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Promises and Secrets
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Angel:
Gloria, so good to hear from you …
Tell me your family is still doing fine.
Glad to hear that, but I know why you are calling.
I know I said we could help you out, and many Houses in the Order are ready to get involved.
However, I still cannot move on with our plans until I get a Consent Vote from the Council.
Uh-Huh … Like we talked about before.
Normally there is nothing to it, a simple debate, some posturing by the Council Members,
a vote is held, and we move right along with any measure that is passed.
For some reason … Not entirely clear to me at the moment,
Alexa Wildwind has decided to throw a wrench in the works.
She irritates the tar out of me sometimes … Arrogant, and riding the prestige of her Family name.
But don’t worry, because I still have things under control here.
I am meeting with the Council’s Parliamentarian shortly, and we will figure something out.
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Angel Continues:
Like I said ... Don’t worry, help is on the way.
I had no problem convincing some of the Council that the situation in Bridgeport was worth the trouble.
I can only imagine the difficulties you are dealing with at the time being.
Your children go to school there, and the parks are beautiful this time of year.
There is no reason you should have to lock yourselves inside every evening at dusk just to feel safe.
The Order has helped in these situations before,
and this is the kind of thing we do to support better relations between our kind.
I am eager to let you know how my conversation with Lincoln turns out.
I have been over the by-laws, but I am positive he knows more than I do.
Hang in there … I promise you I am working on it here.
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Lincoln:
I have to be honest with you Angel ...
As Council Parliamentarian, this is only a courtesy with me stopping by.
I am comfortable providing you with any information you need regarding the rules and procedures,
but it in no way should be misconstrued as support for whatever it is you may be planning.
My position requires that I try to keep any bias I have in check.
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Angel;
Oh no, no Lincoln … I am not pandering for support at the moment,
I have just arrived at an impasse, and I don’t have all the information I need to get around it.
I have exhausted all the options others have suggested,
and I just want to make sure I am not overlooking a viable possibility.
As Parliamentarian, I am sure you know that Alexa Wildwind has not answered the Council Call in months.
I would be okay if she just wanted to object, or if she wants to stay home and send a proxy in her place.
What I find difficult to accept, is that she will not fulfil her obligation and appear in Council.
Surely there has to be something in the by-laws that can force her to appear.
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Lincoln:
I don’t mean to be too curt or blunt about the matter …
But do you not think that may be a bit optimistic on your part?
Alexa is a Wildwind, and that makes a difference.
Come on Angel … You’re a smart woman.
Surely it didn’t escape your notice, or fail to strike you as being odd
when you found out that a Consent Vote from the Council requires a Windwind
to either be present in Council Chambers, or to have sent an official Proxy in their stead.
When you are dealing with a Wildwind, and this Order of ours …
You have to remember that we owe it all to them.
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Angel;
I went to the Academy like everyone else, and I know my Ancient Lore.
At the same time, I am about sick and tired of hearing how special the Wildwinds are.
This isn’t the Dark Ages anymore.
We aren’t at war with the Dragons, or other magical beasts.
The Dark Genie was taken care of more than two centuries ago.
We have issues we need to deal with now.
Real threats, and things that need our attention.
There is a dark storm brewing in Bridgeport as we speak, and the Order sits idlily by.
If the Wildwinds are so great, and Alexa is so awesome ...
Then why can’t she show up and make her case before the Council, instead of hiding in the hills?
People in Bridgeport are suffering and need our assistance.
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Angel Continues:
I called you here because I think I found a solution to my problem
and just need to know exactly how to do it.
Going through the by-laws I noticed where a Special Emergency Session of the Council can be called.
There is no designation, other than being a Council Member and Blooded Heir
as far as who can call a Special Emergency Session.
It also states that the Council Guard can compel the Houses to comply or attend,
as well as provide for security during travel to the Session.
What I need to know, is what constitutes an Emergency?
It’s not defined in the by-laws.
I also need to know what the Council Guard can do to compel a House to attend.
That’s not covered in the by-laws either.
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Lincoln;
You have certainly done your research …
and the answers to your questions aren’t difficult to come by.
First let me say that there is no actual definition as to what constitutes an Emergency.
Furthermore, the Council has been rather liberal with what they allowed as one in the past.
I’ve seen a property dispute between two families qualify,
and well before spells were being cast in hostility over the matter.
Secondly … What the Council Guard can do to compel a House to attend
is strictly at the discretion of the of the senior guard sent to compel them.
But … Before you get excited about this discovery and clarification of benchmarks,
I have to let you know that it isn’t going to work.
You’re still thinking about Alexa Wildwind … And that is a whole different ball of wax so to say.
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Angel:
Well, maybe … And then maybe not.
I may be a Mercer and not a Wildwind, but I am a Blooded Heir the same as Alexa.
I have some pull in the Council Chambers, and some good relations with the Council Guard.
It’s quite possible that Alexa won’t be able to avoid the inevitable.
Personally, I won’t mind one bit seeing her frog-marched into the Council Chamber.
Not that I want things to go that way, but she is utterly incorrigible.
If it comes to a test of wills, she will find out I am going to stand up for what I believe
the same as she does.
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Lincoln;
Perhaps you didn’t hear me correctly, but I said it wasn’t going to work …
I didn’t say that it might not work.
You are smart, talented as a Mage, and have represented your family well in the Council.
Still … You are not Alexa Wildwind, and again, that makes a difference.
Listen to me before you get frustrated, and try to understand.
I hate to inform you, but unlike anywhere else, neither the Order,
nor the Council Guard have any jurisdiction on Wildwind land.
There is nothing they can do to her to make her come to Council.
There is a reason for that, and one they don’t teach you in Ancient Lore.
The Wildwind Estates are where all the Order’s dirty little secrets are hidden away.
Everything we have, came with a price, and more than any other, the Wildwinds paid that price.
While you were finger painting and picking your nose …
Alexa was walking with Horace Wildwind along the banks of Crimson Creek.
He was pointing out where the bodies were buried …
And you can bet good money Alexa knows where the shovel is hanging today.
You gained your abilities as a teen, and have done excellent in your studies.
Alexa started her journey as not only a Mage, but as a leader, in the cradle the day she was born.
Be careful who you choose as your enemies …
There are things about the Wildwinds, and the Order, you just don’t know.
To Be Continued …
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Thanks for stopping by and checking the story out.
Happy Simming!
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