Loose lotus blossom petals fell past Keris' feathery headcrest, joining the flakes of frost coating the cold granite floor below. With a resounding breath, the Lieutenant lifted his head and squinted his magenta eyes at the rows of stone seats surrounding him.
"So, in conclusion, dear Council." He clenched his beak tight. "I must with great reluctance state that Rainbow Dash—the 'Rainbow Rogue' of the Seven Seas—has eluded our grasp. Although the circumstances of her last sighting were indeed very catastrophic, I have every reason to believe—due to the nature of her tenaciousness and versatility—that the suspect still lives." He cleared his throat. "It was the Commander's Executive decision to cease the hunt, but it was I who escorted the majority of the Talon back to Frostknife. And—in the absence of Commander Seraphimus—I bear full responsibility for our failure to capture the Rogue in any physical capacity."
At the end of his speech, the Lieutenant bowed low. The utter silence of the moment shook him more than anything. His grip of his helmet rattled slightly, and he took a deep breath in order to maintain his composure.
A thick group of anxious magistrates, representatives, and delegates stared down at him from the half-circle of seats. Their expressions were just as cold and sterile as the frosted clifffaces looming above them within that niche.
Grand Magistrate Hymnos coughed slightly before standing up straight behind her podium. She struck a gavel and spoke loudly, projecting her voice over Keris' head. "The Council now offers the air to the voices and concerns of its Magistrates."
An old mare in a fancy robe stands up.
"The Council recognizes Magistrate Vilcheez of Lotust Prefecture," Hymnos spoke.
"Lieutenant Keris." Vilcheez's eyes narrowed. "You claim that you take full responsibility for the failure to collect the body of the Rainbow Rogue—alive or dead."
"I claim and I do." Keris nodded. "Madame Magistrate..."
"And yet, when the illustrious Commander Seraphimus made the decision to cease all pursuit of the Rogue, you did not think it in this kingdom's best interest to challenge her command?"
The crowd murmured in a low voice.
On the sidelines, Windburst, Raptr, and Starstorm stood side by side in brand new sets of armor. They exchanged nervous glances.
Keris blinked. "I'm... afraid that I do not understand the question." Keris cleared his throat. "Commander Seraphimus holds authority over the entirety of the Right Talon of Verlaxion, including myself. So when she ordered that our hunt be discontinued—"
"The Right Talon of Verlaxion operates via the good grace of the Council, Lieutenant," Vilcheez said. "Certainly I need not remind you of that."
Another Magistrate stood up, blurting. "Did we not make it clear that the Rainbow Rogue was to be captured and brought to Frostknife to answer for her crimes?"
Hymnos frowned. "The Council is currently giving ear to the Magistrate from Lotus Prefecture—"
The stallion ignored the Grand Magistrate, barking in Keris' direction, "You acknowledge that the Rogue may indeed still be alive! And yet, you and your Commander both agreed to openly defy the Council by letting this detestable... creature run free?!"
The Council broke into an angry clamor.
Keris spoke firmly against the bedlam: "We deemed it too great a risk to the stability of Ivory, Dust, and Lichen Prefectures to continue. Every attempt to capture the Rainbow Rogue previously brought explosive destruction and damage to the outlying northern settlements—"
A griffon in a fur coat stood up, frowning. "All the more reason to stop the Rogue in her tracks!" She swung a talon, snarling. "Now she's still out there, wreaking havoc!"
"Order!" Hymnos banged her gavel. "The Council will only tolerate one speaker at a time—"
"That injury of yours, Lieutenant." Vilcheez nodded her head. "Did you receive it during your flight in Rice or Osmanthus Prefectures?"
Keris adjusted the weight of his hanging cast. "No, Magistrate. I suffered a series of injuries while imprisoned at Red Barge along with the Rainbow Rogue."
"So this was before you and the Commander even set out to find the Rogue?!"
"It was during the first leg of my investigation, as mandated by this Council, Madame."
"So you had an unfortunate run-in with the Rogue prior to the hunt." Vilcheez folded her forelimbs. "One that brought great injury to your body and—undoubtedly—your countenance."
Keris' hawkeyes narrowed. "I'm... afraid I do not understand what are you meaning to imply, Madame."
