Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night(whichever one it is in your part of the world),
Hi! I'm here to leave a quick review!!
First Impression: Well...there certainly was more than just one objection here that was being raised and all of them were surprisingly logical which certainly made things interesting. This chapter off maybe a little bit as just a bit more filler, but then a couple of significant things such as Malia's arrival and Seppo's motives behind this trial are revealed so it is still a fairly significant moment for this story.
Anyway let's get right to it,
His speech finished, Seppo went to sit back down. Before he’d gotten halfway down, however, Kydon rose and cleared his throat.
“My lord, are you sure this constitutes a valid Trial?” Kydon’s arms bulged as he folded them across his chest. “The boy can speak to animals—all animals—and so stands to enter the Trial with an unfair advantage. Further, he has not yet completed his tasks nor attained a station higher than mortal, and yet this Trial sits uncomfortably close to an act of war. If we truly need this creature for our coming conflict, then would it not be better to send one of the gods?”
“Thank you, Kydon, for spelling out exactly why I chose this Trial.” Seppo held himself out of his seat, his pistons squealing in protest as he glared daggers at the troll. It’d been a good while since Kydon’s last rules-lawyering had gotten this far under Seppo’s skin. The metal sheathing his fingers whined as he clenched the arms of his chair. “If the lad succeeds, then he’s shown himself worthy to be at least counted among us. And if he fails, he’ll have two patrons and the whole damn pantheon behind him to clean up the mess and ensure we get what we need. Clear?”
Ohhh...well trust someone who's good at law to bring up all sorts of potential objections which certainly sounds valid although Seppo's counters there also seem well thought out and relevant to what is currently going on here. It looks like we have a fun debate possibly coming our way soon, and perhaps we'll learn a few extra background details about things in the process.
Kydon worked his jaw. “No. We still have loopholes to close from the previous—”
“What loopholes?” Seppo snapped. “You mean trying to outlaw divine meddling? Good luck with that.”
“But Charax’s interference in the previous Trial,” Kydon persisted. His frown twisted his face like a knotted tree stump. “While it inhibited the boy’s desired goal, it ended up being beneficial on the whole to the events that transpired. Therefore, patrons should be prohibited from interfering in the proceedings, regardless of whether it’s a help or a hindrance.”
“It sounds to me,” I spat out before Seppo could retort, “like you’re trying to insinuate patrons shouldn’t be involved at all.”
“That’s not what I suggested.” Kydon arched his fingers on the table as he leaned forward. “Merely, that patrons be limited as to how much influence patrons should have in the Trials.”
Okayyy....well this is definitely turning into a fun little debate, all the best symptoms of one of those are in full swing here with Seppo going a little to the extreme almost to counter points and make sure Kydon spells his out very precisely...which is actually a pretty smart technique there.
I laughed as I reached for my glass. “That patrons never try to keep their champions from succeeding? Why on earth would you need to outlaw that?”
“Because Malia, that’s why,” Kydon growled. “She, and you, played by the rules last time. The rules were shown to be in error. I wish to resolve such issues before the Second Trial commences.”
Thunder crashed across the hall, rattling platters and drinks. In its wake, a turquoise portal flared to life, engulfing the entrance to the hall as it opened. Smatterings of raindrops pelted the tables as Malia slid into the hall, looking every bit like a drowned rat. She smoothed her scales and flicked the water from her fingers as her portal snapped shut.
“Did someone piss in your drink again, Seppo?” She frowned at him. “It’s a feast. Liven up. And, you, Kydon.” Snakes hissing, she glared at the ogre. “Lay off him, or I’ll wax your balls again.”
Okayy....well Malia making a grand entrance there....wow...that is most definitely not the way that I saw this little debate come to an end, but its definitely a very satisfying, although I have to say Kydon makes a good point there with how Charax and Malia stayed within the rules but still gave Hasda an advantage and how that showcases a weakness in the rules themselves.
“You’ve waxed Kydon’s balls?” I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know the story behind that one.
She laughed and had the most self-satisfied expression as she stared at Kydon over her wine. “He was being an ass about some legal issue and I got tired of him. He sometimes sleeps standing up in the middle of a field, did you know that?” Her smile broadened as she finished a sip. “Mm, the most delightful shrieks I’ve ever heard.” Her eyes slid over to Seppo. “Hasda not paying enough attention to him?”
I grunted. “You could say that.”
Jade ducked when Malia looked her way at them. Malia’s eyebrows rose an inch. “Something happen on that front?”
Okayy...well that's an image I didn't need, but it certainly sounds like a hilarious story, well for everyone but poor Kydon I would imagine. I don't suppose that he would find that story to be particularly funny. Aaand it appears that Malia immediately spots one of the few major changes to happen in recent time.
“Indeed.” She skewered a piece of meat with her fork and swallowed it, barely chewing it. “Seppo, you’ll be pleased to know Tale, that little servant girl wearing your…” She twirled her fork around her head. “Well, she’s still wearing the device and has settled into the role of Oracle in Karnak. We’ll still need a suitable replacement for Palmyra, but communications with Aenea have been reestablished, at least.”
