Chapter 6

The Angardian Council

- And before them, saints and sinners are judged accordingly -

Turning a corner into an empty street, Felix pulled something from his robes before flinging it before him. The boy was interesting, he thought, as the device activated, humming into life. He had enjoyed the conversation. There was certainly more to him than met the eye. But that would have to wait. There was a surge of blue electric energy and a burning smell. The corridor opened, a black gaping hole in space, and he stepped into it. Seconds later, he stepped out from the void and into a shimmering portal of light. The corridor zipped shut behind him. Great doors of oak and mahogany stod before him. He pushed the doors lightly and they began to swing inwards slowly with a low groan, and the sound echoed across the vast chamber that opened before him. As the doors swung open, Felix saw the familiar dark red carpet lined with flaming torchstands leading to steps of stone and to the powerful individuals that sat enthroned above.

There were five of them seated in total. Four men and a sole woman. They were seated in a crescent ring; a half-circle of six seats. Yet one remained empty, and would remain empty, for a time being, until it was taken up again.

Felix waited at the edge of the doorway until his presence was acknowledged and a command was given for him to enter. Finally, one of them, a man, tall and gaunt, raised his head, staring at the great doorway at the end of the long hallway.

"Enter", he commanded. Upon hearing this, Felix strode in without pause, his footsteps silent upon the carpet.

The Angardian Council, he mused to himself. As usual, they were always expectant and, above all, impatient.

Felix arrived at the foot of the mini-steps and dropped to a knee before slowly rising to his feet. He spoke directly to the tall and gaunt man.

"Greetings, my Lord. I bring news."

"Speak", said the tall, gaunt man in reply. His voice was cold, like the room. And as if upon cue, the temperature of the room plummeted suddenly and a shadow darkened the room. The other members of the council remained silent, passively staring into space, as if not seeing the man who spoke before them.

The shadow passed. It had been caused by a massive barge, hovering past the window. Felix smiled to himself.

"We have begun preparations to secure the last parts of the eastern hemisphere. The remaining lands to be secured are but a group of islands. And our scouting parties have reported no sight of activity. The waters remain calm and no heat signature large enough remains to be of concern. The waters around the island are devoid of life as should be. I am happy to announce that we are indeed on the verge of completing the expedition. There will soon be another area marked secure on the World Map", said Felix confidently.

Suddenly, the woman spoke. Her voice was low and her words were slow and rang with clarity.

"No sight of activity does not mean there is no activity, Vanyaga", she commented, drily. Felix's eyes narrowed. He knew the woman scarcely cared about this expedition. He knew she made such comments to provoke a response. However, his thoughts were interrupted.

"We have decided", began the tall, gaunt man, "to call off this expedition. We cannot complete the securing of the islands. As we speak, there are pressing matters that require an urgent deployment of resources. We must attend to them", he concluded.

"What...", began Felix, a slight frown forming. "How can this be?"

"To be entirely transparent", said an old man seated in the foremost, middle seat, "the Unity has requested our assistance in harvesting certain material resources from the lands of beyond. These will need to be brought back to HavenGuarde. These resources will prove crucial in new expansion plans drawn up for city above. The Unity have indicated that they would take charge of the eastern hemisphere expeditions from this point onwards. Thus, as of now, we will put a halt to this expedition, though we commend you for your efforts."

Upon hearing those words, Felix swallowed his anger and struggled to maintain his composure, betraying no hint of his annoyance.

“May I speak, my Lord?”

“Speak”, said the old man.

“Three years ago, by order of the council”, began Felix, keeping his voice level, “I was assigned to carry out the task of securing the eastern hemisphere. I carried out all that the council had tasked me to do, and to the best of my abilities. It took me three years to study, observe and map out the eastern hemisphere and the new surrounding landmass. And indeed, the World Map - that giant holographic canvass that maps out the entire world – now has the eastern hemisphere section populated and recorded into its code. With only a few remaining islands left to explore, I am on the verge of completion. My only request is for a bit more time.”

“Your request is denied”, said the old man simply. Upon hearing this, anger rose within Felix’s chest.

"You may go", said the tall and gaunt man, "if there is nothing else of importance." Felix bit his lip to stop himself from saying something he would later regret.

"There is another matter at hand", announced Felix Vanyaga. He noted, with satisfaction, the crease of a frown forming slowly on the forehead of the old, man, seated in the middle seat, who had so easily dismissed his efforts, moments ago.

"Speak."

Felix directed his words to the tall and gaunt council member.

"In traversing the lower street levels of city below earlier this week, I came across a boy", began Felix, in his deep booming voice.

