He sat alone looking straight ahead, with practiced military posture as straight as the line of polished brass buttons on his rather dark gray uniform overcoat. The long wooden bench in the antechamber was plain and uncomfortable, probably both by design. The marble room's ceiling was held up by parallel lines of plain buttressed columns. It didn't seem to suit the decor of the other noble rooms in the capital, Steelholm. The noble didn't want those waiting to see him to be comfortable and enjoyed making them uncomfortably wait for the privilege he was all too willing to revoke with or without cause.
Sitting still was exhausting, the shirt under his armor and overcoat uniform was limp with sweat. Devin had been awakened late at night in his bed from a sound sleep by an officer, flanked by two fully armored dwarves with swords drawn. The only words spoken were, "Your Excellency Baron Skovin commands an audience for an urgent purpose at exactly dawn in his throne room. You will not be late...." It wasn't even a command; it was an open threat. They then left. He had not been able to sleep the entire night and was there outside the door in the morning before his Excellency's personal secretary arrived. She pointed towards the antechamber bench; this silently said to wait.
Dawn came and went. He had lost all track of time and was beginning to be hungry but dared not move. He heard the outermost door open and close for his Excellency's personal secretary to leave, he imagined for her meal. He heard the same when she returned sometime later. Some hours later, the Baron's throne room door opened and a pair of spear wielding guards emerged, they said the first words he had heard all day, "The Baron chooses to see you now." This was also not a statement but again a threat.
He carefully but quickly stood with effort. He did not know how many hours he had sat in abject terror. His body reminded him the time had been a considerable one. He felt his shoulder blades drawn tight together, the curve of his neck trying far too hard to be natural, and the weight of the blood in his feet and hands. He felt the air around him and the hollow of his spine shiver as a drop of sweat beaded down from his trimly groomed hairline, which was neither brown nor blonde, but both. He took each step and breath consciously intentionally; only thusly, he did not flee for his life....
The Baron's throne room was more ornate than any temple, for it simply held a more valuable thing within which demanded greater faith and obedience. Everything was engraved and engraved again. If one examined the main floor engraving arrangement closely, the lines of the larger engravings were themselves engraved with smaller engravings and the whole thing formed an artistic pattern in the shape of a crown. It was especially elaborate compared to the bare waiting room and that was the entire point....
As Devin entered his throne room, the Baron wore an expression of one so certain of his success that he could afford a benevolent smile. He spoke with smooth, cheerful assurance. Devin thought it was the expression of a cardshark who had spent immeasurable effort memorizing every possible combination of the card draw pattern and possessed comfort in the knowledge that each and every card in the deck was marked.
"Well, Private Devin," he said by way of far too cordial greeting, "I didn't know that even a hardened hand of nobility like myself could still get an enjoyment out of meeting one of my O so loyal soldiers but that's what I'm feeling currently in all honesty."
The dwarf Baron smiled as Devin knelt, and dismissed this as a trivial gesture bidding him rise.... He then made a few remarks about the weather and how he so enjoyed the needles or leaves of evergreens, for they never faded even in winter. Devin said nothing. The Baron looked over at a map engraved into the marble of the room itself and commented idly on the tragedy of losing the Citadel of wonders, the strategic military value of the region, the economic gains lost when the Citadel perished. He let a small, brief frown come to his face when talking about the economic losses, but that look was quickly returned to the former one after that portion of the conversation had been made. Still Devin said nothing.
He then spoke earnestly, but in a causal manner about some human tradition most dwarves thought was silly, as if they both understood that this was not the main reason for their meeting. He spoke in the form of an afterthought rather than questions as if the main reason had been settled ever so long ago beyond all certainty or thought of variance. The deck was quite stacked....
Devin waited as this continued for some time and it appeared that the Baron would continue as Devin stood there until the Baron got tired. Devin waited until the first instance of the Baron asking his opinion or thought on a subject which came perhaps an hour into the discourse near dusk before saying, "Indeed your Majesty, if it pleases you, might I please be so honored as to inquire about the urgent purpose for which you bid your humble servants summon me to discuss?"
The Baron looked if he were somehow considering something and yet blank for a moment, then said brightly as if some unimportant thing, which was barely worth any effort to remember came into his mind, "Oh, you mean that? That was concerning the group from the Citadel of Wonders who had formed a settlement after it fell. Namely, they have not reported to the Throne at all. We should like to have you go among them and detail all of their whereabouts, plans, identities, defenses ... that we may bypass them if they should needlessly become relevant. I believe you had a friend or two there...."
