Chapter 22: The Council Chamber

The flagship did not fire.

Admiral Maltravers gave the order twice.

The Council's Speaker spoke over him on the open channel before his gunnery officer could answer.

"Any officer who fires on the Meridian fires on this Council," she said.

"Every officer aboard that ship has seen the ration logs."

I watched the guns along the white hull.

They closed one by one.

Then a different voice came onto the channel, a woman's, level and tired.

"Admiral. This is your flag captain. With respect, sir, I've been eating that supplement for fourteen years. Please come off the bridge."

Maltravers's flagship brought him to Aurel Station in his own cabin, with two of his own marines at the door.

Two days later they stood him in the Council chamber.

It was a round room, high and plain, with nine chairs on a dais and a floor of pale stone.

The gallery was packed to the doors.

Caspian sat beside me in the front row in his black coat, with the silver bars pinned back on his collar.

The Speaker had done that herself, in front of everyone, before the session opened.

His arm lay quiet on his knee.

It had been quiet for two days.

Maltravers came in without his chain of office.

He still wore the white coat.

He walked to the rail and stood with his hands behind his back.

"Admiral Corwin Maltravers," the Speaker said. "You are charged with dosing the commanders of the Fleet to make them dependent."

She turned a page.

"You are charged with ruining Fleet officers and citizens to protect that practice, and with the attempted destruction of a Fleet vessel."

"The Office has served the Fleet for twenty years."

"The Office has kept it on a leash."

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