The Collective (12 page)

Xonox responded sourly, not appreciating his contemporary’s
tone. “Make your accusations plain. I have no time for games.”

The head of the House of Janus did not delay. “My wife’s
first cousin, Gerrius Crispus, your fourth in the House of Vancrew was found
dead on a stretch of road halfway between my House and yours. His life ended by
a single execution gun shot in the middle of a swirling war zone.”      

“And your point?” Xonox countered.

“Are you denying your involvement with the death of Gerrius
outside of your walls? The breaking of a law that has always been upheld by all
here. Persons of position will not be killed by other persons of position
outside the city. You deny this?” Croman was growing infuriated.

Xonox remained on an even keel. “I deny nothing…”

“So you admit breaking the Collective law?” The Second of
the Upper Houses accused.

“I admit that if someone in a certain position conspires to
kill someone in a greater position, he had better succeed.” Xonox said sternly
with a hint of a warning.

“As if your hands are clean!” Croman shouted unable to
contain himself.

“It’s not about the attempt, but the disgrace of the
failure.” Xonox rebuked. “A poorly planned coup is the aggressor’s downfall,
not that of the attempted upon. I’m sure your House is not without reproach.”
The debate was not going as Croman predicted. He refocused on the other point
of the argument.

“Where is Gerrius’s wife and family?”

“They are well, though I have every right to sell them to
the highest bidder. Gerrius is no longer of this House or this earth.” The
Third of the Upper Houses said matter-of-factly.

“I want them sent to the House of Janus immediately!”
Croman demanded.

Xonox could sense the fire brimming under Croman’s words.
He decided to see if he could push Croman further to see if he would actually
threaten him. “And what is your compensation?”

“Compensation?” The master engineer was irate. “I’ll bring
you up on charges of killing an honorable man!”

“I thought all the honorable men died long ago.” Xonox
quipped.

       “Watch
yourself Xonox.” Croman warned. “Words kill men.”

“No Croman, men kill men. Words are their master.”

Croman and Xonox were locked in an icy stare. The two men
were considered friends once. Their relationship devolved as Croman’s lack of
attention to the overarching problems of the Collective persisted and Xonox’s
unwavering nature grew. Croman mistakenly underestimated Xonox’s desire for the
second House. Xonox had set his sights much higher. He had nothing against
Mordal, but it was time for one sovereign leader with complete control over the
Collective. Xonox would be that leader.

Yual Mordal ended the stalemate between the two Houses.
“Xonox, you will respect our laws. Without them we would fall into chaos. You
will send Crispus’s remaining family members to Croman as a show of good will.”

“Always Mordal.”  Xonox held Croman in his gaze a while
longer before turning to look at Mordal. “There are four surviving members of Crispus’s
family, his wife, Lilia, his son and daughter, Juda and Litrice, as well as his
mother Daeph. Because of the transgressions that occurred in my house I have
the right to strip them of their positions and leave them begging in the
streets. But Croman’s curt words have touched something withered and frozen
within my soul. I’ll send Juda and Litrice to the House of Janus at once. They
will be accompanied by my personal guard, so to ensure no ill befalls them as
it did their father. They both are bright and beautiful young regales and
should do well in your house. Actually my daughter has taken a liking to Juda,
who knows what may come of that. But I will be holding on to Daeph and Lilia a
while longer. Lilia will be incorporated into my second, Edon Stylez’s, home.
We all know him as a gracious man and she will flourish there. Daeph will stay
in my home as one of my personal advisers. They will both live out their days
in excess wanting for nothing.” Xonox looked casually around the room at the
faces staring back at him on the screens. Then he focused his eyes intently on
Croman. “Unless… for some unforeseen reason the Crispus family becomes an enemy
to the Xonox family. Maybe there is an attempt on my life, or one of my aides
is poisoned, or I slip awkwardly in the shower. Then all of his family and
conspirators shall know the pleasure of pain and cruelty.”

