The Blessed CH 2

NEGOTIATIONS

“Words are our friend and our enemy.”

“These words are quite dull. It’s difficult for me to read them properly,” Representative Arthur Darius admitted to his counterpart, Representative Gaius Linus.

“Indeed, but it is part of the process my friend. You will get used to the boring jargon soon enough. That is simply how diplomacy works.”

“I see. Well I’m glad to have you as my instructor, Gaius. I fear I would surely have been lost long ago if it were not for you.”

Gaius gave a small chuckle. “I am here because I am the best, Arthur. You should be honored. It is not everyday that a treaty of such importance is signed. Mannith Tyr will soon be our allies, and if they do not accept our terms, they shall pay the price. But they would not be so foolish as to refuse. I have already talked to the Premier. He was accommodating and quite positive Mannith Tyr would accept almost any reasonable offer.”

“That’s comforting, at least. I fear your brother will stretch us too thin if we have to add another front. We’ve already exhausted--”

“Enough about my brother. He is the Seigneur, yours as well as mine. You should not say such things about him.”

“I… I apologize, Gaius. I meant no offense. It shall not happen again.” Arthur bowed sticking his right hand out. His gray robe folded over his arm.

“Apology accepted, Arthur. See that it does not happen again.” Gaius lowered his hairless head and started moving down the hallway, out of the commons area. Arthur quickly followed. The two remained quiet while walking to their destination, the negotiating room, which also happened to be Premier Ausev’s main study.

“Negotiating requires certain skills, Arthur,” Gaius said, seemingly unshaken from Arthur’s earlier slight of his brother. “The most important thing is that you have thick skin. There will be many things said during the negotiations that may seem rather humiliating and some that seem exceedingly flattering, but those participating in the art are only trying to gain the upper hand. If you can faze your opponent, you shall receive an essential advantage. Back in the commons, I did that very thing to you. I was completely unfazed by the harmless comment you made about my brother, but I turned it around on you and made you ashamed. That gives me control over you.”

“Would you really consider it control? Wouldn’t it be more like influence?”

“Yes and no. I had a certain control over you temporarily. I could have made you leave my presence, and you would have likely done so. There were probably several things I could have made you do because you were too ashamed to refuse. But, my dear friend Arthur, I would never do such a thing.”

“We can all be glad of that. Will you use a trick like that on the Premier?”

“I have tried many times before, but he is learned against such things. He is a skilled diplomat. His people are lucky to have a leader as adept as him.” Gaius’ gray eyes stared into Arthur. “He is easily my brother’s match, and perhaps even more cunning. But there is one thing that plagues him, one thing that will make him eventually succumb to Theodore.”

“What might that be?” Arthur asked enthralled. He rested his hand on his white, bristly chin.

Gaius came to a halt and put his arm on Arthur’s shoulder. “A conscience.”

The two continued down the long corridor. Arthur was disturbed by the words of Gaius, but he was a newcomer to all of this. Diplomatic envoys, negotiation techniques, alliance systems, he knew little of these things. But his tenacity in the Senate had given the Seigneur all he had needed for a reason to send Arthur Darius. And now here he was, negotiating one of the most important treaties in Alkaran history.

Gaius spoke once again, “I suppose I should give you a small warning about the Premier and his aides. They will try to get information out of you through very simple means. They might ask you a question about your life, something completely trivial, but beware. These questions are meant to warm you up to other, more fattening questions that could give away military positions or ways to infiltrate our political structure. Sometimes the personal questions themselves are meant to seep out information they could use.”

“All of this sounds very complicated and quite unnecessary.”

“Well you’re wrong about that. It is awfully necessary.” Arthur and Gaius reached the doors to Premier Ausev’s study. “Oh, and one more thing. When we enter, there will be an enormous, regal-looking gentleman.”

“Premier Ausev?”

“No,” replied Gaius Linus, “that was how Ambassador Felix lost his assignment negotiating this treaty. There’s another tip, Arthur, never assume. The man who Ambassador Felix assumed was the Premier was actually a decoy. Premier Ausev is instead a short, balding redhead. He will be dressed in a simple white robe, something that will attract very little attention.”