Devin sat looking at the Baron silently for quite some time. With each and every passing moment the effect of the Baron's cordial intonations hung in the air from his voice. About the time the Baron was nearly certain Devin had lost the ability to respond, "Your Excellency, hasn't the sheriff given you my respectful reasons for declining this order due to a ...."
"Why, yes, Private Devin, but --" Interrupted the Baron.
"Surely your Excellency in his infinite mercy could never bring his fairest and most just heart to order a dwarf to do that when...." Devin was interrupted, exhausted and astonished. He knew he might face serious repercussions when he had declined an order, however respectfully, even if the Sheriff agreed, from the Baron.
"That was some months ago, Private Devin. A certain event has occurred since, which makes me quite sure you have changed your mind and that you will make no trouble at all for the nobility, just as we will make no trouble for you?"
"An event...? Your Excellency?"
"Yes, an event a couple of them actually, which to use ... you have far greater and infinitely more intimate knowledge than anyone else. Except you see, some people do have knowledge of it and though you would prefer the opposite, many more people can know....
Devin stood there silently at attention.
"Since it is your secret, why don't we let it remain that way. Everyone has secrets. The reason behind the Citadel of Wonders is a secret. You realize, of course, that I could deal with those who fled from it by sending a battalion and you would not be able to prevent it. However, this would require making a lot of unseemly noise among the damn nobility." The Baron smiled earnestly, "Why yes, we're as popular with each other as we are among you common rabble. An entire battalion would require letting a lot of other nosy nobles in on the secret of the Citadel of Wonders and the population might become aware of things they shouldn't be, which would be highly undesirable at this or any time. If we were to put you on trial for refusing a direct order from the nobility, then again, the possibility of the Citadel's secret might become known.
However, if we were to put on you trial for a much more serious crime which did not implicate the Citadel of Wonders and you could not raise any public sympathy or suspicion, well.... That wouldn't be the slightest inconvenience to us, but it would cost you a whole lot more than you'd ever want to pay. Thus, the only real practical hand for you to play is to get us to keep your secret while keeping ours. That first one should concern you quite a bit."
Devin stood there for some time before saying very, very carefully, "What events?"
"O come on Private Devin, don't act so foolish. Among other things; you killed a superior officer!"
"Lieutenant Fateni had betrayed the crown, we intercepted the payment to him from...."
The Baron Interrupted," You know that, I know that, no one else does."
Devin stood silently, he glanced at the guards for sympathy and found none, though they had just heard the Baron acknowledge that he was innocent of any wrongdoing. They didn't care.
The Baron continued, "Issues of ethics are such a nuisance.... Do you want to be a martyr for some cause no one will ever really know about. The bad thing about being a martyr is you have to die for your cause and to be an effective one, people have to know why you died. We'll make sure that you do the first one but you see that second one has no chance of happening. You won't be some hero who saved his majesty or his soldiers from betrayal, you will be the betrayer. You'll be some psychotic murderer, some stupid senseless dissident without a cause, reason or rhyme. You won't be a hero but you might think you are if you're stupid enough to fall for this cause and even then you'll be a hero without a public in obscurity. You'll accomplish nothing but a filled coffin if I bother to have one given to you. Even if I do, your name won't be inscribed on it; it will be as blank as anyone's recollection of you and you will be forgotten. Do you still care to be that kind of hero, that kind of martyr? That's exactly and only the choice you have to make on exactly this issue. Do this or you'll die in obscurity as exactly what you're not."
The Baron smiled, "Actually, no, that would give you an honor too: forcing the crown to be seen as cruel. Maybe you won't die, but rather just sit in a cell forever. We'll convict you and then give you a partial pardon, canceling the execution but enforcing a lesser sentence of life imprisonment. O it will very much be the same thing, except you'll be forgotten in a larger box until you die and then a smaller box after.... I'm not sure which would be better for us, but that is the one I'll impose at the end of the trial while you wonder which it is. O yes, you won't know until I decide and believe me I can find a place for you and you will mind. It would be entirely impractical for you to let foolish feelings interfere with your life. Come see reality; you're not the type for foolish feelings are you?" All of it was said in a calm voice, not a single time was his voiced raised.
