Chapter 32 Power Grab

A crowd was bolstering outside the mountaineer city hall. The marble beauty had become a target of civilian blame. Despite the pouring rain, the crowd did not waver, they only increased as their frustrations began to spiral into violence. The line of sentries, who were holding back the tides of angry commoners, clearly needed help. Despite the guards unwavering patience, they continued to be assaulted by food and garbage. Their stout patience had begun to wear thin as their grips on their weapons tightened. In the midst of the rising anger, clacking horse hooves were heard approaching. A formation of cavalry rode in from around the corner. Men flying the banners of Vulcas’ knight order nearly trampled the crowd and forced them to disperse. Knight Councilor Harper was in the rear of the cavalry and trotted up to the base of the stairs once way was made. The knight councilor dismounted his horse and handed the reins to his squire.

“Clear out this street.” Sir Harper gave the order to his knights as he began to climb the steps.

Lazarus came out of the chaotic crowd and joined alongside him. The two were climbing the stairs in sync, as contrary to their relationship.

“Good day, Sir Harper.” Lazarus was keeping his head down, his hat covering most of his face including his mouth.

“Lazarus.”

“You brought quite a few of your men. Does the unhappy peasantry merit such discretion?” Lazarus looked behind them at the crowd that was nearly trampled not one minute ago.

“Of course not.” Harper kept his reply short, expressing his disclination to any form of conversation.

Lazarus shook his head. They were a few steps away from the top of the stairs. The pouring rain nearly drowned out his voice.

“An attempted cessation of power here would be unwise. I strongly advise against such maneuvers.”

Harper turned towards him. Lazarus kept his expression hidden under his cavalier hat.

“What do you know about maneuvers, Lazarus? Why don't you stick to weaving that little paintbrush of yours. The real men will handle the issues.”

“You need my wits, I need your men. I propose a simple bargain.”

“Men with sharp tongues make for good betrayals.”

“And ego supplies men with blinding confidence. A good weapon. An even better weakness.”

They both stopped at the top of the stairs, in light of the entrance.

“What do you want?”

“To make a deal.”

The council meeting was being held within the inner chamber of council hall. The chamber was a rectangular room that had benches, a debate floor and an elevated platform where the mediator sat. It gave a feeling similar to that of a college classroom but lacking the comfortability of one.

Head Councilor Frederick, along with the rest of the councilors, had been waiting. Lazarus and Sir Harper were the last two to arrive.

“Greetings Noble Councilor Lazarus and Knight Councilor Harper. Welcome.” Frederick Greeted them both from atop his platform.

“Thank you.” Lazarus tipped his hat. Sir Harper said nothing. They both took their seats. Lazarus sat in the front row next to Mage councilor Augnem. Sir Harper took his seat in the front room on the opposite end. The ten councilors were seated on five benches with two men per bench.

Frederick coughed before he waved his hand. A guard near the door left, locking the door behind him. All the councilors noticed.

“Gentlemen. We have great news. Vulcas is in a position to attain independence.”

Half of the council members looked at each other.

Frederick continued.

“With your support, we may declare ourselves a free country.”

“Frederick, are you asking to declare war against the Lotus?” Common Councilor Ruland questioned.

“Now, now. It isn't a war declaration, it's a declaration of independence. If the Lotus reject it, then they will be the ones declaring war.” Frederick stated with a dismissing tone, downplaying the extent of his words.

“Of course they will! Why would we even consider that?!” Common Councilor Ruland had now stood up with an immediate objection.

“Calm down, Councilor Ruland. We are civil here.”

“Civil? You called an emergency meeting to try and have us declare war? That's the opposite of civil!”

Common Councilor Yulen rose from his seat.

“We can't win a war against the Lotus.” Common Councilor Yulen backed up his fellow man.

“Yes, we can. Their army is a fraction of what it used to be. They are in no position to sustain a war.” Frederick defended his point.

“Are you forgetting that they killed King Raden with a fraction of the size of our army, even back then?!” Councilor Ruland yelled.

“A fluke, a defensive failure is all that was. Even Sir Harper admits to that.”

Sir Harper looked away in silence.

A draped hand had risen in the front row. Mage Councilor Augnem had something to say.

“Yes Augnem, what say you?” Frederick gave him the floor.

“As a member of the mage guild, I must abstain from voting in such matters of war. I can, however still give you a word of advice. You seem to be forgetting one thing; not only did the Lotus successfully siege Vulcas, the strongest defensive kingdom in Lucredia, they also did it without the use of the frostblood. That is just the army. The main danger is the wardens. The wardens are by far the greatest magic combatants the Frost Queen has at her disposal. A warden backed by a force of Lotus agents would destroy any resistance without a magic-based counterforce. A counterforce that the Mountaineer Kingdom does not currently have. Golems are not enough.”

“What if I told you we do have a counterforce? A weapon, to specifically deal with the warden?”

“No such weapon exists.”

“It does. A weapon that can control the will of its target. We can completely turn the warden against her own people and then get rid of her after.”

