There is a fine line I walk. One between two great powers. One that, for the time being, is above me, and another, that, for the time being, is below me.
I must obey both, however.
“That is why, my fellow citizens, it is our duty to stand united against this sullied world. We must wipe it clean, before humanity can truly blossom into the flower it is destined to be. Do not hold the claims of those heathen to be truths – There is not a meter of Andestinian land that upon it bears sub-human scum, especially not any of those of Sidonia. If we continue to quarrel amongst ourselves, we will lose. Divided, we fall.”
I took a deep breath, part for dramatic effect, part for me being out of breath.
“I hold this self-evident. We are a noble people, and our goal of purification will come to fruition. Let us revel in hope and glory. As always, my fellow citizens, long live humanity!”
I rose my fist up from the podium. The crowd before me did the same, all in one partly synchronized motion.
““Long live humanity!””
Some of the people present didn’t shout, and some didn’t raise their hands either. Though that was expected of a public forum. I turn my back to the crowd with a flare of my tailcoat’s tails. As I stepped down the podium, I took off my reading glasses and folded them into a pocket. A crowd of noblemen quickly flocked around me, having had sat through my whole speech at my backside.
“Fine words head councilman, I couldn’t have drawn such a reaction from a crowd twice the size!”
One of the noble, spoke out as we walked off the grounds of the forum.
“You’re giving him too much credit.” Someone laid their hand on my shoulder. “Weis here is only good for talking.”
He gave my shoulder a shake. I’m quite the tall man. But the noble who’d said those words towered over me. His hand had easily rested over the entirety of my shoulder.
The man standing behind me was the Grand Duke of the Arcielvitzi family and one of the most powerful men in Andestine. Riegal Vou Fevili Arcielvitzi. He wore an extravagant white tailcoat, with a large cape emblazoned with numerous insignias of the Arcielvitzi family draped over his shoulders. With a smallsword at his hip and a swordbreaker at his back hip as his main gauche(1); he was armed as a noble. He was a gentleman, and spoke in an elegant, deep, refined voice and had a fine mustache.
Despite all this, I, wearing only a tailcoat that is infinitely less regal than the duke’s glistening cape, still consider myself above the man.
“Please,” I break into a smile, peering back at Riegal. “I know my strengths; I don’t need you to spell out how short a list it is.”
Riegal smiled in return, clearly liking the subservience amongst the good-hearted chuckles of the surrounding nobles.
I turned back to the destination of our large procession, the gates of the Cirque De Vie. It was by far the largest compound in Re’relihn. If Re’relihn’s walls were large and immaculate, then the Cirque De Vie’s wall was colossal and majestic; With the many stone columns, gargoyles and statues, all adorned with traces of emerald gemstone; the Cirque De Vie was the envy of world, in my opinion. Though it wasn’t as bright as the Caliph’s palace, or as tall and sharp as Penthreigin’s Citadel of Iridity, it embodied Andestine. The will, and resoluteness of humanity, built within its thick walls and its many symbols and statues celebrating the liberty and life of Andestine.
You can have the all the best architects and grandness, but if the structure is built with weak materials, and with no soul, then what separates it from a pile of rocks?
The portcullis was already open, and so the procession of numerous marquess, earls and counts, chatting loudly with each other, walked though. There were a few guards for every noble, and since there were at least a dozen of the nobility, it was also quite the heavily armed group. It seemed stupid to most nobles, why have to bring your guards when the Cirque De Vie was not a few meters behind you?
Sidonia was the cause of such strict rules. Rules that I implemented.
Regardless, the guards, after successfully walking and guarding their assorted lords for all of a dozen meters, took up position on the outside of the portcullis, and did not follow the procession in.
The sight within the walls of the Cirque De Vie was a grandiose one. Wide plains of finely maintained garden-scape surrounded the center complex. With the sun out in full and not a cloud in sight, it was a beautiful day, the sun’s rays gleaming through the fountains’ water and brightening the fields of grass and flowers. The massive garden was originally conceived to show Andestine’s dominance over nature, however bold the idea.
So, as the nobles and I walked further into the Cirque De Vie, the procession started to thin out considerably as nobles parted their own ways for their own business. There were many paths in the gardens, not all as large as the long paved road headed straight for the center of the Cirque De Vie, however. Down this road, only two nobles now followed me as we neared the towering citadel of the Cirque De Vie, lording itself over the gardens with its shade.
…
“If that is all for the day, head councilman, I’ll be seeing to my work regarding the organization for the war.”
