The room was quiet and still. Comfortable chairs and couches were scattered around. A desk stood near one corner. Beside the empty fire place stood two chairs, one on each side. These were occupied by a man and a woman. They were the only ones in the room.

The women, slender, with blue-eyes and brown hair, stirred.

“Do you still …” she stopped.

The man did not move, but continued to stare sightlessly, into the empty fireplace. There was silence. Then he spoke. “Is there anything as forlorn as a fire place without a fire?”

The woman started at the sudden question.

The man laughed. “It reminds me of the Council. They have no fire.” He said.

“They have concerns.”

“They have no heat. They want power without responsibility. Well, they will have to govern without me. At least for a while.” He fell silent. Then suddenly looked up. “They will find out what it means to have power that they cannot use. Yes I am resolved, on both accounts. This was just the beginning, the ending is a long way off”

The woman looked askew, but sat back in her chair without comment.