“We didn’t ask for you!” the ninth councilor exclaimed.
Flatly, Arvus said, “We’re not leaving Trill in here alone.”
The ninth councilor’s face went bright red. “Your Majesty!” he exclaimed loudly. “How can we trust a word these people are saying? They’re clearly under the influence of these carnalions!”
“Neither Trill nor I are carnalions, Councilor,” Perian corrected calmly.
Trill shuffled a bit closer to Molun and Arvus. It hadn’t exactly helped matters, but Cormal wouldn’t have wanted Kinan to come in here alone, either—and Kinan had a lot more experience with the councilors than Trill did.
It was Brannal who said, “I’m not sure how you think carnalion seduction works, but I assure you, it doesn’t leave people calmly rational enough to have a conversation like this. It’s overwhelminglust,Councilor, for the carnalion doing the seducing. That’s all the victim can think about.”
“You said victim!” the ninth councilor crowed.
“Yes,” Brannal agreed dryly, looking at the man like he was stupid. No argument from Cormal. “Altering people’s feelings without their consent would be a crime. As we have already explained, we aren’t arguing that carnalions and children of twoworlds be allowed to do whatever they wish if that contravenes the country’s laws. We’re arguing that they shouldn’t be convicted of a crime before they’ve committed it.”
The ninth councilor was on his feet, gesticulating wildly to his fellow councilors. “Look at this! They’reclearlynot in their right minds! I demand this travesty be brought to an end immediately!”
Two fireballs blossomed in Cormal’s clenched fists, and everyone in the room froze.
“Sit down,” Cormal ordered.
The man stared at him with huge eyes.
“Sit. Down. Right. Now.”
The man sat.
For just a moment, Cormal considered actually throwing the fireballs. He really,reallywanted to.
Suppressing a sigh, he made the fireballs wink out.
“People with magic have always had certain abilities that non-magical folks don’t,” Cormal said, keeping his voice even with an effort.
It was probably a bit too despotic to think if you wiped out the worst councilor, the others would fall in line? Yeah, that was probably a bit far. Pity.
Cormal continued, “Even if carnalions possessed the abilities you seemed determined to endow them with, there are ways that other people can achieve similar ends. I can threaten you with an element. Someone stronger than you can threaten you with bodily harm. Any non-magical person in this room could threaten you with a weapon. The Queen could order you to stop talking. The world is full of people who can influence us in a variety of ways. You’re acting as though carnalions are the only being who have ever committed a crime, and that’s ludicrous.”
Kinan stepped in smoothly. “Perhaps if we complete the healing demonstration, that will answer more questions.”
Of course it wasn’t that easy. The sixth councilor didn’t want any of them to injure themselves in order to be healed, because that could all be a ploy, as the ninth councilor had suggested.
“Are you volunteering, Councilor?” Cormal demanded.
She demurred immediately.
“Anyone?” Brannal asked. “If you won’t accept our evidence, I believe we’re at an impasse.”
Silence reigned for a long moment, and then the first councilor said, “I volunteer.”
She’d been elected for her first term only four years ago, and she was in her early thirties. She’d always seemed reasonable when Cormal had dealt with her in the past, and he desperately hoped this meant she was here with an open mind.
She matter-of-factly asked Perian and Trill if they would have any trouble healing a knife wound, and when they confirmed it would be fine, she cut open her own arm and actually walked amidst all the councilors so they could see clearly that she was really injured.
A couple of the councilors looked a little green.
Once everyone was satisfied that they’d seen enough of the wound, Perian and Trill reached out, laid a hand on hers, and a moment later, the wound was gone. Wiping away the leftover blood showed that the arm was completely unblemished, not even a scar remaining.
A mutter swirled around the room.
