The room was bright and sunny, the table was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and it looked strangely familiar is if it had been in a dream. She quickly shock off the thought and looked up at her father and the others who were around it. Slowly one by one Gage introduced his daughter to the most important people in their world, most where gracious and bowed immediately at the woman before them.
First was Brint, who was already informally introduce to her by Sahen, next came Fortuna, she was as lovely as a spring day, and smelled of lilies on a warm day. After her was Kilaws, he had been very familiar with the woman who would soon marry his son, he looked at his son standing there with the future of their world and he seemed in awe of her. He still wasn’t sure why they sent his son, other than the table requested Jared by name, although no one every told Jared directly. In his mind he wondered if he ever should tell him or should he keep it all a secret unless Jared asked.
The final two introductions were the ones Jared, Carma and Gage feared; Mical and Emina. They were strong and stood there waiting they turn patiently, smiling awaiting their chance at Miranda.
They stood stone faced in front of her waiting to see her make some king of mistake, humans always made mistakes, her emotions should soon get the better of her.
Emina was the first of the two to greet her, “Hello my dear, it’s good to finally meet you. Where has your father been hiding you all this time?” Her voice was smooth and sexy, as if she were trying to entice you into saying something or doing you didn’t want to.
Miranda knew that was exactly what she was trying to do, “My father didn’t hide me, the human people I lived with wouldn’t let me go, and even though they didn’t understand your rules, my father did and he had no choice but to leave me there. I came of my own will in the woods where I met Jared and learn of my other family.”
Miranda looked directly into Emina’s cold eyes and pretended to be captured and entranced as she asked, “How are you this very fine day? I hope all is well with your family?”
She finished learning what she needed to and took a very deep bow. Emina followed her and bowed back, she was confused though, because she couldn’t learn anything from Miranda’s eyes and it bothered her because Miranda’s mind was like a cold, hard slate with no writing on it and something should have been there.
Mical stepped forward, he was a handsome man, big and strong, but with a look of hate already for Miranda. Gage introduced them and Mical stared into her eyes looking for something, anything he could read.
“My dear girl, you look very weak do you think you can handle yourself in this place? I hope your father isn’t keeping you here to replace the one’s he lost by his own hand.”
Mical sneered and shot a glance at Gage waiting for an explosion but it was too late, Miranda had gotten everything she needed for his eyes already.
Right to the jugular, but it didn’t catch her off guard; she already knew what had happened. “As I told Emina, I have come of my own free will, besides who could ever replace his beloved wife and only son. I personally feel the deaths were a horrible miscarriage of justice. In the human world if you have any connection to a crime, especially if you started it you have to do the time for it. I’m quite surprised this world isn’t the same you seem so much ahead of what the humans do. I can’t believe guilt is only if you get caught not when the evidence is so clear.”
She smiled at him, and he frowned, she bowed deeply and waited for the questions to start. She knew they all needed time to digest everything Miranda had already said before they would ask new questions.
Fortuna spoke to her first, “Miranda is there anything you would like to say before we begin? I do promise if it is up to me this whole thing will be brief. I’m sure you’ve had a very long journey.”
“I would like to thank all of you for seeing me today; it makes me so proud to be in a place where I have been so well accepted so far.” She turned to look at Fortuna, “I would also like to thank you for the beautiful reception on my way in, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and I have never felt such a gracious greeting in my life.”
Fortuna nodded and spoke, “I felt with such a long journey from the human world you should first find our world to be a beautiful place. I do have a few questions for you, if I may.” She turned to Gage and he nodded for her to proceed. “Miranda how did you find out you were Gage’s daughter?”
Miranda smiled, she knew this would come up, “I didn’t know when I went into the woods the day I met Jared. I had a major problem in my life eight months prior and I couldn’t get past it. I had seen your kind and I knew some of them killed the people who knew you existed, so I went looking for them. My intention was to end my life, and when Jared saw me,” she took a hold of a lock of her hair, “and my hair he was worried about killing me. He took me away and hid me until he could sort things out. Gage came to get me, explain what had happened in my life that I didn’t know about and then took me to his house. I’ve only been in our world for a short time and I needed to be sure that no humans would follow me here. No one should die because of me and I wanted to be sure this world would stay hidden from them. Jared, Carma and the others outside helped me to change things to keep everyone safe and to keep this world safe, as it should be.
Fortuna turned to looked at Gage, “That’s all I needed to know.”
Kilaws and Brint told Gage they had no questions, the only things they needed to know were already answered, was she here of her own will and no others would follow her here. They all sat at the table and waited for the last two to speak their peace, everyone waited in anticipation for what was to come, Miranda smiled she knew what was in their heart and on their minds, they were just looking for the right words to use.
Emina spoke first, “We would like to question her together, as most of what we need to know is the same. Is that going to be a problem?”
She knew Gage would be against this and she wanted the table’s permission to proceed.
