Price of Power

She found her father where she has before, when she opened the door he was reading some book. He immediately left the lecture and let his daughter tell him what she has heard from Dapper. He decided that Lucian must know about this and they both went to see him, that time he spared her repeating herself and himself gave him a picture of the situation. Lucian responded that he will the next day check the credibility of these words. Also that Lariska will go with him since she is taking this seriously her so-called 'vacation'.

Lariska could not believe that she had to rush Lucian because otherwise, they would be late for a train. They were sitting in a car next to each other, the only luggage they had was his suitcase and her musket. He, in turn, could not believe that she had to take her weapon, but as she suspected no one paid attention to her odd-looking, wood-metal stick.

"So, if understand correctly… you ignored common sense and went to see person I recommended to leave alone, about what your father certainly told you, because ..?" Lucian started, but by no means angry, inquisitive if anything.

"As you know, he was suspecting that someone convinced Dapper to do it, which proved to be true, but he could not find any tracers after that person, so I thought that he can tell us something."

"And what did he tell?"

"Only that this person is a woman, he does not even know her name."

"Were you really thinking that he will serve you on a silver platter everything about someone who has been his only ally in all this mess?"

"No, but we thought that this woman had a reason to turn to just him. He himself had doubts before and just needed an incentive, it looks like these doubts were caused by something Estremoz is doing."

"If he was telling the truth, I just hope you was discreet enough to don’t kill us all."

"Dapper promised he won’t tell anybody about my visit."

"And you believed him? Interesting, what do you know about this Estremoz anyway?"

"My father said that he is impetuous and if he won’t find this woman he probably will send someone himself."

"I understand, you chose the lesser evil, so I suppose I have no right to be angry at you."

"But you have not took me only as a form of punishment?"

"No, this is serious. I have written to more trusted Directors that they would come, things like this have to be resolved by tribunal. They also probably will have an 'escort'. You know, for security."

"How much do you trust them?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if not only he wants an insurrection, or… I don’t know, I mean what if they can have contact with him and stand after him even when he is guilty."

"I trust them, if you trust me you also should."

Lariska looked over the window at the passing landscape. She pondered, just that she had doubts was raising further questions.

"You don’t." He answered himself.

"No."

"But know that among people I have brought over is Director of your parents, them I suppose you trust."

Lucian ending the conversation also looked over the window. He saw the morning sun, forest in the distance, flying over it swarm of birds, few clouds, which one of them looked like dog’s head. Sometimes it was good to leave the big city. Of course, Lariska had to break him out of his trance, of course she did.

"And do you trust me?"

"I let you sit right next to me with all your equipment knowing that probably even without it you could kill me faster than I would be able to react. So I think yes, I trust you, despite all your latest antics."

She had no idea how to answer that, after all, she had no reason to do so. He probably interpreted 'trust' quite differently than she did.

When they got out of the train car they headed straight to the forest not so far away from the village. Walking through the trodden path Lariska realized that she has never before been in the forest. She didn’t like it much, nothing but insects and branches. They reached the abandoned stone hut, Lucian started to roam around it like he wanted to find cellar hatch.

"What is the point of establishing a district in such place, I do not understand." She asked curious.

"Isolation I bet, for those that would like to give to it a bigger part of their lives. Far from madding crowd of city and fear before the law, or just to hide something. Fine, I found it."

He opened the hatch which was one of many ways to the district, but before they went down he added:

"But do me this favor and during the talk shut it."

The stairs down were long and broad, lightened by lamps that turned on when they came inside. At the end of the double doors were waiting for them, Lucian opened them and view of a district appeared before them. It was very different from one in the capital. There you entered the round square with a dome from which you would have corridors to the other parts of district. In this one there were only corridors, the vault was also higher and style more harsh. They were greeted by a passing man, they immediately recognized he was a Cleric. Lucian introduced himself, Lariska and purpose of their visit, he led them straight to the Estremoz.

They found him watching a duel between two Clerics, without a word they joined him and the rest curious. They were using training sticks, at the beginning they were just exchanging simple strikes which they were blocking, next, they took a step back to start a show. After how Estremoz was looking at this Lariska couldn’t think of it any other way. She turned her sight again on the arena, swiftness of both impressed her. Even though she barely could catch up it was not hard to see that they both were trained by the same teacher, but in time each developed his own style. She herself was a bit ashamed by the fact she probably would not stand a chance on the arena versus any Cleric in there. Still, she was comforting herself with a fact that she preferred distance and an accurate eye.

A duel ended when one Cleric knocked opponent down and was about to deliver the finishing blow but stopped at the last moment and helped him stand back up. Then Estremoz was informed about their arrival and the crowd began to diverge. Lucian greeted him and Estremoz immediately suggested that they would go to his office. Of course, they didn’t spend the way in silence. Lucian was a little shocked but also enthralled by the idea of duels. He was asking various questions and Estremoz with pleasure was answering them. Lariska was walking behind them together with that Cleric, both weren’t saying anything. She was more absorbed by the figure of the Director. He wasn’t that much old, more like just experienced, but sure older than her or Lucian. His personage was probably charismatic enough to infuriate a timid heart as well as soften the one flaming with anger. Even then he was walking with sure step like a grand leader before his army.

