A second opinion|Malagard, Khelek

[aivea]

Frediano arrives at that part of the palace just in time to see the council dispearce and to see Haukea lock himself in the study. When knocking earns to reply, the page decides to take the risk of informing the devil he is on loan to that all is not quite well in the palace. Though nervously, Frediano makes his way back to the mansion and starts searching.

"Um... Sir Dispator? Where are you? I have news..." the page calls a bit fearfully.

[Kender Bard]

Dispator called out nonchalantly, "In here." The room he was in was filled with paper, charts, book, scrolls. Lost in the sea of it all was Dispator, sipping at some tea, and newly dressed in regal looking velvet garments.

[aivea]

The page walks in and bows nervously. "I don't think all is well in the palace. I think I saw the Council of Nine assembled and the Master has locked himself in the study... Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Frediano notices the changes in the room and feels a touch curious but doesn't feel it his place to comment.

[Kender Bard]

"No," Dispator admits, rising. "And I hate not knowing things. Take me to Haukea; I wish to have a word or two with him."

[aivea]

"Yessir," Frediano replies and leads the way to the door outside the study.
__

The page knocks hesistantly, barely making a sound. Though that wing of the palace is very quiet, the knock still seems quiet enough that the lack of response is likely to mean that the volume isn't enough to be attention grabbing. Frediano is about to knock lounder when the sound of footsteps from down the hall causes him to hesistate.

Zophiel returns to his post after attending the meeting of the Council of Nine and comments to the two near the door, "What is it the two of you are seeking? And is it of grave importance? Otherwise, I'm afraid I cannot let you in or let you try to call attention to that you are waiting out here without violating my orders."

Judging by his uniform, the guard is Azazel's replacement and is likely the only one on this side of the door that has the key to the study. Frediano remains silent since he doesn't know just what the "word or two" would be about.

[Kender Bard]

"It is of great importance," Dispator remarks gravely to Zophiel. "I am afraid that a mere guard would not be able to grasp the enormity of it, but Haukea will not be angry at this intrusion."

[aivea]

Zophiel bristles at being called a 'mere guard' but replies flatly, "Very well. I will let you in but you will taste the iron of my sword if you attempt to do him harm."

The captain opens the door and enters first before giving a quick salute.

At first glance, the study looks more like the den of a very fastidious, very literate and rather irritated animal than the office of a Leader. Books and papers cover the desk and a table but there is a sort of organised chaos to the room despite the ransacked look of the shelves. Off to one side, surrounded by the deepest part of the stacks, the Master is standing holding a book. When the door opens, Haukea puts the book aside before asking more tersely than usual, "What is it? I know Zophiel would not have let anyone through the door who did not have urgent business to discuss." Finally looking toward and recognising who is there, he sighs quietly before adding, "I don't suppose you have already heard the news and I do apologise for my current mood; nothing you have done is the cause."

[Kender Bard]

"It pleases me to hear that," Dispator remarks courteously. "Would you tell me what troubles you so, Master Haukea?"

[aivea]

"Very well, then... Somehow the Council of Nine has gotten the idea that I am acting against the interests and will of Khelek and," Haukea replies in a rather tired tone. Bringing up one hand to touch the corner of the sign on his cheek, he slides his fingertips across the sign. "...I will lose a sign if I do anything else that they find disagreeable in the next three years."

The thought is clearly distasteful to him and he finishes sharply,"It seems they find my judgement lacking and would rather deliever punishment than mention their expectations."

The Master's composure seems rather strained and not far beneath is the surface is a great deal of tension and anger. Tension from knowing that he would have to step down if he lost a sign through punishment and that it would only take one mistake to cause such an event; anger at the Council for their decision and at himself for being careless enough that they would have enough to base the decision off of.

[Kender Bard]

Dipator nodded and made a sympathetic noise. "It would seem to me that your council is the one that does not know what is in the best interest of Khelek. Did they not elect you to be the Leader, and not them? Perhaps you should find a new council, one that can see your visions of the future and how great Khelek could come to be."

[aivea]

"They did indeed elect me as Leader." Haukea reaches for his book and opens it again, searching for a certain section. Finding the section on the Council of Nine he hands it over before saying, "Would that I could! In order to replace members of the Council the current ones would need to die and it consists of people filling vital ranks rather than just an appointed council. For them to all die at once would be suspicious and damaging to any sort of war effort. After all, the majority of the council is made of high ranking members of the army... Hm. It would be a tedious process to create a replacement council of equal authority and equally so to change who possesses seats on the council without harming them."

The seats on the council are filled by the hierarchy of the respective originating areas and, to prevent corruption, the Master can neither appoint nor dismiss more than one member of the council per month. It seems that the Council of Nine acts as as something to ensure that the interests of the nation rather than just the ruler are looked after.

Zophiel coughs lightly and touches the hilt of his sword for a few seconds before saying, "...removing the Council of Nine? To speak of such a thing is treason. I beg you, Master, speak no farther of such a thing."

In acknowledgement, Haukea glances over at the captain but he doesn't reply.

[Kender Bard]

Dispator does glance over the section and listens to Haukea's words carefully. He closes the book with a snap. "Tut tut, sir guard. Words are such empty things. Merely sound and blowing air. Do not take offense. I myself will have to blow some words around it seems." He hands the book back to Haukea. "My friend, would you be so kind as to name one of the members of the Council who loudly disapproves of your course of action?"

[aivea]

"The one who speaks most of those on the Council is Victor. Is there something you have in mind for him?" Haukea replies, looking a bit curious as he accepts the book. "I sometimes wonder if he remembers that almost any role in government is easier when care is taken to have one's ears open more often than one's mouth or at least there is quiet often enough to hear one's own thoughts."

Zophiel remains silent and suppresses the urge to mention he is on the Council as well as Victor. Something about the question gave the captain a bad feeling.

[Kender Bard]

"I just thought he and I would talk," Dispator says simply. "To see if one of us can win in a war of wits, so to speak. I hope to bring him around to see things eye to eye with you. Where might I meet him?"

[aivea]

"That would be quite helpful." A hint of hope can be seen for a few seconds in the Master's expression, however he quickly hides the bit of hope, not wanting to seem to rely too much on emotion. "The few times I sought him, Victor was in his office which is across the street from here inside the building which seems nearly lined up with this one."