by Jeremy Dwyer
~~~
In the continent of Meridianus, in an eastern seaport on the coast of the Pirovalen Ocean, Sethunya was standing in a town square among hundreds of local villagers. She was troubled at what she was hearing.
“They are taxing one third (1/3) of all of our exports. It is to pay tribute to the suns, by the orders of the duchess,” one man in his forties said.
“Our trade was never strong, and our economy was struggling, but it survived before. Now, with a tax of (1/3), we will be crushed. Before, it was a mere one twentieth (1/20) of all trade that had to be paid in fees and taxes,” another man in his fifties said.
“Who is this duchess?” a woman in her forties asked.
“Some sun-worshipper from the north. Supposedly, she owns everything in Haza’Kedro’Maral Island now,” the man in his forties said.
“She inherited it – she’s part of a bloodline, and you know how these royals can get. They keep it in the family, and they tax, and they tax. The sun worship is just an excuse for the superstitious. This is about greed,” the man in his fifties said.
“The suns aren’t superstition. Everybody around here knows about the fire creature that attacked. They’re the danger. You had better believe it,” a woman in her thirties said.
“Someone starts a fire and you want us to pay them a third (1/3) of our earnings?” the man in his fifties asked.
“Do we need to deal with her? Can’t we trade through another seaport?” the woman in her forties asked.
“There are contracts and laws in place that obligate us to trade and bank through the seaport on that island,” the man in his fifties said.
Sethunya knew that the worshipping of the suns wasn’t superstition, and she knew that these suddenly high taxes would derail a fragile economy. An economy that failed would bring about poverty and suffering, sooner or later, and there was no justification for that. She made her way to the docks and booked passage on a ship – she had saved some money from her work as a farmer – by paying two (2) platinum coins to travel east across the Pirovalen Ocean toward Haza’Kedro’Maral Island.
When she arrived after a half (1/2) day of travel, she learned that the central trading authority was to be found in the large building known as Trading Center One. She entered the enormous structure and saw that there was a head table and that a woman – who was lavishly dressed as a noble – was seated there.
Sethunya moved in to approach her, but she was blocked by several other traders as well as bankers.
“Now, you wait here, young woman. What business do you have, that we might direct you to the proper merchant or bank officer?” one man asked. He was a portly, elderly man in his sixties.
“I am here to speak with the duchess,” Sethunya said.
“Just who are you? What is your name, young woman, and where are you from?” the man asked.
“I am Sethunya, from Meridianus,” Sethunya said.
“The duchess will speak with those who are authorized – her time is valuable, and you can’t expect her to make time for just anyone,” the man said.
“I must speak with her regarding the taxation,” Sethunya said.
“Of what is there to speak? Taxes are to be paid, not spoken about. The laws and regulations have been set,” the man said.
“The laws are wrong. The taxation will drive people into poverty, and will transfer their wealth to a woman who will become too powerful,” Sethunya said.
“Who are you to judge the laws and decide who is too powerful? You had better watch yourself,” another man, in his fifties, said.
“When the taxes weaken those who work hard – and I work hard alongside them – then people suffer. Meridianus has many farmers, and everyone depends on them. Why should they be made poor while the duchess becomes rich at their expense? There are true laws higher than any of your laws,” Sethunya said.
“What laws are these?” the man in his sixties asked, burning with venom in his voice.
“The laws of the One True God. Thou Shalt Not Steal,” Sethunya said.
“Who is this One True God?” the man in his sixties asked.
People around them were starting to notice and a commotion was developing in the crowd. The murmurs reached to the duchess who stood up and said: “Who is it that is questioning the laws? Bring them to me, now!”
The man in his sixties then said: “Now you’ve angered the duchess. You will answer to her authority.” He then took Sethunya by the arm but she turned to him and said: “There is no need for that. I came here to speak to her, not to run away.”
Sethunya walked through the crowd, which stood aside as she approached the head table where Duchess Uliana stood and awaited her.
“Are you the one who has questioned the laws of taxation?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“I am the one who has objected to them, for they deprive the workers of their earnings,” Sethunya said.
“I am the authority, by my lineage, and that has been verified even in the City of Emeth, where it was announced,” Duchess Uliana said.
“That you are entitled to rule by bloodline does not authorize you to create ruin by thieving laws that steal away the livelihoods of those who toil. If you lord over the people until they are broken, you will be the duchess of nothing, and your empire of theft will crumble,” Sethunya said.
“What gives you the authority to question me? Know that I have the authority to have you executed!” Duchess Uliana said.
Four (4) men armed with short swords approached Sethunya and drew their swords, awaiting the order from Duchess Uliana to kill the girl.
“The One True God sets the laws to which all other laws must conform. Even the Chronicler’s Oath must serve Him, if it is to remain a path of truth,” Sethunya said.
“The suns are the gods of this world, and the blue suns are the kings among them. I shall hear of no other gods,” Duchess Uliana said.
