The Union

"Two" She said, filling her nose with the lovely smell. Her mouth soured with saliva and her stomach gurgled. This baker sells the best bread in town, apparent in the long queue of impatient and hungry buyers at her back.

"Twenty coppers each" The fat baker said.

"Twenty coppers!?" Avery"s eyes balled "Crod"s justice, that is robbery. Yesterday..."

"Yesterday was before the siege. Grains are low and so is flour, sugar and others. Now, are you going to buy or not?"

Avery brooded. She was on the verge of salivating just a moment ago. Unfortunately she was short by eight coppers for the two length of bread.

"Thrity-two coppers is all I have right now. Can I pay the rest next time?"

"No" Was the baker"s immediate answer.

"Please?"" Avery tried to wink but it turned into a full blink when someone pushed her to the side.

A thin man he was, with ornamented shirt and ta.s.sled trousers. His chin was lifted. A smug look was on his face. The crest on his upper sleeve displayed the flag of Hadea and some insignia at the bottom. Two guards with swords on their hips flanked him. A n.o.ble, Avery thought.

"Eight. No, ten pieces" The n.o.ble said, holding all his fingers against the baker"s face.

"What are you doing?" Avery patted the dirt from her skirt. She trudged towards the n.o.ble but the guards took her arms. She was forced to kneel.

"Silence you common girl" The n.o.ble raised his nose.

"Don"t cut lines!" Avery shouted. "Wait at the back like the others"

"I am a n.o.ble. You commoners should give way. See this mark?" He tilted to the side and pointed at his family"s insignia "I am Baron..."

"We don"t care!" Shouted a man two places at the back "We don"t have n.o.bles here in Inkit. We Inkish don"t bow to anyone. Everyone is equal you foolish Baron. Queue at the back like the others!"

"You..."

"Better heed our words Mister Baron" The Baker was now holding a rolling pin "Garot, the last tyrant who saw himself above all others, was slain in this city. The Inkish people tore his body to pieces. Everyone is equal here Mister Baron. Maybe in Hadea you have servants to boost your ego and make you feel above everyone else but this is Inkit. Raise your head above everyone else and we will pound it low"

The n.o.ble had a snarl on his expression. But also fear, yes fear. Avery saw fear. He flicked his head the other way. The guards unhanded Avery and followed the Baron.

"d.a.m.n perfumed b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. Right?" Avery continued his wink to the baker.

"That won"t work girl, twenty coppers each" The baker opened his palm.

Avery sighed and in the end only bought one piece of bread. A hundred steps later and the bread had gone to her stomach. She yearned for more.

She remembered a tavern near the eastern wall that serves good mutton stew for only ten coppers. With a happy smile, she hopped her way to the tavern.

It was buzzing and warm when she entered. Only a single seat was vacant and there were already two men sitting on its table. After getting her stew and spending her ten coppers, she went to the seat.

"Girl" One of the men said, lanky with a mole on his left cheek "Our sister was sitting there"

"Brothers both of you?" Avery scooped the stew and ate. The seasonings were a little salty today.

"He"s my cousin" The other man said, a chubby one with a bright smile "He lies by the way. He doesn"t have a sister. Pardon my cousin girl. He doesn"t like people"

"I am not a girl. I am of voting age already"

"Old girl, young woman. Same thing" The lanky grumpy cousin said.

Avery didn"t argue further. She pointed the spoon at them and swallowed "You new here? Your looks are not of Haubern"

"We are soldiers. We are from the north but were drafted just two weeks ago"

"Unfortunate souls! Now"s not a good time to be drafted. The huge Castonian host outside speaks for itself. I"m not trying to scare you but I"ve heard that Castonians are so brutish that they dine on steel from time to time. It would be a tough job fighting them"

The cheerful chubby looked at his cousin and then back at Avery. He leaned forward. "You haven"t heard, have you?"

"Uh, heard what?"

