Chapter 4: Tiger Party and Elephant Party
Upon a foundation of black stone, pillars of pure white marble encircled the hall, and groups of male and female slaves moved ceaselessly through the long corridors, converging toward the flowing-water courtyard at the heart of the palace.
Cool water ran slowly through specially carved channels, bringing rare relief to the sweltering heat of Volantis, while neatly trimmed hedges divided the entire courtyard into a maze-like design.
Flowers were in bloom, and even beyond the vast palace walls, the fragrance of fruit lingered distinctly in the air.
At the center of the courtyard stood several jewel-inlaid reclining couches, upon which men clad in togas lounged in twos and threes.
Beside them, lightly clad slave girls, their faces adorned with embroidered flowers and hearts, lifted trays of fresh fruit and pale green Volantene wine to their masters' lips.
"Dolan, your scheme has failed."
A man with an exaggeratedly long beard took a slow sip of the green wine offered by a slave girl.
"The swine and bastards of House Bantaro are dead, and that useless wretch ran weeping to your old man. Had your old man not been willing to swallow his pride, this matter would not have ended so cleanly."
Dolan Megya plucked a roasted golden beetle from the back of a male slave prostrating upon the ground, dipped it into crushed chilies, and tossed it into his mouth, chewing with an audible crunch.
"That is because they are fools.
I told them to test the Varezes boy—I did not tell them to steal property.
Ha! Is the old wizard's property so easily taken?"
"The Tiger Party has been silent for far too many years."
The man who spoke was tall and gaunt, his long narrow beard sharp as a rapier.
"When the old wizard yet lived, we were utterly suppressed by the soft-boned Elephants. Now that he is dead, what is the boy doing?"
He sat upright, drained a large mouthful of green wine, and kicked over the slave girl attending him.
"Go and bring Varezes Silver Blood wine, you dog. Silver Blood wine carries more bite."
The slave girl did not dare raise her head. She crawled away on hands and knees.
"The boy is selling his father's lands."
The man's features twisted slightly.
"Dolan, tell me—what does he intend? That was the old wizard's lifeblood."
"I do not know."
Dolan Megya sifted through the dishes with idle indifference and seized a deep-fried golden worm, split open and stuffed with minced meat and chili paste.
"No matter how much he sells, I will buy it all. It is a pity those Elephant cubs meddle—otherwise every acre would already belong to us."
"Only land?"
The voice came from an old man who had been silently drinking.
"Lord Bericcio, you mean…"
The bearded man hastily straightened and turned toward the head of House Megya—the Archon of the Tiger Party.
"Dolan, does your contract include the farmers upon the land, and the laborers in the workshops?"
With a single sentence, Bericcio stirred unease in Dolan's heart.
"It is common practice that estates are sold together with their slaves, is it not?"
"But the old wizard kept no such custom."
Bericcio spoke calmly.
"The farmers on his lands, the workers in his workshops, the miners in his shafts, and the soldiers in his barracks are unlike the traditions of Volantis."
He paused.
"They are not slaves, but hired retainers. Their contracts remain in the boy's hands."
"This…" Dolan hesitated.
"Lord Bericcio, yet the lands are already ours. Their yield far exceeds that of our own estates. That alone is worth the price."
"Without the skilled farmers and craftsmen trained by the old wizard, and without his methods, how many years can you guarantee such yield?"
Bericcio nearly wished to pry open his grandnephew's skull to see what folly lay within.
"Did you also pay a high price in bidding against the Elephant cubs?"
"Yes…" Dolan's face flushed crimson.
"But these lands are vital. More than half of House Varezes's estates lie within Elephant territory. We can use this to infiltrate their voting districts."
"We are not contesting votes with the Elephants at present."
Bericcio rubbed his brow.
"Or do you believe we can sway their votes?"
Silence followed.
"Enough."
Seeing none would speak, Bericcio continued.
"Dolan, continue acquiring the lands of House Varezes. Since the boy chooses to sell, reclaiming them is no ill course. At the very least, it leaves a favorable impression."
"I understand, Lord Bericcio."
Dolan brightened slightly.
"My intention was to extend House Varezes a courtesy."
"But… Lord Bericcio."
The bearded man seemed struck by a thought.
"The wastrel of House Bantaro appears intent on something… Should we—"
Bericcio narrowed his eyes.
"That matter does not concern us."
He paused.
"Pay it no heed."
"You say the Varezes boy began selling the family's estates and properties immediately after burying the old wizard?"
