236 Duty (1/2)

”Do you know why the Council seem to not care about Inkit? I haven't seen men with burning hands or men that can meld into the shadow here” said Timothy as he looked at the developments from the window of the large empty house overlooking Magistrate Chen's home. Lucia and most of the royal guards were with him.

”Enlighten me” Lucia smiled. She knew of course, Timothy was sure of that. But it was nice acting like he's smarter than her from time to time.

With hands tugged from behind and puffed chest Timothy answered, ”Because the Republic will soon fall into chaos anyway. There was no need to send someone to make it more chaotic. The Servuses are swimming in corruption and the Magistrates cannot do anything about it. And the Inkish... they call themselves free and equal but that also was a lie. Nobody is truly free. No two person are equal. Such is the world”

”Politics and philosophy” Lucia walked to his side ”So can the two of us be called the saviors of the Republic then?”

”Ironic but yes. The idea of the people ruling themselves is a compelling one. It is a good dream and probably would have worked if managed successfully. But it failed here. The people are not ready to rule themselves. A Republic will eat itself from the inside without guidance. It is such a shame that many people can't see that. They treat the Republic as holy, sacred even. But is it? It is an idea. Ideas fail from time to time when mixed with the reality. The Republic has been failing for decades now. And ironically, a monarchy is the only thing that could save it. We are the saviors of the Republic”

”And yet they want us dead”

Timothy nodded. It was a waste. He hadn't met Magistrate Bouvin face to face but from what he heard from Magistrate Chen, Bouvin was better than most leaders. Many years ago when Wismar suddenly attacked Canton, Magistrate Bouvin rallied the Inkish to defend Canton. Magistrate Bouvin was said to have won three battles and losing only one which was not even a full rout. If not for the Magistrates valiant deeds in the field, Canton would have fallen under the rule of Wismar already.

Timothy also heard that Magistrate Bouvin's faction has the least corruption among the five. The Magistrate was strict and efficient and despite his acts, he was somehow charismatic. He could have been a great addition to the leadership of Inkit. Timothy would even bring him to his campaigns against Wismar.

Unfortunately, he and Magistrate Bouvin were on two opposing sides. Sometimes, differences in ideas are so deeply rooted that only the complete eradication of one side is the answer. He understood Magistrate Bouvin's sentiments. The Republic was holy. It is faultless, a shining idea of fairness. The people must be empowered.

Timothy disagrees though. The Republic was not holy, it was flawed. And although its principles are noble, achieving them would be impossible for now. The people must be empowered, yes. But the people need peace and order more than power. Freedom and equality are nice to have, but life is a better gift.

Timohty sighed, a deep and long one. It was such a waste putting down such a man.

*********

Arrows flied as warning when Bouvin attempted to step forward with his unsheathed sword. The bolts were made of hardwood, sharp and fletched with duck feathers. Superb things, he thought. The Union had good weapons in their arsenal and brave men to wield them. Fighting beside the King in a war against Wismar would have been great. He could imagine being in a battlefield with the famous King of Castonia at his side.

Unfortunately he was born as the Magistrate of Inkit. He was tasked to defend the principles of the Republic until his death. He swore on his ancestors' blood that he would uphold the virtues of a free and equal people. He was an enemy of the monarchs and here he was, standing with a sword in his and and thousands of the city watch at his back.

He had lost, he knew that much. The city watch were green boys that cannot put a dent on the veterans of the Rooster. It was futile resisting. But he must do it no matter what. Duty trumps all.

He ran towards the line of halberds pointed forward. Most of the city watch had surrendered already. A few joined him though, loyal lads. They will die with him and with the Republic. Their names would remain unsung forever. Nobody would know about their story. It was as if they didn't existed at all.

Several were hit with bolts. Their bodies curled into death. The survivors resumed their mad dash towards the Castonians.

Bouvin's sword broke the wind as he thrust it towards the enemies. He didn't bother aiming nor looking. He was a dead man and a single dead foe wouldn't change that. His sword thrust was parried away. A knee to the belly put him on the ground.