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“You are physically interfering with the human world. You have sent our warriors to fight on their behalf. Our law prevents us from interfering with the humans and their world.”
“But that is not exactly what I am doing, as you well know,” the Queen answered calmly.
“It is precisely what you are doing!” Banzar snapped.
“And that is why you are not fit to lead my Council Members. All of whom I am gravely disappointed in.” She held her head high and with a slight sneer, and said, “The Dark Prince has moved his monsters into the Human Realm. The lower castes are feeding on the humans and will multiply if not stopped. We have a duty to stop them from feeding on humans, because we brought them to this universe when we left Danu. It was our duty to keep them imprisoned. When they have conquered the humans, where next do you think they will turn?” She pyramided her fingers. “What my Council should be doing is research for me. I need to discover where we can gather the Twalla which will keep them in the Dark Realm once we have returned them there. That is what you should be concentrating on doing.” She eyed them all, “Now I think you should all leave and reflect on what you have tried to do today.”
Her Council would have left then. They would have run for they could see she was out of patience, but Banzar put up his hand. Some of them stayed because they felt now they could no longer turn back. If she remained Queen, they were doomed. Others stayed out of way. Others stayed because they thought they should be heard and explain their actions to the Queen.
“No my Queen. We will not be thrown off course by scare tactics,” Banzar said.
“Will you not?” Aaibhe returned her brilliant eyes glittering.
Mab raised her hand, “Do let me send them off somewhere out of the way.”
Aaibhe smiled at her cousin and turned back to them and said simply, “As I said, please leave. Scurry back to your hovels and think about your priorities.”
“We have no choice but to continue with this. We have, you see voted to remove you,” said Banzar.
The Council broke out into objections. For most of them, this was suddenly unthinkable. They had in fact been led by the Queen through those first unthinkable years after Danu’s destruction. Suddenly a few of them saw what they were doing with distaste and began to protest.
Aaibhe’s lips trembled with her outrage, “Banzar, tread carefully. I consider your actions now at such a tumultuous time to be treasonable.”
“It is odd how we consider yours.” Banzar didn’t know where the courage was coming from to take such an unprecedented stand.
The Council members had been quietly arguing amongst themselves. Then one spoke up and said, “Indeed, Queen Aaibhe. Banzar has a very grave point. You sent the warriors into battle without even consulting us.”
“It’s my right as your Queen. It’s my right as a warrior. It’s my right…period!” returned Aaibhe.
“We don’t have time for this Aaibhe,” Queen Mab said as she regarded these Fae with contempt. “Shall I put them somewhere you may deal with later?”
“No, it is not my way.” She turned to Banzar. “Have you any military willing to put me under arrest?”
Banzar frowned. He did not. He had tried to talk a few of their royal militant leaders to follow him, and they had laughed at him. “I did not think that was necessary. I mean only to put you under house arrest in the comfort of your own quarters. We are not barbaric after all.”
“Are you not?” she sneered at him. “And how then do you mean to recall the warriors I have sent into battle?”
“You will do that as your duty, commanded by the vote we have taken,” he answered.
Queen Mab was out of patience. She flicked her wrist and the entire Council vanished.
Aaibhe was not shocked but concerned as she turned, “Mab, what have you done?”
“Aaibhe, we have a problem in Killarney and they were taking up our valuable time.” Queen
Mab said.
“But dearest, what have you done with them?”
“I have sent them to a dimension where they cannot be harmed and where they can do no harm. It will give them pause and perhaps they can reflect on the majesty of their Queen, her loyal family, and Royals and her warriors.” She shook her head, “None of those fools were royals, Aaibhe. Why you appointed them is a mystery to me.”
“I wanted the point of view of our citizens,” Aaibhe said.
“They have lost touch with your citizens. I do not wish to discuss them. Deimne has finished removing the Portal from Venice and has shifted to Killarney where your Royals are in a fierce battle. We must concentrate on that.”
Aaibhe knew she was correct. She could if she wished insist that Mab return her Council to Tir and let them do what they wanted. Mab, however, had a very good point. They had lost touch with everything important and perhaps they needed this time away, reflecting on the magic that was not theirs. It just might help her political situation.
“Very well then, Mab. We will speak of this afterwards, as I do not wish to retrieve my Council without your leave.”
