She walked behind each of her companions and introduced them. Mia could see that it was a diverse group not only in culture but in the time each wise woman lived.
Ameen finished and returned to her place and addressed the assembly, “Many of you are asking yourselves, why are we here tonight? It’s not often we join en masse for anything other than a celebration of women. A few of the governing council were approached by Judge Roumain with a serious concern. He is worried that there may have been unauthorized actions taken by members of this council, unbeknownst to the governing authority. We asked him to come and present the evidence to all of us. If you have corroborating evidence or can prove his evidence false, please see one of the thirteen ushers, and we will let you speak. Also, we have added on another request at the last moment. Orion Stavros, recently retired of the Brotherhood of the Wing, has a grave matter to discuss. He has brought in evidence and requests us to take action.”
Ameen sat down and prepared her papers before nodding to Tonya.
“Council of Women, I invite Judge Roumain to approach the fire.”
There were gasps of fear and appreciation when Roumain walked in. He could not have looked more ominous had he been Mr. Rochester, or beautiful and brooding like a Haitian Mr. Darcy. Mia could see that, at least physically, he was appreciated.
“Hello, thank you for having me. Bear with me, I have a lengthy tale to tell you. It’s important for you to listen to it first before I present my case. Once upon a time, some members of this council came up with a plan to tip the balance and put good on top again. They painstakingly, over two generations, manipulated three couples in order to produce an assassin so talented that she would have no trouble in killing Abigor the duke of Hades.”
There was a murmur in the assembly.
“This isn’t a crime. We breed livestock and graft roses to produce stronger lines. But they didn’t stop there. They put this baby in a cold negative environment. Anytime during her formative years when anyone gave this child love and she returned this love, they destroyed them. Why? They felt the child needed to be bred to hate, to kill without caring, and to have such a low moral code as to seduce a fallen and then kill him.”
The audience mumblings were louder.
“Quiet!” Ameen said, banging a gavel. “Judge Roumain, this is a fanciful story. Where is your proof?”
“May I present Mia Cooper Martin. Mia, stand up.”
Mia stood.
“She is my proof. I have given you copies of her lineage.”
Tonya walked forward and whispered to the councilor at the end of the dais.
“We have a challenge.”
“Go ahead, challenger,” Ameen said.
A light lit up an area of the upper tier. A woman stood and asked, “Abigor is alive. This is a lie.”
“What do you say to this challenge?” Ameen asked.
“Mia didn’t turn out to be the assassin the conspirators wanted. She didn’t kill Abigor. She’s been in his company many times on Earth and in Hell, but she has never lifted a finger to assassinate the duke of Hades. The conspirators failed. You would think they would lick their wounds and go back to the charter they were entrusted to do - which has nothing to do with genetic manipulation - but no, they decided to kill Mia Cooper Martin.”
“But she is before us,” Ameen said.
“They failed again. Here’s what happened,” Roumain said and told the story of the candle, leaving out the name of the contract holder. “Burt snapped the candle and time resumed.”
“I take it Mia can corroborate this story?”
“She is a witness as is Stephen Murphy and Burt Hicks. I have brought them here. They are waiting to be called to testify if need be.”
“Mia, Roumain said you read the name of the contract holder before you destroyed it and the Other.”
“Yes.”
“Who took the contract out?”
“Fredericka Cooper, my grandmother.”
There were escalating murmurs behind Mia, stopped only by the bang of Ameen’s gavel.
“I object to the lies this chit spouts,” Fredericka yelled from somewhere in the upper tier. “I am a loyal member of this council and…”
“Silence! You’ll get your turn. Bring Fredericka to the antechamber,” Ameen ordered. “Judge Roumain, we only have your word for this. I take it you read Mia’s mind.”
“There is an angel here who has also read Mia’s mind. Altair.”
“But you yourself said that Altair is in the story. His testimony is tainted already.”
Mia shot her hand up and waited.
“Mia, you have something to say?”
“Yes. There is another here who recently read my mind.”
“Who?”
“Victor, recently of the Brotherhood. He is guarding the hostile witness of Orion’s case.”
“Bring him,” Ameen told Tonya.
Victor strode in. He stood in front of the fire and waited to be addressed.
“Victor, have you been listening to these proceedings?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Can you verify the truth of Judge Roumain’s testimony?”
“Yes, it is incomplete, but it’s accurate.”
“What did the judge leave out?” Ameen asked.
“The deer-woman who was sent to kill Mia and the three reapers who were asked to take her soul to the Dark
