Dodge: Serial 114

Losha, Liveta, and Tibil reflect on the past, all the while uncovering a disturbing development within Henron.

Serial 114: All Together

June 18th, 48 S.D.         23:11        Eastern Henron, Central Plains

    “Losha Holvate Sventa,” Liveta breathed as her hand lightened its grip on her blade. The Prime Lead’s shoulders sagged as she closed her eyes and shook her head. “Now that is a name I have not spoken in a long time,” she smiled to herself.

    “Is that really you, Losha?” Tibil asked, stepping around Liveta; he stared at the serialist in wonder.

    “I had better be who I think I am,” Losha said with a short laugh as she put the cigarette to her mouth.

    “Shrieks,” Tibil declared, rubbing his eyes. “It has been ages since we last met! But... why the sudden reunion in the dead of night like this?”

    Liveta sighed before Losha could even say a word. “Obviously, something is wrong. Wrong enough to drag you all the way back here anyway.”

    “Good guess,” Losha nodded.

    “With the three of us involved, it can only ever be a serious matter.”

    Losha passed a hand over the doors, sealing them remotely. “This room has a barrier around it that I am currently generating. We are sound-proofed to the outside now. I want to keep this little rendezvous of ours a secret. It is for your own safety, and I cannot risk my movements being tracked.”

    Liveta furrowed her brows as Losha took another drag and exhaled a stream of smoke. “What exactly are we dealing with?” the chief officer asked.

    “Let us get to that in a moment,” Losha said. “Perhaps we should catch up with each other first. I could use some insight into the situation in Henron and the rest of the Central Plains.”

    Liveta went over to an armchair and sat down, crossing her legs. Tibil sat on the arm of one couch, leaning back with his hands clasped together.

    “What has it been, a dozen years or so?” he inquired.

    “Sa, not since May of 1090,” Losha said as she stood in front of the fireplace. “We were all so busy with our new lives: running a school, a council, a military... And then I left the plains and have not been back once. Until now, that is.”

    “Sa,” Tibil began, “and of all things, you come to us like a burglar under the cover of darkness. Was the front door not good enough?” he chuckled.

    “If you wanted me to knock out all of your guards, sure, I guess I could have come that way. Regardless, I needed to get in unseen.”

    “Shrieks, how did you get in anyway?” Tibil scratched his head for a moment.

    “Are you sure you want to know, Marshal?” Liveta grinned to the side.

    “Well, I am glad we are friends, Losha, because it would be unthinkably creepy knowing you can work your way just about anywhere like a ghost.”

    “What can I say? I am simply good at what I have to do.” She turned around to the burning logs and flicked bits of ash into the flames. “By the way, what is this place precisely? Reminds me of the court back in your father’s time.”

    “This old thing?” Tibil said. “It used to be a noble retreat during my great-grandfather’s reign. It was in complete disrepair, but we fixed it up nicely. Marlit and I use it for our summer breaks when the council takes recess for a month.”

    “Marlit?” Losha questioned, looking up at Tibil.

    “His wife,” Liveta kindly explained. It was only then that Losha noticed the metal bracelet wrapped close around Tibil’s left wrist. It was typical as a symbol of marriage among Astens to carry such bands on their non-dominant hands.

    “Sa, I see,” Losha murmured. “So, how is Henron these days? What is life like for the two of you?”

    “Things are better, but no less difficult,” Liveta shook her head. “We may technically be at peace, but we still face many battles, both inside and outside our borders. Do you know how other clans have been scrambling to form alliances modeled after our relationship with Sventa?”

    “Sa, I have heard much about that,” Losha grumbled. “A poor state of affairs. How strange it is; with these alliances, the Central Plains are more united than ever before, yet the struggle for supremacy continues. Clans are communicating and cooperating with one neighbor only to intimidate another. And to think, all of this came about thanks to our actions...” Losha frowned and huffed and she looked away, breathing in the fumes of her tobacco.

    “You cannot blame yourself for that,” Liveta said. “None of us is responsible for the actions other clans willingly take, Though it is true the Treaty of Balawanda sparked everything, ultimately, the onus lies on the rest of the plains. Even so, tensions are at a near constant maximum. It is not just harsh rhetoric and hot air, but actual threatening gestures. Recently, Prevati held a massive exercise to our south, testing some new artillery. It roiled everyone’s nerves here and in Sventa. The general opinion is that except for the west, it feels like every Henron front is under assault like that.”

    “All of this posturing, bravado, and brinksmanship, it never lets up, and it has begun to take its toll on our army. Apprehension, stress, and anxiety seem rampant among the ranks, even for senior soldiers. We are not fighting anyone, but mentally, the specter of battle is draining us. Imagine putting your body in a sort of survival mode; that is where our military has stood for nearly nine years. Day to day, it seems like all we ever do is deal with belligerent, sword-waving crazies left and right.”

