It was, all things considered, a good day. The sun beamed down from a cloudless sky onto the white marble buildings in the square, bathing all of them with a pleasant warmth that was desperately needed here.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mbtkA0tdJ
People lay on towels, limbs splayed out lazily, soaking up the rays while they could. City and regional officials talked in tired, breathless voices amongst themselves, reluctant to completely let go of all worries while Empyrea was still reeling from the players behind the curtain making their moves all at once.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq6nvOL8m0
Today was a holiday, the Heliac Zenith or the midpoint of summer.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzDjU2gvXI
Marshal Blücher, his wife, and the
Grand Vizier sat together on a bench enjoying the weather.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9J7Rc37eD
"Silvery old Narcester, proud and arrogant; no wonder they moved the Crown here for protection." Blücher mused to himself.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVV1tObD6V
"Yes," murmured Rachel in reply, her face partly obscured by a light-grey, wide-brimmed hat. Rêverie-Montclair squirmed a little when a wry man with fake ivory glasses strutted past them, "I can't stand journalists; the sneaky rats close in so damn quickly if they get a whiff of anything private" She explained, shooting a scornful glare at the back of the man presently hounding a plump, sweaty man who fruitlessly tried to escape.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lHUibOill
"C'mon, friend! The rumour mill never stops, ya hear me? Yeah?"
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACQ1nMFwRJ
Blücher watched in disgust as the flamboyant, enthusiastic journalist clapped his unfortunate victim on the shoulder and resumed his onslaught, "Listen, buddy, I *know* you work for Banks!" He accused, his counterfeit smile swapped for a sadistic grin. The act was dropped, the gloves were off, and any pretence of civility had vanished.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKakbBGBXd2
"My employer needs his dirty little secrets, and you're gonna give them up!" The journalist snapped viciously.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACAiAKsLu7
Blücher exchanged a look with the Grand Vizier and whispered, "Only Larke would be so merciless."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibI1MpPvvL
"I-I'm...just a clerk, I know nothing," he gasped, "let me be!"
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveLSSYSEaO
"Gimme something, fatty!"
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ9HuQgyuW
"Banks and Suncore frequent a club, s-sir. It's called the Risqué and it is a...hedonistic establishment."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnG261iknn
"You can go now." The journalist said as the snitch scurried away as fast as he could.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oiAmThwaS
The Grand Vizier looked disappointed, "Viziers Banks and Suncore must be in the crosshairs, I've a good mind to resign just to never see Mary Larke and her smirking face for the rest of my life."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2bbk4muwT
There was a faint clinking sound in the distance, which none of the three could hear.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfgDvHpAp6
"Vizier Larke is a bloodhound, but Anuax is dead, so who holds her chain now?" Nina wondered aloud.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjYj0h0ZNA
The clinking grew louder until at last one of them turned around to see a large group of armoured men on horseback wielding cavalry rifles and lances.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xz3jF0Iip
"Er...Mikal, did you invite the Lancers by any chance?" Rachel Rêverie-Montclair asked, adjusting her hat nervously.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkNtRIkZ53
"Those aren't lancers." He said simply, reaching into his pocket to withdraw an Æther pistol.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ytwEIPURJ
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeG2v7yQbq
"Then what are the–" There was a short, bright flash of blue light and a hole appeared between her eyes. Blood trickled from the wound as she rolled in her skull and she slumped to the ground. Dead.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsPvAPDmSe
The Marshal sprang to his feet with a roar, pelting the incoming threat with bursts of Ætherical energy.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAhyYsVOaU
Click. Empty.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9V2yz9egq
Blücher, full of adrenaline, leapt in front of his wife. His arms stretched outwards as if accepting the Lance that pierced his heart.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNgxwb19HV
The Old Man was dead almost instantly.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPqkrwaJbL
"Who sent you?!" His wife shrieked at the rider, tears streaming down her face.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXmLLIZ8QB
"That," came the reply, slightly muffled, "you already know."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4csq6DGZh
When the Grand Army unit stationed in Narcester (the 1,025th Company) arrived at the square, they found it full of corpses yet empty of riders. The only clue they had was the last words of Anastasia Carly van Blücher, repeated over and over again.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM8eYhkdzi
"Xauna..." She said weakly to the private trying to stop the bleeding, "Get Erzherz...." she fell silent without finishing what she was trying to say.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDvUfunDU2
The private tried to ask her and then his superior when he realised she was dead. "Erzherzogin? Like Xuana Hessen-Rostova? Captain?" He said, confused and frightened at having a woman die in his arms.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAKRctJ4VL
"This is no task for us, lad. Two big fish are dead so I've called for the Adjutant-General Corps to handle this mess."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pbRCH3xkc
A dark-skinned woman with narrow eyes walked up to him. She wore a dark crimson uniform with brass highlights on it. She spoke with a harsh, growling voice. "The Adjutant-General won't be coming, Captain."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8yrS5J3fR
"Why not? Who the 'ell are you anyhow?" He said carelessly.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtZOMg64YA
"Lieutenant General of the 4th Western Field Army and Massaena's Aide. I'll be acting Adjutant-General until further notice."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbTB9cPnPM
"Yes, Ma'am." The Captain replied sheepishly, clearly embarrassed at mistaking such.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWqmRcVHvt
"Who is that?" Asked the soldier innocently to his commander once they had moved out of earshot.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVl6PT29nw
"Ranquis Zhao, someone who only climbed so high up because Seebhom Massaena is fucking her." He grumbled unhappily, though he soon lit up when he spotted a group of Vivandières – female messengers with the additional role of supplying units with food – nearby.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3kaq4R1zQ
________________________________________
Conclave shattered (Vizier Fedor Corru) 90 EH
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeljEREk8zd
Fedor Corru was Urlic's Vizier for Progress and therefore his chief advisor on all matters educational, scientific, cultural, and ideological.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKCHLQHZ1e
In more simple terms, Corru helped Urlic manage the research and teaching within the Archregion. He was the gatekeeper of information.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fEehU7kPf
But he was no liar. Corru, a lifelong optimist, tried to look on the bright side of everything. He was the moral counterweight on the Conclave, a beacon of light in a dark place.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHJA1OQgkq
Ten others sat in the temporary headquarters of the Conclave of Viziers. On both of Fedor's sides sat friendly faces. Logico Lothete was Vizier for Logistics –representative of the Adjutant-General as well as her Vivandière and Quartermaster's Corps – while William Noro was Vizier for Technology. Both were thin, thoughtful men with a preference for solitude.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfrADCNVAL
Scattered around the round table was a handful of those neutral to Corru: Vizier for Diplomacy, Olaris De Rio; Vizier for Commons, David Cosminè Learner (who represented the interests of common folk); and Vizier for Administration, Marlo Narcester (who advised on issues regarding the civil service.).
