Responsibility of power

 The night wends on.  What gold I have is running out.  It has been a boring night.  No one wants to start a fight.  So I leave this boring tavern for another one that might have more action.
 Again no one wants to start a fight.  That being the case I stagger back to my place.  What a thoroughly disappointing night.  I pass out on my bunk.

 “Get up!”
 “Huhwha?”  I say rather fuzzily.
 “You have duty!”
 “No.  Not till day time.”

 The curtains get pulled back.  Blinding light comes streaming in.  It can’t be, I just put my head down.

 “Get up now or else…”  Her threat hung there.
 I groan, “Yeah, yeah.”  I roll over.
 Cold water splashes over the back of my head, my back.  Verry cold water.  I am utterly soaked.

 “I told you.  It is already noon.  You have to get up and go to work at the gate.”

 My sister is there with the bucket in her hand.  I should knock her around for that but I am late.  I spring up: run around my room snatching like mad at every thing I will need: then I tear off to the gate.  As I am running I take the time to dress in the uniform.  Many times I go crashing to the ground.  Other times I crash in to some hapless citizen.  All along the run I start to reconsider about having my sisters as my roommates.  Especially Lyanez, oh I will get her back for that cold water stunt.

 I make it.  The commanding officer, whose name I could never remember, gives me a withering look.  I expect him to lay into me but he just goes about his tour of the guard stations.  I count myself lucky for not having to endure his “Duty” speech.  Of even the old chestnut about how it is my “honor to serve in the ranks the Odragc Empire.”

 Truthfully I do count myself fortunate to be serving.  I do have a deep sense of pride and honor to be fighting for what is right.  But that is the problem.  I am not fighting.  I am not doing anything.

 This has to be THE most boring post in the entire empire.  While those on the border are keeping everyone safe from the ruthless advance of a tyrant: I have to make sure cows are off the road so merchant trains can come in to the city to sell their wares.  They fight skirmishes to keep Odragc land from falling into the hands of the enemy: I have to roust pickpockets.

 Its all just ssssoooo…..
BORING

 Later on that day Lyanez comes by.
 “Here Gilly.”  She hands me something wrapped in cloth.
 I open it.  It is two of her meat pasties.  I reconsider my thoughts of ditching my two sisters as roommates.  It costs way to much to live in The City with out roommates.

 “Thanks.”  I mumble.  “And don’t call me that.”
 She smiles.  Just as she is about to go Dain comes back to the spot.  Her grin widens and takes on an evil tint.
 “You're welcome,” she paused long enough so that she knew that Dain was listening, “GILLY.”
 “Gilly?”  Dain asked.

 “Oh yes.  He used…”
 I cut her off before she finish, “Don’t you have to get back to cataloging scrolls and books for Rathi Ahgjan?”
 She was enjoying this, “No.  Unlike you I am on time for work.  I'm actually ahead of schedule.  I have time to chat with your friends.”

 She turns back to Dain.  I consider trying to shoo her away but that would make it worse.  I might as well let her have her fun.  But of all people why did she have to tell this to Dain?  He is a worse gossip a fishermen’s wife.

 “Before he could walk he would swim.  He would spend hours and in the water.  Cried hard when it was time to go to bed.  He wanted to grow up to be a merMAID.”  She made it a point to stress the maid part.
 Dain started to laugh.
 “So that is why we call him Gilly.  You know fish gills and all?”
 Dain lost it.  He doubles over with laughter.  With her attack successful Lyanez walks off with a smug smile on her face.  When he finally gets control of himself, Dain eyes my sister.  He even hums a bit.

 “Stop that.”
 “You do have to admit she is cute…  Well for a dramen anyway.”
 “First off you’re human.  And second, EEEEWWWWWW!  She’s my sister.”
 “He shrugs and walks off saying, “What ever, Gilly.”
 Great, just great.  Now I am not just going to be cursed with that stupid nickname at home but at work as well.  Yes I do think it is about time I get rid of my sisters.

 The day drags on to night.  My head bobs.  I did not get enough sleep last night.  But I will soon be off.  That is when I seen them.  It is the large group that always surrounds Sutton. Sutton is supposed to be my relief.

 I run up saying “Hey what the hell?”
 He jabbed a long human finger at me.  “Look I have covered for you when you took off and did not show up for work because you wanted an adventure.  And then there is the time that you asked me to cover you.  You said that you will cover my shift tonight.”

 “What?”
 “Remember?  About three months ago?”
 “Huh?  Wait, no.  I didn’t realize.”
 “To bad I have made plans.”
 I curse for some time.  Mostly so only I can hear.