Riegal spoke as we walk down the halls of the inner sanctum of the Cirque De Vie.
“I’m afraid I do require you in my study for just moment, Riegal.”
I say in an as a polite a tone I had.
“Hmph. Fine by me.”
As Riegal and me entered my relatively small study, the one noble who’d been following us finally spoke.
“May I join you in your meeting, father?”
“Not this time, Friedred.”
“Yes, father.”
The son of Riegal promptly placed his hand to his chest and turned on his heel with a crisp motion, and placed himself aside the entrance to my study. With his bright hair and bright eyes, he was to be a mirror of his father. If one were to see his sister however, one would question if she was even apart of the family with her sullied hair color. With the ‘Vou’ missing in her name, she was not heir of the Arcielvitzi family, and with her brazen actions and appearance, she was hardly a noble compared to her brother.
Weis knew the truth behind this however. Friedred was pure-bred, but his older sister, was what one would call a ‘mutt’ in noble society.
As Riegal clicked the door shut, thus encasing the both of us in my soundproof study. I made a quip to loosen the mood.
“Your son does not differ much from a wind-up soldier no?”
Riegal didn’t smile as I thought he would.
“Yes, as expected of my heir. He’ll be a fine head of the Arcielvitzi family when I pass, unlike a certain brat.”
It seems Arciel is still in his mind, even after so many years of her renouncement. I knew this was the case, but not to such a degree to be demonstrated on a daily basis.
“Mm, yes of course milord Arcielvitzi. Now, I wanted to briefly discuss some things with you that I feel you should know.”
That made Riegal perk up, and he smirked.
“I do love my exclusive info, Weis. Maybe I should get to lengthening the list of skills of yours.”
I smile briefly.
“There’s no need.”
My smile faded when I leaned over a map laid across a table in my study. It had the entire world, including the parts of it that weren’t explored or that were simply rumors; these were marked with words and large circles of estimation. Such as the Sidonian Southern Isles, the Far East, which was off the map, and a peculiar little note south of Andestine and east of Sidonia that simply said:
Sabasa?
“There is a great deal to discuss. Though I’m sure you already know everything there is to know about our armies, so I’ll skip to parts most important to you.”
Using words like, ‘To you’ and ‘For you’, very much tickled the pride of a man when the words came from a position and character such as mine.
“What I said in the speech earlier today…It was a lie. The rumors are true. Sidonians were on the continent, and they were in one of the experimental facilities. Trissdean handled them quickly, and got the site secure, but the facility was gutted.”
Trissdean did a good job of that. That’s what it means to have subordinates. She may have been scared of me, and she probably still is, but she went out of her way to clear out danger from her area of supervision, within days. By the time word reached me, the matter had already been settled. Though there were some things that could’ve been improved to her handling of the situation, she nonetheless did her job. Unlike a certain Chief of Public Affairs that had been refusing to stay quiet on the matter.
Needless to say, he was no longer with Andestine Council. He suffered a heart attack, and unfortunately passed. The people will mourn for him, but his position will be filled. I already have my eyes on a replacement.
They weren’t too happy about poor Abrian, but then again, this is the same they who made me give a speech to lie to my own people.
Riegal, his hands on his chin, nodded thoughtfully.
“Just how in the hell did they get there in the first place?”
Riegal says exactly what I expected him to.
“Truth be told, we have no idea. Our best guess is that they snuck aboard incoming ships as stowaways. Though I personally find that dubious.” I took a deep breath. My conversation with Riegal had all been crafted for this very moment, I made it as grave a concern as I could with my drama. “And that brings me to what I wanted to beg of you going forth...We need inland defenses for the remaining facilities that are being brought online.”
I waited for Riegal’s reaction with bated breath. Riegal was staring at me with a deep frown, as if utterly disgusted.
“Head councilman...Are you implying that I have any responsibility to help you-”
I was quick to kowtow.
“Not at all milord, I was only-”
“Do not interrupt me, Weis. The fact that enemies were able to breach inland is your failure. It seems to me that you can’t do your job – First you say that all we need is a strong coastal defense, and here you are contradicting yourself.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Milord Arcielvitzi, I’m not implying you have any duty to help, I am only begging you for a shred of your effort, milord. We can increase our coastal defenses as much as possible, but Sidonia will always find a way around, milord. We must have some kind of deterrence further inland to personally protect our facilities against Sidonian special forces. All I am saying is that your Arcielvillion Garde would do greatly in this endeavor.”
