Chapter Fifty-Six: The Captain, Part 2

As Yue opened the door to the courtroom, she immediately felt the stare of dozens of eyes alighting on her and her fellow warriors. The courtroom was created to look condescending, like the defendant was guilty no matter what. It felt like judgment just to enter.

Maybe ten feet above where the defendant had to stand was a circular balcony with three rings of chairs placed each above and behind each other. In the highest row of chairs were the fifteen members of the council, below that were their pages, and beneath that were the organizer, recorder, and any and every administration job. Usually, the judge would be there too, except this wasn’t a trial.

Yue observed the fifteen members. She didn’t recognize any of them, but some of them looked slightly familiar, and she guessed she’d seen them around during patrols. One thing she did notice, though, was the clothing. All of them were wearing suits, but there seemed to be three different colors. Seven of the members were wearing black suits, elegant looking but serious and demanding respect. Three of the members were wearing white suits, standing for neutrality and pureness. The other five were wearing blood-red suits, and they looked sinister and no-nonsense, ready to judge at a moment’s notice. Yue assumed the three colors were split by some issue, but if it had something to do with the Cult she didn’t know.

The organizer wore a purple suit to not match any of the others. Each of the pages wore a specifically colored suit for their member. The pages that worked for the black-suited members wore varying shades of black and gray, depending on their members. Likewise, the pages working for the white-suited and red-suited members wore varying shades of white and red colors, respectively.

“May the potential future vanguard leaders be brought to attention, please,” The organizer told them, staring at them without any expression.

Yue, Kol, and Yiro straightened themselves and met the organizer’s stare. Satisfied, he turned to his papers.

“The Vanguard has a new captain. That person has already been chosen. But, as is tradition, the members of parliament still have a chance to change their mind. So they shall now state who they have picked as their captain. One by one, starting with you, Member Thurri.”

Member Thurri gulped uncomfortably but recovered quickly.

“My vote goes to Kol Guyhian.”

“Thank you,” The organizer said, staring at his paper. “MemberT’tam?”

“I have decided to vote for Yue Zhang.” The man—maybe twenty-eight—smiled down approvingly at Yue, winking.

Yue Zhang closed her eyes as she got her first vote. She didn’t know what she thought about it. On the one hand, it felt good to know that some people had confidence. But then again, she didn’t know if they should have.

“Member Killia?”

“I vote for Kol.” Member Killia smiled and smoothed her red robes, smiling at Kol. Sharply, her gaze turned to Yue and she narrowed her eyes, her lips raised in scorn. A shiver passed through Yue, but she met her glare unblinking.

“Member Sonorah?”

“Yiro Gongsun.”

Yiro breathed a sigh of relief next to Yue, who shook her head. Yiro wouldn’t be picked and by now, she was almost sure of it.

“Member Lysandra?”

Member Lysandra started like she hadn’t been listening, her long lashes flashing up and down. “I vote for Yue Zhang.” She smiled at Member T’tam who nodded to her in appreciation.

Five votes had been cast, and so far Kol and Yue were equal. Looking at the two warriors next to her, she found a mix of emotions. Kol was filled with anticipation, excitement, and nervousness, unable to conceal it. Yiro’s disappointment was also clear on her face, but arrogance told her to hide it. Her gritted teeth told Yue all she needed to know, though.

“Member Jul?”

“I vote for,” The member let the anticipation hang, but eventually he noticed that the organizer was glaring at him. “Kol Guyhian.”

The recorder scratched on his paper, writing furiously. Yue guessed this Member had changed his mind over the vote. Frowning slightly, the organizer explored his papers, searching for something. Eventually, he found what he was looking for.

“Member Guyros, who shall you vote for?”

The member who the organizer was referring to was old, maybe in his eighties, and he looked wise.

“I vote for Yue Zhang to be the next Captain of the Vanguard.”

“Member Lyrris?”

“Kol Guyhian.”

“And you, Member Tyrian? Who shall you vote for?”

“I vote for Kol Guyhian.”

The organizer nodded and looked at the warriors again, his face still impassive as he looked at each one.

“Member Drago?” He asked.

“I vote for Kol as well. He is the perfect fit.”

Ten votes down, five to go. Yiro was fighting tears, and Yue couldn’t help but fight down a little disappointment. She’d always said she wanted to lose, but now facing it, it seemed crushing, embarrassing to only have three out of the ten votes. Kol had six! That was double what she had.

Next to her, Kol was trying to rein in his excitement. All of them seemed to be assured of his victory, and Yue knew he deserved it.

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“Member Firrden?”

A pause as the member seemed to think about what he would say. Kol nudged Yue next to him, and smiled in nervous happiness. Yue couldn’t help but mirror his smile and shake her head in disappointment.

“You still have a shot,” Kol whispered.

“Be quiet while in session,” The organizer interrupted. “Member Firrden?”

“I vote for Yue Zhang.”

“Member Ravienne.”

“My vote is cast. Yiro Gongsun owns it.”

Yiro didn’t have any visible reaction to the announcement, but it didn’t matter. Yiro couldn’t be the Captain anymore, and for that, yue was happy. She could be satisfied with either her or Kol being captain.

