Gabriel - Post Chapter Ten (Patreon)

The blade slashed through the creature, spraying rotted flesh across the white marble floor in a dark brown smear. It died with a wet scream that was cut short by the edge of the celestial blade. Gabriel stared at the thing, panting heavily, while Elias clapped in the background.

“Good job, son!” His voice rang proudly across the meeting hall, echoing upwards towards the fresco ceilings.  Gabriel looked down at his blade, taking out the prepared cleaning supplies he always had at meetings like this, and wiping his weapon down before the rot could fester.  Reese never did send a proxy that was too dangerous. Not after he learned Gabriel was the one having to take care of them.

Setting aside the dirty rag, Gabriel looked upwards at the semicircle of thrones that sat before him.  Nine of them. The monthly Baron meeting came on the heels of Kavatti’s demise so her chair remained empty. So did the Gatekeepers, like usual. Along with the Dockmaster’s since Reese never came to the meeting in order to keep up the ruse that he was dead for Elias.  But, it seemed as if today, most of the Barons did not seem to deem it necessary to attend their meeting.  The Baron of the Deep only had a conch shell in her place, having called in from the depths of her castle instead of making her way to the surface today. Odin was irritated at his inability to get back to the Nine Realms like he initially thought he would so easily do, so his other raven, Huginn/Julien, Gabriel didn’t know which he wished to go by, was sitting surly in his place.

In fact, the only true Barons attending today seemed to be Elias.  Perhaps, Lady Chrysanthemum.

“Does anyone know where Lord Taliesin is?” Gabriel asked, sanding in front of the semicircle of half empty chairs and proxies.

“Probably cowering within his gemstones,” Chrysanthemum said airily.

“Lady Chrysanthemum, I notice Lord Taliesin and you do not attend the same meetings. I thought we agreed that the two of you would get past your altercation at least once a month.”

“Did we?” she asked, tipping her head to the side and smiling sweetly at Gabriel. “I do not remember this. Though, if you wish for us to get past it, please, summon him. I would love to see him.” The way in which she tapped her nails made Gabriel nervous.  A redcap princess from the notorious fae realms and the daughter of a bloodthirsty king. Drops of fresh blood dripped from her nails onto the arm of her chair with each thrum of her nails.  Gabriel doubted an agreement between her and Lord Hynsin was going to be amicable.

“Oh, son,” Elias cooed. “You are doing wonderfully.  I think the turnout today is absolutely wonderful.” He snapped his head towards Chrysanthemum. “You are dirtying that chair.” His face was tight with the desire to wipe it all clean. Especially when Chrysanthemum looked him in the eye and gave another pointed roll of her fingers.

Huginn snorted and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms and sinking further into his seat.

Gabriel looked at him tiredly. “I am assuming The Allfather had something pressing?”

“Yeah. The Nine Realms,” the bird responded cattily.  “You know, an actual civilization and structure of governance. Unlike this sad excuse.”

Elias rose to his feet. “Take that back, you feathered fiend. My Gabriel–”  Gabriel raised his hand, stopping Elias in his tracks.  “Oh, I’m sorry, son,” Elias said. “I forgot that you do not wish to be acknowledged as my child during public meetings.” He turned to the clamshell next to him, whispering conspiratorially into it. “He fears it undermines his authority.” The clamshell blinked, though Gabriel didn’t know if that meant Kamille was actually listening or if she just had the damn thing on a timer to pretend like she was.

Shaking his head, he set his sword aside, pressing his hands to the table in front of him.  “First thing on the docket is the matter of the Baron of the Mists.” He gestured to the empty seat. “Belladonna Malady has been promoted to that position and will be attending meetings starting next moon.”

“Booo,” Elias hissed.

“She won the role of Baron fair and square, Baron Elias.”

“Did she?” he asked suspiciously. “Because I do think that she probably cheated her way into that.”

“And since when has that stopped any of us?” Chrysanthemum mused. “I am fairly certain that no one has this position without a little bit of underhanded play.”

“It does not matter how she got the role,” Gabriel said shortly. “She now has it. I expect everyone to adhere to the rules that are in place and treat her as an equal among your decision-making.”

“What decisions?” Julien asked. “The ones that get talked about and never actually exacted? You know everything here is a joke, right? I mean, these are supposed to be the rulers of your so-called land?”