Gage looked at Miranda, for the first time, he was afraid for her. “This is highly unlikely. We have never ganged up on a new comer like this, but I will refrain and let the table decide.”
They all sat down at the table, if it was ok, both of them would be allowed to stand up, if not one would be glued in their seat. “Emina you must sit close to the table this time, it needs to know your heart.” It was only with a scowl that she agreed.
Miranda heard a strange sound and she soon realized the table was speaking to her. She looked around to see if anyone else could hear it and then she quietly mind jumped into Jared and Carma’s minds to see if they could. They couldn’t, it wanted only her and they would talk about it later.
It was a strange voice raspy and old; it asked her “How do you feel about these two people? Do you want them to question you together or apart? I will leave it up to you, I knew your heart and I know you will sit at the head very soon.”
In her mind she answered, “I knew their hearts as well I know they have been and will try to kill me or worse. I hope I didn’t insult you earlier with the human laws, I wanted them to know they weren’t getting anywhere with that information. They can questions me together because I already knew what they want and I will be honest with you, I’m not going to tell them. If you want to know my powers please ask me and I will tell you everything, for you I do trust.”
The table spoke again, “I have known everything since the day you were born, to why you met Jared in the woods, and why you are here now. You are strong and you will keep peace in our land, but you are right they are trying to kill you and I think you will justifiably kill them. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage Jared I know the two of you will rule well.”
“Thank you for your blessing it means the world to me. I am ready when you are.” Miranda smiled and prepared herself.
The table allowed them to both stand, but on the board behind Gage it wrote, “Only two questions total, chose wisely, I find no fault in her and she
should move on quickly.”
There was a gasp in the room and then complete silence. The table had never ruled on a person in this position, it only ruled over people on matters of crime so this made everyone very nervous, except Miranda who didn’t have a clue.
Emina and Mical were the most upset of all. After five minutes of discussion, Emina spoke up, “We have decided that if the table has seen no fault in her then we shall not question the table or her. She may pass through and go to meet the people.” They hurried out of the room and ran to meet up with other people from their own house, there was much to discuss.
Chapter 19
They all came together in the center of the room to walk out the door. It was customary for all of the Concillium to be at the podium, but no one minded that Emina and Mical left, Miranda and Jared expected them to leave.
The table spoke through their minds again but this time everyone in the room heard it, she is the one, the one to change it all so be kind she is my choice. They all looked at each other as they left the room this was a very usual day one they would remember for all time.
The day continued to be sunny and warm, the clouds stayed away as they were told to, and Miranda was introduced to this new world. She was very happy to finally be where she belonged. She would also miss her parents, but not the feuding and fighting that went with it. The people here seemed to be nice and they genuinely wanted her to feel like family. They were all told at the end to go back to anyone within their line, who wasn’t present, and explain everything that happened. There would be no toleration for anyone who did Miranda harm, first because she was Gage’s daughter and Jared’s fiancé, but more importantly, because the table found not fault in her.
Everyone walked back with Miranda to the house, the rest of the Concillium included, as they went back Miranda asked why there was a gasp by the Concillium when the table spoke. She couldn’t understand what the big deal was she had assumed it always spoke.
Fortuna answered her first, “You see my dear, the table does not take considerations when new people come to our world, only when someone is judged. The table was thought to only be there to keep things in order and so no one would take too much power. It seemed to follow the good or evil side of whoever was the current head of the Concillium. It never talks to us other than through the board, where you saw it writing, and we only see that when we are disagreeing about someone or if we are wrong. I have always wondered what it would say in a conversation with any of us, but I guess we will never know, I have tried to speak through my mind but it doesn’t work.” Fortuna smiled, “I would like to spend time talking to you about a lot of things, like how found our world and the whole story of how you got here.” She turned to Gage and Jared, “If you two would allow it.”
Jared laughed, “I do not mean any disrespect however I do believe you don’t know Miranda that well. If you want to talk to her she is the only one you need to ask. Isn’t that right Miranda?” Jared looked at her and then over to his mother.
“I think Jared’s right.” Kilaws spoke up in defense of his son, “I have made the mistake of treating her is if she didn’t exist and” he said holding his neck, “the consequences can be painful.” He laughed along with Jared.
Sahen added to it, “Yes, if she wants us to stay put, she can make it very difficult for us to do anything else.”
Gage looking at Miranda jumped in, “Miranda dear, don’t be upset. You’re just a very independent women and our world isn’t use to that.”
Miranda got a strange look on her face, “So if the table choose to talk to me today, it’s because I’m so dam independent that it knew I would only listen to it.”
She smirk and turned to Fortuna, “It told me to trust you and to speak with you, so yes I would love to spend time with you and learn more things about my new world.”
There was another gasp but this time everyone looked angry. Fortuna included, she scolded Miranda, “You do realize if you lie about the table, it will kill you. Dear child please beg for forgiveness and take that statement back. I know that the table is forgiving and will understand that you don’t know the rules yet.”
