Avarice Twilight

by R. A Davidson

“You know that was pointless, don't you?" I question.

  I'm sure Barin and I have mentioned that physical attacks don't do much harm to me.

  "It made me feel better," Utrix replies. "I thought you were at the inn being the best of buds with the old man."

  I fill in Utrix about the events that have transpired and what the old man told us about the city.

  "That certainly is a lot to take in," he responds.

  "I'm bored, so I'm gonna disrupt the Senate's plans and irritate them," I tell Utrix.

  He looks at me dumbfounded, "Are you not doing this because of your integrity?" he questions.

  "I killed several men in front of you when I could have simply disabled them," I respond.

  Utrix doesn't say anything.

  “Based on my actions…when did you ever think I had any integrity?" I ask.

  He remains silent. I've always done what I wanted to do; morals have never played at swaying my actions.

  "What do you want with me then?" Utrix asks me.

  I grin at him. "Figured you can join me for some fun on the town… maybe I can make up for interrupting you just now," I answer.

  Utrix brings his hands together over his mouth. He appears to be considering my proposal. He doesn't stand to gain anything from joining me, but he won't lose anything either.

  "I think I understand," Utrix states. "This is along the lines of what Al ordered us to do. You must not want the others to know you actually take the matter seriously, I assume."

  He looks at me for verification.

  "If that's how you want to take it," I respond.

  Do people not listen to me? I told him that I'm doing this for the simple reason that I want to. But if it gets him to join me, then I'll go along with it.

  "So, what's your plan to expose the Senate's wrongdoings?" Utrix asks.

  I smile; I have the perfect plan for bringing them down. "I'm gonna go on a walk," I answer.

  Utrix's face is immediately overcome with doubt… or is it regret? Either way, it would seem he has little faith in me. I put my hand on his shoulder and give the best reassuring smile I can.

  I turn and head to the door. "Coming or not?" I ask.

  Utrix stands and sighs, then proceeds to follow behind me.

  We make our way downstairs into the lobby.

  "Anything else I can do for you friend?" the barkeep asks.

  I point at a bottle of alcohol behind him. He hands me the bottle. "Have a pleasant night," the barkeep says.

  Utrix and I head outside. We make our way through the streets; do they ever stop parading here?

  As we walk, Utrix and I pass the bottle between the two of us.

  "I wonder what happened to the horses and our stuff?" I say aloud.

  Utrix takes a sip. "Wish I knew; we lost a lot of valuable equipment," he responds.

  I feel bad that we almost immediately lost everything Bayard let us have. Even worse, knowing Asteria's mother's equipment was in the wagon as well.

  I glance at Utrix; he seems to keep all of his equipment on his person. He doesn't have anything of bulk. Suppose it makes it more practical for him to. Now that I think about it… why do I wear armor? Depending upon the opponent, I won't take much damage if I feel like it. I do suppose I look visually stunning in armor though.

  Utrix sticks his arm out, stopping me in my track. "I'm I a bit drunk, or is that our damn wagon?" he asks.

  He points over to a building on the corner of the street. Well…there is definitely a wagon with a tattered covering. Can't say if it's our wagon or not. A man comes into view, struggling to detain a horse.

  "That's our horse," I state.

  Utrix and I look at each other, pretty sure we have the same idea ‘bout this one.

  We hastily make our way to the corner. "Need some help with the stallion?" I ask.

  I can see ten men, all of them trying to call the other horses.

  I walk up to our horse and put my hand on its snout. The horse calms down as I start to pet it; seems it remembers me. While the men try to copy my actions, Utrix checks the inside of the wagon. I glance at him to see if he verifies that it's ours; he shakes his head yes.

  "Well, friends, it seems that you found our lost horses and wagon," I inform them. "We'll just go ahead and take them, as to not burden you."

  I start to lead the horse to the wagon, so I can put the harness on.

  One of the men grabs my shoulder. "These are ours now.", he states.

