Ойкумена / Oikumena: Глава 18

Chapter 18 The day it all might not have happened...

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:27

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Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:27

"Light and Dark, Creator and Destroyer," Curzio whispered, raising two fingers to the low ceiling. "Give me strength, reinforce my intent, temper my will!"

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:31

The light of the setting sun shattered against the bars and fell on the islander's face in a gray rectangle. The ashy sun, the gray walls, the gray city opening outside the window of the small room. There were many ugly cities in the Ecumene, but Saltoluchard was deservedly considered the worst of the worst. The twin islands had almost no greenery, much less forests, so all buildings were constructed of stone. Walls, blind gates, and spires of high towers, which nobody thought to shorten according to the imperial decrees. That's all that opened the wanderer's eyes. Not without reason, the islanders were often called "stone people." They lived on sandstone, slept on sandstone, and even the tables in most houses were carved from stone. And while on the continent, it was the norm to decorate even the most squalid surroundings with a few strokes of paint, the Salt Island proudly turned its nose up at the excesses.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:33

The islanders believed that beauty and luxury should be hidden from view. Wealth was not an occasion for idle boasting but a gift from God that only the chosen few could behold. Therefore, all of Saltoluchard's vast treasures were safely hidden behind thick walls and a display of ostentatious squalor. And what everyone else thought... What did the true aristocrats care about the performances of overseas savages?

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:34

Curzio prayed to the creators and masters of things. It was a rare occasion when his aspirations sounded so sincere, so hopeful, as they did today.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:46

"Savior and Protector, give them reason! Open the ears of the deaf, open the eyes of the blind! Let them hear and understand my words," he finished, folding his palms close to his heart.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:46

It's time. The time for prayers is over.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:47

He looked into a mirror, a real, full-length, mercury-amalgamated, solid glass mirror, more expensive than a nice house in a medium-sized town. The mirror was the only object that broke the emptiness of the prayer room. Curzio ran his fingers along the carefully shaved front of his head, from forehead to parietal. He touched the curled strands above his ears and the tuft at the back of his head, testing the hardness of the varnish. Not a single hair was to be out of place, disturbing the noble hairstyle.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:48

//"Gods help me..."

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:48

He turned at the mirror, surveying himself on all sides, assessing how the cloak of the old charter lay. A wide strip of cloth had been cut from the collar all the way down so that it hung over his shoulders at the sides and back, revealing his back like the wings of a dunghill. Yes, the forefathers followed fanciful canons..... So, everything's immaculate. Time to begin. Curzio thought about making the sign of the Two again, but decided it was too much. The gods are omniscient, so there was no point in being so intrusive. Everything is their will.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:57

He left the prayer room, where, according to long-standing custom, they gathered their thoughts, cleansed their doubting minds before reporting to the Hall of Intentions. Tradition did not limit the period of time to be alone with the gods, the statutes ordered the Council to wait, being patient. Responsible business does not tolerate fuss and haste, for haste confuses the mind and breeds mistakes, and mistakes lead to defeat. Therefore Curzio never neglected the opportunity to pray, once again going through the arguments and considerations in his mind, sifting them through the sieve of reflection and criticism. However, he did not linger too long either. Tradition preserved the Island, but it would be unwise to keep the Privy Council waiting longer than necessary.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:26

The islander climbed the small spiral staircase. A deaf-mute servant opened the plain oak door so the master of secret affairs did not even have to slow his step. The door let Curzio through and closed silently behind him, leaving him alone with the Council.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:27

Many on the continent hid secrets behind strong walls, enclosed themselves in stone and wood, hidden underground, in deep cellars. But Saltoluchard's wise forefathers, skilled in the search for other people's secrets, knew that walls not only protect but also obscure the eye. There would always be a spy who would sneak into the darkness, climb the highest wall, drill through the toughest stone, and catch careless speech with a listening tube. However, no one has ever been able to approach unnoticed in the desert and eavesdrop on the wind. That is why the Hall of Intentions was not hidden behind the mighty fortress walls but, on the contrary, opened to the world on the top of a modest tower.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:29

