B7 - Chapter 24: Power Play (Patreon)

The great hall felt different to Margret as she entered for the second day of proceedings. The marble pillars still stretched toward their v

The great hall felt different to Margret as she entered for the second day of proceedings. The marble pillars still stretched toward their vaulted heights, the gold veins still caught the morning light, but now she saw them for what they truly were—a stage.

Once more, she took her seat among the elven delegation, the gossamer robes settling around her. Yesterday, she had fidgeted with the unfamiliar fabric. Today, her hands remained still, folded in her lap. All tension had left her with the uncertainty of the future.

The Empire will win.

The words echoed in her thoughts as she watched the delegations file in. The Empire's representatives moved with the same military precision, but now she noticed their subtle confidence for what it was: Certainty.

Otto Geistreich's shoulders sat relaxed beneath his formal robes. The four Elders chatted quietly among themselves, their postures speaking of men and women attending to formality rather than crisis.

And Azra von Hohenheim—Margret's eyes tracked him as he took his seat. Yesterday, she had seen polish and calculated charm. Today, she recognized the predator's patience in his movements, the way his gaze swept the room, cataloguing every detail while maintaining that pleasant, diplomatic smile.

The Alliance representatives arrived in a similar fashion to the day before. The Storm Exarch moved with the measured calm of gathering clouds, the Light Exarch of Equinox held herself with rigid control, and Aurelia Thorsten glided between them like a pale specter. But now that Margret knew what to look for, she saw the subtle signs: the way none of the Exarchs quite met the eyes of the elven or dwarven delegations, the careful distance they maintained.

"Unbelievable," Margret murmured, the realization striking her like cold water.

"What was that?" Lyriel asked softly beside her.

"Nothing," Margret replied, but her gaze remained fixed on the Alliance delegation. She had not been told how the talks from the day before had ended, but judging by the apparent distance, it was clear they had not reached an accord. She hoped this didn’t mean what she feared it might.

Soon after, Midas entered with his three guardians, taking his position at the head of the assembly. The childish form of Sheol Veylor had already claimed the isolated chair, grey eyes bright with what might have been amusement. Today, the King of the Dead had brought a different book, one she recognized from her lord’s study. And not for the first time, Margret asked herself what this formidable being was doing here, observing these meaningless proceedings.

"We reconvene to address the matter of Exarch deployment," Midas began, his voice carrying that same neutral weight. "The positions were made clear yesterday. I trust the night has brought... clarity."

The word hung in the air like a challenge. Margret watched as the Exarchs remained still, seemingly no longer in the mood to argue. Instead, it was a younger Korrovan diplomat who rose—someone Margret vaguely recognized from yesterday's proceedings.

"We have considered the Empire's arguments," the diplomat said, his voice carrying carefully rehearsed notes. "We maintain concerns about the precedent of Exarch deployment."

"Yet the legal framework remains clear," Azra von Hohenheim replied smoothly. "The Accord's language is unambiguous in its scope."

And there it was: the crux that her lord had identified. The subordinates danced around the point while their masters sat in regal silence. The Accord of Limitation applied only to its signatories. The elves had never signed.

Since the beginning, the Alliance had never challenged that assertion. Was it because they couldn’t? She had thought so, once, but now she saw behind that facade. The Alliance didn’t want to escalate the war. At least, not over a few dead elves.

"Perhaps," another Alliance representative interjected, "the empire should at least state their position on the nature of their plans? Will Exarchs’ deployments stay defensive?"

Margret's attention sharpened. The Alliance wasn't even trying to win anymore. They were fishing for information, pressing for commitments that might benefit them later. She glanced at Lady Goldleaf, noting how the Matriarch's eyes had narrowed almost imperceptibly.

Azra von Hohenheim leaned forward slightly, his reasonable smile never wavering. "The Empire remains committed to continental stability. We seek unity, not destruction."

"Through the deployment of your most destructive assets?" the Alliance diplomat pressed.

"Through the proportionate defense of our forces," Azra countered smoothly. "But as we've established, this is a matter of interpretation best resolved through expanded agreements."

"The elven position?" one of the Alliance diplomats prompted, turning toward their delegation.

Lady Goldleaf remained silent for a long moment, forcing the subordinate to wait. When she finally spoke, her words were measured. "We seek justice for our slaughtered kin."

