All That Glitters Ch. 25

She let Burhan know her thoughts, which were echoed by their host.

"Yes, he is evil," the woman said. "And you are correct, I would not put it past him to spite tradition and have her executed as soon as her sentence was put on her. He controls the Council; he will have his way. None on the Council will stand up to him and stop him changing tradition."

Fiona was near panic, she urged the group to move faster, but they were already at a dead run.

Gharfa minn al-jahim, Grand Temple of Andanii, Aereet City, Planet Anuura

The block was brought forward and Henadi was rudely picked up off the floor and placed behind it. A long leather strap was placed behind her knees and she was pushed forward over the block, her neck fitting into a groove designed to cradle it, her body now parallel to the Grand Council. The strap was brought up around her arms and buckled tight, binding her in place. She did not have the strength to fight the bindings. A basket was placed below her eyes, presumably to capture her head.

"Bring the Sacred Sword!" Andjuran shouted. Najmaddin Anduura had been waiting for this moment. The sword had been brought down to the labyrinth earlier, in the wooden case it always travelled in. Najmaddin opened the case, took the sword in his gloved hands, turned and walked deliberately to stand beside the block, facing the Grand Council with his back to the darkness of the labyrinth.

Henadi turned her head to look at the members of the Grand Council, but none would return her look.

"I'll have none of that," Andjuran growled, grabbing Henadi's braid and pulling her head back out over the block, leaving her neck bare to the headsman.

Najmaddin knew the blade was sharp, he had sharpened it himself. He had also practiced on some melons to know just how much force he needed to apply to complete the task. There was a feral grin on his face as he raised the sword over his right shoulder, preparing to bring it down.

The swish of the sword cutting the air ended with the sound that the Grand Council had never heard before.

The thunk of a head being parted from it's body was unique. The sound was distinctive and something that none of the Grand Council ever wanted to hear again, or to remember except in their worst nightmares.

But nobody had told Wassim Andjuran how fast blood could empty from a body when the head was so neatly severed at the neck. Eager to witness the death of one of his arch enemies, Andjuran was too close. Thick, hot blood covered his pristine robes.

Nobody had told Andjuran about the smell that so much blood could make, nor how sticky it became after only a brief time exposed to the air. He was covered with blood from his chest to his feet.

He heard someone scream "Henadi!!" but more telling for him were the whispers coming from the Grand Council. "Tagut!"

Tagut was an ancient word, much changed in spelling and pronunciation since the old times. But its meaning hadn't changed. It reflected those who transgressed against Andanii, those who revelled in the blood of the innocent in the pagan rites of blood sacrifice.

The Grand Council had painted him as one of the damned...Tagut.

But he would have the last laugh. His target was dead, he lifted her head by the hair just so that he could spit in her face or tried to.

He couldn't figure out what was going wrong. Her head was not lifting, was not moving upwards. In fact, was not moving at all.

Andjuran looked down and saw that Noor's head was still attached to her body, that she was in fact still alive! It took him a moment to register what had happened, but then he looked at his henchman, his friend, Najmaddin Anuura. Or rather, Najmaddin's body.

It was Najmaddin's blood that coated Wassim Andjuran. It was Najmaddin's blood that had covered him and given him the name of Tagut. It was his henchman who was dead.

How? Andjuran screamed in his head. How is he dead?

He looked back against the dark of the chamber and saw an outline of something...something that held a long blade covered in blood. Najmaddin's blood.

Darkness on darkness. You could only see it when it moved, you could only see the whites of it's eyes. Of HER!! Eyes!

Rage filled Andjuran as he realized that he had been bested yet again by a woman. He reached into his pocket to pull forth the old style pistol, but it never got very far, as something grabbed him and pinched a nerve point.

Andjuran's hand went limp, and the pistol fell from it, hitting the floor with a solid metallic thunk.

"Senator Wassim Andjuran," a voice that he recognized as that of Fiona Marsh rang out from the darkness. "You are under arrest subject to Senate Warrant 2485A1168733. You will be returned to Terra where you will answer to charges of having misused Senate Funds meant for the Human Resources and Refugee Committee.

