Elemental Awakening

Chapter Fifteen

A team of thirty large men heaved at the heavy hemp ropes straining muscle and sinew to extract the water heavy boats out of the bay. The first group of cattle were filing into the camp awaiting the boats to leave the water. The men however were tasked with pulling the boats across the dock fearing that the cattle would panic and fall into the waters dragging the boats back in with them. So Cleo made rails to keep the boats from sliding from the dock, while the men still had to do the arduous work of pulling waterlogged wooden boats onto the stone dock. Sui helped as best he could by using directed blasts of air to force the sails to drag the boats out, and Wendy pulled the water out of the wood as they left the water, but after roughly fifteen vessels the elementals were exhausted. 

Using their abilities used up their own strengths and energy reserves, once Cleo built the ramp and road she slept for an entire day and ate two meals once she woke. Work camps were created with able bodied men and women taking shifts of cooking or reinforcing the boats that had begun to circle the camp outside of the Goldport town. The nomads that had finally joined the rest of the group began trading with the Goldport residents, and members of the council encouraged people to join the mass exodus to the Goldcity. Few families joined, most waiting until the traveling vessels were completed indicating that they were lazy and opportunistic. 

The elementals became a novelty in the week that was spent at Goldport, with people asking for demonstrations as though they were a side show in a circus. 

“I suppose the way that we are traveling we are some sort of show.” Muttered Wendy.

“I’m not some strange novelty for these people's entertainment. I’m freaking magic! Or whatever this ability is.” David griped back at Wendy. 

Wendy shook her head, her face becoming more annoyed. “Imagine for even a second that you are in their position. A huge group of people, many in clothing that you have only heard stories about have descended upon your community to use your docks that by the way are your way of life, interrupting their fishing routines to pull massive boats out of the water, and they have with them strange magic using people that are basically calling the shots.” She huffed flinging her hands up in David’s face “Oh and Dragons!”

Stepping back from Wendy David sighed, “Fine you’re right, I guess I can ease the hearts and minds of the people and give a small show.” He looked back over his shoulder where Sui was using blasts of air to hover a group of giggling children.

“We won’t be able to convince people to join us if they don’t trust us.” Wendy calmed noticing the group of children and their families gathering around them. “And as cheap as it sounds parlor tricks to make people happy does build trust in us. People are happy if their children are happy, they trust us if they see that their children are protected and cared for. We need to save these people as much as we need to save our own tribes, no one is going to make it out of this calamity if we are divided.” David nodded in agreement with Wendy’s sentiment. He understood, because he was going to be a father soon. 

“I’ll juggle some fire balls. Make some kids smile.” David shook his head somewhat feeling defeated, but knowing that Wendy was right on this one. He still questioned why everyone seemed to turn to him as a leader when Sui and Wendy were so much smarter than him. He just hoped that Dankiyet and her grandmother were making headway with Tangden and the Goldcity’s government. 

...

Tangden sat in the circle around a campfire with the larger council that the combined group created discussing how to approach the council once they reached the city. “We will need a plan once you enter the city. Your barge of gold was a brilliant idea, and alone that would have convinced me to join your group, but once I saw the apparition of the former elemental I knew that I must help you.”

“What do you suggest then?” Dankiyet flatly asked. Tangden was bothered with the very direct approach of these desert dwellers, and found it hard not expecting it to be a ploy to subvert him.

“I will have to teach you how to speak with the senators, and clerks. You will not be granted an audience with any of the three kings. You will have to gain sponsorship of one of the senators and his clerk, and they will speak to the kings on your behalf.” Tangden explained.

Dragon Queen Nix rumbled behind him, and her rider, Sephanie, spoke on her behalf. “Tangden, if we need to learn to speak a new language my queen can telepathically communicate through touch if needed. She is also adamant that we speak directly with the kings, as to impart the enormity of the situation.”

The tax man shuddered at the large Dragon’s presence. “Your grace, we do not speak so directly as your people do, our leadership is far distant and removed from the people. Speaking to the senators is difficult enough, but an average person may never see a king in person. They only present themselves to be viewed once every three months at the market promenade. The language isn’t the issue either, it’s how you use it.”

“Then teach us, but we need this meeting as soon as possible, the last attack from Locksear was narrowly thwarted, and I’m sure he will strike again soon.” Dankiyet was getting annoyed, the round about way of Tangden and most of the Gold inhabitants was frustrating.

