Into the Land of Immortals - 9A
Friday, December 26, 2008 (13:43:14)

Posted by TerishD

Into the Land of Immortals
Chapter Nine
Part 1

It took the presence of Nuverd to keep Venicht in his seat. Annalia tried to ease the tedium of watching a council session by fixing one of the lad's favorite snacks, but he had wolfed it down as if hoping with it finished he might be allowed to play. Neither adult gave any indication of considering such a thought, although the twisting of Venicht made it obvious that he considered anything else in the room to have more interest than what he was seeing on the television.

The meeting did have some meaning to Annalia. She would have preferred watching in the usual manner of only keeping the television on while she went about her business. The council never did anything in a hurry, and she agreed with Venicht that there were better ways to pass the time. He would however completely avoid the events being broadcast, while Annalia would continue to pay attention waiting for some final decision on what would be allowed to be voted upon. As if to give some reward for her and Nuverd forcing the lad to watch, he suddenly spoke an admittance that what he was seeing had some relevance to him.

"They don't like my father."

Annalia tried to laugh as she replied, "They definitely do not like that your mother married your father."

"Mother and father said that those of the council were foolish."

"I don't believe that I have said anything different."


More than just Venicht are realizing that a change of policy is needed.


Into the Land of Immortals
Chapter Nine
Part 1

It took the presence of Nuverd to keep Venicht in his seat. Annalia tried to ease the tedium of watching a council session by fixing one of the lad's favorite snacks, but he had wolfed it down as if hoping with it finished he might be allowed to play. Neither adult gave any indication of considering such a thought, although the twisting of Venicht made it obvious that he considered anything else in the room to have more interest than what he was seeing on the television.

The meeting did have some meaning to Annalia. She would have preferred watching in the usual manner of only keeping the television on while she went about her business. The council never did anything in a hurry, and she agreed with Venicht that there were better ways to pass the time. He would however completely avoid the events being broadcast, while Annalia would continue to pay attention waiting for some final decision on what would be allowed to be voted upon. As if to give some reward for her and Nuverd forcing the lad to watch, he suddenly spoke an admittance that what he was seeing had some relevance to him.

"They don't like my father."

Annalia tried to laugh as she replied, "They definitely do not like that your mother married your father."

"Mother and father said that those of the council were foolish."

"I don't believe that I have said anything different."

Venicht turned to Nuverd to wait for his reply. He simply glared back, and when the lad did not immediately turn back to the screen the man popped his staff on the floor. Venicht spun around, but only to speak to the adult that would talk back.

"Mrs. Emiash said that I needed to pay attention to learn how the government operates. She also said that I would find what they did of interest. I am not interested in hearing people speak bad about my father."

Nuverd now spoke, "You need to learn, Prince Venicht, that not everyone will appreciate your actions, however grand and productive. Others that accomplish less will think themselves more worthy, and sometimes be thought of by others as more worthy. It is however not your place to defend yourself. Note that your father and your mother are not present. All that this council will decide is their own opinion. You must always make your own decisions and hold to them."

Annalia liked what the man said, and hoped that her own words would provide reinforcement. "Your mother has a place of authority above this council. Your father has faced this council before. It is possible you will have to stand before this council in the future. You need to learn how they operate, so that they will not prevent your own actions just as they have not prevented your mother or father from doing what they felt best."

She waited as Venicht's features displayed his attempt to form a reply, but all eyes moved to the screen as the name of the lad's father was again stated. "The main problem I have been given concerning Terish deals with his relationship with our empress. Giving him honor will be close to giving him authority over our world. That cannot be allowed."

Councilman Aven presently had control of the discussion, and spoke to keep the topic moving according to his desires. "Thank you, Lieutenant Councilman Neibors. It sounds like the statements that Councilman Giluchex would be advising should he have been present. Lieutenant Councilman Audrein, what instructions have Councilman Chorrik left you?"

The man the camera focused upon lifted his eyes from a crossword puzzle book, then reached forward to pull the microphone closer to his face before he asked, "About Terish?"

Chuckles sounded as the one regulating the debate clarified, "Yes, Lieutenant Councilman Audrein, about Terish."

"I was told not to be concerned about what those in this room did concerning him. Terish's children, grand-children, and eventual bloodline would vote him into power sooner or later."

A din began to fill the council chamber, but the one who had his crossword puzzle interrupted made his voice heard to those listening through the media if not in the council chamber itself. "Listen, we never stopped the future. We made it possible to go into the future. Empress Straekin did not leave us because she tired of the scenery from her windows. She did not even leave because of growing tired with dealing with us here in the council. She left because she saw a future with Terish. We need to look towards our future, and not make rulings on what is happening now or in the past."

Councilman Aven banged his fist upon a thick book held close to a microphone until he had regained some control over those present in the chamber, and to hopefully assure that dignity be returned he said, "Lieutenant Councilman Audrein, assuring a future for Davelda is what the council is about."

"Well, let me say this. I often consider buying a horse and traveling to other worlds. I dream of traveling to some far strange and distant place where I meet a most wonderful lady. She will talk with me on subjects that I enjoy. She will travel with me to places that I like to visit. She will lay with me when I am tired. That is a most magnificent dream, don't you agree?"

"I believe that most in the council, being mostly males, will have had such fantasies."

"Yes, well, the reality, I am afraid, is that I might find that her people treat me with as much disrespect as we have treated Terish."

The din again tried to make itself heard, although the voice of another councilman managed to gain the notice to speak for the group. "Are you saying, Lieutenant Councilman Audrein, that you are going to vote to have a hope of achieving your fantasy?"

"Are you going to vote so I cannot?" Before another could speak, he added, "Let me remind the council that Empress Straekin did not leave alone. Just about her entire staff left with her. Attendant Annalia has had trouble restaffing the apartment of the empress, because there are few she can recall to certain duties. I want all in this chamber to consider that not just Empress Straekin have found their fantasies being fulfilled elsewhere."

Annalia turned from the television to say, "All right, Nuverd, Venicht has seen enough. They will now debate this for the next few hours, if not days. The prince has seen enough to talk with Mrs. Emiash at the next lesson."

"And here I was finally getting interested in what was being said."

"I have seen the council in session for centuries, Nuverd. When they finally say something intelligent, they usually drown it in idiocy."

"I would still desire to hear more. Could you take Venicht to the playground?" The lad cheered, but the man made it known that his freedom would not last. "His next lesson is in slightly more than an hour. He thus cannot stay too long."

"I need some potatoes peeled for supper."

"Thank you, Annalia."

She did not respond, but focused on Venicht. The lady had been around the lad enough to know that she first had to consider his attire and what she would be doing while he played. By the time she thought herself ready to take Venicht, he felt that there was little time left for him to have fun. Annalia did not argue with the statement, although marveled how he followed with a question that did not relate to possible future playing opportunities.

"Annalia, do you believe the council will vote in favor of my father?"

"Venicht, it has been over six hundred years, and they have yet to vote in favor of your mother. Every proposal she managed to get passed was done with a large amount of squabbling." Not hearing the lad make a statement in return had the lady make a more substantial response. "They will simply table the motion until Giluchex returns. He has a place in the council that few remember, although the tradition his place has forced on the council will be maintained." Annalia dropped her head to whisper to the lad as they walked, "Giluchex is the enemy. He was a general on the wrong side of the war."

"And they let him live?"

"Our fight was for immortality, Venicht. It is one of our horrors that we killed people who should have been given the blessing of eternal life. Those that listened to your mother, even those of the enemy, were accepted as citizens of what we then called the new Davelda. That included Giluchex."


The next installment switches to Giluchex, but then switches back to Venicht to round out the chapter.