167 - Council

Sunlight filtered through high clerestory windows, cutting sharp beams through the haze of dust. The amphitheater was stifling, heavy with the scents of old cushioned seats. High stone curved around the space where everyone sat. Every sound echoed against the vaulted ceiling, making Torak’s accusatory tone ring twice as loud.

“Silence,” Torak ordered, his eyes locked onto Emher. “Everyone, you can see it clearly: Councillor Emher is conspiring with the culprit.”

“Mind your words, Torak,” Emher said, his voice level. “No crime has been committed. Talking of a culprit is a reach.”

Alexandra looked between both men. The younger man’s hostility wasn’t going to help her. She didn’t even do anything wrong this time!

“We all know what transpired last night,” Torak argued. “Such a disturbance to the peace of Balrum cannot be tolerated.”

“I agree,” Emher said. “Which is why I’ve asked Alexandra to stop.”

“Stop? Of course she will stop. But we cannot allow her to walk away without paying a fine to make up for the time lost by our fellow citizens. Furthermore, I would like to bring forth a motion to investigate Councillor Emher’s role in this debacle.”

A woman clicked her tongue. “Sloppy.”

“Indeed,” another added. “You won’t convince anyone like that. It’s too obvious.”

“Councillor Torak.” A man, this time. “Don’t waste the council’s time. If you’re going to frame Emher, do it properly.”

“Besides, paying rounds is hardly illegal,” the second woman added. “It would be an issue if we allowed it to continue. But Balrum has known more festive nights.”

“But… Councillors, the damage to public infrastructure is—”

“Low,” Emher said. “And not caused by Alexandra. Drinking doesn’t absolve us of responsibility. The actual culprits of degradation have already been fined a reasonable amount. Not that there was much damage. A cracked stone bench by the fountain and a signpost tipped into the gutter hardly constitutes a crisis, Torak. Our people will have it repaired by dusk.”

Torak made to speak, but the first woman was faster.

“Know when to cut your losses, Torak. You’re making us look like fools. A bad first impression will cost us more than a night of debauchery.” She looked at Alexandra. “Thank you for the beer, by the way. I had fun.”

“You’re welcome.” Alexandra shrugged. “Maybe you can convince the council to let it continue.”

“I’m afraid not. Public health and whatnot.”

“I see. Thank you anyway…”

“Yaren.”

“Thank you, Yaren.”

Emher coughed. “Well, now that the misunderstanding is out of the way, we can move on to the heart of the matter. You see, while I’m not entirely sold on those so-called contribution points…”

As the councillor reiterated the points he made during their private discussion, Alexandra observed the faces of everyone in the room. Torak was brooding, scowling every time Emher started a new sentence.

The rest of the councillors listened with measured expression.

Yaren met her gaze and smiled.

“So I’m suggesting we let her add the entire task board to her contracts,” Emher concluded.

Torak scoffed. “This would go against the rules.”

“Only a little. It’s not worth making a fuss over,” the man councillor who had spoken earlier said. “Worst-case scenario, it does nothing.”

“I have to agree,” another said. “We have little to lose, and potentially a lot to gain.”

Torak was about to argue when his advisor whispered something in his ear. The young man calmed down and leveled his gaze toward Alexandra.

“We cannot guarantee that her contracts are safe. What if we signed our souls away? Look at her hair, at her hands hidden beneath those gloves. I agree that her offer is tempting, but it’s too good to be true.”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from NovelPhoenix. Support the author by reading it there.

A sharp knot tightened in Alexandra’s stomach. Beneath the soft leather of her gloves, her left hand twitched instinctively. She could still feel the phantom ache where her ring finger used to be, a mark she couldn't afford to let these bureaucrats see. The association of missing body parts with demonic affiliation had long been disproven by the scholars of the Iron Library, but it mattered little in those remote parts of the world.

Silence.

Alexandra frowned. She could see the other councillors were more convinced when Torak measured his tone.

She forced her hands to remain steady at her sides, calculating her leverage. If Balrum’s council balked, Izrum’s lords might jump at the chance to monopolize her contract system. Izrum was closer to the stone fields, the best place to procure elemental sources. Giving them this power would bleed Balrum dry. She just needed to make sure these fools realized that before they demanded she strip off her armor.

