Red Sapphire

[focusedheart]

Sapphire smiles softly and nods. "Yes we will listen. Would you like to rest from your trip first or get straight to it?" She asks of the female. She didn't want her to feel unwelcome here despite the growing threat.

She knew Alistair and Isabella would have issues with one another but for the sake of all people hers and theirs, they needed to put those differences aside.

[gravitron]

"I don't plan on staying long, let's cut to the chase." She pulled an envelope out of her jacket pocket. "You claim to care for all your people, human and Supernatural alike. You claim to agree that justice needs to be carried out for everyone. Here's your chance to prove it. Enclosed in this envelope is a list, compiled by me and every rebel I know, of everyone who has murdered countless of our friends, of our families, and others. Any responsible for the genocide of our people. We have agreed to give you three days, and that if by then you have not delivered justice -and you know how we mean- we will be forced to continue retaliation. But if you do the right thing and end them, well, you need not worry about us anymore. I would ask if we have a deal, but we'll be watching, and so in three days' time we'll know one way or the other."
"Let me see that." Alistair snatched the envelope from her hand and opened it. "The first name on this list...." He looked back up, but Isabella had already left without waiting for an answer, so he looked to Sapphire. "It's Hunter's. Then McIntyre is on here. A number of other names I recognize, mostly hunters and soldiers."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire accepted the words that the female was saying. It was as she expected. When she had left, she turned her attention to Alistair.

As he read the names, a frown grew on her lips. There was no way she would sentence any on that list to death as they had all paid for their past lives several times over. Hunter had in fact actually already died and so had the others actually. So in a way they had paid the price. They just weren't still dead.

She shakes her head at Alistair. "everyone on that list has earned their life and paid for their crimes. I know she will not see it that way..." her heart grew heavy. "She will start a war."

[gravitron]

"And we'll end it. She and her forces aren't as strong as us and ours. We can even go ahead and end this, right now, before it truly begins. It would be the strategic decision."

[focusedheart]

She shakes her head a bit. "We must wait for her to strike first." She looks to the landscape. "We will make sure everyone is ready but must make it all appear normal."
Then she adds. "Bring everyone on that list to me. They have a right to know they are being called out upon. I will address them all and make it clear that here and now they have already paid the debt for their past lives. The fact they were brought back is different. I will not sentence them a second time for it."

[gravitron]

Alistair went to gather the named and Shalidor appeared beside here. A moment later, he spoke, his voice dry. "I notice that he didn't mention his own name. It's on there, you know."

[focusedheart]

She tilts her head a little but she didn't look at Shalidor. Her eyes still on the land. "I know." She sighs. "He, like many others on that list have died. The fact they were returned to life has nothing to do with the price they have all paid." She says.

[gravitron]

"I would, for once, advise you to listen to Alistair. His recommendation of a preemptive strike has some sense to it." He adjusted himself. "I mean to say, we can take Isabella and her rebels with no trouble, but I don't think that's all there is to it. They know they don't stand a chance against us, yet they're making threats. She's smarter than that. She has a plan, something that she thinks can grant her victory when we inevitably refuse her orders. And I would just check what it is and stop it, but most disturbing of all.... I tried to look into her mind, for her plan. And I couldn't."

[focusedheart]

Her eyes seem to flicker slightly and she shakes her head. "That is because she is a pawn. She herself doesn't know the entire plan. She knows enough to give her the confidence to issue the threat to begin with." She sighs. "Let me speak with all the accused and then I may make a public statement."

[gravitron]

"You misunderstand," he shook his head, an actual worried frown on his face. "It isn't that I couldn't find the plan. I couldn't enter her mind. It was like something was blocking it."

[focusedheart]

She pauses and looks at him. It was the worry in his eyes that concerned her now. Him worried? "So then who exactly is strong enough to block you? That list is very short."

[gravitron]

"Indeed. That's what worries me. My guess would have to be some new, unknown enemy, hiding in the shadows. I'm less concerned by who than by what they can do."
Alistair came in, followed by Hunter, McIntyre, and nearly all of their men. "I couldn't find- Oh, there you are." His eyes had come to rest on Shalidor, who nodded solemnly.

[focusedheart]

She doubted it was a new enemy. If there was one, they would both have sensed such a change on power. Her eyes flicker and she turns her attention to the gathered people. "I'm sorry to have all of you called from your duties but you have a right to know what is going on." She explains to them the accusations against them. Then held her hand up to stop any speaking. "I am not sentencing any of you. You have all paid your price not that long ago and have long since been helping this world and all the people. I don't believe any of you own anything more than you have already given. Some of you have lost families and your own lives. Also be aware my decision will anger your accuser and possibly be the result of another war."

[gravitron]

There was uneasiness at the mention of another war, but they remained calm through her speech.
"The soldiers will be ready if it comes to that," McIntyre told her.
"So will the hunters," Hunter agreed.
"And the mages," Shalidor said. "Though like I said, the rebels themselves are nothing to be worried about."
"What did you do to get yourself on the list, anyway?" Hunter asked him. "I don't remember you killing any rebels."
Shalidor smiled slightly. "A few of them were annoying."

[focusedheart]

She rolls her eyes at Shalidor's comment but looks to the others. No another war was not what they needed. She wanted to avoid one at all cost because it would not matter who won this time...She feared they would all lose.

She nods a bit. "I'm sorry to all of you that we face the threat of another war. This is not what I want for any of you or for the people."

