The Council chamber was a chaotic mix of emotions, despite the relatively small number of people there. Queen Nin-Xoco sat in a throne in the centre of the recessed circular chamber. Some of the pins holding her hair up had fallen out, leaving her hair a tangled mess, some of it drooping over her face. A heavy tome sat open in her lap, but she wasn’t looking at it. A significant portion of the rage in the room was coming from her.

Only four of the twelve Council seats that circled the throne were occupied—by the four priests who had been outside. Apparently, most of the Council members were not back in the City yet, though servants had gone to fetch the ones who were.

Of the priests, Felitïa had recognised the one in yellow robes right away. She was older than her portrait in the locket, but no more than ten years. From her, Felitïa sensed mostly annoyance, but a bit of anger as well and even a touch of amusement. She was staring across the room, past Nin-Xoco, at the white-robed woman on the opposite side.

“Fra-Ichtaca,” Nin-Akna told Felitïa. “Voice of Frana. She’s in charge of educating the Palace children. I never liked her. None of us did, except her chosen favourites. She was strict and cruel.”

There was anger coming from the Voice of Frana, but also hatred—hatred like Ses-Tlacotl had had, and directed at Felitïa. She looked up, caught Felitïa looking at her, and sneered. She was a mature woman with deep black hair. Unlike some Ninifins like Nin-Akna who had a small number of large tattoos, she had numerous small ones that started on her face and ran down her neck onto her shoulders, and presumably beyond. Felitïa saw a mix of animals, human faces, and even skulls.

Beside the Voice of Frana sat another white-robed priest, this one an older woman whose face and neck were bare of tattoos. Felitïa sensed contentment and some excitement from her.

“Fra-Atl,” Nin-Akna said. “She’s always been my favourite. She used to sneak me and others in the Youth Guard sugar candies. She’s also the one who told Chica to seek you out. We should probably talk to her later.”

Felitïa nodded.

The final priest there wore green robes and sat on the opposite side of the Queen to Felitïa, so it was difficult to get a good look at her. From her, Felitïa just felt confusion.

“Nin-Centehua. I don’t know much about her. She spends most of her time in Nin-Dzibil, only comes here once or twice a year. It’s kind of ironic that she’s one of the few people here now when so many others are missing.”

There were also several of the Queen’s Guards stationed around the room. Nin-Akna pointed each one out and named them, but Felitïa was most interested in their leader, Ses-Zeltzin. There was hatred coming from her as well, but not towards Felitïa like with Fra-Ichtaca. Ses-Zeltzin’s was directed at the Queen.

“You did well out there, by the way,” Felitïa said.

“Thanks,” Nin-Akna said, looking away. Embarrassment flooded from her, but also self-pride, which was a step in the right direction. “I thought it was time a few secrets were said openly. The horse surprised me a bit, but I adjusted. What was she doing on a horse? Ninifin queens don’t ride horses.”

Felitïa smirked. “That’s not an ordinary horse.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s probably not enough time to explain right now. I’ll fill you in later when we have a bit more privacy. Just know that if that horse is here, then some of my friends are too.”

Seeing Borisin had reminded her just how much she missed Zandrue. It had been six months—to the day, now that she thought about it. They had never gone this long apart since they’d met. She was overjoyed that Zandrue had somehow found her way here amidst all the craziness that had been happening. She hoped Zandrue was well. Rudiger and Jorvan too. She didn’t have the same level of connection to them, but she missed them as well.

A spear of determination shot from the Queen. “I am tired of waiting! We will start without the others. They can join us when they get here.”

“Of course, Holiness,” Fra-Ichtaca said.

“Nin-Akna, you will give a full account of your journey and experiences,” the Queen said. “And you will explain the presence of this outsider, this Will-Wrecker or whatever you call her that has my supposedly loyal Council members refusing to speak openly with me. And when she is done, I will hear explanations from the rest of you, and if anyone’s explanation displeases me—Nin-Akna, Fra-Atl, Ses-Xipil, any of you—I will start ordering excommunications or even executions. Nin-Akna, begin!”

Nin-Akna stood up from her seat and walked down the steps to the pedestal in front of the throne. “Holiness, let me begin by apologising for any role I may have played in the chaos outside. I answered your questions with no expectation of the response that occurred. I wished only to serve you faithfully and answer your questions truthfully.”

Felitïa felt a ping of anxiety from Nin-Akna at the lie, but she was holding herself together well.

“I accept your apology,” the Queen said. “I know that my devoted Youth Guard would not purposely distress me. Please continue.”

Nin-Akna launched into a description of everything that had happened since the Youth Guard first left Ninifin, including their journey to Scovese, all that had happened there and on the way back. It took her well over an hour to get through everything, during which time several of the missing nobles arrived and took their places in the Council chamber.

Felitïa listened intently to every word, even though she knew it all already. There were still a few rough spots in her understanding of the language, and listening to everything helped iron those out.

On the journey back, Felitïa had asked Nin-Akna and the other Ninifins to speak only Ninifin to her, Meleng, Quilla, and Garet, except when they were in the company of the Anorin ship’s crew or Arnorins in Lothal. They were all mostly fluent now. Quilla had had the most difficulty, which had surprised her—she had expected that to be Garet, though she realised now that was just her own biases influencing her. Garet had complained about it at first, but ended up picking up the language faster than any of them except Felitïa.