Surely, if I could get my hands on those Gardes, I would be a happy man. They not only surpass Sidonia’s best, but numerously so.
“Weis...” Riegal massaged his temples, evidently annoyed, like he was dealing with some idiot who didn’t understand left from right. “...I appreciate the fact that you are paranoid for all our sakes, but I have work to do in preparing the mainland armies for battle with Sidonia. I don’t have the manpower or time to invest in one of your little ‘precautions’, head councilmen.”
Riegal began to turn away, about to leave. I scrambled together a rebuttal as fast as I could. I couldn’t let him turn his back on this, I need those reserves; Else that devil will have free rein to do whatever she pleases in our land just like in Caliphate with her damned ranger corps.
“Milord Arcielvitzi, this is the Sidonians we’re dealing with – We need as much caution as we can-”
“Caution by stationing troops in the rear? Where they won’t do a thing but eat up my resources? Sidonia is not to be taken lightly yes, but this is completely uncalled for, and might I add, out of your jurisdiction. Good day, Weis.”
With that Riegal turned with a flare of his cape and set his hand on the door knob.
Why this man never ceases to appall me. Even in all my composure and will, I couldn’t stop my eyes from twitching in irritation. Fine then. If appeasement isn’t having any effect, I will have to shift perspectives.
“Why if I remember correctly isn’t your daughter out of your jurisdiction now?” Riegal suddenly turned with wide eyes and a scowl at my sudden remark. “Yet you still try to do whatever you want with her...”
Riegal’s eye was twitching, he was clearly furious with the mention of his daughter.
“So you know then? Hmph. That’s no matter – Do not think you can hold that over me.” He laid a hand on his rapier, and lifted the other in front of me. “I can have you gone like this!” He snapped his finger with his last word.
Checking my threat of blackmail? Very well.
“I’ve known about your little hobby for a long time, Riegal. Is this how my tight lips will be reimbursed?”
“Why you-!”
The hand on his rapier tightened as he stared me down. He looked about ready to cut me down right then and there. Behind him, appeared a knight clad in black armor and a black cloak. The knight lifted his cracked sword over the duke.
“That isn’t necessary.”
I say calmly, and the knight disappeared, as if he’d never been there. Riegal’s eyes narrowed in slight confusion at my words, his mind probably processing whether I had just inadvertently insulted him or not.
“Milord, perhaps we should take a moment to walk the courtyard?”
Riegal frowned. His closed his eyes, like a judge deciding on a sentence of a suspect.
“...Very well.” His eyes opened and stared dead at me. “Perhaps I do need to recenter myself.”
As I suspected, getting Riegal on my side will take more than some coaxing words. Let us change topic, so that he can, forget, his negative emotions. It seems for the most part he is embarrassed of his outburst. Exactly as I thought.
We left the meeting room, and Riegal’s son Friedred took our side immediately thereafter as we started on our way toward the courtyard of the Cirque De Vie. The courtyard was less an exterior interior and more like a garden. Once one got past the towering walls of the Cirque De Vie boxing in the courtyard on all sides, it was a serene sight. Unlike the outer garden behind the wall with its fields of trimmed and well kept pattern-drawn grass, this courtyard was the direct opposite. Vines fell every fell from the sky and along the crisp white surrounding walls, and color was bursting from every nook with the plethora of flowers. The variety in flora always made me feel bad for the gardeners who had to keep such a diverse set of plants alive, for they’d been taken from across the world. Small streams and equally small waterfalls and fountains made it seem as though one were walking through a miniature forest; the water parading through the sunlight in bursts of mist created rainbows in the area.
“So, what’s all this hustle and bustle about this, 153rd, I’ve heard so much about?”
And here I was trying to distance myself from this topic. I’ve thought too much about it as it is.
“The 153rd were formed and sent to kill Alisson Vi Nuam, perhaps you heard of him?”
The Duke put his large hand to his chin, pondering in response to my question.
“Yes I suppose I have heard the name but I can’t say I can put face to it. Wasn’t that the name of Sidonia’s Fairy?”
With Friedred trailing behind the both of us, I wasn’t keen on spilling anything...but perhaps if I do, then Riegal will see me as trusting him and his family. That, and Friedred is a perfect son in all aspects of the word, I don’t think he would squawk anything unless he wants to be beaten senseless like his sister.
“Yes, but he’s not of note. All that is important for you to know is that the 153rd encountered heavy resistance when they tried to ambush the Fairy, and are requesting reinforcements. Of course, it’s been some time since this all transpired and for all we know the 153rd has already fought with him once more. Though that is unlikely however. The commander of the force in his latest report stated that he’d be holding back with his platoon while sending a scout team ahead to keep tabs on Alisson Vi Nuam.”