“Fortuna, please humor me, touch my head with your hands. I will show you what happened in the room while my eyes were closed, waiting for the questioning to begin. You will see.”
Miranda took Fortuna’s hands in hers and placed them gently on her own head. “Listen quietly and feel what I felt, see what I saw and hear what I was blessed to hear.”
Fortuna’s anger left her and a smile graced her face. In a few minutes it was over and Fortuna herself dropped into one of the deepest bows anyone has seen her bow.
Miranda bowed back and Fortuna turned to Gage and Jared, “Truly your daughter is blessed in our land, no one has wanted to hear the table more than I, and she walks in and it speaks to her, fully and completely. She is a very honor woman.”
The others looked at Miranda and Fortuna as they continued hand in hand into Gage’s back yard. Everyone was silent including Carma, this had never been heard of, and no one knew what to make of it.
They all watch Miranda until finally she stopped them, “Please, I didn’t tell you to have you make me feel crazy again, this is how the humans treated me. Please stop now I don’t want to have to leave again. I need to feel like I’m at home, that you won’t judge me for what I tell you and need to be able to tell you everything.” She was distraught and she felt like her world was going crazy again.
Sahen and Mattis grabbed her, and tried to tackle her and they were not that successful, but it did change the mood.
Jared came up to her kissed her and asked, “Did you want to go upstairs and change or lay down or anything. You have had a very long morning and I could take you up and get you settled if you want. I’ll stay so no one bothers you or all leave and watch over your room, it’s up to you.”
“I would like to change, it’s warm and I would like different clothes on for the weather, it’s such a beautiful day.”
She smiled at Fortuna and turned to Jared, “but I think I can go on my own. No one will bother me; they’re too worried about what you and dad will do to them. Everyone else can eat and have fun I’ll be down soon.”
“I know you want to go alone, but would you mind if I tag along? I want to get out of this thing my mom made me wear.” Carma looked so unhappy in her gown and she wasn’t lying she hated it.
“Please stay in it for a little while longer? I haven’t seen you dressed that nice in so long. How about just a few more hours my dear?”
Her mother was pleading with her, but she knew it wouldn’t work, she was hoping Miranda would make her stay in it.
“I’m going upstairs either with Miranda or right after she leaves, this thing is coming off, ugh I hate fancy dresses. How can you fight in this?” She was kidding but she was getting the dress off.
“Well if you’re going to do it anyway, you can come up with me,” Miranda looked back at Carma’s mother, “Don’t worry at my binding she’ll have to wear one all day and night.” Miranda laughed and ran up the steps so Carma couldn’t catch her. “Remember it’s my binding. I get to choose!!”
“Miranda, why are you doing that to me? I thought we were friends? I though you liked me?” She ran up after Miranda but she wasn’t catching her, “Come on, couldn’t I pay you or something?”
The group laughed at the scene then went back to eating and talking. Everyone was having a good time at Carma’s expense and even Mattis was budding around with Sahen. This was partly because his father gave up on splitting them apart, and partly because if he wasn’t in trouble, so he didn’t really care very much. He had enough problems of his own, his mother was always on him about a wife, now she would be on Carma about her choose for a husband.
On the other side of the town there were different problems, the others didn’t like the way the table had made it impossible for them to question Miranda. They never got any of the information they were after about her, Jare
d, or Gage. They knew if they were going to take power they needed leverage or an angle. The table had taken away their one chance to get this!
After the Concillium meeting was over Emina and Mical needed to go back and report to the ones who didn’t show up in town. Both of them needed to tell their families what they could and couldn’t do now that Miranda was recognized and the fact that the table spoke of her was even more important.
Emina spoke to her family, “She is new to our land and now even the table speaks for her, how are we to deal with this?” Her anger rang out with every word she spoke, “We need to help Gage step down before she can convince him to stay. What can we do to force him down and yet not touch him ourselves?”
Mical stared at her; he had a burning inside of his body that was killing him. He needed one of them to get that seat of power and he would do anything to get it.
“Emina how do the rules of binding work? We can see how smitten she is with Kilaws son, Jared. Can we make it so she forces Gage to step down herself to save her precious Jared, stupid vampire.”
Emina smiled a cruel, wicked smile, “Yes, Gage even seems ok with it and I thought he would never let blood lines mix. You could challenge for her hand or is that why you have been trying to boost Celbris’ powers? Have you been planning something all along, because you know that right now Jared is stronger than Celbris? Can he Celbris defeat Jared now?”
“I think we can try with Celbris and if Jared is stronger we’ve lost nothing, but if Celbris is stronger he’ll have a new wife to torture and then destroy. Gage would go crazy and kill someone it doesn’t matter who, and the table will kill him, and you take his place. If anything it will put the last nail in Gage’s coffin, he brought her here to us, he knows what this world is capable of, we can blame it on him and destroy him from the inside out.”
Between Shadows Page 22
