Guardian of the Earth House by Cassandra Gannon

have to offer?”
    “I wouldn’t worry about being deluged with visa requests.”  Teja scoffed.  “Nobody would want to go to the Cold House, anyway .  I doubt the Air Phases will knock each other over to form a line.”
    “No, Eian’s got a point.  Phases can’t help support Elements from other Houses.”  Cam reminded the room at large. “So, even if the Air Phases are all un murderous, now, they’re still useless to us.  Who wants them on our side?”
    That sentiment was echoed around the chamber.
    Universal amnesty was defeated by a landslide.
    Job had anticipated that.
    The Council enforced Elemental laws through representative vote, but Job didn’t need a consensus to enforce his amnesty policy.  He’d deliberately arranged it so that each individual House chose whether they would adopt it or not.  Generally speaking, the internal policies of a House were out of the Council’s jurisdiction.
    “I understand some of you feeling like you can’t be around the Air Phases.”  He said, seriously.  “But, the Earth House will offer them amnesty and no one can stop that.  It’s my House and I’m allowing them in.”
    “Bullshit!”  Raj, of the Color House surged to his feet.  “You can’t do that!  What about everything they stole from us?  What about all the Phases who died in the Fall?!”  His voice broke with passion, his eyes bright with betrayal.  “Have you forgotten them?”
    Job tried for a reasonable tone.  “Of course I haven’t forgotten what we lost.  But, I don’t blame the entire Air House for the actions of a few.”  Job always dealt with Raj like he would with a rebellious teenager: A thick layer of patience and affection, over a core of authority.  “We have to do what’s right, Raj, if only because we’re better than Parald.”
    “I will never support this!”  Raj was barely a hundred years old, which meant that he was still very, very young by Elemental standards.  Having the responsibilities of a House dumped on him, so soon after his entire family died in the Fall, had made Raj grow up too fast.  He couldn’t deal with the world he suddenly found himself alone in and he blamed the Air House for all of it.  “I will never accept any Air Phases into the Color House!”
    “Amnesty is going to happen, even if I have to do it alone.”  Job said for the benefit of the entire Council.  “I already drew up the proclamation and it’s ready to be sent out.  You see a copy of it right there in front of you.  It’s the best choice for us all.  I believe it and the Earth House doesn’t need any other support to see it through.”
    “You’re such a fucking idealist, Job.”  Story, of the Wave House shook her head and didn’t look up from her vintage Gameboy.  “Always crusading for the downtrodden and outcasts.  Outcasts are usually cast out for a reason, ya know.”
    The Wave House was apolitical about every issue except their video game and Blu-ray collections, so Job didn’t bother to argue with that.  Story would abstain from giving a real opinion about anything, so there wasn’t any point in a debate.  Honestly, Job wasn’t sure why the Wave House even showed up at Council meetings
    “Maybe.  But I want to make it very clear that I will not tolerate any violence against the Air Phases who I allow into my kingdom.”  Job fixed his attention on Raj, again.  The boy’s kamikaze hatred towards the Air House could get people killed.  “Once I give them amnesty, they’re members of the Earth House.  Anyone who attacks them, will be attacking me.”
    Raj looked apoplectic.  He went storming out of the chamber without bothering to reply.  So, the Seats of several other Houses, including Raisa.
    Before she left, though, Raisa stopped to pin Job with a look full of fanatical zeal.  “One day you’ll understand Gaia’s purpose in this cleansing, Job.  You’ll be Awakened, as I was, to the truth.”  Her finger shook with