“Hmm.” Riegal nodded. “You are not well versed in those matters are you?”
I smile to him.
“Yes, I leave most of the military jargon up to General Silverstream. I’m a politician first and foremost.”
“...Explains your sweet mouth...”
Riegal muttered. I can tell he’s long caught on that I’m far more intelligent then I show, he’s is a step above the rest of the noble rabble for a reason. But still nothing compared to me or my council members.
“Ahem.” I clear my throat, pretending not to hear the duke’s remark. “There is an issue with that whole situation however...”
“You want to keep it secret.” Riegal said, nodding. “The amount of troops you scrambled was hardly enough to kill one of the top ten in Sidonia. A platoon of Platinums can take down a fighter like that, but in such a far away place, I personally would send an overwhelming force to make sure the job is done.”
He was truly much more knowledgeable in that area than I.
“Weis, if the commander of that force battled him, and encountered heavy resistance as you say, then he’s much more capable than I’ve thought. I recommend granting the commander those reinforcements he has asked for, no offense head councilman, but field officers are usually much more aware of their military matters than any noble or office holder.”
His words sent me in a deep spiral of thought. The real reason I sent the 153rd up there was not to kill Alisson, but to ascertain why Sidonia had even sent someone up into the north in the first place.
I read the report from the Diamond rank on the ground, Alisson had most likely been traveling through cult territory on purpose – He wanted the cult to tie down anybody chasing him, that had to be it – Alisson knew he would be contested in the north, and that was the problem I’ve found myself in.
That meant that Sidonia expected Andestine to already know Alisson’s objective, and thus why Alisson was expecting company. However, the truth is that I don’t have a clue why he’s up there. I found out about Alisson’s movements not due to knowing his objective, but by deducing a chain of a events. That was a big problem, if Sidonia deemed whatever Alisson was doing as important enough that I should’ve already had notice…It meant that Sidonia thought that Andestine should be aware of something because of how important it was. Thinking on these terms, I decided that I needed to stop sulking in the shadows and find this uncertainty, so that I can impale it through the heart, and dissect it. Coming forth with overwhelming might for a brief moment to fix a gap in moves was something that was what I did with the 153rd; but still I bitterly resented the fact that I was in the dark and that the little devil-queen was ahead of me on something.
I will send reinforcements. But instead of just scrambling more knights, it may be quicker to call on Andestine’s allies...I won’t rely on non-Andestinian forces though, as that is a bad practice as I have learned. I need to find out what this is that Sidonia knows that I do not. It is imperative. For all I know, it could be the key to the whole war.
“Er, Weis?”
“Oh – Ah, yes. What is it milord?”
Riegal interrupted my thoughts, an action that irked me severely as the common man’s trains of thought were not as long and derivative as my own.
Riegal took a deep breath.
“I was too hasty with my earlier outburst, and for that I apologize.”
I smile kind-heartedly.
“There’s no need, milord. Even I would be irate by the mention of a daughter that so foolishly disobeys her father.”
My smile was not only just for show. I was expecting him to double back after some time and some concessions of information. Now that he’s on my side again, berating his daughter to contradict my earlier blackmail will signal him that I’m no longer threatening him. If we both are calm and relative, he is sure to be in a more, agreeable, state.
“Now that I think about it, Arciel was assigned to the 153rd, why is that?”
Riegal asked a question innocently. I didn’t want to bring this up. Arciel was not required to kill Alisson. The truth is, I sent her away to protect her. It’s the least a man of my heart could do to pity a defenseless girl from her father.
The sight of a broken young lady chained in the depths of her own keep flashed through my mind. I broke into a bitter smile, unaware that I could still feel pity for her after all the evils I have committed. I only delayed the inevitable it seems. History may yet repeat itself.
If Riegal knew of my sympathy, then all my prior conniving will have been for naught today. I would be contradicting my current tone and attitude with him if I told him the truth. So, I must give in totally and utterly to avoid suspicion. A single little girl isn’t worth my agenda.
“Why yes, what of it?”
I asked, equally as guileless as Riegal had.
“No, nothing, it’s just, since you brought her up, I’ve been thinking about why she hasn’t been home recently.”
Even when she was in Re’relihn, awaiting the summoning ritual, she stayed not in the decadent halls of the Arcielvitzi compound but rather the Hero’s Chapel. Even without my invisible hand, she still kept away from her family on her own accord, even living with other noble houses as opposed to her own.
