Rebirth and Second Chances

Chapter 187: Redemption

The Sithern had created the Court Chambers for official business so that thirteen thrones, one for each of the Twelve and House Teigh were dispersed in a circular manner. Each throne was elevated and surrounded by guard rails, the height afforded the head of House both a better view of those events that occurred on the main floor and a measure of protection.

My throne was equally elevated to the exact same degree, my intent to create a Council of equals was embraced by the Sithern when creating the chambers. The only difference was that each House was able to guide the Sithern in constructing a throne that they were most comfortable with, I had not been able to input ideas for style or creation when my throne was placed.

The Sithern could be adaptive and responsive in almost all instances, but there were certain areas where I encountered dogged determination, Sithern refusing any requests for any modifications.

Sithern had insisted on the same pattern of material and design, I used in my throne room. They only concession it made was to allow for a scaled-down version. It was still a marvel of diamonds, gold, and embedded wisps of light, but the pedestal the throne sat on was reduced to almost nothing. Just enough to elevate my throne in line with the Twelve Houses.

The Slaugh throne was the most interesting. It was more perch than a throne, fashioned to resemble a unique blending of coral and tree. Queen Uie had the ability to hide, her skin capable of blending into her surroundings, so it was fascinating to watch as she adapted and changed color and patterns to replicate the coral and tree motif of her throne. She even managed to give a textured appearance, a dimensionality to her camouflage that made it more effective. Her sheer size should have made multiple changes of color impossible, but it didn't. She didn't just change one color; she matched whatever color and shade her body came in contact with.

This chamber was where we conducted official business, so seating for those addressing the chamber was limited. We did not allow an audience; these chambers were where the real work was done. I used the throne room when meeting with ambassadors, dignitaries, or the Seelie and Unseelie Monarchs.

We did make the proceedings available for public viewing using video feeds except when entering closed-door sessions. Those meetings were rare. Too often, I felt, secrets and backdoor dealings could taint even popular policies if positions and maneuvering were made when anonymity was allowed. If you were going to take a position, own it, be able to defend your opinion and decision to the people you have been entrusted to rule.

Irvin was standing in the center of the room. A sound barrier was active to allow the Houses to discuss the evidence that had been presented without allowing him to hear. If they had any further questions, the barrier would be lowered, but by keeping him isolated, it allowed the Twelve to debate and say what they would without the worry of retribution or instituting a feud. A feud that could lead to a challenge.

"Has what he has done really worth our time?" Duke Loiyd of the Unseelie asked. "We have done an exhaustive review of his actions, and it is only this last action that even merits a discussion."

"That is true," Duchess Minerva said reluctantly, her bias when forced to agree with any of the Twelve that was not Seelie was a glaring flaw, one that I was willing to put up with because of her devotion to those that had settled in her principality. Her rule was one of absolute fairness, and she managed to practice her philosophy of rule no matter the race or individual.

She was the first Sidhe to appoint and allow a Lord of the Unseelie to rule a Fiefdom within her Principality. That devotion to fairness and reliance on skill and ability over cronyism and bias was what had prompted her people to begin referring to her as Duchess Minerva the Fair-Minded.

"And it is also true that there were those that gave false testimony, those who used him and his known proclivities to slaughter an innocent family. They knew that by denouncing the goblins as those that were involved in child trafficking, he would act.

"His history has become too well known. His actions when confronting evil tantamount to barbarism. He loses control, he loses himself to the memories of torture and helplessness, when he perceives injustice. And he has enjoyed the protection of House Teigh to forward his agenda. He has become a vigilante, acting on his own, without counsel or recourse from his House head.

"Perhaps not overtly," she said raising her hand to forestall any denial I might offer that he was using the authority of House Teigh to bolster his actions, "but certainly as an adopted child of House Teigh, he is known. And that House Teigh has ignored and turned a blind eye when he chooses to act has been noted."

"There is nothing to discuss concerning his actions," Queen Wisteria of the Knockers said summing up the conversation. "What we are here to address today, is if those actions deserve punishment and if so, what punishment is appropriate."

"We make this harder than it needs to be," Queen Uie suggested. "The Court must act, that is a given, but the penalty should be tempered. His actions after the event as important as the killing of innocent people."

"That is true," King Ncke, the Goblin ruler offered, "how many people would have held to their own code of honor when by doing so they put their own lives in jeopardy, and yet he reported his actions once he realized he had slaughtered the innocent. He didn't try to hide or lie about what was done or how he had been tricked."

"The Sidhe rely too much on this belief that we cannot or do not lie," Liotonis offered. "We all know that words can be twisted, so that truth becomes a lie. Irvin's only crime here was being too young, too nave to understand the ways that words can beguile and trick. He believed the half-truths that he had been told and allowed himself to be used.

"He was used. Played by those that understood how he would react. But at least he was contrite, devastated by his actions, and submitted to the Twelve his actions before any accusations or evidence could be lobbied against him. Is there anyone that thinks he deserves death for this?" She asked bringing to a head a conversation that had been ongoing for over an hour.

I released a breath, which was hard to do since I think I hadn't drawn one since the debate began. I knew that Irvin might be condemned to death, and if that happened, I would be expected to perform my duty and carry out that sentence.

There were very few instances, crimes that could result in a death sentence, but the slaughtering of the innocent was one of those crimes. If Irvin had been so lost to madness as to have killed any of the children, there wouldn't have been a debate. He would have been summarily sentenced to death and executed by now.

"Now that we have decided he lives," King Hawthorne said, "I believe I may have a solution of what we should do with him."

Hawthorne was Volar-Fey, attuned to magics and uniquely qualified to ferret out secrets. I would be hard-pressed to say who was more adept at spying between him and Lord Aesin of the Aziza. There were very few secrets between the two of them that could not be discovered.

"We have to present a unified front, demonstrate for our people that even members of House Teigh are not exempt when breaking laws that have been codified by the Twelve and ratified by the Crown.

"Holding him in detention would be too cruel. We might as well kill him if we were going to do that. He was broken in one of those cells. He would shatter beyond repair if we caged him a second time.

"Instead, I think we might consider banishment. Let us send him as an attach, an aid to one of the Ambassadors we have assigned to the Egyptians," he suggested.

"That is a workable idea," Herd Patriarch Garr replied. His input having additional weight as the titular head of Irvin's species. "He was once working toward becoming a Peace-Maker. If not for Mab, he might have become one of our most talented ombudsman or Ambassadors.

"Let us send him somewhere where his interest and talents can be redeemed. The spark of the Divine that he embraced restored as he works to broker relationships between our Pantheons that serve the greater good of two planets.

"Instead of destroying his future, let us work to restore his calling."