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Conrad
The boardroom was imposing as ever. The stone cathedral ceilings echoed with the voices of the congregation back to the presenting council. Sofia slammed her gavel down on the sound block from her raised podium at the front of the room. I sat on her right, in the proposition position, and Trenton sat with The Siren on her left, as challenger.
Sofia had allowed each of us one witness to support our case. I had originally wanted to have Mr. Abbey as my supporting council, considering how respected he was with the rest of The Board. However, the principal had talked me out of it, saying that depending on how Trenton planned to use The Siren to support his case, it might make more sense to have a daemon on our bench to defend against whatever argument they may come forward with.
So it was Dossidian, who sat next to me. All 6’9” of him, coated in restructium armor. The magick folk eyed him warily. The Siren was equally as intimidating in my opinion. She was tall, lean, and her entire body was clearly corded with muscle beneath her own restructium suit. Her black, dreadlocked hair fell to her waist and what little of her midnight skin was visible, was covered in battle scars. Plainly showing how seasoned she was with a blade.
It was the expression on her face, however, that unnerved me the most. Blank, cold, and unforgiving. It was the same look she had worn when she stabbed me in the neck. She hadn’t spared one flicker of emotion for my life. Perhaps it was this that made me feel she was the more intimidating of the two daemons in the room. The rest of The Board had no context of character to apply to these two powerful beings. It would be my job to expose the truth.
Once The Board had quieted, Sofia went through the opening ceremony, invoking the deities we drew our powers from, and requesting that they help us remain impartial and just in our judgment over the upcoming proceedings.
Following the opening words, she held a ceremonial transfer of artifacts, where I publicly returned The Lens into The Board’s possession. It was disclosed to the audience that a forgotten vote had been held several weeks earlier where I had requested access to The Lens, and many of the people currently in the room had voted yes.
When all the niceties and opening ceremonies were out of the way, it was time for Sofia to present this meeting’s objective.
“Honorable members of The Board, we gather here today to bear witness and pass judgement on Honorable Conrad Brown’s requisition. His supplications are twofold. First order of business will entail granting him unfettered access to our archives to search for a counter to an artifact that he and The Origin’s Daughter refer to as The Flute. This, he informs me, will play a role in an upcoming war that is currently brewing across The Veil.” She paused, waiting for questions. There were none, the congregation seemed to be holding its breath.
“Honorable Conrad Brown’s second order of business is to request the conscription of our citizens into The Dominion of Sin’s war.” The congregation exploded in outraged indignation, and I sighed. I had known I would have my work cut out for me, but a small part of me had still hoped The Board would have been sympathetic.
“Order, Order!” Sofia slammed her gavel down until the magick folk quieted. Many of them looked disturbed, stricken, or flat out angry.
A German witch from the congregation requested to speak.
“What of challenging council? Surely Honorable Trenton Blackwood does not agree that we should involve ourselves in a daemon war?”
“Honorable Trenton Blackwood challenge’s these requisitions, yes. However, he does not challenge the suggestion that we involve ourselves in the daemon’s war. He challenges the alliance with The Origin’s Daughter. He suggests we align ourselves with Queen Ash Nevra to prevent Raven Fisher from usurping the throne.”
I ground my teeth at Sofia’s wording. Raven was not the usurper. She was the true heir. Ash Nevra was the brood parasite, occupying a throne that didn’t belong to her.
More exclamations and questions burst forth and Sofia slammed her gavel down again until the audience quieted.
“Order! One more outburst and I will adjourn. I will not have chaos in this boardroom.” She said sternly. “As is tradition, Honorable Conrad Brown will present his requisition, and Honorable Trenton Blackwood will follow up with a defense, followed by a vote. Honorable Conrad Brown, you have the floor.”
I glanced over at Dossidian, pursing my lips. He nodded at me, giving me an encouraging look.
“Have courage, Obeah Man.” He said softly, his arms crossed over his great chest. “This crowd will challenge you, but you walk the path of justice, and that is more than our kind has ever hoped for.”
“What if mi fail?” I allowed myself one small moment of doubt, and Dossidian’s face softened.
“Don’t borrow the worries of tomorrow when we already have so much on our plate for today. All you can do is your best. That is all we can ask of you.”
I nodded and stood, making the decision to leave my anxieties behind, as I stepped out from behind the bench to face the crowd.
Dossidian was right. Even if I failed, I knew in my heart that my intentions were for the greater good. I had trained my whole life to become a member of The Board, because I cared about balance. I cared about making things even, just and fair… for all peoples.
As long as I stayed true, no matter what happened, I would never lose my way.
Conrad
“Honorable Members of The Board.” I greeted the congregation, and winced internally as I realized I had inadvertently stifled my Jamaican accent. Blackwood had gotten in my head earlier with his backhanded comment. I glanced at opposing council. He was watching me with a satisfied smirk, letting me know that he knew he had gotten to me. I couldn’t let him have the satisfaction.
My grandmother had never needed to change a thing about herself to command respect from these people. So neither would I.
‘Grandma, lend me yuh strength,’ I sent a silent prayer to Patricia. I wasn’t sure if she had any sway in the afterlife, but if she did, I hoped she was petitioning the deities that managed luck. I forced myself to let my nerves fall away and eyed the congregation with an air of authority and easy confidence that I had seen Patricia use countless times before. I would get them on my side. I had to.
“We gather here today, to discuss di looming threat of war.” I paused, making eye contact with several members of the audience. No one looked happy, but all of them looked engaged. I had their attention.
“Nobody want war.” I continued solemnly. “Mi understand, yuh fear, yuh hesitance, and even ya anger, at di mere suggestion that wi risk magickal blood in a conflict that should have nothing to do with our people.” The crowd began to stir. Soft murmurs of agreement rolled through the seats of the congregation at my words. I increased the timbre of my voice, raising my hands, inviting them to rally with me.
