Death's End

Chapter 18 - The Council

As the Nighvictorian group stepped into the space pre-arranged by Minister Zila as their meeting location, the prince and his lady retainer were immediately astounded at the sight that unfolded before them.

"This is no throne room," Yurisviel whispered. Around them, the polished silver-grey walls curved upwards, meeting at a sharp convergence point above the group. The intrados region surrounding the crown of the dome seemed to be constructed entirely from a special kind of glass, with interlocking triangular patterns etched into its surface. Shimmering waves of rainbow radiated and danced across the vertex, creating a dazzling performance of light while allowing rays of the sun to permeate the dome's expanse.

"It's....a smaller colosseum of sorts, except indoors and much more sophisticated," Zenvix remarked softly, arching his head to observe the neat array of seats embedded within each layer of the dome.

Many of the seats were already occupied by unfamiliar faces of Ceil, presumably invited on Minister Zila's behest. They seem to hail from different walks of life, with some donning attire befitting that of a noble while others sported decorated military uniforms and even steel armour.

Under the group's feets the cerulean silk carpet extended to the bottom of a short flight of steps, ascending which a raised platform held a monumental table that was heptagonal in shape. Each side of the heptagon sat an individual whose eyes were focused on the approaching Nighvictorian visitors. One of them stood up as the prince neared.

"Welcome, Prince Nighvicto, to the Hall of the Seven. I trust that your stay with Ceil so far has been a pleasant one?" A deep, robust voice resounded emphatically across the hall, its message carrying clearly to all ends of the dome.

The prince took a short moment to compose himself after registering Zila's unnaturally powerful voice. "Very much so, Minister Zila, I am grateful for your warm hospitality. Ceil is a beautiful city to behold," Zenvix responded adeptly, making a short bow of respect to the mature woman dressed in ministerial attire. The prince was taken aback at his correspondingly resonant voice, but allowed no emotions to surface although his companions understandably shot alarmed glances at him.

Political interplays are a different war game. It is won or lost starting from innocuous words and naked emotions.

The minister's eyes shot between the prince's retainers and the prince himself in momentary scrutiny. Her poker face broke into a smile. "My apologies, my servants must have been remiss in informing you that here in the Hall of the Seven, an arcane bubble exists between where you are standing and the Heptagonal Table. Whoever speaks within this bubble will have their voices magically amplified such that they can be heard by the vast entirety of Ceil's royal court."

Zenvix smiled, feeling the pressure of over a hundred eyes upon him as he spoke. Tacit pressure maneuvers are not uncommon in the politics game. They must have underestimated him.

"No apologies required, Minister Zila. The size of the audience matters little, only that my words need to be heard by the highest leaders of Ceil."

"I have already heard the gist of your story from Sir Dylas, Prince Nighvicto, but in accordance with the laws of Ceil, it has to be presented before the Council for its final judgement. As you are a foreign envoy, I will briefly elucidate the Council's purpose....." Minister Zila responded, gesturing to the six other individuals who briskly stood at her signal before resuming their seats. As the minister explained, Zenvix glanced cursorily across their demeanours, and quickly attempted to identify the faces that Dylas had previously spoken to him on.

Located at the far left of the table was a lanky man dressed in robes of pearly white, complete with an undershirt of midnight blue and a white hood that concealed the upper half of his visage. Across the lower region, Zenvix spied a black tape of sorts which was wound around the man's mouth, binding it tightly and making any form of speech utterly impossible.