"You will also answer to questions of how you used those funds, as you are suspected of forming an alliance with Pirates, whom you have been providing intelligence for their fleets to attack shipping from Terra and other planets.

"You are also under arrest for the directed kidnapping of one Henadi Noor, Free Union Citizen and Captain in the Terran Union Navy. Chief Superintendent Burhan, do you have anything to add?" Fiona asked.

"Wassim Andjuran," Burhan began. "Chief Cleric of the Temple of Andanii, Aereet City, you are under arrest for suspicion of missus of funds for the Church of Andanii, for the suspected deaths of members of the Church of Andanii who had spoken out against you, for the kidnapping of Henadi Noor, ex member of the Church of Andanii and Free union Citizen, of the attempted murder of Henadi Noor, and of murder of Urrab Najjiran, whom you had scourged and then refused treatment for until he died of shock from his injuries."

"Those last charges are domestic charges," one of the members of the Grand Council of Andanii spoke up. "You are IPPF, you have no jurisdiction in this issue."

"Andjuran is a Terran Union Senator, he kidnapped Henadi Noor and brought her here against her will, Urrab Najjiran was scourged and died under circumstance linked to issues surrounding the misuse of church funds, funds used to initially bankroll Andjuran's suspected clandestine activities around the Union. As such, they are within the jurisdiction of the IPPF.

"And you, the Grand Council of Andanii, are not free of guilt. You had to have agreed to the death of Henadi Noor, You had to have allowed Andjuran to make use of the church funds for projects not permitted under church law. I would be cautious of whom you speak against, when your own cup is filled with the blood of others."

As he spoke, many people were beginning to crowed the chamber, lights were lit, showing the gathering numbers.

Fiona was beginning to get worried. Fiona marched forward and cut the bindings around Henadi's legs and back. She and Kim lifted her up and removed the gag from her mouth.

"I am Henadi Noor, ex member of the Church of Andanii," she managed to croak out, her mouth dry. "I was considered apostate by Wassim Andjuran when I went against his wishes and fled the planet to obtain an education, directly against the changes he had dictated for the women of the Church of Andanii.

"For this, I made contrition by working to bring about changes to the small Temple of Andanii at the Johal Compound on Terra. The money I used was money that I had earned intending to return to my father Omair Noor, whose money was meant for me to obtain an education in Early Childhood Development. I never intended to take that course, Father." Noor said, looking into the crowd at her father.

"I am a Free Union Citizen kidnapped by Wassim Andjuran for the crime of standing against him and stopping him not once, but twice, from destroying the mining platform Liramor-23 in the Piscium System, along with my friend, my mentor, and my superior, Commodore Fiona Marsh.

"Wassim Andjuran placed a bounty of five million credits on our heads. My bounty was for me to be brought to him alive. As an ex member of the church, he wanted to personally watch me die for defying him on three separate occasions. Fiona's bounty was for her death.

"While I love Anuura, I would not willingly return here while I was considered apostate. That would only have brought shame to my family and to myself.

"I charge Chief Cleric Wassim Andjuran with crimes against the Church of Andanii, with abuses against the members of the Church of Andanii, with the misappropriation of funds belonging to the Church of Andanii, with my kidnapping for the expressed intent to have me executed under Church Law, even while defiling Church Law by not allowing me a voice, and with manipulating the Grand Council of Andanii by placing his adherents on the Council then forcing that council to commit acts contrary to the Law of the Church.

"When the Terran Senate finishes with you, Andjuran, you will then be brought back here to stand in front of a court of law on Anuura and answer for the crimes you have committed here," Henadi saw the glare of hatred that Andjuran gave her, but she no longer had time for the man.

"I charge the members of the Grand Council of Andanii of dereliction of the duties of the Council and demand that they be disbanded for their failure to control Wassim Andjuran. I demand that they be taken into custody in order to answer to their actions or inactions as members of the Grand Council in a court of the Senior Clerics and in a court of law for the criminal actions they have been part of.

"Father, you have always been one of the most stubborn opponents to Andjuran and his clique. Will you now stand for the Church and take over the Grand Council?" Henadi asked.

