V8: Chapter 4

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Interlude: Celia

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We shamelessly took the King of Wisdom’s designs for establishing a council to meet upon, yet without his presence it was a humbling experience rather than a productive one.

“My lady.”

“Thank you, Christine.” I retreated to my wing of the small building made for our meetings. Three others like it were each at the capitals of the Wardens, Forgers, and Merchants. Each building was identical and on neutral grounds at each of our capitals. Each one exact with the same dimensions and situated around a circular atrium where we would meet and speak to one another on equal terms, the place we would meet at changing every year. “I need this.”

It was coffee produced from the Citadel. After we joined our Citadels together briefly, so that we would all benefit from having a quarter of the King of Wisdom’s power, we had more manufacturing ability to spare. We could make ancient things written of in our history books that no one alive amongst my kind could remember. Tools, weapons, and equipment that we only heard stories of in the King of Wisdom’s lands were now ours to create in masse.

The knowledge that he had all the tools we now had and the benefits that they gave, and has been using them with his immense population, was immensely sobering.

I took a sip of the steadying, bitter yet bright brew prepared by my Champion clad in light plate armor and took a measured breath.

“Once again, we’re at a dead lock because of the Merchants.” The Merchants of the Marsh had been upended due to the weakness of their leader. The King of Wisdom extracted immense wealth from them and a small revolt had occurred which nearly took Executive Harper’s life in the process. Stories abounded about how she managed to remain in power, many of which were bloody and violent, and there was a distinct tension in the air of their lands. Whatever happened then, I feared, would soon happen again and the Forgers will take advantage of the Merchants’ infighting. “Though, I suppose, we would do the same in their place.”

“They still ask for too much. To have favorable trade routes is understandable. To have complete control of the fledgling banking system, as the King of Wisdom has in his lands? Absolute foolishness.” Christine joined me and sat across from me with her own cup of coffee. From her satchel, she pulled a flask and took a sip with a grimace. She was in her blooding period, making her imbibement of a whole flask of Vampire blood a daily necessity. The taste will not be tolerable for another month, but the increase in power and strength it gave was without question. “They ask for that, while demanding that the signals corporation be evenly between us all, so that they can blame wrong letters and missing missives that embolden accounts upon the rest of us.”

“And, of course, there’s the matter of the unified academic system and agricultural methods. Hmph. In truth, everyone has different wants and needs that they wish to force upon one another.” We were desperately working together to emulate the King of Wisdom, but his singular rule and fame gave him a truly immense advantage. Centralized power backed by the people. In his lands, he ruled supreme, and none could truly compete with him. Meanwhile, we were beholden to those who gave us power. Me, the various courts of Undead. The Forgers and their primary clans. The Merchants to their nobility. The clergy of the Wardens. His word was law and his decisions final. We fought for influence from within and without. “I have a feeling, in a year’s time, that we will only have a military alliance and nothing more.”

Nothing more that can allow us to catch up with the King of Wisdom.

“We can’t. We need to work together. Otherwise, we’ll just lose.” Christine groaned and shook her head with a fierce scowl. I made sure all my Champion were well taught and well read. They needed to know what we were dealing with. The King of Wisdom used his centralized power to establish organizations of immense potency. The building of roads, the transportation of goods, the farming of crops, and many major industries were all under his control through various organizations and guilds established by his writ. They were given missions, instructions, and advice, then they did their duty with the funds they were given and the power vested in them… and his realm flourished. “The Forgers are refusing to send out Transports for logistics and trade. We could all be benefiting from that, but they’re keeping it entirely to themselves. We could all have it and be better for it.”

The king of the Forgers cited that they needed to take it for themselves to ‘recover’ from having those they sent abandoning the Forgers to become the King of Wisdom’s people. The King of Wisdom kept his end of the bargain with them, despite the fact they did not support their own armies after giving him control. They now had strong herds of flying horses, along with the systems and magical education needed to conduct logistical operations with them. We could all benefit from it… but they kept it for themselves.

“We are not true allies. Perhaps we shall never be.” I admitted with a sigh. Even the moment when all the rings were placed on my hand, after I swore to my ancestors and had blades at my neck, I had felt the distrust and malice of the Forgers and Merchants. Only Saintess Sirena seemed apologetic alongside the Justiciar Khalai. “But you are right. We must work together, somehow, otherwise only defeat awaits us. We may each have a Citadel that matches one of the King of Wisdom’s now, but he still has four of each while we only have one. I must convey this fact completely when we meet again.”

Christine nodded and was ready to provide advice when the door to my guest lounge opened and Mallory entered.

“My lady, Executive Harper of the Merchants wishes to speak with you.” Mallory was in full armor and guarding the door to my current abode. However, she was still able to send a signal my way with her free hand at her side, as the other had turned the knob to open the door. It was an open palm facing inward and not a fist. An open opportunity. The political game within the fledgling union of our peoples has begun. “Shall I allow her in?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Yes. Christine, please prepare some tea and put the coffee aside.” Coffee was a dangerous drink to many Merchants along with a few others foods. It would be improper, so I had the food set aside for the moment. I stood up and moved to my desk, abandoning my drinking table beside the window. The office desk was another thing that I stole from Jack. Each room of mine in each diplomatic center was the same. The convenience of it was without question, and it gave my visitors pause when they realized I truly remained in my territory. “Let her in.”

Mallory gave a nod, and through the double doors came forth Executive Harper.

