The Easel Chronicles; The Burning Hands

Chapter Thirty Four

Chapter Thirty Four

"You broke our laws Edril," Mira's thin voice screeched through the hall.

"I broke no law lady Mira," Edril said. The frustration was clearly visible on his face. "The elves came and helped us defeat the Grendels. The men from Cardamon are not Neerans, they are our brothers and they too helped."

"My dear Mira," Frenk said, rubbing his fat hands along the lines of his protruding belly. "You wanted general Edril to march forth and defeat the Grendels. From what I've heard thousands of those vile beasts lay in the Rhuri as others were burnt on the field of the battle. What more could you possibly want?"

"Lord Siras would never have agreed to this." Biran said outraged.

"Don't talk about that traitor," Thaylor snarled at the old man. "He was willing to betray us to the dark lord of the south and the Grendels."

"That traitor was your father Thaylor," Mira retorted. "Until his return you can seat in that chair."

"I don't deserve this chair and neither does any of you." Thaylor yelled at the bird nosed woman. "The only person who deserves such a chair is lord Aravoen."

"An outsider," Biran said amused.

Aravoen had been watching the proceedings for the better part of an hour and they never got to the main point. He stood at side with Leo, Maxine, Mindacil, Slithbron and the Neeran generals.

"We shall never have it," Anlan snarled. "You think we are fools. That man will make way for his prince to come and rule us. We shall not bow to the house of the north."

"A lousy rotten and dying house." Mira added with a gleeful smile.

"Let us ask the people then," Thaylor said triumphantly.

"The people don't know what they want girl," Anlan said. "That is why we were formed to rule them."

"Authority is not yours," Sybilla came striding into the room. She had bandages on her right arm and her left arm was in a sling. "The people are an important part of this land and they should decide."

"Decide what?" the short stout man that Aravoen had never gotten his name said.

"Whether we shall exist or not," Gedric said. "I support lady Thaylor on this, let our people decide."

"Is that what you want Eduinian?" Mira turned her narrowed eyes to Aravoen. "will your master be pleased?"

"It is for the people to decide," Leo stepped forward.

The eluncil was still in awe of the elven prince and none of them spoke up instantly.

"These are not matters concerning your people elf," Biran spat after getting past the initial shock and awe of the elf.

"Shall we vote," Edril cut in before Leo could retort.

"No need to vote," Mira said getting up. "The people will stick to lord Siras' way of making sure no prince from the north rules us."

"Will they if they know of his betrayal," Mindacil whispered to Aravoen.

The eluncil made their way out of the hall to the very steps leading to the hall. Aravoen and the others followed them standing at the side as Mira sent messengers to call the citizens of Mendil.

The streets filled at an alarming rate, with people in all dress. Even the wounded soldiers appeared, being helped by others or on crutches of some sort.