Sethunya knelt down and prayed, saying: “To the One True God, I pray for a gift of wisdom, that the proper light may shine forth from me, and open the eyes of the nonbelievers, and worshippers of false powers, such that they may see their errors and turn to You and Your Wisdom.”
“Enough of this! Kill her!” Duchess Uliana ordered.
The first of the armed men swung his sword down toward Sethunya’s neck and the blade snapped off, falling to the floor. He stepped back, afraid.
“Are you not prepared against a defenseless girl?” Duchess Uliana asked.
The second of the armed men swung his own sword, and it snapped and fell in the same way as that of the first.
“What is this trickery? Is it an illusion? Or are you traitors against me?” Duchess Uliana asked, worried that some plot had been made against her.
~~~
From the cloak of darkness, Halina, Roxanne and Marzia were watching and waiting. They saw that this girl was angering, undermining and even humiliating Duchess Uliana and it pleased them. They were hoping that the confrontation would escalate further and lead to dissent and, ultimately, to war, as Tanith Orenda had planned.
Danielle was mixed in with the crowd – hidden in plain sight and not under darkness – only a short distance away. From her vantage point, she was also watching and preparing to escalate matters with Duchess Uliana. Danielle also served Tanith Orenda, and was specifically directed to attend to this task as her responsibility, and not to pursue the heralds of the ‘Unfailing King.’
~~~
Sethunya said: “If you steal from these people by your unrighteous laws, you will be called to account for it, and so too will those who serve you. Will the fire of the suns be enough to protect you from His Justice?”
“I will hear no more of your religion, girl! Strike her! Both of you!” Duchess Uliana said to the two (2) remaining armed men.
The crowd had backed away, seeing that the first and second armed men had failed against this girl.
The third armed man drew his sword and when he went to swing it downward against Sethu
nya, it turned inward and he struck himself in the abdomen with its full force, falling down and dying quickly.
The fourth armed man lowered his sword and stepped backward, filled with dread fear.
~~~
Unseen by the others, a Guardian Angel named Trinakorel had broken the blades of the first and second swords, and turned the blade of the third sword against its wielder.
~~~
“She speaks the truth,” one of the people in the crowd said.
“A spy, hidden in the darkness, has protected her,” another person in the crowd said.
“My enemies have gathered around me, it seems, and have chosen to confront me through you. So, what is it that you want?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“Fair laws, as they were. Return the taxes to one part in twenty (1/20) of earnings – for all trade that passed through this port,” Sethunya said.
~~~
Hiding in plain sight in the crowd, Danielle drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial and was energized. She used her powers of telepathy to reach into the mind of Duchess Uliana and saw that she was now afraid and was going to acquiesce to the demand for lower taxes. This would be at odds with what Tanith Orenda had ordered, because it would serve to reduce tensions rather than escalating them. Whatever power had protected the girl was another matter, and Danielle could not see it. However, she was not prepared to fail in her directives. She placed a thought into Duchess Uliana’s mind, and made it seem reasonable, so that she would not resist.
~~~
“My dear, you are clearly an important young woman – someone powerful thinks you’re special. I will lower the taxes for you, and those in your home land of Meridianus, because you’re a woman of distinction. Yes, you are. However, this will cost me greatly. Everyone else, then, will have to pay more, to make up for your share,” Duchess Uliana said, raising her voice as she said it, so that all could hear.
“Now, here is my decree. While the trade with Meridianus will be taxed at a rate of one twentieth (1/20), all other trade will be taxed at a rate of one half (1/2), so as to make up for the deficit. This young woman may be of distinction, but you are not, and you must pay your share and hers,” Duchess Uliana then said loudly, for all to hear.
One of Duchess Uliana’s assistants approached her with a book and a pen and she wrote the new laws into the book, declaring the higher tax rates. These notes were copied to other books and distributed throughout the Trading Center One building, and all the other bank buildings on Haza’Kedro’Maral Island. From there, bank couriers and officers passed along the decree of tax increases to the distant continents and kingdoms which were directly or indirectly under the authority of the central bank, and the higher taxes were met with disdain.
CHAPTER 43: War against the Arrogance of the Suns
The two (2) men – sent by Prince Kirdothet from Waderav – arrived in Emeth and sought out a suitable architect to help design a temple.
Their inquiries for architectural expertise were overheard, as the men spoke openly throughout the City of Emeth. When questioned, they willingly explained, saying: “The one known as Prince Kirdothet, who is the master of fire, demands that we give him worship by building a temple. Yet, in Waderav, there are few architects skilled enough to do him justice. He will demand our lives if we fail him.”
Lady Onora was among the people who overheard them and said to the men: “You said that this Prince Kirdothet is a master of fire and demands worship in the form of a temple. I will return to Waderav with you, and I will speak to him directly.”