"Don't you?" Vilcheez snorted. "Would the Commander have been so keen to give up on the Rogue if you hadn't constantly been filling her ears with pessimistic rhetoric?" She grumbled. "You're supposed to be the righteous fury of our beloved Goddess. But where has the fire gone if our greatest defenders are defeated by their foes before the hunt even starts?"
Frowning, Raptr stepped out towards the center of the court. Windburst and Starstorm swiftly yanked him back before the rookie's brazen movement could be noticed.
Keris calmed evenly. "I reiterate before the Council: I do not know the reason behind every decision the Commander makes. As for myself, I assure you that my loyalty to this Council and the Six Tribes has never been stronger." He swallowed. "Any advice I gave the Commander—whether it cautious or headstrong—was given in the best interests of the safety of all our Prefectures—"
"The safety of your tail is more like it!" another pony blurted out of order, forcing Hymnos to bang the gavel again. "Where was the courage you displayed in the central territories?! Is one creature from beyond the Blight so much more terrible than a marching phalanx of terrorists?!"
"How dare you speak of terrorists!" A fellow magistrate snarled from aside the first interrupter. "Did your citizens have any of their town halls blown up?! Any of their crops burned to ashes?!"
"Stop trying to gain sympathy before the Talon!" A unicon barked from the front row. He turned and frowned up at the other magistrates. "Commander Seraphimus patrolled your lands for three weeks while the Council decided to ignore the rest of our pleas!"
"Is that why you voted to send the Talon after the Rogue?! To spite the rest of us who had our lands defended?!"
By now, the entire Council had collapsed into unintelligible yelling. Keris winced, glancing at every arguing pony, elder, and griffon with wild eyes. "Council! Council Members and Magistrates, please, this is no time for—"
"Order! Order!" Hymnos finally snarled and signaled a series of guards flanking the Court.
The guards nodded back. They pulled a hammer out of a velvet bag and slammed a ridiculously large gong situated along the edge of the room.
Windburst, Starstorm, and Raptr winced.
This managed to silence a good portion of the Council, if only somewhat. The ponies looked front and center as Hymnos stood tall behind her podium.
"Alas, you've all witnessed it." Hymnos frowned. "The brass has spoken, and this meeting is adjourned."
"Grand Magistrate—" Vilcheez began.
"Silence!" Hymnos' voice reverberated off the looming statues of ponies, griffons, and sirens behind her. "This session was to discuss the mission of the Right Talon and their apparent failure. It was not meant for tossing petty insults between the various Prefectures. As Grand Magistrate, I cannot and shall not allow this Council to dissolve into a banal bloodbath!" She pointed. "All delegates are dismissed! I shall reconvene at a time that's yet to be decided! If you seek an update, send your servants to ascertain the schedule from the central board! If that isn't good enough, then take a swim in the Seven Seas!" Frowning, she slapped her book shut and marched off while an escort of guards scurried to catch up with her.
Despite the finality of her words, the magistrates took a prolonged time in exiting the lofty chamber. Many glared vicious, angry daggers at one another before eventually descending the steps and venturing off into the lower reaches of Frostknife. Many like-bodied pegasi, earth ponies, griffons, and unicorns banded together. The water chambers were practically devoid of sirens.
Keris hung his head, sighing as the Council dissipated around him. His three subordinates marched out and stood by his side.
"Well, could have been worse," Windburst muttered. "They could have pissed on you."
"Sergeant," Keris muttered aside. "The Throne of Verlaxion..."
"Right." Windburst pivoted and bowed towards the frosted steps leading far beyond the granite statues. "A thousand pardons, dear Goddess."
"Is it just me...?" Starstorm fidgeted. "...or were they... bloodthirstier than usual?"
"They're a bunch of ungrateful pen-pushers, is what," Raptr snarled.
Keris stood up to frown at him. "They are still the Council, Sergeant. Just because they don't respect us in the manner that we desire doesn't mean we—the Right Talon—should be neglectful in our vigil."
"But—"
"By duty or by spirit."
Raptr gulped. "They're not even respectful of each other! You saw them, Lieutenant! We all heard them! They're... they're like a bunch of schoolyard bullies biting and clawing at each other!" Raptr pivoted about, staring at the empty seats. "I think they were angrier at each other than they were at us!"
"Did something terrible happen while we were gone?" Starstorm remarked.
"If so, we were not in the right place to protect or defend them." Keris gulped. "And now that they need the Commander to inspire confidence, she's a complete no-show."