“Quite the deception, Gaius.”

“Indeed, one that fooled poor Felix, and now he is off in some godforsaken hole in the desert. I told you the Premier was adept.”

“I see what you mean.”

Gaius and Arthur entered the study. It was an enormous room filled with oak-paneled walls and several bookshelves. The shelves were dusty and unkempt, although they seemed to be put to good use by the Premier. Light poured through several windows from the right side of the room, casting shadows of the window frames on the stone floor. In the midst of all the bookshelves was a large oak table scattered with several papers.

The two representatives of Alkar sauntered over to a waiting delegation. Gaius said nothing, so Arthur did the same. As Gaius had said, there was an enormous man sitting across the table from them. His stature and groomed facial hair gave him the presence of a king, yet Arthur had been warned that he was not the Premier. If he had not heard it from Gaius’ own mouth, he would have not believed it if he were told this man was not the Premier. They waited what seemed like several minutes until Premier Ausev moved over to the other man and whispered in his ear. The short man was indeed not what one would consider very regal. He looked ordinary in every sense, and in some ways, he had a look of incompetence. But Gaius had told him that Ausev was completely the opposite. Arthur already had an appreciation for this man.

The larger man left and Ausev took his place in the chair across from Gaius and Arthur. He folded his hands together and bowed slightly towards the other end of the table. Gaius did the same, and Arthur followed a bit behind. Gaius whispered to Arthur while papers were spread across the table, “It’s the way Tyrs greet. It comes from some ancient superstition. I’m not quite sure of the reason, but they don’t like to shake hands upon greeting. It is a sign of the utmost respect if you have the opportunity to shake a Tyr’s hand. It means you have gained their complete trust.”

“Have you ever shaken the Premier’s hand?”

“No.”

The Premier snatched a couple of papers from his advisors, looking at them intently. He handed one back to his aide, who promptly disappeared behind a bookshelf. He grabbed another sheet, showing some effort at looking busy. Arthur began to sweat and nervously asked Gaius, “Why is it taking so long?”

“You’re playing right in to his trap, Arthur, just be patient. He will begin when he is ready.”

He began. “Greetings Representative Linus, it is good to see you again. I once again regret the missed opportunity to meet with your brother.”

“I truly am sorry, Premier Ausev, but as you know, my brother is busy planning our campaign strategies on our southern front. I fear I am all you will be able to work with.”

“Well it has been a pleasure to work with you so far, Gaius. I am sure we will be able to get this treaty prepared and signed soon enough. Now, who might I have the pleasure of meeting here with you?”

“Premier Ausev, this is Representative Arthur Darius. He is Alkar’s foremost expert on alliance formation.” Arthur gave Gaius a look of confusion and consternation, and even slight anger.

“Truly? Well, then this is an honor since we will be allies in the true sense. Tell me Representative Darius, what do you think of the Tenemaru Exchange?”

“Um… the, uh, excuse me?” Arthur cleared his throat.

“The Tenemaru Exchange, you know. Let’s see here, page seven, clause fifteen. Yes, right here.” He pointed to a page on the mess of papers sitting on the oak table.

Gaius interrupted. “I apologize, Premier Ausev, but I am afraid that my dear friend here has not had the chance to so much as lay eyes upon the treaty. He was just newly appointed by my brother, you see.”

“Yes, I do. A pity, really. I was looking forward to discussing that with one so qualified as yourself.”

“Well, yes, Premier, we have discussed it several times before and you know we stand firm on that matter.”

“I suppose an old man can only hope that you change your mind, but alas, I am sure that you will not. Very well, we shall move on.” The Premier grabbed the treaty and flipped through a few of its pages. “If you will, please look at page fifteen, clause twenty-seven and you will see the new addendum we added…” The Premier handed the page to an aide who delivered it to Gaius. He read it intently, his eyes moving along with each line he read.

