Brian Kittrell - The Consuls of the Vicariate

Tristan quickly rose to his feet. “Then, we must raise an army of our own.”

“We cannot,” Jurgen said, standing. “The procurement of soldiers is not the church’s business.”

“You would see us destroyed, our hallowed ground trampled underfoot of the invaders, our great cities lying wasted?” Tristan asked. “The enemy has now come to our gates, Jurgen, and we must do something about it!”

Jurgen cleared his throat. “Can we not negotiate? Make a compromise with the Sorbians?”

“Negotiate with the aggressor?” Tristan asked. “Why would they speak with us? The way I see it, their plan goes quite well for them. They have declared war and invaded us, and they are making progress.”

Valyrie recalled Laedron’s story of the attack at the Sorbian mage academy. The Grand Vicar lies, or he does not know the truth. Gustav … Andolis must know the actions of his own brother .

“And who would we recruit for our fledgling army, Your Holiness?”

“Well, people from the city. They would have no problem coming to the defense of their homes.”

Jurgen walked from behind his desk. “Yes, the young ones of our own capital. The untrained children, strangers to battle and war. They would be slaughtered outright, and that would be an atrocity, one committed by us, not our enemies.”

“Then what else is there, Vicar Jurgen? I’m all ears for a solution.”

Jurgen rubbed his chin, standing in the center of the hundred or more people in the consulship, all of them silent and still. Valyrie likened him to a defenseless animal in a cage surrounded by hungry hunters preparing to make a kill.

“Tell them, Your Grace,” Valyrie said, standing. “Tell them of what we discussed earlier of your service as an emissary.” She tried her best to conceal the lie with a concerned tone.

Jurgen eyed her for a moment. “Yes. I had discussed the option with my clerk earlier.”

“Well, tell us more of this great plan,” Tristan said.

“Your Holiness, if it pleases the consulship, I could go to Balfan and negotiate with the Sorbian commander to get them to leave our lands peacefully.”

Tristan stood and shook his head. “The only thing they would accept is surrender. We both know that.”

“Perhaps, but perhaps not. A nation such as Sorbia does not rise to its status by being barbaric and unreasonable to compromise.” Jurgen clasped his hands. “I feel such a course would be better than sacrificing our inexperienced young men to the jaws of war.”

“It can’t be permitted,” Forane said, walking onto the main floor across from Jurgen. “Azura stood on the battlefield against insurmountable odds once, and now we must follow her example. Send the defilers to the hells where they belong!”

“Forane and I are in agreement.” Tristan returned to the throne. “I request a vote on the question, Chamberlain. All those who would be in favor of raising an army to defend our most holy church, respond ‘yes.’ Those who would oppose, and see us destroyed outright, respond ‘no.’”

Jurgen sighed, then returned to his desk. “We, of course, will respond with ‘no,’” he whispered to Valyrie.

The chamberlains collected the votes with the same efficiency as the previous day. The room became silent while the chief chamberlain counted and tallied the votes.

Eventually, the chamberlain stood. “By the grace of Azura, we congregate to do her will in all things. It is the will of the consuls that an army not be raised.”

Unlike with the last vote, the chamber remained silent with the announcement.

Tristan stood with disappointment riddling his face. “Thus is the will of the consuls. Tell me, Chamberlain, the count in favor and of those against.”

“Half of the assembly plus one dissent the question, Your Holiness,” the man said, then took his seat.

“It would seem half of you-plus one-would see our church destroyed. To see it annihilated by the invaders, to see our precious cities in upheaval and our people enslaved. Very well.” Tristan put his hands on the iron rail and leaned toward the consuls. “If this body is unable to do what is needed, I shall act on my own. I shall raise the army we so desperately need.”

Jurgen shot out of his chair. “It cannot be! You have no authority to override this body’s will, Andolis.” His words were received with shouts from the gallery expressing disdain for Tristan.

“Enough!” the Grand Vicar shouted. “If none of you have the strength to see this done, I must preserve us.”

“You have no power to act on our behalf, especially not when we’ve said no.” Jurgen pointed at Tristan. “You have no right.”

“I am Tristan IV, Grand Vicar of the Heraldan church. Sworn to uphold and defend the church in all matters, chosen to lead us in accordance with Azura’s teachings and to protect that legacy. Do not presume to tell me what is and what is not in my power, Vicar Jurgen. I shall see us through the night and into the morning, with or without your help.” Tristan turned and walked toward the exit.

Jurgen called out, “Wait, Your Holiness.”

Tristan paused, then turned to look at Jurgen. “What need have you for me?”

“A compromise.”

“I’m listening.”

“Instead of an army, we could increase the size of the militia. That would serve our goals, would it not? Provide better protection for the city when the siege comes?”

“That won’t remove the Sorbians from our shores,” Tristan said. “You and I both know that.”

“Perhaps not, but it would help keep them at bay. If we begin training new men now, we would stand a better chance to resist the invasion when it reaches our gates.”

“Fine, then.” Tristan returned to the throne. “Chamberlain, the question shall be to the raising of more militia for our defense. An answer of ‘yes’ will… let’s say, double the current number of guardians.”

Jurgen returned to his desk. “Our answer will be ‘yes.’” Valyrie scribbled the vote on a scrap of parchment and handed it to a passing chamberlain.

Once the votes had been collected and tallied, the chamberlain announced, “By the grace of Azura, we congregate to do her will in all things. It is the will of the consuls that the militia shall be doubled.”

Valyrie stood, joining Jurgen and the other vicars in applause. For the first time, Tristan cracked a slight smile and almost gleamed with kindness. I wonder if that goodly smile is truly benevolent .

“We’ve done good works here today, Vicars,” Tristan said. “We shall now adjourn for the remainder of today. Master Greathis, execute the will of your consuls and find men willing and able to defend our holy church.”

“Your Holiness!” Greathis snapped to attention, then left the chamber.

“It will only be a matter of time before he has his army,” Jurgen whispered. “The church is endangered, but the vicars aren’t quite ready to commit to the idea of a standing army.”

Valyrie leaned close to him. “Surely you can stop that.”

“Who is to say that I would want to stop it? If things were to worsen, even I could change my mind. Though the Drakars have perpetrated wrongs, I would still not see Sorbian troops looting and burning our sacred places.”

“Maybe you should meet with the Sorbian general without Tristan’s knowledge.” She stopped abruptly and lowered her head when a group of vicars passed. “They might listen to you.”

“And if they don’t? I would be labeled a traitor publicly, and if I were captured, Tristan would never ransom me back after the trouble I’ve given him.”

Valyrie shook her head. “I wish we could go to the guard with this. It seems Master Greathis could easily solve the problem.”