"There must be a reason for all of this squabbling," Starstorm said. "Have we been so entrenched with fighting terrorists and chasing rainbows that we've failed to pay close enough attention?"
"Did you see Hymnos?" Windburst remarked. "The Grand Magistrate can barely even hold this room together. And just where are the sirens?"
"I don't know..." Keris rubbed his beak, sighing. "But one thing's for sure, I could really use Seraphimus' strength right now. Goddess, I could use anything right now... Verlaxion help us..."
A voice cleared from behind. "Excuse me, Lieutenant."
The four armored griffons turned around.
"Ahem..." Theanim slid his goggles up over his mane. "I am Professor Theanim Mane of the Ninety-Seventh Rohbredden Scientific Order. You are Lieutenant Keris, I presume?"
"Yes, Professor," Keris said with a nod. "I am indeed the griffon in silver that every magistrate has been leering at for the past hour."
"Indeed." Theanim took a step forward. "I do believe we've met before, if only briefly."
"Do forgive me if I currently lack the ability to recall." Keris cleared his throat. "I have, however, heard of your noble exploits across Rohbredden and the seas beyond."
"Then perhaps you know that the two of us have something in common."
"Affirmative." Keris squinted carefully. "We both have run afoul of the Rainbow Rogue."
"But only one of us tried to bring her to justice," Windburst added. Starstform and Raptr glared at the stallion.
Theanim gulped. "That might be true. But it's our other commonality, Lieutenant, that kept us from fulfilling such a task so easily."
"Oh?"
"I speak of our sincere pursuit of the truth," Theanim said. "And if one spends even an hour with Rainbow Dash, they realize that such a thing is not found quite so easily."
Keris blinked.
Theanim stared squarely at him.
"Eugh..." Raptr rolled his eyes. "I swear... all that will ever happen in this damn chamber is intrigue and harassment." He stepped towards Theanim. "Go back home, citizen. The Grand Magistrate adjourned all meetings for the time being and she meant it—"
Keris stretched his good arm out, halting Raptr completely. The air silenced as he trained his gaze further on Theanim. "Good Professor..." He spoke calmly, "Do forgive our... edginess. It's been a tense Month of Thawing so far. Perhaps you would do well to explain your motivation in stealing my attention."
"I don't mean to steal anypony's attention," Theanim said. "But to enlighten it."
"Is that so?"
Theanim nodded. "Your subordinate is correct. This Council has been nothing but hoof pointing and teeth gnashing as of late. For a long time, I've been blind to the problems rotting beneath the frozen shelves of this kingdom. However, several recent events have awoken me to a dark, grisly reality... something that I'm just now coming close to unraveling. And yet... I do not believe I can accomplish it all on my lonesome."
"Professor, you are a scientist." Keris raised an eyecrest. "Perhaps you can make your sentences more... scientific?"
"There's a pony in power who is sowing all of the distrust and dissent in this land," Theanim said. His voice took on a hushed tone as he leaned in closer. "I've just returned from the Frosted Shelves, where I learned of an upcoming meeting—a secret rendezvous between two nefarious parties—that may very well reveal just who or what is responsible for all of the problems that have been turning the Prefectures and Tribes against one another." He gulped. "But I suspect that I will need the assistance of the Talon to properly catch such a meeting as it goes underway. This... this may be our one opportunity to strike at the heart at what's been festering within this continent."
"Is he serious?!" Raptr hissed.
Starstorm added. "We're here because we failed to catch the Rogue, and now the Scientific Order is rambling about conspiracies!"
"You mean like the strange bullshit that held our Commander back at Braum?" Windburst droned.
Starstorm and Raptr instantly silenced themselves, blinking wide. All three looked at Keris.
Keris exhaled. "I feel like I've been doing nothing but chasing after shadows as of late, Professor. If this proves to be another fleeting phantom—"
"I honestly don't know, Lieutenant," Theanim said. "But while I might have an inclination, I lack the resources on my own to investigate thoroughly." He held a hoof out. "Thus, I have come to ask for your strength." He blinked. "And hopefully your trust."
"My strength, you and your Order have without question," Keris said. "My trust? Well, that's something we can work on, yes? Let us move." He waved a talon in the air, directing the Sergeants to follow him as he walked out of the Council with Theanim. "If this is indeed the kind of discussion that I think we're going to have, then we must do so elsewhere."