Swept

An ethereal door opened in the abyss near the new abyss continent of Ash Well. It was a continent with purple and red ground cover and all of the thick trees had dense grey bark.

Trannisans were efficient builders and there were already several governmental buildings and a few clusters of homes built.

The door opened in a broad public square as if the continent had always been in Trannisa and Rachel had been here several times. They casually walked out into the square, Rachel pausing as if she was not sure what they would do next.

She turned to her Antrunie. "The realm wants to talk with you all." Only Cramnal wore a look of shock. Struns and Rebecca had gone to "talk" with the realm many times. Smral was intrigued and Ambruce was filled with anticipation.

"The realm is most likely doing this due to Ambruce." She shrugged. "Technically she is the realm's daughter.

"We can go now. Let's set up a time to meet with the others."

They sat in a secluded area of the square that was set low and shaded by the dense grey trees native to the new continent. They all opened there connection to Rachel and allowed her to pull them into conversation with the other Azalstin and the commanders of the Azmin Guard.

'Everyone we are back in Trannisa. We need to first meet with the realm but I want to handle our concerns with Shain, Althius, and Sublyme.'

'Welcome back Milana.' Several voices spoke in unison.

'We were just awaiting your return. We decided that a tribunal would be best and it can begin in two days.'

Rachel nodded. 'Two days is good Bre. Will you and the guard please set everything up and tell us the location?'

'Of course Milana. Will all Azalstin and government officials be permitted to attend?'

'Should we deny anyone attendance? There is nothing to hide.'

'I agree with Yanira. We still have to address our goal of eliminating corruption in the government. Let them send who they want to send. Do not exempt anyone.'

'I agree with the Milana. Also we should have the tribunal in the abyss so that we can show support of the new continents.'

'Good idea Anis. If possible let's have it on Deep Hollow since it is below Sibba.'

The meeting continued on far longer than Rachel thought it would. When it was done they were all tired.

As soon as the meeting ended a large rainbow tunnel lit by dazzling star light opened before them. They took one step in and were instantly on a white plain with rainbows arching, knotting, and extending in all directions all around them.

Magic moved in great waves, slow currents, sudden bursts, and swells. It moved in all directions. There was no origin and many of the movements were spontaneous.

'Milana you have done as asked.' The realm spoke in a distracted manner. Rachel wanted to shake her head. Was the realm nervous.

'Thank you. I have brought my three new Antrunie. Please welcome them Trannisa.'

'They are all welcome. You have chosen well. You only need two more to finally have the minimum number'

Was that sarcasm or a result of more nerves. This was suddenly becoming very strange for Rachel.

'Thank you Trannisa.' Rachel nodded in respect. 'Are there any other tasks you have for us?'

'I would llke to speak with Ambruce.' It was like a sudden focus was placed on Ambruce.

'You have grown well little one. What made you decided to walk this path?'

Ambruce bowed low. 'thank you. I decided to walk with Rachel because there is so much that I do not understand. I thought I could learn what I needed on my own but after five hundred years I have stagnated and even mad mistakes. She has already taught me so much so I know I can learn from her.'

The group stayed within Trannisa's pocket dimension for a for two weeks (but outside it was onlt a day). They ate food that fed their spirit, meditated to rejuvenate themselves, and trained together to develop the fighting rapport of a successful cohort.

When it was time to leave even Rachel wished for one more day.

Deep Hollow was a small rocky continent and looked like an island created after a volcanic eruption. The buildings were mostly made of thick black volcanic like glass.

The tribunal would meet in the new dome shaped senate building. It was central to the continent and surrounded by glass buildings of various shapes and sizes.

The tribunal was made up of fourteen Azmin guard members and the elected tribunal president. It sat in the middle of the circular room with seats sitting outward and upwards away from them in four arcing groups.

Rachel, the other Azalstin, and the Antrunie sat in a closed off section high in the front arc of seats.

The tribunal president sat at the right end. She was a tall comely woman with auburn hair and vibrant green eyes. She would be the speaker for the tribunal but all members could ask questions as they needed.

The tribunal president raised her hand and a loud sound of wood on wood was heard and the room quieted. She looked around the room before she spoke.

"This will be the two hundred sixty-eighth session of the Azmin Tribunal this year of thirty seventy-two. The recorder for this session will be Helena Sans. We shall begin now at 8:30 in the morning. The main business of this tribunal is hearing facts concerning Azalstin Shain, and Azmin guard commanders Althius and Sublyme concerning their involvement in the abduction and attempted forceful change of Milana.

"During this tribunal we will attempt to decide if there was any wrong doing and if there should be any punishment for the aforementioned acts."

I murmur went through the room when the tribunal president said the tribunal would attempt to decide if there was any wrong doing.

Again she raised her hand and the loud gavel like sound caused the room to quiet.

"This will be interesting." Rebecca whispered in Rachel's ear. Rachel nodded but her face remained emotionless.

Rachel was surprised that there were so many witnesses. How could a fate manipulator like Shain have so many witnesses against himself? Rachel was expecting everyone to think he was right, not remember anything, and wonder if Anis had been kidnapped or ever in danger.

First her thoughts were reflective, then confused, now she watched the proceedings with deep suspicion. She snapped from her reflections when she heard the tribunal president's voice.

The gavel sound boomed once again and she saw the woman's hand lower. "We have decided that Azalstin Shain is guilty of kidnapping Azalstin Anis, our realm's current fate master, attempting to forcefully change the Milana, and for manipulation to achieve objectives that endanger both the Azmin and Trannisa realm. We will deliberate on punishment and give our decision tomorrow. Next we will discuss…."

And like that Shain was found guilty. Rachel was flabbergasted. She thought it would take at least a day to decide but she had actually blocked out three just for the trail. But here they were, mere hours and her brother was deemed a kidnapper and traitor to his people and his realm. She actually allowed her eyes to narrow.

Was she being manipulated? She began talking to Trannisa and creating a fate map within the realm of her third eye. She only half listened to Althius and Sublyme's trial.

Both Azmin commanders were found innocent due to being manipulated. Rachel noticed that they accepted the verdict as if it were a norm for Azmin guard commanders to be deemed as easily manipulated.

Usually an Azmin guard member, let's not even think about a commander for a moment, being manipulated at all was such a complete disgrace for the individual that they would try to resign their post immediately.

They trained strenuously to overcome and detect multiple forms of manipulation and coercion.

For Azmin guard commanders to accept such a verdict without a single word was unheard of.

Another red flag.

Something was definitely going on. She needed to talk to Shain.