Xonox sat back in his chair satisfied that his threats were
made plain to Croman. He would give him Crispus’s children, but any action
against him would spark a civil war amongst the Collective that no one wanted.
The lower houses in the Collective sat nervously waiting on Croman’s response.
It was clear that Croman was in shock. Xonox’s words reeked of war and left him
speechless. The sweat beaded on his forehead as he contemplated his retort. It
was blasphemous for Xonox to address the head of the second House of Janus in
such a manner.  Croman’s accusations were planned to bring Xonox’s true
intentions to light. Once again he had strung Croman along and twisted his
words and came out of the fracas unscathed. He knew better than to continue
down a destructive path with Xonox.

Mordal sealed the deal. “Then it’s settled. Croman, prepare
to receive Crispus’s children within a day. Xonox, make sure the children’s
journey is uneventful. There will be no second chances.”

“Understood, Mordal.” Xonox stared back at the First.
“Before I forget, congratulations on your wedding.”

“Your congratulations are received. Are you concluded?”
Mordal said grimly.

“Yes.” Xonox answered. “I turn to Lifretent from the fourth
House of Agress.”

“Thank you Xonox.” Diteri Lifretent stated
enthusiastically. “Not much to report, we’ve had little trouble. Everything is
running to optimum capacity. Our water production is strong.  I turn to Gratsun
from the fifth House of Deira.”

“Our status is similar to Lifretent.” Lotha Gratsun
summarized, her long, gray hair falling over the stark black suit she wore.
“The peasants are placated and our city is thriving. I turn to Kasmine form the
sixth House of Iossec.”

“Mordal, Croman, Xonox and other distinguished heads.”
Eltioc Kasmine spoke hastily, his eyes red and withdrawn, sunken into the
sockets from worry. “The House of Iossec has had many issues in the last few
months.” 

The heads of the Collective were well aware. Mordal brought
his hands together as he stared at the head of the sixth House of the
Collective. “All have heard, elaborate Kasmine.”

CHAPTER 12

RISE OF HOUSE
IOSSEC

Kasmine’s voice trembled as he spoke. “The House of Iossec
has been under a horrific siege. I want to thank all the heads that sent
supplies and reinforcements to allow our House to stand.”

None of the Houses were accustomed to being attacked at
length. His fine white robe appeared to be unwashed and wrinkled. It was
uncommon for a man like Kasmine who prided himself on his attire. He was an
aggressive man who never backed down from a challenge. This strength was also
his greatest enemy as he often irritated the men in the Collective with his
uncompromising attitude. He was slender and lean, hiding his age gracefully. At
a young age he aspired to be the head of a House in the Collective. He began in
a privileged capacity in the seventh House of Toessar, his family many rungs
down the ladder of succession. The effect of his peculiar and particular nature
allowed Kasmine to excel at his studies and he was capable of applying his
knowledge to real world problems. As a young man he ushered in the Order of
Division among the families in the House. Too many lower families were mixing
with the wealthier class. Kasmine subdivided the families into distinct classes
of wealth and instituted marriage protocol based on status. His methods are
still applied by the reigning head of the House of Toessar, Joesteon Phoeltro.
Following the restructuring of the house, Toessar began to double its
production and the city of Frontamioum prospered. Shortly thereafter Kasmine
was requested as an aide to the former head of Iossec, Milred Transt. The House
of Iossec had fallen into disorder and disrepair. Word of Toessar’s renaissance
had spread as well as the influence behind it. 

