Crown. Fiona had wanted to agree. It was why she continued to act as representative of her people. She could not deny that peace with the crown appeared to be in the Senmin's best interest. But if Henry's motivation in meeting centered around an interest in her people's magik, it seemed that the neutrality the Council hoped to cement in the mind of the Crown would be impossible.

In fact, Fiona could not help but wonder now  if Henry had never held any interest in granting them equality at all and realized the man could be setting her people up to face the same persecution they had under Fredrick. There was little question the new King needed a scapegoat for his multitude of problems. Could he intend to use the Senmin's purported powers to turn the people's hatred from the Crown unto her people? Or was it his hope to use magik to cement his rule somehow? Neither was an encouraging prospect.

The topic of the magikal arts, aside from those used in medicinal practice, was a forbidden topics of discourse outside the Initiate home of Sithrah. Women of power had long ago learned to keep their skills hidden, lest they bring about the hatred and fear of those who looked upon their talents with distrust. Surely any member of the Initiate would have been concerned by the King's implied interest in Fiona speaking of their secrets.

Still, Fiona knew that Henry's vaguely disconcerting comments and her premonition of ill will from the Crown would not be enough to sway the Council from their support of his rule. They would not understand the potential danger. After all, the Council was nearly as ignorant as the Crown regarding the Initiate and the true nature of her power as Nita. They would inevitably advise that Fiona avoid the topic and proclaim complete ignorance of anything aside from the Senmin's belief in the God and their loyalty to the Crown. They no doubt questioned the truth of the Initiate's power themselves. That was as it should be. The secrets of magik were just that after all, secret.

But something in the way Henry had broached the subject told her that he would not so easily be dissuaded of this interest, nor convinced that the Senmin's power was only theoretical. Fiona only wished that she could discern the true meaning of his asking questions pertaining to the Initiate. He hadn't pushed the topic far, merely alluding to a desire to speak more on the matter...

Again Fiona's found her thoughts wandering to the Vox Populi. She could not imagine anything that might lead her to trust the King now, and wondered more than ever if rebellion might be the Senmin's only chance to find true safety. If only she could be certain their ranks were strong enough to succeed in taking down the Crown.

As Manna's house finally came into view hours later in the waning daylight, Fiona felt her body relax slightly, glad to seek shelter under the safety of her teacher's roof, even more so when she saw on her approach, Manna at the door, her horse missing from its paddock. It was a good sign that Karina was away. While she was always glad to spend time in her old home visits with Manna made it impossible to avoid Karina's presence. In her effort to avoid revealing too much emotional care towards the girl, Fiona found herself acting so cold towards her daughter that she barely recognized herself. With her mind filled with other worries, Fiona was grateful that she would not have to add the complication of interacting with the girl to her current list of concerns. The knots in her stomach were big enough already.

Fiona dismounted her horse, tying her reigns near the trough that Manna kept the paddock. As she removed the animal's saddle she could feel the creature's fatigue. The mare's body was covered in sweat, flanks heaving. Fiona was immediately overcome with guilt. Though she'd had tried to pace herself, they had ridden from Frenwick without any real rest. Her poor animal had covered far more distance than usual in too short a time. But any regret she felt was quickly suppressed as her teacher came towards her, catching her in a comforting embrace.

"Fiona," Manna said with a smile. "I was just thinking of you, and now you arrive on my doorstep. Another trip to the Capital yes?"

Fiona nodded.

"I had not expected you for a few days still," Manna said as she ushered her inside. Exhausted from her ride, Fiona set her things by the door and sunk into a chair at Manna's table with a sigh.

"Karina?" she asked as Manna set a cup of tea in front of her, which Fiona took gratefully.

"She is off with Caleb," Manna replied. "He is teaching her to hunt I believe. She will be back in the morning."

