"Gentlemen, quiet please!" Proconsul Deraskin VI tapped his fingers on the desk impatiently, gazing in his slight displeasure at the members of the senate. It was a fine gathering, as always, filled with the ranks of nobility and mercantile splendor... seemingly the most brilliant and brightest minds of Aixelsydan, some choosing in their haughty recluse to speak Ancient Avaeran among themselves and their aides. But contrary to the perceived notion of disorder, and much unlike the image of similar gatherings, it was a powerful body, prone to heated discussion over the maters of the state - true - but able to reach conclusions and take definite action much faster and much more efficiently than those of the nation's neighbors. And it held impressive power. The Proconsul knew that well, and despite the progressive, vast and undisputed authority that he held within Aixelsydan, he was constantly forced to play strategic games of chess with the senate, for ignoring it would be a disastrous mistake. Even now, his proposal of the Great Library hinged on the approval and general enthusiasm of the members of the senate, for their vast influence was necessary to bring the project to light. Even if the conception of this entire plan was completely his. Hearing the noise subside in the great chamber of the senate, the man leaned forward and pushed on, "Let us speak civilized about the issue. The construction should not wait another year." "Nonsense!" a voice from the right wing of the chamber, where according to the local tradition the most conservative members sat, rose with a booming quality and reverberated off the resplendant walls. It was Meladre, a rich son of one of the noble families that have strongly established themselves in the southern lands, as the Aixelsydani called the territory they conquered some twenty years ago, "This project is as needless as it is wasteful. Sure, it may be in the best interest of Aixelsydan to raise as a leader in knowledge in Qayiore, but the time is not right for it yet. The trade has collapsed due to the tidal waves, and the Straight of Anorurr is our best hope at establishing a strong presence in merchant endeavors. It is our key to not only bringing trade to our shores but to pinpointing our lands as the centre of commerce in the east of the continent. We should concentrate only on the mage accademy, to reinforce the hold on our waters!" "You are as blind as you are arrogant, Senator Meladre," the steady, controlled and utterly relaxed tone of Alastaa II was filled with the usual self-amused hint of her confident composure. Contrary to the young senator, Alastaa lived in the capital and derrived considerable sense of self-worth from this fact. Where the man was hot-headed, she was calm. Where he was fiery, she was controlled. Where he was serious, she was utterly and undeniably humorous. But the nobility of her linneage made the other man appear like a poor country cousin, not to mention her increased reliance on Ancient Avarean, which was becoming so in fashion among the senators from the more distinguished families, even if it served no practical purpose other than the scientific one. And the senate was definitely no science. Not in Aixelsydan. "The establishing of the University of Elements," her smooth voice barely carried over the floor, though silence always reigned when she spoke, "...is a noble cause, and one that should not be abandoned. But we are not ready for it yet. Not for at least one more year, if not longer. The mages are still working out their Pact of Operations, and without their undivided attention, not to mention their unified front, the university would end up being nothing more than a boarding school in Celdonia. THAT would be a waste of time, not the Great Library. The library should proceed as the Proconsul suggests." "Gentlemen, Ladies!" Deraskin IV again tapped his fingernails on his desk, cutting off what was promissing to be a rather personal and perhaps quite rude reply from Meladre, much to the rather visible displeasure of the southern senator, "Let us be reasonable! There is much in store for Aixelsydan to come, very much indeed. The Tavar Mountains are to be explored and tested for resources. Our fleet will make contacts with many new cultures to promote trade. The lands north of Aixelsydan have already been proven for gold and gems, and will soon be annexed. The cities are upgrading their ports for more visitors. An expedition to Ban Horroth is already in progress. But much of what is to come requires careful preparation. Every child in Aixelsydan knows that one cannot put a tower when the base is not yet there. We must secure our base, and if that means putting some projects ahead, then so be it." "But our trade, Proconsul!" a voice from the middle of the room interrupted, "We have been building our fleet for years not for conquests alone. Isn't it time that the Straight of Anorurr brought back what was forseen? The Maze is, after all, in place." "Yes, but I have ordered the Maze opened for the time being." Deraskin gestured with his hands as he spoke, "As it is, Celpalar has suffered even more than us from the tidal waves, and their ships have once again vanished and are only slowly resurfacing. Despite our lofty goals, we must admit that it was them that carried trade on the eastern seas, which made us benefit from the increased traffic in the Straight. At this point, our priority must be to re-establish contact with them and raise their incentive to trade again. And that must preceed the mage academy." "Why don't we establish