Chapter 20 - Part 1

The summer wind flowed with a musical call through Red Keep city, winding itself through every alley, nook, and cranny with a quiet whisper sung by thousands of disembodied voices. The sun shone bright on the red stone buildings and houses that proudly stood their ground against the powerful clif gales. Being a cliff city, Red Keep, was built in steps and levels, terraces and hallowes in stone. It was a marvelous grand city that stood the test of time. Red stone was one of the hardest materials that could only be altered by Wielding. It was a monument of glory to the Empire, being built specifically to represent the capital and the Emperor itself. Of course, the greatest and most majestic buildings of all were the palace that had the most vibrant red stone, almost like blood. The roads, which were made out of pale sandstone for pure aesthetics, eroded easily and oftentimes in the past had to be replaced. But, those were to glory days where the rulers cared for their denizens more than themselves. Now, most roads laid in a disparaging state. Holes that laid every other few feet, were covered with pieces of wood or other materials. The wear on some roads was so grand that footprints were imprinted into the stone, while others simply eroded with the powerful winds into crushed sand.

Lwora, one of the very few sisters of the Disciplinary Order, marched on these very worn streets in her patrol. Cornelius Hugrat, the head of Red Keep's Order was the one who assigned her patrol on such a low and poor level of the city, hoping only trouble will beseech her.

He was outraged and incredibly surprised when Councilman Ameral came to him ordering for the 'girl' to be initiated. The last time he spoke with him on this matter he had laughed and degraded with every word known to man, agreeing with him that such a foolish thing, as to give a woman power and status was against all that they believed and wanted for the future and betterment of the Empire, as the Creators dictated, of course. Ameral assured him that it was a short lived affair, just a political ploy, but it had already been more than half an entire cycle and more than that, another lowly 'girl' had joined their holy ranks.

There was one thing, however, for which Cornelius had not accounted for; Lwora's upbringing. Although not native to Red Keep, she had grown in parts much like these. Slums she called them. She was a prostitute's daughter with an unknown Wielder father that had either never heard of the methods Wielders used for contraception or had a sadistic joy of spreading his seed. She liked to believe the latter, giving her some final goal to reach for. A final act of revenge whenever or if ever she should find the man that willingly impregnated a poor woman that had to sell her body to survive. Her mother on the other hand was a ever so loving woman who worked day and night to put Lwora through school the moment she showed signs of being blessed. She had died not long after Lwora finished her final year due to a venereal disease which was quite common among her profession. This left Lwora with two younger brothers, which her mother picked off the streets along the way, and an elderly aunt that had to be taken care of. More than half of her monthly pay went straight to them, ensuring they're warm and fed.

She never thought she would be living in such a big city were it no for Araya, one of the few friends who dared acquaint themselves with such a low Wielder back at their Academy. She forever will be grateful to her, she saved her many times, not only from childish bullying but also from the depths of alcoholism after her mother passed.

Today was a quiet day in Lwora's opinion. She was quite glad she got to patrol this lower lever of the Red Keep. She saw needy young boys and girls fighting for survival, poor families that had barely anything to food their infants, and old men and women who lived off any scraps to spare, not thugs, beggars, miscreants, and thieves which other brothers from the order would have punished severely. She made it her mission to better the lives of these people, and helped them as much as she could spare and to the best of her abilities.

Lwora was not powerful enough to undergo the mastership but she was a wielder after all. She minor healed every injury she saw, and helped the people of her part of the lower levels to rebuild and secure their homes along with providing the help necessary to grow their gardens.

It was no wonder that she soon became loved among the community and other unfortunate souls from the lower levels that did not fall under her jurisdiction began asking for help. This, of course, did not sit well with Cronelius.

"Lwora!" a child shouted from the back of an alley as she patrolled the streets. She turned to see who had called her and out of seemingly nowhere a group of children jumped on her, pulling on her robe and hugging her thighs in a vice like grip.

"Settle down!" she laughed. "Dobrik, what's the meaning of this." She asked the oldest.

"Our Mas and Pas sent us to find you." He said with a wide smile. Lwora soon settled the children and crouched down to their level, pinching a few cheeks and scruffing a few heads. She loved them as her own brothers and sisters

"Oh, why's that? Lya stop picking your knows!" she wagged a finger at one of the youngest girls. The girl just laughed and ignored her.

"Here! Said to give you this." Dobrik pushed a pouch in her arms and then everyone ran laughing and giggling, hiding behind trees and in alleyways.

