Upon leaving the Hall of the Proctorage, Akorsa was greeted by the sight of the guards, waiting intently outside the room as they had been instructed. She told them what the Proctors had said, about how she was to be kept under guard until they had finished their deliberations. They seemed rather perplexed, as she judged by the looks on their faces, but by what she could not place. She decided that she must appear gravely strange to them, as they had probably never seen an Arimythian before in their lives. She determined that id one of them had come to Arimythia she would have behaved in a similar manner, so she pushed these thoughts out of her mind.
They led her out of the big edifice and into one of the actual cities, though she could not determine whether she was actually in Ilyana or Uljaya, for she had never been within the walls before and both cities looked disturbingly alike to one who was not native to them. They led her down main streets and through side lanes until they reached one of the many sand-colored stone houses. They led her inside and then the foremost guard spoke.
�You shall stay here under our watch until the Proctors send for you. You have run of the house, but if you dare leave or attempt to flee in any way whatsoever, you shall be arrested and taken to the prison,� he said.
Akorsa nodded. �Thank you, good sir,� she said with a slight bow of her head.
She went up the large flight of stairs to the bedroom and closed the door; she desperately needed some privacy as well as some rest.
- - - -
Two hours later there was a knock on the wooden door, and Akorsa woke, remembering all that had happened since she had risen at the crack of dawn that very morning. Grabbing her only belongings, she opened the door and walked out of the bedroom, seeing the guard that had knocked for her but a moment before.
�You have been summoned. Follow me,� he said simply, motioning for her to follow him downstairs with a wave of his hand.
She followed behind him down the house�s small set of stairs, staff in one hand, and with her pack and axe both in their respective places on her back. Though she was able to hide it quite well, Akorsa was indeed very anxious. She was desperately hoping that the Proctors would just consent to send military aide to Arimythia to fight off the Maseriff once and for all. She was hoping that they would have made up their minds, so that she could return home having been successful; having changed things.
They walked back through the streets and up to the giant building in which the Proctors made their dwelling. Akorsa found herself being escorted as far as the door that led into the Hall of the Proctorage, where the doors were then opened for her, but she was allowed to walk in unattended. There in the other end of the great room, she saw that there was still a hole in the ceiling, but beneath it still sat the Proctors at their great table.
She approached that table with all the confidence she could muster; her head held high and her steps as sure, steady, and evenly paced as she could have possibly managed. She stopped her movement only several paces from the table, directly across from the male Proctor who had been hiding behind the potted plant only two hours before.
�Arimythian, we have deliberated these past few hours, and have made our decision,� he announced.
Akorsa gave a brief nod of her head, preparing herself for the man�s answer, whatever it may be. �And your decision, my lord?�
�We have decided that because the Arimythians have proved true enough as to provide food for our peoples and have successfully delivered the products of their labors in many years past,� he said, his speech slowing deliberately now, �that the Arimythian people shall continue to do as they have always done; to lead their lives without our assistance and to work without our interference.�
Akorsa stared at the Proctor with a dangerous expression in her eyes now. �My lord, in your abundant arrogance and egotism, I do believe that you have failed to recognize the true problem that faces us,� she said with a low growl that caused some of the Proctors�s eyes to go wide with dread.
�And what problem is this, truly?� asked the female Proctor who had demanded her arrest earlier, deciding to make another bold move.
�The problem is, my lady, that the Maseriff have attacked my people and my village. Though this means nothing to you, and I am quite sure you would be glad enough to see us perish, our crops are being destroyed, as are the people who sow and reap them. This also means that if the threat of the Maseriff is allowed to go on un-contended, and we all know my people have not the weapons or the means to stop them, that there will be no harvest this year; we will all starve this winter!� she exclaimed.
�We do not fear the Maseriff, or the coming winter,� said the male Proctor before her with a dismissive wave of his hand. �If your people want to save their own lives then they shall need to learn to defend themselves. Most assuredly we all see you have the means to guard yourself,� he said, making mention of the great axe upon her back.
Akorsa continued to glare at him, abruptly feeling a great loathing begin to surge within her. Then, suddenly, she pulled the axe from its place on her back, and with a great yell, sliced the axe down on the great wooden table, which gave with a large crash. The Proctors pushed their chairs away from the table with the new break in its middle.
�I took this axe from one of the Maseriff,� she said, breathing quickly. �And that Maseriff was about to use this axe in the same manner that I just did, but there was one great difference. Can you tell me what that difference is?�
The leader of the Proctors just shook his head, looking rather frightened.
�There was no table to be destroyed. It was a child! A young lad; too young to be slaughtered, let alone to witness death!� she growled. �You have the audacity to demand food from us to feed your people, yet when my people are being slaughtered and all of our food is being destroyed, you say it is not your concern! You,� she snapped, with a great animosity, �sit within these great walls and have no concept of what real life and death are! While we labor hard and long to provide for a people we do not even know, you sit here in ignorance like gods!�
And still and even more,� she continued, �we labor without bitterness, but with love, for such are the ways of the Arimythians! Yet, all the while, we do you such a favor; we are not even protected by your laws, nor represented within this hall! Do not dare to tell me what your concerns are, for I can just as easily say that it is not our concern whether the lot of you live or die. I came hither from my home in hopes of making you aware of the trouble brewing! You are not invincible here; some day you shall fall, whether it be succumbing to cold and starvation or to the very monsters that surround us!�
There was an utter silence then, save only for the sound of Akorsa�s heavy breathing. The Proctors, for the second time that day, were quaking where they stood. The doors in the back of the hall banged open for a second time that day, and guards came in, with their swords actually drawn this time. They swarmed in, many more than there had been only two hours prior, and actually surrounded Akorsa, who now hefted the great axe out of what was left of the midsection of the great table.