"By what means?" the diplomat pressed, showing more boldness than wisdom.

"That be our own business," Lord Stoneforge rumbled before Goldleaf could answer. "As it always has been."

Margret saw it then, the trap her lord had described snapping into focus. The Alliance wanted the elves and dwarves to demand action, to force escalation that the human powers could then reluctantly support. But more than that, they wanted commitment. They wanted the non-human races to finally, officially, choose a side.

"Surely," another Alliance representative tried, "the continental community must stand together—"

"Must we?" Lady Goldleaf's tone remained pleasant, but Margret heard the steel beneath. "We held our peace while you humans waged your wars for centuries. Now you invoke community when it serves your purpose?"

The Alliance diplomat faltered, glancing toward his silent masters for guidance that wouldn't come. The Exarchs had delegated this performance to their subordinates, maintaining their dignity while the necessary words were spoken.

"You are free to join a new Accord," Azra von Hohenheim said, filling the awkward silence. "We propose comprehensive talks, new frameworks that include all peoples—"

"Under yer guidance, no doubt," a dwarven representative spat.

"Under mutual cooperation," Azra corrected gently. "Unless others prefer the current ambiguities?"

The morning wore on, and with each exchange, Margret saw more clearly the elaborate dance being performed. The Alliance pressed, but not too hard, their representatives careful not to overreach. The Empire defended, but magnanimously, offering solutions to problems they had created. Both sides were maintaining the fiction that this was genuine negotiation rather than choreographed theater.

Through it all, the Exarchs remained largely silent. These were beings who could reshape the land with their will, who ruled nations and commanded armies. They would not lower themselves to bickering over semantics. That was what subordinates were for.

"Perhaps," Midas said into a lull, "we should move toward resolution. The positions seem clear."

There were no dissenting voices. All that could be said had been.

"If there are no further substantive arguments," Midas continued, "we shall proceed to judgment."

"Korrovan maintains its position," Bijal Raja said, speaking for the first time today. His voice rumbled like distant thunder, carrying the weight of his station. "The Accord stands as written."

Just that. No passion, no fury, no demand for justice. Simply an acknowledgment of legal reality that absolved them of responsibility while leaving the door open for future maneuvering.

The Light Exarch nodded once, sharp and decisive. Aurelia Thorsten merely blinked slowly, like a cat acknowledging the obvious.

The formal voting proceeded with mechanical precision. The Empire voted for its own innocence. The Alliance representatives, following their masters' lead, voted the same.

Not guilty.

Not guilty.

Not guilty.

Margret's fingers tightened in her lap. So this was how the powerful played their games: not with righteousness or fairness, but with calculated moves designed to trap others. The Alliance couldn't force the elves and dwarves to join them, but they could create situations where neutrality became increasingly untenable.

"The verdict is unanimous," Midas announced. "The Empire's deployment of an Exarch against elven forces did not violate the Accord of Limitation, as the affected parties were not signatories to said Accord."

"However," Midas continued, "this hearing has highlighted significant gaps in our continental agreements. I propose the formation of a special committee to draft expanded accords, with representation from all affected parties."

More committees. More talks. More opportunities for the great powers to maneuver while Rukia bled out.

As the delegations began to rise, maintaining the same dignified order they'd shown throughout, Margret caught sight of the Alliance Exarchs. No fury marred their features. No disappointment weighted their shoulders. They moved with the satisfaction of pieces successfully played, their gambit complete even in apparent defeat.

The elves and dwarves had been shown, in no uncertain terms, that the human powers would not protect them, that laws and accords meant nothing when push came to shove. The message was clear: choose a side, or stand alone against whatever came next.

"Halt."

The single word, spoken in a soft tone by an immature throat, brought the entire hall to a standstill. Every delegation froze, heads turning toward the isolated chair where Sheol Veylor had finally closed the book.

The King of the Dead rose from the chair with the easy grace of a child stretching after a nap. Those grey eyes swept the room, and Margret felt the temperature drop several degrees.

"Since we’ve now established that I, too, am not protected by your laws," Sheol said, each word precise despite the childish voice, "I find myself in need of an... alternative arrangement."

A piece of parchment materialized in those small hands, appearing from nowhere with casual impossibility. With a gentle push, it floated through the air to land on the table before King Midas.

