*Max*
I don't like the way Daimeon is talking to Xadalyn as we hurry to our unknown destination. I'm not sure what he's referring to since he was the one calling her out of her room. I did notice how he'd glanced at me and I assumed it was because he didn't want me to be part of this little outing, but maybe it's because he now knows who I am. I wonder if Larak told him or if Xadalyn herself did.
When Xada says she'll hide me, then I know it's me being along that's the problem. Well, I'm not backing down now. If I'm a problem, then that's even more a reason why I want to know. Her mention of a mindwarp, however, sends a little chill through me. It only reminds me so much of who her mother is. We'd had a lot of reasons to use Tess's mindwarping for things that worked out very well, but in the end, I'll always think of Alex's death whenever I hear the word. I guess that was one lucky side-effect of thinking Xan had no powers. It made it easier to forget who his mother really was.
I accept her suggestion, knowing that I'm offically not on Antar at the moment. It feels deceitful to be hiding but if people knew I were here, it would be a lot harder to leave. Besides, there may be people on this council from the Summit in New York who would recognise me. I wouldn't recognise them, since they were in borrowed bodies, but they might know my face, although nobody seemed to know me at the banquet. I'll be listening for their names -- Kathana, Sero and Hanar -- Although if this is council is just for Antar, they won't be here.
I'm proud of Xadalyn's cool expression as we enter the room. She looks positively regal and I know she's had a lot of practice at this. Xadalyn immediately takes the council to task for meeting without her and she does an excellent job of it. In a moment, Barxon makes it clear why they are meeting. It's for the same reason she suddenly wanted to get me to Antar. The royal seal or rather, the lack of one. He mentions only the possibility that I'm still alive, tactfully avoiding the second option, the one that my mother harbored and I'm sure is in the mind of many here -- that she may not be my daughter at all. From what I saw earlier, I'm quite sure Adayla wasn't shy about sharing that particular viewpoint.
However, Barxon's suggestion of sending assassins for me, makes me catch my breath. Larak mentioned this before but it's an entirely different thing to hear it with my own ears.
Larak explodes, leaping to my defense and I smile. Even now, his words don't betray that I'm already on Antar.
*Thank you, old friend,* I tell Larak, telepathically. I don't know if it will break the mindwarp for him and allow him to see me or if he'll think me outside the room still, but I know that the rest of the council will still be unaware of my presence. *Shall I let them take this vote, or do you already know who's friend or foe?*
Barxon's objections to having a hybrid on the throne are surprising, to me. It was Antar's plan to make me a hybrid. They knew what they were getting and must have agreed it was still valid at the time. In fact, I think Barxon was there... Besides, Xadalyn's a hybrid, too. She's not free of human DNA, even if she was raised here. As for not remembering, with every minute here, I remember more and more. I'm sure it would all be back in the space of a month if I had the opportunity. Or at least, all the important parts.
Larak's objections are dismissed, as Xadalyn is now 17 and is concidered to be an adult and no longer needs a guardian or regent.
*Max...what's wrong...? What's happened...?* I hear Liz ask me.
*It's a planetary council meeting,* I tell Liz while sending her a mental picture of where the councilroom is. *They're talking of sending assasins to Earth to kill me so Xadalyn has a clear claim to the throne.* As I explain that, I realize that I hadn't mentioned that threat to her earlier. This will be new and even more shocking to her than it was to me.
Xadalyn objects to the vote, but I know that the councilwoman speaking is correct. If Xadalyn isn't queen and Larak isn't regent, then all voices on the council will carry equal weight. The question of who rules the planet must be made clear.
Unfortunately, I'm not ready to give Xadalyn that symbol. I still don't know her well enough. I see disquieting amounts of Tess in her. It's not unexpected but it does make me wary. And even if I were willing to do this, there's the problem with Xan. Giving the seal to one means giving it to both, and that will break the block and leave their powers to run wild. No, I know I can't do that.
I can see only two clear options. First, I could take charge here myself as King, knowing that I'll have an uphill battle proving myself against any who agree with Baxon's opinion on hybrids. Second, I could officially make Xadalyn acting-monarch without transfering the seal. Either option would require that I reveal my presence here on Antar but I'm not sure this meeting is the place to do it.
OOC -- I have a bit more to this post, but per the new rules, I'm waiting on approval from other RPers before posting it.