“Huginn, is it?” Gabriel asked tightly. “If The Allfather cannot attend a meeting, I do ask that he sends a missive ahead of time. I do not think it necessary for you to attend for him.”

“He would have,” Huginn nodded. “But, see, I think he might be a bit bitter about your and yours getting rid of his favorite pet.”

Chrysanthemum perked up at that. “Did Caliban go home? Oh, good for him.  Hopefully that means Odin will follow and we will be rid of his stench as well. I will miss you, however, dear Julien. Your bitterness has always brought me such joy.” Ironically, Gabriel didn’t think Chrysanthemum was lying. And Julien even looked slightly pleased by this.

“As it stands,” Gabriel continued. “Next month will need to be her initiation.”

“You may have to think of a different initiation for her.” A black tear formed in the room as Noctine Sala stepped through. Chrysanthemum immediately looked towards her husband, a soft sight on her lips.

“My darling,” she cooed, holding out her hand. He wordlessly took it, pressing a kiss to the back of her knuckles. “Taliesin didn’t show again,” she pouted. “Bastard.”

Noctine gave her a fond smile, reaching down to brush a lock of hair from her eye before passing his hand over the swell of her stomach where their baby laid nestled within her womb.  When he turned to Gabriel, all softness was gone.

“Belladonna Malady is a vampire. One who has recently gorged herself,” he pointed out.  “A blood rite is not going to be the correct course of action for her for an initiation. Unlike Kavatti, Belladonna has class and should be respected.  I have already begun a binding process for her new Baron ring and will enact the ritual myself.”

“I object to that,” Elias said. “He cannot have control over another Baron ring.”

“It is not control, Dollmaker. It is an assurance to both her and I that certain people within this room do not take old grudges and wield them like a blade.”

“Because you never do that,” Julien muttered.

Chrysanthemum patted her husband's hand. “Don’t respond, darling. Julien just lost his brother. He is grieving.” Rising, she kissed Noctine’s cheek, snuggling in close to him. “Buy me something pretty,” she said. “There is nothing of actual importance in this meeting today. Not for you and I.”

“Of course, my darling.” Noctine wrapped an arm around her and headed towards the tear.

Gabriel sighed, pinching his nose. “There are things to discuss today,” he called after them.

Chrysanthemum looked over her shoulder before disappearing. “Then I would suggest, you discuss them with the people who actually are deserving of that conversation. Because it is certainly not the mockery of what is in here.”

Gabriel didn’t watch the two of them go.  Mainly, because he couldn’t disagree.  The monthly Baron meetings were a joke. Not a single person in his room was making a difference to the dying market. They were sitting back and letting the rest of them do it.

“I cannot tell if I enjoy her and her husband or think they are rude and in need of a good cleanse,” Elias mused.  “They do have the prettiest set of clothes, however.”

“I’m done.” With a burst of feathers, Julien/Huginn disappeared from the room. While the conch went silent.

Slumping in his seat, Gabriel stared at the empty chairs despondently.  Elias sat on the other side of the table, looking up at him with his bright blue eyes, coated in a silver film.

“This needs to stop,” Gabriel said.

“These meetings? Yes. They do seem like a waste of time.”

“No,” Gabriel said sharply. “This. All of this.” The mockery.  When was the last time one of these meetings was productive? When was the last time any of them even all showed up?They were the nine that was supposed to guard the world and yet they were consumed in petty in fighting and a deep lack of concern for the people that were struggling while they showered themselves in jewels.

Turning, he looked at Elias. One of the men that had raised him. Who had taught him to always do right.  The disappointment he felt in that man could level an entire district.

“This stops now,” he told Elias. “I am the Warden of the Night Market. I am meant to protect it and yet I have been sitting back, playing nursemaid to all of you.”

“Gabriel”

“No.” He didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch. Elias startled at his tone all the same.  “I no longer will be seeking permission.  If none of you wish to take the time to protect this world, then don’t.  I will do it myself, if I have to.  I no longer will be answering to the group of nine.”

“That is not the way things work, Gabriel.”

“And yet, it is the way I will be conducting my business from now on.” Pushing himself out of his seat, he grabbed his sword, belting it to his waist.  “This is not a discussion, father. This is me informing you of how life will be from now on.”  Turning, Gabriel didn’t dare look at Elias. Didn’t give him the opportunity to say anything more.  He had work to do, after all. And here was the last place he would be conducting it.