Chapter 10:The Tribunal

The council meeting is actually Kayla's trail. Valmir walks in with another woman proclaim to her to be his wife. What will happen?

Chapter 10 ~ The Tribunal

Once inside the Limo Alora throws me a black t shirt. I pull it on over my head, and then notice in the rear view mirror that my driver is looking very nervous, even shaken by us. I think it will be amusing and distracting to my inner battle to toy with his nervousness. But I'm also wondering why he is so nervous. Does he know something he shouldn't know? 

"What is your name, driver?" I growl at him. I'm sure he will think I am about to call him on the carpet and fire him. "Carter, sir." He nervously replies. When I don't say anything further to him he begins to prattle on and on about his passion for driving and how he only wants a career as a driver, but not a race car driver, that's too dangerous. He considered being a taxi driver, but then he saw Draco's ad in the classifieds that he was looking for a new driver. 

"I applied for the job. The story Mr. Winter gave me for needing a new driver was his driver had gotten married and was going to relocate after his honeymoon so his new wife could live near her family. I was delighted when he hired me on the spot." He became silent, and then I could clearly hear him saying in his mind he was delighted that is until the many deaths of Draco's limo drivers that worked other shifts. Dead by Draco's hand. Then I knew why Carter was so nervous. He had been skiddish about how long he would remain in the good graces of Draco once he realized the previous driver getting married story and relocating was only a ruse to cover up one of many murders Draco committed. Carter was beginning to wonder how many other murders could be attributed to Draco that he didn't know about, That is a burden of worry enough to make the strongest man more than a bit nervous and now Carter had to concern himself about Draco's son and wonder if I was just as veracious about murder as my father was. I think even I would be sweating if I were in Carter's shoes.

I decided not to make Carter's life more miserable than it already is, and fell silent and deep into thought, but aware still of Alora's body touching mine as we drive on in silence. I like that about Alora. She is so sensual and always wants a lot of physical contact when she is with me. But she is always tasteful in the way she goes about it. I am focused on her hand in mine and not much else when a voice invades my head and begins speaking as if we are in some kind of private chat room session together.

"Our deal with Draco is over with his passing. We have no deal with you, son of Draco." As soon as the thought enters my mind, "How does this disembodied voice know that Draco is dead?" My question is answered by the voice as if my thoughts are having a conversation with someone elses thoughts. "We, the werewolves, have a mind link with Draco, and therefore heard his dying thoughts. We have unanamously decided that we will not do Cult bidding anymore. We've been looked down on as Cult pets far too long. It is time now to have our freedom and seek revenge as well. We will kill your beloved Kayla and will come for your head and the head of your queen next." Then a spine chilling howl pierced through my being and faded into oblivion. "Not a pleasant way to sign off." I think, feeling suddenly vulnerable that I had inherited Draco's mind link with werewolves. "Just what else have I inherited of Draco's that I don't want?" I wonder. I'm just grateful that no one else seems aware of anything going on with me inside my head. But then why would they be? I have as good a poker face as anyone else, after all.

We soon arrive at town hall which is heavily decorated with signs of "Welcome Home Draco and Valmir". It sickens me to realize this won't be a happy celebration of my return after all. I'm also curious as to why a town council meeting has been called in the middle of the night and during Festival. This is highly irregular. Are the werewolves using mind control? It's clear they think they have the upper hand and are about to move in for the kill. 

Carter pulls up to the curb and turns back with his arm over the passenger seat. "Sir, do you want me to wait here or go back until I am needed?" He asks. 

“Carter you deserve a break. Why don’t you take off the rest of the night and enjoy the festival with your family.” For a second I think I see a tear begin to form at the corner of his eye but then he turned . “Thank you sir, but I can’t have you and the lady walking home alone. There have been muggings and murders by Cult lately. Something dangerous lurks around these streets.” 

I really don’t want to argue with him but what can I do? “So Carter what is it you want to do?” Alora scoots to the edge of the seat to talk to our driver. 

“Well lady Alora I’d like it if you guys stay safe. That's part of my job description, to assure you two get from point a to point b safely. Stay in town after the council meeting if you wish. Venture into the streets to enjoy Festival. I will be right here if you need me to be, or I will come back if you call me. It's really up to you. So what'll it be?"

"Well, in that case," Alora says with a smile, "You can take the rest of the night off. No telling how long this last minute council meeting will last. We don't even know why it was called, and we have our own news to announce at the meeting, so things might get complicated. We can always grab a cab back or just crash for the night in the executive suite upstairs." Carter seemed happy with Alora's solution and drove away after we exited the Limo and stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the building we were about to enter.