The shock became numbness spreading through all parts of his body. There was a tight pressure his stomach, throat and chest. He did not wish to die, and though perhaps it was selfish he certainly did not wish to go to an unmarked grave directly or after a life sentence. He would be enough of a disgrace in the eyes of his family as it stood now without this, "No," he said through a shaking breath, "No, not any kind of foolish feelings...."
The Baron smiled again, "Come now, don't act surprised. Don't you think I knew it?"
"You're happy to hear it Your Excellency."
"Shouldn't I be?"
"After all, I am breaking your code of honor aren't I?"
The Baron did not notice the look on Devin's face--that of a man devoid of hope and knowing he would die, instead of one relieved to be assured he would live, if only for the moment. The Baron was far too busy enjoying tormenting the animal he had caught in his trap and delivering still more needless blows to it, needless as all the others had been. "Why would I want that followed? There's nothing to hold over people who follow a code of honor. Those who breach it on the other hand.... Well, there's plenty of guilt to use from them...." He smiled happily at first until he saw the slightest traces of a smile barely peek forth from Devin's lips knowing full well it would be extinguished. The look the Baron was seeing on Devin's face was hopelessness and resignation bore with what little dignity remained within him.
"You may discover, Your Excellency, a certain flaw in the addition of your plan when someone finds it less costly to die in the solitude of their own unscarred mind, than to live with the shattered remains you leave them." Exactly 1 minute passed in silence, though it stretched and felt quite longer.
The Baron snapped, "Are you stupid enough to think I'm bluffing? They told me you were smart enough to do this!" It was the first sign of a the cardsharp's breach of decorum and that he had perhaps missed marking a card in the otherwise marked deck.
"I don't; I can't," responded Devin rather deflated .
"Who the hell do you think you're fooling?" Demanded the Baron.
"I don't know, just not myself is all. Do what you're going to anyhow Your Excellency.... It's perhaps more cruel to keep me alive like this."
With that and an angry snap of the Baron's fingers two of the guards prodded their spear tips against Devin's back until he was behind the door of a cell. He didn't resist, and his hands were chained together. It wasn't at all that he was somehow better than to cry, but rather he had cried last night and was far past that point now. His heavy shoulders weighed on him. He sat again as he asked himself why virtue always consisted of giving something up. The dwarf took no solace or even notice of his small victory over the baron and that would've never crossed his mind. He was convinced he would die soon and that occupied the entirety of his mental faculties. He sat and stared at the blank wall in front of him and imagined the blank coffin that would match it, which he might or might not get as the Baron decided. He fell over on the floor in defeat. He was in another waiting room, waiting to die....
***
Meanwhile back in the Baron's throne room, "What on earth do you mean he won't do it?" Baron Gervinlion's words were part scream, part question and all astonishment.
"He will, but we simply need to find the right encouragement," answered Baron Skovin who had just seen the young private come close to breaking. There was a certain satisfaction in his voice when he said the word 'encouragement' and no one could possibly mistake what he meant.
"Well he'd better," insisted Gervinlion's infuriated voice, "I owe that bastard dog Musrin for my leg and I want him tied to a tree in the sun for a few hours before it happens!" He turned and pointed at the other baron as he said this and then resumed his limping pace while spouting, "Do you know he's calling himself a commander now? The arrogant little fraudulent puke of a captain...!"
Baron Skovin knew Baron Gervinlion continued on about his various grievances against some Musrin fellow but couldn't care less in truth. He sat there hearing everything but never bothering to listen to the rest of it. Some insubordinate officer had stabbed a noble who wasn't him in the leg. An example could be set so no one else who mattered got stabbed. The real concern was what this insubordinate officer and those around him knew about the Citadel of Wonders. Gervinlion was a pawn in his plan and easily expendable; the secret and keeping the military in line were key pieces not to be lost.
Skovin couldn't quite help but hate Gervinlion; when he talked, at very considerable length, there was a purpose to it. He didn't care to be sure, but it seemed more than likely Gervinlion was merely idly complaining. Besides, something far more important had arrived for him to deal with, evening tea!
***
Several days, perhaps a week, perhaps two had passed since Devin had first entered this cell; he wondered if he should keep track of the meals they were feeding him for timekeeping or if that was pointless. He wasn't paying attention, so it surprised him when the door to his cell swung open. He feared the end, but stood to face it. That much he could do if this was it and if nothing else. A female officer, a major, stepped through the door as an armored guard opened it for him. It was Major Heti, whom he had known before and served under previously. At first he almost reflexively saluted her, but the chains about his hands reminded him that wouldn't be quite possible. "I don't suppose you're here to help me Major?" He asked with a shred of reserved hope.