"They wouldn"t attack, for now that is. Magistrate Chen is back and he just demanded a plebiscite. In two weeks time we would vote if we wanted Inkit to be a va.s.sal of the Union"

Avery snorted. Bits of the stew flew from her mouth. "That wouldn"t succeed. Of course everyone would vote for Nay"

"That"s also what I think girl. Who would want to be under a monarch again? We are a free people. Good brain Magistrate Chen has. He tricked them into believing that the Inkish would want their rule. The Union"s monarchs are fools"

That last line froze Avery"s grin. She knew of King Timothy and Queen Lucia from tales. All their moves so far were smart. If a common Inkish knew of a plebiscite"s uselessness, then they would also know. The monarchs of the Union are planning something, she knew.

"They are planning to attack tomorrow or the next day. The plebiscite is a way to lower our guards!" Avery almost shouted.

Her remark was followed by laughter from the two. The cheerful chubby pounded on the table.

"Why?" Avery demanded

"You think..." The cheerful chubby was gasping "You think the Centurions and Prefects and others experienced in warfare haven"t thought of that? Of course that"s the first a.s.sumption anybody would make. But no, that possibility is but a nonsense now"

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because King Timothy and Queen Lucia are coming inside Haubern. They will use their right to preach"

"Impossible!"

"Right? But it"s true. As insane as it sounds, the enemy monarchs are coming here. In fact after me and my cousin are done eating we would go to main road. We want to have a glimpse of the famous monarchs of the Union. Let"s see if the Queen is pretty enough to thaw this icy heart of my cousin"

Avery rose from her seat. The cheerful chubby and the broody lanky were fools if they think they could still find a spot in the main road.

"Where are you going girl? Your stew is half finished. Oy!"

"You can have it" Avery answered as she hurried outside.

The main road was already br.i.m.m.i.n.g with people when she arrived. People from different walks of life lined beside the road. Avery even saw her favorite baker who scammed her with a twenty-copper bread. She tried to push forward but the city watch cordoned the street and only permitted people to stand on the side. Avery realized from the sweaty and anxious looks of the city watch that this could turn b.l.o.o.d.y. Many Inkish had hatred for the monarchs of the Union. At the same time, the monarchs could break their word in a sudden and use their guards to attack the citizens on the side.

It was past midday when the horn was sounded. The watchman at the top of the gate signaled the guards. In a slow creak, the gate lifted.

Gasps sounded from many and also from Avery when a giant riding a bear rode first. A huge axe was slung on his back. The Bear was armored with spikes. It looked menacing.

After the Giant and the bear were the royal guards in their splendid uniforms topped with white plate armors. Their capes were deep blue in color. Their horses were muscular and healthy. On their hips were steel longswords with gold-plated hilts. On their right hands were halberds pointed up, glinting and sharp.

After the long procession of armored guards finally came the two monarchs. Avery first noticed the Queen. She was smiling. And yes, her smile could thaw any heart. She was like a flower blooming in spring, a drop of water after a drought. Her bearing was matured, like a mother or an older sister and yet Avery could see that most men would desire her.

And most men were not the King beside the Queen. His hair was really as dark as they say. His presence was kingly. He was a mere youth, she could see that. Everybody could see that. And yet n.o.body would treat him as such. Everyone was silent as they pa.s.sed. The angry shouts before the gate opened vanished. The Inkish had forgotten how if felt like to be in the presence of a King. Now the monarchs reminded them what monarchy feels like. It was overbearing and one would feel as small as an ant. It was power, the power of a monarch. Avery understood then. She understood why the Union"s soldiers never rout and she realized how the Republic lost many times.

They halted. The entire column halted. King Timothy raised his hand and every bit of sound fled the air. All ears were open. All eyes were focused. King Timothy"s hand fell and pointed at the crowd.

"People of the Republic!" His voice was calm, placid as a lake. His smile was warm "Let"s talk"