  I turn and look at him; he's giving off some killing intent. In fact, all of them have a murderous aura around them now. I don't get it, didn't the old man say everyone is always in their own dream? Does this mean he lied to us after all?

  I ready myself for a brawl. Hopefully, Utrix is in the same state of mind.

  "What is going on here?" a voice booms.

  Standing by the road are the guards from the gate.

  "They stole our property!" Utrix shouts.

  The men step back. "They're liars. It's ours!" one of the men responds.

  The guards approach us, the horses start to get rowdy the closer they get. "Well… if it isn't the succubus slayer," one of the guards remarks.

  The other guards begin cackling, and I join them in the laughter. They draw their swords; kinda made the atmosphere awkward. They start approaching all of us.

  "Just so we clarify: who are you planning on stabbing with those?" I ask with a laugh.

  The guards continue their approach.

  "Get them!" one of the men yells.

  The ten men charge the guards; I'd like to say they put up a decent fight, but… the guards slaughter them like pigs. Doesn't take long for the ground to be clustered with bodies and stained with blood. The guards killed them quite adequately; they've clearly killed before.

  They clean their swords with the cloth from the bodies.

  "Now then." One of the guards steps forward. "If you two would please follow us, we can have this all settled with the Senate."

  Utrix darts his eyes at me. He shouldn't be worried; this is what we wanted.

  "That will be most helpful," I answer.

  They turn and begin walking.

  Utrix leans in. "Is this part of your elaborate plan?" he whispers.

  "We're still walking, aren't we?" I reply. I start following the guards, then Utrix joins me.

  I glance to my right and see Barin at the end of the street. I motion for him to look behind the building; our stuff will be ours again, at least.

  As we follow the guards, I can't help but think about those men and the guards. Every single person I've seen so far has shown the same behavior. If I were to assume, then the drug is responsible for that. That being the case, those guys didn't have the same euphoric behavior, and neither do the guards. I can't help but think that there's something more to this than controlling a city.

  Utrix and I follow the guards to the large tower in the middle of the city. The closer to the tower we get, the less crowded the street becomes. There is practically no one in the near vicinity of the tower.

  "This is where all the law is conducted," the lead guard states. "The Senate will sort out this mess."

  We enter the tower, the architecture is stunning. I hate to admit it, but the Senate has good taste. Polished granite columns supporting arches, truly brilliant artwork along the wall. It really is nice and classy here.

  "Gentlemen," a man in a white robe greets us. "I am told that you have been troubled by citizens of our glorious city?"

  He walks over to us, the guards bow. "Senator Malick," the head guard greets.

  So, this is a Senator, is it? He doesn't have the appearance of one who uses any means to satisfy his wants…then again, do they ever? Senator Malick makes his way in front of Utrix and me. He's of short and thin stature, but his eyes are full of confidence.

  "If you follow me this way, I will allow you to join the Senate floor as my honored guests," Senator Malick states. He waves away the guards. "While I may not be th
e highest-ranking member in the Senate, I do have connections with every manner of class," he remarks.

  We follow him down a long hall that leads to two massive doors.

  "Lots of portraits," Urtix remarks.

  He has a point; not a single area of the wall can be seen under all the paintings of old men.

  "Yes, they are the Senators who preceded us. If you are curious to who is of most importance, the frame signifies their importance to our city," Senator Malick explains.

  Don't really care about their history… just here to see what the Senate is like. He leads us to a large door at the end of the hall; it's rather extravagant for a door. The molding on the door tells the story of the Celestials and Devils descending upon the continent. For some reason, it seems most of the scenery is around the city, assuming the land features have remained unchanged.

  The doors swing open by themselves.

  "These grandiose doors were created by our brilliant sixth consul. The doors only let those designated as Senators to access the room," Senator Malick states.

  "Neat," I respond, monotoned.

  Senator Malick appears to be irked by my disinterest in his words,not that I care of course, but I do suppose getting on their good sides would help with gathering information.

