PART EIGHTEEN Cont'd:
See something and say something:
"Your majesty," started Dezen tentatively. Just as soon as the last of the exiting magistrates had filed out. He felt depleted of even the slightest ounce of patience at the moment. They (the magistrates) had just finished their weekly session with the king. A meeting, where pending issues, events and operations were suggested, objected and discussed. There had been briefings on the on going murder investigation of Debeh the queen's former personal maid. They had discussed leads on finding the still missing princess. Leads that had been raised, organized and presented in absentia by his royal highness the prince Amil himself. This was his own personal project that he oversaw. Gladly backed and supported, by his father the king. It was indeed, the young royal's first official assignment. And of course, on the list of the ruling board's agenda. Were also plans to move the domestic aspects of the palace along. Following the 'accidental death' of the former housekeeper.
"Yes Dezen," an almost wary king answered. His personal aide and body guard, were prepping him for yet another meeting with local province leaders and four dignitaries from a far away country. "Your majesty, we have not summoned or questioned any of the women or men for that 'matter', lately. It has been the tradition of the kingdom, for three generations now. Passed down from your grandfather himself. A great warrior who understood only too well the importance of preservation and protection."
"Dezen, those traditions and requirement were not established by my grandfather. I would know, I was his grandson. He merely allowed it as a courteous and charitable offering. To kindly honor the request of an ousted and dying kingdom." The royal glanced at a sheet his aide had placed in front of him.
"Yes your majesty, a kind gesture indeed from the great warrior king. But might I suggest also, that a threat to their existence is a notable one to yours also."
"Dezen, by the diligent pursuance of yours and the likes of you. I made this a prominent part of my reign from the very beginning. In almost the same way my father made it his. All it bred was strife, paranoia and ill-will between the people and their sovereign. It is time and trust consuming and practically leads to nowhere." The kings personal aide glared at Dezen who seemed not to care, before placing another sheet in front of the king. "But your majesty, we did just experience a brutal murder here in the palace recently. That was as close to the throne as one could possibly get." The sixth magistrate was desperate enough with his cause, to use even an example he cared little or nothing about.
"Are you suggesting, that the murder of my wife's personal maid is tied to the annihilation many years ago of an arnachical kingdom?" The irritated royal began to regret giving this magistrate any extra time of conversation. But he continued to finish his point anyway. "Debeh's murder, which is still under investigation. May very well be a personal threat and/or vendetta. Not necessarily a declaration of war on the whole province."
"Yes your majesty. I just feel we should still diligently uphold this tradition of sniffing out our opponents and eliminating them before they do us."
"A very good strategy Dezen. A very good strategy in war. But how are these people our opponents? They abide with us, causing no problems. They do not jeopardize our safety and well being. Therefore, convoluted and overly-rehearsed tales of birth-marks, living threats and stolen kingdoms. Passed from a fading kingdom to a surviving one that breeds nothing but fear and uncertainty. Thereby distracting from a necessary governance and a people who need it. I intend to give these people some breathing and growing space." The monarch paused to listen, as his aide whispered something into his ear.
He nodded to whatever had been told him and then turned back to Dezen who at this point looked like someone had knocked some air out of him. "So Dezen, if these people see what or who they should report. They will report it. While they are being birth as babies or the concept being conceived as adults. Until then no more mid-wife summonses or home invasion based on the speculations, rumors and gossip of the mark of an expected insurgent." The king's guards began to shuffle about in sudden activity, causing the magistrate to have to stretch his neck to see the royal. As he waited for the distracting foot movements to stop, he morosely and angrily contemplated the women whom he had already re-summoned for questioning and further instructions. He had demanded their presence on behalf of the king. He presumptuously invoked the 'emergency royal seal'. A seal reserved, in the event that the monarch was in danger.
He now reluctantly considered the embarassment of releasing them. How did he conclude such a task? Apologize to them for interrupting their morning meal? Or aptly confess to having made a humongous mistake. No matter which way he cut, he did not like how it felt or looked.
"One more thing and a word of advice," continued the king as soon as the previous activities slightly abated. "Something you should really think about. What if this person and/or entity and the mark they bear, were actually for our own good and survival? Not the opposite belief you so ardently uphold." "No your majesty!" The magistrate sounded panicked and desperate. "Quite respectfully, there cannot be any good in it as was foretold and warned by our forefathers. He is the enemy and he will come for our destruction. The 'mark' annoints and seperates him for that task. We must find him before it is too late, your majesty. Young or old, he must be identified and his purpose exposed."
There was a moment of deafening silence as the king just looked at him pensively. Then he declared conclusively; "This meeting is over Dezen." As he began to rise from the chair being held in place by his personal aide. Almost instantly and simultaneously, his two personal guards stepped forward and flanked both his sides.
"Your majesty, please your majesty." Pleaded Dezen, who was now feeling very dissappointed. "Your majesty, there indeed is a 'mark'......"