“Torak made a good point,” Emher said, eliciting a furious glance from Alexandra.

Traitor.

“Let’s take time to consider everything appropriately,” Yaren said. “Her appearance is likely to be the result of some skill, but we can never be too prudent.” She looked at her. “Perhaps you could enlighten us? Show us your hands?”

Not good.

She couldn’t let them see her missing finger.

Alexandra shook her head. “I came to you with a deal that will forever change your city’s standing in the basin. If you won’t take it, perhaps Izrum’s leaders will be more appreciative.”

“See. That’s suspicious,” Torak said.

“I’m willing to show my sincerity in another way. But some things are off limits. I wouldn’t ask you to strip naked here and now, Councillor Torak.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Torak stood up, his face contorting.

“Your request to see my hands is just as ludicrous.” Alexandra’s lips rose.

Let’s take it a step further.

“Unless you plan to marry me, councillor?”

She tried her best not to laugh as Torak’s face fell. “I… Is this part of your culture? I apologize. I should have been more considerate, knowing you’re not from the basin.” His voice softened. “I’m willing to take responsibility.”

Shit.

“That won’t be necessary,” she said. “No offense taken, but I hope you understand my reservations.”

Yaren chuckled. “What a shame. You two made such a good match.” She ignored Alexandra’s shooting daggers at her. “Since you offered, I do have a suggestion for a task to prove your sincerity.”

“Do tell,” Alexandra said, trying to school her expression.

“You don’t mean that…” Emher whispered.

“I do mean that. A task from the council hasn’t found any taker despite being up for years. It has reached the point where we have to consider hiring external aid. Even then, few would agree.”

“And the task?” Alexandra asked.

“Clear the sewers of all elementals and restore the water circulation.”

Of course.

“How long do you think it will take?” Alexandra asked.

“A while. There are a lot of tunnels to cover. The exact time will depend on you.”

She summoned her journal, checked if an event quest had been generated, and winced when she saw it was the case.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But I need you to give me a second, simpler task that I can complete today. A warm-up, if you will.”

Yaren smiled, showing her spotless white teeth. “Fantastic. There are plenty of odd jobs on the board. Just pick one. We’ll be waiting for the good news. Meanwhile, the council will discuss how we will handle your quests.” Her gaze scanned the amphitheater. “Any objection?”

Nobody spoke up.

“Then the session is dismissed.”

The rasp of scraping chairs echoed off the stone as the councillors rose in unison. Aids and guards followed suit, their voices blending into a low hum of gossip.

As Alexandra turned toward the doors, Emher fell into step beside her. “You play a dangerous game, invoking Izrum in front of the council,” he whispered, keeping his face turned forward.

“It worked, didn’t it?” Alexandra replied, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. “But I wasn’t speaking empty words. I will bail on you if I can’t further my goals in Balrum. Izrum is a decent candidate.”

“I’ll convince them,” Emher said.

“Or Yaren will. No offense, but she was more useful than you.”

“You…” Emher deflated. “I’m still a councillor. Please spare my feelings.”

“Anything I should know about the sewers?”

He hesitated. “Nothing special. It’s just disgusting. I hope you have a skill to wash away the smell when you’re done. Otherwise, I can point you to a private bathing establishment.”

Alexandra sighed.

The things I’m doing for contribution points…

“I’ve never been afraid of getting my hands dirty. I’ll be fine,” she said, stopping at an intersection. “Ugh. Can you take me to the task board? I forgot the way.”

Emher nodded. “Follow me.”

“It’s not just the smell,” Emher added, casting a glance over his shoulder to ensure nobody was tailing them. “I’m sure you can imagine the sort of elementals that spawn down there.”

“Slime?”

“Yes… Among others…”

The round council building seemed larger from the inside than from the outside. The corridors were flanked by countless offices and storage rooms.

“You realize the sewers are basically a maze, right?” the councillor asked.

Alexandra waved his concerns away. “I’ll be fine. I just need to complete a quest first, and I’ll get going.”

“If you say so…”