As usual, all hundred Senators were present on the monthly regular Senate assembly. In the center stood Valledia, with Theodorus Lys, who was a regent and head of Senate, and Astrophel Cadyrn, the most renowned and probably the most skilled military officer at the time, but with no actual title beyond the common 'captain'. The three were examining a map that was showing southern parts of the Amurite state, where Orcs were growing restless.
Senators were sitting in their seats calmly, the code was simple: Valledia had to be presented with the issue first, then she would estimate the situation, then she would decide what was the best course of action, and only then the Senate would be introduced to the situation, and most likely, to the decision. Senators would then have little to do except to bow down to the Valledia's wisdom, very rarely she would turn to Senate for advice, but even then it was just an advice.
Cadyrn was speaking: So far our scouts found two Orcish settlements, one on the east, and one on the south. If we could take them...
It's too risky. We only have so much men to serve in the army, I would be insane to send them through either of the passes.
And the matter was settled. They would have few more things to discuss about- how to guard the passes, how many men should be sent to observe the Orcish activity, when could the settlements actually be assaulted, but someone knocked on the large doors of the Meeting Hall of the Senate.
Senators seemed confused - it was against the tradition to interrupt the Senate meeting, but then again, it was not that Amurites ever valued the tradition too much. But it better be important, Valledia thought.
On the other side of the door stood a group of farmers from Cevedes. Peasants, thought many Senators. Mundanes, thought others. In any way, they were dressed in the expensive clothing usually worn by scribes and merchants, never by peasants, but one could easily tell they are not noble simply by their speech, and body stance. Their leader, a tall, bald man, spoke:
I wish to beg for an audience, your majesty.
Your highness, I want to represent those people. One of the Senators, Samalius Ahe, stood up.
They are from a village near Cevedes. They approached me, and it is my right, no, my duty as a Senator, to represent them. They wish that we used some of our great wisdom to improve their lot in life. More accurately, they wish that some of our scholars were tasked with educating the people in secrets of hunting, with developing the traps mechanisms, developing tanning and tailoring techniques, with studying the animal behavior and biology...
That is unacceptable! All of our sages are currently working on harnessing the power of elements. They are halfway through...- one Senator interrupted
But imagine, your higness, if you consider my proposal, we could hunt those large animals near Nimarail... Their tusks and meat could be very valuable! It was Samalius again.
Then came the wave of dissent:
This is outrageous! Forgoing the tapping the power of elemental planes for such... MUNDANE matters! ...
Are you even aware what does harnessing elemental powers means? Our armies could be victorious without ever seeing eye-to-eye with enemies...
What is next? Allowing mundanes into the Senate?
Valledia was suddenly struck when she heard the last comment
SILENCE!!!
It was uncertain if she was angered with thought that 'mundanes' might actually request the right to be elected to the Senate, or with the discriminating tone of the Senator. But she spoke:
I actually think this is the most wise proposal. It is accepted. Theodorus Lys, as a regent, you will make sure that the Samalius plan gets carried out... with or without the consent of the Senate.