“Yes, yes, that is what I am trying to explain. You are so direct and to the point that the way you address the residents of Gold, may be perceived as insult, or covert. The senators will spend all afternoon just to tell you good morning. There is almost a game in trying to take as much of your time as possible so that you never have a chance to lodge your complaint or request. The senators only want to keep from performing their job, and keep you from knowing that they are wasting your time.” Tangden flourished as he explained, in the most direct way that he could. “You will have to emulate this, as to get their attention to get your request taken care of.”

Mangrotin groaned and rubbed his face “This is going to be frustrating. How are we to get anything done if it takes three days to have a single conversation?”

“This is where I shall help you. The senators have many clerks, the senators rarely speak directly with one another, and use their clerks to hold conversations. I shall become one of your clerks. I will need to be dressed as one of your council members, and I will escort five of you to the senate floor and speak for you.” Tangden’s plan was fairly sound.

“What happens once we gain an audience with a senator? And how will the clerks or anyone else not recognize you as their tax man?” Avensong asked.

“The senate never interacts directly with their tax collectors. Every office in Gold has many layers of bureaucracy between leadership and it’s citizens.” Tangden paused. “There is one thing that I know your people will find distasteful in the city. Slaves are a common site, and you may need a few people to perform as slaves for your retinue to be taken seriously. The city has this ideology that if you do not own a slave, then you are a slave.”

“No. That is not a thing that we do.” Avensong’s voice was sharp enough to flay the man sitting across from her and Tangden flinched in response. 

“Do you have slaves?” Dankiyet asked.

“No, I am a slave, but a slave of the city, not a master.” he quietly replied.

“Then how are you dressed so lavishly, I’m certain that normal slaves don’t have such nice clothing.” Mangrotin pointed out.

“These gold chains mark me as a slave, these gold cuffs indicate that the city owns me. All clerks are slaves so my cuffs will aid in the appearance before the senate, we are treated a little better than house slaves, or brothel fodder, but I still have no rights. I have to appeal if I wish to marry, or move residence, or even purchase clothing. Life in Gold is merely a gilded cage.” 

The Queen dragons rumbled, they knew that their riders were almost on the same level, but they were still given much better lives than the residents of Gold. The key difference was that the dragons were just as bound to their riders as the riders were to the dragon. If their rider felt pain, they would bear that pain, if their rider wanted to move the dragon felt obligated to move for them. And relationships were mutual, some dragons would value themselves higher than their rider, but those dragons were usually punished by the other dragons. This city was pure corruption running rampant.

The rest of the larger council looked sick and shocked. Many members were questioning if they even wanted to deal with these people at all. Ashfoot spoke up as everyone was reaching the same conclusion. “We need to go into the city, if only to offer aid to those that wish to seek it. The city would be much easier to protect, in the event of an attack, hopefully whoever we are able to gain an audience with will see the same.” 

“So that is decided, we will attempt to speak with these senators, and offer aid to any that seek it.” Tariel addressed. “I would like to be one of the five.”

“As would I.” Dankiyet added. Chime Claudagh rider volunteered next followed by Cafune. 

“It seems you have one seat open, may I suggest one of the elementals? Perhaps master Air.” Tangden pointedly said.

Dankiyet nodded, “Yes Sui is most suited for diplomacy, he may have insight from his time in the dreaming world.”

...

Several days after the meeting with the larger council Tangden escorted the agreed upon group to meet with the corrupted senate of the gold city. Sui, Dankiyet, Chime, Tariel, and Cafune were all dressed in finery found among the members of the exodus. They felt uncomfortable and closer to being dressed for a ceremony than a simple meeting. Risdon, and Talon presented themselves as fellow slaves for the journey into the city. The group were dropped off at the gate by queen Claudagh, and two other dragons.

Once the party landed and sorted their clothing they approached the gates allowing the guards to inspect them and take custody of the large bribe that Tangden suggested they bring. The guards issued them a receipt, with an amount that was approximately half of what they brought. From the guard reception they climbed into two awaiting carriages while the queen dragon flew directly to the senate building. Gold and the people in the city were familiar with Dragons, though it had been several years since one had visited their establishment.

The carriages traveled along the main thoroughfare of the city to the heart of the city where the senate building and offices were situated. The road continued through the senate complex up to the cliffs where the palace occupied the entire peninsula that jutted out into the bay. They all hoped to be able to be seen by the kings, but it felt like a feeble one. If the senate were in control of their fate they needed to have their roles perfected before their audience with the senate floor.