Lwora opened the pouch to find a few copper and one silver piece. With her mouth ajar she didn't know what to think. These people could barely make end's meet yet they wanted to pay her for what she had done to her. It touched her dearly that they would risk not being able to put food on the table just to show their appreciation, however, she could not accept this.

"Right, so it's decided then. I'll go by the market and haggle for some chickhogs." she told herself and with a little prayer to the Creators she went on her way.

At first this was a very dangerous part of the lower levels, but after she put her soul into helping the community it began to flourish and thieving was no longer necessary. There were no incidents for her to report. She quickly finished up and headed towards the chapel of the order, where she had been staying ever since her employment. Unlike her fellow brothers she did not call this her calling, even if she believed in the Creators with all her heart, she joined out of sheer necessity for money. Who would have known that she would end up enjoying her time in the Disciplinary Order.

The chapel was a huge central building with sharp towers and turrets that connected through vast arches. The intense red color of the structure was on par with the palace. Smaller annexed buildings that were new additions were made for the initiated as sleeping quarters and eating areas. The central building, or chapel, was mainly off limits, only accessible by the head of the order, Cornelius Hugrat and his chancellor, Thadeus Therk, while a very small part, the very entrance which was in itself spacious allowing up to five hundred people at a time, was reserved for sermons. Sadly, in Lwora's opinion, no one from the lower levels were able to attend, they would have benefited more from the offerings of the chapel than the people who usually attended. Pious, rich or middle class people that dare not touch the offerings lest not others think of them as lowly as those from the Red Keep slums.Food was often discarded which pained Lwora dearly. Her objections were dismissed just as fast as she raised the issue with Cornelius.

Lwora entered the chapel to make her way through the right hallway that connected the nave to the annexed buildings. She held her head low, with her cloak over her head avoiding eye contact and greeting each brother she passed but no greetings were returned.

Bunch of hypocritical ass kissers. She thought, but paid them no extra thought. She wasn't here to make friends.

"... the changes are of utmost importance, Thadeus." a very familiar voice caught her attention as she passed a group of men dressed in the same garbs as her. She didn't see who else walked with Cornelius aside for Thadeus. But this was the first time she heard them discuss the important subject since discussing it with Araya.

Lwora slowed her pace as much as she could, making sure no one was in front of her and no one was coming towards her from the back. She came to a halt and hid behind one of the intricate thick pillars that supported the high ceiling. She peaked over the corner and tried to listen in but they were already too far away. She cursed under her breath and decided to follow, slowly, behind each column.

She followed on the tips of her toes as silently as she could. Luckily for her, it was dinner time all her fellow brothers were nowhere to be seen aside for the men in front of her. She closed in, slowly, but surely she soon was in ear shot.

"... already have four councilmen in agreement with the changes, your eminence." another man she did not knew by voice said.

"With Ameral that makes five." Cornelius said and the other men mumbled in agreement. "Have the first draft of the scripture sent to my quarters. I want to make some updates that were received by divine intervention this morning, I shall spend the next few days transcribing the text."

"Yes your eminence," said Thadeus. "The councilmen are breaking down one by one, only a matter of time before we get the majority's approval. But..."

"But what, Thadeus. You know i do not enjoy your games of intrigue. Spill it out, man."

"That leaves GrandMaster Imperial Advisor Araya, your eminence. As you know, she has immunity from the Emperor and has been given a right to vote and bring edicts and changes to law to be discussed just like any other Councilman. That leaves us at a disadvantage, she poses a far greater threat than a normal councilman due to her..." Thadeus coughed. "Personal connection to the Emperor."

"I know all about that cocksucking slut Araya." Cornelius said with venom in his voice. Lwora summoned upon every drop of restraint she had to keep herself from not flying at that bastard's throat and ripping his heart out with her bare hands. She just followed, quietly, and slowly, trying not to be seen.

"We have no chance of pulling her to our side, your eminence. I think getting rid of her is the best option on the table so far." Another man pitched in.

"She's of no import, a mere girl won't be able to oppose Creator's will. What can that trollop even do." Cornelius laughed.

"Your eminence, she is a GrandMaster that proved herself in many battles." a man said.

"Thank you, Arkhan. You are excused for the moment,." Cornelius said with an unbothered voice.

"But, your eminence I -"

"No buts, Arkhan. I shall call upon you if we need you any further."

The man stood shocked for a moment, and turned back disappointed. Lwora immediately ducked behind a column and turned her attention to polishing one of the details depicting one of the great battles of the Creators.

"...they'll beg for my help, they'll see..." the man grumbled as he angrily marched back to the eating area.