The veiled figure leaned forward to read, and even through the obscuring fabric, Margret saw the sudden tension in those shoulders. Midas read the document once, then again, his stillness speaking volumes.

"What is the meaning of this?" His facade had cracked, revealing something close to alarm.

"Exactly what it says," Sheol replied, moving to the center of the room with skipping steps that somehow made the gesture more menacing than any dramatic stride. "My proposed amendment to the Accords. No Exarch may approach my domain—offensively, defensively, or for any other purpose."

The Light Exarch recovered first. "You can't simply make such a demand."

"No?" Sheol tilted that young head, grey eyes bright with amusement. "You've just established that agreements only bind their signatories. I'm proposing to become one. Surely that's... reasonable?"

Otto Geistreich rose slowly. "Lord Veylor, such restrictions would be unprecedented. The movement of Exarchs has never been—"

"Restricted by written law?" Sheol finished. "How fortunate that we're drafting new ones."

"This is absurd," Azra von Hohenheim said, his diplomatic composure finally cracking. "You cannot simply demand—"

"I'm not demanding." The childish voice had taken on an edge that made Margret's teeth ache. "I'm offering. Sign, and be protected by the same laws you've just used to justify slaughter. Refuse..." A shrug, casual as a child dismissing a broken toy.

"And what?" Azra pressed, and Margret had to admire his courage even as she questioned his wisdom. "What could possibly—"

"Is that your answer?"

The words were soft, but Azra went rigid. His face paled, lips pressing together so tightly they turned white. His hands gripped the edge of the table as if fighting against some invisible force.

"Perhaps," Sheol continued conversationally, "I should clarify."

The King of the Dead raised one small hand, and Margret felt power gather, not the structured force of a spell, but something grander, deeper, as inevitable as death itself. A moment later, the hall was engulfed in that same force.

Margret couldn’t even feel her Core anymore. The wind, which had been her constant companion for decades, was silent and unreachable. For the first time in a long time, she felt completely helpless. The only thing that allowed her to hold on was the faint aura of Life shielding her.

Lady Goldleaf had risen, her own Domain protecting her delegation from the worst of the effects. Yet the look on her face was anything but calm. It was clear that maintaining this defense required her full concentration.

The other Exarchs weren’t faring much better, each caught in their own state of disarray. Aurelia Thorsten, despite not being an Exarch herself, held up the best. The black crow on her left shoulder seemed to feed on the baleful energy as if it were its favorite meal, allowing her people to breathe more easily than the others.

"So many beautiful cities," Sheol mused into the silence. "So full of life, of ambition, of carefully laid plans. Arkanheim’s twin spires. Equinox's rainbow gates. Korrovan’s golden palace."

Each name fell like a stone into still water, the implications rippling outward.

“Stay away from my people,” the Storm Exarch growled.

Those grey eyes found him a moment later. "Stay away? But I am already there. Have been there for quite some time. Watching. Waiting."

"You're bluffing," the Light Exarch said, but her voice lacked conviction.

Sheol's smile was terrible on that young face. "I've reaped more souls in a single day than you've seen in your lifetime, child. What's a few more?"

The silence that followed was absolute. Margret could hear her own heartbeat, wild and frightened. This was no negotiation. It was a demonstration of power so complete that resistance became meaningless.

"You wouldn't," someone whispered. Margret couldn't tell who.

"No?" Sheol turned in a slow circle, addressing them all. "You've proven that laws only matter when enforced by strength. Very well. Here is my strength. Here is my law."

"This is... this is extortion," Azra muttered. For once, he had no clever retort.

Sheol shrugged as if he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.

Meanwhile, the parchment still lay on the table, innocuous yet damning. Margret watched the delegations wrestle with the impossible choice: submit to demands backed by naked threat, or risk the annihilation of everything they sought to protect.

"I will sign," a voice interrupted the stalemate.

Aurelia Thorsten stepped forward, took a feather from her robe, and bent down to sign her name on the paper.

"Beware," Sheol said before she could put ink to parchment. "This is no simple contract; breaking your word will mean your life is forfeit."

Aurelia paused for an instant, hesitated, and then continued to sign. "…In the name of Invocatia, we accept the extended Accord."

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the exit, her delegation scrambling to follow. The door closed behind them with a sound like finality.

