Post by Seigmand Dezmar on Jan 23, 2010 3:39:43 GMT -5
In the Council Chambers of Silicis City's castle there was complete silence. The room was small, almost to the point of being cramped were it not for the minimal furniture. A desk where three aged people sat, there faces full on impatience as they stared at the doors, waiting for their guest. Had it been anyone else, they'd have long since left. Yet even to a group as powerful as the Council of Roccia, they had to make time for the King.
At last Seigmand burst in through the doors. Without wasting a word he began to set down the many charts and documents he'd lugged under his arm.
"Boy, this had better be good. You said this was a matter of grave importance to Roccia." The gruff voice of Eks, chief of the Asmati at last broke the silence from behind the Council's desk.
Seigmand was quick to reply. "Of course sir, I'll make this brief for you all. But before I begin, I need your vows that what is said today in this room does not leave its walls." The three members of Council sat back in silence, hoping he'd cut to the chase.
"Eks, Vin and Ovette, I come to you all today to declare that our treaty with Trucido ends today." His beaming smile flashed brightly across his face.
"Excuse me?" Vin leaned forward to make sure he'd heard right.
"Crepusculum Kingdom has declared war against Trucido's forces. Even more important they have felled Ignis and now have the Fire Kingdom on their side. What's more is that Trucido seems occupied, such to the point that he refuses to retaliate against them. Long ago we joined that man because we feared the strength he held, because of all the other Kingdoms that had already joined him. Now, the kingdoms are unorganized and fraught with paranoia, while Trucido sits incapacitated by his own selfish goals, unable to lead them against the enemy. Leaders of the Asmati, Domon and Ougu tribe; I ask for you to lend me your forces such that we may remove his influence from our world and take our rightful place once more as the true leaders of this world."
Vin and Ovette looked dumbfounded, searching for any way to respond to Seigmand's proposal. They looked to Eks, the man they had banded behind in the old days before their takeover of Silicis City. Eks had only a scowl on his face. No hint of surprise nor confusion to be seen.
"Seigmand, you are as greedy as when you were a boy." He rose from his seat, his knuckles pressing against the smooth stone desk. "You think we agreed to join Trucido because we feared him or his rag tag band of royals? HA!" Eks spat at the floor in disgust, turning back with a sour grimace on his face. "We have all we could ever want since Trucido banded all our kingdoms together. Now you should want to ruin all that because of one small battle outside our borders? We have Silicis City, why should we want for more?"
"You only have this city because of me old man." The words growled from the back of Seigmand's throat. "You owe me everything. Every war you won, every step you marched closer to these very walls you now occupy; all of this was thanks to me. I ask only that you repay what I have given to you father."
Eks walked from around the desk, his aged yet muscular body moving swiftly to Seigmand's side as his greying beard swayed left to right with each step. He leaned in and pulled Seigmand in by the scruff of his robes. "You will watch your tongue boy. You may have given the Asmati the respect of all other tribes by granting us Silicis City but don't think for a moment that you have any sway when it comes to telling me how to control my people.
"No father, it is you who does not understand. This is my nation. I gained power from the fall of our previous king, and it was my command that granted you reign of this city." His eyes glanced to the other two for a moment. "Should the Council not grant me the forces I need, then I will merely replace you till I find one that will."
Eks laughed boisterously. "Yes I suppose you will Seigmand. You are good at that much after all. You merely get rid of the obstacles in your way." Eks then leaned in and whispered to Seigmand. "Just make sure you do a better job covering your tracks then you did with the last king."
Seigmand's eyes went wide with horror. No one knew of his assassination. At least he had thought as much. Yet as he looked into his father's eyes he knew the man was not bluffing. Seigmand could feel the sweat begin to well up from his forehead. King or not, were the other tribes to learn of me killing the king, I'd at best be exiled forever from this land.
"Now Seigmand," Eks pulled back, his crusty grin growing larger by the moment. "You are clearly overworked from your efforts as king. Why don't you enjoy a vacation for some time, and leave the kingdom in our hands? We shall take good care of it till your return."
He understood all too well. His father was throwing him out. Blackmailing him from his throne. He knew only the cold sting of steel between his father's shoulder-blades would protect him from this threat, and yet...
"Very well father. I suppose I have been a bit stressed as of late. I hope the Council will forgive my outburst. As you suggest, I shall leave the kingdom in your hands for a short while." Seigmand stepped back from his father's grasp, again acting his composed self as he calmly gathered the papers he'd so carefully laid out.