Fiona nodded again, though she was struck with discomfort as Manna' words momentarily pushed from her mind her the concerns of her discourse with the King. When Manna had told her that Caleb had agreed to train Karina, Fiona was angry that she had not been consulted. There was no question that Karina's training as Nita would be seen as a direct threat to their people, if she was trained with a sword as well...Fiona could not help but feel that arming the girl was just one more offense against the Council they would one day be held accountable for. Moreover, Fiona could not shake the fear that involving Caleb in their secret was inherently dangerous. Blackwell had been her teacher and she trusted him. Still, now that he had been elected to the Cainell Council, Fiona could not help but worry that his knowledge could pose a true threat.

"You certainly do allow them a lot of time together," Fiona commented, doing little to mask the disapproval she knew had crept into her tone.

"Nonsense," Manna scoffed. "Karina spends much of her time studying the peaceful arts of the earth. I think it is important that she also learn the art of war and defense. I teach her healing."

"And he teaches her to maim," Fiona finished, cutting her off.

Manna frowned. "That's not true and you know it. Besides, you agreed to this path when you gave me your old training weapons did you not? A sword for defense in this world, the athame for protection in the other realm."

"The atheme is her birth right," Fiona answered sharply. "If she is to one day be an inductee of the Initiate she must have a tool of the other realm and it is not a weapon. But as for the sword and bow, you gave me little choice. Do you truly not worry that Caleb's nurturing the girl's more aggressive nature might lead to more trouble?"

"He was able to tame you," Manna commented with a slight smile." And I assure you, that was quite a task."

Fiona frowned, but the woman ignored her.

"Caleb teaches Karina to defend herself," Manna continued. "Do you not want your daughter to have the same chance you were given?"

Fiona thought of her own past, of the violent urges that drew her to the rebellion so many years ago. The urge to fight that she felt still. Manna, in her peaceful manner had never fully understood the rage Fiona had worked so hard to suppress her entire life. What if the path her teacher had set Karina on led the girl to similar danger? What if Caleb's training only enhanced her daughter's propensity towards violence? Fiona had seen things in Karina that frightened her. She knew the decision was ultimately Manna's to make, but that did little to quell her fears.

"I simply wish she had no need to defend herself, " Fiona answered finally, settling on an answer that only vaguely touched upon her true concerns. " I wish she lived in a world that was safer. Less violent."

Manna smiled sadly. "It is the wish of all mothers throughout history," she answered. "The prayer they whisper at night. The dream of a world where their children will be safe. Perhaps one day these prayers will be enough to move the God above, but until that day, the best we can do to protect our young, is to teach them to protect themselves."

"Yes but..."

"There is little question that Karina has inherited a bit of your temper," Manna said, stopping her protest. "And that makes her more prone to aggression. But that is even more reason she must be taught to fight. Your daughter must learn to utilize all of her strength properly. She must train and learn how to master control over her emotions, over her more violent urges. We have spoken of this already."

"And I deferred to your wisdom," Fiona answered. "Still."

"If you are so concerned, speak to Caleb yourself," Manna answered.

Fiona said nothing.

"You do not visit him do you?" Manna asked, coming to sit across from her with her own cup of tea in hand. "You do not speak with him outside of meetings with the Council?"

"I don't see how that concerns you," Fiona answered, annoyed by the question. It was true. Since Caleb had joined the Seven she had avoided him. They had once been so close, but somehow his alliance with those she considered her adversaries felt like a betrayal.

"It hurts him you know," Manna said.

Her comment only caused Fiona's annoyance to grow. She resented that Manna would speak of her to the sword master behind her back at all.

"He left Gregorn without a word Manna," she answered. "He was gone for more than fifteen years and then returned only to join the Cainell Council."

"You resent that."

"Don't you? He now sits among those who hold me in constant judgment."

Manna sipped her tea. "Caleb Blackwell is a good man, Fiona. You know that as well as I. It seems to me that his presence among The Seven can only work to our advantage."

