Red's CD Project Story 2: Part 28, Section 2 - Obedience

Note: This was the definition of pulling teeth here. Never really got into the flow in this section, but I knew that it was an important one to get out there. I also haven't been able to really sit down and focus on this. Hopefully the next part will come a little easier. An update from the contest. We're at 100 votes even, 32 want it moved on. Another 100 votes to go.


“There’s a woman in the mirror in a fiery state as she motions to me I start turning away.”

The breastplate fit awkwardly on his rounded gut so he wore taighly woven shirt of chain mail, cast in silver, with a solid steel plate covering his heart instead and a green cloak around his shoulders. On his head was the crown with its bright emerald shining in the middle. The woman had denied him the time to have the breastplate re-shaped. Otherwise Cortobrane would have been attired completely in the ancient wardrobe of the King of Isa. Studying himself in the mirror, he was sure this was his destiny.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he thought he saw movement in the mirror, hoping that it was the woman. She had not returned for several days since delivering her last instructions with that quiet rage gleaming behind her green eyes, but he was not worried. Her minions continued to put the correct pressure on the Guild Tsars each night. They were crawling to him now for protection, for aid.

“All I need is the sword,” he adjusted the crown.

He had scoured every detail of the plan over the last few days trying to decide on its ultimate outcome, knowing that no one, especially one as cunning as the woman and her allies acted without a cause. Watching the way his jowls wobbled in the mirror, he wondered why she had sought him out. For what end for her?

A low, precise knock came from the door. It was the exact knock he had trained each of his servants to make. Waiting a count of ten, Cortobrane removed the crown, setting it carefully on a stand next to the mirror before calling out for the servant to open the door.

The door opened and a nameless servant bowed and then ushered in Cortorbrane’s guests. First, there was Mr. Vedder, no longer in the uniform of the Civil Guard Guild, but in the dragon breastplate and green cloak of the new army of Stra. Cortobrane was not surprised to find that every guild had stores of the old garb from Isa. Vedder had hesitated to give up his power as Guild Tsar, but he was quick in accepting the colors of old.

Behind Vedder was Mr. Itor, tsar of the Smithy Guild, and Mr. Bedrick, tsar of the Building Guild, both dressed in matching dragon breastplates. This was an expected delight. Three days ago, Mr. Itor, Mr. Bedrick and Mr. Hant, tsar of the Horsing Guild had refused the new uniform and the orders of their mayor. Mr. Hant was not here today, and thanks to the woman and her minions, he was not going to be stopping by ever again. Her work was allowing Cortobrane to centralize power, finally breaking the archaic guild system of Stra.

Following the three Tsars was a pair of servants carrying a wooden trunk that was as long as a man was tall. The servants circled around the tsars and gently dropped the trunk upon the floor before the three men, each of whom had faces that were pale and green as if it was their first time at sea. The chest had four faces carved upon its side. The Dragon. The Lion. The Wolf. The Lamb. The royalty of the kingdom of beasts, Cortobrane had been taught in his classes as a boy. He always thought the Lamb was out of place amidst the other three beasts. It was weak, vulnerable and passive. The others were strong, cunning and aggressive. If the beasts were men, they would have usurped the Lamb swiftly from its seat.

Behind the chest, the three tsars dropped to their knees with their eyes focused down toward the floor. They were more biddable than he ever thought possible. Of course, he had heard that each had received one of Mr. Hant’s limbs after their last meeting. They had to suspect that Cortobrane was behind the evil that came with the dark, but they could not prove it and the citizenry was lining up to serve him. Cortobrane had promised protection to all who pleaded fealty to him. He said that he had wards against the terror of night, wards provided to him in secret congress with King Eden.

That was the pivot point for the whole plan. His congress with King Eden was the authority behind everything happening. King Ewam, who was calling toward him allies to overthrow his brother and restore Besa to its glory, had lighted the beacons. Eden, seeking his own allies well ahead of this, had entrusted his dear cousin in Stra. He warned not to answer the beacons and draw all those loyal to Satar, or even more, those loyal to the old kingdom of Isa, to him. From there, Eden would send for aid through letter or other code for Cortobrane and his followers to rescue the kingdom.

It was all a lie, one concoted by the woman, whom he was certain was watching from the mirror or somewhere else. She was always watching. Cortobrane had not had correspondence from either King in months, and then, that had come through Mr. Vedder. He certainly had never had any secret congress with Eden, but the tsars did not know that. They did know they were being hunted every night and their only beacon was Mayor Cortobrane, whom they despised, but now must worship.

“What say you, Mr. Itor?”

The man dropped his face to the floor and kissed it.

“I deliver the Smithy Guild. The honor. The wealth. The hammer. The anvil. The steel. I pledge all the Guild’s resources to the discretion of the Mayor of Stra, Lord Randall Cortobrane.”

“Excellent, Mr. Itor. Please, stand and take a step back. Mr. Vedder do the same since the Civil Guard saw this wisdom before others.”

“Yes, Lord Cortobrane,” they said unison.

“Mr. Bedrick, what say you?”

Bedrick did not look as he paused and then sighed. After kissing the floor, he began.

“I deliver the Building Guild. The honor. The wealth. The brick. The roof that protects. The hearth that warms. I pledge all the Guild’s resources to the discretion of the Mayor of Stra, Lord Randall Cortobrane.”

“Do not hesitate so again, Mr. Bedrick, when I address thee. I have lashes that can teach promptness.”

Bedrick, who wore a pair of spectacles on his thin face that blended with his fair hair, kept his eyes down. Cortobrane often wondered how a man so frail ever rose to such power.

“I apologize, Lord Cortobrane.”

“Good,” Cortobrane actually twirled to feel the robe swish through the air. He did not doubt that this was the most giddy he had ever felt. “Stand away with the others.”

Bedrick followed the orders without hesitation, but his eyes never left the chest

“Tomorrow at sun up we leave for Omet by the east road, as I outlined at our last meeting.”

Mr. Vedder stepped forward.

“I don’t understand. Why not take the south road, it is more direct to Omet?”

“Explanations are not for servants, Mr. Vedder. Remember that, or I shall find a way for that lesson to be taught.”

Vedder’s face went another shade of pale. He had received one such lesson already. A day ago, it was fifty lashes. Something a man of Vedder’s status had never experienced that before.

“I punish insolence men,” he had used the same line on his servants on his first day in Stra. “I reward obedience. Have you brought it?”

All three men’s eyes shot to the chest before them. Cortobrane could not hide a grin any longer as he approached it. Before it, he could see how the wood still shined despite being more than an age old. He traced his fingers along the faces on the top, the same that were on the side.

“It is forbidden to open.” Bedrick stepped forward. “No man, but the King of Isa, may view Fangen!”

“Nothing Mr. Bedrick is forbidden to me! That is the lesson all three of you will learn right now. Down to the servant’s gully. There’s a lash for every day of the year waiting for you there.”

They stood, watching the chest.

“Leave!” Cortobrane screamed.

The volume alone sprung the three men into motion and out the door. The momentary loss of control angered Cortobrane more than the insolence, but they would pay for both. As soon as the door shut behind them, he forgot all about them.

Now there was only he and the chest and its treasure. Lifting the lid, he felt a surge of heat and a green glow spew out. A nervous smile split Cortobrane’s lips.