' To Tommuel Pas-ang,
This letter is written specifically for the head of the 3rd Sub-Clan of Taray, Tommuel Pas-ang. You as the clan head is required to attend the Council of Elders on the 1st of April.
Your personal appearance is mandatory, and any representative shall be denied entry to the council. If you fail to comply, the Council shall send its emissary to force you to attend.
You are required to answer the questions by the Council for the following accusations:
1) Attempted murder of the heir apparent of the Clan of Kandas.
2) The usage of the forbidden gift.
All participants of the issue are placed on restrictions. You are warned that you are under observation and in any attempt of fleeing, appropriate actions shall be rendered.
Sincerely,
Nuriel Calpo
Chief of the Council'
The letter was read, and the piece of paper was folded and returned to the envelop. The recipient of the letter faced the hooded man who was standing across him, behind the couch where he silently rejected the offer to sit.
"I shall comply with the Council. Tell them, I have no reason to flee."
The hooded man bowed his head. But before he left, he heard the Elder added, "I plead not guilty in all accusations. Kindly, relay them that."
The hooded man nodded and vanished as he took one step backward.
A gentle knock was heard and a woman, whose face has always brought him joy for the past 25 years, entered the study room. Her presence soothing him already for the anxiety that the following days shall bring.
"Have you been eavesdropping Kaya?" Tommuel smilingly asked. He took his wife's hand and sat her on his lap.
"I wonder what Muriel shall gain from collaborating with Ziron?" Kaya asked.
"Muriel does not need anything from Ziron. He is doing this for his genuine concern with his sister's granddaughter."
Kaya sighed. She nuzzled her husband's face in her palm. "Are you ready to go through this? Look how pained you are already."
Tommuel took Kaya's hand and gave it a kiss, "Consider this as a punishment for my silence and ignorance. Though, it pains me that a child of mine had to suffer."
Kaya leaned her forehead in Tommuel's and sweetly replied, "How could you have known?"
Kaya felt a deep sigh escape from her husband's chest. there was silence between them and around them.
Tommuel began mourning for the daughter he never met. He had only been shown of a portrait of her all grown up and pretty. Two years ago, two investigators came knocking on his door. He was surprised because these investigators came from the lowlands, they were 'regular people'. Thus, he did not feel danger among them. They were inquiring him if he had met the lady in the portrait. He answered them honestly and inquired in return who the lady was. When they have answered " Merryl Sullivan", the Elder felt like cold water was poured from his head to to his toes. The next sentence they told him confirmed his thoughts, 'Her mother was Rachel Sullivan'
Tommuel and Rachel were lovers before he met and married Kaya. The woman was his secretary in the company he was managing. He truly loved her, but Rachel was unable to adapt to the rules of Tommuel's clan. Rachel would always tell him that she always felt 'different' among his family and circle of friends. Because of her anxieties, Tommuel never told the truth about his clan,about the world he is living in. One day, the woman vanished leaving him but a parting letter saying that she had made her choice. Never did he expect that their relationship would bear a child.
After the investigators left, Tommuel who had shared the events to an open minded family, was encouraged to look for the missing daughter as well. There was never a day that he longed to meet his daughter. The lowland investigators stopped after a year of searching, Merryl's father didn't. However, yesterday, his trusted messengers gathered whispers and facts and had heard that Merryl Sullivan was in the region but at the same time, was not anymore. Merryl Sullivan tried to kill the heir of the Kandas Clan and she got killed because of it. Ironically, his long lost daughter was killed by a long lost son of Kandas.
At this moment, his heart is in turmoil: Anger for his daughter's murderer and guilt from an incompetent father.
For many years, he had done his best to be the peacemaker and someone who is loyal to the clan and to the realm. Tommuel wondered how Ziron, Muriel and the Council could even think that he would send his own daughter to murder someone. He has much as many questions needed answered during the Council.
Meanwhile, another man had read another letter aloud so that his son could know its content as well. After accepting the invitation of the Council, he dismissed the hooded man who delivered the letter.
Believing that there was no one else in the room, besides him and his son, Arman Pakjawan relaxed himself as he sat proudly in his couch and lit his pipe. While blowing on it, his son sat across him and from behind them, out from the darkness, a woman with shoulder length hair stepped out.
Arman, who puffed out the first smoke from his pipe broke the silence, "I commend your master. He has done well to shy away wise old Ziron's suspicion from us."
The woman bowed her head.
"What is the reason for your midnight visit? Freya, do tell me your master's bidding."