Proposition

Councilman Helms stood up on the podium in the courthouse and started to make his speech to the crowd.
"By now you should all know, that the Angels have arrived once again," his voice echoed through the large room.
"We could do what we always have done, and fight the Demons as they come. But I suggest something different! I say, that the Demons only come if the Angels are here first, so why not make it so that there are no Angels in City?"
"You're saying that we should kill them?!" another councilman interrupted.
"Kill them, exile them, anything to undermine the Demons' reason to come."
"The Angels have always helped us fight! They are stronger and more skilled than any human soldier could ever hope for! How will we fight the Demons with no Angels to carry us to victory?"
Helms tried again to make them see reason, "Without Angels there won't BE any Demons! There won't be any war at all!"
"They'll still come" spoke a soft voice, somehow penetrating through Helms' roaring speech. The entire courtroom fell silent. The words had come from Prophet, the oldest and most respected man in City.
Prophet sat on a plush cushion off to the side of the podium. His skin was wrinkled and brown with age and his eyes were always closed, making it hard to tell when he was awake or asleep. It was rumored that Prophet was a messenger from the gods, and that he was old as City itself. Neither of these were unfounded, as Prophet was at least four hundred years old and his words had never been wrong. If Prophet spoke it, it was certainly true.
Helms broke the still silence. "Master, is there no way to deter the Demons?"
Prophet spoke, his soft words heard loud and clear among everyone present. "If the Angels have come, then it is inevitable."
Helms closed his eyes, thinking of the pain that was to soon take hold of his home.
"Well then," Helms spoke gravely, "I guess it's no use to exile the Angels now." He looked up at the assembled council, "I wish to revoke my proposition to neutralize all Angels in City."
The councilmen looked at one another. "Your proposition has been revoked and forgiven. Now, we must train soldiers and prepare for war. Prophet, how long before the Demons come?"
Prophet sat with his eyes closed, saying not a word.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. I like the Prophet. Always need men with wisdom to keep the foolish men at bay. You open the door to a very good story.
Coyote