CHAOS MAGE Chapter 23: The Joint Council
Kommora had very little time and patience for the citizens' trials. The citizen's council and the magical council were separate creations, coming together only when matters both magical and non-magical were involved — this terrorist attack by non-magical persons on King's Academy students being one of them. Otherwise, the king's mages and the magical council stayed out of civilian issues.
The balcony of the multi-storeyed building opened out to the concrete maze of the east end of Benover. People hustled on the streets, dressed in prim collared shirts, tiered dresses, and held themselves with dignity. Barely any rainbow-lined black cloaks. The east end was dominated mainly by civilians. The sun had not long set and the skies remained tinged with red. Light runes switched on within the lamps lining the streets.
The remainder of the Civilian Council members attending the meeting filed in through the tall archways before the polished wooden doors swung shut. Guards stood on the inside and outside, staring straight ahead. Kommora took her seat beside Southwark on one side of the semicircle. Hatman, Bonneville, and Dankworth were away again on other duties after their brief gathering a few hours earlier. The Civilian Council liked Southwark enough, being the persuasive humanitarian he was; that should at least reduce some of the growing animosity the civilians had towards mages.
"My esteemed colleagues and members of the Council of Mages, I thank you for taking the trouble to attend the emergency meeting today." Chairing the meeting was a retired general who used to work with Edgard Woodbead. Kommora had long forgotten his name. "I'll make it quick so this meeting does not impede our daily duties longer than necessary. We are gathered here today to discuss the attack on King's Academy of Magic and the deaths of three out of the five attackers at the hands of a state mage."
"Attackers. As if there wasn't a political motivation or intention to kill," Kommora muttered out of the corner of her mouth to Southwark, who didn't reply.
"The reason a joint council meeting was called was twofold: first, to address the crime of civilians who trespassed on the grounds of King's Academy and with the intention of putting the lives of students at risk, and, second, to address the crime of the state mage who broke the second magical commandment in his murder of three civilians.
"Civilian Council: please speak."
A woman with greying hair stood up. Her belted tunic was so crisp Kommora could almost hear it crackle as her rear left her stool.
"We have reviewed confessions from the two remaining, living attackers and they have admitted to being members of the All Civilians' Might organisation."
"The what?" Kommora's eyelid twitched.
"This organisation has been recognised as being responsible for several incidences of harassment of students and mages alike. This is the first — and hopefully last — time physical harm has incurred. The two surviving members are in our custody and will be trialled at a later date."
"You're not just going to let them go, surely," Kommora said sceptically. "To target mages and take our students hostage is a great crime."
"Our numbers have fallen since the Battle of Benover, both in terms of enrolment and retention. If events like this continue and we can't make up the deficit, pretty soon there won't be enough mages to facilitate the running of the country," said Southwark, causing uneasiness to flutter through the Civilian Council members. Kommora suppressed a snort. Of course, only when Southwark phrased it so that both civilians and mages would suffer did this become more significant in their eyes.
"A not insignificant period of incarceration has been proposed and we will ensure they receive just punishment," said one of the council members. Kommora raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"We will move onto the case of Mage Tahir Portendorfer, who was the first mage to respond to summons at Patrixbourne." The chairperson glanced down at the paperwork before sending a grave look in Kommora and Southwark's direction. "He was not authorised to storm the barricaded chamber; in fact, he was advised against it by multiple military members but he entered, regardless."
"Mage Portendorfer has a history of... independence," said Southwark. Kommora's eyebrows rose higher.
"Portendorfer has proven himself once again to be a dangerous individual unsuitable for the role and responsibilities of a state mage," said another Civilian Council member. "He alone has the highest mortality and injury toll of any mage in his missions—"
"He also takes on the most missions out of any state mage and is one of our most efficient assets," said Southwark. "He is a very valuable mage to the council."
"We have thus far allowed the Council of Mages to take care of the crimes of other mages, with the assumption that dangerous individuals and criminals will be punished justly and disposed if necessary if their existence poses a threat to the country. If the magical council is unable to uphold that expectation, we have no reason to continue giving trust, funds, and military personnel to the magical council to maintain the peace."
Kommora sat up. They were threatening them. Mages. Civilians were threatening mages.
How presumptuous of them.
As if sensing her ire, Southwark placed his hand, once, on her bicep, before withdrawing, as if to say 'Let me handle this.'
"I have reiterated the issue with dwindling mage numbers. Mage Portendorfer is one of our most esteemed flash mages and if war nears again, his power alone will make the difference between a win and a loss. We cannot strip him of his mage title."
"You cannot possibly say we once again let another mage off without punishment," said the Civilian Council member incredulously. "First the mass murderer and mage Kristen Harred is on the loose — it's been three weeks and she still has yet to be found, never mind caught — after all she has done, and the Council of Mages hasn't even entertained the idea of executing Zor Jarsdel in her place, and now you're saying we absolve Portendorfer of the murder of three civilians simply because we can't afford to lose him? What kind of message are the mages sending out to the civilians, that attempted genocide and mass murders do not invoke punishment just because the perpetrators are mages?"