He came to one section of the clause and started grunting in disapproval. He cleared his throat, “No, no, this is no good. The Seigneur and the Kingdom of Alkar cannot accept this section of the treaty right here. It says ‘thus, it shall be noted that the city of Mannith Tyr and its outlying provinces shall be granted the choice to retain their current religious convictions or those of their choosing and that the city of Mannith Tyr and its outlying provinces only may enforce the peace against those religious convictions that are not considered acceptable in accordance with Tyr law.’”

The Premier stared at Gaius, speechless, and Gaius stared him back down. The brief silence in the room made Arthur uncomfortable.

Arthur tried to calm the situation. “Gaius… please explain to the Premier why this addendum is not acceptable.”

Gaius broke his stare from the Premier and looked at Arthur with bitter disdain. “What the Premier needs to know,” he looked back at Ausev, “is that we cannot accept free reign of false adulation. When Mannith Tyr becomes our ally, they will have to accept the Seigneur as the divine ruler. He is the word and the hand of the Savior.”

Premier Ausev gauged Gaius’ words for a brief moment before he spoke. “Gaius, surely you know that Mannith Tyr’s past has long been racked by the religious intolerance of the Trydians. Our very foundations are based upon the fundamental belief in freedom of religion. We are a people dedicated to free worship, and would never force our people to make the religion of Alkar our only religion. We would be quite happy to allow your religious supporters to worship along with the rest of our people, but we could never compel the rest of Mannith Tyr to follow in those convictions.”

“Premier, you do not have a choice in this matter. This mandate came from the Seigneur himself and is not negotiable by any means. Mannith Tyr will bow to the will of the Seigneur or we can consider these diplomatic sessions over.” There was an alarming finality to Gaius’ words and Arthur was almost convinced that the two would be taken prisoners right there as a bargaining chip to prevent a conflict with Alkar.

“My advisors and I shall discuss this over the night, Gaius, but I am afraid that we will most likely come to the same conclusion. It is just too much to ask of us.”

“It is the only thing we ask of you. This treaty, if signed, reaps you more benefits than you could possibly imagine. The question is, Premier Ausev, are you a believer?”

With that, Gaius rose and stuck out his hand for Ausev to shake. “We should be on our way now, Premier.”

Premier Ausev looked at the outstretched hand with contempt. With nothing else to say, he folded his hands together and bowed to the two representatives of Alkar.

----

“What do you suppose we do, Gaius? You know that the Premier will never accept this condition of the treaty.” Arthur was trying to keep up with the swift steps of Gaius Linus. They had left the study in a hurry.

“I know that, Arthur.”

“Then what will we do? We cannot let the treaty fall apart from beneath our fingers. We must compromise somehow. Theodore will never--”

“Seigneur. Address him as Seigneur. And this time I am not playing a trick on you, Arthur. Never say that other name in my presence.”

Arthur shut his mouth. Gaius was in too much of an ill mood to bother him again about the treaty. The only thing he could do now is follow him and see what the next move was. Arthur then realized they were in a part of the fortress he didn’t recognize.

“Where are we, Gaius?”

“Your silence was sweet before, Arthur; let us keep it that way.”

An angry-looking man approached Gaius and whispered in his ear. Gaius handed him a letter sealed with the wax seal of the Seigneur, and the man vanished through a doorway.

“What was that? Gaius, what did you give that man?”

“Quiet Arthur! I will say no more to you about the treaty or about that man. Come with me, this way.”

Arthur followed his counterpart into a storage room. Candlesticks and other table decorations littered the shelves and the floor.

“Gaius, what is this place?”

Gaius said nothing; instead, he listened carefully at the door, his head next to its handle.

“Gaius, what are we doing in here?”

Gaius stuck out his palm, signaling for Arthur to remain quiet. A few short knocks came at the door, first two, then one, then two. Gaius called out to the stranger outside the door, “A man who walks into a whorehouse made of stone…”

Another voice returned the call, “… is a man with a sore head and a sore pocket.”

