Antebellum Awakening (The Network Series #2)(56)

The Derek issue?

“Proceed,” she said.

“With war nearly inevitable now that Almack is gone, the Council Members are planning on reviewing Clive’s petition tomorrow. Their first priority now that Almack has died is to have you put a new Head of Protectors in place. It doesn’t look good for Derek, Your Highness."

“No, it doesn’t.”

“I’ve spoken to all of the Council Members. I know of at least six guaranteed votes to exile Derek. The rest are undecided but one. Stella votes to keep him in office.”

His words made my heart turn cold in a way I never could have imagined. Six out of ten already? The odds were against him.

“It’s exile they want?” the High Priestess asked. “Not just removal?”

“Exile,” he confirmed.

A silence stretched through the room, filling me with dread. “I can’t say I’m that surprised,” the High Priestess said with a low breath.

“Forgive me if I sound impudent or am speaking out of place,” he said. “But I would strongly advise you to not divide yourself from the Council over the issue of the Head of Protectors. There are some witches on the Council that would not hesitate to invoke the old rules and pull you out of office alongside Derek.”

“The old rules?” she repeated. “Those have never been used. Not since the Networks were formed. They feel so strongly about it?”

“Some of them do, Your Highness. Though I’m not sure that their motivations are entirely pure.”

His cryptic response gave me chills. Miss Mabel must have Council Members on her side. Miss Mabel, or the woman she was working with.

“Thank you for your help, Jansson.”

“Your Highness, I have one other item to bring to your attention. This I do on behalf of the Council and not myself.”

“Go ahead.”

“If a High Priest is not chosen in three days, along with a new Head of Protectors,” he continued, “the Council has requested that I inform you of their plans to invoke the ancient Rule of Settlement.”

My gasp came out before I could stifle it, and I slapped both hands over my mouth. The Rule of Settlement declared that the ten Council Members could vote, on an eight out of ten majority, to put a High Priest or Priestess in office if the current leader had not done so already. At its best, it was a protective mechanism to ensure we always had a leader. At its worst it was a political slap in the face, an insinuation that the current leader didn’t know well enough to choose the right counterpart. The High Priestess’s unchanged tone rang out as clear as a bell.

“Three days, you say?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Thank you for delivering that message, Jansson. You are dismissed.”

Before I had a chance to resume my innocent position on Donald’s chair, the door popped open and hit me in the face. I fell back onto my bottom. Rupert, Jansson’s assistant, peered out around the door. He had an orange mustache that came to a point on either cheek and wore his red hair slicked away from his face.

“Sorry, miss,” Rupert muttered, casting me a suspicious eye. “What were ya doing right there?”

To my shock, Leda came out next. Her mouth dropped when she saw me on the floor, then she quickly clamped it shut and moved out of the way. Jansson followed behind her.

“I’m sitting here while Donald takes care of an issue downstairs,” I said, probing the stinging flesh of my nose. “I stood to stretch my legs and the door flew open at me.”

Rupert offered his hand, but I ignored it and climbed to my feet myself.

“Council Member,” I said, bobbing out a curtsy. Jansson gave me a startled glance, nodded, and turned to walk away. Rupert cast me a once-over as well, rolled his eyes, and departed at Jansson’s side.

“What are you doing?” Leda hissed, taking a step toward me.

“Me?” I cried in a low voice. “What are you doing with Jansson?”

She looked over her shoulder at Jansson’s and Rupert’s retreating forms and bit her bottom lip.

“I work for Rupert now,” she said.

“What? Why?”

“I’m trying to get my foot in the door for a job once I finish my marks,” she said, as if it should have been obvious. “Jansson is the busiest Council Member of all, and the one with the most influence, so Miss Scarlett helped me get a job as the assistant to his Assistant. If I do a good enough job, Rupert will help me try to get a better job next year once I have a completed circlus.”

“Is that where you’ve been disappearing?”

“Yes, of course,” she said quickly, glancing around again.

“Oh,” I said, breaking into a smile. “That’s wonderful!”

“Yes, but don’t tell anyone yet! I’m in a trial period to see if they really need me or not. Please?” Her gaze turned pleading. “I’d just die of embarrassment if it didn’t work out.”

“Of course not,” I said. “Good work, Leda. I’m proud of you.”

She edged a few steps backward.

“I-I have to go. Don’t tell anyone!”

She quickly whirled around and dashed off after them. Her bag bulged with scrolls, quills, and the lumpy edges of ink bottles. I stared after her in disbelief until the slap of Donald’s large feet started up the stairs. Startled back to action, I dashed into his seat and lounged back, pretending to be bored.