“Thank you, Malia,” Seppo said. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Kydon grumbled something.
Malia shot him a look. “What was that?”
The troll frowned and leaned back. “You can demand my silence and muddy the waters with your side topics all you want, I still won’t consider the matter resolved.”
Okayy....well, it looks that proves to be an interesting chat, and the very clear omission of a word there definitely makes you ask a question or two as a reader here. I wonder what that could possibly be all about with all the other madness that also occured around the oracles in general in recent times.
Azoria shivered, probably from the glacially-cold tension in the room, as she disentangled herself from her awkward conversation with Thane. “According to the annals, a patron deity retains the right to handle the life of their champion as they see fit. This ancient—”
“That passage holds no weight during Trials,” Kydon interjected. He jabbed a finger in the air. “As per the very creed that established the Rite of Trials, all members of the pantheon agree to be bound by the limits established for each Trial, such limitations adjusted as context permits or requires before the commencement of succeeding tasks.”
“Not that sentence.” Her eyes sparkled as she placed her hands on the table, leaning towards the massive brute. “What was the one I asked about specifically, Azoria?”
Oh we're back to this debate it seems...okayy...coming a little out of left field this time, but I'm loving that we've got all of these loopholes getting thoroughly aired out here. That will in the long run make whatever becomes of Hasda seem that much more solid.
“Thank you.” Malia bared her fangs. “Remind me again, Kydon. What station do you hold?”
“Arbiter of Nebesa.” He said flatly.
“Hmm, funny that.” Malia tapped her bottom lip. “Still no ‘legislator’ among your titles.” Wings spread, she gave him a maniacal grin. “So until you’re responsible for writing the laws, kindly uphold them as written.”
His nostrils flared as he sucked in a breath. “You push me, woman, and I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” I said quietly, leaning around Malia’s wing. The temperature of the room fell a couple dozen degrees.
Kydon snorted. “I’m not afraid of you, Charax. The law is the law, and Malia can only twist it so far.”
Ohh....well that's not a fun sight to see there, now we're going from simple debate to some proper threats being tossed about and these are certainly not the more playful ones that sometimes get tossed around in these halls, it looks like some genuine threats are being exchanged here and we could have some consequences if people aren't careful.
Seppo slammed the table so hard it bowed and cracked in the middle, several yards away from us. Plates rocketed into the ceiling, drinks flooding platters and splashing on the floor. “That’s blood well enough!” he roared, halfway out of his seat again. “You,” he snarled, jabbing a finger at Kydon, “can shut your trap, or I’ll have you thrown out on the steps until you learn to mind your tongue. And you two—” he swung towards me and Malia “—I can understand defending your honor, but a pissing match with a toddler? Please.”
“That’s rich, coming from a bedwetter,” Malia said, showing her teeth as she batted her eyes.
Seppo’s pistons chose that moment to vent, emphasizing her point. No one said anything, and only the dripping of a spilled flagon broke the silence. Finally, Seppo burst out laughing.
Okayy...well...that ended better than it could have, and I like that Seppo as the actual leader of things does step in finally and bring this little debate which did technically start with him to a proper end here.
“All right, point taken.” He shook his head and sat back down. “I’ve already commenced this Trial, Kydon. You had ample time to bring any misgivings you had about the rules to me before this feast, so it’s on your head for waiting until after I’d made my announcement to broach your grievances. If you still feel that way after the conclusion of this Trial, we can address your complaints then. Fair?”
The half-troll nodded but kept his mouth shut.
Malia folded her wings and settled into her chair. I sighed with relief, glad that that was taken care of. For now. Knowing Kydon, he’d enforce the rules of the Second Trial as they now stood in a fair and straightforward manner, but he’d be building his legal arguments the whole time.
Okayyy...well, it looks like that was perhaps a bit shakier of a conclusion that one would like to have to a case that sounds as important as this one, but it also unfortunately enough seems like it can't really be changed either.
Oh, right. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hasda and Jade huddled slightly closer together, their conversation hushed and their hands held below the table painfully obvious to everyone but themselves. I grunted. “Maybe you should, since you decided to flaunt our right to off him on a whim in front of the whole pantheon.”
“Point taken.” She wrinkled her nose at me and played with her wine while she mulled over how she was going to spin this to Hasda. Apologizing had never been her strong suit.
Well...that's not something I even thought about...but she did in fact do that and Hasda is most likely not going to understand the nuances behind a statement like that..or perhaps maybe Jade is explaining that to him..it is hard to tell with those two constantly whispering to each other about things.
Aaaaand that's it for this one.
Overall: Overall, I think was a nice little chapter, not going too far forward in times of plot but taking a couple of steps back and addressing a few potential holes in the earlier plot. Anyway that's all I have to say on this one.

As always remember to take what you think was helpful and forget the rest.
Stay Safe
Harry
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