To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [100]
“Yes, but it’d be worth it.” “You speak too glibly, Rak Ti’ask,” Udar Kishrit said. “As a member of the Masra’et you are entitled to use your vote as you think best, but to drag the Lady’s holy name into your games, pretending you act exclusively in her service, this is vile. When we return, I will speak of this to the people. They will not dissent when you are removed from the council and I appoint another in your place.” Rak Ti’ask dropped his arrogant mask abruptly at Udar Kishrit’s words. “You would not,” he said, his voice shaking.
“I would. I will. That much lies within my power and you know it. Perhaps we have been wrong to limit the Masra’et to six souls if this is the harm one alone can do. The Ashkaarian council holds nine. The rule of three would still be possible and it would take far more than a single schemer to topple our hopes for a future truly blessed by the Lady.” “Udar Kishrit, can you do such a thing?” Geordi asked. “Just… appoint new members of the Masra’et?” “I am the head of the Masra’et until my death or the people’s petition. I am free to re-form it if that seems necessary. Our records teach that in ages past, there were times when the number of its members rose or fell, depending on the population of Ne’elat and following the judgment of its leader. Only the bovereem could intervene.” “So then, if the vote of a member of the Masra’et is irrevocable and you have the power to bring new members into the Masra’et…” Geordi grinned and said no more.
Udar Kishrit looked at the ship’s chief engineer as if the man had spouted gibberish. Then by degrees he understood the idea that Geordi meant to give him, but could not elaborate out loud. “You,” Udar Kishrit said, pointing to Nish na’am. “You shall join the Masra’et of Ne’elat and add your voice to the vote concerning Ashkaar.” “You would have this… of me?” Nish na’am asked. “But we are of different worlds!” “And yet one people, as even your foes admit.” Kdar Kishrit spared a cold look for Rak Ti’ask. “If you and the Orakisan ambassador will add your voices to those already favoring the planw” “Never!” Rak Ti’ask shouted, his face taut with rage. “If you open the doors of the Masra’et to offworlders, you cut your own throat, Udar Kishrit, and I will rejoice to watch it happen.” “They dwell offworld, but they are still our kin.
The bovereem will also sayw” But what the bovereem might say was drowned out in the uproar that ensued. Once again, everyone in the briefing room was trying to be heard at once. Riker leaned back in his chair wearily.
“I just love family reunions,” he commented to Data.
“Do you?” The android glanced from one angry face to the next. “Why?” Riker sighed. “Never mind.” He was about to summon Security to the briefing room when the door slid open and Captain Picard came in, closely followed by Dr. Crusher, Lt. Worf, and Avren.
This time the sight alone of the Klingon was enough to tone down the general clamor, but when Dr.
Crusher laid her sample of dried herbs on the conference table and made her report, backing up her conclusions with the aid of the table’s holographic projector, the room fell completely silent. Ne’elatians, Orakisans, Ashkaarians, and Enterprise crewmembers could only stare wordlessly at the miraculous find.
“N’vashal,” Commander Riker marvelled softly, contemplating the brittle, brown sprig rather than the projected image of the green, blossoming plant. “We must’ve seen this a hundred times on Ashkaar. How could we have missed it?” “I am afraid that you exaggerate, Commander,” Mr. Data said. “We saw the plant in question on approximately fifteen separate occasions, including our first introduction to Avren. However we were unaware that n’vashal has a radically different appearance