I hated how well I slept. The bed was the most comfortable thing I’d experienced in my entire life, and it was something Nicole had just for her guests.
As I began to dress myself, I heard a knock on my door once again. I expected Nicole, but was greeted by something far worse.
Ashley stood in the doorframe, flanked by servants with a variety of measuring equipment and a large assortment of clothes.
“Good morning!” She chirped, studying my body. I’d only managed to get my pants on, and was shirtless. There wasn’t much to look at, but she seemed utterly fascinated.
I leaned over to the side and saw the servants gaze at me sympathetically.
“Do I have a choice?” I asked her bluntly.
“Nicole wanted you to dress nicely for the meeting, since you’re going to be in front of the Tisch. They care a lot about appearances.”
That sounds more like an excuse.
“Let’s not waste time, North dear.”
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“What is wrong with your family…” I said as I picked at the shirt. I was trapped in a buttoned shirt and a stuffy black overcoat. Long socks rested underneath my pant legs, and the dress shoes I wore gripped tightly around my feet. It felt more uncomfortable than the gear I had used in the mines.
“I’d say Ashley did a fine job with you, all things considered. Although your hair…” She lazily pointed a finger at my head. They had made an attempt to comb and control my hair, yet no matter what it seemed determined to remain in its untamed state.
Ashley, during the experience, was very close with me and took every opportunity to study my body. She seemed fascinated by me and took pleasure in measuring every inch of skin.
“Does an obsession with owning other human beings run in the family?” I asked. We were both standing on the front steps while Nicole summoned her carriage. Nicole’s only response was a shrug.
“The Allena family was chosen to work with Arlin because of our shared values. However ironic you may find it, we were tasked with managing much of Duskarna’s expansive slave trade. Arlin may have presided over it with what they consider a more equitable system, but our economic role has remained much the same.”
“How exactly can the act of owning other people be made more equitable?” I asked rhetorically.
“I said what they considered. Sometimes what Arlin believes to be change is only a matter of rephrasing. The delineation of who can be considered property merely shifted into legal matters, that of criminals and prisoners of war. Arlin mostly makes use of the latter, while Pluma mostly deals with matters of the former.”
I nodded along. I’d had this explained to me in some form or another before, but not with this amount of condescension.
The carriage pulled up to the gate, and we walked to it silently. I plodded myself down and got into a comfortable position. The inside was far nicer than any carriage I’d been in before, the seats cushioned for comfort to counteract the shaking of the rough roads. As we started moving. Nicole looked me in the eyes, her casual tone disappearing.
“I want you to listen to my instructions carefully. Once you exit this carriage, you are not to speak under any circumstance unless you are expressly called upon to do so by a member of the Tisch. You are also to wear this.” She said, reaching to a side pocket and handing me a mask.
It was a pure white mask, with nothing besides the two holes for the eyes and an adjustable belt strap.
“Why?”
Nicole groaned at what I thought to be a reasonable question.
“You are not a member of the Tisch, which means you have no voice unless given one. The mask is both to cover your identity once you leave, and to keep you from showing any emotion during the meeting. When I said I would be doing the talking, I meant that literally.” She said flippantly.
I grabbed the mask from her and flipped it around in my hand as we made our way through the streets, the windows covered by drapes. When we came to our eventual stop, I mumbled some of my frustrations and put on the mask.
The building was beautiful, outlined in gold and marble and stretching taller than all the others. The doors were grandiose with a guard waiting at either side. I could immediately recognize where the wood for that door had come from, and felt even more spiteful towards the Tisch. I didn’t spend time looking around the building, only following behind Nicole and averting my eyes from anything else. We went up a flight of stairs, and just before we were about to enter two more Corithian wood doors, Nicole stopped me.
“Remember. If you value your head, silence.”
I gave a faint nod. The doors opened to Nicole, and she briskly made her way inside, leading me over to a pillar on the wall and placing me against it. She stepped in front of me and grabbed an ornate chair, and slowly seated herself at a massive round table.
Taking a quick scan, I could see that each of the ten chairs around the table were different looking. All of them were beautiful, but different in design and character. The few that were empty were quickly filled after we entered. The door shut, and the meeting began.
----------------------------------------
Nicole sighed and took a quick glance back at North. She couldn’t see beyond the mask, but his frustration and hatred for her was palpable. She found it adorable, especially in the little suit Ash had chosen for him.