“Is there a problem, milord? If so I shalt recall her at once.”
Riegal brought a hand to his stubbled chin, considering my words. We had stopped our walk in front of a small pond. Rays of sun reflected off its surface, but I could see our reflections clearly in the blue water below.
“Actually…” Riegal started, and I knew that the girl’s fate was sealed. In reminding Riegal, I had traded Arciel for her father’s mood. I sighed, but listened to Riegal’s words nonetheless. “I was thinking that she should come home…It is Friedred’s birthday soon, I don’t see why a sister shouldn’t be around to witness her little brother become a man. That, and well, it’s been so long since I’ve seen her and all…”
Riegal rambled, clearly speaking from his head and not his heart.
I closed my eyes. “Very good, milord. I will send word at once. She will be back in town within the month, I guarantee it.”
“Hmm, yes, thank you Weis, you’re always so understanding.”
Corrupt was the right word. Pytor Pierrevitch Weis was the most corrupt politician in the world. I awake every morning, to look myself in the mirror knowing full well the things that I have done. How I detest what I see in that mirror.
The duke turned, adjusting his collar. “Very well, I shall take my leave, head councilman. I hope we’ll be so fortunate as to meet at the ball later tonight.”
“Of course, milord.”
I bowed my head to Riegal. He started to walk off, and then suddenly stopped short.
“Oh, and about that request that you so politely inquired of me…I’ll see to it that the Arcielvillion Garde will heed your orders.”
“Thank you, Riegal.”
I said, staring into the pond as the duke and his son left the courtyard empty with their leave.
I sighed.
All because the little Miss Arcielvitzi refused an arranged marriage. That made Riegal angry, and then, she just, disappeared. She returned a few weeks later far thinner and with the scars of flails across her body. At the time I looked the other way, for I was trying to secure myself the position of head councilman. Perhaps in retaliation, the little Miss Arcielvitzi had declared that she would be a battle mage, and everyone had laughed, myself included. The laughter quickly ended when word spread that she had renounced her noble claims to her brother and that she would be enrolling in the School of Crafts.
Again, she disappeared, and this time she didn’t come back. I personally started to get suspicious, and that was when the veil dropped on Riegal, when I saw for my own eyes the daughter of a Great Noble, scarred and beaten lifeless, rotting away in the depths of her own keep. She returned to public life a month thereafter, and had departed to the School of Crafts without much fuss thanks to me personally making sure the protection of the little Miss Arcielvitzi on her way out. On a public level however, I had to look the other way, for such behavior of a duke getting out would hurt Andestine. I really couldn’t do anything about it, other then prolong the inevitable. Perhaps this time, when Arciel returns, she will not be coming back from her disappearance. It was easy for someone like Riegal to stage a death and then…well, I don’t need to think about what would happen afterwards.
The truth was, as head councilman, I only had the legal authority of a final veto on legislature – that was all. I’m only able to tell people what to do; There was no way I could actually order anyone to do anything. I’m listened to not because of my position, but because people listened to me personally.
The real authority in Andestine, is far above myself; And how I detested this fact. I will get rid of them, in due time.
I don’t like thinking of them. I’ve seen them once, but I’ve long wiped what I saw. It was such an alien sight, so horrid and putrid, it would go against the laws of Andestine, humanity, no, the very laws of reality. Unfortunately, I’ve gone and become their speaking piece, their tie to the outside world, without even wanting to.
When I became the head councilman, I was expecting a position that would grant me the ability to rule Andestine as an autocrat, given time and wits of course. But, I was shocked to find what the position was really for. It was so that they could control Andestine from the shadows. I’m simply a middleman.
I tightened my fist.
When people think of who rules Andestine, an outsider will think the nobility; a citizen will think the council and legislature; an informed official will think it me and my inner circle of council members; But I? I know the truth.
There’s another council above my own. One that’s ruled Andestine since its conception.
As I stared into the pond, I saw in the reflection a black-clad knight appear behind me.
Yes, but soon, I’ll do away with them. I just so fortunately happen to have a key that only I know about. A key to unlock this prison. I’ll no longer be a caged raven, I’ll be the phoenix, soaring above, ruling Andestine with my own fist alone.
The world will be corrected, without the damned immortal council.
***
1. Main Gauche. French, roughly meaning, off-hand, or other hand. Typically is used in the context of a smaller, supplementary armament to a sword, such as a parrying dagger, or buckler.