[gravitron]

"We can end this now," pressed Alistair. "We have the firepower."
"Yes," Shalidor must have been worried; he couldn't even manage a smirk. "You have me. I can stop them now, in one quick move, and we don't have to wait for them to ready their plan. Strike now, on our terms."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire regards everyone there for a moment then nods sadly. "Bring the council together, we will vote" she nods. "This is not a decision for only me to say yes to." Shalidor being worried was starting to trouble her. Nothing has ever worried him. Not even the gods themselves coming after him. For him to be worried now...it made her wary.

[gravitron]

Alistair nodded. "Alright. Hunter, McIntyre, meeting room. I'll get Matthew. But where could Lockhart-?"
"I'll get him," Shalidor said. "Just get Matthew and get ready." With that, he disappeared.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire nods a little. This was going to be difficult but it had to be made. This is where being the queen, goddess and guardian was the hardest. These choices...kill a few to save the many.

[gravitron]

Ten minutes later, the Council was gathered in the meeting room- Most were sitting calmly and waiting, whereas Lockhart and Shalidor had been predictably arguing since their arrival.
Shalidor deserved credit, though- He was making every attempt to stop it, and had been since it started. But Lockhart wouldn't give in.
"You just came and kicked me out-"
"For the last time, shut up and let the meeting commence!"
"They were my people, and you just-"
"What?" Shalidor finally turned his attention fully to Lockhart. "Your people? You realize who you're talking to, right? They're my people. They were long before you were born. I brought magic to humans, I created the Council. They are more my people than anyone's."
"But then you left! You gave up your privileges when you-"
"Left?" Shalidor laughed. "I 'left'? I DIED. News flash: That was not intentional, I can not be blamed for that, and that did not make these any less my people. Now, we have bigger problems- Like war, for example!"

[focusedheart]

Sapphire arches a brow as she regards the two. Then she nods to Lockhart. "For the sake of all the people, everyone in this room needs to work together." She looks to everyone in the room. "Most of you know already what is going on for those of you who don't let me catch you up." She gives the details of what they were dealing with and what they knew so far. Then she added. "You all know where I stand on causing more death but...I Also have come to realize we may not have a choice if we wish to avoid any devastation to the people and your own families. I only ask that all of you think and consider this decision carefully. Before we vote I also ask that if anyone has any input, now is the time. This is the reason for this council, for such situations."

[gravitron]

No one said anything, but everyone was becoming more and more nervous each time they glanced at Shalidor's worried expression.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire looks at everyone in the room then looks to Shalidor. "Tell them. Tell them why you worry." She says then shakes her head as she looks to everyone again. "Everyone in this room is the strength of this world. You would not still be on this council if I didn't think any of you could stand against whatever it was we faced. New or old enemy. You worry. You fear. I need all of you in this room to be ready for anything we may face, no matter what it is. We are the first defense for our people. Even the greatest of enemies can be defeated! Have not one or all of you at one time or another spoke to me about strategy being more important than power? That is can be what changes any battle?" She shakes her head. "I trust everyone in this room. Your words and advice I hold in high regard. It matters not if I am a god, guardian and queen. Who would I be without all of you supporting and fighting at my side? Lost. Now what say you?"

[gravitron]

"But, um.... I've never seen Shalidor worried before. Has he actually ever been worried before? Why is he worried?" Matthew looked a bit concerned, and a few others nodded.
"To answer your questions: No, I have never been worried before, and I am now because something was blocking Isabella's mind from me. I didn't get to probe further, test if this force was more powerful than me, but to do what it did, it must have been on reality- bender level, like me and Red. And an enemy. My only guess would be an ancient being hiding in the shadows until now, choosing this moment to reveal them self. Regardless of identity, it is.... disconcerting."
"But.... We can take it, whatever it is," said Matthew hesitantly. "Right?"
Shalidor looked back to him and, never one to sugarcoat things, told him, "I have no idea. Unless I can gauge this enemy's power, and perhaps figure out their identity, it's impossible to tell."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire was quiet a moment then looks to Shalidor. "If we were to strike before they could strike...would it draw out this enemy?" She nods. " Would this enemy protect them?"

[gravitron]

"Again, I don't know enough about them to make promises, but.... Probably, yes. Of course, if we wait three days, he'll attack with them, and they'll have probably gathered more strength. That might be why the rebels are prolonging it so long. And it's generally better to be on the attacking side, don't let them make their plan. Remember Troy?"

[focusedheart]

She arches a brow at him. "Troy used a wooden horse to sneak into the kingdom. They aren't being sneaky." She shakes her head. "We need to draw this enemy out.." She looks to everyone. "You are all seasoned fighters. What do you say about attacking first...?"

[gravitron]

Shalidor cautioned one more time: "They're being sneakier than you realize, Red. They themselves aren't hiding.... But don't think of them as the enemy. Think of them as the horse. We have let them into our city, willingly, and they are no true threat to us, easy enough to destroy. But they hide the true danger, the real enemy.... A force that could burn our Troy to the ground if we make a wrong decision."
"I vote to give them Shalidor as a peace offering," Lockhart announced.
"Vetoed," Shalidor answered immediately. "But is everyone ready to vote?"
This was met with solemn nods.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire nods as well. A hidden enemy...Who was now wanting to destroy them? Would she never be able to bring this world peace? "Those in favor of the strike?"

[gravitron]

Alistair and Shalidor immediately raised their hands, followed by a worried McIntyre, who looked unhappy, but like he thought it had to be done.
Hunter shook his head.
Matthew looked furious and kept his hand down, followed by a hesitant Lockhart.