@ConstanceAtticus
“She’s not ready yet.”
“Whether she’s ready or not is none of your concern, Mr. Worthy.”
Kian, as he much preferred to be called, ran his fingers through his hair and breathed a frustrated sigh as he spun in a circle once more to get a good look at all the big-shot council members. In terms of importance, the purpose he served was much greater than theirs. The truth of the matter was simple: he knew exactly what he was doing and they were his authority, who knew close to nothing but crunching numbers and battle strategy. They had no compensation in their day-to-day lives for such a measly thing as human life. Veronika was a weapon, not a teenager. All of his kids were. “Actually,” he rolls his eyes and turns around again, “It is my concern. Veronika is my full time concern. Whether she’s ready or not is exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
“Your job is to protect and train the Dilexisti.” Kian hated that the Council talked like they were above the Dilexisti until the Dilexisti were in the room. It was cowardly. “Not to determine the actions of the Council.”
“The actions of the council rely on my word. If you want to take Veronika before she’s ready, then you’re more foolish than I first anticipated.”
“We are not foolish.” Another council member snarls. To be perfectly honest, Kian couldn’t exactly tell them apart. Beyond their shrouded scarlet robes and matching evil glares, they all sort of looked the same.
“You’re right, I used the wrong word.” Kian taps his chin in mock thought, brushing dark hair out of his eyes. “It’s more of a… determined stupidity.”
“Mr. Worthy.”
Kian shuts his mouth and turns around to look at a somewhat amused Elysian Onora, one of the very reasons he was here now, and not finishing his charcoal piece back in Sanctum. “Your Majesty.” Kian addresses him, the corners of his mouth turned up in an equally amused smile. “What can I do for you?”
Elysian pauses thoughtfully, and then his inhuman green eyes turn to the far left hand corner and sets his eyes on one man in particular that even Kian hadn’t been able to distinguish. “Council,” He steps forward onto the floor. “What matter is currently pending?” His face is upturned in a sort of proud, fierce gesture to look evenly at Council Vanidicus, the broad, tall man with swirling violet eyes and a wolfish grin composed completely of sickly white teeth.
“The matter of Veronika Devereaux’s return to court, My King.”
Greedy, foolish, dumb to the point of selfishness. Kian thought rather savagely, Everything a council member should not be.
“That’s fantastic news, I was just prepared to give my formal decision on the matter to court in person.” That diplomatic smile was definitely fake, he wasn’t doing much to conceal his disgust at which whom he spoke to. “Council Vanidicus, would you please voice your personal opinion, so that I might be better prepared to give mine?”
Kian holds in laughter, and councilman gives him a sharp look before rising. “If I may speak candidly, My King-”
“You may.” Elysian says curtly, his mouth curved in a wickedly amused grin, all predatory smirk and no kindness. If there was one thing Elysian hated, it was the dishonest.
“I believe that the benefits to The Rift outweigh the underlying factors in this particular situation. The absence of our High Queen, who is currently in a human state, puts strain on your people. Truth be told I think it’s high time that your lady return to us.” A low chuckle comes from the crowd around him, and he smiles a bored smile, a lazy challenge in his violet eyes. “A King and his Queen are both needed in the reign of Midgard.”
“Councilman, tell me of what underlying factors you speak of.” Elysian steps forward, matching the challenge spitefully. Honestly, Kian knew, there wasn’t much of a challenge there anyway. The councilman had nothing on Elysian in terms of power, intelligence, or strength. Elysian simply loved using Councilman Vanidicus’ ego as a demonstration to the rest of the court. Somewhat because it was mildly entertaining, and somewhat because if his ego remained unchecked it blew up in everyone’s faces like a balloon of misfortune.
The councilman swallows, the lazy humor in his regard somewhat faltering as he realized what was going on. He was going to be publicly humiliated no matter what he did. “I speak, My King, of the legal issues regarding our Queen’s return. Her humanity is bound by law to the words of her father. We cannot give the people what they need without breaking that legal binding and freeing her true form.”
“You do realize that the dying words of a man cannot be simply disregarded as a complication?” Elysian arches an eyebrow.
“Yes, my King, however-”
“Are you questioning my ability to preside as your King, Councilman?” Elysian’s green eyes flicker a dangerous shade of violet, the veins just beneath his skin glowing a hot metallic gold, his wicked smile growing.
“N-No, My King.”
“I hope not. That would be a major breach of our little agreement, wouldn’t it, councilman? Do you need a reminder of the terms at which you hold your station?”
“Of course not.”
“Your seat is conditional upon your cooperation.” Elysian delves into the humilating details anyhow, and all the eyes in the room are trained on him. “You respect me and I respect your opinion. You challenge me, and I give you a reason to fear me. I was sworn into this Council as your ruler, not as your equal, and I can take away your status just as easy as I let you relish in it. Are we clear?”