This time, in the far-right corner of the crescent ring of seats, a young man, who was staring at the floor, raised his head, to look directly at Felix, appearing slightly interested. He was handsome and clearly the youngest of the entire council.

"Explain", said the tall and gaunt man simply. This was an unusual matter to bring up.

“This boy, was different from the others. His attackers were bigger and stronger than him.”

The woman's eyes were bright and she pursed her lips together. She reminded Felix of a hawk, her features almost bird-like.

"Truly", continued Felix, his face betraying no hint of emotion, "the boy demonstrated a measure of strength, speed and agility considered unusual for one his age. I watched his movements closely. There is something there. Something I cannot place yet.”

As Felix spoke his last string of words, his eyes made brief but direct contact with that of the tall and guant man who himself said nothing. But a subtle message had been sent. And that message had been received. You know of what I speak. Remnants of the not too distant past.

There was a stirring among the council members, with the exception of the young man who now appeared bored and was staring out the window at moving barges and hovercraft that were lazily going by.

"You wish for him to be tested", concluded the woman, shrewdly. The look on her face was the look of one who had just discovered a great truth.

Haught and pride is your curse. They shall be your downfall, Felix mused.

"That is correct, my Lady. I wish to endorse the sending of this boy to undergo a Testing.”

“And you believe he has potential?”

“Yes, indeed I do.”

"And the boy's parents?" asked yet another council member, a powerfully-built man. His arms were massive and his neck and chin were also thick and heavily-muscled. He reeked of immense physical strength.

"They have been informed. They have agreed, though after some persuasion", said Felix, wryly. He recalled the dread upon Mirya’s face when Felix had mentioned sending her son to a Testing. But he also recalled the look of relief that swept across her face when he promised that her son would be sent back unharmed should he fail. But there were things he did not mention to them.

Undertaking the Testing will involve danger. There will be risks. Only of this am I guilty, he thought.

"And should he succeed, you see yourself as a mentor to the boy," observed the woman, yet again.

"That would depend upon his classification", said Felix, speaking as soon as she had finished asking her question, almost interrupting, much to her annoyance. Her blue eyes glittered angrily. "Though I say now that if a suitable master cannot be found, an unlikely but not impossible event, I would gladly take up the role and personally oversee his training and discipline in the class that matches his ability", said Felix in his deep voice.

The woman chuckled. It was an eerie sound that echoed across the chamber.

"Be careful, Vanyaga", said the woman tauntingly. A small smile broke across her face.

Since his entry into the room, she had addressed him by his surname, which was a subtle power play – an imposition of her superiority over him. "You must be careful lest you become attached to the boy in any way. Perhaps you should continue to do what you do best which is to observe, and silently I might add, and to report your investigations to us", observed the woman, once more, her blue eyes sparkling.

Felix stayed silent. He had grown accustomed to these cold comments and taunts, which were, meant to provoke an emotional response from him. A minute passed. Felix breathed slowly and stared out the window, though he noted that he did so together with another member of the Angardian Council. After what seemed like an eternity of continued silence, the tall and gaunt-looking man finally spoke up.

"We find your case most interesting. This boy of whom you speak seems to have displayed capability", said the tall and gaunt man. “As ascertained by one with a sharpness of eye that can only be matched by few.”

"However", the woman's voice rang with finality, as she shot the tall and guant man a look of annoyance for paying Felix a compliment. "He shall not be tested. We reserve the spaces in Sanctum for nothing but the very best, carefully handpicked and watched for signs of ability from a very young age. It is not that we do not trust your judgment", said the woman. "It is simply that we do not find this boy equal to the criteria of selection", concluded the woman, the light from her blue-eyes dancing, taunting Felix.

"You say 'we'. Do you, my Lady, purport to speak on behalf of the Council?" asked Felix, his tone measured and calm. But, his motives were clear. He had decided to question her authority.

At this, the woman fell silent. Her face becoming slightly pale. However, she quickly recovered. Her eyes narrowed slightly and a smile rose to her lips.

"Careful Vanyaga", she said again softly. But it was a warning this time and Felix knew it.

"I speak on behalf of the council", she continued icily. "And this shall be the end of the matter."

Swallowing his disappointment and curbing his rising anger, Felix bowed, acknowledging her authority.

"If this be the decision of the Angardian Council, I shall waste no more of your time. Good day my Lords and Ladyship."

They did not respond. But returned to staring into empty space. The young man was now intrigued by the movements of his fingers.

And with that, Felix Vanyaga, strode angrily out of the hallway, and out the great doors, that opened just as he reached it.