"Sir, you may enter the chambers." The Senatorial guard, in the white version of the standard tunic of the Republican calvary, bowed briefly as he nudged the heavy doors open.
Tribune Inaen stiffened and took a deep breath to prepare himself for his audience to the assembled senators of the Republic. Standing outside the chamber doors did not do any good for his composure; he could actually hear the senators arguing through what he believed were 5 inches of solid oak.
"I will have order in my senate!" High Senator Maisarah's voice briefly rose over the din as Inaen started carefully into the circled ring that was the Republican Senate.
"YOUR senate, High Senator?" Senator Lagen shot back vehemently, followed by shouts of approval from quite a few senators. Before anyone could follow up with a comment, the loud voice of the guard annouced the presence of the Tribune.
The following silence was almost deafening, and Inaen strode quickly to the slightly raised podium in the middle of the circle, concious that his iron shod soles were ringing very conspicuously amidst the soft shuffling of the senators' sandals as they took their seats.
"So, what lies will the great Tribune be spinning today?" Lagen's voice echoed once more as Inaen took the stand.
"Senator Lagen, you are an official and if you do not show the proper decorum I will have you thrown out of the Senate." Maisarah answered for Inaen from the dais where the senior senators sat.
"Esteemed High Senator, I was merely pointing out the many false alarms our Tribunal have raised of late." The Senate buzzed to life again. Having acheived his purpose, Lagen sat down with a grin.
Inaen froze briefly at the comment before fumbling around looking for the report. Damn politicians. Inaen thought furiously as he opened the wooden casing. If only he could find the words to counter. But then again, the few who can are already in this room. He steeled himself.
"Senators of the Republican Senate, the Tribunal had recieved news from numerous reports that the Empire is in the final preparations of an invasion fleet and would be on its way as we speak." Inaen annouced gravely, as the buzzing grew louder amid his words.
"And where will this, this invasion fleet of yours be heading Tribune?" Lagen rose up slowly, grinning again to emphasize the absurdness of the reports. The buzzing grew even louder and only died down after Maisarah had pounded her staff of authority against the marble floor.
"The reports indicate that the fleet might be approaching Port Gorian but without ocean scouting vessels we cannot know for sure where would the landings be" admitted Inaen as several senators laughed derisively.
"So Tribune, you are expecting the Senate to call for remobilization in the middle of Harvesting to guard against your ghost fleet?" Lagen smiled patronizingly amidst the shouts of agreements by most senators.
"Senator, the Royale ports are also empty as our agents there had confirmed, you cannot deny that the only reason why the entire Confederation fleet had set sail but for war! The entire fleet had never been away at the same time before, Senators!" Inaen persisted as he beckoned towards the docks of the Royale Confederation towards the east.
"So our dear Tribune now has two ghost fleets as a basis of mobilization of our people! Well justified sir!" Lagen clapped sarcastically as he stepped onto the marbled circle.
Inaen was growing increasingly frustrated at how the senators can ignore the many reports that point towards an imminent invasion. His hand instinctively reached for his sword to check his anger but he soon realized his folly as the senators grew visibly agitated from his reaction.
Seizing the opportunity, Lagen moved beside Inaen and turned to the senators in front of him.
"My fellow senators, may I gently remind you sirs and madams that this is not the first time our Tribunal has reports of invasion? And the full scale mobilization the previous time met with a grand total of three damaged privateers and their injured men who had lost their bearings in that dreadful storm?" Lagen motioned towards the Senate as the buzz arose again. "Since that was during the dead of winter, the gracious hearts of our people forgave the Tribunal after the Senate's gentle persuasion. However my dear Tribune," Lagen turned towards Inaen as he froze at the reminder of the humiliating incident two years back, "we are in the middle of the Harvest, I am inclined to suspect even the Senate would be unable to pacify our people when they return from guarding against ghosts to fields of runied crops.' Lagen concluded as he triumphantly swept back to face the Senate. Inaen visibly trembled with anger, his face suffused with red and his knuckles turning white from gripping the pommel of his sword.
Closing his eyes briefly, he composed himself as he swept the reports into the wooden case as calmly as he could, forcing it shut with a soft snap lost amongst the laughter and shouts of the Senate.
"Very well then," he spoke through gritted teeth, "since Senator Lagen had proven his point, the Tribunal will withdraw its request for mobilization henceforth." Lagen turned mockingly bowed towards Inaen. Before he can press home his attack, Inaen continued coldly.
"The blood of our people will be on the Senate's hands, the Tribunal cannot bear any responsibility for the deaths and suffering to come." Inaen concluded as he shoved the wooden case into the hands of a surprised Lagen. The Senate sat dumbfounded at the harshness of his words. Before Senator Lagen could emphasize the absurdity of the Empire invading the Republic, Tribune Inaen had swept out the chamber doors, ignoring the awestruck guard holding it open for him.
"Sir?" Cirulean asked politely as he held the carriage door open.
"Gather the Tribunes by sunset. And get an audience with the Grand Tribune." Inaen growled as he stooped to enter the carriage. "By sunset Cirulean." Inaen emphasized as he shut the carriage door.
Bowing slightly, Cirulean mounted his ride and rode off immediately followed by a detachment of Inaen's escorts.
To Hell with the bloody senators, Inaen thought as his carriage jerked to a start. I'm not going down without a fight.
snippets . @ 3:16 AM
† welcome .
please :
+give constructive criticisms .
+hold nothing back .
+write the entry title before your comment . thanks !