 Through out the night I do everything to keep myself awake but long nights with out sleep finally get to me.  I look around.  Well nothing ever happens here.  I sit in the chair in the guard shack.  I close my eyes.  I just need a little sleep.

The day went by in a blur.  Occasionally I would have a day with some exciting event, some long faught family fued or heated crop ownership disputes between neighboring farmers.  This wasn't one of those days.  Over the course of the morning I issued a one month prison sentance for a dragon that had wounded an elf over a bag of gold, provided a poor storeowner with a loan, and recieved countless 'tribute' gifts from small villages and families. 

The disputes were my duty to solve, and I had no problem dealing with those.  It was the gifts that I can only assume I had earned in some form or another that I could never be comfortable with.  Some of these people could use the things they gave to me more than I could, and I had many times tried to stop these donations from coming in, but  these people wouldn't hear of it.  No matter how horrible I felt at accepting them, my people were insistant that I had somehow earned them.

I was relieved to be done for the day and go to the library.  I had grown fond of studying ancient legends, and wasted away the rest of my day in a legend about the great warrior Arix trading bodies with a human solder.   I passed it off as well written fiction, but intoresting nonetheless.

That night as I rested I heard a commotion ouside the palace.  Even with the raised guard about the city, occasional Black Dragon assassins and kidnappers would sneak into the city.  It was the the first time, though it always made me uneasy because down at the gates it was more a threat to my people than myself, but it soon ended and I was able to fall asleep.

I just closed my eyes for a minute.  Next thing I know is that I am falling backwards.  The back of my head painfully connects with something hard.  Dazed I try to look around for what hit me but before I could strong arms roughly stand me up.

“What have you done?”

None of this makes sense to me.  My head is fuzzy, feels like it is packed with sawdust or some type of fabric.  The two that seem to be guarding me have murderous intent gleaming in their eyes.  The one in charge, whose name I still can’t capture, has deep disappointment in his.

“What’s happen,” I say as I try to rub the back of my head but strong hands keep my arms down at my side.

“What do we do sir?  The Rathi is probably sleeping.”
The captain, or is it sergeant, replies “We put him in a cell till the Rathi wakes up.”
“Oh.”

I still have no idea what is happening.  My head hurts.  It feels like every thing is spinning.  Then I see something that makes me even more confused.  The chair I was sitting in is all the way across the room.  Okay “all the way across the room” means it is just a foot (34cm or so) from where I was sitting.  But still how did it get there?

“What happened?  How did the chair get over there?”
“Shut up.”
“No, but the chair…”
One of the guards smacked me in the already sore back of my head.
“I said, shut up!”

There were things I wanted to know and no one was telling me.  The first thing is: why does my head hurt so much?  Second, how did that chair get all the way across that small guard shack?  Next am I finally of shift?

Also where are they taking me?

I try to get some answers.  The guards give me what I think is a contemptuous look, at least I think it is; I have a hard time reading human nonverbal communication.

“Wait what’s happening?”
We pass a commotion.
The one on my left give me a look like, ‘you should know’, and says, “Shut up scum.”

The long walk in the night air has helped to clear my head.  I recognize where we are going.  It is where we throw criminals.

“Wait hold on.  Why are you putting me in there?”
No response.  They slam the door.
“Wait: wait: hold on a bit.” I could hear him start to leave, ”Officer, sergeant…” I racked my brains for his name.  “Sergeant Janus, please, tell me what happened?”

The sergeant came back.  He slid open the window so he could talk.

“An assassin got in to The City tonight.  He made it as far as the palace.  I heard that the blackguard was caught sneaking through the Rathi’s window.  This does not ‘just’ happen.  He had to have some help.  Well needless to say the palace guard wanted to know how this villain got in The City.  So after some checking they found out”

“That he entered through the gate I was guarding.”  I finished.

He nodded.  Then he slid back the little door over the window and left.

I flop on the uncomfortable bed.  Well there is no way I am going to get any sleep for some time.

“Great, just GREAT!”

"...while I do wish I could bring your loved ones back, I can only regret that I can't.  After hearing these matters I can offer you and amount valued at two weeks your proven wage and all funeral arrangements handled by the state.  You each have my sympathies for your losses."  Three families had lost family members to the invading assassin the night before.  I made it official that they be remembered for giving their lives to save mine.  An aid lead them toward the tresury office down one hall, another I sent to begin the preparations for a stately funeral.  I was brought a few documents for signature and minor decision, and held a minor discussion with a gryphon who wished to construct a new store before looking at the list of the day's hearings to pick who was next.