  We follow him into the room, it's huge in here. It's an enclosed stadium, if anything.

  "How many people are in here at once?" Utrix asks Senator Malick.

  If I were to take a guess, this place's capacity is around eight hundred, give or take.

  "Sixty Senators," Senator Malick answers.

  "Just sixty people!?" I exclaim, astonished.

  Senator Malick stops in his tracks. "Just sixty people?" he repeats. He turns around. "We are not people; we are the Senate. The mind that keeps this city alive and flourishing," he scoffs.

  The ego of this guy is truly awe-inspiring.

  "The Senate is comprised of people who were too weak alone, so they formed together to set laws that they see fit. At the end of the day… you're all just humans who will die someday, just like the rest." I reply.

  Senator Malick's eyes fill with rage. "You insolent worm!" he yells.

  He swings his arm, striking me with the back of his hand. His hand is halted from the impact as he makes contact.

  "Gyyaaaahhhhh!" he screams in pain as he falls to the ground.

  He clenches his hand.

  I try to move my foot to crush his head, but my foot won't leave the ground.

  "Are you trying to kill him?" Utrix whispers.

  I realize what I was about to do; that's a bad habit I can't seem to get rid of. "Sorry," I tell Utrix.

  "What is going on here?" a voice booms from behind us.

  Utrix and I turn to see a group of men dressed like Senator Malick enter the room. They're being led by two men wearing red sashes over their robes.

  They're both older men. The one on the right has a large and round gut though. The thinner one on the left is a head taller with unruly hair and beard. The fat one has no hair, but a nice little mustache.

  "What has transpired here, Senator Malick?" the big one questions.

  Senator Malick lifts his head; a ghastly expression overtakes his face. "Consul Artuitus. Consul Baelhiem," Senator Malick says respectfully.

  The group makes their way to us.

  "Your Senator hit him," Utrix explains as he points at me.

  Senator Malick gets up. "That is simply not at all true, honorable consuls," he quavers. He walks over to the fat one, taking the fat one's hand, he gets on his knees. "This Senator Malick humbly bequests you to pass rightful judgement on this two for the treacherous assault of an official of Cochagine," he pleads.

  The fat guy pulls his hand away from Senator Malick, "Have you no pride!?" he asks with a booming voice. "Is it befitting of a Senator to grovel like a child who has done a misdeed?" the fat one questions.

  Senator Malick remains silent.

  The fat Consul looks at me. "You, what do you want here?" he asks.

  Now, these two have the look of one who would use any means to rule of people.

  "Consul Artuitus asked you a question, you fool!" one of the Senators in the group shouts.

  "Who was that?" I ask.

  The group is silent.

  "The man asked a question," Consul Artuitus states. "Act like a man and answer him."

  Someone steps forward. "It was I, Sen—”

  I punch him in the center of his face. His head snaps back before he collapses like a marionette who had its strings cut.

  "If I want you to voice your mind, I'll ask," I state.

  Consul Artuitus starts clapping. "Wonderful, simply wonderful. You must be the one I was told about earlier," he remarks. He looks me up and down. "Even with clothes, one can tell your body is of the highest condition." he observes.

  Is this guy trying to seduce me? Why are the people in this town trying to bed me?

  He glances at Utrix. "One only needs to look at you and tell you are a seasoned adventurer," he says. He turns to the group of Senators. "I assume they meet our expectations?" he asks.

  The senators voice their agreement.

  "So, are you using Mofiuses to control the people here?" I ask Senator Aruitus.

  He slowly turns towards me and has a rather nasty look on his face.

  "Would you mind repeating yourself?" he sneers.

  I smile back.

  17

  UTRIX

  "You two have knowledge about the Mofiuses?" Consul Artuitus questions.

  He begins to make his way over to Aryn and me. He gets in Aryn's face… or at least he looks up at him. Consul Artuitus smells disgusting, like he just spent a day in a swamp.

  Consul Baelhiem approaches Consul Artuitus. "What are they talking about, Artuitus?" he asks.

