Renevere Mars: Part Three

Episode 37: Summt at Ossilith

Ren and Duren stood in the Vertex, though for once it was just the two of them. Lady Keylopé was in her chambers elsewhere preparing for the summit. They would all go together to the conference room once it was time, once all the other officials from the surrounding territories had gathered. Ren tapped her fingers against her kneecaps. Duren eyed her tapping fingers and put a hand on her thigh, gripping reassuringly. Ren looked up at him, the first warm gesture they'd shared in what felt like a long time, though in truth it had only been a hectic few days. They had talked about this summit extensively of course, trying to predict accusations or suspicions that might be thrown at them from the representatives, but it wasn't really their questions that had Ren's stomach in a twist.

The connecting door which led to the rest of the Vertex flew open, queuing Duren to swiftly release Ren's thigh. The Rexus hurried across the space to her desk where she fished through a drawer until she withdrew a golden pendant of Ossilith which she secured to the breast of her tunic. It shown brightly against her dark skin and violet eyes. She was as severe looking as ever, the kind of person you would want as a representation of Ossilith's strength.

"Ready?" she asked, and the two of them stood.

"Yes ma'am," Ren said, sounding much more certain than she felt.

Lady Keylopé gave them a tense nod and began out of the Vertex, Ren and Duren following. They wound through the building and came to a wide set of ornately carved double doors. On the other side there was a dimly lit space, just big enough to contain the octagonal arrangement of tables and chairs, creating a round table of sorts, and a narrow path around the tables on the outside. The tables were adorned with lights below which cast an eerie glow from underneath, and the wall sconces offered only enough light to balance out the underlighting, but not outweigh it. Each seat around the table was filled with a man or women, most of them older in age, dressed well if not lavishly. Three seats remained empty. A large wooden one with carvings all along the arms and the back posts, and two regular ones to the right of the ornate one.

Ren and Duren followed the Rexus around the table to their seat beside her in the head chair.

"Welcome, all," Lady Keylopé began in her most powerful and assertive tone. "As you know, we've come together for this summit to discuss the issue of the colloquially referenced, Maharabi's Men. More specifically, we aim to answer any questions about the allegations placed against Lord Maharabi Hashu for treaty violations, and allow him a voice to defend himself. To initiate this discussion, the warriors dispatched to the Hashu Manor and responsible for bringing back said documentation of treaty violations will speak." She turned her head toward Duren, indicating it was his turn.

He cleared his throat, mission mask shielding his face from the countless powerful eyes now poised on him. Ren wished she had a mask right about now, and had to fight the urge to evaluate every oddly illuminated face around the table to decern which of them was Maharabi.

Duren provided a clear, detailed summary of events, just as he had for Lady Keylopé upon their return to Ossilith that night weeks ago. No one interrupted him, and soon he was getting to the part of the story where Ren disobeyed orders. "My subordinate, upon seeing her lost comrades, acted against strict orders not to engage. She engaged in an altercation with the youngest Hashu, Lord Rhyku. She was ultimately victorious in this altercation, but was sure to subdue Lord Rhyku with nonlethal force. Following his cries, several guards began attacking both she and I. It was at this point that nonlethal force became impossible, and I was forced to engage the enemy. We were victorious against the guardsmen and fled the manor with our recovered squad, both parties in question remaining in deep slumber for several hours after removing the fluid drip. Once away from the manor, no further encounters with the Hashu family or individuals employed under them occurred."