"I am sure there is Dezen," countered the king as he was reverently and gently ushered out of the chamber. The sixth magistrate felt blood rush to his head, as he wiped sweat from his brows with the back of his hand. He did not like being frustrated, yet it was happening a lot these days. He used to have the ear of the king, but it appeared that had been stolen. And the person he suspected, was never in his book of acknowledgement in the first place. He knew he had to do something and quickly too.
Down in the dungeon, where the flames never falter. A monitor rammed his tightly clenched fists into a rocky partition and cursed. Another unexpected and humiliating loss indeed. Mortals were slipping away from the mission and it was slowing everything down. They would either have to change their existing monitoring, managing and maneuvering methods. Or turn the heat up.
The power of 'knowing it all':
"Aaarrgh!" Exclaimed Heinus with a deep guttural croak that would have cringed an alligator's skin. "I just caused a bird to startle and then flutter its wings. So it would cause the squirrel to leap in fear and drop the heavy nut from the tree. Right on top the girl's head." Explained the annoyed first monitor.
"Very ingenious and well thought out. How did that go for you?" Inquired Xitus with an obviously underlying sarcasm. Even though the monitors neither liked nor cared to support or encourage each other. They would unite fiercely to carry out a fiendish mission. They were bonded and all agreed on these common goals: to kill, steal and destroy. "Not exactly," replied a furious Heinus. "I missed.... Again!"
"I thought so too," supplied the second monitor unfeelingly. "Though she is a constant target, she is not exactly an easy one." All three monitors watching the present and discussed scene nodded their agreement in unison.
"Well from the signs observed and foretold in times past. We do know this much, she will be some form of shining threat and distress to us at some point in the future. And for the patent death of me, I really don't see why she would or how she could possibly reek such havoc. Must have be a mistake or mis-read. Does not make any sense at all." Heinus mumbled as he prepared to move to his next plot.
Bivus the third monitor stood up from the far side of the large mirror, where he had been collating images for the 'fly-lord's perusal and approval. And walked slowly to where Xitus sat. At the same moment, Heinus got up to check on some subordinate monitors and their assignments in an adjoining chamber.
"Isn't it interesting, that no matter how closely and intently we snoop, watch and stalk them. We still do not and cannot know everything. The antagonist to our existence, still deludes us." Xitus turned to look at his counterpart, as if he had gone mad.
"What brought that line of questioning up? And why do you care to know everything anyway? Have you not been able to cause ample damage, from the information you already gleaned. And from the observation and the subsequent ones supplied by our master?" The second monitor bombarded him impatiently.
"Knowing everything, isn't that what this is all about? Isn't that what we are looking for and all about ourselves? Is that not what our lord and master craves also?"
"Craves maybe," Xitus whispered. Careful that Heinus who was still out of the chamber, was not on his way back. And no other monitors around them were listening to their conversation. "But he is over it. The craving for 'omniscience' I mean. He just works harder to fill in the gaps. He knows he cannot be everywhere, know everything and see everything. Though his dilligence however, makes it appear so to the mortal mind." The second monitor finished with a knowing certainty and a shake of his head.
"Sometimes, it is hard to believe that our master is just a step above the rest of us. Yes I know he was once the most magnificent and bore light itself on his lapels. But it appears his fall was harder and lower than his glory ever was. His plunge exceeded his rise." Bivus lowered his whisper even further as he continued. "The way he fills the atmosphere when he shows up, is suffocating. So that one grasps for any thread of sustainance every passing second. As they feel the smoke being sucked out of them. It makes me wonder....." The third monitor trailed of, as if seeking the answers to his own question.
"He fills this atmosphere, because it is an extension of himself. He is the personification of darkness and our world and existence is dark. We are one with him and we abide within what we are. Now I would like to drop this subject before the dark lord himself becomes a part of it. I am sure you know what that would mean for us. Even with an inevitably imposing end." Bivus nodded, glanced towards the far end of the room at the other monitors who seemed engrossed with whatever they were doing and then muttered his question to Xitus again. "Is he here now?" That one felt fear engulfing him like eager flames. "Maybe, maybe not," started the second monitor who had now spotted Heinus moving towards them. "But know this for sure. He watches us, even as we watch them." He finished flatly. Just in time to hear what his first counterpart had to say.
Unsevered and stolen samples:
'Shiny-shoes' pulled out the old and dusty box, then snapped its rusty bolts open. Ignoring the soot that had settled from lack of air and usage. She reached into it and pulled out a tightly wrapped cloth. Gently and systematically, armed with knowing and deft fingers. She unwrapped the covering, to reveal a small vial filled with fluid. Extracting the vial carefully, she walked with it over to her temporarily mounted altar. Then placing the small container on a spread piece of white cloth, she started to chant and speak within intervals. "How far can he go if I still have a piece of him....?" The highpriestess smiled slyly at the answer to her own question.