This will be my first town meeting. The council won't be expecting me, let alone my queen. Until the council votes me out I will have a voice with the council in representation of my father. My thoughts turn to what possible reason city council has for calling this meeting tonight.  

As we ascend the spiral stair case to the council room my mind is filled with many questions. How will they take the news of my father's death? Will they want me to continue standing in for him? Will whatever reason the counsel called this meeting come to light immediately, and will the meeting remain uninterrupted by werewolves coming to demolish everything in seconds? If I decide to forewarn them will they be able to do anything about it? I can't stop to ponder these questions because we are standing in front of the enormous doors to the council room. They open, almost as if a breeze blew them open, and we walk inside.

All eyes are on us and I almost freeze in my footsteps to see Kayla standing in the witness box in chains. I realize it isn't a simple council meeting but a trial in session, and I wretch inside to the feeling that this is nothing more than a Kangaroo Court. I know Kayla to be innocent of all charges. How is it that she got herself captured again?  

"General Winter." The man in the Judge's seat says. It’s fine that you have chosen to join this tribunal, but I will have to ask that your friend remain outside in this private matter. 

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman." I reply with a polite nod of my head, "but before you continue and before I ask my wife to leave, you must hear me out." I can't help but notice the shocked and pained look on Kayla's face at the announcement that Alora is my wife.

I can feel that Alora wants to flee the room that Kayla is in, but she maintains her decorum and we continue walking down the aisle toward the six council members seated before us.

Veronica's Thoughts: 

I don’t have to look at Kayla to know she fought with her conscience to accept that Valmir isn’t the one she loved or rather could love anymore. The bombshell he just laid on us all is probably just a precurser of more surprises to come, I'm sure. With Kayla's dreams for a rescue from Valmir dashed it will be easy to kill this b*****d without a second thought. It's looking like Salveri will be her salvation now. 

I try to get eye contact with her, but she is looking down, making eye contact impossible. She shifts her weight on her feet restlessly, making the chains that bind her to the floor rattle. 

General Winter is his rank and title. Why has he arrived unexpectedly saying he has something to tell the council members? It must be monumental for him to be so boldly disrespectful in the way he has interrupted this court session. Had someone gotten word to him and he is here with a plan to rescue Kayla? If that were the case, why has he brought this woman with him that he claims is his wife? Surely he wouldn't want to hurt Kayla in this way. I have the feeling he has his own agenda this night and Kayla is far from his thoughts right now. I see that he is walking with a not so subtle swagger as if he has something on his mind that will only benefit him and no one else.

I eye him closely and see that his informal dress in a black t shirt shows off his heavily tatooed arms, making him look like a bad boy. He doesn't seem to care though, and then his next words are a numbing shock to us all. 

"I have a rather sad announcement to make." He begins. "My father isn't at this council meeting because he passed away a few hours ago." Murmers are followed by sudden silence to hear what else he has to say. Valmir seems a little nervous now as if he doesn’t feel welcome or he doesn’t want be here. If he is here to claim he has a right to his father's chair on the council he will be on the other side of justice against his beloved Kayla. But then, perhaps this doesn't really matter to him anymore since the woman with him is his wife. Perhaps now I don't have to keep my promise to Kayla not to kill this a*****e, but knowing the kind of person Kayla is I doubt that she would want me to kill him no matter what. 

Valmir clears his throat and continues. "Unfortunately there is a more pressing matter at hand than the death of my father and my claiming his seat in this council. He has everyone's attention now as they lean forward in anticipation of what that "pressing matter" could possibly be. Valmir glances around the room nervously, then with great authority in his tone of voice he says, "I have it on sound authority that werewolves are on their way here, with blood in their eye and annihilation on their minds. An audible gasp goes up followed by a turmoil of chatter until the banging of a gaval brings them all to silence again.

"I understand that their plan is to kill Kayla first, then me and my wife." Valmir continues. "Perhaps knowing this gives us an opportunity to set a trap. We have the obvious bait and now you have the element of surprise on your side.

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

depends on your intent. If you want readers and feedback - there are those of us who will read. If you want to hold and pursue publication - I get not wanting to put an entire piece out here on the plate. This is a solid story

[Secret Valentine]

Ok, I have read all of the chapters leading to this one. You must continue. It is really good and interesting. It's intriguing in my opinion. Thank you.