seats. The room had stunning vaulted ceilings made of marble with gold and silver inlaid into it. The round table the council members sat around filled the center of the spacious hall. The table itself had been hand crafted by King Nognili's dwarves as a gift for King Ciel's five hundredth anniversary as the ruler of the elven nation. At the center of this table there was a large open area that had a gold-and-silverembossed cauldron resting in the very middle. There was a silvery black substance that was simmering and turning inside the ornate pot while giving no reflection of its surroundings.
The cauldron was used for the purpose of casting votes and for revealing glimpses of the future for those who looked into its portents. The name of this magical device was Thraalillith. Most of the predictions made by this powerful object were not to be taken as entirely serious because it showed only half-truths. There were several occasions that the council had used the mysterious power of Thraalillith to try and foresee outcomes of their decisions. Each time they acted on what they had perceived to be the truth, they ended up worse for wear. It was now believed that the magical properties of the cauldron were too powerful to be controlled by even the most potent elven magic. Hence the reason why it was no longer used for anything aside from voting.
When the members of the council used the cauldron to cast their votes on debated issues, they would throw a piece of paper into a magically created fire that would hover above the silvery black portents of the Thraalillith. An affirmative vote would turn the fire bright blue, while a disapproving vote turned the fire crimson red. The council secretary recorded the number of votes for each side of the debated issue. The elves relished in using their magic whenever they could, and this was another frivolous way for them to use their power. They loved being reminded of their supposed superiority over the lesser races of Tuwa by using magic.
The side door of the High Council chamber opened with a snap to admit a stoic-looking king who was followed by his guard and his daughters Kira and Kishi. They were all adorned in the finest silk and cloth made by elven seamstresses. The king wore an impressive crown that was encrusted in a wide variety of dwarven jewels and gems. This crown was another gift from the dwarves. His daughters wore simple-looking leaf crowns made of silver and gold. Everyone stopped talking and stood up at their abrupt arrival. This show of reverence was an elven custom that had been practiced for centuries and had become a requirement since King Ciel took the throne. When royalty entered a room, everyone must stop what they were doing, stand if they were not already doing so, and face them. A slight bow was also required as they passed by. In this case, everyone bowed as the royal family made their way to their seats at the head of the round table even though they did not walk by them.
King Ciel took up his seat and nodded to the members of the council to be seated. His throne was made by some of the greatest craftsmen from Mount Carrick by the order of the dwarven king, Jarvis Dagnolir. The chair was encased in silver and gold in a magnificent swirling fashion. The high-backed chair had the crest of the Tiranidrol house carved into it. There was a depiction of a forest resembling the Black Forest with the Blaine River running parallel to it, which appeared to be moving.
The tension was increasing and the meeting hall became as quiet as a tomb. Before King Ciel could even begin the meeting, the double doors at the main entrance opened without warning. There was a loud resounding boom as the doors hit the solid oak walls. General Yukio Ibreshri marched in as if he had been the most anticipated guest. He was the general of the armies for Queen Daria Thejar, but he had no authority here among the elves. Daria was the monarch of the Nairi Canyons to the northeast of the Black Forest and an ally of the elves. However, this alliance was always strained because men were not allowed in the forest.
The general's enormous stature caught the eye of many of the council members. King Ciel felt uneasiness and a twinge of dread come over him at this unexpected appearance. However, the king hid his fear deep within and put on a look of contemptuous expectancy. He was not about to give an inch in the presence of this unworthy man who had besmirched his good name by stealing one of his daughters. He would take charge of this new development and leave no doubt in the council members' minds that he was still in charge.
General Yukio's interruption was not welcomed by the majority of the council members. They gave him malevolent looks that left no doubt as to their disgust and wariness of his presence. The general had anticipated nothing less from these shortsighted traditionalists. He was equal to the impending confrontation with the council, and he knew full well what the result of this encounter would be. He smiled at the thought of knowing something that the pompous king did not and did nothing to hide his pleasure he felt because of the disruption he caused.
