Meeting With The Council
I had read the reports sent to me by my scouts looking into the attempted assassination of Alexandra. Nothing to report so far and I got to wondering how my brother faired on his end. He was freer to skirt the rules since he did not have to answer to the council. I pulled out a paper and wrote: Brother, I am writing to see if you had any luck finding out more about The Order’s attempt on The Batiste. Things here have not moved forward as quickly as I would like. I won’t interfere with your investigation but as you know I have a long friendship with her family and would like to reassure her parents and grandfather that we are doing everything we can to bring those who had been responsible to justice. Please let me know at your earliest convenience. Ever your loving brother, Lucien.” I sealed the letter and summoned Malinus to send this letter hastily through the Toxzi Riders. Malinus turned to me before leaving the room, “Your Majesty, you are set to meet the Council today to discuss the initial aptitude tests for the Scribe Selection. That meeting is nearing so I believe you should be going.” I nodded at him, “Thank you Malinus. I might have forgotten. Please summon the carriage.” He smiled, “It is awaiting you at the door right now.” Malinus yet again anticipated my needs and did his best to accommodate me ahead of time.
I took my suit jacket off from my chair and put it on then buttoned the middle button. This was not an official Royal event so I could wear a plain suit to meet with the council. It was a navy-blue suit with a black shirt. I always left the top two buttons undone and no tie. I hated wearing them and their restrictive feel. I strode to the carriage and climbed in and knocked to let the coach know that I was settled. We surged forward and I found myself absentmindedly staring out of the window, looking at nothing in particular. I had wondered how Alexandra and her friends faired on the aptitude test, the other two were not in consideration for Scribe but they would need some skill to craft useful weapons. I had this thought that perhaps she wasn’t so gifted at magic since she had not been raised around it. It was my father’s design to keep her as human as possible to help her to become an olive branch between us and the Terrenians. She had already been valuable in getting the United States to the table with us. The carriage came to a stop in front of the Hall of Elders. I climbed out and made my way up the steps.
Veritus, the scribe to the council, was waiting for me to arrive outside of the door. He bowed, “Your Majesty, I hope you are doing well. All are assembled and awaiting you inside the chamber.” I tapped his shoulder, “Veritus, I am doing well. Just a preview, how are the results looking? Any promising candidates?” He looked at me and smiled, “Oh there are a few from the morning classes and one in the afternoon class. The results have been a surprise to me though, we have one student who tested right around that of Ms. Tannen’s aptitude. I have not shared this with them yet, but they will be interested in this student and will likely place them as 1st amongst candidates.” I looked at him and widened my eyes, “Have we ever had a student test so high?” He nodded, “Yes, once. It was Prince Blake. He was a little higher than this student though.” I nodded remembering that Blake had tested at 92% which was the talk of Vellum. He had not pursued his studies in magical tool making because he felt it was a waste of time and he would prefer to drop out of university and just live off his dukedom. What he did with his time otherwise was a mystery.
We came upon the Council Chamber where Veritus had opened the doors for me and announced, “His Majesty, light of the realm, King Lucien of Vellum.” The council rose to their feet and awaited me to take my seat at the head of the table. I sat down, “Greetings to all assembled here. Let’s get to the results if we can.” The council sat down and Elder Helso spoke, “Your Majesty, as you will it. Veritus please report the results.” Veritus came up to the other end of the table and cleared his throat, “The morning class had four students who tested above the 70% threshold, one is a citadel candidate.” Elder Enzo spoke, “As the Elder who oversees the Citadel, please report who this student is so that I may ensure they get the proper recognition.” Veritus looked at me and I nodded, “The student tested at 75% and her name is Lady Jesslyne Kellen.” It was good to hear that Jess had been amongst those exceptional students who tested high in aptitude. She was part of the duo that was to guard Alexandra. Elder Enzo spoke again, “And what of The Chalshin?” Veritus shifted nervously knowing that Enzo was a great uncle of Derek and muttered, “He was 50%.” Elder Enzo sighed and leaned back in his seat clearly disappointed that Derek had not scored higher. He wouldn’t necessarily struggle with making magical tools, but he wouldn’t be quick about it either. I was disappointed too but at least we still had Jess.
