The Warden's Awakening

Chapter XXVII - Election Results

Senara paced about her library. Or what she considered the library. On the tour, the room had empty bookshelves, and was only ever quickly walked by. She had not had a chance to fill it with many books as all of hers were lost in the fire. But she used this area as a place of study when she did not want to be cooped up in her room. There were two guards watching her pace, and she felt bad for them, having to stand guard as she did nothing. Thelan had been extra cautious after what had happened between Nihjil and Senara at the announcement. Ether forbid anything happen to her here.

No word yet from the election officials. The three election days were up, and she was eager to hear the results. She could not sit by and do nothing, so in her mind she began planning a retaliation campaign against Nihjil on the off chance that he won the election. It would do her no good: a Lord Baron could not be outed within their first three hundred days.

"Any news?" She asked one of the guards.

"Baroness, I have been standing right here. I have no news for you." he replied. Senara sighed. She left the library and walked a short distance to the throne room where she continued pacing. Lerin watched her, worried for her sanity.

"Lady Prand, why don't you sit for a while. I'm sure the messenger will be along shortly," just as she said that, there was a knock on the door. Senara raced down the hall and swung the door open. Her face of excitement turned to confusion.

"Greetings Baroness. Might I have a word with you?" Yarne said, looking as ancient as ever.

"Yarne. How good to see you." She said, allowing him to enter and closing the door behind him. "You are looking well," she said.

"Thank you. Is there, perhaps a private place for us to talk?" he asked. Senara had a feeling she knew what this was going to be about.

"Of course, we can head into my office. Lerin, please have Thelan see that we are not disturbed," she asked. Lerin nodded, and she went to find Thelan.

The two entered Senara's office and Yarne took a seat across the desk from Senara. He folded his arms still, as though he were in a constant state of prayer.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked.

"I would like to know why you have abstained from the Lord Baron position," he asked. Ah. So that was why he was here. This would be fun.

"There is too much I am dealing with right now that would take precedence over the people I would be leading," she stated.

"And yet the last time we discussed this, you had your own plan to become Lord Baron. The Seer's supported you so you could ascend. And now, you give up on what we are trying to accomplish?"

"What you are trying to accomplish you mean. I believe the last time we spoke on this, I also said that I would not be a puppet for you," she replied firmly.

"So all of this is an act of rebellion, then?"

"I know exactly what I am doing," She lied. "I am trying to become Queen, just as we discussed so we can better defend the empire against what ever evil these stone hold. Now, I can learn more about these stones and their secrets without having to worry about leading city," She said.

"Their secrets, or ours?" Yarne replied. No- How could he have known what she had been doing? This was a bluff. It had to be. She had been careful with everything she had been researching, and she had not really found any information out. Just more questions. What could Yarne possibly know.... No. He was bluffing.

"The stones, Yarne. Why, are there things you aren't telling me?" she prodded. She did not know where this side of Yarne had come from. He had been such a good friend to her in the passed months, yet in recent days, he had grown far more pushy. As though nothing was good enough for him. She had not traded in one parent like that for another. She did not need this.