    “That bad, sa?” Losha asked.

    “Quite so,” Tibil answered. “If we are not receiving promises of utter annihilation, we simply get insults and invitations to fight. Diplomacy was never really a thing in these lands, but there has been a near total breakdown of clan-to-clan interactions. Even if it was not much, we used to have a system of mutual respect that kept most dialog civil. For clans that were too acrimonious and hostile, they just refrained from talking at all. Today though, it is absolute venom, like all the centuries of rivalry and hate are brewing to the surface, almost unchecked.”

    “Travel between clans has all but stopped among Astens. The only ones that move across the plains are outsiders, Gandian merchants and sometimes those from the Vestels. Other than that, it is like every clan has become its own silo, tribalism at its finest I suppose. The borders today are far stricter, more frequently patrolled than they have ever been. Really, the only thing that stops conflict is the fact that starting a war with all of these alliances around means both sides lose. The ensuing fight, the chain reaction would be on a scale no one has seen before...”

    “What about your government?” Losha probed. “How has it been dealing with everything?”

    “Since Heigon’s demise and the upheaval, we have rebounded nicely,” Liveta said. “Of course, you saw this before you left Sventa, but truly we have grown into the vision we hoped to establish. The autocracy is nothing more than a memory at best. A new generation of Henron are being raised with no idea what that past was like, outside of what history books will tell them. We have stability economically and politically, and we have remained safe and prosperous. Alas, we are not exactly free of troubles.”

    “It is the Henron Council,” Tibil said. “Though it is a functioning organization, the representatives still mostly come from some of the highest classes and families. We thought choosing them based on different regions would be enough to ensure diversity, but the selection process prefers those from the upper levels of society. It is unsettling to most of the common people; they say it looks like father’s court all over again. So far, it is taking a hit on the morale of the representatives, and because of that, actually governing has become something of a hassle. The motivation to pass laws and regulations is low; it takes a lot to whip them into the proper mood. And still, most of what they do is back-and-forth bickering.”

    “On one hand, the Council understands the people are upset with all the rich folks within its ranks,” Liveta interrupted. “They want to be cautious, so they have actually weakened the institution by doing less work. Unfortunately, that makes running the clan cumbersome to say the least. At times like these, it is also something we cannot afford.”

    “Sounds like a fine mess,” Losha said. The end of her cigarette had all but died. She threw the little piece into the fireplace, telling herself that was enough for tonight.

    “It gets worse though,” Liveta warned, seemingly sinking deeper into her chair. “In April... Albolt went missing.”

    “Albolt is still alive?” Losha asked, remembering the old man who had so actively planned Henron’s future during the war.

    “Sa. He never retired. After mulling around for a few years, he finally gave in and decided to become a council member himself.”

    “Council member?” Losha echoed. Suddenly, it were as if something flashed vividly across her mind, fitting together pieces rapidly as she came to a realization. “Albolt was kidnapped?” she blurted, stepping forward for a moment. Tibil and Liveta raised their eyebrows together before looking at each other, then back at the serialist.

    “Kidnapped? Losha, what are you talking about?” Tibil cocked his head slightly to one side as he narrowed his eyes and touched his chin.

    “I was told a Henron councilor had been kidnapped. If it was not Albolt, then who?”

    “Where did you hear that?” Liveta demanded, hunching forward all at once.

    “Sventa approached me two days ago through one of their own. I received some intelligence, actionable reports about something disturbing. Something I could not ignore... In that discussion, Henron came up, which is how I learned about the abduction.”   

    “Well, suffice to say, Losha,” Liveta started. “This is the first we heard of anything of that nature.”

    “You cannot be serious,” Losha said, tossing up her hands shortly. “I know I do not trust everything Sventa tells me, but why would they lie about... Are you certain you two know nothing about this?”

    “Albolt is the only councilor missing at present,” Tibil said. “We initially suspected foul play, but no evidence of the kind turned up.”

    “No, no, that is hardly right at all,” Losha growled to herself as she began pacing, folding her arms. “I was informed that it was a fairly bloody scene.”

    “On the contrary,” Liveta assured her. “Everything in his home was in perfect order. He just appears to have vanished into the air itself, not like that is any less troubling than somehow being captured.”

    “Damn, this does not add up... unless...” Losha stopped then looked pointedly at the two Henron officials. “Unless this stinks worse than I thought.”

    “Losha?” Tibil said.

    “Someone is hiding something from you,” Losha concluded. “Someone did not want you to know what really happened to Albolt.”

    “Are you saying we are purposefully being kept in the dark?” the Marshal once again shook his head. “I find that all hard to believe, Losha. Who could hide a kidnapping of a prominent figure from the two highest authorities in Henron? Are you sure you can count on the info Sventa handed you?”

