"To Kill An Admiral" Part 4

Posted on Tue May 26th, 2015 @ 2:24am by

[Ventax II]

The weight of destiny clung to the air tightly; there was anticipation in the murmuring crowds as they gathered at the foot of the Atheneum.

The building was a tall pyramidal structure, with spires rising along each corner. At the heart of it were massive vaults, and within those vaults the most ancient of Ventaxian documents, held fast, protected from the wear of age and the greed of men. Deep in the Atheneum was history and law.

The crowds pressed as the guards, armed with simple halberds, pushed back, holding them. A fever pitch coursed through them, and guard Captain Maro Dullek feared there would be a riot if someone didn't do something.

He looked back as the Senator tried to quiet the crowds with upheld arms. "Silence!" he said sharply. "Silence!"

For a moment the crowds stilled, but the tension was so taut that the slightest disturbance would break it. Dullek ensured his men remained equally calm, his waspish eyes darting from face to face.

The Senator was a worn man, his ancient robes faded and wrinkled. His long eyebrows hung low over his gray eyes, and his skin was so aged that one could see through it. He turned to the robed figure that stood beside him, and the fear was in those aged eyes.

The figure was of average height and average build, but the black robe that shrouded the being made it impossible to know who, or what, they were.

The Senator swallowed hard, and looked back at the crowd. "I understand many of you are openly angry by a sudden intrusion on your lands. I assure you that the digging that is currently taking place will ends soon. I wanted to hold this meeting to address any concerns y-"

"Get off of our land!" a voice shouted. "No right to dig up my farm!" another followed.

The Senator held up a weak hand. "Now, now," he began. Dullek never did see who threw the rock. It was roughly the size of a fist, and jagged on one side. It struck the Senator in the face, crushing the old man's features in a spray of blood and spit. The old man slumped back and hit the ground, dead. His leg twitched uncomfortably, and there was a hushed silence for a moment.

The robed figure threw back the hood and strode up to the podium. "Calm!" His voice was forceful, hushed, but echoed through the meeting ground.

Rear Admiral Damian Gohan looked at the faces around. "The work being done will only be carried on for a short while longer; you will all be handsomely compensated for the inconvenience." He pointed a finger at a single figure in the crowd. "Arrest that man for the murder of Senator Gaeshun." Guards rushed forward and grabbed the man, who began shouting obscenities.

Gohan turned and walked into the Atheneum, pausing for a moment to pull his hood back on and look at the female figure who stood in the shadows. "Have they arrived yet?"

Chesa shook her head. "Expected within the hour," she said.

"Excellent." A brief pause, and then; "everything here is ready. All the pieces are in place."

Chesa watched as he vanished inside and then turned to watch the crowd of angry people. She felt sorry for them.

She felt more sorry for Ibraham.

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