Council politics
have never been normal, as far as I am concerned. Politics and
war make for strange bed fellows, and such has always been the
case here in the Council itself. Those who wish to get something
voted on by the Council, and for the vote to win, must often make
promises to the side that they hated the most. Otherwise the Council
would simply vote down everything, as each side tried to block
the one opposite it, with the Gem dragons often stuck in the middle.
A successful vote is often made with only one or two votes more
to one side, and the Gems are often the critical factor. Which
is why Gemmenna's refusal to even talk about the vote, or say
which way she and those who followed her lead, would vote, was
so very troubling. Lord Sutton hoped that it meant that the Amethyst
dragon would be releasing the gems under her lead to vote as they
wished in this case. I feared the worst, and was not at all sure
that was the case.
Rumors have
often been the stock and trade of those vassals who call All Clans
Isle home. The Council Custodians never stoop so low as to spread
rumors, but there are many more vassals who are not Custodians
which frequent these halls. As Lord Sutton went to find food,
I excused myself and went to find some of these other vassals.
I hoped to find out more about what was going on here.
When I met
up with Lord Sutton, just outside of the entrance to our guest
chambers, I was more confused then I had been before going on
my mission. The vassals had been more than glad, after being plied
with a few ale's, to talk about the recent happenings in Council,
or what they knew of them. It seems that quite a few members of
the Platform of Wyrms had shown up in the last few days. Veiled
threats and hints had been tossed about inside of the Council
chambers that Mykell had not been upholding her position. It seemed
that a group of Council hatchlings had gone missing, and uncomfortable
questions were being raised by all of the clans who had lost a
hatchling. Mykell herself had stayed strangely silent, and had
only allowed the debate to rage around her.
All of this
I related to Lord Sutton as he moved into the guest chambers.
To which he admitted not having heard much which would shed some
light on the situation, and that he would go have a talk with
an old friend when the chance presented itself. It was then that
we noticed that we were not alone inside of the guest chambers.
--------------
The old man
sat in one of the vassal sized chairs, a walking staff propped
up next to him, and an amused expression on his weathered face.
Both Jean and Laureine stopped in astonishment at this break in
protocol. No one was to enter a guest chamber without being invited
in first. Laureine, an expression of anger crossing her features
at this blatant breach in etiquette drew her sword and took a
step forward. Fully intending to toss this arrogant visitor out
of the chambers, and outside of the Council Aerie itself.
Jean's voice brought her to a shocked stop.
"What are you doing here Bahamut?"
The silver dragons tail lashed in anger and his head lowered,
as his legs tensed unconsciously, in preparation to spring.
"Its
a pleasure to see you again as well Jean, are you not going to
introduce me to your lovely friend?" The stranger said brightly,
ignoring the implied threat in Jean's stance to rise and bow to
Laureine. Who was slowly lowering the point of her sword at all
this.
"Laureine,
this is Bahamut, meddler extraordinary. Bahamut, this is Laureine
my fathers Kindred, and someone I will kill to defend." The
last part was a non too subtle threat, but the old man seemed
to take it in stride as he smiled to Laureine.
"A pleasure
to meet you again Laureine, its been a while and I was in a tad
bit of a rush last time we met. Tiamat and all, you understand."
Her sword tip touched the stone floor and she swallowed, not being
at all used to being in the presence of gods of any sort. Much
less the God of wisdom and light. "As to what I am doing
here, am I not allowed to check up on my favorite silver dragon?"
Jean growled
in answer to that. "After those you let die, I'm surprised
you even showed yourself here. We have nothing to discuss, be
gone."
The smile
faltered as the old man stared up at the large silver dragon,
and Laureine felt a sliver of fear for the dragon. Then it was
gone and Bahamut shook his head. "You know there was no other
way, do not blame me for what happened. I showed myself here because
you will need my aid to overcome what is going to occur here.
Tiamat is trying to undo the Council."