    “Not entirely, that is why I came here. This discrepancy is too large to be without meaning, however.”

    “Tibil, it is not unreasonable to see Losha’s argument. Think about it,” the Prime Lead urged. “Remember how your father passed away? The mysterious inconsistencies? Something like that could be at play now.”

    “But we had a thorough investigation into Albolt’s disappearance. No signs of struggle or distress. Nary a drop of blood either,” Tibil insisted.

    “If this is a cover up, I suppose you did not find the serastone either,” Losha sighed.

    “Serastone!?” Tibil exclaimed. “What does that have to do with any of this? Perhaps you should tell us everything.”

    “Have either of you heard of a mercenary group that recently started operating in the plains? One with access to a certain black stone?” Losha asked, eying both of them. Liveta tightened her fist for a while.

    “The Zeroes!” she spat. “Shrieks, so that is what got you out here after so long. I should have figured as much. They are yet another source of aggravation to this clan.”

    “So, wait, you mean to tell us Albolt was taken by this group?” Tibil questioned. “And all without letting anyone in Henron know that this was going on?”

    “As it was told to me,” Losha spoke, “an Henron councilor was kidnapped, violently by the Zeroes. There was no apparent motive, no ransom. True to the Zeroes, they left serastone behind at the scene, which was sent to Binfort for analysis. I do not know how Sventa came across these details, nor why they contradict what you all have seen. It sounded like Henron knew this was the work of the Zeroes... The possible options are Sventa is lying to me, someone in Henron is covering up the truth, or more likely a combination of the two.”

    “Well, this deeply concerns me,” Liveta said, steepling her fingers together. “If Albolt was abducted by the Zeroes without our knowledge, that means someone does not want us to know at all. This is peculiar in and of itself; the Zeroes have always been keen to leave their mark on their jobs. I cannot imagine why this one particular act would be any different.”

    “You said Binfort took the serastone the Zeroes left?” Tibil asked.

    “Sa, that is what my contact said. It seems like Sventa knows something your clan does not. They recovered serastone from another incident and showed it to me as proof, so to some extent, we cannot disregard everything Sventa says. It does not make sense for them to create such an elaborate lie out of nothing, and I doubt their intel is that bad as to be completely wrong. I believe I was told the truth, or at least part of it.”

    “We need to look into this matter closely,” Liveta said with a short hum. “The case surrounding Albolt’s disappearance needs to be reexamined and scrutinized extensively. If a sample of serastone was brought to Binfort without any official record, that is a very serious development we need to look into, immediately. Henron is bound to prevent the proliferation of serastone, after all. I do not want any of these suspicions to prove correct, and I swear I hope this is all just a bad case of misinformation, but we have to know for certain...”

    “If this is just like what happened to my father,” Tibil said. “If this is another such case of unseen hands manipulating our fates somehow, I get the unsettling feeling we may have stumbled upon something enormous. What exactly it is I do not know, only that its reach would be vast.”

    Losha looked back and forth at her friends. “You two, proceed with the utmost caution. There is something dangerously amiss, and you are not immune. A Prevati Prime Lead was assassinated by the Zeroes after all; they will go after anyone if they accept a request. Be discrete and subtle. Whoever ordered the Zeroes on Albolt would spare no thought about doing the same on others.”

    Tibil and Liveta both remained silent for a while. Finally, Tibil stood up and walked over to the window. “Damn,” he mumbled, leaning against the wall with his forearm. He looked upwards into the night sky filtered by numerous trees. “I just cannot believe something like this has been going on, right under our own eyes no less.”

    “Pardon the change of subject, Losha, but I would like to know what you have been doing with yourself all of these years past,” Liveta wondered. “You disappeared like the wind, so suddenly and so completely. We are still unsure what spurred you to become this reclusive and hidden. We know what the Tabran has said publicly, but I doubt that represents the whole story.”

    Losha grunted as she started pacing once more. “The gist of it all was that the Tabran wanted oversight of serialization. Not just laws regulating it, but actual control. They still needed me as an instructor, but my school was to be their institution, not mine. I would have lost every power I had to decide how serialization should spread to the people. The whole thing was a setup to eventually get serialization into the military; that has always been their goal, ever since the end of the war. I refused and left Sventa, along with all of my students. We started a new school, Talostol, in the far south, in the Sieg Lowlands. It is small, a bit shabby, and hardly the grand sort of place you would expect such a great art to be taught, but... at least there, we are bound by no clans, only ourselves.”

    “What caused Sventa to suddenly demand all of that?” Liveta asked. “Your version of events told is quite different from what they said at the time. Your exile was framed as an almost treasonous matter, that you defied the Tabran itself and threatened the clan. I know all of that to be bullshit, but why did they turn against their hero like that?”

    “Ksh!” Losha jerked her head to the side as she swung around. “You remember that pillar of light to the east, 10 years ago?”

