But the war of which you speak it was centuries ago, said Lady Anseratte. Why did you suppose that you would still be targeted after so long?
Venera shrugged. We had telescopes. We could see that our enemies nations were thriving. And we could also clearly see that sentries armed with machine-guns ringed the tower. I was raised to believe that if we entered the elevator and tried to reach Lesser Spyre, those machine gunners would destroy us before we rose more than a hundred meters.
Oh, no! Guinevera looked acutely distressed. The sentries were there for your protection, madam! They were to keep interlopers out, not to box you in!
Well. Venera looked down. Father thought so, but he also said that we were so reduced that we could not risk a single soul to find out. And isolation becomes a habit. She looked pointedly at the ambassadors of Oxorn and Garrat.
Sarto guffawed loudly. Oh, come on! What about the dozens of attempts that have been made to contact the tower? Semaphore, loudspeakers, smoke signals, for Gods sake. Theyve all been tried and nobody ever responded.
I am not aware that anyone has tried to contact us during my lifetime, said Venera. This was true, as shed learned in the past days. Sarto would have to concede the point. And I cant speak to my ancestors motives for staying silent.
Thats as may be, Sarto continued. Look, Ill play it straight. Sacrus was involved in the original atrocity. He held up a hand when Guinevera protested loudly. But gentlemen and ladies, that was centuries ago. We are prepared to admit our crime and make reparations to the council when this woman is exposed for the fraud that she is.
And if shes not? asked Guinevera angrily.
Then to the Nation of Buridan directly, said Sarto. I just wanted to clear the air. We cant name our co-conspirators because, after all this time, the records have been lost. But having admitted our part in the affair, and having proposed that we pay reparations, I can now continue to oppose this womans claim without any appearance of conflict.
Venera frowned. Her second gambit had failed.
If Sacrus had wanted to keep their involvement a secret, she might have had leverage over Sarto. Maybe even enough to swing his vote. As it was hed adroitly sidestepped the trap.
Lady Anseratte looked up and down the table. Is the other conspirators nation similarly honorable? Will they admit their part? There was a long and uncomfortable silence.
Well, then, said Pamela Anseratte. Let us examine the details of your inheritances.
From here the interview deteriorated into minutiae as the council members pulled out individual documents and points of law and debated them endlessly. Venera was tired, and every time she blinked to clear her vision, she worried that a new migraine might be reaching to crush her. Pamela Anseratte conducted the meeting as if she had boundless energy, but Veneraand everyone elsewilted under the onslaught of detail.
Sarto used sarcasm, wit, guile, and bureaucracy to try to torpedo her claim, but after several hours it became clear that he wasnt making headway. Venera perked up a bit. I could win this , she realizedsimultaneously realizing just how certain shed been that she wouldnt.
Finally Lady Anseratte said, Any further points? and nobody answered. Well, she said brightly, we might as well proceed to a vote.
Hang on, said Sarto. He stood heavily. Ive got something to say. Everyone waited.
This woman is a fraud. We all know it. Its inconceivable that this family could have sustained themselves and their retainers for centuries within a single tower, cut off from the outside world
Not inconceivable, said the ambassador of Oxorn from behind her griffin mask. Quite possible.
Sarto glared at her. What did they do for clothes? For even the tiniest item of utility, such as forks or pens? Do you really believe they have an entire industrial base squirreled away in that tower? He shook his head.
Its equally inconceivable that someone raised in such total isolation should, upon being dropped into society and all its machinations, conduct herself like a veteran! Did she rehearse social banter with her dolls? Did she learn to dance with her rocking horse? Its preposterous on the face of it.
And we all know why her claim has any chance of success. Its because shes bought off everyone who might oppose it. Buridan has tremendous assetsestates, ships, buildings, and industries here and on Greater Spyre that have been administered by other nations in absentia, for generations. Shes promised to give those nations the assets theyve tended! For the rest, shes proposing to beggar Buridan by paying all its debts here
and now. When shes done Buridan will have nothing to its name but a herd of gangly equines.
And this house, said Venera primly. I dont propose to give that up. There was some stifled laughter around the table.
Its a transparent fraud! Sarto turned to glare at the other council members. Forget about the formal details of her claimin fact, let it be read that theres nothing to criticize about it. That doesnt matter. We all know the truth. She is insulting the name of a great nation of Spyre! Do you actually propose to let her get away with it?