Transt was a man of substantial means and speculated to be
over eighty years old. His inability to connect with his people had incapacitated
the growth of the House. His surviving sons and daughter were little help in
setting Toessar back on the right course. While his sons chased after the women
in the city, his daughters gossiped about the latest trends and fashions.
Kasmine quickly grew from Transt’s aide to his right hand, single-handedly
willing Iossec back to a place of prestige among the Houses in a few short
years. Transt’s children showed no interest in the affairs of the House,
acquiescing to Kasmine and Transt’s father-son relationship. It was to no one’s
surprise when Kasmine was named the heir to the House of Iossec on Transt’s
death bed. All seemed supportive of his decision. By that time, Kasmine was
married to Felise, Transt’s daughter. He was widely accepted as a member of the
family. Many of Transt’s children looked to Kasmine for advice and guidance. He
was the driving force behind discussions of moving Iossec into a position to be
the fifth house of the Collective. His rule over the house was imminent and
seemed to be without question except for Dalsha Transt.  Dalsha, Transt’s third
wife, the first two died of mysterious illnesses, was infuriated to hear the
news of Kasmine’s impending ceremony. She was grooming her only son Ralston to
be the next heir. Dalsha questioned her husband’s state of mind when the
decision was made. She said he was old, weak and his thoughts were unclear.
Transt’s aides assured her the discussions of Kasmine’s rise in the family had
taken place over the last few years before he had grown ill. She was not alone
in her feelings of betrayal, Transt’s second and third in succession thought
they were more qualified to lead the House of Iossec. For an outsider to come
in and be selected was not unheard of, but Kasmine’s meteoric rise was an
oddity. Dalsha sought to turn one or more families to her side, making promises
of greater access to the Transt family wealth and positions as aides to her
son. 

Ralston Transt was a young man in his early twenties, when
his father died, he had little time to grasp the ramifications before his
mother began promoting him to take over. His father was his mentor and Kasmine
was a big brother.  Many times he had confided in Kasmine on issues he could
not discuss with his siblings.  Tall and wiry, with a muscular build, Ralston
spent as much time sharpening his mind through his studies and the political
dealings of the Collective as he did honing his body. Ralston was seen as a
young version of Kasmine, but while his mother wanted him to stake his claim
for the head of the House, he was not ready to lead. 

On the day of Kasmine’s inauguration, all the families
gathered together in his home to witness the passing of the responsibilities
from the old to the new. Transt’s former aide, Wisen, now Kasmine’s aide, read
aloud the short bylaws of ascension within the Collective. Upon completing the
reading Wisen turned to Kasmine and handed him a red medallion passed on to
each new leader. Applause erupted throughout the House. Each family came forth
to pledge their loyalty and honor Kasmine. It was a small ceremony with the
heads of the higher thirty families waiting patiently to greet their First.
Dalsha intermingled with the families and lined up to supposedly show her
support. Her actions were unnecessary since she was already a member of the
Transt family and by law now a member of the Kasmine family. All around the
house tensed when she and young Ralston approached. As expected she was less
than gracious and spoke with a defiant tone. She spat on Kasmine’s shoes and
asked aloud how this bastard had been allowed to become the head of the great
House of Iossec; he had brought dishonor to the House and the Transt name. All
in attendance were bewildered by her accusations. The families that were
present knew Kasmine and his upbringing, his father held favorable standing in
the House of Toessar. Beyond Dalsha's lies was the more grievous offense; her
outburst in public and blatant disrespect for Kasmine was punishable by death.
As her tirade continued she asked who would stand with her against this
abomination. The ballroom was silent except for the low murmurs of outrage for
her behavior. Kasmine looked sternly at Dalsha, he had hoped they could reach a
common ground behind closed doors. She was a hard woman to talk to, but he
reasoned that once the ceremony was concluded she would have to capitulate.
Dalsha continued to rant about her son being the true head. Kasmine looked down
at the red medallion in his hand and squeezed it. This was his first true test.
He watched Ralston try to calm his mother as she frantically went from person
to person. Kasmine met the eyes of his aide, Wisen, and made his decision.
Wisen nodded towards the guards and they quickly seized Dalsha, bringing her to
the center of the room before Kasmine. Dalsha struggled to break free of the
guards on either side of her. She straightened herself as Kasmine began to
speak.