They reached his office and all four walked inside, without a doubt it was the most expensive part of the district. Estremoz pointed them two of three armchairs before his desk and he himself sat on his own that from behind his desk looked like a throne. That Cleric only found himself a corner to stand up. Well, he was on guard. They were proposed a glass of wine, they were his guests in the end. They refused, but he poured them by the glass anyway because manners required it. He took his own and at once has gone down to the more serious topic.

"When I heard that you have come to visit us I thought that you managed to recover the casket, yet you have not mentioned it and either I see it. Tell me then, what is the purpose of your visit?"

"I’m afraid that it’s already unreachable for us, but I’m certain that we will be able to repeat our success. I’m here to ask you for forbearance. Unfortunately, a person who was inciting Dapper knows how not to leave any traces. I already informed you about the possible consequences of killing him and I’m sure, that you know perfectly well how tragic the outcome of it can be."

"Treachery is a treachery Lucian and we have to follow the rules. Do not let fear manipulate us. What if from now on every week someone decides to steal the fruits of our hard labor?"

"I’m sure you have trust in your proteges like I have in mine despite this incident."

"Yes, I do, trust them and I care about them, that is why I do not want errors of a unit to bury us all. He had a choice, he could leave and be free, but he has chosen the other way. As I mentioned, I do not want such insolence to inspire others."

"I understand, but isn’t it a hypocrisy? You want to punish someone who broke the rules by endangering us, but the whole action itself can put us in even bigger danger."

"There is action and there is reaction, you have to face the consequences of your actions. I am ready to take them. You have mentioned that this person is good at covering his tracks, is there even a certainty that this person exists?"

Lucian and Lariska quickly looked at each other.

"But you will not be the only one to face the consequences of it, you can drag us all down. Understand, I don’t want to whitewash Dapper by saying that someone was convincing him. I think too that he deserves a punishment."

Then the next Cleric entered the office, at once he walked to his Director and whispered something to his ear. Next, he stood up next to his associate in the corner.

"So tell me, Lucian, why have you brought others."

"Excuse me?"

"Other Directors. They are coming here, you had to convene them."

"I see that not much will hide before you and your Clerics, so there’s not much point in continuing. You will stand before the tribunal, rumors that have come to us are worrying."

"And you believed in those as you said ...'rumors'?"

"I don’t want to, that’s why we have to check if they are true."

"And what if they are?"

"As you said, we have to take the consequences of our actions."

"You mean closing this district? Killing me? I am sorry, but I won’t let anything thwart my plans, especially traitors. Vorrin, Whistle, take them out."

Two Clerics came behind Lucian’s and Lariska’s backs, but she had enough of sitting idly. Estremoz just pleaded guilty, she could take action.

For half of a second whole room was filled with blinding, white light. It was a flash bomb she dropped, her father left her few. She incapacitated blinded Clerics and turned to their Director. He recovered faster than the other two and Lucian. It seemed like he had nowhere to run, but there were a lot of hidden passages in that district, including the one that was just behind him. He opened it using the button under the desk and ran. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t closed in time and Lariska went after him. For a while, she was running through the winding corridor, but just when they went on straight she pulled out her musket and shot his leg. Estremoz screamed in agony and fell, after a few steps, she shot again, this time his second leg.

"'Traitors'?!" She shouted furiously.

He turned on his back, they were alone. He looked at his oppressor and said:

"Yes, for you probably I am one."

"This place was supposed to be a school and you made from it a military base!"

"Isn’t it an irony that these words come out from the mouth of a Cleric? – Even in great pain, he could laugh."

"I was not incited against the Sister."

"Ah, against the Sevan’s will? I will tell you that here he was not so respectful towards her. I will even say that after his projects were rejected and then requests, he started to look at her less kindly. Yes, I know that there are many versions and in yours, things are undoubtedly different. I don’t know myself which one to believe, but I will tell you something…"

He screamed as Lariska shot his stomach.

"Be brief."

"I do not think that Sevan started doing this just for himself. He wanted to change something for the better. That ...that he was refused was a sign of weakness. I do not know that is it because of the separation, or maybe the passage of time, but the Sister is weak. She is supposed to defend us, but she barely can defend even herself. Maybe for now there is no quarrel with other kingdoms, but at one time it will end and if she won’t be able to face them, then what with us? There is power in what we are doing, able to not only defend our country but also conquer others if necessary." He paused in a grunt of pain, with each word his voice was more and more hoarse.

"That is why you wanted to kill her and was convincing to it others? Because she is weak?"

"No, you are weak, and you will break. All I wanted was us, as a nation to be strong and could openly conduct research, without being afraid that at any moment the royal guard can crash in here. I had enough of living in fear, are you not tired of this? We began to be."

"And you wanted to accomplish it by killing her."

"If you persist so much. We would prove that our weapon can defend the kingdom better than she."

"And you would kill anyone who would not agree with you"

"Like you have me in cold blood? Will you kill everyone who has supported my words? Know that I am not the only one who wants his work to be noticed."

They looked each other in the eyes in silence.

"I have committed the ultimate sacrifice, I wonder if she would be able to."

Those were his last words, after them, his eyes lost their expression and the muscles loosened.

End of part one: The sense of me.