"I suppose so," Fiona answered, unconvinced. She knew well enough Manna's feelings for Caleb blinded her to some degree. Manna trusted him implicitly and had forgiven him for his disappearance so many years ago, but Blackwell was far from perfect. Fiona would always be grateful for the training he had given her, and she looked upon their past together with fondness, but he had abandoned them. He had left Gregorn with no notice, disappearing into the night without a word. Now he had returned only to involve himself in Senmin leadership that had been established with the express purpose of regulating the Nita and the Initiate. Fiona found it difficult to look at him without a degree of skepticism regarding his ultimate goals. It was not Manna who had to face the man each time the Seven met, watching as a former friend and teacher nodded in agreement with Avery Trenton on nearly every issue, his head bobbing in tandem with the other members of the Cainell Council. Fiona trusted that Caleb would never knowingly bring harm upon them, but Manna failed to admit how much risk there was in involving another in their secret.

"You should visit him," Manna prompted. "Caleb wishes to bring peace between the Council and the Initiate. That is why he joined the Seven. You should work with him towards that goal."

Or perhaps he merely joined the Council for a chance to advance his own station, Fiona thought to herself as she silently sipped her tea.

"And if you speak to him on the matter of your daughter," Manna continued, "I'm certain he will be able to ally some of your fears and affirm, as I have already, that the girl greatly benefits by nurturing both the masculine and feminine elements of her nature. You worry too much of prophecies and fear. Karina is fine. I promised you when she was born, that I would take full responsibility for her training."

The last comment was painful to her, though she knew Manna had not meant it to be so. Fiona had always known that she would have no little say in her daughter's upbringing. She had long ago resolved to feel simple gratitude that the child had been allowed to live and allow herself no regret. But, the reality that Karina was growing with every passing day. The fact that Fiona could do nothing but stand by, as a judgmental observer. These things cut her deeply.

Manna stared at her continued silence. "I do not say these things to cause you pain," she said, somehow guessing her mind, as she always seemed to whether or not Fiona wished it. Manna reached out a hand and lay in on top of Fiona's own. "And I don't mean to prod into your business with Caleb," she said. "I promise it is the last I will speak on the matter."

Fiona nodded, accepting her words though they did little to ease her mind. Manna gave her a compassionate smile.

"You seem tired," she commented.

"That man is exhausting," Fiona said taking her hand back. As her thoughts drifted back to her meeting with the King, her anxieties only multiplied.

"Henry?"

Fiona nodded. I still cannot understand why he asks me to the palace, nor why the Council would consent to my continued meetings with him. I am worn out from the false niceties, the small talk. We speak of hardly anything of import. Yet I have felt with each visit, as if the King had some sort of nefarious intent in bringing me into his presence. And now he has broached the topic of magik." She stopped, wondering how her teacher would respond to this disturbing detail of their most recent discourse. As she had expected, Manna's eyes sharpened immediately.

"What do you mean?"

Fiona shook her head. " I don't know what exactly what to make of it," she answered. "He made vague comments of a desire to win my trust. He told me that one day he hoped I might reveal the hidden strength the Senmin possessed." Fiona watched as her teacher's face wrinkled up in concern. Fiona was relived that Manna too found the King's words disconcerting and had not merely disregarded her fears as she suspected the Council would.

"What do you suspect he knows?"

Fiona shook her head again. "That's what worries me. Since our first meeting I felt as if he was using our time together to assess me, size up the enemy as it were. But now I am almost certain we have true cause to fear the Crown. It has always been my instinct to distrust the man, but after his comments today..." she trailed off.

Manna stared at her a moment, assessing.

"Perhaps it was nothing," Fiona said, attempting to shake off her own fears.

"Perhaps," Manna agreed cautiously. "I cannot imagine that the son of Fredrick Bastario might know anything much of Senmin magik afterall. His father made a concerted effort to keep all records of the subject well hidden in his religious fervor."

Fiona nodded. It had been her thought as well. Still, the look in Henry's eye as he spoke of the Initiate had unnerved her.

"It is certainly something you should bring to the Initiate," Manna concluded. "The High Priestess would wish to know."