“You speak of mind alteration magic? That is taboo, Frederick. Nearly on the same level of witchcraft!”

“Ah come on, it's not that bad, not even close! It was only taboo because of the research required to create it.”

“Research, that required live test subjects to be tortured for days on end. One of the main reasons why the daiga mage guild was dismantled and exterminated! Not only did they commit all those inhumane experiments, nothing came about them!”

“You are wrong. Very wrong. Something was yielded from it and we have it in our possession.”

“If you have a weapon capable of such things that would be immensely too dangerous to use, exponentially worse in warfare! What if it gets into the wrong hands? What if it gets into Lotus hands? What if you decide to overstep your bounds and use it against us?!” Augnem paused before rising up. “You have the weapon with you now don't you! We are all in danger!”

“I do.”

The councilors began talking amongst themselves. Councilor Ruland retook the floor.

“Frederick, we hate the Lotus too but do you really think one magical weapon would make the difference between a war against the Lotus, they have Allies!”

“Who does the Lotus have? The insects? The sects have their own civil war problems. The elves? Queen Lourissa HATES the frost queen! The angels? The angels wouldn’t lift a finger for anyone! The Lotus are ALONE!”

“Alone, just like when they campaigned through every ruling kingdom during the last war! Frederick are you forgetting who is leading them? The Frost Queen is a genius when it comes to war!” Ruland shouted.

“All this fear, Maybe if I show you how we can rid our enemies, you all will understand.”

Frederick dug his hand in his breast pocket, pulling out a dark green ring. He slipped it on and rose his hand in Ruland’s direction. The ring crackled with electricity as Ruland froze. Like a puppet, Ruland was dragged forward, towards the debate floor. His body looked possessed. Each one of his steps towards the platform were clearly forced as he struggled against the unnatural force driving him forward. All the councilors gasped, Ruland stopped upon reaching Frederick and spun around to face the room. A blank stare was written on his face, like a zombie.

“As you can see, this ring allows us to control our enemies, including the warden. Now, Common Councilor, please return to your seat.”

Ruland forcefully marched right back to his seat. Frederick released his control right after to which Ruland hunched over, breathing heavily.

“I couldn't, even, resist.. That magic… was so… powerful.” He said through his painting.

“We finally have a weapon that we can use against our oppressors. They can not send their wardens against us, less they risk losing control of the other countries! They MUST abandon Vulcas, they can not fight us! Where is your mountaineer courage! Have we been declawed? Our knees bended to foreigners!? Our wills dictated by women!? That's not us! We have been made cowards! Fools! No more I say! Time to tell the Frost Queen to remove her presence from our lands or face the wrath of our great country!”

“No!” Mage Councilman Augnem stood up with a shout. “We may be under that weapon’s influence even now! I do not care if I lose my seat at this council, I will not let you use that ring Frederick! It is much too dangerous!”

“You will not do such a thing.” Frederick began to raise his hand. Augnem saw the ring begin to shine and reacted by spinning to his side, closing his eyes, and swung both of his hands towards Frederick. A line of earth burrowed towards Frederick and collapsed the raised platform Frederick had been standing on, interrupting him. Frederick fell into the ruble.

When Frederick climbed out, foxes made of sand lunged at his arms, biting into them before spilling and hardening into an earthly bind. Augnem approached with his body hunched over and his hands raised like a prowl. A tail of sand appeared on him that was feeding into the ground. Augnem yelled at the rest of the room.

“Anyone who wishes to contend me, will share the same fate! I will confiscate this taboo weapon and put it in a vault where it belongs!”

“Augnem you do not have that authority!” Frederick was struggling to pull himself out from the earthly grasps.

Fredericks hand rose up with the earth, exposing his fist that was tightly balled up. Sand had wrapped around his fingers, working to strip the ring from his possession.

“No! Augnem stop! You’ll ruin years of development!” Fredericks hand was forced open and the ring had begun to slip free.

“I am sorry Head Councilor, that ring will be guarded by the mage guild. We will make sure nobody can abuse it.”

The sand swirled under his fingers and finally popped the ring out of Frederick’s finger. The ring was now floating in the air, held up by an appendage of sand. Augnem reached out to grab the deadly will-bending weapon when a bunch of magical strings swirled around his arms. The strings pulled taught, drawing Augnem’s arms back and ripping him away from Frederick. The earth that had been under Augnem’s control either spilled or collapsed to the ground. The mystical strings were the cause. Augnem spun his head around to find the source of the strings. All the strings led to Lazarus. Lazarus was still seated on the bench with a calm smile.

“Magician Magic? Lazarus?! What are you doing!”

“Sorry my good man. You were supposed to stay neutral, remember?” Lazarus’ fingertips were glowing blue as the mystical strings waved under his control.

Frederick recovered the ring, dusting himself off.

“Thank you, Lazarus. Now then,” Frederick looked at the remaining councilors who were all silent. “about that declaration.”