The circular hall, resembling a fighting arena, was securely covered by a mesh dome of iron and lead, like the temple of the Sixty-Six Attributes of the Church of Pantocrator. Even the glass panels in the frames were magical, but instead of the wondrous multicolor of the temple, the transparent sheets of the Hall produced a grayness, filtering the sun with a dusky sieve. They concealed what was going on inside while revealing everything outside. No one could creep in to hear, much less see, what was not meant to be heard or seen.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:40

Curzio walked towards the middle of the hall, right to the model of the capital, made with amazing accuracy in every detail and with meticulous adherence to scale. It was not for nothing that the islanders were considered the best architects in the Ecumene. It took a year just to make secret measurements and put them on the maps. It took another year to build the model, but now the entire City was laid out at the feet of the Privy Council in minute detail, down to the last hovel. Tiny houses were marked with flags and colored cords stretched along the streets. Painted wooden figures marked guard posts, garrisons, and the personal guards of the Bonoms.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:42

To Curzio's left, a large chart, a sort of calendar or table of several hundred cells with a complex layout, glowed faintly on the stone floor. Most of the rectangles had been crossed out, with no more than three or four dozen left free. On his right hand rose a writing board made of a solid plate of smooth slate in a large wooden frame, taller than a man's height.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:44

In front of the defendant, behind the model of the capital, twenty-three men sat in a semicircle on unlacquered wood stools. The Heads of the Councils who determined the life and death of every inhabitant of the Island, and of so many outside it. Once, at the dawn of history, there had been only three. Then the number of Councils had multiplied according to the growth of Saltoluchard's power, but it had always been an odd number. Only odd, so that the votes could not be equally divided.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 20:45

Curzio looked at the identical figures in robes of blue and crimson, on the same white masks with narrow slits for eyes. In Saltoluchard, it was customary to hide faces, and masks were worn by all, even the burghers and poor. However, the Council masks were made without fasteners and modeled after women's masks. These masks were supposed to be worn by clenching in their teeth with special spurs in front of the mouth so each councilor would listen and speak more, weighing each word beforehand.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:30

Twenty-three figures, like ghosts from horrible tales. Identical and eerie in silent stillness. Someday, he would take his place among them.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:30

Someday...

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:31

There were no heralds, secretaries, or scribes, as was customary on the continent. No records were ever kept, no one asked for the word, and especially no egregious scenes as in the noble assemblies of the continent. The chiefs of the Aleinsae family were above this. They would gather and make a decision and nothing more. Curzio sighed once more, suppressed the urge to check whether the folds of his cloak were flawless and vice versa, whether the crimson jacket tightened his chest smoothly enough. And began.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:35

He spoke softly and strictly to the point. The glass dome kept any rustle out, reflecting sound so one could even whisper and be heard. Curzio armed himself with a long whale rib pointer, pointing at the townhouses, carefully moving the figures around. When it came time to account for expenses, the man moved to the blackboard, quickly jotting down the major expenditures. Written letters and numbers are better than spoken words. They stick in the mind longer. The Privy Council listened silently, like a single creature with twenty-three heads.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:47

Curzio finished the tale about the costs of espionage and the work of brigades of scribes of city proclamations. He moved on to the issue of the confrontation between the craft councils and the workshops. There was nothing new here, but a few words were necessary to emphasize the expansion of the conflict. He mentioned that the privileged workshops had already begun to buy cheap weapons and to form their militias.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:48

And finally, he reported the main point:

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:48

"A convoy with a cargo of silver for the Imperial Mint was detained yesterday in the port of Taididdo," Curzio deliberately used the old name of Milvess. "The Judicature of the cargo docks has forbidden unloading and arrested the ships because the number of barrels of metal is greater than the number specified in the accompanying letter. The message came by magical passage via courier. We're waiting for confirmation by normal means, but there's no longer any doubt. Everything is going as planned."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:51

A quick glance at the table-calendar, more out of habit than for clarification and verification.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:52

"Vice Duchess Flessa Wartensleben reported by pigeon mail the receipt of the copper coins."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:53

