“Do you regret not allowing the Conclave to dissolve the Council now?” Torval asked as Gavin drew near.
Gavin smiled, saying, “Not in the least, Torval. Yes, they make things frustrating right now, but in the long run, things are the way they are for a reason. Whether I know or understand the reason is immaterial to me, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do what I have to do to get things done.”
Torval’s eyes narrowed just a bit, and he acted as if he were about to speak. In the end, though, he sighed and gestured for the group to enter his family’s home.
“The others will be arriving shortly. I grant thee welcome and bid thee enter, Kirloth.”
Gavin nodded. “I am most grateful, Mivar.”
Torval gave Gavin an almost boyish grin as he turned and led the procession into the manor house.
The room that would hold the Conclave had not changed since Gavin had last seen it, and he entered the room just in time to see the other Heads of the Great Houses arrive.
The Conclave assumed their seats around the table, and Gavin called the session to order and brought everyone current on events, including the outcome of his last visit with the Council.
“This is almost too incredible to believe,” Lyssa said.
“I don’t want to believe it either,” Carth said as he leaned forward to rest his forearms on the table, “but what can we do? Gavin himself said the Council was deadlocked on the issue.”
“Gavin could always challenge Tauron to a duel,” Lyssa said. “That man has always been an insufferable ass, even when we were students together.”
A laugh circled around the table among the Heads of the Houses. It took a few moments before they realized that neither their children nor Gavin was laughing.
Sypara said, “Is something wrong, Gavin?”
“I understand that Lyssa’s comment was in jest, but being rid of Tauron is not worth the weight on my conscience if I challenged him. If he challenges me, that’s his stupidity.”
The table was silent for a time before Carth lifted his eyes to face Gavin. He said, “I daresay you’re a better man than most, Gavin. I know any number of people who would happily challenge everyone they disliked if they had your edge.”
“I regret that, but it is not germane to the topic at hand,” Gavin said. “You asked what we can do, Carth, and the answer is ‘more than you think.’” Gavin laid a book on the table. “This is the second volume of the Arcanists’ Code, containing Articles 35 through 50. Article 35 gives the Conclave of the Great Houses authority to act with impunity, should we hold a unanimous vote that such is necessary. I myself do not like that we have this option, but I see no other course of action that will protect whoever acts from charges of treason or some such.”
“What does Article 35 say?” Torval asked.
Gavin opened the volume and flipped to the page in question, passing it to Torval. Instead of reading to himself, Torval said, “‘Article 35: It is hereby decreed that the Conclave of the Great Houses has the authority to act on their own, irrespective of the Council of Magisters. To invoke this authority, there must be a unanimous vote of the Conclave with all five Houses represented, and should such a vote occur, the authority of the Conclave is absolute for a period of 60 days. Furthermore, no such vote can take place more than once every ten consecutive months.’”
“Well, that certainly isn’t wishy-washy,” Sypara said. “How far do you think that authority extends?”
“I’m not really sure Kirloth or the Apprentices envisioned a limit to that authority,” Gavin said. “Article 3 of the Constitution of Tel explicitly decrees that the Society of the Arcane stands outside the authority of the civil government, answering only to the Arcanists’ Code.”
“But we’re also Dukes and Duchesses,” Carth said. “Isn’t that a civil title? And wouldn’t that give the king an avenue to attack us?”
Gavin shook his head, saying, “No. I don’t think so. I’d have to check, but I believe it’s Article 7 of the Constitution that establishes the Duchies of Tel. It goes on to specify that the titles ‘Duke’ or ‘Duchess’ are conferred upon the Head of each House. It’s a gnarled cobweb of legalese that boils down to say each of you are Dukes or Duchesses, because you’re each one of the Heads of the Great Houses of Tel. Since the duchies are built upon the Great Houses, at the core of it, you’re arcanists and outside the authority of the civil government.”
Lyssa shrugged before saying, “I personally think the time is long past for some decisive action, and I move we vote to invoke Article 35.”
“Lyssa,” Torval said, “this is not a decision we should rush into making. I’ve never heard of any Conclave in the history of Tel ever voting to invoke Article 35, and that means we’ll be setting a precedent…no matter what else we do.”
“I agree with Lyssa,” Carth said, “but with one provision. I believe we should invoke Article 35, but I also believe we should vote that Gavin be the one to wield our authority. Yes, we will counsel and advise, but Gavin has shown himself to be a man of integrity and restraint, someone who believes in the Code and the Constitution. Besides, I don’t see how we can avoid an armed conflict with those mercenary soldiers, and no army run by a committee ever succeeded.”
“Carth, I-” Gavin said.
“No, Gavin,” Lillian said, speaking for the first time. “I agree with Carth. Someone must lead this…whatever it is…and it will have to be one of the Heads of the Great Houses. Everyone here has his or her own axes to grind, but you have repeatedly held back when everyone would support and agree with you burning Tauron down to ash. Besides all that, you’re Kirloth-at least the Kirloth of this age-and you yourself have seen how everyone steps around you. People will argue and debate with any of the others; they’re old friends or classmates or colleagues. When you speak, people listen.”
As Lillian finished speaking, Gavin looked to each person in turn, both his fellow Heads of the Great Houses and his apprentices. Each and every person met Gavin’s gaze and nodded.
Mariana was the last, saying, “Lillian’s right. Everyone here is a known quantity, except you. You would not believe how often they’re dismissed as relics of the past or just prestige positions, probably because the Council has nudged things that way over the last fifty years or so. I know you said you didn’t want anyone to say this, but Gavin, the Council is afraid of you. They might dispute the authority granted by Article 35 if one of the others wields that power, but no one will confront you, not after the incident with the Guild.”
Gavin scanned the faces looking his way once more and asked, “Is this your unanimous will?”
Everyone spoke their assent.
Gavin took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. “Very well. I now call for a vote to invoke Article 35 of the Arcanists’ Code.”
Torval said, “Mivar votes ‘yes.’”
Sypara said, “Wygoth votes ‘yes.’”
Carth said, “Roshan votes ‘yes.’”
Lyssa said, “Cothos votes ‘yes.’”
Everyone looked to Gavin.
Gavin sighed once more and said, “Kirloth votes ‘yes.’ Let the record show that the Conclave of the Great Houses held a unanimous vote to invoke Article 35 of the Arcanists’ Code on this day, under the stipulation that Kirloth executes the authority.”
“What’s our next step, Gavin?” Lyssa asked.
“We need more information and allies. If the mercenary army has built any strength at all, we do not have the resources to confront them. I think we should speak to Ovir next. He has military experience as well as the Warpriests of Tel from which to draw.”