Chapter 24- Uncivil Council
Four days had passed, every one of them full of meetings. Esben had grown more and more restless. They hadn’t gotten anything done for the past week. Every day Myndik Bunge managed to find another completely reasonable reason to keep from discussing the alliance. Both Artham and Esben’s patience was wearing thin at the way he kept deflecting their questions and statements and stalling. Every day the two of them opened up addressing him directly about the alliance. He would never obviously disagree with them, but he had an incredibly aggravating talent in the art of procrastination. It was disappointing, aggravating, and straining.
Every evening Esben looked back in growing discouragement and Artham with growing frustration at the wasted day, spent discussing nothing dressed up in official wording.
On top of all that, he addressed both of them, but specifically Esben, in a condescending tone that made it sound like he was talking to a small child, but his words were always ‘respectful’ so there was nothing Artham and Esben could do about it. Esben had a growing feeling that the Keeper was purposefully testing their patience and trying to make them seem stressed and incompetent. Artham had a growing feeling of foreboding.
The other Chiefs looked on uncomfortably. Kandir was solidly on Artham and Esben’s side, helping them as much as he could along with one other Chieftess, Narinda of the Outer Vales,but the three that were vaguely undecided didn’t help at all, though when no one but Esben could hear him Artham ranted that they were weak minded puppets who never should have been made Chiefs. Esben had looked at him in surprise, then suggested softly that maybe they were just afraid that Myndik would twist their words, maybe even taint their reputation and take away their places. The Keeper had quite a gift for doing things along that line.
The last two Chiefs on Myndik’s side were not making it any easier.
Finally, the Keeper could put it off no longer.
So after ten days in the Hollows, they finally got around to discussing what they came for in the first place. The council meeting started out as usual. Tense and uncomfortable. Again, Esben had begun addressing the Keeper.
“Good morning, Keeper Bunge,” he said, clearing his throat. “I believe that we have discussed everything we can in this conference without discussing the alliance. I mean no disrespect, Keeper, but it was meant to be the first item on our agenda. Any more time spent ignoring this issue will be highly counterproductive.” The Keeper sighed.
“Of course, Your Highness,” he said in a kindly tone. Artham bristled at his constant refusal to refer to his brother as King, or Your Majesty.
“I apologize to you for delaying this for so long,” Myndik continued. Then he said what had been implied all along, sending four of the Chiefs in the Keep into a shocked silence, then a protesting uproar.
“I do not believe that the Green Hollows and Anniera should continue their alliance,” he said, looking at the other Chiefs seriously. Artham almost felt relief that Myndik had finally voiced his intentions, but when he spoke he sounded indignant.
“Excuse me, Keeper, but can you please explain your reasons for such an improper proposal?”
“Of course, Throne Warden. But it isn’t an improper proposal. I have the best interests of my country at heart.” Esben held up a hand to Myndik, and the Keeper grudgingly let Esben speak first.
“Council of Chiefs,” he said, standing up. “The thought that our countries should no longer be allies grieves me. But before we hear the Keeper’s reasoning for this, I should like to remind you that the Keeper’s decision is not final. According to section eight of the Hollish code of official law, ‘the Keeper cannot make a decision or create a law unless the majority of the council agrees with him, and they may override his decision with their own if the choice is unanimous among all seven of the Chiefs and Chieftesses of the Green Hollows,’” There was a murmur of relief around the table, and Kandir and Artham leaned in seriously. Aro, who was sitting quietly in the shadows behind Artham, pulled out his notepad.
“Keeper, we would like to hear your reasons now,” Esben finished, sitting down. Myndik had looked slightly surprised at Esben’s little speech, then slightly frustrated. He hadn’t expected Artham and Esben to use the laws of the Hollows against him. He cleared his throat and nodded.
“Thank ye, Your Highness. I am glad to present my reasons, but first I must ask that I be heard out completely. Is that too much to ask?”
Artham spoke before Esben could agree.
“If possible, yes Keeper, we will hear you out,” he said with a nearly undetectable edge to his voice. Myndik didn’t look satisfied, but he spoke anyway.
“Chiefs of the Hollows, we are a country of strong warriors. Our borders are fortified, our Durgans strong. We pride ourselves in our strength and the security of our nation. I believe it best not to renew our alliance for the sake of that strength.”
Esben looked a little surprised, and Artham’s expression was dark.
“Not all of ye know this, but there was an assassination attempt on the King’s life a few weeks ago. An outsider made their way into Anniera, and their security was weak enough that the intruder was able to bring his attempt straight to their King. They come to the Hollows, and what happens? The assassins follow them here. Danger clings to these two, and they have brought it into our country. This is only my first reason.
“I am not saying that the Hollows should forsake the Shining Isle. On the contrary, I believe that under normal circumstances, the alliance has made us stronger. Yet I propose we give the current leadership a little time to… stabilize. Under this King their country has been broken into. Do ye really want to give your allegiance in war to this King? Here are the two of them, the Throne Warden scarcely a man and his King nothing but a boy. Can you trust the decisions of someone no older than some of yer grandchildren?” The Keeper stood up, placing his wide hands on the table. Esben sat still where he was, ignoring what to some would be considered insults. He was weighing every accusation carefully, prepared to hear the Keeper out, but his expression was very serious. Anyone who knew Artham could see that he was simmering, almost ready to boil over.
