OOC: This is a work in progress post, I will remove this OOC note once I finish editing it XD
I just didn't want to accidentally lose it since the post is long @_@
THE POST IS GOOD ENOUGH
XD
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"I come here not as a woman, or a figure of politics, but as a voice," she began, stepping out before the growing crowd that had been gathering outside of the Grand Duke's palace. There had been a lot of unrest since several cities along the boarder in the south had been 'stomped' out by army, and many people were growing panicked and upset. So here, gathering in the square, it had been organized among the people that they ought to meet, stand before the Grand Duke's palace in protest. Such an idea formed not but a few months ago, as the woman before them, Lady Katahnia Harmond, had started off her own campaign to try to peacefully speak to each city int he streets, calling out to the dukes and high lords there of, and of the normal, average people who were suffering. She was speaking to anyone that would listen, just a quiet voice at first that now, like a wild fire, was spreading and growing strong. This was a revolution, and an attempt to unify those of the suffering.
"And though I had once been a lady of station, it has been unfortunately resigned for me for my mother's ideals so long ago. Yet what I protest here is not about myself, or those unspoken travesties, but my desire to tell you I feel for what you are saying, and I have spoken out in each city against this unjust war that continues to rage all around us. How long are we going to stand around, listening to what the men tell us out of fear, rather than logic? Has Connlaoth not suffered enough?"
She shook her head, the crowd murmuring as they agreed. So she pressed her lips together, staring out at the crowd, even to the impatient and hesitant guards who glared at her, keeping their weapons at the ready. Yes.. she had to continue, and to keep the peace in her tone, in her methods, lest she fall pray to the vicious beasts she spoke against... And to show others that there were those willing to speak up, to carry a voice now; even as Connlaoth was rolling into it's darkest hours.
"In the North there are mage camps, who, for all we know, speaks unknown volumes of cruelty. The mage population, those born with magic, are being punished for it when it is not their fault. Before, it had seemed ridiculous, yes, that there be such fear against a people who were just naturally born with other elements, yet here we stand today, with laws becoming as radical as the man leading us. How is it right to cast judgement and tear families apart? It is not the nobility that makes up Connlaoth, but the people who are it's true blood. You are who make Connlaoth great, and without you, it's people, it's wonderful, beautiful people....it would crumble."
The guards grew uneasy as this, gesturing to one another and calling in back ups as the crowd grew louder, but it hushed down, awaiting in bated breath for Katahnia to continued to speak
"Like the delicate threads of a spider's web, we are all woven so tightly into this nation, let us not let the winds of injustice break us apart. And that is why I am here today. You all heard me spoke, and in turn, spoke back. I have listened, and am now rising to speak to you all in hopes my voices finally reaches the ears of our new Grand Duke." She turned to eye the palace behind her, a gentle wind carrying through and fluttering within her golden hair. Then she turned back, staring back at the people who looked at her with hope filled eyes as she drew in a careful breath.
"So, all I ask for you today is to lend me your ears, give me your attention and support me as I ask, yet again, that the Grand Duke step forward, to renounce the laws and to stave off his attacks. If not all at once, but at least one piece at a time."
"What good does it do for us knowing you are slaughtering our own people!?" she spoke, talking towards the high walls boarding the palace. "What good does it do for your people to fight fire with fire? You burn us, and tear families apart, yet proclaim it is Angsar's way." Shaking her head, she grew silent, then turned back towards the crowd.
"Nations are born on blood and family, and this nation is no different. A war was erected years ago, on a God most of you are familiar. But I am not here to give a history lesson, but to let you all know that I feel for you, and I Know the agony you all suffer, and an agony some may have been suffering with far long before this nation has begun to turn into a blood bath. Let us put those differences aside, let the laws fall back to where they once were, and stop this unnecessary blood shed now!"
And the crowd, having been silent , now roared with life, applauding the woman before them and a swell of pride, not only from them, but from the woman herself, could be felt within the air, andthe guards now encircling the group, began to look to one another, then up towards the palace to see if there would be any word from their leader, for no doubt he had been listening as they could all see his shadow looming in the large window in the front of the palace.
And indeed, Grand Duke Calent heard every word. He set his jaw, then stepped away from the window to glance back towards Emery and Zannrick, who remained on guard, before the door of his room.
"Do you hear them?" he said, his eyes becoming cold. "Do you hear those fools believing what that woman feeds them?"
Zannrick nodded, "Yes, and ever since her last speech in Uthlyn, the people have been waiting for her to speak now. She must have spies or associates, for you have only been home for barely a few hours and here she is." Zannrick sneered.
"Yes.." Calent went on, dragging a hand down his face as he sighed. "And to think, we should have weeded the capital out of people like her long ago." He shook his head, growing silent before looking up at the pair. "And I know your numbers are wearing thin. As is the number in the army. We'll have to force recruits come the fall. With all of this unrest, there has been more blood shed than anticipated."
Zannrick nodded. "Yes, I understand. War is a cruel thing."
"War?" Calent sneered at the word. "It would not be a war if the mages knew their place. Do they not realize how dangerous they are? THough perhaps it is in their own delusion they fight back, thinking they are honorable when they are but snakes."
Zannrick agreed, and made a salute towards Calent before bowing his head. "Yes, that is why the peasants do not rule such a nation."
And Calent agreed, but remained silent, looking from Emery to Zannrick, back to Emery again.
"I .. have a woman coming here to meet with us. Someone who... through this event, I think, shall be able to prove herself worthy of joining the pair of you as my elite."
Zannirck raised his head, staring back at Calent.
"Sir?"
But then a knock at the door had him turning away, as he side stepped to allow Vesrik, Calent's visor, step into the room.
The man had a hawk like nose, beady, recessed eyes and enough fat rolls to hide his neck, which were, thanks to Angsar, hidden behind a high collar of his suit that flared out and was decorated with a few tufted peacock feathers. The man tossed back the purple cape of his attire, ignoring both Zannricka nd Emery as he stepped in and gave a red-faced huff.
"My Lord, the woman mordecai, Kasna Vel Telshear, is here and ready to see you," Vesrik announced, smoothing his sweaty, fat fingers down his velvet doublet before finally turning his nose towards Zannrick, then towards Emery. He then glanced back towards Calent. "Shall I bring her in?"
Calent went quiet a moment, before nodding.
"Yes, bring her in."
"Right," Vesrik nodded, looking to the other mordecai again before slipping outside of the room. He had to climb a lot of stairs today,a nd it made him wretchedly irritable, so when he approached Kasna from where he had instructed her to wait inside the hall, he simply gave an impatient wave for her to come join him now.
"The Grand Duke will see you now.." and he released a hot breath, hearing the crowd roaring outside. No doubt that she-devil they labeled as 'Lady of the Revolution' was fueling the common people with more doubt. This had to be stopped, and he hoped this lady, this Kasna, could help start a revolution of her own.
Mages had to be stopped at any cost,a nd their existence, snuffed out like the filthy rats on the street. So he opened the door, and inside, the Grand Duke remained poised, chin held high, shoulders not squared as he waited for her to come in.