Lorgan sat on the bottom bunk of the tiny room reading the Imperial Times taking a sip from the warm tea.
‘I can’t believe this murdering scumbag is our leader. I can’t believe it!’ He slapped the newspaper across the room, instantly lost amongst the other pieces of rubbish and unwashed clothing.
‘Calm down Lorg. What about the invasion? They say the rebels have finally had enough’ Hoyt lay on the top bunk staring at the ceiling whilst bouncing a ball off a spot of stuck food he picked out.
‘I’d be more concerned about that!’
Lorgan layed out flat also, looking at the wooden slats above.
‘It’s all a bunch of manure if you ask me. I know that General is up to something. I won’t forget what he said to that madman in the cells. you won’t tell a soul he said before killing him. Manure, all of it’
Hoyt laughed out loud ‘You and you’re conspiracy theories. So you’re telling me that Machiavel has invaded two towns himself?’
‘Well I still think it’s fishy, the whole thing’
Lorgan replayed the scene in his head, the general stormed passed the cell. Than the shackled man told him about his baby ‘her little head flew’. The general pulled his sword with no provocation and killed the man. The scream wouldn’t leave Lorgan quickly; it was a scream like no other. Lorgan had never heard someone die before that night, and for that he resented the general even more. He huffed and stood up stretching his muscles. Walking to the small slat that was their window he looked onto the street below. The slum was business as usual, the tight lane packed full of people moving about. Beggars sat on the floor as usual. Women passed carrying food for their families. Fathers trying to bring in as much coin as possible, doing all sorts of money making activities, against Imperial code or not. It mattered little in this part of the city.
‘I’m going to go down stairs see how Commodus is getting on. See if anything needs doing. That soup wont sale itself’
‘I know we payed them some money yesterday, but we still owe them rent Lorgan, one week behind’
He nodded in frustration. Of course he knew. He left Hoyt who continued throwing the ball at the ceiling. He also knew Flogger was looking for them, and retribution would be at best….undesirable.
‘Commodus! How are you today? Smells amazing as usual’ Lorgan appeared from the stairs leading into the soup kitchens with a large grin on his face. Commodus put down the newspaper and outstretched his wrinkled hand.
‘Lorgan, my favourite tenant. Hahaha you scoundrel, scammed anybody recently?’
Lorgan grabbed the hand shaking it.
‘Innocent little me, scamming…… never. I came down to see if you need any help’
Commodus’s dark face looked around the kitchen for any work that needed doing.
‘In fact, you could help by cutting those vegetables’ Commodus smiled again
‘Why are you being so helpful, could it be something to do with the rent young man?’
Lorgan laughed ‘Of course not Commodus, I would help you even If those rebels were outside this very door. In fact this soup is so good, I think we could use it to stop them’
‘Flattery as usual, save it for the ladies. Or my wife when she comes in here demanding that money’
Lorgan put an apron on and began his chores. Using a knife he cut the tomatoes, carrots. He peeled some potatoes, but as he did his thoughts returned to the new Premier. ‘you wont tell a soul’ . What could it mean? Why would the premier not want a witness? This must have some significance, but what? He had read the paper, it said the rebels had completely demolished two towns. They were only men from the woods, they didn’t have siege weapons. They just rejected Imperial authority and wanted peace, surely? To the south Lorgans home town lay and he hoped it wouldn’t be attacked in the same way. He knew he could Escape to Hoyt’s Empire ‘Elderon’ if things got too bad.
He wanted to do something with the knowledge, but who could he tell? The Guard, they were run by Machiavel. An elder perhaps? He distrusted them as well. He could think of one person, but he hadn’t seen him for some years. Lorgan huffed cutting into another carrot. From behind he heard Commodus frying the vegetables in a large pan, they sizzled and the delicious smell filled Lorgan’s nostrils. The exotic spices of the Elderons brang back memories of his travels there. He had enjoyed their culture, their people, their women! He smiled at the memory cutting into another carrot. The sound of sizzling died down and was replaced with the sound of large footsteps, closely followed by a shadow looming over him. Lorgan stopped cutting and looked forward eyes wide. He felt warm breath on the back of his head followed by the smell of Ale and unwashed teeth. He knew the time would come, it was inevitable. Flogger had found him.
The large man grabbed Lorgan by his hair putting him in a head lock. Lorgan’s eyes felt like bursting as he struggled to breathe. He kicked out violently against the wall pushing himself and Flogger backwards, both falling to the ground in a pile. Vegetables fell from the table covering them. Lorgan’s face reddened as the blood was squeezed into the vessels of his head. Desperation kicked in.
‘You thought you could out smart me did you?!’
Lorgan had to breathe, and he used all his strength to elbow the large man in the stomach, causing flogger to recoil momentarily. Lorgan took the opportunity and spun out from his grasp, grabbing a pan from the table. He immediately wished he had grabbed the knife that lay on the floor. They stood face to face, Lorgan held the pan, Flogger fists raised.
‘Let’s talk about this bug guy. No-one needs to get hurt’
Flogger grabbed the pan of hot food that began burning on the stove swinging it at Lorgan who jumped out of the way. Commodus stood dumfounded pressed against the wall watching the scene, clearly shocked.