Lady Clifna Visamav, Archon of the Elephant Party, had gathered her council to deliberate upon the sale of House Varezes's lands.
"Yes, my lady."
Hamal of House Cyrenica pointed toward the map displayed within the council chamber.
He was brother to Vagadu, Archon of House Cyrenica, and himself a contender for the next archonship.
"Whatever Dragonzel Varezes intends, his lands are fertile. Even without the attached farmers and craftsmen, they may yield profit for several years. Afterward, though lacking the old wizard's techniques, their output will still remain respectable. Moreover, our purchase would be a service to our allies."
"Councilor Hamal, yet I hear you were outbid by the Tiger Party in several acquisitions?"
A tall man with a blue beard raised the concern.
"If House Cyrenica lacks funds, we may provide them. Though House Varezes has not sat upon the council in recent years, they have long been our supporters. We must not lose such a valuable ally."
"Yes—at the very least, their Silver Blood Army is formidable."
The general of the Tiger Cloaks shifted restlessly.
"With House Varezes aligned to us, we need not fear the Tiger Cloaks controlled by the Tiger Party."
"Very well."
Lady Clifna considered for a moment.
"Do we know Dragonzel Varezes's true purpose in selling these estates?"
The chamber fell silent.
Only Hamal ventured an answer.
"I may hazard a guess. The sale did not begin with Dragonzel's inheritance. It had already commenced while the old wizard yet lived. Therefore, it is no rash impulse of the boy. Moreover, the preparations were thorough—perhaps even guided by plans unknown to us."
"If the contracted retainers are excluded from the sale, what of the freemen?"
Lady Clifna raised a crucial question.
The democracy of Volantis was simple: every freeman who owned land possessed a vote in the election of the Archon. Yet these freemen were often dependent upon powerful families and landholders, far from wholly free.
Ancient archon Houses such as Megya, Cyrenica, and Visamav commanded fixed voting blocs numbering in the tens—or even hundreds—of thousands.
As for House Varezes, should Dragonzel seek a seat within the Senate, the freemen bound to his House numbered no fewer than ten thousand.
"It is likely that, save for contracted artisan freemen, the rest will transfer alongside the land," Hamal replied.
"My lady, be assured—the Varezes steward who handled the transaction has guaranteed that a substantial number of votes shall remain secure."
"Good."
Lady Clifna inclined her head.
"Continue observing House Varezes. If the Silver Blood Army is to be transferred—"
"We must acquire them at any cost, and the silk workshops as well," the general of the Tiger Cloaks declared loudly.
"As for the Tiger Party, simply watch them."
Lady Clifna lightly tapped the clearly divided territories of the two parties upon the map.
"Funds shall not be lacking. House Visamav will invest three million Splendor Coins toward acquiring the lands and properties of House Varezes. You may bid freely against the Tigers."
"House Holdan will provide seven hundred thousand Splendor Coins."
The blue-bearded man raised his hand.
"Lord Hamal, we cannot allow our voting base to fall into Tiger hands."
"The Margolwin Family shall contribute one million and two hundred thousand Splendor Coins."
The general of the Tiger Cloaks likewise raised his hand.
"Lord Hamal, we cannot allow the Silver Blood Army to fall into Tiger control."
The Elephant Party swiftly reached consensus: whatever Dragonzel intended, the properties of House Varezes must not, at the very least, fall into the hands of the Tiger Party—least of all their formidable military strength.
The underground laboratory of the Varezes residence.
Dragonzel removed his garments and accepted from a Red-robed Monk a Valyrian Steel dagger adorned with pure silver.
The monk's face was inked with flames, eyes, and crimson sigils, and his gaze burned with fanatic devotion.
Another Red-robed Monk stepped forth from the shadows.
He was old, his wrinkled face covered in tattoos of roaring flames and dragons. His long white beard reached his chest, decorated with ornaments shaped like tongues of fire. His violet-blue eyes shone with fervent piety.
Dragonzel recognized him.
Ben Duoluo, priest of the Great Temple of R'hllor in Volantis, and a sorcerer who had often visited Cleorius.
"Begin."
Ben Duoluo inclined his head to the younger monk.
Without hesitation, the Red-robed Monk drove the dagger into his own heart.
Dragonzel extended his hand, and the monk's blood flowed as though guided by unseen will, spreading outward along the sigils carved into the laboratory floor.
Then—
Flames.
They ignited.