“Good day, fellow members of the Tisch. We are here on the fifteenth day of the fourth month, or what Emperor Arlin has now deemed Hornel Incorporation Day.” Charlene Sagan started, taking a brief reprieve to reposition the hair pin piercing her finely groomed bun.
It was her turn to lead the meeting, and just from a brief exchange of glances, the two immediately understood that today’s meeting was not about that celebration.
“Sir Duvale, has the city guard been positioned for the parade?”
“Yup… all set up.” Adam slurred to her left, the stench of alcohol emanating from his every breath. His inflated demeanor that reminded her of livestock seemed to clash with his family’s role of enforcing the law. His large clothes, which she assumed were supposed to hide this massive gut, only accentuated it more.
I prefer him drunk than sober. His poor family has an easier time dodging him.
“And will they be watching over the festivities, or partaking in them?” inquired Milan Renaveld in her usual monotone voice. She detested Adam more than any of the others on the Tisch, ironic considering how close her family’s role of managing the courts was to the Duvale’s.
“I see no reason why they can’t do both.” He shrugged.
“The reason they can’t do both is because you have a job to uphold as a Duvale. Your law enforcement represents your family.” Renaveld fruitlessly explained. She’d said this to him on several occasions, and it had never broken through his thick skull.
“I’d say they do a fine job representing your family.” said Timothy Hastings, tossing in a brief jab that Nicole struggled not to laugh at. The city guard certainly reflected Duvale’s values, or lack thereof.
“You piece of strig shit, I’ll-'' Adam began to rise from his seat, but was stopped by the head of the Huxley family placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Cease this. We are politicians, and not children. Lady Charlene, please continue.” Huxley’s calm and affirmative tone seemed to break through the wall of wine clouding Adam’s limited judgment. As head of propaganda and public relations, he was the one most intimately in charge of the celebration and its intended messaging.
“Thank you Sir Glenn. Sir Timothy and his clean up measures have already been dealt with, unless there are any changes which need addressing. As for the Allena’s, I believe they have done a fine job interacting with Arlin and ensuring celebratory unity despite their current political circumstances.” Charlene said, taking a moment to relish in her spite for Nicole, “which brings us to our next measure. As we have made it very clear, you are still under heavy scrutiny for your crimes against Arlin.”
“I am very aware, Lady Charlene. You need not remind me of such things.”
“Which is why you should understand our suspicion at your recent delivery. According to Sir Robert, your personal helmsman recently returned to port with a minimal amount of cargo and several individuals who we believe to currently be residing in your home.”
Nicole turned to Robert who was relaxing in his extremely comfortable chair and flashed him a grin. His slick black hair and bushy beard made it hard to register facial expressions, but she could tell he was grinning himself. It wasn’t out of malice or even frustration. Robert was a member of the Tisch who, despite not interacting with much, she found rather easy to handle. His easy going demeanor and agreeability made him one of the least disliked members of the Tisch.
Robert telling them was the best possible outcome for her, which was the actual reason she was grinning at him.
“I see. You still believe I have an attachment to that deranged rebel movement?” She said. She could tell without looking behind her that North was probably scowling under the mask.
“They were the reason you broke out of an Arlinian mining camp in the first place. We may have dealt with those you brought along with you on your journey, but that was only a small showing of trust. Surely you are aware the only reason you are able to sit here today is because some members of the Tisch decided your presence was preferable over your sister.” Charlene accused.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Still bitter over losing the vote, I see.
“And I have done nothing but show complete loyalty to the Tisch after that point. That rebellion was merely a tool for me to escape from Arlin’s irrational cruelty.”
“Then surely you would inform of us why you would bring only a handful of individuals all the way from Aelwryn to our shores.” Maria Goodhart interjected. She’d been distracted with the servant she’d taken along with her who was standing next to her chair, lovingly holding her hand.
“Of course. I have hired a team of attuned mercenaries for my own personal protection. Due to my current circumstances, I decided it was best to hire from outside the Empire. They are currently living in my residence in staff accommodations.” Nicole lied cleanly. Half of what she was saying was true, at the very least.
“That’s rather far-fetched. Why hire all the way from Aelwryn?” Charlene asked.
“Because I was specifically searching for a mercenary who could heal. They’re a rare commodity, as I’m sure all of you are very aware.”