our own trade routes on the eastern seas? Why not take those seas for ourselves and reawake the old trading itinerraries under our flag?" "The merchant houses have made it abbundantly clear that it would be much more profitable for us if we combined this effort with Celpalar," Deraskin reminded the man, "It is my wish that our ties with that nation be strong and our control of the seas in that region - joint. There are islands and lands out there that will be colonized one day, and Celpalar has more experience in the matter. We need to observe and learn." "I propose we do the same in the Midsea region, while we wait," another voice spouted forth a rather popular recent belief that it was time for Aixelsydan to take a greater interest in the northeastern part of the inland ocean, "Cormenaera, Damaris and other cities are currently at the height of their competition. Surely, our arrival will present opportunities they all will be interested in. It will put us in the position of chosing." "Indeed," while the recent interest in the Midsea region was spreading like a wildfire, Deraskin was not only a strong supporter of it but an inventor of the entire idea. No one cared to remember this now, of course, but as politics went, this suited the Proconsul just fine. "Our eyes must be open for opportunities there, and we do have a great fleet to offer protection to those who make the right choices. But as it was stated at the beginning, we must be more lucrative to the markets abroad. So lucrative, in fact, that our arrival should be anticipated weeks in advance. The mage academy, when time comes for it, will certainly do so. But the Great Library should be even more fruitful. Which brings me to our original topic. I can order the construction started today. In fact, I will do so, if I must. But it appears to me that the nation will hold the government in much higher esteem if they see their glorious senate pursue the matter instead." Silence followed his words, just like Deraskin anticipated. Playing politics was nothing new to the Proconsul, and his control of the senate was impressive, but the liberties awarded to that body, and the massively broad range of powers always made these tasks tricky. This time, he was playing on their egos, hoping that by stroking them enough he will rouse them to action. In reality, the nation would be just as happy with the senate raising the Great Library as they would be with a watchman from the Earthen Veil doing it... it mattered little. But the senate could have this task done much faster and more efficiently, given the individual influence of its members in the scolastic community, and this would free up time for Deraskin to tend to other matters. In retrospect, it was just a matter of efficiency, nothing else. The senate has proven itself impressivly capable of structuring and completing public projects, but the matters of state and both military and trade action was better served when one man could make all the decisions. Him. So, instead of worrying about Celpalar and the eastern seas, it was really in the best interest of Aixelsydan that the senate raises the library to life, leaving him to pursue the external matters. The problem, of course, was to make the senate see that. "You are absolutely right, Proconsul," Alastaa may have been an annoying force to the newer senators with less experience, and her partaking in the newest fashions and trends - most of them vain - was already legendary, but she was, in effect, one of the more brillant members of this body, and one with considerable influence and following. "I say let the Great Library be risen," she continued evenly, flashing that alluring smile that probably won her some of her impressive support from the male population of the senate, "And let us put our best efforts to it. With proper attention, the entire project should not take more than, say, two or three years. Benefits should come soon after." The Proconsul nodded, watching as other slowly acknowledged their support, and the still fuming Meladre complained annoyingly to the few of his closest friends. In five minutes of further discussion Deraskin became certain that the vote was now just a formality. The Great Library would be initiated. And with luck, and perhaps more effort than luck, it would, one day, stand as the centre of learning, culture and knowledge not only in the country but abroad. >From the back of the chamber, the sole Mountain Lord smiled and nodded silently at Deraskin, his reclusive throne-like chair and his calm demeanor wrapping his persona in an air of regal elegance. Deraskin smiled back... it was not often that a Mountain Lord graced the proceedings of senate work with his presence, and while neither of his caste was allowed to vote or take part in the discussions, the symbol of their attendance was a boost to the government. In the back of the chamber, the Lord silently watched as the senate ratified the decision and begun discussing the details of the plan. Voices mingled with voices, ideas sprung forth and excited conversations filled the air with sound. A distant, almost absent sound, at least to Deraskin, who removed his mind from the chamber and as he often did, travelled in his thoughts over the lands of Aixelsydan. It was, no less, a typical night in the senate... and despite its fiery disposition, it had value in style - which like a typical Aixelsydani mind embraced passion and nobility but dwelled little on endless possibilities in favor of a decisive action. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
