Hayden leaned back on his chair as he blew out his cheeks and raked his hand through his hair. It had been hours since he and Commander Flynn returned from the forest, bringing back the strange woman to the Wysterian palace. While she was being kept in the underground dungeons, there was a deliberation held in the Council Chamber concerning her sudden appearance and wild claims. The meeting, consisting of five people including the king, had stretched longer than Hayden had anticipated, with a conclusion being far from reached. As he sat in silence, supporting his chin with his fist, he decided he would speak with Cassian, his appointed advisor, about shortening meetings in the future.
"She should be hanged for desecrating Lord Baustas's good name with her foul lies! Blasphemy is a grave offense in our culture and should not be tolerated!"
The enraged voice came from Jesper Brimborn, Wysteria's High Priest. Having served during King Baustas' reign, he was a leading authority on matters of religion and faith. Jesper was a round, hairy man with large folds of skin that hid parts of his body that were meant to be visible, like his chin. His long, straight brown hair flowed from underneath a black headpiece that was shaped like an arrowhead. He was rather restless, with his hands switching from caressing his thick beard to adjusting his black robes during the discussion. Hayden watched the priest's brown eyes flare up as his face turned bright red. He'd been told Jesper was a man of little patience and excessive theatrics, but he had decided to keep him in his role because of how well he'd served under his father. Now Hayden was beginning to rethink his decision.
"Bring your anger to a simmer, Lord Jesper," Cassian said calmly. He was dressed in fine, black Wysterian leather, tailored to suit his build. His usual messy hair was held back with a pin, adding to his refined appearance. "All she did was say that she was sent by my father," he continued calmly. "We have barely heard her explain her words and you're already calling for judgment. I think I speak for all of us, including the king, when I say it is much too soon for that line of action."
The priest breathed heavily as he turned to Cassian. "You of all people should be furious about this," he remarked with a grimace. "We can't have strangers wander into our land and make such outlandish remarks about one of our own. Especially about the late king. Your father!"
"He was my father, too," Hayden reminded him with a firm voice. When Jesper finally remained quiet, he continued. "As far as I know, she hasn't broken any laws or committed any act of impiety. She simply wishes to be heard and even came willingly after she allowed the Lord Commander to bind her hands."
"My king speaks the truth," confirmed Flynn. He was seated at the left side of the wide stone table wearing his full battle armor. His face had its usual stony expression and his gaze bore mercilessly into the bronze cup in front of him. "She posed no threat to us, though it wouldn't have mattered if she did. I would've easily neutralized her."
"How extremely confident of you, Lord Commander," Jesper quipped with a skeptical scowl. "But we still know nothing about this woman. And I find it strange that she insisted on coming to the palace to proffer her 'solution'. For all we know, she could be an assassin from the North sent to kill our king. And we just let her walk right through our gates."
"I believe the commander has measures in place to protect the king from such a scenario," Cassian responded with a bright smile. Flynn confirmed his words with a subtle nod, but Jesper was not convinced.
"So you would grant this woman access to the king just because she seems harmless and cooperative?" he inquired. Then, with a rapid shake of his head, he concluded, "No, I do not agree with this. If anything, she should be questioned thoroughly in her cell."
"You are not the one to make the final decision, High Priest."
Everyone turned to the person who spoke—the fifth member of the gathering, Ulric Winsor. He was a smallish man with a shaved angular face and a smooth head devoid of hair. His spotless white robes were a symbol of his rank as the grand healer, and his sharp amber eyes probed everything they rested upon. Hayden had heard that he was arguably the most intelligent man in Wysteria, which was an advantageous trait in itself. But it was his calm demeanor in moments of crisis that made him invaluable. Ulric was another member of the Council who had served for many years under King Baustas, and Hayden saw no reason to dispose of his priceless knowledge and experience.
"In case you have forgotten, Lord Jesper, we have a grave problem on our hands," Ulric continued. "That monster still runs free; dangerous and unkillable. Our people live in fear with every passing day, worried that the creature might attack again. And when it does, what do we do? How do we protect the people of Wysteria from a monster that does not succumb to the blows of our weapons?"
Jesper pouted as his eyes blazed with silent fury. But he said nothing. Ulric nodded as his point was made clear. He gestured at the high priest as he continued, "Seeing that you have no solutions to suggest, the least we can do is hear the woman out. If she claims to have the solution we need, then we must consider it before we become desperate. Only afterwards do we decide what to do with her."
"Then it is settled," Hayden said as he rose to his feet. The other members of the Council promptly got to their feet as well, bowing slightly as Hayden passed his final verdict. "Prepare the prisoner and bring her to the throne room. We'll meet there in one hour."