Fiona nodded. She often wished Sithrah were not so far south. If the women of the Initiate were closer to Cainell they could offer her more support in her dealings with the Council. She had no doubt that the elders of the Initiate would hear her concerns with more sympathy than Avery and his friends with their single-minded goal of gaining the King's favor at all costs.

"But Manna," Fiona said, breaking the momentary silence between them. " If the King is, in fact, a threat," she paused, hesitating to voice her true thoughts.

"Yes?"

"I wonder if we should not consider turning to the Vox Populi for aid."

Manna frowned. "The rebels?" she asked, somewhat incredulous. "Fiona, you must be careful speaking such sentiments aloud. In spite of what he might have said at your last meeting, Henry's continued invitations would imply that he seeks peace with the Senmin. You know that the Council is very optimistic that your negotiations with the King will lead him to revoke his father's laws that have oppressed our people for so long. I would never suggest that you should reveal anything pertaining to the Initiate, but a little diplomacy can go a long way."

Fiona snorted with disgust. "If they so believe that kind words and obedience can move the King to act for our people perhaps the Council should try their luck with the arrogant bastard themselves."

Manna's lip curled into a half smile. "I can't imagine why there might have been concern of your lack of diplomacy in your initial meeting with him."

Fiona glared at her and Manna laughed.

"Peace Fiona. I meant no offense."

"It is no laughing matter."

"Oh come now," she answered. "Every situation deserves some levity."

"He is dangerous."

"I understand your concerns Fiona," Manna replied, her tone sharpening slightly. "But to hear you speak of the rebels as a potential answer to our problems concerns me far more. You know he Council will never agree to it. I am surprised to hear you mention such an option myself. They have cost us so much already"

Fiona understood Manna's response. She too was surprised to find herself leaning heavily towards a positive opinion of the Vox Populi, but after her most recent meeting with the King, Alexander Harrison's request for alliance seemed more appealing than ever before.

"The rebels are not our enemies," Fiona answered

"Nor are they our friends. They proved that years ago."

"Manna, the King's hold on the throne is not stable. Harrison's rebellion is gaining ground."

" And Do you not think that their growing use of violence is cause for concern? I may no longer be Nita, but I nonetheless keep my ear open to the news of the Empire. It is particularly disconcerting to hear that the Vox Populi may be amassing a considerable store of weaponry from their raids on the King's armories." 

Fiona was impressed, as she always was, with Manna's knowledge. Few knew of the raids on the King's storehouses in the Outerlands. Fiona herself had largely been kept apprised of the attacks through Alex's messages and had struggled to gain confirmation of any of them. The successful raids were not something the Crown wished to publicize.

"It is a war Manna. Harrison fights for freedom from the Bastario line's oppression of all of Erestia. If we were to join his cause we would have his protection as well. That is why I suggest we consider the rebels as potential allies. Their strength is increasing and that fact cannot be ignored."

"But violence begets violence Fiona. The Vox Populi's attacks against the nobility of the Empire spread terror among already frightened people, and not just those of the upper class. Harrison seeks to destroy, hoping to build from the rubble of his destruction, but you know as well as I that times of violence bode poorly for our people. For hundreds of years the Senmin have proved easy targets on which our neighbors might unleash their anxieties. Fear leads people to act irrationally after all. The Vox Populi has already proven more than willing to abandon us in our time of need."

Fiona knew her teacher's concerns were valid. They mimicked her own, but she could not shake the feeling that obedience to Henry would lead them to ruin either way. After all, his interest in forcing her to reveal secrets of Senmin magik could just as easily be a plot intended to turn the people of Erestia against them. Could Manna not see that?

"I stand by my opinion that supporting the new King may not be in our best interest and that we should consider other options."

Manna's gaze sharpened slightly. "Fiona," she said. "You have not actually spoken with the rebels have you?"

Fiona said did not answer, her heartbeat quickening under Manna's probing stare.

"You will answer me."