“I find it shocking that Ses-Tlacotl would be do such things,” Ses-Xipil said when Nin-Akna finished. “You suggest that she was part of some conspiracy?”

“I do, Reverence,” Nin-Akna replied.

“Preposterous,” Ses-Xipil said.

“Perhaps I might suggest another explanation,” Fra-Ichtaca said. “You were on an island with large numbers of Isyar and Volgs. According to you, one of those Volgs even threatened Nin-Chicahua. Clearly that Volg was involved in some conspiracy. Ses-Xipil, you are our magical expert. Is it possible that Ses-Tlacotl acted under the control of some sort of magical influence?”

“Ses-Tlacotl was our finest mentalist,” Ses-Xipil said. “Such control would be difficult to maintain on a mind such as hers, but not impossible. If one possessed the ability to do it, she would be the most practical choice to control, and the Volgs and Isyar are ever wily creatures. I will mourn her passing and erect a monument to her at my villa.”

“There you are, Holiness,” Fra-Ichtaca said. “This would seem to be the most likely explanation. Ses-Tlacotl fell victim to the evils of Isyar and Volgs.”

“It does sound a reasonable explanation, do you not think so, Nin-Akna?” the Queen said.

“It does sound reasonable. I agree, Holiness. However, there are a couple other things that suggest it is not the correct explanation.”

“Explain,” the Queen said.

“Who told you that we were dead? Holiness, when we returned to Ninifin, we learned that people already thought us dead. A lone survivor of a terrible accident had made it back. Now, I know that the cover story for our journey was that we were on a training mission in the wilderness, so the cover story for our deaths being an accident in the Jaguar makes sense, but again, who said we were dead?”

“That is a good question,” the Queen said. “Fra-Ichtaca, Fra-Atl, any of you, can you tell me who bore the news? It occurs to me now that it was merely passed on to me by the Council. I naturally believed you and did not think to question you about the source.”

“It was a young serving girl from the expedition, Holiness,” Fra-Ichtaca said. “She must have made the story up. She must have gotten ahead of the main expedition, perhaps another under the control of the Volgs and Isyar.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“All our members are accounted for, Holiness,” Nin-Akna said. “Plus, from what I can tell, the announcement of our deaths came before we made landfall in Lockanith. We were still sailing. No one could have gotten that far ahead of us.”

“Where is this serving girl?” the Queen asked. “I would like to question her.”

“I will have her brought before us as soon as possible, Holiness,” Fra-Ichtaca said. She was very calm. Could she really believe this serving girl existed? If she were lying, Felitïa would have expected at least some twinge of emotion to give her away. Or perhaps she was just very good at controlling her emotions—but that didn’t fit with the hatred coming from her throughout the entire session.

“Make it quick,” the Queen said.

“I will see to it personally following the adjournment of this Council,” Fra-Ichtaca said.

“Do not worry, Nin-Akna,” the Queen said. “We will get to the bottom of this terrible tragedy. You loved Nin-Chicahua, didn’t you?”

“I did, Holiness. Chicahua was my dearest friend, sometimes lover.”

“I promise you she will be avenged. Now, there is the matter of this Will-Breaker person. You say Fra-Atl told Nin-Chicahua to seek her out and that all three of Nin-Zyannya, Fra-Cualli, and Ses-Tlacotl were familiar with her?”

“I believe so, Holiness. However, I only learned at a later time, and have only second-hand information on how long they knew. They certainly knew by the time Chicahua told me.”

“Fra-Atl, explain yourself.”

The elderly priest stood up and looked about the room. “I did indeed advise Nin-Chicahua to seek the Will-Breaker if she felt threatened on Scovese, Holiness. I also took Zyannya into my confidence and allowed her her own discretion over who else to confide in.”

“And who is this Will-Breaker? Why is her name passed around as if it is well-known yet I have never heard it?”

“You know of the secret writings of Nin-Papan, Holiness?” Fra-Atl said.

Queen Nin-Xoco nodded. “Yes.”

“And you are aware that I am amongst the very few to have studied them?”

The Queen nodded again.

“There are secrets in them kept even from queens, sometimes for reasons Eleuia and Nin-Papan took to their graves.”

“The Will-Breaker is one of these secrets?”

“Yes, Holiness.”

“Then why are so many others aware? Fra-Ichtaca, Ses-Xipil, neither of you study the secret texts, yet you recognised the name. Explain.”

Fra-Ichtaca and Ses-Xipil looked back and forth at each other and shifted in their seats. Yet Felitïa didn’t detect any discomfort from them. Were they trying to look uncomfortable? Were things actually happening in a way they liked?

“Some secrets are revealed to the Council, but not the queen, Holiness,” Fra-Atl said. Felitïa was still detecting excitement from her, but also anxiety.

“I do not like this,” the Queen said. “Not one bit. I feel lied to. Perhaps changes need to be made to the rules governing this secrecy.”