My assistant called out the next matter to be handled.  "Uzor Draangill, city guard.  Accused of negligence at his post and allowing said assasin pass into the city while on his post"

I watched as a dramen in a military uniform was brought in, shackles and chains on his arms and legs.  He was forced on his knees in front of me.

"Uzor Daangill?"  He looked up looking ashamed.  "Descendant of Uzor Taheen?"  "Y. yes sir"  he replied.  "Your ancestry is tied to mine, and my great great grandsire once promised your family compassion and assistance from my line.  While three deaths came of your failure to your post, I am bound and I dare say compelled to abide by that promise by not giving you a life sentance or dishonorable discharge.  That is not to say you will not be reprimanded however.  What say you in your defence to these accusations?"

Three dead?

The world is spinning.  It has nothing to do with the blow the head I took.  Yes the post I had was boring but this should never have happened.  I should never have LET it happen!  But three people are dead because of me.

I open my mouth.  The only thing that comes out is not what I intended.  Though I have not eaten any thing but those meat pasties my sister gave me the other day, I still retch.  To his credit Rathi Ahgjan does not flinch in disgust, he just calls over some one to clean it up.  In fact I see compassion in his expression.  Dragons after all are easier to read then humans.  It is the compassion that makes it worse.  I have personally let down his families trust in mine.

“No defense jah, uh Rathi.  I should be put away for life or dishonorably discharged or even both.  I, your servent await your judgement.”

I can’t bear the shame.  I can’t look at him in the eye.  Well for that matter any one.  I stand there quaking, hoping that I can some how make up for this.

It was all I could do to not show my disgust at his reaction, but I was the Rathi, and the Rathi couldn't show any weakness.  I looked him over, he seemed like he was fairly strong.  He seemed relatively responsible, and was horrified at the results of his mistake.  Everyone deserved more than one chance, and we needed all the solders as we could get, so an idea came to mind.

"You shall report to military commander Arix within the day to recieve your demotion.  It is my reccomendation that you recieve a pay cut of one gold per day, and be reassigned to a border patrol unit.  This is the word of the Rathi, make it so"

I blink.  What did he say?  I’m not going to be put in prison till I am old? I am going to be reassigned to the border.  Okay calm down.  This is supposed to be a punishment.

“You are wise and compassionate, Rathi Ahgjan.  I will not let down your families trust in me.”
I am escorted away.  They give me some time so I can go back home to collect my stuff.  As it is Lyanez and Sindrea are there.  With not much word I go to my room to pack.  Both are sitting down to eat dinner.

“Where are you going Gilly?”
“Yes we have made you some stew...”
I smell the wafting aromas, “Mmmm that smells good.  It does smell good. But I am shipping out.  I have been reassigned to boarder patrol.”
Sindrea eyes me up and down, “Really?”
“Yes I really have to go
 

The rest of the day had gone quite boringly.  A few thieves, a shop owner who had failed to pay taxes, a human who claimed a dragon ate a horse that no one seemed to remember him ever having.  Simple things.

After the last audience I headed back to the gardens for a bit.  I payed tribute to my anscestors before slipping into the hot spring and letting myself fade into the peaceful void of silence and bliss to clear my reeling mind of the day's troubles.  Clearing my mind of the worries that I may have made an incorrect decision at some point and wrongly punished any of those who were brought before me during the day.

--------------

I had a ruby encrusted golden crest - and - horns cap and collar on as I sat before the palace steps.  It was rare occasions I was allowed out onto the streets.  Rathi or not the palace seemed more like a prison than an extension of power at times.  The feeling was only emphasized by the fact that my polisher, an agile and skilled elf named Alleira, insisted when I did go out in public I needed to wear some sort of elegant decoration.  The heavy things always felt more like shackles than decorations.

When the last of the relations arrived, I stood on the speaking pedistal built into the palace gate for such occasions.  "My people, my friends.  Today has been a dark day for three of our clans.  An assasin from the Black Dragon was foiled near this very spot as he attempted to claim my life as a victory for their evil cause.  While he died for his crime, he took with him three of ours.  A human named Willam and two elves we knew as Nelan and Sefeia.  This night we mourn our loss with their families, but celebrate them as heros.  I owe them my sincere gratitude for without their sacrifice this would be my own funeral.  Three lives to save one is too high a cost to be justified in any mannar, but it has been done and we can only give them the honor and recognition owed these fine examples of humility and loyalty to each other."

I stepped down again as a small orchestra began playing a slow tune I recognized from somewhere.  The three horsewagons with caskets were set moving with the crack of a whip, and the procession began behind me.  The closest relatives to the deceased I allowed to ride in the royal wagon beside myself, as I did my best to comfort them in what was probably their worst day of loss in a very long time, if not ever.

