All eyes were moving back and forth between Josin and The Second.

Meera felt sorry for The Second, but said nothing, well knowing that The Second could handle it. No one spoke. They were waiting to see what happened next. The Second knew Josin to be a troublemaker, but Treena was an issue that The Second couldn't understand. And Jandra just seemed to be angry at Meera for something even Meera didn't understand.

Yet standing, The Second faced Josin and Treena, well irritated at their outburst. In a stern voice she asked, "Are you so bold and disrespectful as to interrupt The Second of Woden?"

Jandra visibly flinched. Meera was stunned. She had never seen The Second be this forceful. Her usual style was to create negotiated stances.

Meera wondered if The Second was overly strained from having to govern the entire community.

The Second continued, "And Josin, are you so insolent you dare to issue me commands? During my hopefully short tenure as acting Highest, I have been given the responsibility to oversee Woden. I hope that we can but unify during this stressful moment, but if you find yourself unable to participate as the position intends, then you are excused so as to be elsewhere!"

She took a moment to sit down, "I should not have to remind you that the two advisory groups were put together purposefully by our Highest so that there were task differentiations. I plan to uphold her wishes until her health improves. All decisions will go through me from this moment on, but I need this advisory council to help me make good decisions. I need - 34 -.

and want all of you. But, I will treat you all as equalsthere be no hierar-chies within this group. And I will count on your respect."

She waited for the resistance to begin. Meera acted normally by reaching over for a sweet. Some of The Second's advisors followed suit, as did Keets, Meera's counterpart with The Highest.

Keets took a bite and then spoke up, "I, for one, am delighted you have but called us together as a group, Second. I know that Meera and I will be quite willing to work together. We have done so upon many occasions. I really do not understand your issues, Josin, but you are often as overly rigid. You know that The Highest would not like us to create dissension."

Keets was a good deal older than Meera, but capable. Her guards were no longer as good as Meera's, but this had occurred only through a long span and as Keets had gotten older. The Second would have to rely on Meera to pull these two guard groups together. Keets, for her side, had trained Meera and had done well for many seasons.

"Oh, shut up, Keets. Quit being such a simpleton. I know well that you hate working with Meera."

Keets didn't even seem perturbed, as if these attitudes were usual.

"You make a fool of yourself, Josin, per normal. The only difference is that now it be in front of The Second's advisors. So much for a fresh start for you."

The Second guessed that she was well used to Josin's outbursts. She was tempted to let them battle it out between themselves, but thought better of it.

"Enough! This be not the moment. I will hear no more of this petty bickering. Fight between yourselves later, if that but amuses you. If I hear anymore fighting between any of you, I will permanently dismiss those responsible. We have overly many issues to take care of without bickering between ourselves."

She decided to cut the meeting short and just issue the tasks at hand.

She had no patience for them and wondered how The Highest dealt with those two.

"I have reasons to believe that The Highest has been poisoned, in spite of what the healers say."

The Second had warned Meera that she was going to say this, and had asked her to pay close attention to everyone's reactions as she made the statement. They both suspected that someone in the room could well be behind the poisoning.

"That and the upcoming festival give me great cause for concern.

Meera and Keets, please increase security for the festival without raising - 35 -.

concern throughout the community. Give me a report on your strategy next morn."

They both nodded their agreement.

"Josin, Ghett, Fionn and Karan. Advise me on Lillon's companion by next after-midturn. I want advice on the laws regarding this, the concerns of the community, and the general feeling regarding what should occur.

Josin and Fionn, if you are not up on the events around this, then Karan can fill you in."

Josin, Tehna and Karan all nodded in agreement.

Treena stood up, "We require no committee for this issue. I am the spiritual advisor and I know that this was an accident. Hern be a wonderful person and would not hit anyone. You are making overly much of this.

Besides, Lillon be overly sensitive. In fact, Hern reported that Lillon caused it."

Tehna got up, stormed across the room toward Treena and almost spit fire, "You lie. Hern be a mate-batterer and you know it! She should be but expelled, as the law states. You are guilty of protecting one of your own."

Tehna obviously had lost her patience. The Second had hoped her advisors could keep it together, but Treena was quite challenging. They were standing face-to-face and Tehna's hands were clasped tightly into fists, "You are biased for Hern already and you have not even heard the facts.

