An angry councilman shouts out loud “Sirius!? Sirius!” his mind had gone elsewhere, watching birds fly past the tall windows of the courtroom soothed Siruis’s mind in just the right way.
All was deafened. Taking part in meetings all day wasn't Sirius’s thing all he wanted to do was to sit down in the library and read.
The councilman repeated himself once again “My prince, are you listening?” Sirius turned his gaze at the six councilmen sitting around the courts table; made of dark wood from forests in Ballanor.
In its middle you could see a map created by the kingdom's finest map makers. Sirius rested his chin against the palm of his right hand.
He with a calm voice said "I'm listening.” Every councilman around had donned robes of different colors which showed their status and which house they belonged to.
One old man, bald, around 5’10 hastily stood up, pushing his council chair back; the robe was green.
“If I may, my prince.” the old man said with a rough voice. Sirius stretched out his hand pointing it towards the man with the palm up at the ceiling.
“You may. Sir?”
The old man's face shocked couldn't believe that he didn't know the names of all the councilmen. It's a rule of the realms order to know which counselor is which.
“I'm Corvictus Merlin representing the house Corvin and its family.”
“Well then Merlin, go on, you may speak what needs to be spoken before the council. And don't waste our time.”
Merlin looked appalled by what Sirius had uttered. Since Sirius wasn't his father the rest of the councilmen would not take him seriously if he didn't behave in a strong and strict manner.
At least that's what Sirius believed.
“A day prior to this meeting I was informed of the Cascan opposition retreating, back to Casanau. At this date there has not been any more information as to why they've retreated.
Our soldiers on the Western front are in a stand-still currently awaiting the orders of the council while the king is planning the future on the front.
I would propose that we send supplies and equipment for the winter to come and that we advance the western front onward, to the Northern lands, pushing it as far as we can possibly go.”
A man on the opposite side of the table to Merlin in a quick manner rose up from his chair; emitting a horrid sound from its legs rasping the floor.
“I don’t agree with house Corvin. If I may, prince?” Sirius straightened his posture. He swiftly waved his hand. “You may. And what's your name sir?”
The man looked built like a sea-warrior, skinny but strong, a battle scar on his right cheek ran from below his mouth up till the ear, his hair was cut short and chestnut brown, clean shaven and the color of his court robe, red.
He rested his hand on the chest with his palm outwards showing loyalty and respect. “My name’s Hulvstd Valan, representing house Hulvstd and its family.” Sirius smiled saying “Now speak your truths, Valan the Snake Eater.”
Valan of house hulvstd was given his title Snake Eater after the five year war out on the eastern sea, protecting his house.
The war had gone down in the history books as one of the greatest wars fought on the eastern ocean. And it was during the last battle that he received his scar; getting cut by a dagger as he fought against prince Ole Hardgaard from the Cascan kingdom.
The legends say that after having defeated Ole, Valan drank Ole’s blood and ate from his body while making Ole’s younger brother named Yvar watch from afar.
No one knows to this day what had been done with Yvar; only unreliable rumors have drifted through the halls of every noble's house in the Ballanorian kingdom.
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Saying that he tortured and bled Yvar slowly to death or that Valan gave Yvar to his own regiment as a present for them to toy around with.
This conflict is the fuel for the brazier that is currently lit a fire on the western front. Houses from the Cascan kingdom banding together in a war for revenge and the conquering of the long lived Ballanorian kingdom.
“Yes now as I said, I don't agree with house Corvin. I do not think that we should push our army onto Cascan territory during the winter season, because if we do that we risk losing the battle.
We can't just waltz into their territory, thinking that we'll win, because to be fair we won't, the Cascan soldiers are used to the weather and the harsh landscape unlike our own soldiers which are soft compared to them.
The best thing for us to do here is to wait for the winter to pass and then push our soldiers onward.”
Valan moved his hand around the table map. Frantic whispers erupted in the courtroom.
A new man rose from his chair, he looked eager to speak. His robe was Brown. His hair white as snow, Skinny like a stick, taller than an average man and he had a very wrinkly face.
“Amund Carsel is my name, I represent house Amund and its family. May I speak?” Sirius replied “Yes you may.”
His mood was still calm even though every nerve twitched and felt uneasy. The impatience is growing large by every minute passing, he wasn't like his dad, not even close.
Carsel placed his palm by the chest and faced it outwards for everyone to see, showing respect to Sirius.
His voice sounded firm whilst he spoke aloud to the council “House Amund and House Lonshyre are in agreement that the two actions discussed here should be voted upon by the seven houses of the council.
Do any house disagree?” In unison the council proclaimed “Nay.” Sirius rose from his chair with a straight posture, showing the sign of respect with his palm by the chest.
Standing straight he then said “I Sirius Ballanor the prince of Ballanoria and protector of the realm hereby sets the courtroom in a vote between House Hulvstd’s word and House Corvin’s.”
In a less formal manner he then commanded “You two, sisters of Court, go fetch our voting ribbons and give each council member their representative color.”
He pointed at the two sisters by the door on the opposite side of the room. They wore black and gold striped dresses fit for sisters of the court.
Each man got his ribbon, they were to tie the ribbon around their eyes. When done, the vote would start. On the left side of the table sits the houses, Hulvstd:red color, Karath:Purple color and Plaamund:White color.
On its right side sits, Corvin:Green color, Amund:Brown color and Lonshyre:Black color. And by the end of the table at the end of said courtroom sits house Ballanor:Gold color.
The house to start the voting is always the king's house which means that Sirius must vote first. Each house after having tied their ribbons around their heads, is given a ball that has the house insignia on it.
As they are given the ball they will have to choose if to place it in House Corvin’s cup or if to place it in House Hulvstd’s.
Sirius didn't know what to choose but what felt right was Hulvstd’s proposition; to wait until the winter has passed.
He thought it would be a great risk to go into war during winter, it could mean losing the king, his father. So he leaned over and placed his ball in the cup closest to him with house Hulvstd’s insignia on it.
A sea snake biting its own tail around a fire. (The sea snake is an important part of house Hulvstd’s insignia because the first Hulvstd is said to have owned one.) A Thump echoed from the cup as his ball fell down it.
Then there was another Thump and another, until every single one had voted.
In the end of the voting session one of the sisters rings a bell to signal its end. Then the other walked over to the table and carried each cup away to count the votes.
Sirius had taken off his ribbon meeting several nervous looks from every eye by the courtroom table. Each and every one hoping their vote would be the winning vote.
The sister of the court stood on the left side of the room by one of the tables which had wines and foods on it. She took one hand and tilted the cup eyeing which insignias were in there and how many.
As she was done she wrote down the results on a piece of paper, she folded the piece and gave it to Sirius. He then rose up again, commanding “Silence. The results are here.” Sirius held up the letter.
Frenzied talks had gone on during the minutes it took counting. Now the mouths were shut. The gaze they'd given him after commanding them, made each one seem like a puppy except for Hulvstd and Plaamund.
Fierce warriors they were. Sirius slowly opened the piece of paper.
He tried not to look shocked by the result. “House Corvin wins.” He said to himself. “But how could this be?” He was so sure Hulvstd would win this battle of wits.
“What will become of father now?”
“The winning vote, Ti’s day is House Corvin’s! May the gods bless the council and its voters. By the names of each house I Sirius Haeem Ballanor, conclude this session to be over.”
A bell rang chorus around the room and outside snow trickled down from a gray canopy sky.
A sudden knock comes from the courtroom door.