The Twisted Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 3)

Chapter 6.1

Image: Joara Narendra, by D. Denise Dianaty

The Citizens Council had been allotted a meeting chamber of its own in the residential section of the palace complex. Haaron had chosen it as being convenient to the rooms the Council members would occupy while in residence, but Sabrina wondered if he had been pressured to separate the group from the Ministry offices. Her experiment was not much liked in bureaucratic circles. Well, since the new room was convenient to her own apartment, she wasn't going to complain.

In the antechamber, she could hear the buzz of conversation and was a little surprised that Haaron wasn't waiting to greet her. Well, she was late; perhaps he had gone in to reassure and placate the Council. She glanced at Aliza, walking sedately two steps behind her with the same glowing smile she'd worn all morning, and Darice, who looked amused as she trailed them both. Sabrina couldn't help smiling too; such quiet happiness was contagious. It gave her confidence as she pushed the doors open.

The group, about a dozen people of nearly all ages, quieted as they saw her. Haaron came forward, smiling, and bowed a greeting. "Haaron, good morning," she said, taking his hand with a warm smile. "I am sorry I'm late."

"No apology is necessary," he replied. "I congratulate you on your speech, Lady Sabrina. I had not thought you could further impress me, but I was wrong."

"Flatterer," Sabrina grinned. "Well, unfortunately my time is limited, so introduce everyone, please. I'm eager to meet my new Council and get started on our tasks."

"Certainly," Haaron said. He stood back a little for Sabrina to precede him toward the group, who were quietly arranging themselves—presumably in order of precedence. One of the things Sabrina found hardest to get used to on Praxatillus was the way everyone operated by an unspoken hierarchy, seemingly learned at birth. She supposed it was like learning languages; it got harder as you got older.

Haaron was gesturing toward the closest councilor, an older woman with shoulder-length gray hair and hazel eyes, her face lined and controlled. Haaron said, "My lady, I present Joara Narendra, the Zhoern of Bathir."

Sabrina recalled from her briefing that a zhoern was a fierce predator, and that Joara had won that title during the Xoentrol War, when she had helped drive off the only garrison the Xoentrols had managed to establish in Bathir. "It is a pleasure," she said. "Welcome."

"Thank you, my lady. I am pleased to serve," Joara replied, her voice deep and rich.

"Citizen Narendra will be serving as the Council's first chair," Haaron said. "The Council voted on it, as you instructed."

"Excellent," Sabrina said.

Next was a man of indeterminate age from the principality of Pendarazloch—Sehaèri's principality, Sabrina remembered. His name was Nyels Corban, and he had light blond hair and aqua green eyes that contrasted with his tanned face. Something about his stance reminded her of Scotty, and she found the resemblance heartening. There was something intimidating about Joara, and she was hoping that the Citizens Council would be easy to deal with.

Khator, a desert principality, had sent a young man named Rualak Tahg. He was good-looking in a stormy way, with rich black hair and green eyes. His greeting was calm and deferential, though his eyes summed her up critically. Sabrina turned from him to Brusasch Jorvst, from Tythir, a northern province. Brusasch's black hair was turning to silver; his eyes remained dark and inscrutable. But the rest of his face shone with friendly charm, and Sabrina liked him on sight.

Retired General Daman ya yel Koaçernahgh nar Zhahghai, representing the population of refugees from Praxatillus' moon, looked much like Sabrina expected from Rayland and Scotty's descriptions. She knew he was more than 300 years old, and she also remembered that he was Therenden's uncle by marriage. His hair was completely gray, contrasting with his black eyes, and he carried a cane, further reinforcing Sabrina's comparison of him with Rayland.

"I am honored to meet my old friend's daughter," the General greeted her. "I am pleased that he has found the comfort of a family."

"It is my brother and I who are comforted," Sabrina smiled. "And honored. My father asked me to convey his greetings to you, and his pleasure that we would be working together."

"I look forward to it," Daman said.

Haaron next led her to a young woman with an air of impatient purpose. She had black hair and blue-gray eyes, and she seemed very young compared to her companions. "This is Naora Aorvin, from Mthalgar," Haaron said.

"That's a northern province, isn't it?" Sabrina said. "Welcome, Citizen Aorvin."

"Thank you. I am pleased to contribute to our world's recovery," Naora said crisply. "I look forward to our work."

"I'm sure there will be plenty of it," Sabrina said.

Haaron then presented the second Miahn on the council, Maehr ya yel Davorhghai nar Tor, from Skardaros, a chain of islands in the southern hemisphere. Sabrina recalled that Maehr had lost all her family in the war and left the planet, only to return when she found her home, bad memories and all, more congenial than the rest of the galaxy. She wore dark mourning and the first slacks Sabrina had seen on a woman on Praxatillus. Maehr's greeting was somber. Her hair was a rich brown, her eyes a startling green.

Ryaen Blaisop was a citizen of the Tree Cities, one of the ancient treebound settlements on the same northern continent with Tythir and Mthalgar. The Tree Cities were considered sacred ground by most Praxatillians, and their citizens led largely insulated lives. Most of them had not enlisted in the armed forces but had fought fiercely to defend the Trees and surrounding areas from the Xoentrols. Legend had it that Miah had first landed in the Tree Cities. Ryaen was from Tree Blaisop, one of the oldest trees, Sabrina knew. He had a pleasant, open face under sandy hair and a light tan.

Taeir province, a mountainous island with several volcanoes, had sent Nolizar Bhrehr, another youngish man with blond hair and hazel eyes who seemed uncomfortable and unsure of himself. By contrast, Uriavan Ghestev, an older man from Naeirora province, committed a breach of protocol by speaking before Sabrina had quite finished. He had a military bearing, and Sabrina thought she remembered that he had served with distinction in the ground forces during the war. His gray eyes examined her sharply, and his brown hair was cut short and in perfect order.

Deniranié Andiji, a confident young woman with eye-catching auburn hair, was from Zhyaère, Rndara's principality. She reminded Sabrina somewhat of the flame-haired, passionate princess. Gahnoarav Lukaise, from Trostal, a swampy island province, seemed low-key by comparison, his dark eyes hard to read but his expression and greeting friendly.

Sabrina turned to the next person only to find an empty space. Haaron was looking around in consternation, his expression clearing as he found who he was looking for. By process of elimination, Sabrina knew this had to be Tassan Nikolar, from the desert principality of Zarn. He was tanned, with blond hair just beginning to show silver and arresting pale gray eyes. His critical gaze made Sabrina stiffen a little, but she managed to say graciously, "Welcome, Citizen Nikolar. I hope you will enjoy your time here on Dansestari."

Tassan gave her a rather sardonic smile. "I imagine I will enjoy my sojourn here about as much as you do, my lady."

Sabrina was unsure how to take that comment, so she merely nodded, giving him a quizzical look, and turned back to Haaron. "Well, let's sit down and get to work."

They all moved toward the large, oblong table, with Sabrina at one end and Joara at the other. Joara said, "My lady, if you please, we have each prepared a small introductory presentation."

"Excellent," Sabrina said. "Please begin."