Gaius opened the door. “My friend, come in. Hurry.”

The other man entered. On his back was a large pack. Arthur wondered what was in there and why he carried it with him inside the walls of Mannith Tyr’s small fortress. He had weasel-looking eyes and a scowl that made Arthur back up a step. His manner made Arthur finally stay quiet.

“Your friend? That’s a new one,” the stranger answered.

“We must be hasty, Willis,” Gaius said.

Willis emptied the pack on the floor. Two smaller cloth sacks fell out. “This is yours, Gaius. It has everything you will need. This one is for the other. It should be sufficient.”

“Thank you, Willis; you have served me and your Seigneur well.”

“I have repaid my debt and nothing more. I do not approve of what you are doing, but I cannot stop you, so I will have to do the next best thing to escape alive. Don’t think for one moment that I am doing this out of faith to the Seigneur.”

“Of course not,” Gaius replied, “how could I have believed otherwise?” A smirk crossed his face.

“I have done as you asked, Gaius. Now let me go so you can do your bidding. I do not wish to be around when things turn to hell around here.”

“Your debt has been repaid, Willis. You are free to go if you wish. I do have an offer for you though, that is, if you‘re up for it.”

“An offer? I am not a cheap whore to push around anymore, old man. If something needs getting done, it will be expensive.”

“How expensive were you thinking?”

“You know that stronghold overlooking the Plains of Berendia?”

“Yes.”

“I hear its owner died during a siege last spring.”

“I appreciate your foresight, Willis. I will discuss everything with the Seigneur.”

“Goodbye, Gaius, and praise the gods, many as they are these days.” Willis shut the door behind him on his way out.

“Gaius… who, what… what is going on?”

“Oh, poor Arthur, I am sure this is all so confusing for you. All right, I suppose the time is right and you must know.”

“Yes, Gaius, I must know.”

“We are leaving, Arthur. The Premier’s men are probably looking for us as we speak. The brother of the Seigneur would make a delicious target for a hostage, don‘t you think so? Instead we will be heading back to Alkar tonight and by tomorrow Mannith Tyr will be a wasteland.”

“But, but why?”

“You heard the Premier. They will not submit to Theodore’s will. I planted some doubts in the Premier’s mind as to how close our military truly is to this city. Much closer than they had expected. General Raiz will bring the majority of our forces to the city this night. Mannith Tyr will surrender and become our servants rather than our allies. Any who submit to the Seigneur will be spared.”

“Gaius, how can we allow this to happen?”

“Allow it? My dear Arthur, this was my idea. How can we not allow this to happen?”

“Gaius, you betray me. I was brought here to help negotiate the treaty and bring in Mannith Tyr as our ally and friend.”

“No, Arthur. You were brought here because all of Alkar loves you. You were brought here to return a hero. The beloved brother of the Seigneur and the celebrity senator taken as hostages by the evil Premier? No, Alkar could not stand for that. And the fact that they escaped unharmed without aid? Well, that just shows how determined and resilient the Alkaran people truly are. No, dear Arthur, you were never meant to negotiate anything.”

Arthur was too stunned to say anything, so he just stared.

“Grab your pack, Arthur, before the Premier actually takes you as a hostage. I promise you, that will not be a pleasant experience. Play along, Arthur, and everything will work out just fine. You’ll be a hero, Arthur. A hero! Just remember one thing.”

Arthur looked up at his long time friend.

“The Seigneur is not so forgiving to those who fail him.”

----

Alkar had never seen such bravery, Gaius told himself. He could already feel all of Alkantar, the Alkaran capital, cheering him in the streets. He knew Mannith Tyr would soon be demolished, but he felt no sympathy for its people. They were not true believers of Seigneur Theodore Linus. They could never truly be, and any front they put up would simply be a mockery to the Seigneur.

Getting outside the fortress had proved simple enough. No one noticed the two laymen exiting as they would have with two Alkaran representatives. A change of clothes had made that possible. His clothes had been a bit tight though, and he had to squirm to fit in them. Arthur’s had fit well enough, of course. Gaius needed to lose some of the pounds he had gained from all the years of sitting around.