She adopted a black and red suit, the opposite color of her white-clad assistants, and this time she wore a plan mask as they did, though hers was ebony. Gone was the gown and the luxury and the dresses, along with the fine wine and the massive, hulking guards. Her new guards were lithe assassins with masked faces that stayed near the door with Christine and Mallory watching them. Her mark of office was new, too. On her chest, over her heart, was a small pin with the face of a snarling wolf.

One encounter with Jack and her whole life was irrevocably changed.

No.

The Merchants of the Marsh changed in their entirety.

A whole nation of merchants made deadlier and more lethal from a singular meeting with the King of Wisdom.

“Lady Celia.” Her tone was clipped and she took in front of my desk only after I nodded and offered it to her. Her six assistants were like lines up statues behind her. Perfectly poised and quiet. My Undead seemed more alive than them. “I bring grave tidings. Within the next two years, we will be completely unable to overcome the industrial and economic might of the King of Wisdom, unless we institute all the changes I have outlined in this plan.”

One of the assistants came forward and from a white satchel she produced a thick tome. The papers within were thin and light and clean. They went through much effort to encode the findings for the Citadel to create.

The first page outlined Executive Harper’s proposal.

I raised an eyebrow upon reading it.

“A lot of these plans call for unity and cooperation. You’ve been against that in all three of our last meetings.”

“It’s necessary. The Forgers want my life and my nation. I must show strength in front of them, and the new armies are only being constructed.” Executive Harper explained, and I reminded myself that I was looking at a woman who reached the highest peak of Merchant society and retained that spot after encountering the force of nature known as the King of Wisdom. Her ability and talent was not to be questioned, at least in the realm of politics and the management of a nation. “High Justiciar Khalai vouches for me, as well.”

From her lapel pocket, she produced a simple piece of cloth… where the High Justiciar signed his name and placed his seal… and left a kiss mark of light purple.

I swear, he was somehow more dedicated to Jack more than Sirena.

“I see. His insight on matters such as this is something that I respect, however his words alone will not sway me. Executive Harper… I will have this poured over by my scholars, but it is best that you convince me now of your truth.”

She nodded and moved to speak… but took off her mask.

Instead of the extravagant makeup she once wore, she only had a light scattering on her face now, and her youth became more apparent.

“Lady Celia… I underestimated the King of Wisdom immensely. I thought him a mere child with grand aspirations wasting the wealth he had at his disposal. However, shortly after I began the purge of my foes, I went into his lands myself and saw the truth.” Her eyes were golden and sharp, but the fear in them was unmistakable. Her ears were flat against her head and she forced herself to sit straight and stand firm. Was it an act or the truth? Did it matter, if she told me the truth. “His plans extend into the decades. Everything he has done is but a foundation to his future aspirations. The grand armies, the flying transports, the factories, and schools… Lady Celia, it’s all just the beginning of his ambitions.”

A stilled at the words, and my eyes wandered to the report on my desk. Somehow, the tome seemed to drag my eyes and bid me to read it, while I felt fear gather in my stomach like lead.

“I saw thousands of children each group separated by age, Lady Celia. They are being taught in institutions and live with each other in dorms. They practice reading and writing, but every day they train their bodies and prepare to work. Their minds are filled with stories that he wrote, lessons he approved, and of the story of their nation… he is not a king in his lands, Lady Celia, he is a god.”

Some part of my mind tried to reject her words, but again the tome by my side drew my gaze.

I knew that the information would be contained within, and that I would have my people verify it all.

And, I also knew that it would be redundant to do so.

“In a single decade, in each of his Citadels, a class will graduate two thousand strong. Eight thousand young men and women who know how to read, how to write, and already trained for work will go to him. The next year another eight thousand will join them, if not more, and that will be continuous… and ever-growing.” Executive Harper’s words took on a ferocity as she spoke. She must have seen the realization in my eyes. My understanding of Jack’s plans and intentions melded with the information that she gleamed. She was standing now and looming over my desk, barely stopping herself from gripping hold of its surface. “They will work in factories that he is perfecting to output more and more, work jobs and positions that are being refined, and given housing. They will have children, those children will be cared for by his state, and they will not bear the responsibility of caring for them in the slightest. Lady Celia… in just two decades, my people believe that we will be at least outnumbered twenty to one by a nation superior to us in. Every. Single. Aspect.”

The fire of madness was unmistakable in her eyes.

It was fire born of terror at discovering a singular truth that was just beginning to dawn on me, as well.

But I was versed in facing my fears and summoning courage to face them, so I was able to ask a question.

“And, if we work together, we can match him? Rival him and not be utterly subsumed? If we unite?”

“Perhaps. Maybe. Possibly, aha! Ha…ha… perhaps…” A broken laugh left her lips and she retreated backward and slumped into her chair. A great tiredness seemed to emanate from her. A part of me wanted to apologize for pitying her when she ran away. “I’ve already started on a similar path. I have bid my people to breed and produce children. Those who can make litters most of all. But we are years behind in starting, in infrastructure, in resources, in education… in everything. I don’t know, Lady Celia… I don’t know.”

I nodded at her words as a silence came over us.

However, after a few moments, I nodded and rose from my seat and walked past her and placed my hand on the head of the chair she sat upon.

“You have my unfettered support, Executive Harper. I am with you.” Fight or surrender. That was the simple choice we now had. I knew my choice, the only choice my people would allow me to make, thus it was settled. “Let’s make him work hard for it, at the very least.”

That earned a small laugh from my ally, and I chuckled along.

It felt like laughing alongside another on the gallows.