Chapter 44
They continued the good conversations during breakfast and then everyone went to their classes or to the throne room. The entourage and professors sat at the table and the council members sat in the bleachers. This time desks were made available for those that wanted to continue and take the testing regiment.
"Please move to the desk if you are testing and join me outside if you are retiring," Lauren said and she walked out to the back courtyard where a small party was set up.
The three youngest members of the council sat for the testing. She was happy to see their eagerness to be useful.
The retirees were given generous severance packages and Lauren sent them and their families to the realms they wanted to retire in.
All three of the tested members passed their tests and joined Carlton as part of the council.
Lauren decided to hold a realm meeting as a way to deal with the chancellor and guardian that broke the law. The crimes were against the people so she would let the people punish them.
After hearing the cases, voting boxes were placed at the exit of the main courtyard and monitored by the wolves and the bears. Once the votes were tallied, Lauren handed down the punishment. "For the last two hundred years you have served as chancellor under false premises. You killed your predecessor, your wife, and tortured your young bride for the past one hundred years. That is only the tip of your iceberg of transgressions. The people have spoken and I will honor their decision. Chancellor, since you decided not to give me your name before you tried to talk down to me, your name will not be brought up again except for as directions on how not to be a chancellor. You will serve four hundred years in your retraining prison. You will have to start over every time you miss up or cause harm to someone in the storyline you will experience." Once she said her last word, she scooped him up in a whirlwind and sent him on his way.
"Now, Clarence. You have gone against the code of the guardians by allowing your charge to get hurt and stealing from the realm you should protect. The guardians are appalled by your behavior and I contacted your grandfather and father."
Both men stepped out of the crowd. "How could you tarnish our reputation like this? We are ashamed."
"You will serve in your punishment book until you show true remorse. Remember I have the gift of discernment, so I will know. I will monitor your story before I let you try real life again Your lineage will have to agree that you have been rehabilitated. Agreed?"
"Agreed," His grandfather and father said.
While he said, "I don't agree." Lauren scooped him up in a whirlwind and sent him to his book.
"I hope this serves as proof that for me, the new Keeper, the people matter. For my new Chancellor, Carlton, who is also one of my consorts, the people and the law matters. And I plan to be fair and show caring and kindness to all. There will be a suggestion box made available in the town square and someone from my entourage will check it weekly and bring the concerns to the attention of the new council and myself. We will have festivals that will allow us to share in the joys of our successes and to discuss things that are not quite right. This realm is where I live and I want it to be an example to all other realms of how we should associate with each other." There was thunderous applause after her speech. "Now I leave you to live your lives. Thank you."
Lauren and her entourage walked back into the spires with Lauren in the middle of the group. She felt like she had accomplished something as the keeper and not the protector. She now just had to set up the final bits so she could take a good rest.
Carlton and Antonus walked Lauren to her luxurious throne and sat down with her. Demeatral stepped up to speak. "Lady Lauren. We have completed the testing of the old members and are here to present them to you. Dominic, is a legacy of the Elfan house of Treis. He has served as a councilman for twenty years. He was the Historian for the council. Next is Addien, she is merfolk, and has served on the council for fifty years. She was the treasurer. And lastly, Herman of Indus, one of Queen Laventavia's husbands. He was the vice chancellor and served for seventy years."
"It's nice to meet you all. Of course you know that your positions might change based on our new members and the Chancellor assessing your abilities. I like that there is a mix of beings present. By the end of the week we should have a complete council and can move on to other matters. Carlton, we need to put out a call to all who want to apply to be a part of the council and to be guardians so the entourage can vet them and we can test and try them."
"Yes, my Lady," Carlton answered. "I will have Edmon and Demeatral help with the guardians and MaGayla help with the Council."
"I would like to make some changes in the town structure and security. I saw something I didn't like. We need to bring the warriors and fighters together and meet with them this week."
"We will make that happen for you tomorrow in PE and Weapons class," Kento said with Damon bowing at his side.
"Do I need to tend to anything else right now?" Lauren asked.
"We can bring the rest of the guardians through after lunch," Edmon said.
"Good that will give me a bit of a break." Lauren looked at Carlton and Antonus and they escorted her to the antechamber of the throne room and then to their home realm.