"Alexander Harrison approached me nearly a year ago."

"Approached you?"

"When I first went to the Capital, before Henry took the throne. He found me and begged an audience."

"And you met with him?" Manna asked incredulous.

Fiona fought to reign in her frustration at the condemnation she heard in Manna's voice. "I told him that we were not interested in an alliance but."

"But what?"

"Manna, I assure you, my conversations with Harrison have been minimal," Fiona answered in a clipped tone. She had done nothing wrong and she would not be chastised. "Since our first meeting we have merely exchanged a few letters, but he still sincerely hopes that our two people might form an alliance against the Crown, and I refuse to pretend that I am closed to the idea."

Manna's mouth tightened into an angry scowl as she shook her head. "Merely exchanged a few letters? Fiona Amoral, you must be more careful. What if one of these messages was intercepted? The Senmin are meant to be loyal to the Crown. If the King were to find out of your contact with Harrison he could arrest you for treason the moment you next set foot into the Capital, catching you entirely unawares. The entire Senmin people would likely be forced to pay for your mistake!"

"I know that Manna," Fiona answered, regretting that she had ever broached the subject.

"Then what were you thinking acting so rashly? How could you have kept something so important from the Council? From me?"

"Because I knew this would be your reaction!" Fiona shot back angrily. The Council is perpetually set against hearing anything that might bring to question the infinite wisdom they are so certain they possess. I care for our people enough to keep a more open mind."

"Fiona," Manna started in an attempt to cut her off, but Fiona would not be dismissed so easily.

"No, you will hear me." she said, calming her voice, but remaining determined. Her concerns about the Crown were valid, as was her desire to at least consider that Alex and his rebellion might prove the most promising option for protecting the Senmin through an inevitable time of unrest in the Empire.

"Plath is dead. You are correct, Alexander Harrison is no innocent and I can not deny his path will be marked with blood. But the new leadership he brings to the rebels may well be a factor that we should consider before rejecting them outright. So yes, I met with him. Once. I continue to do my duty to our people, to the Council. I make these meaningless trips to the palace in spite of my own opinion that they are futile and perhaps dangerous. But I also can not reject the possibility that Harrison may prove a better ally than our unstable new King."

"Maintaining an open mind is one thing," Manna answered, her tone unaltered by Fiona's words. "But exchanging correspondence with the leader of a terrorist organization while attempting to make peace with the Crown?" she shook her head. "I would expect you to have more sense Fiona."

Fiona took a deep breath to maintain control. Answering with anger would accomplish nothing. "One message Manna," she replied evenly. "That is all I sent. And here you stand ready to take my head for it."

Fiona's steady tone seemed enough to bring Manna's anger in check. Her former teacher stared at her a long moment before speaking.

"What exactly did you say to him? she asked. Fiona could see her attempting to master her own temper, but her face remained tight.

"I told him that I could do nothing without the approval of our Council."

"Nothing more?"

"No," Fiona answered without hesitation. It was ultimately the truth. But in spite of her carefully worded message, refusing to align with the Vox Populi, Fiona knew she had not done anything to dissuade Alex from continuing to court her attention. She hadn't wanted to. And of course, Manna knew nothing of their history. Fiona heard Manna sigh.

"Let us hope that your message has not offended the rebel leader and that the Vox Populi does not turn against us for your lack of support. I understand how difficult it is to ignore the rebels entirely if Harrison is actively pressing you for aide. You may be correct that outright refusal of the Vox Populi could prove just as dangerous as looking upon him favorably. Still I say that either way, my instinct tells me we cannot trust Alexander Harrison any more than we did his predecessor."