“These two still bear the healing wounds that are the proof of their weakness. Can you trust your lives to a weak, indecisive child king who is destroying his own country by his leadership?” Finally, Artham could’t listen to the Keeper any longer. He stood up, angry fire in his eyes, and interrupted before the Keeper could continue. Compared to his blazing eyes, his voice was icy and controlled.
“Keeper, such talk is unacceptable. If you are going to speak to your Chiefs, at least respect yourself by keeping your words clear of the lies and petty insults you have been telling. Anniera is not weak, and neither is her King. Speak civilly and we shall hear you out, but if you continue in this false, demeaning manner, I shall be forced to correct your words, if only for the sake of the Council listening to you now, that they may have a true account of things,” Artham stood straight and his words were strong. Kandir and Bonifer looked at him approvingly, Esben kept his serious face but was clearly grateful, and Aro scribbled down Artham’s words as fast as he could in his notebook.
The Keeper glared at Artham angrily, but Artham held the larger man’s eyes steadily, and there was a clear relief of tension in the Keep. Everyone had been uncomfortable with the way Myndik had been subtly disrespecting and needling the High King and his Throne Warden, but always in such a discreet way that anyone who noticed had almost nothing to call out, and if Artham and Esben protested what was implied in his words, it would have seemed childish. Now at least, someone had told him to act as befitting his station.
Myndik’s eyes grew hard.
“Then tell me, Throne Warden, where were your mighty Annieran countrymen when you were attacked on the bridge?” he asked, his voice cold. Artham closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
“Anniera is a peaceful country. We have lived in security for many years. I regret to say that those specific sentries were…caught off guard.”
“And the mighty Annieran warriors have caught the assailant, have they not, Artham?” The Keeper asked in a sarcastic, taunting tone. Esben glanced up at his brother anxiously, the mounting tension in the room reminding him of that fight his older brother had hoped to avoid. Again, Artham paused, taking control of the temper he sometimes struggled with. Myndik’s insults were no longer directed straight at his brother’s honor, and Artham’s anger now would only serve to prove the Keeper's point.
“We assume he escaped, Keeper, and there have been no other breaches to our country’s security since.” Artham’s voice was low and he was clearly struggling to keep it calm and civil. Esben cleared his throat. Artham glanced back at Esben, frustration in his face, but he sat down anyway, allowing Esben the full attention of the council for whatever he planned to say. Esben stood up and addressed the council, and Artham again thanked the Maker for his brother’s gift with people.
“Chiefs of the Hollows, I have heard the Keeper’s…reasons for hesitation in this alliance. I would like to ask you, are these doubts really worth breaking an alliance that has been strong for centuries? I may not be a king like those who have stood before you in the past, and I may be younger than most rulers. Those of you who know me personally have seen that I do make mistakes. I’m not perfect, but I pray that the Maker will keep me humble to seek the help and advice of others.
I swore to serve my country to the best of my ability, with the Maker as my King. That is what I intend to do until the day I die, with the Maker also as my guide and councilor. I believe that this alliance would serve both our countries well, and keep us as a united force ready to come to one another’s aid. We are quite honestly surrounded by rather hostile nations, and I believe that together we are needed to keep justice and light in Aerwiar. I know that my words can only go so far, so the last thing I ask you is while you are considering this alliance, please listen to the Maker’s will for your life and your country.”
There was silence for a while in the hall, then Myndik spoke again, scoffing.
“Pretty words from a child who can’t prove them. Are ye really goin’ to let yerselves be swayed by his little speech? If ye don’t want a fight on yer hands, King, ye might want to consider leaving well enough alone.”
The whole morning was like that. The Keeper and the Rulers of Anniera engaged in a battle of wills, the Council of Chiefs wavering hesitantly between the two choices. It only got close to a fight once. One of the Chiefs that was decidedly on Myndik’s side blatantly insulted Esben again. Artham coolly told him that he wasn’t permitted to speak so, and the Chief had asked why not, and the only thing that stopped Artham from accepting what everyone in the hall clearly read as a challenge was the satisfied look in Myndik’s eyes. At that Artham huffed and sat down without another word.
Myndik was trying them and testing them, wanting them to break out in anger or say something inappropriate to prove his point. Finally, it was time for lunch. Artham and Esben took theirs outside, ‘for a breath of fresh air.’ Aro followed them out.
“I’m exhausted!” Esben exclaimed. “Why in Aerwiar did that man of all the Hollish warriors here have to get across the line with that stupid boot?” Artham just shook his head.
“It was even hard for me to hold my temper back there,” Esben continued. “How can he twist situations like that? He is trying to make us blow up, you know,” he added quietly. “I think he knows he can made you mad,”
“I know,” Artham muttered. “I don’t even want to think about it. I also don’t want to go home through Ban Rona. Nibbik’s found us on the way home every day since Myndik got here.”
Esben nodded. “Why don’t we go home through the woods tonight? It would be way more peaceful.” He asked.
“Sure,” Artham replied, his voice exhausted.
“I’m getting to the point where if I see Myndik’s smirk one more time, I’m just going to quit campaigning for this alliance, say goodbye and good riddance!” Esben finally exclaimed.
“It’s not just him though, Es. It’s two countries full of people who fight for the right things. We need to stand together.”
Artham and Esben stood outside the Keep until the break was over. Neither of them noticed that Aro was gone.
Next Chapter