‘TALK! Are you crazy? I want my money!!’
They continued to square off to each other, Flogger slowly advancing on the much smaller man.
‘I’ve got your money, right here in my pocket’ Lorgan said. He looked down to his pocket, and Flogger followed his gaze. He was oblivious as a pan came crashing down onto his head from behind. A stunned Hoyt was the culprit, and he stood staring at the pan in disbelief. It had completely crumpled inwards, and Flogger stood unaffected. The brute causally turned around grinning at the man.
‘Here’s you’re little Elderon boyfriend. Now I’m going to kill you both!’
Flogger advanced on Hoyt, who backed away slowly. Lorgan grabbed the opportunity pouncing onto Floggers back striking the side of his face repeatedly with the pan. Flogger spun round trying to get him off and Hoyt now picked another pan and tried to hit. The three of them all now were using every weapon they could to hit each other. Pans flew, and vegetables skidded to the floor. Plates smashed to the floor and all sorts of ingredients were rocked from the shelves scattering to the ground. Commodus backed away from the scene watching his kitchen being destroyed. Soup was off the menu today.
Davros’ office door was barged open, as angry face after angry face of senior elders strode in still frustrated by the news. Liberty and Davros entered behind them. Davros went to his desk.
‘Who does he think he is?’ Elder Louis started. ‘He’s mad!’ another one said.
‘Elders please, stay calm’ Davros said from the safety of his desk. Laticia stood to one side of him quietly looking out of the window thinking of the news also.
‘What are we going to do? This means we have no control. He has brought back the death penalty as a blatant disrespect to us. He knows the consensus!’
‘ELDERS’ Davros shouted. This time they heard, and silence ensued.
‘Please, sit down and we can talk quietly’
They sat at the chairs that surrounded the desk. Two elders had to stand, all 6 looked on Davros.
‘Laticia, I think this calls for the secret weapon’ followed by a smile.
‘Of course’ she said, and began preparing tea.
Once everyone had sipped some of the warm Lemon and Honey infusion, it was time to talk about Machiavel.
‘This is an outrage. He is just taking advantage of a loop hole and he knows it’. Elder Louise was head of the healers; her long brown hair was showing signs of grey as the years went on. Davros had never seen her this anxious before, making him begin to realise the situation. From behind her Kulak another long time Elder chipped in ‘We have been rendered useless. He can change or add any code he wishes. Absolutely anything he wants!’ Everyone murmured in agreement. Davros sipped his tea, placing it on the table ‘You are all right, but we must have some faith in him. Don’t you realise we can do nothing at all to counter this. We ourselves created article 12!’ Louise just huffed in frustration. ‘Damn Article 12! So how will we continue?’ Everyone looked at each other, no one had an answer. Laticia stood away from the window and confronted the group ‘Why hasn’t anyone spoke of the people of Atriop of Ibilis? They are our main concern, not petty politics. According to the new Premier, a lot of our fellow citizens have been returned to the mountain father, and we sit here and squabble and complain that our power has gone’. Louise nodded in agreement ‘You’re right, of course. But with respect what can we do now except talk? We cannot instruct anyone to do anything at this time. He has taken our power to help’ Silence continued as everyone thought for a moment, ‘I have a suggestion’ Laticia said. Everyone became interested
‘Go on girl, spit it out’
She faced the group of elders. ‘Okay, now Machiavel may be in charge, but it is impossible to run all the affairs of the Imperial government himself, obviously. He knows that he needs help from us to run, just about anything.’ Everyone agreed. ‘Louise, he knows for example you’re the best person to run the healers, and that you Kulak the treasury’ everyone just looked, wandering where she was heading.
‘So I suggest that we formally give him our full support instead of oppose him. And from there take it one step at a time. Othwerwise im certain he will alienate us’
Gurt, who was silence until now was not happy ‘No way, I will never support him; he knowingly took power from us at a time of crisis. He has brought back executions, and on top of that he will kill a captain.’
‘A Captain?’ Davros asked, ‘Yes Davros’ Louise said, ‘haven’t you heard? Apparently he tried to set up his sergeant for murdering a soldier, and will be executed for it.’ Davros was shocked by the news ‘I never knew. What’s the Captain’s name? I know many of them as we regularly meet discussing policing matters.’
‘Please Davros, let’s stay on the task at hand, ill stay behind and give you all the details afterwards. So what does everyone think? We formally support Premier Machiavel.’
Davros put the disturbing news of execution to the back of his mind, thinking of the suggestion ‘I see the logic behind this. I say this because we do not know how much power he will return to us, for all we know he may have people ready to take our jobs from us, so we must act quickly. If we offer support, he may give us autonomy, and bit by bit we can claw our way back into decision making. Also I would like everyone to remember, we want power back to cope with the crisis. It sounds as if the rebels are attacking us, and we need to stay as level headed as possible. As Laticia said, do not let politics get in the way of action. I also suggest we speak to Machiavel immediately about what he plans in response to attacks. So lets adjourn for now, and Laticia’ lowering his voice ‘Please let me know about that Captain.’