'What do you mean by this intrusion?' the king demanded. He made sure to keep his tone even to hide the fear within. What are they playing at? How will his presence help his daughter's secret plans?
'The matter you are discussing today affects me as much as your daughter, King Ciel,' General Yukio replied calmly. 'You certainly did not believe that I would miss an opportunity to visit my in-laws.' He smiled at the astonished looks on many of the council members' faces. He could sense that his presence had caught the king off guard and that he was not prepared for what was happening. The old fool did not believe that I would dare come!
The room filled with murmurings at this ridiculous statement about the royal family being in-laws with such an unworthy man. They could not believe that an infidel would dare address their king in this manner let alone make such outrageous claims. No one in the royal family should permit such an impure creature into their midst and spoil the sanctity of their meeting. No one in the hall had known that the man had been allowed into the forest aside from the Tiranidrols.
The king fixed his daughters with such a piercing glare that any other elf would have withered before such a furious look. Kishi and Kira stared unblinkingly at their father in a way that made it clear that they had invited the general and that is was within their power to do so. His allowed his stern look to quickly dissolved, and he put on a reluctant smile to ward off the rage building within him. Many of the council members noticed the king's subtle slip of emotional control. Many shifted in their seats uncomfortably at the scene unfolding in front of them.
'General Yukio, this matter does concern you, so I am glad you are here so you can hear this council's verdict regarding your crimes against the elven kingdom and its royal family,' King Ciel stated coldly. 'Please come and sit so that we may lay this matter to rest.' He gestured to the empty chair next to his daughter Kira and then returned his attention to the council members.
Without saying another word, the general walked up to the king and gave a brief nod to him and sat down. He looked around the table at the stunned council members and read their innermost thoughts with his unknown prodigious skill in mind penetration. They all thought that the king should kill the unworthy man and banish his daughter Kira for life. He gave a hearty smile and inclined his head toward members of the council he recognized or knew personally. I am certainly glad that I did not miss the show! This is going to be well worth the wait!
The king waved his right hand for silence, and the murmurings immediately ceased. There was a feeling of anticipation and expectancy filling the still air. The king looked at the head of the High Council, Conary Aerasrril, and nodded slightly, which meant it was time to begin the meeting. Everyone in the room followed the king's gaze to look at the chairman, who sat opposite the king near the front entrance where General Yukio had entered.
Conary was a very tall, slender elf who had a youthful look despite his many years of service. He had served on the High Council his entire adult life. He was made the chairman of the elven council when Ciel Tiranidrol was made king. They had been the best of friends growing up, and this matter with the king's youngest daughter was almost too much for him to bear. The chairman loved Kira like she was his own daughter. He knew that at the moment he had to be strong. Conary was used to taking care of the king since the passing of his wife five years ago. King Ciel was a good person, and everyone respected his decisions; therefore, as the chairman of the council, he would support this trial and uphold its findings.
'The purpose of this emergency meeting is to address the violation of our laws by the Princess Kira Tiranidrol. General Yukio Ibreshri is in attendance to hear the judgments of this High Council against him,' the chairman stated evenly. He had to hide his personal feelings in this matter so that the council would not question his leadership.
General Yukio felt a pang of anger inside as he looked around the table. He could tell that the members had already made up their minds after that biased introduction. How could these council members be considered wise when they rush judgment? What a bunch of cold-hearted, ignorant fools! They will rue this day! He kept his facial expressions neutral to hide his adverse feelings.
'The charges against the two accused, which they are guilty of, are as follows-' the chairman began to read the council's findings.
'The charges that they are guilty of? What is the meaning of this?' Princess Kishi interjected sharply. She thought that there would be a trial at the very least, not an immediate verdict. She became so furious that her shimmering gray eyes began to smolder. Her chair flew back into the wall behind her and shattered into tiny pieces.