"No." said the major with a kind smile on her face. She wore a look suggesting that she had every reason to smile and little patience to deal with whatever he may say. She would skip to the point. "You will arrive at the new settlement started by the survivors of the Citadel of Wonders after a journey you will leave for tomorrow," she said shrugging off any hint of uncertainty as if the matter were already decided, though she paused suggesting an answer would be appropriate.
There was silence from Devin. There was no way she could know enough to make that statement and come to his cell without knowing of his previous refusal upon promised pain of death. "Major, if you are here on the Baron's behalf; you wouldn't have come, unless you had something worse than death to threaten me with."
Without a word, she produced several signed testimonial affidavits and fanned them out in front of Devin. They were from various dwarves of numerous professions. Each affidavit amounted to proving a relationship Devin had entered into with another dwarf who was in some affidavits male and in others appeared to be wearing female clothing and fulfilling the role of one.
"You know, naturally, but maybe you'd like to see that we know exactly who and what the lover you hide is."
Devin's face was blank, unreadable expressionless. He had thought they had been more careful than this. He didn't read a single one, because he knew or could imagine exactly what they said, though seeing them fanned out before him as evidence of a crime he had committed gave him a new prospective on their meaning.
"This isn't the only evidence, "said the Major, "there's the star sapphire necklace you had commissioned and the jeweler's records for that, the other sworn statement affidavits you wouldn't care to see because they wouldn't show you anything you don't know. They'd show where you spent your time and your nights if you read them. Then of course you've never quite had a romantic encounter with a woman have you...?Try not to blame the people who gave you up, in times like ours people are afraid to say what they want to and when questioned fear to remain silent.
Of course, there's nothing in this blackmail to harm you personally half so much as it will harm your lover. The Baron found out that no threat made directly to you would work to make you cave in. It will, however, harm your lover significantly."
Devin looked directly at the memory of him as he stared in her direction, now, still, silent.
"I assure you, this unnatural, sinful affair of yours could be spread from one end of the world to the other, and we know exactly how to do that to do the most damage. While some damage will come to your reputation, it won't be nearly so much as what's endured by your lover. I understand, and there really isn't a good term for your form of sin but nonetheless, that you were the 'man' in the relationship and he was the 'woman,' right." It was not a question, not really. "I do so wonder what his parents will think of their son when they find out. I wonder how his relatives will react. How will the people he works with look at it? What will it do to him with his spotless name, his reputation for being above sordid things, his being --well judging by some of these affidavits--rather feminine in a masculine profession and world, What will it do to him and what will everyone who looks at him and who he tries to deal with think of him. You might get a curious or occasionally scornful look, everyone might think you're overly lustful, or any number of other things, but what they'll think about that lover of yours well.... I'll leave that up to your capable imagination."
The major was astonished he only gulped once before saying calmly, though with a dry voice from imprisonment, "For your plan to work, I have to really care about him, think he's worth protecting, and would have to consider this a serious relationship instead of a causal affair...?"
"Yes," her answer was simple; it seemed harmless enough to give him this.
"If we were the kind of scum you're saying we are, none of this would work?"
"Does that matter?" This was the best answer Devin could hope for.
With a single nod, he agreed to the Baron's demand. However, he held up one of the sworn statement affidavits to her and merely stared at her blankly while grasping the full meaning. The affidavit was signed 'Major Heti Astarim, Crowned Shields, 2nd battlegroup." Under that was a notation, "Commanding Officer of Suspect A.'
She ignored this and tossed him a junior officer's uniform from her evidence satchel before unlocking the chains on his hands, "Congratulations... Lieutenant Devin...." A great many thoughts entered his mind with a speed that nearly overwhelmed him, but somehow did not. He could not afford to show the emotions they caused at present. He had secretly wondered if there were any words he could say that would persuade the nobility their actions were misguided. An inner blow struck him, giving him the answer. He clutched the uniform, reluctantly. He would be leaving tomorrow.
It's not necessary to shed tears; a person can still cry without them, especially in response to pure malicious evil....
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Topic: A decent story, not a community game. Savedashes (Warning, a little Dark) (Read 14949 times)