Page 59 of The Cerulean Sister
I am taken over by a sigh so loud and exaggerated, the entire room looks at me.
Chancellor Reed makes sure to pause long enough to meet my eyes and let me know I have offended him. He doesn't continue where he left off but instead starts over, like he has rehearsed his speech and needs it to flow just right.
My entire body trembles as I try not to stand and stalk across the room to shake him, to wrap my hands around his little throat until he shuts up. I want to scream into the faces of each of the emperors and their bored expressions.
We have been here for hours, and I've had enough. I am done listening to rulers speak and decide things about my life.
An exhausted, flat smile crosses my face as I shake my head at the now perplexed, skinny man who is speaking in circles.
I can feel my composure slipping away.
"Ferren," 99 whispers and grasps my hand, pulling it under the table like he thinks I will strike someone with my light.
I turn to him, content that our time in this council meeting is over and whisper into our tether."We have wasted half a day just talking when we should have been planning. They aren't going to help us, 99. They are dragging this on, out of guilt."
He sighs like he agrees and brings my hand back onto the table, smoothing the top with his thumb before releasing it as if to say he trusts me.
"I have heard enough." My whisper to him is not much of a whisper at all.
A few insulted elders gasp, but I stare straight ahead at Chancellor Reed. Nothing they can do or say to my rudeness will change what they are getting at.
"Ferren, if I may continue," Chancellor Reed begins.
"Priestess," 99 snarls and slowly turns his attention to the wide-eyed chancellor who pales and takes a step back. "Her name . . . is Priestess Ferren. Address her as such, Chancellor Reed."
I can feel my cheeks flush at the tone of 99's voice, his unyielding support fueling my desire to end this.
"Forgive me, Priestess Ferren, if I may continue."
"I don't care what you call me." I stand from my seat. "I am sick of formalities, tired to death of them. I've sat in dozensof council meetings on Cosima and this is by far the most unproductive. I suggest you start discussing the future sacred stone representatives now, just to have a decision in time for the next conjunction year."
I am completely out of line and may even be asked to leave, but I have nothing to lose at this point. I know without a doubt they are about to deny the request, all of this a formality, a way to show on the record that they are fair and just. So their version of a scribe can record for their history books that every outcome was considered and they did their best.
I glance between the emperors and the lord general with his wide but not surprised eyes. "I beg you, state the decision."
Chancellor Reed gapes at me, his jaw working like he has forgotten how to move it in tandem with his words. The sounds come out in a gargle that makes my eyes roll, so I look past him to the emperors.
"Please," I plead directly to them.
Emperor Angara sits farther back in her seat before casting a glance to the lord general, a silent instruction to give the final blow.
"Regretfully, Priestess Ferren. We cannot intervene in another world's temple at this time. The petition has been denied. You are welcome to appeal," the lord general says.
I scoff, not surprised, but the finality is an aching relief. I tilt my neck up to the orbs above me just as a conjunction rotation begins again, the planet Cosima cast in darkness in an eclipse as the other metal planets line up for just a moment before the intricate dance repeats.
"Am I free to leave?" I can feel how those words affect 99, sitting so still beside me, my hip pressed against his shoulder.
The emperors seem confused by my question, so I repeat it hard, through clenched teeth. "You have me here under sanctuary law, but am I free to leave?"
"You are a protected guest. We cannot keep you here if you do not want to be here," Emperor Angara answers.
"You are not a prisoner," Emperor Kavan huffs.
I eye them both suspiciously.
99 slowly rises next to me, standing tall, so intimidating Chancellor Reed averts his eyes.
"I will be joining Lord General's fleet in the birthlands," 99 announces.