You should not be allowed on any such committee."

Treena turned, raging at The Second, "I DEMAND that you cancel this committee, NOW!"

"Sit down, Treena."

The Second had spoken. Everyone turned toward her and waited.

Meera thought that she looked angry, for good reason.

"Tehna, excuse yourself from the remainder of this meeting. Treena, you are out of line. Speak to me after the meeting."

"Kandan, Lillon, Govan and Jandra, I need you to get this festival under control. Give me a report in two midturns, hence. I would be especially pleased if you four would just take this over for this season."

She had thought this would be a good team to work together on the festival and big enough to handle all the details. She wanted this off her hands for now as she had too much else to concentrate on. Lillon and The Highest's assistant, Govan, had both been working on it already, anyway, so she felt that this group could get this task done without her. She also knew that Lillon and Kandan would know what she wanted.

Once again, Treena interrupted, "But I am also the advisor for festivals. I should be on this committee as well. I am the one usually in charge of the festivals."

- 36 -.

"Treena, you are to speak no more this meeting. I will speak to you after about your continued participation as an advisor."

Meera thought that Treena and a few others looked shocked at that statement. So, she thought, The Second is making decisions about these advisors.

Good.

The Second then asked Alain, The Highest's advisors on accounts, and Ghada, her advisor on the same, to walk with her during her rounds for an update, following the meeting. They both agreed. Meera had already arranged with The Second that she would accompany her. The Second then finished distributing duties to the rest.

At the end, Josin spoke up, "I would like to be up-dated on this mystery woman you but keep hidden in your guestroom, and I would like to but know the reason for all the increased security that I see." Meera thought her tone was overly demanding. "I think that you are just building nothing to a crisis level. The Highest would not be so quick to instill such para-noia."

The Second looked at them slowly, studying them one-by-one. "I have no patience for this. Until this moment, I had decided to keep all the advisors together as one united group. After this child-like display, I will now reconsider my decision. The way in which you carry out your duties and the way in which you display attitudes needed during this moment in our community will but help me to determine which advisors I will continue to use. I will make this pronouncement at one of our upcoming community sessions. Consider yourselves on trial. Meera, would you please brief the advisors on Keddi?"

Meera and The Second had already worked out what The Highest's advisors should be told - not much.

"Meera, Keets, Alain and Ghada, please meet me in my guestroom when the meeting is concluded. I will see the rest of you at the arranged meeting moments. Please have your updates ready. Treena, come with me."

"Second?"

The Second turned to face Jandra. Her eyes glared and her lips were closed tight, "Jandra." Jandra bowed to The Second, "I apologize for my insolence, Second. You have my support, regardless of my feelings regarding some in this room."

The Second's eyes softened, "Your words and actions are accepted and most appreciated, Jandra." The Second slightly bowed her head to Jandra, then left the room.

Josin tried to get her to remain, "But, Second, you have not told us "

The Second pretended not to hear her as she left, while Meera had jumped right up and began her briefing with them.

- 37 -.

The Second went to the front door and went outside, willingly waiting for Treena to come. Of late, she noticed that she was quick to anger, and wondered if she were eating something that was creating some irritation.

She prepared herself to be steadier when dealing with Treena, and guessed that Treena had decided to make her wait a bit. She didn't mind. Treena knew she had stepped out of line, so The Second wanted to give her a moment to recover. Treena came out rather hesitantly.

She bowed her head. "Second?"

"That was quite a show, Treena."

"I am sorry, Second. This entire event with Hern has been blown way out of proportion. It be not like that, Second."

"I understand that Hern be your friend. But there were six witnesses to the incident, and all the accounts but match except for Josin's. You seem to be neglecting the facts. That be not the issue here, though, is it?"

The Second waited a moment and then continued, staring directly at Treena, "I am the acting Highest now, Treena. You do not demand anything of me. I certainly hope that you have treated The Highest in a more respectful fashion."

The Second wondered how long this had been going on with The Highest, but would halt it now. Treena tried to look away, but The Second moved Treena's face back toward her, "Look at me, Treena."

As she touched Treena, they both felt a current pass from The Second to Treena. The Second was concerned about it, but became more so as she sensed Treena say, They are going to kill me. But Treena hadn't spoken.