“We cannot return without an architect, or he will kill us by fire. We have heard of it throughout Waderav. The word of his vengeance has traveled far and wide, as he travels through villages and towns,” one of the men said.
“If you are afraid, I will go ahead of you. There is no need to bring an architect. It is not right for you to build a temple to him,” Lady Onora said.
“How can you say this? Do you know his power over fire? And his wrath?” one of the men said.
“His power is false. I have seen it,” Lady Onora said, and she went to the fountain in the middle of the City of Emeth where she filled her vials anew with the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean. Then, she made her way to the docks and booked passage on a ship heading toward the continent of Waderav, sailing southeast over the Ursegan Ocean, arriving after two (2) days.
When she arrived, Onora met with many villagers and locals and learned that Kirdothet had traveled around the continent. She traveled for ten (10) more days by inland river boats, following word of where Kirdothet was said to have been as he moved about. She did this until she finally arrived in the northeastern region of the continent.
There, Onora saw that Prince Kirdothet was standing among the people and commanding them, saying: “Here, in this village, where I sent help that you may rebuild, you will give me thanks, and build me a temple that is worthy. Do this, or I will turn you to ash, as I have the others.”
The Chronicler named Ovid was there, recording all that was said and done into his book. From the spirit world, the Guardian Angel Ondothel watched over him, so that no harm could befall him as he truthfully recorded history.
Lady Onora then drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean which she kept in her vial and she was energized. She then knelt down and prayed, saying: “One True God, I pray to Thee that Your Fire burns brighter through me, brighter than this false fire, which may be sent away, to no longer be a scourge to Your Children.”
Lady Onora then approached the fiery creature known as Prince Kirdothet and she said to him: “You demand worship, yet you are not the creator of these people. You are not the one whose love brought them into existence. How, then, can you demand their worship? What right do you have to do this?”
“My fire gives me the right! By that fire, I rescued these people from their oppressors when no one else did. That makes me their god and they must honor me!” Kirdothet said.
“Giving help to those in distress may be the proper course of action. Yet, it does not make you a god of any sort. Love creates. You, however, are a creature of hate, and hate destroys,” Lady Onora said.
Kirdothet was angered upon hearing this. In his rage, he sent forth flames which began burning the trees and buildings around them – buildings that had recently been rebuilt by these very people, who now ran away in fear at the sight of the destruction he brought.
Lady Onora then began singing a powerful song:
When you flicker,
Flare and blaze and burn the land,
You kill and have an awful debt,
Repayment He will soon demand.
When you bring ruin,
To the places in which mortals live,
Like a dragon,
To destruction your soul you will give.
(Refrain)
Unholy fire,
Burning as it never should.
Be extinguished,
Your evil shall give way to good.
When you conquer,
The ground and sea beneath the sky,
You build your kingdom,
In which you will forever die.
When you boast,
Of the awesome power of your flame,
You say you are the source of life,
Yet, for your murders will you garner fame.
(Refrain)
When you rejoice,
In the empires upon which you shine,
You claim to be above,
Even the One True Divine.
When you believe,
That your great warmth will suffice,
To make you our master,
You will be doused by cold and ice.
(Refrain)
When you threaten,
Those who will not give you praise,
Their loyalty you cannot win,
By your violent displays.
When you command,
Your cruelty makes the world to grieve.
&n
bsp; Your wisdom and your justice fail.
The mortal realm you must now leave.
(Refrain)
The song proved quite powerful, and with each verse, Kirdothet became weaker and weaker, and his form diminished. It turned into a pinprick of light, and then this small light streaked up into the sky, becoming a yellow sun again. The other yellow suns, which had previously been faint because of the power that had been taken from them and given to him, became visible and bright again, restoring all of the yellow suns – including Kirdothet – to their former brilliance. However, all of these had the sliver of darkness, which then took away from that shine.
Ovid and Lady Onora watched as all of this happened, and Ovid recorded it all in his book, almost in disbelief. He could not understand what had occurred. He heard what Onora and Kirdothet had both said, and he recorded Onora’s song. Everything after that had to be drawn and described vividly, even though it could not be explained. It was all an observation – one that Ovid was glad to have, as the creature known as Prince Kirdothet was merciless.
The fire burned and blazed around them still, as Kirdothet’s wrath was cruel. People ran for buckets of water, or just for escape. However, one (1) person – a young woman – sat still, despite the flames approaching her.
Lady Onora saw this and was disturbed by the woman’s lack of movement, so she ran toward her, and Ovid followed her.
When they got closer, they saw that the young woman was sitting on a tree stump and her eyes were glazed over in a trance.
Lady Onora touched the woman’s wrists and saw that she had a pulse.
Lady Onora then said a prayer: “I pray to Thee, One True God, Loving Creator and Protector, to awaken this woman that she may be safe from the fire that threatens.”
The young woman awoke, looked around and screamed: “Where am I? Why is everything on fire?”