On-Grid
The Sakuriji
Council Chambers
“This session of the Council of the Whole is now open,” Chair gorminAstir stated. “Our first order of business is to interview the Oracle for Civilization.”
She looked down the table, at each of the eleven councilors dutifully in their places, and at the Warden of Civilization, who sat at his desk beside the council table.
“The Warden of Civilization is asked to bring the Oracle before us.”
The Warden stood, robes rustling, and bowed to the Council entire. Straightening, he met Chair gorminAstir’s eye.
“Asta vesterGranz sends her regrets to the Council of the Civilized. She has retired from her position as Oracle for Civilization, and has established her own household.”
He sat down.
There was complete silence in the Council chamber for the count of twelve.
Majel ziaGorn raised his hand.
“The Chair sees Councilor ziaGorn,” gorminAstir said, with great calm.
“Is the Council, as the representative of Civilization, required to sign off on any legal documents, or otherwise perform actions that will release Luzant vesterGranz’s retirement benefits to her?”
“That is not Luzant vesterGranz, Councilor,” snarled tryaBent, “it is Haosa vesterGranz.”
Majel turned toward the councilor and bowed.
“I am corrected.” He turned back to the head of the table.
“The former oracle was employed by this Council, which represents Civilization. She served selflessly, and for many years. It behooves us to be certain that any benefits she has earned by her long service be released to her in a timely manner.”
He sat down.
azieEm raised her hand.
“The Chair sees Councilor azieEm.”
“I agree with Councilor ziaGorn in principle,” she said. “It is our duty to provide the former oracle everything that is owed to her, under contract, and by tradition. However—and perhaps the Warden may enlighten me, since I believe that the Oracle’s upkeep comes under his office—I do not recall seeing a budget line dedicated to the Oracle’s retirement benefits.”
“The Warden of Civilization may answer Councilor azieEm’s question.”
Bentamin rose.
“The Oracle is by tradition a ward of Civilization,” he said. “Civilization provides lodging, food, servants—all the necessities and no few of the luxuries of a comfortable life. Because Oracles reside within the Wardian, these expenses are met by the Warden’s Office.”
azieEm raised her hand. He paused.
“I wish to be clear. This is also the case for the Oracle’s salary? It is paid from the Wardian’s budget?”
Bentamin spread his hands.
“The Oracles do not draw a salary, as their every need is met. This continues to be the case upon the occasion of an Oracle’s retirement. Their upkeep is guaranteed for the rest of their lives.”
Majel ziaGorn raised his hand. Chair gorminAstir merely inclined her head.
“As Asta vesterGranz has chosen not to avail herself of the Wardian’s continued care,” he said, “I suggest that the Council offer a one-time compensation equal to cost of that care.”
“Are you mad?” tryaBent demanded. “This woman has deserted her post—one of the most sensitive and critical in all of Civilization! And instead of formulating a plan to return her as soon as possible to duty, with an appropriate chastisement, you wish to reward her act of treachery with a sizable payout!”
Majel drew a breath. “The Oracle has retired,” he said, calmly.
“The Oracle cannot retire!” tryaBent shouted. “Until and unless a new Oracle arises, the existing Oracle must serve!”
“Coracta, calm yourself,” Chair gorminAstir said. “Councilor ziaGorn, your suggestion has merit, but other business precedes it. Warden, has a new Oracle arisen?”
“As far as I am aware; as far as the former Oracle was aware—no. A new Oracle has not arisen. It is the belief of the former Oracle that Civilization no longer has need.”
“Self-serving claptrap,” tryaBent snapped. “Aside anything else, to speak of compensating Haosa vesterGranz, as if her pockets are flat, is past absurd. The vesterGranz are quite able to care for her, as the Warden well knows, theirs being the cadet Line of his own house.”
“That is quite aside the point,” Majel ziaGorn said. “The point is what she is herself owed, for the service she has give—”
“The matter of compensating the former Oracle on her retirement is tabled for the present,” Chair gorminAstir stated firmly.
Majel inclined his head. “Your pardon, Chair.”
tryaBent said nothing.
gorminAstir was seen to take a deep breath.
“The Council will adjourn for one hour. Please clear the chamber. Warden, stay with me, if you please.”
* * *
gorminAstir stood in the window until the room was cleared, looking down at the street below. Bentamin drew two cups of tea, and offered her one.
She took it without looking aside, and without a word, which was not much like her, though Bentamin could hardly blame her for being abstracted. He would not, in fact, have wondered if she had been angry, but the wonder was instead that she was not.
“I suppose you had a good and compelling reason for allowing the former Oracle to escape the Wardian,” she said, after she had taken a sip of tea. She was still staring down at the street; her face in profile was tight, and showing lines at the corner of mouth and eye. It struck Bentamin that she was not so very much younger than Aunt Asta.
“In fact, your use of the word escape illuminates my decision,” he said.
“I had wondered if that was it,” she said, and raised her cup to her lips.
Bentamin sipped his tea, and looked down. The street was abuzz with morning traffic. At the far end of the block, he could see the cart that sold cut flowers, a dazzle of indolent color among the bustling busyness.
“Shall I tender my resignation?” he asked.
“No, why should you? The Warden’s mandate is to preserve the integrity of Civilization. I believe that you acted within that mandate, as you have done for years, unfailingly. Civilization could only be made less by refusing to allow its faithful servant to rest.
“I do ask—had the former Oracle Seen that Civilization no longer needs any Oracle?”
“She did not say so specifically. My impression was that she considered the fact of there being no replacement Oracle as its own proof.”
He paused, sipped tea, made a decision.
“She did say that she had Seen the end of Civilization and the Haosa, too.”
gorminAstir turned her head to stare at him, face expressionless.
“Did she, indeed? If that is the case, then I agree—we no longer need an Oracle.”
“Long Sight is notoriously unreliable,” Bentamin murmured.
“No one knows that better than an Oracle, I would think,” gorminAstir answered. “The fact that she chose to mention it to you makes me think that she felt that particular insight was . . . more possible than others she might have had.”
Bentamin said nothing.
“I wonder if you know where the former Oracle has retired to, and if you will tell me,” gorminAstir said after a moment.
“She retired to Ribbon Dance Village. As you know, she and the Speaker for the Haosa are kin.”
“As you are.” gorminAstir sighed, and turned to face him fully.
“Do you think it might be possible for me to visit the former Oracle in her retirement?” she said. “Myself alone, with your escort, if you will grant it. The Speaker for the Haosa will of course wish to be present, as well.”
“I’ll ask if she will permit such a visit.”
“Thank you. Tell her, please, that I honor her decision, and wish to discuss what compensation she would find appropriate, upon leaving Civilization’s service.”
“I’ll tell her,” Bentamin promised.
gorminAstir smiled, and drank off what was left of her tea.
“And, now, I suggest we open the door, and try if we can’t attend to the rest of our business today.”