Elemental Thief Part I : Child of Calamity

Council of Peers

Akina sat beside her mother at the head of the table, frowning as she watched the woman struggle to appear as regal, calm and unaffected as she could. Her mother was not well.

She could see it now.

After a few weeks of barely seeing her, her mother being out, even for the brief time this morning's introductions would take, showed that her mother was sick. She hadn't picked up on it before, but now she noticed it; more than she noticed the Lords and Ladies filling the long table.

It was a sombre mood, formal, with closed expressions and sometimes hostile glares, and pointed looks at the thirteenth empty chair at the table.

Once everyone had paid their respects and settled, her mother stood, holding herself rigidly straight as she looked around the room. "I wanted to greet you all myself, show you the courtesies that you all deserve, being Peers. I also wanted to reaffirm that I have put my daughter in full executive control, with all my powers as regent, for the foreseeable future. I stand behind every decision that she has made thus far, and she will make all regency decisions seeking no corroboration with me."

There was shifting and glances, but no noises, and Queen Solara didn't give them any room to say anything further to her, turning and leaving the room with all the dignity and grace expected of a Queen. Akina stood, allowing for her servants to remove her chair, and sat on the Regent's throne, glancing around the table.

"Peers of Clairval, we have several long days ahead of us, but the first matter needs to be dealt with takes priority. The trial of Lord Corvin."

Akina watched as the stack of papers was passed around for the council to review the information she had gathered.

There were conversations, some of the Peers discussing their opinions, whether doubts or otherwise, as they waited for their turn to review the supposed damning evidence.

She also watched as, one by one, the twelve other people around the table went silent, pouring through the same things that she had received the first day her mother had given her the task of running Clairval.

Even Valencia and Tisaso hadn't seen them in their entirety, leaving a silent, shocked group by the time the papers had made their way back to her.

"And I suppose some unknown source who isn't willing or able to be identified has brought these forward to your attention?" Viscount Roth broke the silence, glancing around at the people he counted as his supporters, as if willing them to agree with him.

"Not at all. Clairval was originally shown copies that Rulin had found, which had been stolen and transported to their country by a young girl. Rulin authorities then made the location of the papers accessible to Lord Corvin and his associate, at which time the associate acquired them and presented them to Lord Corvin. Lord Corvin then spoke at length of his plans regarding these papers, a conversation I could see without his awareness, adding to them with more. You'll see it notated where the original package ended and the additions were put in. Corvin then possessed them as he left Rulin. Rulin authorities have confirmed there were no legitimate trade purposes for his visit there. He was only looking for these papers. And buying illegal goods, which carry a punishment of death for making, purchasing or possessing in Rulin, though those were seized on his ship after he fled." Akina said carefully, her eyes level. "We are able to speak with his associate, who can give a complete statement of what he spoke about with Corvin about. As well as the statements he made to the ship's captain, who transported him back to Clairval. Such statements such as commanding the Captain to sink a Clairvalan ship that was flying the flags of my Navy, if they could not escape."

"How is this going to be a fair judgement?" Lord Riven asked incredulously. "Half the lands and names mentioned in those papers are sitting around this table, supposedly on the war plans for conquest. I would suggest that due to how close they are to the situation, they step back from offering their opinions on the matter."