“Odd. There’s been a burgeoning group of healers in Duskarna I’m sure you’re aware of.”
Nicole nodded. On one of Duskarna’s larger islands, a business with the macabre name “Triage” had been growing steadily and gaining traction. Where healers were often coveted by the upper class, Triage offered it as a public service with a competitive price that had most nobles scratching their heads.
The noble group who was protecting the Triage had remained silent, although everyone knew it was someone’s claim. Staying private about that fact was the only thing keeping it from getting firebombed.
“I am very aware of them, but I specifically wanted one for personal use. The Triage has been rather resilient in keeping its workforce. If the rumors are true, some of the offers they have turned down are comical.” Nicole exposited, turning around in her seat to look at North.
“And is that the healer in question?” Maria said, pointing at North.
“Yes it is, Lady Maria.”
“Rather young for you, no? He seems more to your sister’s tastes.”
Nicole wanted to groan, and Maria’s lusty gaze told her all she needed to know about how the Goodhart family head saw individuals like North.
Glenn tapped his finger on the table to draw everyone’s attention to him.
“You stake your honor on what you have said? If we find you have lied in some way, we will punish you harshly.” Glenn firmly stated.
“I am very aware.”
Glenn furrowed his brow and stood up from his seat. He walked over to the personal guard positioned behind him and grabbed a knife from his sheath. Panic rose in the room as the head of propaganda stepped closer and closer to North.
“You. Do you have full confidence in your ability to heal injuries?”
North nodded, continuing to hold his silence.
“Then prove it.”
Glenn extended out his forearm and painfully cut a gash across the top of it. He flicked the blood off the knife onto the floor. Even North seemed surprised.
I always knew he was a bit of a masochist.
“Go on. Heal it.”
North quickly ran into a position and placed his hands onto Glenn’s arm. After a bit of intent focusing and some barely audible mumbling, Glenn’s wound began to seal. The flesh and sinew twisted to fit North’s subtle guided changes to his flow of mana. After less than a minute, North pulled away. The blood on his outfit was sure to upset Ashley.
Glenn spent some time moving around his arm, testing if it worked the same as it had mere moments ago.
“Good work, healer. Be careful around your new master.”
“She’s not my master.” North quietly snapped back.
“What was that?” He leaned down close to North’s face. Nicole felt a wave of frustration.
Of course he’s going to break the one rule I gave him.
“What he was trying to say is that I do not currently own him. He’s a mercenary, not a servant.” Nicole interjected before North said anything more.
“Oh? Did your time in the mines gain you new sympathies?” Glenn mocked her.
“It didn’t. I merely found it easier to hire a healer than enslave one.”
“Then teach this mercenary of yours to know his place, Nicole.” Glenn scoffed and made his way back to his seat after handing the knife back to his guard.
I am certainly trying.
Charlene had to clear her throat to regain order to the meeting.
“While I do not intend for the same theatrics, I do concur with Sir Glenn. Your reputation need not be tarnished further, which is why I hope you will perform your role at the celebrations dutifully.”
“I will. My history, however tenuous it may be, will not interfere with my actions as a Tisch member.”
“Thank you. If there are no more inquiries for Lady Nicole, I’d ask that this meeting be adjourned.”
“I concur.” said Glenn, who was having a servant wipe the blood off of his suit.
A wave of “I concur” filled the room.
“Then we are in agreement. May we all do our part in helping Pluma prosper.”
The Tisch members stood up from their chairs and began to make their way to the door flanked by their respective guard. Nicole took a moment in her seat to decompress. The rest of the day was likely to be just as mentally exhausting, especially if North continued to act like an impudent child.
As she stood up from her seat, she was immediately met with Scott standing over her.
“I presume this is the favor you called in?” Scott asked rhetorically. He was referring to North, who looked even more spiteful towards Nicole than when he had entered.
“What do you think?”
“I thought I was being polite, given your current predicament.”
Scott chuckled and combed a hand through his dark blue hair. The Elbaum family had an entwined genetic history with her own, hence many of their similar features. She would have enjoyed how he looked if not for the stubble he insisted upon keeping. The Tisch thought it made him look informal and unprofessional for such a thing to be ungroomed, and Nicole agreed.
“Here. A gift for you and your new mercenaries.” He said, extending out a sizable envelope.
“How kind.”
Scott leaned in close to whisper into her ear as he handed her the gift.