The difference was that this time a tall, cloaked, and commanding figure came storming in, pushing through the circle of guards that now surrounded Akorsa. He looked at her for a moment with a perplexity that could only be seen in the depths of his eyes. He then glanced back and forth between the girl, the axe, the table, and the disturbed and obviously shaken Proctors sitting at the table. His expression changed from one of perplexity to another of anger and annoyance in a matter of moments.
�What has been going on in here?� he demanded in a deep baritone voice, the question directed at no one in particular, but causing every person in the room to turn their heads. �Who are you?� he asked Akorsa, drawing his sword and pressing it against her collarbone threateningly. �Speak, woman! I have no patience for games!�
�I am Akorsa of Arimythia,� she said, lowering the axe so the very top rested on the tile floor, causing the guards to jolt slightly at her sudden movement.
�Arimythia? Were you not the lass one of my men turned away at the Eastern Gate early this morning?� he asked, glaring at her through narrowed eyes.
�Oh, aye, my lord, that would indeed be me,� replied Akorsa, feeling a great annoyance at recalling the morning�s conflict at the gate. The fact that she was now standing before the man that had ordered her not to be allowed within the city made her feel even more irate than before.
�How in the blazes did you get inside the city? I made orders that you were not to be allowed in through the Western Gate as well!� he snapped, looking pointedly at the guards in the room, all of whom seemed to shake when faced with the man�s fierce look.
�I climbed the wall,� she answered. The fact that she was now standing before the man that had ordered her not to be allowed within the city made her feel even more irate than before, be she managed to conceal it. He looked at her skeptically, pushing the blade a little harder against her collarbone.
�Scaling the walls? And I must presume that you were the vandal responsible for making this mess as well?� he asked, pointing up at the broken window on the ceiling with his left hand.
�Aye,� she admitted with a slight nod of her head. �I broke the table, as well, before you ask me that.� He glared at her menacingly for her audacity and Akorsa felt an odd chill run down her spine.
�Captain-General! This is no time for idle conversation. Have this criminal executed immediately,� ordered the lead Proctor.
�Under what charges, my lord?� asked the Captain-General. The man took a moment to look at the Arimythian girl, taking note of the gash on her cheek that had clearly been given to her by something most dreadful. She was, without a doubt, dangerous, he decided, but had done no real harm. �I do not believe she has broken a law that requires the penalty of death. She ought to receive some lashes and be sent home.�
�She has made an assassination attempt! She must be executed!� he cried.
�Your Excellencies, you know the law as well as any other, and it states that for execution there must be just cause. I would require a full account of the happenings here before I order the execution of anyone,� said the Captain-General.
�Would you disobey a direct order?� growled the head Proctor. The Captain-General raised his sword in a sort of odd and hesitant salute.
�I would not, my lord. Forgive me. I only sought to ensure just rights,� he said, sheathing the weapon. �I shall see to it that your wish is carried out with the utmost haste.�
�Execution for an assassination attempt?� scoffed Akorsa. �If you call breaking windows and tables an assassination attempt, then aye, or if I am an assassin for questioning a Proctor�s integrity, then execute me. If anyone should be executed, it is the lot of you for sentencing your own people to death!� The guards grabbed her by her arms and started to pull her towards the door. �I have committed no crime!�
�Quiet yourself, girl! Your pleas will do you no good here,� yelled the head Proctor coldly.
�I see clearly now that my pleas fall upon the deaf, dumb, and blind! You shall only be able to keep your secrets for a time,� she said. �There was once a time when the Proctors had integrity, though I see those days are long past. I hoped you would take my concerns seriously, but I see fully now that my people mean nothing to you. What more could I expect from politicians?� she yelled, struggling against the guards.
The guards started hauling her toward the great doors.
�Wait but a moment, men,� said another of the Proctors. �Perhaps, Shondor,� he said, addressing the head Proctor, �because the girl is so determined to have her own way, there might be something we can do.�
�Such as what, Josson?� asked the Proctor.
�The faith of the Arimythian people is lost in us, Shondor. She complains that her people are not represented in this hall. Perhaps she would care to permanently represent them here,� said Proctor Josson with a certain tone of persuasiveness. The head Proctor, now known as Shondor, looked at the girl contemplatively.
�I do believe, Josson, that you have a wonderful idea!� he exclaimed. �Guards, do release her this instant!�
Akorsa was released by the guards. She rubbed her upper arms, which were now rather sore. She looked at the Proctors, who were now plotting within their minds something dreadful.
�Arimythian, if it is representation and solutions you seek, then you shall need to attend to them yourself.�
�What is it that you suggest?� she asked suspiciously.
�We suggest that you become the eleventh Proctor of this hall, to live and represent your people,� said Josson.
Akorsa narrowed her eyes at the Proctors. She now knew exactly what it was that they were plotting. She had admitted to them her great dislike for politicians and the current way of things. So, they now offered her a position that would come with the price of becoming and abiding with all that she despised. Over all, they were expecting her to decide as they themselves would � to put her own needs over those of her people. They wanted her to say no.
�What would come to pass if I were to refuse your offer?� she asked tentatively.
�Then you would be more than free to return to Arimythia; to friends and family so you might continue to live as you always have,� said Shondor. She nodded.
�In that case, I must sadly inform you that I accept,� she said gravely.
Shondor, as well as the other nine Proctors� grins of victory turned into gapes of shock. They looked at one another with dread in their eyes. Akorsa could have sworn she saw the Captain-General trying to hide a smile. She had won the first round.