Arthur had been quiet, a change for once. Now he moped along, keeping his thoughts to himself. Arthur was a fool, Gaius thought. He had made him what he was and now what does he do? He complains, he objects, he makes a fool of himself. If only he could see what they could become. Alkar would be the greatest of all the Three Kingdoms and they would be two of its most powerful leaders. It was inevitable. Mannith Tyr was simply a smaller stepping stone to greatness.

The daylight was nearly gone, and the outline of the moon was slightly visible in the sky. Gaius looked at it with wonder. How many more of these moons had he to left to see? How many of them would it take to make Alkar great? Tonight, this moon would see Mannith Tyr fall and Alkar prevail. This moon would see the beginning of greatness.

The two men reached a clearing and let down their packs. Gaius stood in place for several minutes gazing at the woods’ edge.

Arthur gained the courage to speak. “Gaius, I am exhausted. We have been walking for several hours now. Let my poor feet rest and let us make camp in this clearing.”

“I’m sorry Arthur, I can’t allow that. We will be safe soon enough.”

Then they were moving again. The clearing passed and so did any hope of using it as a camp for the night. Gaius needed to move on, there was really no other choice. He grabbed his pack and started for the tree line.

“How are we supposed to find our way in this? We’ll be lost in a matter of minutes.”

“I know where we’re going, Arthur. Calm yourself. It’s not too much longer.” They continued on through a path that seemed to go in no specific direction.

“Gaius, how do you know where we are going? I--”

A branch cracked behind the two and Arthur froze. Gaius turned.

“Gaius,” a voice whispered. “Over here, you fool.” A large, burly man came out from behind a tree.

“Des, you’re the fool,” Gaius retorted. “I could hear your bumbling self a mile back. Now take the lead so we know where we’re actually going.”

“You mean you didn’t know where we were before?” Arthur said sickened.

“No, not really. But we have Desmond now. He knows the way.”

Desmond gave a small chuckle and put an enormous hand on Arthur’s back. He uttered to Arthur in a deep voice, “You’re with me now, friend. And Desmond knows the way well.”

“Delightful.” Arthur gave the big man a look of reluctance.

Their shadows were being cast by the bright moonlight now instead of the sun. The terrain had turned from a wooded riverside to rocky hills. The river still raged through the hills, but there was less life at its edges than back in the forested regions. It was difficult to climb for the group, but the moon illuminated the ground, making it easier to see where one might break an ankle. Plus, Desmond knew which routes to take to avoid such a path.

“Des, I was never told where exactly we would be taken. Are we even close at this point?”

“Oh, we’re close, if you consider three miles to be a short distance. My legs can handle that if yours can.”

“I’m afraid not. Let’s stop here for the moment. Arthur and I have been traveling for several hours, after all, and we‘re not quite as young as we used to be.”

“As you wish, Gaius. I am here to serve. Where do you propose we stop and make camp?”

Gaius searched the landscape and spotted a small outcropping where he might see Mannith Tyr in the distance. He pointed. “Right there, on top of that ledge.”

The three took care in climbing up to the ledge. Pebbles rained down the hillside as they made their way up. After reaching the top, Desmond decided to gather some firewood to start a fire.

“We’re far enough from them to be safe,” he added.

After their guide had wandered far enough into the words, Gaius and Arthur sat down on a boulder. In the far distance, a radiant glow lit up the land, including the forest they had passed through.

“Mannith Tyr,” Arthur observed.

“Indeed,” Gaius replied. “General Raiz should have carried through with his orders by now. Mannith Tyr has surely fallen.”

“I am still in disbelief over what you have done Gaius. I am not sure I can ever forgive you.”

“I do not need your forgiveness, only your cooperation. We will be powerful men soon, Arthur. Powerful men.”

“Powerful men,” Arthur repeated sorrowfully kicking away a stone. “I had always wanted to be one of those.”