  Does Consul Baelhiem not know of the Mofiuses? Does that mean the Senate isn't acting as one group?

  "I suppose now is an apt time," Consul Artuitus remarks.

  He turns to the group of Senators. "As you know, our Senate is currently divided into two Factions, that of Consul Baelhiem, and mine," Consul Artuitus booms. "We may have different ideologies, but we have always done what is best for our city."

  The Senators turn to each other, most with a look of comradery on their faces.

  "Unfortunately, that ends now," Consul Artuitus states.

  He pulls a small horn from his robes.

  "I don't see any pockets on that robe…where was that," Aryn whispers to me.

  Consul Artuitus blows the horn, but no noise is made from it.

  "Can you explain what the intentions of your words are Artuitus?" Consul Baelhiem questions.

  The doors to the room open up, and a group of guards marches in. From the looks of it, there's thirty of them: exactly half of the Senate's numbers.

  The guards walk past Aryn and me over to the group of Senators. "What is the meaning of this!?" Consul Baelhiem yells.

  Consul Artuitus lifts his hand and the guards draw their swords on the Senators. I step forward to intervene when Aryn grabs my arm and pulls me back.

  "Let's see what happens," he states.

  I forgot… Aryn isn't one to be unnerved with people dying.

  "How were these guards able to enter this room?" Consul Baelhiem asks Consul Artuitus. "Only members of the Senate are permitted to enter."

  Consul Artuitus turn to face Consul Baelhiem "When was the last time you left this tower to explore outside?" he asks. "When have any of you left this tower since appointed a Senator?"

  Consul Baelhiem and the Senators are quiet.

  "When I was born, I was part of the lowest of commoners. In the roads with trash is where I lived," Consul Artuitus begins. "I was lucky to find a book about law. I taught myself to read… then to write. I listened to debates and lessons in secrecy so as to not get caught by the guards. I acquired knowledge through any means; I even killed for it," Consul Artuitus growls.

  Consul Baelhiem steps bac
k in shock. Can't say I really blame him. Something like that is surprising to hear from anyone, let alone from a fellow compatriot of years.

  "I got noticed by a Senator when I was a young man; he took me as an apprentice. I took his seat as a Senator within five years. I have crawled my way up to the seat of Consul, and I refuse to let go of this power I desperately fought for!" he yells.

  The guards move closer to the group of Senators.

  "I am not the only one who wants to hold onto this power," Consul Artuitus states.

  Half of the Senators step forward, moving outside of the guards' perimeter. The Senators who left the group smile as Consul Artuitus embraces them.

  "Proceed," Consul Artuitus commands.

  The guards proceed to massacre the Senators remaining in the circle. They scream in agony and pain as their guts fall from their stomachs, and limbs are slashed from their bodies.

  Consul Baelhiem is horrified. "H-h-how could you do such a thing?" he stutters.

  I can't see the face Consul Artuitus is making but judging from Consul Baelhiem's response, it's not one of friendship.

  Consul Artuitus stabs Consul Baelhiem in the chest; from the look of it, he got the heart.

  Consul Baelhiem collapses to his knees, clenching Consul Artuitus's robes.

  "Where does he keeping pulling stuff from?" Aryn whispers.

  Consul Artuitus pushes Consul Baelhiem to the ground.

  "Are you not afraid of The King hearing about this?" I ask.

  Consul Baelhiem turns to us. "Do you honestly believe that The King has the power to control the domain outside of his city?" he replies. "The royal family has never held a tight grip on the country. They always kissed the asses of the prominent groups of the country," Consul Artuitus sneers.

  What does he mean by that? Based upon my knowledge, Al has just as much power, if not more, as his father.

  "Men like myself rule the land now, always have, and I have no intention of stagnating my reach," Consul Artuitus states. "You see, I found a nice little secret to further my power. A secret that makes people experience a most wonderful dream. But that was not enough. I had to make them believe they needed to experience those dreams to get through the day."