“I agree with High Master Perez – if Miss Warden is in fact innocent – what are we going to do? Even if she knew how – she cannot open a Gate from within the Between. Are we really going to leave her there?”
“You’re speaking as we’ve already decided that she is innocent! Don’t forget this is something she chose to do!” High Master Jameson interjected heatedly.
“High Master Jameson – I assure you I haven’t reached any decisions yet. But I am concerned that we’ve not touched on the fact that we could be abandoning a potentially innocent girl in the Between. An act that would be tantamount to signing her death warrant.”
“It is completely out of the question that we re-open the Gate!” High Master Jameson said, her voice raised and her skin unattractively flushed.
Jamie clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, fighting the urge to jump up and throttle her. He wanted to find out if she would accept her own death as easily as she was willing to accept Allyra’s.
Marcus held up his hand, “Please High Master Jameson – let us not jump to any conclusions.” He turned back to the rotund History Master, “Master Marais – does the Gifted Charter allow for any circumstances under which a Gate can be opened?”
The History Master stood again, clearing his throat and pulling at his short, grey beard thoughtfully as he considered the question. “It’s never been done before, High Master. But yes, I believe there is – obviously I speak under correction and everything I say should be verified by our history scholars – a Gate can in fact be opened based on a decision to do so by the Council. It can only be done within the confines and protections of one of the Great Colleges.”
Marcus nodded, holding up his hand again to stop another furious retort from the Fire High Master. “High Master Zhuang – you’ve made a study of the Gates. Do we have what it takes to open one? And of course, is it safe for us to make such an attempt?”
The Earth High Master was quiet, giving the question significant deliberation, his fiercely intelligent features finally lighting up with interest.
“Yes.” He said slowly. “Yes, I believe we do. Obviously the necessary protections will have to be put in place and there will be risk to the four who actually attempt the opening. But under the inherent protections existing within the Great Colleges – it will significantly lessen the danger.”
“Thank you.” Marcus said and turned to the Water High Master, “High Master Perez – I hope this satisfactorily answers your question?” His voice was smooth and silky and oh so dangerous. She nodded hesitantly as if unsure, but didn’t question Marcus any further.
“High Master – if we are so interested in what-if scenarios, then I have one to add.”
“Yes High Master Jameson? Please do make it quick.” Marcus replied with a definite edge in his voice.
“If she is innocent and if we open the Gate and if she finds her way back – then does she just get a free pass? Do we really just allow a potentially dangerous Gifted back into society without so much as a slap on the wrist?”
“High Master Jameson – no one has suggested that. I have very clearly stated that the second question we need to consider is that of punishment.” Marcus said sharply, staring her down, his anger palpable – she looked away first. “Now – if there’s nothing else, we can get to the vote?”
“No!” Jamie shouted, shooting up out his seat, surprising even himself. “Please High Master – if I can just say something else before you take your vote?”
Marcus appeared as if he was about to say no, but High Master Radebe nodded slowly, “Let him speak Marcus – we are not so pushed for time as to deny him this request.”
Marcus sighed and flicked his hand dismissively at Jamie, “Fine.”
Jamie took a deep breath and a moment to compose himself; searching for the right words. “Thank you, High Master, Council members. You’ve heard a lot of technical information and a lot about what Allyra might or might not have known, but you haven’t heard about her – about who she is as a person.”
Jamie smiled as a flood of memories about Allyra rushed through his mind, everything from their childhood to the day before she left for the outcrop.
“Allyra loves running, loves feeling the wind in her face and the road under her feet – she swears that it’s the closest physical experience of freedom a person will ever get. She peels her oranges rather than cutting them up and every time she peels one she sees it as a personal challenge to do it in a single continuous piece. She’s clever, but never arrogant about it, the type of smart that makes everyone feel a little smarter just from being around her. She’s quite, but also kind and compassionate. And to me – she’s the person I’ve loved longer than I can remember. There is not a single one of my favorite memories that doesn’t feature her. I’ve known her in the darkest depths of her grief and in the brightest crests of her joy. I know her better than anyone else on this earth.”
Jamie paused and allowed his eyes to drift over the Council members. “I kept this world from her and if you choose to leave her in the Between – you’ll be depriving me of the person I love most in this world, the person I cannot imagine living without. And I’ll never get the chance to tell her how much she means to me, how much I love her and how sorry I am to have kept this secret from her.”
He sank back into his seat, his throat raw with emotion. He looked up to see the Air High Master smiling sadly at him and nodding, while the rest of the Council maintained their
