The Children of the White Lions: Volume 02 - Prophecy by R. T. Kaelin

instructed the crowd to return to their seats. With that, the man exited the chamber, closing the door as he left.
    Jak was immensely relieved the proceedings were finally starting.
    With a short, firm nod of his head, Duke Kyle cleared his throat before calling, “Thank you for coming today!” Amazingly, his voice carried through the cavernous room. “I see that we have higher attendance than normal and as I do not like to shout, I ask you to remain quiet!”
    The duke scanned the balcony as he spoke.
    “I expect most of you are here due to the reports that we would have some very important members attending. For once, it seems the rumormongers have earned their trade.” Looking to his left, he said, “I would like to formally welcome Duke Rholeb, Duchess Aleece—“ he turned right “—and Duchess Adnil to Freehaven and today’s council. Thank you for coming.”
    Duke Kyle paused as the three leaders of the Duchies acknowledged his greeting with respectful nods and smiles.
    “As one who attends every meeting, I would like to offer my assistance to any of you should you have questions regarding procedure or the like.”
    A soft, intense whisper from Jak’s right caught him off guard.
    “Of course you attend every meeting. You live in the blasted city, you pompous fool.”
    As one, Zecus, Jak and Sergeant Trell turned to stare at Lady Vivienne. If she felt their stares, she did not acknowledge them.
    Jak exchanged a quick look with the sergeant, raising a lone eyebrow, and stared back to the table below just as Duke Kyle resumed speaking.
    “Before we hear this turn’s petitions, there is one issue outstanding from our last meeting. Baroness Vivienne of Argolles, the representative from the Southlands, motioned to delay a response to one particular petition.”
    Again, Jak and Zecus turned to peer at Lady Vivienne. She, in turn, continued to ignore their stares. Broedi had not been jesting when he said the Shadow Manes had powerful members. Lady Vivienne apparently sat on the First Council. Sergeant Trell kept his eyes forward, showing no reaction to the revelation which Jak assumed meant the soldier already knew. He eyed the sergeant, both impressed by the man’s ability to keep such wondrous information a secret and perturbed that he had done so.
    Jak’s curiosity was cut short as Duke Kyle’s booming voice filled the chamber again.
    “Procedure dictates that the member who motioned for delay must call for resumption. Duchess Aleece, as the baroness is your minister, the decision to resume the petition is yours to make. Do you wish to do so?”
    In a clear, mellow tone that easily cut through the large room, Duchess Aleece responded, “I do.”
    Jak suddenly made sense of the duchess’ earlier smile. It was directed at the baroness.
    “So be it,” called Duke Kyle. “Please bring the petitioners in.”
    At the opposite end of the chamber—to Jak’s far right—two attendants opened a set of double oaken doors, loosing a ragged, metal clatter that resonated through the room. Two dark-skinned men strode into the room, dressed in tan shirts and breeches with braided leather sandals strapped to their feet. One of the men was tall and thin, walking a step ahead of his companion, a shorter, fatter man. Both individuals had close-cropped, black beards and hair with thick, white bands wrapped around their heads. Jak marked them immediately as Borderlanders.
    Zecus drew in a sharp breath and hissed, “Bless the Gods.”
    The intensity of his friend’s reaction caused Jak to turn and stare at Zecus. The young man’s eyes were as wide as gold ducats and locked on the men walking across the marble floor below.
    Alarmed, Jak whispered, “Zecus? What’s—”
    A strong hand tightly gripped his right leg, causing Jak to wince sharply and halt his question. Looking down to his right knee, he found Sergeant Trell’s white-knuckled left hand grasping him. He glanced up to the sergeant’s face and found the