They walked through the offices and the winding corridors of the senate offices once they debarked from the carriages. Each office they went to inspected their belongings and checked their inspection sheet from the guard house. Each office left a mark on the sheet indicating a percent of the bribe that would need to be sent to their offices. Sui was worried that they would have nothing left for lodging once they reached the senate floor. 

Each interaction tested their social skills that they had to rapidly develop after formulating the plan. It was clear that only half of the group would have enough tact and skill to be able to stand before the senate. 

The party had a few problems with pretending to be slave owners and pampas snobs for the senate. No one could stomach the idea for long enough to not allow disgust to show on their faces. Chime was better at playing the part as she was instructed and guided by her queen dragon, but oddly Cafune was the best at playing the stuck up senator. “It is only because Gold was once one of our stops before they began hiring brigands to attack our nomads.” She shrugged 

“We should make the best of this opportunity while we are here.” Sui stated and followed Tangden into the senate chamber leaving Dankiyet, Tariel, Talon, and Risdon in the antichamber. It was agreed that because Cafune and Chime were the best at filling their role in appearance and mannerisms that they would accompany Tangden and Sui into the domed room.

The half of the party that was led into the senate room observed the people that they were expected to impress. Sui mused that they were painted and dressed as though they were in some european court during the renaissance. Puffy coats, and gold embroideries, bright colors and heavy make up. Some of the faces looked blank or bored, others Sui could tell that their makeup was a lesser quality as it was melting or running off of their faces. He felt suffocated with the closeness that all the chairs of the room were crowded to the center. 

Tangden walked to the center of the hearing chamber and addressed the senators and clerks presenting Sui, Cafune, and Chime. “Esteemed members of the senate, I the humble slave of my masters beseech that you grace them with your benevolence and wisdom.” Several people began nodding, while others still looked detached from the new people in the room. Tangden continued with his lengthy introduction until roughly half of the members were paying attention to him. He rounded out his introduction after several minutes stepping behind Cafune, then leaving to a side office where most of the clerks and slaves waited.  

“Great leaders and lawmakers of Gold. I Cafune, of the desert tribes gratefully have witnessed your splendor and magnanimity, of your fair and glorious city. I beg that you hear tale of atrocities and damnation, of a beastly evil that has descended upon our lives as a plague, driving us from our homes and lands.” Murmurs and coughs were heard as Cafune flourished and performed for the senate to garner their sympathy, but it was to no avail.

An old man with enough chains to break his fragile bones around his neck stood. “What care should we have that the barbarians in the desert are sick and dying from some unclean trash that they found rooting around in the sand. It is not profitable to extend charity to these savages.” Chime began to turn red with anger at the cruelty of the old senator.

“Fair gentleman you should worry of this detestable calamity as it has driven Dragon and Nomad from the land stripping flesh from bone. None survive that have encountered the hostility of the beast in the dessert. Were it not for the elementals we surely would be dead, you yourself shortly after. We have come to warn and offer you protection to your citizens and an allegiance to guard from the swarm of the beast.” Chime stood tall, and spoke for her Queen as the dragon scrambled on the roof causing tiles to fall from the ceiling narrowly missing one sleeping senator.  

The sleeping senator stood up wiping drool from his face then kicked his seatmate and left the room. The seatmate, a beautiful woman, with very little finery or paint compared to the others in the room stood to address the party. “Why should we accept your allegiance, it seems as though you have brought destruction to our door steps, it seems that it is your fault that this beast as you say even knows of the Gold city in the first place. You want our protection not the other way around!” the woman sat down, while the rest of the senators began clapping in agreement. A clerk stood in the front row, and began showing the party back out the door to the antechamber to meet with the rest of their party.

Once rejoined with her companions Chime angrily burst out. “How is speaking with these horrible people going to make any sort of difference in our endeavors?” Queen Claudagh’s Rider was frustrated with the first meeting with the senate floor. 

“I don’t know madam, but we must make the effort to save as many lives as we can. Innocents and children must be evacuated before the corruption consumes them.” Dankiyet replied not knowing what happened in the room.

Sui sighed. “It does not look good. The senate doesn’t seem very concerned with safety, or does not believe that the threat is real at all.”