The dam broke. Arguments erupted from all sides: protests, threats, desperate attempts to find another solution. But Sheol simply stood in the center of it all, patient as death itself, that terrible child's smile never wavering.

"I would rather die than give in to threats," Otto said, but sweat beaded on his forehead.

"I'm not threatening you," Sheol replied. "I'm threatening Arkanheim. Your capital. Your people. Your Emperor." Those grey eyes glinted. "Speaking of which, shouldn't he be making this decision? Fetch him."

"The Emperor does not—"

"Fetch. Him."

The words carried such weight that Otto actually took a step backward. Then, remarkably, the chancellor's spine straightened. His hand moved to a pendant at his throat, fingers tracing a pattern Margret couldn't follow.

"No need," Otto said in a strange tone, more resonant, carrying an authority that made the previous version seem like a pale shadow. "I am here."

Margret's breath caught. The Emperor. Augustus Geistreich was speaking through his subordinate, strings of Mind Magic allowing him to project his will across impossible distances.

"Veylor," the Emperor's voice said through Otto's lips. "This is in poor taste."

"I would agree," Sheol replied, seeming more delighted than intimidated. "Unfortunately, it seems you children get overconfident if I don’t raise my voice now and again."

"You overstep."

"I step where I want." The child giggled. "Unless you're saying power isn't its own justification? That would be quite the reversal."

Otto—no, Augustus—remained silent for a long moment. When he spoke again, resignation colored his words. "Your terms?"

"Simple. No Exarch approaches the Deadlands. Ever. For any reason." Sheol gestured to the parchment.

"And if circumstances—"

"There are no circumstances." The playfulness vanished, leaving something ancient and unwavering. "This is not a negotiation. Sign."

The possessed chancellor moved forward with mechanical precision. As Otto's hand took up the quill, Margret saw it tremble. Whether it was from the strain of distant control or the Emperor's reluctance, she couldn't tell.

"In the name of the Empire," Augustus said through his proxy, "we accept."

The signature was sharp, aggressive, nothing like Otto's normal hand. The moment it was complete, the chancellor sagged, catching himself on the table's edge as the Emperor's presence withdrew.

After that, the rest fell like dominoes. Faced with the reality that even the Emperor had bent so easily, the other powers had no choice. One by one, they approached the parchment. One by one, they signed.

The Storm Exarch's hand shook with suppressed rage as he wrote his name. The Light Exarch looked as if she'd swallowed poison. Even King Midas, when his turn came, moved with the careful precision of one handling a venomous snake.

Through it all, the elven and dwarven delegations stood forgotten. No one asked them to sign. No one offered them the protection of this new accord. They had been deemed irrelevant to human law, and now that same irrelevance excluded them once more.

"Excellent," Sheol said when the last signature was complete. The parchment vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. "I do so enjoy unanimous agreements."

The King of the Dead turned those grey eyes on the elven delegation, and for a moment, Margret thought she saw something almost like pity there. "You see the difference?”

Lady Goldleaf said nothing, her ageless face a mask of perfect composure. But Margret saw how her hands had clenched in her lap, knuckles white beneath the skin.

"The strong do what they will," Sheol continued, addressing the dwarves now. "The weak suffer what they must."

Lord Stoneforge's response was a growl too low for words, but his meaning was clear enough.

"This hearing is concluded," Sheol announced, having assumed the role of host. "You are free to depart."

The exodus that followed was nothing like yesterday's dignified withdrawal. Delegations fled as if the hall itself had become cursed ground. The Empire's representatives moved with the haste of those who'd won a victory that tasted of ash. The Alliance members departed in bitter silence, each nursing their own humiliation.

The trial had ended with no one satisfied.

The Empire had won its verdict but suffered humiliation. The Alliance had avoided direct confrontation but was forced to bow to naked threats. The elves and dwarves had been shown just how little their grievances mattered in human politics.

And above it all, the King of the Dead had made one thing clear: in a world where might made right, death itself held the ultimate authority.

Margret pulled her robes tighter as a chill swept through the streets. She needed to report to her lord, to help him understand what had transpired. Though knowing Ezekiel, he had probably predicted this too.

The thought brought her more comfort than she expected. In this shifting world of uncertainty, it was deeply reassuring to follow someone who seemed able to see through the whims of fate and defy common sense.

If anyone could safely navigate these troubled waters, it would be him.