The Exile's Gift by Sharon Skinner

Author:Sharon Skinner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Brick Cave Media
Published: 2019-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Zoshia sat in silence, dreading what would come next. Though Kira had agreed to assume her place as the Eilaran Matriarch, she continued to find ways to delay and had persistently refused to commit to perform the binding ritual. The Councillors had grown restless and impatient. Their meetings grew more and more anger-filled and divisive. Now, Meryk had called them together to make a determination.

“I call for removal,” said Councillor Teldin.

“Removal from what?” Kersin asked. “She has taken on the position of Matriarch in name only. Despite her promise, she continues to make excuses to push back the Binding ritual. She sits upon the Guardian’s Seat rarely and with no real intent.”

“Then how do we proceed?” Teldin demanded.

“Has anything like this happened before?”

“I have searched the archives and in all our written history, there has never been a Guardian who did not perform the Binding and accept the responsibilities of their position.” Councillor Vaspel’s fingertips rested on the recording stone that would document their discussion and be stored in the archivist’s library.

“What can be done?”

“There are sanctions that can be imposed.”

Zoshia slapped her hand onto the table. “Would you truly attempt to impose sanctions on the Matriarch?”

“Why not?” asked Marsal.

“First off, it is unprecedented,” Zoshia retorted.

“So was the attack on our shores!” Teldin shouted.

“Perhaps, not in recent times,” she answered, “but this island has survived attacks from outside our borders in the past. And it is not as if the attack was guided by her hand.”

“There have been other reasons to sanction a ruler,” Councillor Kendryn said in a whispery voice. “And how do we know she was not complicit? We have only her word on what took place in the Guardian’s Chamber, and it seems a thin story.”

Zoshia was glad Devira was not here to listen to this discussion. Her lifemate had been angry enough over the simple request to intervene on the Council’s behalf. What would she think of a call for sanctions and, worse, removal? Perhaps, if she spoke convincingly, she might sway them away from this course. “Past rulers have only been sanctioned in the case of truly terrible behavior,” she reminded them. “For crimes committed against others, acts that have caused direct harm. Not for mere recalcitrance.”

“What you refer to as ‘mere recalcitrance’ exposes Eilar to real harm, and not merely to a single individual, but to all of us.” Marsal waved her arms to encompass everyone at the table. “And all of Eilar. Is that not criminal?”

Zoshia’s certainty wavered, but she pushed forward. “Eilar’s survival has never been accomplished by turning against its own rulers. Especially not in a battle of power and will.”

“For the past twine of seasons, we have been its rulers,” a quiet voice said.

Startled, Zoshia gaped at the Council First.

Meryk shook his head at her, in much the way a scolding parent might an errant child. Then he plowed ahead. “While Kyrina sat upon the Guardian’s seat, it was the Council that ruled,” he reminded them. “Even our new

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