Curzio took a breath. Up to this point, his story had been a series of successes and a statement that everything was going according to plan. Now, however, it was time to talk about the unpleasant.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:58

"One of our commanders took..." he emphasized "our," demonstrating that there was not a mercenary in command. "A disastrous initiative, starting earlier than agreed. A small town in the south called Syvera has been captured and ravaged by an attack from the sea. I believe Bonom will swear he misinterpreted the order. This is a matter I have decided to leave for later."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:11

One of the figures held up a palm with fingers tightly interlocked so as not to mimic the prayer gesture of the twin fingers. With his other hand, the counselor took the mask and pulled it away from his face just enough to allow sound to penetrate the narrow gap between the chin and the polished bone of the whale skull.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:14

"Why?"

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:15

The hand did not drop, but the mask returned to its place. Curzio looked at the gathering, making sure no one else wanted to speak.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:16

"It wouldn't be appropriate right now," the financier explained. "No matter what happens in the township, that can't be changed. The incident can't interfere with our plans. It will take weeks for the news to reach Milvess for a decision to be made there. Besides, the emperor is indecisive. He will likely demand an explanation from our representative in the capital. Again, that's time. It's better to investigate after we've settled the problem with the imperial court, without haste, and with all due diligence."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:17

After a short pause, the mask swayed in agreement. The hand lowered, showing that the host was satisfied with the explanation. Several others, however, rose at once. Curzio began to answer one by one as the sun went down, thoroughly and with all care, taking care not to omit the slightest detail. His words satisfied the Council quite well. The last mask asked an unexpected question:

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:18

"Should we honor Duke Wartensleben's request?"

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 09:58

"Regarding the youngest daughter's rights to future headship in the family?" clarified Curzio. "The matriarch's assertion of bypassing primacy and seniority?"

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:01

"Yes."

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:54

"I can hardly judge that responsibly," the responder indicated with a carefully calculated bow. "My concern is the City and all things related to it. I can only offer a private opinion."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:20

"Do it."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:01

"I see no obstacle to that. We have few true friends on the "shore", the Wartensleben should be... encouraged. Flessa has proven herself clever and useful. I believe she will take over her father's leadership of Malersyde. However, the jurists of the Council of Laws and Traditions need to prepare a justification in such a form that it can, if necessary, be challenged in turn."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:02

"Mask nodded, lowering the hand. That was the end of the agenda."

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:03

"However, I would like to say a few words..." Curzio paused, drawing attention. The Council was silent, making it clear that it saw no obstacles.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:30

It's still possible to roll it back, to remain silent. There's nothing wrong with someone choosing to keep their unspoken words to themselves. Silent action is better than useless conversation, and that is the greatness of the Aleinsae family. Or one can do one's duty to the end, and that too is the way of a true bonom and primator, albeit from a distant sideline.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:31

Yes. From the continental shore, all the Aleinsae seem to be the same, a united force without gaps or weaknesses. Only from the inside one can see how large and diverse the Family is. And how many branches grow on the common tree. Some are mighty and strong, while others are weak and wither without the flow of life-giving blood. If you are born in the shade, near the earth, it is difficult to take a place closer to the sun, sprouting upwards. Curzio received the gift of life from his parents, who were one step from the commoners. It took many years and much strength to put on a cloak cut according to the old traditions, to stand before the Privy Council, to decide the fate of the world. And now he must choose again.

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:34

Must...

Camrad_RIP 16.12.23 в 10:21

"I want to emphasize that I think we are making two mistakes."

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:52

That's the choice made, no more backing down, now we have to talk to the end.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:53

"One. I continue to believe, as I have before, that we should not resolve our financial differences with the Empire through such pressure. The court owes the Island colossal sums and has no intention of honoring its obligations. That is true. However, our way, bequeathed by the founders of the Family, is not the way of open force. "Salt Land" never hurries and always gets its way. We will still collect the debt, not from this emperor, but from the next."

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:54

Pause. Silence. Not a single fold rustles, not a single mask moves. Everyone listens to him, measuring and evaluating every word.

Camrad_RIP 14.12.23 в 19:49