"Very well then, let's air our grievances. Yes, I have made mistakes. Yes, I am given to impetuous action. Nevertheless, I think it's pretty rich of you to speak as if you're the sole font of wisdom and authority around here. Like Kyle says, first you gain two ministries with our help, then you rush ahead to gain a third, not bothering to consult anyone. Those who won't meekly fall in line behind you, you accuse of disloyalty. If anyone had been willing to send someone to help me moderate Melan's ideas, the Archbishop might have gone home happy. I never spoke of being in charge, only of cooperation for the greater good."
Puffing up, not unlike a blowfish, Mehlenna retorts:
"I never once
hinted at wanting any additional ministries beyond the two I have. My sole objective in asking the King, blessed be his name, to appoint me to the positions I currently hold was that they might be used to assist in the ongoing trials! The Royal Library, that we might find a cure for the sickness of our bodies, and the Ministry of Faith, that we could root out the heresy in our nation's souls. Perhaps you hadn't noticed, but during the last session I not only declared every asset I had, but devoted them toward the projects where they would be of the most use. I was, in fact, the
only member of this council to supply their every resource toward the Kingdom without question or recompense. Everyone else held something back, claiming that they had "nothing useful" or that they didn't want to contribute to someone else's proposal. What you ask for now has been my personal policy from the outset."
"But, in the interests of clarity, I have recruited for this month... the Pious Elder Thomas (2 Knowledge, 1 Piety), the oh so very Stylish Banker Andrew (2 Gold, 1 Etiquette) and
the Wrathful Librarian of the Royal Library (2 Knowledge, 1 Might) who would certainly be interested in stopping these
Scholar Poisonings.