The council

The next morning, Prothana looked at the sun position from his bed to realize that he overslept. He then remembered he didn't make any schedule time with the council. Therefore, he prepared for his day by taking his time without rushing. But he was taking too much time. He stayed up past noon while taking care of his room, cleaning and watering plants.

Two hours after lunch, he began to pack his paperworks and tools. He put me along with them. I felt uncomfortable with how he treated me like his other tools but then again I was ditched by the civilians back at Aladima for days. But this sense of insignificance was more than that and I didn't know why. He left the house along the city streets toward the hill at the end of the city.

The council building was seemed to be on top of the hill. It was proven by the spiral stairs that wrapped the hill and led to one sole structure above it. The building was in semi-circular layout, with tiered stone seating that curves around a central speaking area. The walls were plain with minimal decoration. The smooth, polished stone floor made of usual marble, must be common material in the nation. The natural lighting from opened ceiling were softly illuminating the scene and highlighting the seven council members in the middle of room and civilians around the building.

The chairs of council elders had their supposed names embedded on top of their backrest. Starting from left to right the names were Akrothios, Misanoi, Arichazo, Iotharma, Soscha, Dexito and Kofis.

"You're late, Prothana. What are you doing!"

Irotharma asked in haste.

"I have question for you first. What are you trying to do when you change the currency from-"

"That's enough..."

"I haven't even said any-"

"You are late and that is your price to pay for. Now let's get this over quickly. Did you get the artifact...?"

"Yes... It's right here."

He pulled me out of the bag presented me by raising me for everyone to see. They looked fascinated but not as much as the six kings.

"Did the negotiation with the kings work. We want to hear how was it."

"I thought we don't have time for-"

"Silent..! and speak!"

Prothana described what happened back at Aladima to the council. He speculated that the war might have broken out between the greedy kings. He left out the detail that he was the one responsible for some parts.

"That was a tragedy with how much of a generational failure with those king have been."

Kofis said while shaking his head.

"Really...? I don't think it was just one generation's problem. The fact that for centuries, they treated the artifact, which again was made by a mere human, like something devine was downright idiotic."

Akrothios words had shook me. He did not just say that I was some mediocre craftman's creation. were they saying this only because they don't know what I was made of?

"But you cannot deny that the nameless necklace looks fantastic whatever the origin. I could see the amount of hardship to creating this semi-perfect relic."

The word of defense from Dexito made me slightly felt better. In his word 'semi-perfect', I wondered if he was saying that if I was not the best one they had seen or just being in skeptical denial. I was hoping the latter. It certainly had to be.

"I agree with Akrothios... It is still a stupidity. No matter the materials it took to build, an object with no practicality will always be no more than a decoration."

Misanoi argued back.

"I mean... isn't that the point of typical jewelleries. They are worn for the representation of nobility and pride to show the status of a high standard person."

Soscha joined in the debate.

"Except it was not worn as Prothana said. They were storing it at the top of the tower where no one really can see like a sensitive newborn. I don't even know what are they trying to do with that without showing it for everyone to see. I mean, I can see the reason for someone stealing it but this is ridiculous. What a waste of resources."

Arichazo said in displeasure.

"Then I am guessing it was the right idea that we called an expert before the conversation. Bring him in..."

Irotharma beckoned his hand and summon a person into the room. A well-dressed man in a fine ankle-length chiton, belted with a decorative sash, and a richly dyed himation draped over it. He wore a necklace of polished stones, gemstone-set rings, and gold earrings and leather sandals. The hair was neatly styled, probably held with a headband. If I had hands, I must say... really punchable looking face... could not be a good sign.

"Kerykes Prothana... this is the gemologist Malkos. No one know the value of treasures better than him. If there is one thing that your procrastination had brought good thing, he arrived here earlier than you did."

"Nice to meet you kyrios Malkos."

He raised his hand for a handshake.

"I'm sorry... I can be weirded out by strangers offering me handshake. As I believe that their hand carry unfamiliar diseases."

The room went quiet. I could see the visible but subtle disappointment on Prothana's face. Malakos was still in expressionless straight face with neither smile nor frowning and wide eyes. The elders looked at each other by eyes expecting each other to break the silence especially at Iotharma. Iotharma rolled his eyes then...

"Ah... ahem... well, Malkos. That was one hell of a greeting. Anyway, we would like you to inspect the necklace right there for its worth. Kerykes... please don't mind that. He can be quiet brutally honest at times... heh heh."

Malkos grabbed me and stared. He was staring into me like he knew I was conscious. He then sniffed me on the ruby, on the frame and on the chains. He even licked me like a dog licking its owner. People around him were uncomfortably looking including prothana and the elders. He opened his big wide mouth and with one of his teeth, he bit me in the middle.

 He was biting me a little too hard by looking at the veins on his gums. I then heard the crack and was frightened thinking it was from me. It was actually coming from his tooth and it was about to break. Before breaking, he stopped. He nodded and turned to the elders.

"This artifact... is in fact... cheap."