Free Deception of the Magician (Waldgrave Book 2) by A.L. Tyler Page B

and maps into the last Council meeting concerning the welfare of found children. It was Friday, and after the last case was examined and voted on, the floor was opened up for commentary and proposal before they started working through the new family applications for Council representation on Sunday.      
    For something as big as Lena was about to propose, it was usually customary to wait until near the end of the weeks of Council, but she was in a hurry to not be found out. The solution she had come up with was to throw the idea out there before anyone could stop her, and ask for a discussion and vote during the last week. So when the moderator asked for new topics of interest, Lena called out immediately; Howard looked over at her in surprise.
    What are you doing?
    The moderator was asking Howard if he would allow Lena to speak before the Council because it wasn’t typical for heirs to propose new interests; Lena gave her uncle a pleading look, and after asking if she was sure she knew what she was doing, he gave his consent. The expression on his face had changed from surprise to nervous apprehension as she stood to address the Council.
    Considerably more nervous than she thought she would be, Lena took the podium at the front of the room. From the front she could see the shocked and amused look on Griffin’s face and the boredom on Master Daray’s; everyone else was watching her raptly, which wasn’t helping. She pulled out her speech cards.
    As I’m sure you all know, I’m very new to how this is done, so please excuse my inexperience…Well, after the events which so recently opened a new assault on the freedom of myself and my family, I started contemplating how every vote this Council takes only fixes the problem until my grandfather finds a new loophole.
    Here, a few murmurs broke out in the crowd; Master Daray was no longer looking as bored as he had a few seconds earlier. As his eyes turned to Lena, they narrowed to slits.
    Lena went on.  I’m trying very hard to maintain my status as being unaligned with any of the political movements that divide this Council and our society, but I think we can all agree that we have a huge problem here. I understand why I have to live here; I understand your concern. I also understand the position of others who wish that the Daray family could live with more freedom. After all, I’ve never done anything to earn the distrust of this Council to the degree of keeping me as jailed as you do my grandfather, and yet I am. I am a victim of my own birth, but rather than complain, I wish to propose a solution to our mutual problems.
    Lena took a deep breath, and then made the mistake of glancing over at her grandfather, who was not looking happy.  Eden, so help me, say what you’re about to say and I’m through with you. Say it and I will make your life—
    Lena ignored him, and continued to address the crowd of representatives.  I propose to mount an expedition to find the portal and put it where it belongs: in the capable hands of the Council, under lock and key, so that we will never have to fear the unknown again.
    This statement didn’t cause the stir she had thought it would, which concerned her greatly. Had she been speaking loud enough? Hadn’t they heard her? She tried again.
    By doing this my family will no longer have to be—       
    This isn’t the first time such a proposal has come before the Council. How is yours any different?
    Lena looked up towards the back of the hall, where the comment had come from. She tried not to look nervous, but was kicking herself for not researching better. The idea was too good for it to not have occurred to someone before, and now she had no idea what had actually been proposed in the past. Still, she was betting she could offer more than anyone had previously. Trying not to stutter, she skipped ahead a few note cards and answered the question.
    Now is the perfect time to launch a search for several reasons. First and