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYNRYLZ5yE
Olaris was charismatic, David was down to earth, and Marlo was excellent at organising things. All three generally meant well.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tX69PA8pw
Vizier Corru, if he was honest with himself, had no idea what to think of Temple Banks, Vanto Suncore, and Lord Bruno Niobite-Tantalite. Banks – Vizier for Commerce – was greedy but not ruthless, Suncore – Vizier for Industry – was ruthless but not greedy, and Niobite-Tantalite – Vizier for Aristocracy – was arrogant, elitist, and yet neither materialistic nor brutal. Fedor trusted the latter the least.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0yQfg7NcT
The final two were actively hostile for vastly different reasons. The Vizier for
War, or what was left of him, was a former Lord Sergeant-Major who had retained all of his intimidating presence in retirement. He had a sort of uneasy calm to him as if nothing in Empyrea could frighten Lorzo De Petrov anymore.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9DgaMeDBZ
That left the Vizier for Media, the worst of all. Mary Larke was a name synonymous with blackmail, leaked secrets and lies. Without a master, she became dangerously unpredictable.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V9bupnp6o
"Welcome friends, today we must resolve an internal conflict between ourselves." Learner announced, flexing his temporary leadership of the Conclave. Everyone knew why David Cosminè Learner had been chosen: he had no ambitions of his own.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUChIs3lw98
"What is it now?" Complained Vizier Narcester – whose family had been named after the city and not the other way around.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGGfODXa4w
"This!" Barked Suncore as Banks furiously slammed a newspaper down on the table.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGryI2sx5tb
The publisher was, unsurprisingly, the Northeastern Broadcasting Corporation, which Larke conveniently happened to be Director-General of.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SiSwoCe0p
The ultra-inflammatory headline proudly exclaimed: "Risqué Club faces scandal after Viziers found in member list!"
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxq3mOAkJA
"Ignoring that there are deviants in the Conclave," Bruno chimed in, smirking while pointing at the accused, "Urlic, who has been far too soft on the media right from the start of his reign, has seen the daggers in the dark for decades now! That useless, lazy dolt is merely a disgrace to his family name but also a dire threat to everyone around him, including us!" He cried in outrage, his face turning pink despite the blue, ego-feeding, Niobite-Tantalite blood that ran through his arrogant veins.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62zvTKTttH
Larke remained unaffected, showing very little emotion amidst the heated debate unfolding around her.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDirT8eSwl
"I believe," Muttered Olaris– his voice just barely audible to Vizier Corru – to his trusty confidante, the ever-attentive Vizier for Administration, "that my approach is better in this situation."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDntkbknV2u
Marlo frowned and leaned in to whisper, "Are you going to tell me what it is – or did you just want to gloat?"
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqTscWSV1n
"Simple, we employ the diplomat's favourite tactic," De Rio sniggered a little at the irritation displayed at this non-answer before sardonically elaborating with, "Do nothing at all."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCmL4JTXwF
Marlo Narcester sighed in but nodded in agreement after some thought.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OxH9EyVOw
"Vizier Larke, do you have anything to say in your defence?" David Cosminè Learner asked, the simple question slicing through the noise in the room with ease. The irate comments withered and died away as everyone waited in dusty silence for a reply.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO94c9JSFN
She got up and smoothing made her way to the doorway.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n0fiRtwMh
"Well, I do have two small things to tell Fedor Corru, Marlo Narcester, Olaris De Rio, Vanto Suncore, and William Noro..."
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprbgr0VVyt
"Firstly, there are rumours that someone may have tampered with your seats." She said flatly, rolling her eyes at the panic when they found semicircular metal discs under their chairs.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9qmcT323y
"And secondly, I and those discs have something in common: you'll find us both an explosion of joy!" She giggled madly at the abject horror on their faces as she pressed a button on her ring.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcVBpunccL
For the unfortunate quintet, Empyrea dissolved into a blast of phosphorescent light, searing heat, and thunderous sound.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf4UJupddP
The remaining five –Bruno Niobite-Tantalite, David Cosminè Learner, Logico Lothete, Lorzo De Petrov, and Temple Banks – were stunned into silence, their collective gaze locked onto the charred remains.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTXLMoXeI6
Larke had won the trust of the people holding both metaphorical and literal daggers, who lurked patiently for their chance to use them.
They would get their chance soon enough.
ns216.73.216.213da2