"Be aware Eks, Trucido's reign will not last. And when it falls, the ruin it will bring all around us will make Roccia beg for my leadership so strongly they won't care what crimes I committed in the past." Seigmand muttered under his breath as he gathered the last scrap of parchment and made his way out the door.
At last Seigmand burst in through the doors. Without wasting a word he began to set down the many charts and documents he'd lugged under his arm.
"Boy, this had better be good. You said this was a matter of grave importance to Roccia." The gruff voice of Eks, chief of the Asmati at last broke the silence from behind the Council's desk.
Seigmand was quick to reply. "Of course sir, I'll make this brief for you all. But before I begin, I need your vows that what is said today in this room does not leave its walls." The three members of Council sat back in silence, hoping he'd cut to the chase.
"Eks, Vin and Ovette, I come to you all today to declare that our treaty with Trucido ends today." His beaming smile flashed brightly across his face.
"Excuse me?" Vin leaned forward to make sure he'd heard right.
"Crepusculum Kingdom has declared war against Trucido's forces. Even more important they have felled Ignis and now have the Fire Kingdom on their side. What's more is that Trucido seems occupied, such to the point that he refuses to retaliate against them. Long ago we joined that man because we feared the strength he held, because of all the other Kingdoms that had already joined him. Now, the kingdoms are unorganized and fraught with paranoia, while Trucido sits incapacitated by his own selfish goals, unable to lead them against the enemy. Leaders of the Asmati, Domon and Ougu tribe; I ask for you to lend me your forces such that we may remove his influence from our world and take our rightful place once more as the true leaders of this world."
Vin and Ovette looked dumbfounded, searching for any way to respond to Seigmand's proposal. They looked to Eks, the man they had banded behind in the old days before their takeover of Silicis City. Eks had only a scowl on his face. No hint of surprise nor confusion to be seen.
"Seigmand, you are as greedy as when you were a boy." He rose from his seat, his knuckles pressing against the smooth stone desk. "You think we agreed to join Trucido because we feared him or his rag tag band of royals? HA!" Eks spat at the floor in disgust, turning back with a sour grimace on his face. "We have all we could ever want since Trucido banded all our kingdoms together. Now you should want to ruin all that because of one small battle outside our borders? We have Silicis City, why should we want for more?"
"You only have this city because of me old man." The words growled from the back of Seigmand's throat. "You owe me everything. Every war you won, every step you marched closer to these very walls you now occupy; all of this was thanks to me. I ask only that you repay what I have given to you father."
Eks walked from around the desk, his aged yet muscular body moving swiftly to Seigmand's side as his greying beard swayed left to right with each step. He leaned in and pulled Seigmand in by the scruff of his robes. "You will watch your tongue boy. You may have given the Asmati the respect of all other tribes by granting us Silicis City but don't think for a moment that you have any sway when it comes to telling me how to control my people.
"No father, it is you who does not understand. This is my nation. I gained power from the fall of our previous king, and it was my command that granted you reign of this city." His eyes glanced to the other two for a moment. "Should the Council not grant me the forces I need, then I will merely replace you till I find one that will."
Eks laughed boisterously. "Yes I suppose you will Seigmand. You are good at that much after all. You merely get rid of the obstacles in your way." Eks then leaned in and whispered to Seigmand. "Just make sure you do a better job covering your tracks then you did with the last king."
Seigmand's eyes went wide with horror. No one knew of his assassination. At least he had thought as much. Yet as he looked into his father's eyes he knew the man was not bluffing. Seigmand could feel the sweat begin to well up from his forehead. King or not, were the other tribes to learn of me killing the king, I'd at best be exiled forever from this land.
"Now Seigmand," Eks pulled back, his crusty grin growing larger by the moment. "You are clearly overworked from your efforts as king. Why don't you enjoy a vacation for some time, and leave the kingdom in our hands? We shall take good care of it till your return."
He understood all too well. His father was throwing him out. Blackmailing him from his throne. He knew only the cold sting of steel between his father's shoulder-blades would protect him from this threat, and yet...
"Very well father. I suppose I have been a bit stressed as of late. I hope the Council will forgive my outburst. As you suggest, I shall leave the kingdom in your hands for a short while." Seigmand stepped back from his father's grasp, again acting his composed self as he calmly gathered the papers he'd so carefully laid out.
"Be aware Eks, Trucido's reign will not last. And when it falls, the ruin it will bring all around us will make Roccia beg for my leadership so strongly they won't care what crimes I committed in the past." Seigmand muttered under his breath as he gathered the last scrap of parchment and made his way out the door.