"We are in the process of retrieving Kristen Harred as we speak," said Southwark. Kommora fired him an alarmed look. He shook his head, once, at her, asking her to keep quiet. She bit back her words. He could play the game, but it seemed they couldn't keep too many secrets if they wished to retain the Civilian Council's support.
"Oh?"
"Mages Seiren Nithercott and Madeleine Harred have been dispatched to Hanna for her recapture."
A stunned silence fell over the council members.
"The king's mages gave permission for a Karman mage to step foot onto Hannan land?" one of the members spoke at last, his eyes bulging out of his head. "Without discussion with the Civilian Council?"
"No. Their departure was prior to any of our knowledge." Southwark gave Kommora a sideways look. "Although after further discussion, we have agreed we will grant her retrospective permission and not punish her if she can bring back Harred."
"If she can bring back Harred."
"But aren't they Harred's daughters?" said another. There was a murmur amongst the members. "You're trusting them to bring their own mother to justice? Don't you see how exceedingly foolish it is?"
"Nithercott was solely responsible for thwarting that genocidal rune last time," Kommora shot back. "I have good faith in her abilities and loyalty, and this is our only solution if you also agree Karma cannot afford to go to war with Hanna right now, especially not with Fautos bloody Tophalis on the throne. Justice will be served — correctly, not to some bastard scapegoat because people are crying about it."
Southwark shot her another look. The Civilian Council discussed in hushed whispers between themselves before turning back to Kommora and Southwark.
"Very well. It seems we have no choice but to also put our faith in these two. However..." There was a pause. "...we will announce their names and quest to the citizens. It is the only way to placate them to make it look like the councils are doing something. Assuming they succeed, then we have enough ground to refuse the publics demands for further punishment. If they fail..."
"The king's mages will take responsibility for her failure," said Southwark. Kommora glanced at him in surprise. He had his lips pressed together. The greys at his temples appeared to have gotten even greyer during the meeting.
The chairperson nodded. "Very well. The joint councils will now adjourn, pending further information."
Southwark didn't say a word as he and Kommora departed the Civilian Council building. Kommora knew it wouldn't be that simple; Southwark must have another plan in his head. Kommora dismissed Liore and Ash upon arriving at the Council of Mages; Southwark did the same for his two aides. Neither of them initiated conversation until Kommora's office door closed with a click. Upon her desk, a bouquet of winter lilies awaited her.
"We need to send Nithercott reinforcement, whether she wants it or not. She'll need it."
"You're going to approve sending in soldiers onto Hannan soil?" Kommora quirked an eyebrow, running a hand over her polished table. "What will the Civilian Council say?"
"It'll be soldiers under the Council of Mages. The other council members will see things our way. But we can't afford Nithercott failing — not even if the possibility is but minuscule."
"The fate of the entire Council of Mages once again falls on the shoulders of a quick-tempered girl." Kommora sighed, running her fingers inside the green stalks of the winter lilies and finding the edge of the message paper. She tugged it out and scanned it, her back still to Southwark. "As long as we reach the same end, the means isn't—"
She fell silent, rereading Martel Solidor's message.
"Kommora?"
"Looks like I underestimated the Nithercott brat," Kommora said softly, a smile spreading across her face.
"What has she done now?" Southwark said with dread. Kommora spun around and held out her hand.
"An update from my Hannan source. It seems like there may be an indication for Karma to involve themselves with Harred's escape after all."
The office fell quiet as Southwark scanned Solidor's words.
"Eleia Tophalis?" he said in a hushed voice. "I thought she was presumed dead. This source — it's reliable?"
"Absolutely. Especially on matters pertaining to the Hannan royal family. My source is a royalist, through and through."
"Then we can make preparations." Southwark returned the message. "I'll speak to Colm and the others. We'll send a select team across the border and make contact with the girls. If we play the game right, we can overthrow Fautos Tophalis as well as recapture Kristen Harred."
"We have to be quick, though." Kommora's volume dropped as her gaze ran over the ink again. "East. They're heading to Bairnkine, the burial site of Hanna. Harred is seeking the body to revive her own magic."
"But your source says Eleia and her supporters are heading west."
"Traquair. I don't know what's there but I have a feeling that's a red herring. Knowing Harred, she wouldn't want unwelcome contact before she has her magic back. It shouldn't come as a surprise to her there are Karman eyes on her. The girls have the right idea — seems they know their mother's antics as well as we do."
"They're heading there alone." Southwark's face darkened.
"Indeed. Hence, we need to be quick. Harred won't be travelling alone."
Kommora's hand grazed the notes she'd made from Sallows's documentations. She licked her dry lips. It had taken her too many hours of deciphering, but Sallows's words were clear. Seventeen years ago, when the Teirrinese royal family revived celestial magic, the attempt had awoken something more. Sallows had called it a 'disembodied voice', but as there were so few survivors of the sacrifice, the information Sallows had was limited. The separation of the bodies of the original twins was paramount to him, however, and he'd struck a deal with King Mephis Tophalis then: Mephis would get Hanna's body returned and Sallows would hide Karma, but Mephis must ensure Hanna's body would never be found. Only Mephis and Sallows knew Hanna's burial site.
Just what was so frightening about the Teirrinese genocide and the dead bodies of the original twins that Sallows was willing to risk his life going behind the king's mages' backs back for such an agreement?
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