Ignoring the feeling, The Second continued, "And you are never to address me in that tone. As one of my advisors, I expect you to remove yourself from all matters that may present a conflict. I also expect you to remove yourself from any discussion around Hern and Lillon. As my Spiritual Advisor, I expect you to display the situation in an unprejudiced manner. If I hear that you are convening with the Counselors on this, or taking any of their advice, I will remove you as advisor. I know that you can be an excellent advisor. I just think you have but fallen into a place you cannot get out of. You have been a valuable and respected member of this community for as long as I can remember. I am very disappointed to think that some women are making a move against The Highest."

The Second's words became very measured and carefully articulated.

"Whatever is happening, Treena, know these two things: I will find out, and I will win. And when I do, all those that were out to cause harm to The Highest and to Woden will be punished; severely."

Treena's eyes had opened wide. The Second had surprised her with those statements. It also had surprised her that The Second knew something was happening in the community against The Highest. Treena was - 38 -.

afraid of The Second now, and felt her feelings had been exposed when The Second touched her chin. She didn't understand it, but she knew The Second could sense her fear.

"I am confining you to your dwelling for the remainder of this turn. I expect you to talk to no one until you return to me in the morn to let me know which way you would like to proceed. If you want protection, I will arrange it so. If you no longer want to be an advisor, but wish to side with the Counselors, we can arrange also for that. But under no circumstances think that you can do both: You cannot have it both ways. If you want to remain an advisor, then do so with the knowledge that, as a group, we will look at the facts together. The facts and the laws. Make your choice wisely.

It will follow you the rest of your life in this community. Be very, very careful now, Treena."

She looked at The Second, without menace, "Yes, Second. I understand. I agree to do as you say, for this midturn. I will talk to no one until after I meet with you in the morn. You but have my word on this."

"Go then, and think about why we have this community. Think about our goals and visions. Think about this community and all that we have built."

Treena turned and walked into the rain. The Second hoped that she would make the correct choice. She knew that Treena had been well manipulated and hoped that she would return willingly as one of her advisors.

She looked at her hand for a moment and thought briefly about the feeling.

She sighed and turned to go inside. As she opened the door, she found Meera waiting for her.

"Watching over me, per usual, Meera?"

She saw the look on Meera's face and knew that she had overheard the conversation.

"Have her watched."

"I already attended to it, Second."

"Just like you already attended to having the Counselors watched before I mentioned it in this morn's meeting?"

Meera just smiled at her, "That was good, Second. Treena is lucky to have you here at this moment."

"We will see next morn."

The Second always thought that she didn't give enough compliments to her own people. She felt lucky and grateful knowing that they were so good that they knew this was not one of her strengths. She also thought them secure enough to not need it often.

She put her hand on Meera's shoulder. "Meera, you know how important you are to me. I could not do this without"

The current passed through her hand, again.

- 39 -.

What is happening to me?

She felt Meera say, It is beginning. But like prior, no words had been spoken.

Meera saw the disheartened expression on The Second's face. "Worry not about it, Second. It must be something in the air. Let us attend to your rounds."

"What about the meeting?"

Meera grinned, "Not to worry. Karan is entertaining them with her vast knowledge of Woden's past. That will keep them silent and but contained for a bit."

"Rounds in a little while. I have something I need to do first. Come with me."

The Second left to find Berth, but knew she really needed to get out of the dwelling. She hoped that doing her rounds would make her feel better, but it was yet raining. She found Berth in with Keddi, who was now sleeping.

The Second turned to Berth and Meera, "I would like to move Keddi to my bedroom. I believe she will be safer in there."

"As do I, but it be not my first plan of choice. But it be better than what you have provided thus far."

"Good. So I will move to the library and sleep on the long chair. Can you arrange for that this eve, Berth? Perhaps the guards could but help you?"

"Oh, Second, the library be no place for you. Would you like us to move the guestroom bed to the library? We could put Keddi in there and you could but remain in your own room. You would be much more comfortable."

"Thank you, but no, Berth. The guards are going to need a place on their breaks, and the guestroom bed would be perfect for that. Besides, if I am to confine myself to one room instead of two, I would rather be in the library."

She turned toward Meera, "Have Keddi well-guarded. I bet that someone is going to try to get to her soon."