There were three votes left; Kol had six and Yue had four. Unless yue got all three of the last votes, she wouldn’t win.

“Member Wesron?”

Member Wesron stared down in hate towards Yue, his red robes flaring. Immediately, yue knew who he would pick. The way he stared at her meant he wouldn’t vote for her. Bowing her head, she waited for his judgment in the form of his vote.

“I vote for the only fit captain, the only one who could complete the tasks well, one unbiased by their poisonous thoughts. One who does not serve the darkness.”

Yue winced a little at the start of his pronouncements, but the more he talked, the more hate she felt. She glared up at him.

“Yes, we understand, Member Wesron. Who is your vote for?”

Triumphantly, Member Wesron cast his vote.

“Kol Guyhian.”

Kol sagged in his seat in relief and ecstasy. Yue kept her composure, glaring at Member Wesron but showing no frustration or sadness.

And, now that Kol had won, she felt no sadness, frustration, or anger. She felt only peace and a little happiness. She would be able to keep her hobbies, to do what she wanted without the duty of Captain. Plus, Kol clearly deserved it more than her. There were tears on Yiro’s cheek, but Yue felt no pity for her.

“The Captain has been chosen. But there are still two votes left. Member Th’olian?”

The member smiled down at all of them before casting her vote.

“Yue Zhang.”

And you, Member Tanar?”

“Kol Guyhian.”

“And thus is the Captain chosen,” The organizer drawled. “Yiro Gongsun was cast with two votes. Yue Zhang was cast with five votes. Kol Guyhian was cast with eight votes.”

“Kol Guyhian, you are now the Captain of the Vanguard. In one day’s time, all of the Vanguard will be congregated with us so we can formally induct you as captain. That is all. This meeting is adjourned.”

The organizer, recorder, members, and pages all began to file out hurriedly.

“Congratulations, Captain Kol, sir,” Yue smiled, shaking his hand.

“It’ll be a long time before I’m used to that,” He cringed. “But I'm happy for the privilege, Warrior Yue.”

“Aw, come here, you bastard,” She smiled, embracing him. “I’m so proud of you.”

“No hard feelings?”

“Why would I have hard feelings? I had my vote placed on you.”

“Thank you for the confidence,” Kol responded. “I can’t believe I’m actually captain.”

“Well, you better believe it,” Yue teased. “Or else you’ll do a pretty pitiful job.”

“I have you to help me,” Kol said wickedly. “You’ll be my errand—”

“No!” Yue responded. “Don’t even dare.”

Kol laughed, then turned, frowning.

“Have you seen Yiro?”

“I think she already left?” Yue guessed, phasing it as a question.

“I feel a little bad for her.”

“Not me. She needed to be brought down a peg.”

“True. Well, I have to return. Will you stay here in Magefell or will you return with me?”

“I think I’ll stay a little,” Yue responded. “But thanks for the invitation. And congratulations, Captain.” She saluted, then winked.

— — —

At the foot of the parliamentary hall, Yue breathed in the air of the city. Now, she was under the head of a new captain. She hoped he would be a good one, but she knew it would be hard for him to be better than the Wolf in his prime. The last month the wolf had been captain, he had done a poor job, but the rest of the time Yue couldn’t deny how great he’d been. She knew it would be tough for Kol to fill those shoes, but if anyone could do it, it was probably Kol.

Walking down the steps to the hall, Yue smiled. Whatever happened next, she was ready.

Then she ran into someone.

The man fell backwards, and Yue stumbled to the ground. Standing up quickly, the man—she recognized him as Member T’tam—gave her his hand, and she used it to get up.

“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking,” The man responded. He was brown-haired, almost bald, with a nice beard and mustache that Yue would be envious of if she had been a boy. “You are Yue Zhang, the Sterkona. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Yue responded. “Didn’t you give me your vote, Member T’tam?”

Eyes twinkling, Member T’tam responded, *Just T’tam, please. And yes, I did. I thought you were the right fit. Sadly,” He continued, frowning. “The other members of Parliament did not feel the same. I am sorry about how it turned out.”

“I bear no ill will,” Yue said. “I think Kol was the right fit anyway. But thank you, Member T’tam. I appreciate it very much.”

“The only one who must be thankful is me. You probably didn’t see me, but I was there when the whole incident with the pillar…”

“I remember that,” Yue responded. “That’s why you looked so familiar. I just did what I thought was right.”

“You helped the city when it was in a critical state. You did more than us members could do, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude. You did also take care of Captain Wolf, and for that I’m sure the Vanguard is grateful.”

“It was a team effort,” Yue admitted, blushing.

“Ah yes, Alyx, Aster, Xander, Poli—who I was sorry to hear had passed—Artemis, and Neena.”

“How do you know all that?”

“I know all about the city,” The man responded. “But I’ve taken special interest in you. Your stories have inspired me. Plus, I have to fight the Cult myself, if only politically.”

“I’m happy to hear that.” She paused. “About the inspiration, I mean. And I’m glad you’re fighting the Cult. They went too far at this battle, and with the riots, and I can’t do much for now.”

“That’s where us members come in,” Member T’tam said. “Let us take care of it. They hold a lot of influence, but we still outnumber them. We do everything we can to stop them.

“We always will.”