“You’re running out of time. Once they show their face, it will already be too late.”
“You’re saying they don’t know who it is?”
“Whoever it is, they’re using messengers on top of messengers. As far as I can tell, they’ve completely avoided putting anything into writing as well. I’ve tried to build a foothold with Maria and Robert, but we’re slipping. It won’t be long before they’ll have the votes.”
Scott pulled back and was already wearing his usual political grin.
“I can’t wait to see you at the festivities. May today be full of joy.” He turned and walked out the door with his own guard.
Scott’s worried that if I go down, he’s coming with me. Truly a Tisch member mentality.
His warning was certainly grave, but she’d gotten very used to grave warnings at this point. True, her life was under threat by several individuals, including North’s comrades, but she felt confident in her assertions. North was wrong about many, many things, but he was right about one thing.
He’d done what had thought to be impossible. He made Arlin bleed. Finding the man who wished ill upon her family seemed like nothing compared to that.
“Come along now, healer. You’ve got a lot to do today.”
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As soon as the door to the carriage closed, I took off the mask and placed it beside me. The thing was extremely stuffy after wearing it.
“You really don’t know how to listen, do you?” Nicole chided me.
“I was correcting him on a fact. You don’t own me. Not now, not at any eventual point.”
Nicole scoffed and repositioned her dress, pulling out the envelope she’d hidden within it.
“Luckily, my reputation is already so tarnished that a small act of disobedience such as that is negligible.” She said dismissively, giving the envelope a quick shake to hear the contents inside.
“You betrayed them.” I stated.
“You’re going to have to be specific.”
“The ones who came along with you to Duskarna. They trusted you, and you used them as a tool to show loyalty?”
“I use everyone as tools. They were runaway slaves, what else was I supposed to do with them?”
“Let them live actual lives?”
“North, you and your adorable sensibilities. I needed to show the Tisch that my time in the mines had not changed me or my ideals, and thus a sacrifice is required. And what is a better showing of loyalty than stabbing people who believed themselves to be your comrades in the back?” She said as if it was completely normal.
I felt a blue glow starting up in my right hand which I had to forcefully quell. I wiped away the bits of magore dust that fell onto the seat.
Don’t let her get to you.
“If you’re done arguing morality with me, would you kindly read this?” She extended out the envelope to me.
“Excuse me?
“Would you read that out loud for me?”
“No. Do it yourself.”
“I understand if you’re worried about your own literacy.”
“I’m worried I’m going to run out of patience for you and your strig shit.” I said as I snatched the paper out of her hand and reluctantly began to read it aloud.
“Lady Nicole, I received word from Robert that your shipment has arrived. Maria’s identification cards are included inside, all following your specific instruction. I hope you are able to root out this threat before it consumes your family.”
Nicole smiled and handed me a small ID, listing out a name and specific job status. A small part on the left hand corner said “Allena Protection”.
“I made several in case you brought other allies, including ones for some of your other comrades. I may have to make some small changes, due to you bringing the Hornel man.”
“Jay.”
“Yes, him. I’ll allow you to spread these to your comrades, and then you can go out and enjoy the festivities. There will be a parade through the streets at sundown which I would hate for you to miss.”
I looked at the one listed for me and felt a stir of mixed emotions.
“North… Marlisle?” I asked incredulously.
“Is there a problem with that? I know the concept of last names may be foreign to Corithians such as yourself, so I thought it was easiest to simply take your home village and use that. Sera is also Marlisle, although I believe I listed you two as cousins.”
"And all of them are listed as 'under your protection'?" I puzzled.
"Indeed. A number of Duskarna's citizens are under the protection of one of the families. It will give you certain privileges to you, although I believe it might be best for Lucan to explain those."
"Lucan?"
"A member of my staff, one who is greatly indentured to the Allena family. The rest of your friends have already been introduced to him. He knows Duskarna like the back of his hand, which is why I tasked him with overseeing any ventures you make into the city."
I took a small peek outside the carriage seeing the decorations set up on the sides of the road. The Arlinian flag, the Emperor's face, and other symbols were plastered over every surface.
"Jealous?" She chuckled.
"No. Disgusted." I answered, remembering Jay's descriptions of the brutality in Hornel.
"Noble to the end. Try and keep an open mind. I hope you'll be able to enjoy celebrating the growing power of your enemy."