Elder Helso spoke, “What of the afternoon class? Are any of those candidates?” Veritus nodded, “Yes, we have one candidate for scribe in the afternoon class. That was all though.” I spoke, “So may we now have the names of the four students that are candidates for scribe that have tested exceptionally?” Veritus picked up a packet from the table and strode over to the candidate board. He pulled out the emblems of the houses of the candidates. He turned to us, “Our first candidate Lady Willa Baltilliard tested at 75%.” He placed the emblem in the section that stated Fire next her name. He turned to the council who nodded, and I asked him to continue. He turned back around to the board, “The next candidate who tested at 76% was The Befent, Theodore Befent.” He placed the emblem next to his name under Fire. He turned to the council and Elder Helso rose to his feet, “A future Duke, this bodes well for this program for this year. We are indeed pleased, Your Majesty.” I nodded, “Indeed, this will help bolster the future of Vellum. Please continue Veritus.” Veritus turned back to the board and pulled in a big breath and huffed it out, “The next candidate was tested at 77% and her name is Lady Melody Maigny.” I closed my eyes; I had not wished for her to be at the top of the board, and I believe Veritus had knew this based on his behavior before he announced her name. I presumed the council had nodded in agreement, I had not opened my eyes until I heard Elder Helso speak, “Your Majesty, are you okay?” I opened them, “I am, just a small headache forming. Please proceed Veritus.” He looked around the room nervously and then turned to the board, “The last candidate tested at 90%.” He could not continue because the room gasped and started whispering amongst themselves. I had to settle the room, “Gentlemen, please let Veritus speak so that we may know who this very promising candidate is.” I nodded to Veritus who shifted on his feet, “The candidate who tested this high is The Batiste, Alexandra Batiste.” Another gasp through the room and I found myself amongst those gasps.
A bunch of whispers filled the room as Veritus had placed the house emblem in the section labeled Fire next to Alexandra’s name. He turned to the room to see their reaction and found that the Elders were still flustered. I could see that I would have to settle them again, but I found a shakiness in my voice when I first spoke, “Gentlemen…your thoughts. In an organized manner if you please.” Before any of them could speak an announcement resounded in the room along with the doors opening, “Her Majesty, The Queen Mother Helena of Mesha.” The council rose to their feet and my mother took the spot reserved to her on my right side. She rose her hand to her scribe who placed a stack of papers in her hand, “I am sorry to barge in, gentlemen, but I felt with such an exceptional candidate that it was best I be here in person to discuss.” Elder Helso nodded, “Rightly so, Your Majesty, since you oversee the Scribe Selection.” She looked at me, “Is it okay if I proceed Your Majesty?” I smiled then nodded, “The room is yours.” She rose from her seat, “It is my opinion that she be placed at the top of the list for the selection of Royal Scribe in the rankings.” She looked around at the council and then sat down. I spoke, “We will take a vote on Her Majesty’s suggestion. Is there any objection to this?” I looked around and all of them shook their heads. Veritus pulled out his vote register, “When I call your name, please register a yay or nay vote. Elder Helso.” Elder Helso rose from his seat, “Yay.” He would likely always be on the side of House Batiste since he was good friends with Darren. Veritus continued, “Elder Enzo.” Elder Enzo rose, “Yay.” He had no reason to object, as a Chalshin, House Batiste was providing his house with a bit of good publicity right now. Veritus registered the vote, “Elder Pallen.” Elder Pallen rose, “Nay.” Elder Pallen was part of House Maigny so of course he would be more partial to have Melody as the first in rankings. The vote continued on to the other ten members: Remy, Quist, Lannas, Yelm, Vort, Kevin, Tylon, Ranos, Edgar and Geoff. Each of them registered a vote of yay who had no horse in the race and did not have any interest in any of the candidates being the top. Elder Lannas was actually a cousin to the Duke of Befent, but they did not typically interject their personal affairs into their politics. It was a trait I wish many in Vellum would take up.
Veritus turned to the leader listing and placed Alexandra up at the top, “The yays have it and The Batiste will be first in the initial rankings.” I thought back to what she said on that day that I had met her disguised as the gatekeeper. She had expressed her desire not to be a scribe candidate because she would be seen as chasing the crown. She would likely not be happy with her results. I would summon Vanessa to the castle later to discuss. This was standard procedure after an aptitude test, but I would want to discuss with her how she perceived Alexandra felt. The rest of the meeting was spent discussing and taking a vote on the other three candidates. The council decided to rank the four based on their scores with Melody a second to Alexandra. I’m sure she will be thrilled to be second fiddle to some newcomer to Vellum, especially one who dare to give her cheek this morning. I rose from my seat, “If you’ll excuse me gentlemen, I must make my way back to the university to wrap up the day.” They rose to their feet, and I left the room feeling conflicted about the ranking. I was pleased it was not Melody at the top but how would Alexandra feel about her ranking. I was determined to find that out.