    “Of course,” Tibil said, looking over his shoulder. “What a bizarre event it was.”

    “I will not say much, but that was a rather botched mission I was operating. Destroying a mine of serastone in Angali. The Tabran used that failure as a pretext to assert its own authority over serialization. Of course, this is a state secret, so neither of you would have known.”

    “Hmph,” Liveta scowled slightly. “To think they would do that to you...”

    “I suppose you two are familiar with Lada Delte Sventa?” Losha asked. “She was the one who pushed the Tabran in that direction, and the one who petitioned for my formal exile as I understand.”

    “Oh, Lada. Sa, that old b***h...” Tibil said, turning back to the window as Liveta laughed.

    “Hah! The Marshal here has to deal with all types of Sventa officials given how close our clans are now. He is not very fond of her as you can tell.”

    “Your brother is the best one there,” Tibil remarked. “He is doing fine by the way, Teiva too. Little Vasha is growing up so fast.”

    “Vasha?” Losha asked perplexedly. Tibil turned about face, equally marked with confusion. “Vasha, your niece, remember?”

    “So, it was a girl...” she muttered, then shook her head. “I cut off all ties, all contacts with the plains. I left before Teiva gave birth. This is... news to me.”

    “Oh, I see...”

    “You really did leave this world...” Liveta mused. “Looking at you now, it is as if time froze around you, how young you look, just like back then. And yet you have changed... Not in the face, but in something more. There is a seriousness set in your heart, and also a bit of bitterness. Anger and sorrow has frayed your softness, yet you have matured as both a woman and a warrior. I am curious where your journey will lead you. You look as if you are going to a battlefield now.”

    “In a way, I am,” Losha sighed. “It is my duty to see that serialization is a peaceful force. To this end, I must ensure that serastone does not fall into anyone’s hands. As such, I am about to collide head-to-head with the Zeroes, one way or another. First, I need to find them. Sventa’s intentions are suspect to say the least; I do not know if they are leading me into some sort of trap. I cannot rely on all of their information. So here I am, hoping this little reunion would give me a clue or two. How about it then? Any leads, anything at all I could go off of, no matter how small?”

    Liveta closed her eyes as she cupped her chin in her hand, pausing for a moment before speaking. “Kalon.”

    “The major clan all the way up north?” Losha asked. “Why there?”

    “It is just a hunch,” Liveta admitted. “Nothing is out there that we know of, but... Consider what we know about the number of disturbances the Zeroes have caused. Statistically speaking, Mepav has been the site of the most activity. If the Zeroes really are accepting offers from clients all over the Central Plains, we can take a guess at who is giving them most of their jobs against Mepav. Kalon’s hatred of the Mepav is second to none. If you go there, I am sure something will turn up.”

    “North, sa?” Losha said, putting her hands on her hips. “Looks like I am off on another long trip then...”

Author's Note

15 years ago, Losha Holvate Sventa fought to bring peace between Sventa and Henron. Though calm has been established between these two major clans, the larger situation has not been resolved. Time has passed, but the Central Plains are still a violent place, seething with anger and hatred. All it takes is a simple scratch, and everything will come rushing to the top. From the shadows, one underground group aims to do just that using the strength of serialization. Now an abandoned hero, Losha must once more rise to save these lands from the destructive power of the art. Yet as the actions of her past confront the Wolf, can she find the will to stand against the one behind it all, her very own son?

The next installment comes March 16, 2016. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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* May 1090 in the Asten calendar translates to May 36 S.D., so 3 years after the Sventa-Henron war, and two years before Losha left the Central Plains altogether.

* Once again, Losha, Liveta, and Tibil stumble across another Henron mystery. They never solved what really happened to Heigon Henron (it was Duke using a series of some sort to create and control an illusion, thus giving him control of Henron), and here they have two conflicting stories. Irvis told Losha that the Zeroes had kidnapped Albolt, while Henron found nothing to suggest that. For now, the truth remains unknown, but rest assured, Irvis meant to say exactly what he said to Losha. Perhaps Sventa really does know something Henron doesn't, or perhaps they mean to manipulate Losha into acting a certain way...

* As Losha demonstrates, she really has not been a part of the Central Plains in the past decade. She doesn't even know her niece's name, much less that Harle's had a daughter. The Central Plains she left has changed, but evidently not for the better. Everyone is on the brink of war. Losha reflects that her desire to see peace inadvertedly caused the current mess. While Liveta is right in one sense that no one but the clans themselves are responsible for creating various alliances and raising tensions across the land, ending the Sventa-Henron war and joining those two clans together served as a catalyst. It is a reality that troubles Losha, one she cannot deny so long as it faces her.

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Any feedback is welcome. Just writing because I like it. Always wanted to make a weekly series, so I'm doing it.