Fiona did not comment. She thought of the tone of Alex's words in his response to her letter. She knew he had not abandoned hope that she would yet join him against the King, and she was certain he would not penalize her for her caution. Manna was wrong in her judgment of Harrison. For whatever disagreements they had had in the past, she knew Alex was a good man. It had been Alex who drew her to the rebellion so many years ago and it was because of him that she held hope still that a rebellion against the Crown could bring her people freedom from the prejudice of the Bastario throne. But Fiona also knew she could tell her teacher none of this. To admit her former relationship with Alex would undermine her legitimate reasons for considering the Vox Populi as allies now. Manna would make assumptions. She would think that it was love and not logic motivating Fiona to find fault with the King.

Manna continued to stare at her. Fiona could feel the woman reading her face for any sign of a lie, for something more she might be hiding. But Fiona faced her teacher fully, eyes focused, resolve unwavering. After a long moment, the older woman sighed and relaxed her gaze.

"The Council may indeed be swayed from their current infatuation with the Crown," she said, "but the events of the past will not be erased easily. You are correct to question Henry Bastario's motives. I too am concerned after your report today and recognize the potential threat. There is no question the Council seems overly committed to a belief in the man's goodness though he has offered little to earn their trust. You may be right that war within the Empire is inevitable and that a peaceful resolution of our differences with the Bastario crown may prove fruitless. That he may prove as dangerous to our people's survival as his father before him. I even understand your desire to hear Alexander Harrison's proposal. That his call for our support is heartening and that his recent successes bring you hope for another viable allie. But still, I maintain, it is one thing to admire the Vox Populi for their passion and bravery, but you cannot forget how they betrayed us and without the Council's express permission, you cannot speak with them."

"They cannot command me," Fiona said.

"They can and you know it," Manna answered sharply. "You have your daughter to consider, you have your people. You may be the leader of the Senmin people Fiona, but with that position comes a responsibility to work with the Council of Elders. Do not give Avery and his allies reason to distrust or question your judgment any further than they already do."

Fiona didn't reply. Manna was right, though she resented her for it.

"If the King truly is our enemy, I have complete faith that you can bring the Council to understand your concerns. Manna said, her face softening into a smile. "And when you have made them see your reasons for distrusting the crown, brought them proof that Henry's rule is not in the best interest of our people, then you can speak your mind more freely. Until that time, you must be very careful how you present your concerns regarding the King and even more careful in showing any indication of supporting the Vox Populi."

Fiona nodded her understanding, but Manna's diplomatic words did little to quiet her mind. She could see Henry's grin as he spoke of the Senmin's "secret strength," feel her own certainty that his continued reign would bring them nothing but suffering. The words of Alex's last letter swam before her eyes. His message had been so hopeful. There had been references to the Vox Populi's recent successes. He had mentioned the addition of an important resource they had gained in their intelligence. As Fiona helped Manna prepare dinner and ate with her in relative silence, her fears of Henry's impending treachery would not leave her mind. Long after her teacher had fallen asleep, Fiona remained awake, the final word's of Alex's message painted against the lids of her closed eyes that refused to release her to slumber:

Should you wish to meet again, leave message with my contact in the city and I will find you. This Empire was once great. Together we will make it so again. 

So...what do you think? If Fiona right to distrust Henry and lean towards the rebellion? Is Manna right that Alex and the Vox Populi can not be trusted to stand by the Senmin in their time of need? I know I don't envy Fiona's position;-) As always I am curious to hear your reactions to the chapter. I know there is quite a bit of character development/ sidetracked story line at the start of the chapter talking about Karina. Did that section drag or was it interesting to check in with Fiona regarding her feelings towards her daughter? I think the info is important, but as we move to the middle of the book i am def looking for feedback on pacing in gen ( for the chapters and the story overall). So if you have opinions please let me know! :-)

 Anyhoo the next chapter will be Henry again ( unless i decide to move some things around...). I can promise it will be an exciting one. There is a new character you have to meet and he may just act as a game changer in Henry's plot line...In spite of his cocky attitude while meeting with Fiona, lets not forget that the young king has a traitor in his midsts it appear he has yet to ferret out....

Thanks for reading ( I know I say it every week, but seriously....THANK YOU READERS!!!!), and don't forget to click the star;-)