Dwarves never complained much.  They were part of the empire of course, but they kept to themselves for the most part, solving their own problems and determining land ownership on their own.  Funerals were one of the only times I ever ran into the smallest of the hominid races.  With their underground skills, the dwarves were first employed by my great grandsire to construct and staff the elegant Eairon burial catecombs.  If there was any reason for a non-royal to look forward to death it would be for the chance to be buried here. 

the procession passed along the road from the city.  The road itself had been carved into the cliff face in such a way that from a ship on the sea it would appear a dark horizontal line in the otherwise flush and unbroken rock.  A two story high gap in the mountain wide enough for three horsecarts to travel abreast.  Carvings and artwork decorated the road, sometimes a mural of a nighttime forest or scene from the palace taking up the ceiling as well.  On the right a sturdy oak fence protected the funeral parties from the increasingly high drop to the churning sea below.  Finally the catecombs came into view.  A bright red volcanic-like glow came from inside the massive tunnel, reflecting off of the road's ceiling which had to rise another two stories to meet the arched opening to the massive cavern's gem-and-gold portal.  The tunnel mouth was built 45 degrees from the road, as though at the center of a turn, with the road continuing straight after passing through.  The walls here were all painted in comforting colors and decorated in gold and silver seemingly melted into purposefully carved crevices. 

The tunnel then opened up into a massive domed room.  For individual funerals this room would be used for the funeral service or whatnot preformed by a priest of whatever temple or religious body the deceased may have been a part of.  Being three funerals, it was decided that the three families would hold these services individually at the burial sites.  I would stay with the non-family members of the procession and accept the gifts and donations to the widows and children of the human and elf males who had been married.  Being Rathi, I could not condone or discredit any religious practice - aside from the Children of Synacra of course - and I couldn't show favoritism to any families.  And on a more personal level, rathi or not I felt that the funerals were to remain with the families, and I had no right to be present.

To each side of the room were two other passages.  These each spiraled up and down from this point - up for nobility and down for non.  to the left was the larger tunnel meant for dragon families, to the right were the smaller hominid tunnels.  The orchestra played a slow tune as the three solumn families headed down the right.

Although the tears and sobs of the family and xlose friends made it feel longer than the uphill climb to the catecoms, it took almost no time to get back the palace.  The crowds dissipated and those who the family had invited to stay headed back up into the palace for the funeral banquet I had ordered be prepared in the palace banquet Hall.

I had the chef spare no expense witht he meal; Seasoned chickens and pork, entire cheese wheels, stacks of fresh breads, and all the entrees most in attendance had ever dreamed of.  Even with the great loss of loved ones the food brightened the spirits of even the mourning relatives - as I had hoped.  the immediate family members ate at my table and I spent the evening listening intently as they described their lives in the city to me.

As the gathering wound down and the guests were beginning to leave, one of the human palace guards came rushing in while at the same time attempting to not draw much attention to himself.  "Sire, an urgent message for you in the attendance hall."  I nodded and dismissed him back to his post and then excused myself from the table.

-------------

The attendance hall was dark, only one lamp above my stone pile lit.  Laying as a crumpled heap of scales at the bottom of the steps was a young dragon with courier markings.  "Rathi...."  He attempted to stand when he saw me but when I noticed him panting heavily I motioned for him not to exert himself.  "I'm told you have a message for me?"

He handed me a rolled piece of parchment with my cousin's seal holding it closed.  I had expected him to send a report on the inspections but not so soon or with such urgency.  Plucking Arix's seal from the paper and unrolling it, I read.

Urgent report from Neitel'an

Invaders bearing Black Dragon banners have ambushed training grounds of Neitel'an training covert.  Three trainee dragons dead, many bearing wounds.  Invaders forced to flee after many casualties.  We fear other coverts near the border may be in danger of attack.  Will be leaving Neitel'an tomorrow for full report on attack.

Commander Arix Ordragc
Lady Yasen of Neitel'an Territory

I looked up at the young courier.  "When were you given this?"  "Two days ago this hour....sir." he replied.  "Good time solder.  You deserve a rest."  I nodded to him and called for one of the attendants from the royal chaimbers.

After getting the Neitel'an courier a room and a meal I prepared a message to send out with my own couriers warning the other coverts and border patrol stations of the raised threat and asking that more guards be sent to the border.  Tucking the message from Arix under my wing I then proceeded to my chaimbers to prepare for my trip into the borderlands in the 'morrow.