“Where is Tangden?” Tariel asked.

Cafune looked around. “I don’t know, he was sent to the clerk’s room, let me find an attendant to retrieve him for us.” Cafune stepped out of the antechamber to retrieve their escort. She came back after a few moments. “He is speaking with the clerks, and should be with us shortly.”

After exiting the senate floor,Tangden approached the party Tariel with his eyes down in submission as his station required in case anyone was to see him. “My sister is a clerk, and her senator requests a meeting with you. I’m not sure how this is going to help, though, she is a new senator.”

“When is this meeting supposed to happen?” Sui asked.

“Now. My sister is on her way here to escort us to her senator’s office.” Tangden replied and stepped to the side waiting for their escort. 

Shortly a woman that looks nothing like Tangden appeared in the doorway. Her long blond hair, fair skin and blue eyes stood in direct contrast to Tangden's Dark complexion and multi hued hair. “Brother, it is so nice to see you, let us take our friends to the offices.” She spoke in a flat emotionless tone belying the warm greeting and smile.  She gestured that the party should follow her. 

“Of course sister.” Tangden adopted her flat tone immediately and mimicked her movements as she glided down the hall to the private offices and conference rooms of the senate. 

Once the party entered the conference room connected to the private office of the still unknown senator the party was instructed to have a seat, save those playing the part of slave. Once Cafune, Sui, Tariel, Dankiyet and Chime were seated the very same woman that spoke so ill to them walked into the room and sat at the head of the table.

Chime grew red once more and stood from her chair pointing her finger at the senator about to scream until her Queen took control of her body. And spoke through her. “Why would you call for a meeting when you accused us of fabricating a threat?” Chime’s body sat back down, but it was clear that Claudagh was still in control. 

The woman looked Chime over then introduced herself. “My name is Exquisite, and I am having to play the same role that you are. This. your majesty is the best strategy of fighting Locksear.”

The party was gobsmacked, how would this woman from the very self centered city of Gold know anything about the beast in the desert? Sui broke the silence. “How would you know such specifics?”

“I have many informants, if you will, and unlike the rest of my fellows actually care about what is happening in the world. When villages that would trade with Gold stopped trading, and the bandits that the senate hired stopped coming to claim money, and when the fishing fleets reported a navy from the Maw, I took notice. I began asking, or sending my ears out to listen. And one name started circulating around the docks once you landed. It didn’t take me long to get the whole story.” The senator explained.

“Will you help us gain an audience for the gold kings?” Dankiyet asked.

“No, but that is because there are no gold kings. The senate has been ruling Gold since the last king died ten years ago.” Tangden gasped, indicating that he had no idea that his own ruler was dead. “The first two died at the same time when plague began to run through the city, and the third king died when he hung himself in his bedroom. The senate never elected to place any new kings, and began running the country themselves with no one to veto their decisions. I joined the senate to try to expose them and bring about a new government system. But the corruption runs deep.” 

Cafune placed her hands on the table to keep them from trembling. “Ten years ago was when the bandits started attacking our trade routes, did the senate decide to hire the mercenaries because the last king would have thrown out that suggestion?”

Exquisite nodded. “Yes madam, I had joined the senate after that decision, but I went through all the records that they kept. They hired them to directly destabilize the Cactus Paw.”

“Then coming here was probably the worst decision that we could have made.” Tariel sighed, rubbing his temples. “We won’t be able to gain any kind of aid from these people.”

“If I may interrupt,” Tangden’s sister paused to wait for approval “The best way to appeal to the senate is to go through their purses. There is only one language spoken in the city and it is economics. These people care not for lives or danger, they only care about the horde of treasure that they can amass before they die. They will cut off their own hands if it means that they die the richest.”

“Thank you, Yasigi, that is an important point.” Exquisite turned back to the table. “My suggestion is that you agree to surrender your land to the Gold.” 

Dankiyet looked murderous. “Is this why you invited us for this meeting, so that the Gold could take our ancestral lands?”

“At this point you have no way of going back to it, and with your influx of people you will tip the population so that the senate will have to open up seats for your nobles to become senators. Your votes will outweigh the current administrations and you will be able to change the laws here.” Exquisite detailed. “This is how I want to get rid of the corruption, and cut out the cancer that has infected this once just and lawful city.” 

Everyone sat staring at Exquisite, understanding that she was suggesting a coup of her own country.