"I will stand for Andanii until such time as a new Grand Council has been selected," her father said as he walked toward her.

"You would always have been welcomed at your house, Henadi. I, and your mother, have always been proud of you. I may have been angry with you at first, but you showed us by your actions how much it meant to you to be out there, in the greater community. I cannot dispute that you were meant to be there.

"I was only aware of your act of contrition after the fact, when Ahmed Johal sent me a letter on his death bed. He told me of the work you had made, year after year to repair and make beautiful the tiny Temple of Andanii that he so loved when it was completed. I have not seen the temple in person but have seen images of it from those who have been there.

"It is evident, that you heart still belongs to Andanii, child of mine. For this, I can never forgive Andjuran for having you made Apostate after you had defied both him and me.

"The first thing I will ask of the new Grand Council will be to review the reasons for apostate declarations. If they were made solely to please Andjuran, then they will be rescinded, including your own. For my act of stupidity, I can only sincerely ask your forgiveness, my child, and hope you will give me your blessings.

"Are their any members of the Church of Andanii who would oppose these actions?" Omair asked of those who were standing as witnesses to the events unfolding.

No one spoke.

Burhan swiftly took control and had Wassim Andjuran and the members of the Grand Council restrained and placed under arrest. He called in support and asked for permission to land in the Grand Square to the Temple for emergency purposes. No one opposed his request.

Fiona and Kim helped to carry Henadi to the Grand Square and helped her aboard an ambulance shuttle. Her father and her mother went with her to the hospital.

Fiona watched as Wassim Andjuran and his Grand Council was placed aboard a police transport. Eyes filled with hate for her bore into hers as Wassim was forced up the ramp into the transport.

Fiona turned and fell into Raymond's arms. In moments other arms closed around her. Ululla, Helga, Gillaya, Kim, Fayad, and Hanalei closed around Fiona as she cried with relief. Her ordeal was over, and Liramor-23, was now more-or-less safe from Andjuran and likely safe from the pirates.

Aereet City, Planet Anuura

Henadi was required to remain in the hospital for one week. But that allowed time for things to progress.

Fayad introduced Hanalei Anar to Junelliea Harlen and her family, who in turn welcomed Hanalei's family. Both families were feted at the House of Ouihya by Fayad's father Naadir Ouihya and by his mother Ikekia Houll.

The old Grand Council was disbanded in disgrace and a new Grand Council formed. Henadi's father, Omair, was made a member of the new Grand Council. This council had the Matriarch of Andanii and three other women as a members.

The Grand Council removed Wassim Andjuran from the position of Chief Cleric and formally changed the title to Grand Cleric that it may lose the stigma associated with Andjuran as the Chief Cleric.

One of the first thing they did was to review all of those who were exiled from the Church of Andanii and to ask them if they wished to return to the member ship of the church. Many did and were welcomed back by their families and friends.

Omair Noor requested that his daughter Henadi be welcomed back to the church, her sin of breaking faith with her family obviated by her act of contrition of rebuilding and beautifying Temple of Andanii at the Johal Compound on Terra. Her sin of breaking faith with the Church was obviated by her being forced to leave Anuura by the actions of Andjuran and his clique. She had proved both in her daily actions out there, and in her performance during her scourging, that all women had the strength of character, determination, and purpose to face any event hand-in-hand with their men or, as Henadi had shown, on their own.

The Grand Council formally requested the Grand Cleric and Matriarch of Andanii to petition Henadi's return to the fold.

The new Grand Cleric and the Matriarch of Andanii came to Henadi's hospital bed and prostrated themselves on the floor in front of her, asking for her forgiveness and asking if she would consider returning to the Church of Andanii under the new guidelines that would accept women in the status they once held, that which had been shown by Henadi all along.

Henadi formally accepted the request, then cried on the shoulder of the Matriarch of Andanii after having been returned to the fold. Her family was elated, as was the membership of the church when they heard. Images of the Temple of Andanii at the Johal Compound had been spread to all, and many wanted to conduct a pilgrimage to Terra and the Denders Resort, in order to personally see the tiny temple that she had rebuilt, something that was much easier to do since the recent introduction of the new Sprawl Class fast ship transports making the cost much more affordable.