“Perhaps, Holiness,” Fra-Atl said. “Are you displeased with me, Holiness?”

Nin-Xoco looked away from Fra-Atl. “I don’t know. You have always been my favourite, Fra-Atl, and I do not wish to think poorly of you, but I feel betrayed. I will need to think on it.”

“Of course, Holiness.” Fra-Atl bowed. “I will submit to whatever judgement you make.”

Nin-Xoco took a deep breath. “Be seated. You too, Nin-Akna. Come forward Will-Breaker. I wish to hear from you.”

Felitïa stood up and approached the pedestal, giving Nin-Akna an encouraging smile as they passed each other.

“Do you have a real name, Will-Breaker, that I may call you instead of this clumsy title?”

“Yes, Holiness. My real name is Felitïa Asa Folith.”

“Folith? Do Folith people give their own race as their name?”

“There is a Folith family the Folith people are named after, Holiness. I am part of that family.”

“You are a strange people.”

“Perhaps, Holiness.”

“Tell me what it means to be this Will-Breaker.”

“I don’t entirely know, Holiness. I know very little about what is foretold of me or what my role is supposed to be. Part of the agreement I made with Nin-Chicahua was that I would be able to look at these secret texts in return for my help.”

“Completely out of the question,” Fra-Ichtaca said. “It is strictly forbidden.”

Nin-Xoco scowled at the Voice of Frana. “Only if I do not change the rules. If I do, I might make them anything I choose and allow her to view them.”

Fra-Ichtaca bowed her head. “Of course, Holiness. I apologise for my outburst.”

“Very well. Continue, Felitïa.”

“I will tell you all I know,” Felitïa said. “I first heard the term Will-Breaker when I was sixteen.”

Ses-Xipil rose to her feet. “Please excuse the interruption, Holiness, but one reason for bringing this person into the Council was to determine if she is who she says she is.”

“That is a fair question,” the Queen said. “Nin-Akna, how was it determined who this person is?”

Nin-Akna stood back up. “It was Ses-Tlacotl who determined it, Holiness. With her magic.”

“Really?” Ses-Xipil gave a small laugh. “Apologies, Holiness, but given what we’ve heard today, how can we trust anything Ses-Tlacotl said before her death. Whether she was acting of her own volition or magically controlled is irrelevant. As much as I mourn for a colleague I respected, I must acknowledge that her words are now untrustworthy. This could be part of the plot. Perhaps the intention was to get this woman in here as a spy, someone to spread the secret writings of Nin-Papan to the Volgs and Isyar.”

While Ses-Xipil spoke, Nin-Xoco’s eyes gradually widened and her body slumped. Felitïa felt fear emerge from her. Damn. And things had been going well, too.

“Ses-Xipil makes an excellent point, Holiness,” Fra-Ichtaca said.

“Holiness, if I may,” Nin-Akna said. “I have seen Felitïa’s abilities. She has great mental powers. She can read minds.”

“Many such things can be duplicated with mentalism magic,” Ses-Xipil said. “Ses-Tlacotl herself was a talented mentalist and could have faked such a role for those who knew little of the part. But perhaps there is a way to be sure, Holiness.”

“What?” the Queen said, her posture straightening again.

Ses-Xipil turned to Fra-Atl. “Fra-Atl, would it be too much to ask if the secret writings contain any method of testing this Will-Breaker? You do not need to reveal specifics, just whether such a thing exists. Of course, if you cannot reveal even that much, I’m sure her Holiness will understand.”

Felitïa wasn’t sure if it was her own heart sinking she felt, Fra-Atl’s, or Nin-Akna’s, but the brief hope they’d had faded.

“There is no such test, Holiness. The secret texts provide no method of identifying the Will-Breaker beyond events that will occur following her arrival.”

“What sort of events?” the Queen asked.

“She will try to prevent a terrible catastrophe, but will fail.”

Fra-Ichtaca stood up. “So you are saying she is a harbinger of destruction.”

Fra-Atl shook her head. “She will help save many who would otherwise die.”

“This disturbs me greatly, Fra-Atl.” The Queen’s lips trembled as she spoke. “This person frightens me. Felitïa, you seem...a fine person. But whether you are this Will-Breaker or not, I cannot say without knowing much more, and I cannot risk whatever destruction follows you. Zeltzin, arrest her. Hold her until I say otherwise. Felitïa, I am not declaring any other sentence at this time. Not until I know more. But know I will not hesitate to have you executed if I deem it necessary.”

“I understand, Holiness.”

Ses-Zeltzin began crossing the room to Felitïa.

“This Council is adjourned until I say otherwise. I am distressed and need stress relief. I wish to go riding. Tell Rudiger to have Buluc ready for me.”

Rudiger.

Ses-Zeltzin grabbed Felitïa’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Of course.” She tried to pull her arm free. “I can walk myself. I won’t try to run.”

“I’m not taking any chances,” the Queen’s Guard replied. She twisted Felitïa’s arm around and Felitïa gasped. “I said, let’s go.”

Felitïa looked towards Nin-Xoco, but the Queen was already leaving the room. She sighed, gritted her teeth against the pain, and let Ses-Zeltzin lead her from the room.