The Union

"The city watch is five thousand heads strong. We could hire thugs from the streets and our number would further swell. My faction has solid support in this. They are at our mercy. We will smash their heads and mount the rotten things above our walls" said Magistrate Bouvin.

"Or could be our heads mounted on top" Herberk shifted his crossed legs "They have three hundred fully armed royal guards! The Castonians outside our walls would kill us all"

"Cowardice!" Bouvin leapt and raised his finger towards Herberk"s face.

The Servuses from both factions argued too. Even Vedur"s own Servuses joined the loud clamor. Everybody was arguing with somebody, pointing their fingers and shouting insults.

"Silence!" Vedur"s shout was loud. He walked forward and the clamor dissipated "Are we children to act like this? Are we not the leaders of Inkit? We made vows to protect the Republic from all harms and yet we act like mewling children! Shame. Shame on all of you" He looked at Herberk "Magistrate Herberk disagrees with Magistrate Bouvin. Let"s hear his suggestion then"

Herberk looked at Bouvin before speaking. "The Magistrate of War"s faction thinks that we will lose the Republic once we become va.s.sals of the Union. That is a false a.s.sumption. We will retain our government. Magistrates and Servuses would still exist. Things would still be the same. The only difference is that we will pay tributes to them, provide people for their wars and they have unlimited vetoes concerning our decisions"

"You are saying that we should submit?"

"For now. We have been defeated, even I could see that. But if the Union loses to Wismar, we could change our..."

Herberk was interrupted by grunts from the Magistrate of War"s faction. Even Vedur doesn"t see the sense in that. They had changed sides in war once with that blunder with Chen in the Castonian civil war. It would be catastrophic to their reputation if they change sides later.

But Bouvin"s plan to attack the monarchs would be more disastrous to their reputation. They had given the monarchs the hospitality of Haubern. The Castonian Civil War erupted because King Leopold tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate the then Princess Lucia even after offering her the hospitality of Nirvana. Castonia was destroyed diplomatically then and Vedur wouldn"t let that happen to Inkit.

"You two shut you mouths. We will not attack them and we will also not pretend to be their friends like what Magistrate Herberk suggests"

"By the manner of your speaking it is as if you are higher than Herberk and I. We are all Magistrates here Vedur. You don"t get to decide!"

"Apparently I do"

"By what grounds!?"

"My faction, the Magistrate of Diplomacy"s faction, has the most Servuses. My subordinates are wealthy and popular"

"That is false" Herberk said "Chen"s faction is the strongest. It remained so even after his capture"

"Not for long. Chen is siding with the Union. He will lose popularity. Do not worry. The people wouldn"t vote for Yea. The Union"s monarchs are just wasting time. We will just campaign for Nay while strengthening the defenses of the city"

Bouvin rose along with his Servuses. "We have an opportunity! And you fine people are ignoring it. If this goes awry Vedur, I"m smashing your face"

The Magistrate of War stormed out of the house, steaming with anger. Herberk"s amd Vedur"s Servuses were also not appeased and so they left after.

Herberk was the last to leave but not before giving a warning to Vedur.

"We are friends" He said "But you are acting naive. I hope you are right"

**********

Avery knocked. It was a new building that was in front of her, brick walls dyed blue. A garden

sprawled outside filled with white daisies in neat plots. On top of the door there engraved, "Veluptin Ver Servus of Infrastructure"

The door opened and a woman greeted her with a smile.

"Come in" she said as she gestured.

The interior was clean. The tables and other furniture were new and well-maintained. The floor was of smooth marble. It reeked of wealth.

"You are Avery?" A not so old man asked from behind his table. Glinting jewelries were on his wrists and neck. Three of his fingers had rings sporting different gems. His shirt were of high quality silk.

"I am" Avery bowed a little.

"I am Mechi. You look young Avery, too young. How many summers have you seen?" Asked the woman as she led Avery to a table.

"Eighteen. I am of voting age already"

"Hmmmm, but you are young indeed. You must have good connections to cinch this job. A lot desire to be in your position right now but Servus Veluptin has recommended you personally. Well Avery, this is your table. Feel free to ask us questions. You know what we do right?"

"Yes. We are a.s.sistants of Veluptin Vera, a Servus of Infrastructure. He is the one tasked to maintain the walls. Your job is to prepare the payments for the Stonemasons. You do know how to read and write right? It is a requirement"

"My father taught me. He said that a learned person can go far. I actually wanted to join the Orator"s Guild. The pay was high but I don"t like talking all day so I declined it"

Mechi chuckled "High pay? Girl, you just made the best decision of your life. An Orator"s wage has nothing on ours"

Avery frowned "But Orators, good ones, earn two gold coins or more each month"

"She"s indeed young" Said the man on his table.

"Indeed" Mechi agreed with a nod and looked at Avery "The man who was in your position died and that"s why we needed you. Why do you think he croaked?"

"Overwork?"

Mechi laughed laud. The man joined her.

"She thinks that Berntol died of overwork! Oh Omniscient be praised that"s a good one. He didn"t die of overwork Avery. Berntol had become so fat and his heart couldn"t support his body anymore. His belly was as large as a barrel of wine"

"Fat?"

Mechi grinned "Yes. You said that Orators make a lot right? Well we make more. I"ll give you a tip. A normal daily wage of a Stonemason is one silver and eighty coppers. Berntold only gives them a silver and fifty coppers. Thirty would go to his pocket. Now there are more than a hundred Stonemasons and other workers that tend to the walls. That means Berntold gets not less than thirty silvers each day"

Avery"s eyes widened. She found words and thoughts to escape her. "But...how?"

"Knowing how to read and write is more useful than you think" The man said "Name"s Vex by the way. A lot of these common people are not literate. They can"t read contracts. Some can"t even write their own names. Of course a good many knows about our trade. Another tip Avery, use bribes if you get caught. You can sweet talk your way out of a tight situation but money is more convincing than mere words. Also accept bribes if you are offered. That"s how easy our life is. You just made a splendid decision not joining the Orator"s guild"

Avery lowered her head "Does the Servus know about this?"

"Of course" Vex answered "Servus Veluptin makes money through substandard materials. He makes at least three hundred gold coins each month. d.a.m.n rich b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Me and Mechi asked him to cut us some of his source of income but he the greedy b.a.s.t.a.r.d denied us. Has to earn back his expenses in the last election, he says. Oh but never talk to Magistrate Herberk about this. He is not blind to the corruption of his subordinates. He knows what we are doing. But what can he do?"

"But the Republic...equality..."

"Is a lie" Mechi said "A big lie. The Servuses are as corrupt as a Hadean is drunk. It is unfair for the common people but it"s their d.a.m.n fault for electing rotten Servuses"

Avery felt deep regret for the state of the Republic. She chose to become an a.s.sistant of a Servus to give her life purpose. But she just learned of the extent of corruption in her first day.

"Tell you what" Vex pointed the quill at her "Mechi is going to contract some people for the construction of ballistae. Apparently the Magistrates desire fifty more ballistae on the walls. Tough job and we only have a week to finish all fifty" Vex smiled "You can go with her to learn the ropes. I"m sure you"ll learn many things"

Avery wanted to decline. She wanted to quit and just run from it all. What they were doing is dangerous and unethical. It was theft, nothing more. But she wanted to see. She wanted to witness the true face of her beloved Republic.