On the day Henadi left the hospital, Fayad approached the Grand Council in the Grand Square of the Temple of Andanii and requested that he be allowed to establish a new house, the House of Piscium. When asked who would stand in support for the new house, Fiona Marsh, Raymond Clark, the House of Noor, the House of Ouihya, the House of Harlen, the House of Anar, the Matriarch of Andanii, and the Grand Cleric of Andanii, all stood for the house.

When asked who would be part of this new house, Hanalei Anar and Junelliea Harlen stood by their man and declared him as their joint intended, Hanalei as his first.

Asked if he could show that he had the funds necessary to start and maintain a house of his own, Fiona stepped forward and declared that Fayad was a valued junior member of her team temporarily working at senior levels due to an ongoing crisis at Liramor-23 and that he would soon be going to Liramor Holdings Management School so that his senior position would become permanent.

Given the support from the community, and the support of a person of Commodore Marsh's status, the Grand Council declared the new House of Piscium viable and declared that Fayad Ouihya was no longer. He was now Fayad Patriarch of the House of Piscium.

The Grand Cleric of Andanii and the Matriarch of Andanii stepped forward and asked if Fayad, Hanalei, and Junelliea were ready to declare themselves. The three looked at each other and smiled, then nodded to the Grand Cleric and the Matriarch.

Then and there, in the Grand Square of the Grand Temple of Andanii, before the eyes of all who had come for the spectacle, the three were wed and named as members of the new House of Piscium, Hanalei as first and the new Matriarch of the House.

Fiona, Raymond, Kim, Ululla, Henadi, and Gillaya, were the first to hug and congratulate the members of the new House. Fiona finally had a reason to cry happy tears, so she did, letting lose all the tension that she had been carrying while holding tightly to Fayad and his two wives. Fayad understood and was not embarrassed in the least to have his boss cry on his shoulder.

Later that day, Fiona sent a recording of the events of the wedding to Liramor-23 via an FTL probe to Liramor Prime. She flagged Annette so that she too could see the wedding. She knew that Fayad's friends, both on and off the platform, would be happy and even jealous of him for finding two such beautiful women to be his wives.

End of chapter twenty-five.

This was meant to be part of a much larger chapter, however, there was so much vitriol coming out about me 'killing off' Henadi Noor that I had to take this part and make it a separate short chapter.

Hello people! Wake up and smell the coffee! I never said that Henadi had died in chapter 24! In chapter 23, I CLEARLY stated that Analisa Talbot had died!

Did you not catch on to that? Do you feel slightly put off now? I certainly do! I could not believe some of the messages sent to me about a favourite character having been killed off! When, in fact, she hadn't been. Now you know, and (like they say) knowing is half the battle.

I will not ask for an apology from those who sent me some of the foulest messages as I'm sure I will not get it. But I did ask for people to keep their comments respectful and that does not mean just on Literotica...

To coin a phrase "With great power comes great responsibility". The Freedom of Speech is the GREATEST power we as individuals have. The misuse of that power is evident everywhere we look on the internet.

Just because we CAN say something, doesn't mean we should. If we abuse the power of freedom of speech, we WILL lose that power. There are already actions taking place on the internet to control the kind of speech that is rampant there. It is only a short stretch from that to total control of speech on the internet and the loss of our freedoms. How about that for a conspiracy theory!

Wake up people and do the right thing. Think before you write something. Think about how that person will feel when they read what you are writing to them. Think about your intent in writing such to another person.

Internet Trolls are the worst form of beast in the world. They do what they do because they believe their actions are anonymous, and therefore they will never be discovered and never have to face the consequences of their actions. But that is a fallacy. The actions of such people are resulting in the restrictions that are now being seen on the internet. Great power + no responsibility = loss of power. THAT IS what we are seeing.

'Nuff said.

More to follow on Glitters in the New Year. There are still at least three groups of aliens around and, of course, the pirates have only gone to ground and not disappeared.

Please rate and comment but remember to keep your comments respectful.

Be well, Be kind to one another, Be safe.