The hall became as quiet as a graveyard, everyone shocked to silence by Thonda's words and the audacity behind it – even Thonda herself.
Lirasen was the first to break the silence. He leaned forward, but didn't stand, eyeing Thonda with a new curiosity.
"You're saying the gods are the real sinners here?" He asked. It was a sensitive question. A diplomatic question. One could expect no less from the Voice of the Crown. Thonda chewed on her bottom lip, thinking carefully. Whatever she said next would determine whether or not she lived or died. To say that the gods were sinners would be heresy and Velthara will have her killed on the spot. She wouldn't even know what she died from.
On the other hand, to say that the gods were right would also mean that her death was certain and justifiable, which left only one answer.
"The gods could never be wrong, but they have given us free will to decide what benefits us and what we'd rather do without. When I say the gods have committed a crime against me, I mean they have not allowed me to decide my own fate, nothing more."
Lirasen sat back, impressed. In the corner, L'ar beamed with pride beside his wife. He squeezed her arm gently, a silent "well done".
"What do you propose then?" Lirasen prodded, trying to get a reaction from Thonda and trick her into saying something careless. "More healing sessions? Those haven't worked for you so far, even your mother was unable to help you and she's the most powerful Healer in Summit."
Muri bristled. Though it sounded like a compliment, Lirasen was really just mocking her. Calling her powerful but also suggesting that she was unable to help her daughter was a way of questioning her strength.
Muri glared into the side of his head. She and the silver-tongued diplomat were not exactly on the best of terms. L'ar wasn't the only one offered a seat on the council, but where he was to be Lord of Iron, Muri would have been the High Sage.
In truth, it was an honorable position, but the trainings she would have had to undergo were simply not worth it, and so she turned it down. Lirasen had taken offence because he had been the one to personally make the offer and had therefore received the rejection first-hand.
It was something he wasn't accustomed to as Voice of the Crown, and apparently, old wounds were still very much sore.
Thonda ignored his jab at her mother and weighed her options carefully, the cogs turning even faster in her mind. She looked at Orren Kaelith. "I am no stranger to ancient histories," She turned to Yssandra. "Or spiritual demands. I will not be a danger to Reeth if I am not in Reeth."
The Councilors began to murmur among themselves. Good. They were finally opening their eyes. She couldn't stop now. "High Sage Kaelith, there were actually two cases of unpaired individuals. The one you mentioned was the first. There was another after that."
Orren shuffled uncomfortably on his feet. "Y-Yes, but the second was of no importance." Thonda smiled. She had him right where she wanted. One interesting thing about people is that they find comfort in shared suffering. So being unpaired for as long as she had, Thonda had scoured the history books for cases like her own and had read about these two unfortunate souls. The first was killed, murdered actually, by the Thread. The second learnt from the life example of her predecessor and fled Reeth before she could become a target. In her absence, the elements remained calm and the balance was kept. High Sage Orren knew this, yet he only used the example of the first girl. Why was that?
Thonda eyed him suspiciously. Trienne had said that there was a more powerful seer in Reeth, one that was strongly against her pairing. Could it be him? It only made sense. After all, a Sage could be considered a Seer with a more fancy name.
"Why wouldn't it be important, High Sage? After all, they are both scenarios relevant to my position."
"Pardon me," Jerald interrupted, speaking for the first time and looking terribly bored. "But when did this turn into a trial of the Council?" He stared at Thonda pointedly. "You are the one on trial here, and you would do well to remember it. Have a seat, Orren."
He was right, she was getting too excited. Thonda apologized, if only to buy more time. As she watched, High Sage Kaelith huddled over to his seat and sank into it slowly, his breath coming out in heavy pants. On second thought, perhaps he wasn't the Seer rising against her – he seemed far too frail for that, but that didn't rule out any of the other members of the High Circle. She would have to be wary of all of them.
Lirasen signaled for her to continue. She cleared her throat and smoothed out her skirts for no reason except to do something with her hands.
"I ask you to grant me my life. Let me leave Reeth," She paused. "And find my beloved elsewhere."
That got them riled up again. They whispered in each other's ears and nodded to themselves.
"Who's to say your beloved isn't here in Reeth?!"
"Perhaps he's dead."
They bickered and whispered, trying to come to a reasonable conclusion. None of this was going according to plan and they were all very much upset – all except Velthara who stood calmly, mere inches from Thonda. She could not see his face, but she could feel his gaze and it made it all the more disturbing.
Why did he even need a hood? Thonda wondered absently. Had he suffered some sort of mutilation that left his body ugly and his features unbearable?
She wished the Circle would make a decision so she could leave this strange man's presence.
All this while, the monarchs had been silent, but the Queen finally spoke at last, stopping their chaotic conversation. They hardly ever intervened in a council meeting. More often than not, the Celestials sat and simply attended the meetings, entrusting the council with the power to make decisions and respecting their judgement. That would not be happening today, it seemed.
The Queen's voice was beautiful and soft. She sounded like she was only whispering, yet her voice rang clearly through the hall.
"Your bravery is admirable, Thonda Kareese, and in our unpleasant situation, you have given us a pleasant option. I commend your wisdom as well."
Thonda gave a deep curtsy to express her gratitude, hardly believing that a Celestial would speak not just to her, but on her behalf. She could have swooned right then, but the Queen wasn't done. "You will be permitted to leave, but you must do so within a fortnight. If you are still in Reeth by then, make no mistake, you will be executed. You may go."
Thonda needed no further invitation. Giving another delicate curtsy, she smiled at the Councilors, thanked the Celestials and fled from the throne room.
The five councilors sat in shock for the second time in one day, watching as Muri and L'ar also stepped forward, bowed, curtsied and followed after their daughter with enormous smiles on their faces. They had won this battle. Now, to prepare for the warm