I Will Fight

018 | I Will Fight

VICTORIA SHOOK HER HEAD with a sigh, "What drastic action?" She then looked at the table. "Isaac is dead. Edares is in chaos, and we are being framed. What action can we take? Soon, the Civil Guards will learn of our identities and come knocking on our doors."

  Aaron spoke next, his voice calm and measured. "I agree. Are we to ignore the fact that this so-called Order of Kalis, is using the RMA's name for their cause?" He covertly glanced at Victoria, his eyes meeting hers for just a moment before he averted his gaze.

  Sir Alzona leaned forward in his chair. "And what about the nobility? If we can get them again on our side, we could take control of the situation."

  Dr. Elizabeth raised her soft but firm voice. "Their decision has been made," she said with a note of finality. "They're not fools to so easily believe Kalis is indeed with the RMA. Even so, they will bide their time until the current situation subside."

  Lady Miriam nodded. "Dr. Elizabeth is right. Also, the peninsulars and the Atharian clergy will blame the RMA no matter what. We must hide and bide our time."

  "This wouldn't have happened if we managed to free Isaac," Sir Alzona said. "Ishmael... What happened? We sent you a dozen sorcerers."

  Ishmael fixed Sir Alzona a glare. "Fix your tone, Sir Alzona. They had more. The fort was heavily guarded. Did you truly believe we could have freed him?"

  'Of course not, Ishmael,' Victoria thought. Sending sorcerers with Ishmael to free Isaac was just an act to subvert any potential suspicions. Victoria understood there was no chance of success.

  The debate then grew heated as the leaders of the movement discussed their options.

  Then Ishmael slammed the table. "Do you all know what Isaac told me before his capture?" Ishmael briefly looked at Dr. Elizabeth, who narrowed her eyes at him.

  The table went quiet, and all eyes were upon Ishmael. He continued, "If the pen fails… then blood will surely follow. I've spoken to members of the Kalis. I've heard their cries. They seek vengeance for Isaac's death. They seek freedom from oppression. Isn't that what we all want?"

  "What are you saying, Ishmael," asked Lady Miriam.

  "We must join forces with Kalis and bring Alardice freedom once and for all," declared Ishmael.

  That is Victoria's goal, to integrate the Order of Kalis with the RMA. However, it shouldn't be this easy, and she found Ishmael's words peculiar. However, her expression remained placid and unreadable.

  She pretended to disagree. "No. This is not what Isaac wants. He said vengeance is a cruel thing. Violence only begets more violence," she said before looking at Sir Alzona.

  Sir Alzona nodded his head and completed Victoria's sentence. "Instead, follow well the teachings of Mikhail. Follow well the Word of the Almighty. Walk the path of peace, and a brighter future will surely follow."

  "Words that are necessary to keep the innocent away from harm," argued Ishmael with a shake of his head. "The Kalis using our name is a call to arms."

  "What do you mean by that?" said Dr. Elizabeth.

  "Isn't it obvious? The Order of Kalis only moved when Isaac died," Ishmael began. "His death means that the pen has failed. The Crestmores, our strongest allies, also died. We have all done our best. But we've failed to reform Alardice."

  'It looks like I didn't need to convince them in the first place. Ishmael, of all people, is doing it in my place,' Victoria thought and hid a smile. However, just in case, she pushed back a little. If she only agreed with Ishmael, they might become suspicious of her.

  So, Victoria spoke and said, "That doesn't add up, Ishmael. Have you forgotten Isaac's warning before? That a hidden power may be responsible for the Crestmores' assassination? The obvious must be stated that the Order of Kalis is this power. If he's right, you're telling us to work together with the murderers of the Crestmores and Isaac... who is now framing us."

  "Have you forgotten it was the Order of Sicarius who dispatched five Grands to kill the Crestmores? Five!" Ishmael rebutted as he looked at Victoria. "Did you really think the Order of Kalis could afford them? They don't even have High Sorcerers! They need us!"

  Victoria looked away and pretended to be unable to answer.

  Ishmael scoffed and looked away from Victoria, shifting his gaze to the rest of the table. "Who else can afford Sicarius besides the peninsulars and the Atharian clergy? The nobility who watch each other like hawks?"

  No one answered, not even Victoria, pretending to be defeated as she looked down at her table.

  Then Ishmael looked at Lady Miriam. "Tell me, Lady Miriam. You've investigated the circle of nobility. Have you found out anything?"

  Lady Miriam sighed and shook her head. "None. All of us may be at a gruesome competition to the top, but Sicarius is a common enemy."

  Then Ishmael looked back at Victoria. "Must I really spell it out for you? The Crestmores… Isaac… they've all been killed by the Atharian clergy and the peninsulars. If we take that to the Imperial Court, do you think they will believe us?" said Ishmael, and the table avoided his gaze aside from Victoria.

  'Oh, Ishmael... You almost got it right. It's not the peninsulars or the clergy but the Order of Kalis who did all that. They only took the opportunity to blame and execute Isaac for a chance to destroy the RMA,' thought Victoria, but remained calm and disagreeable on the surface.

  "If we fight it strong enough. Then surely they will believe us. Dr. Elizabeth is also back. Surely, her words will hold merit," said Victoria and looked at Elizabeth.

  "Surely? I wouldn't be so quick, Madame Victoria. The AIC is the governing body of wizards. If I reveal myself, and they find out I'm a part of the movement, Atharia won't only be my enemy," said Dr. Elizabeth with a shake of her head. "You know what it means to make an enemy of the AIC."

  Ishmael nodded and said, "Even if the Imperial Court believes us, the Crown needs a scapegoat for the Crestmores' assassination. We are the perfect target," he said.

  "So, what do you propose? Do we fight? We're not ready, Ishmael. You, of all people, should know that," said Victoria.

  "Why do you insist on peace and diplomacy, Madame Victoria? We haven't spilled the first blood. The clergy and the peninsulars did! Will you wait for a dagger to pierce your heart while you sleep?" said Ishmael before addressing the other leaders. "Avoiding violence will mean our enemies will take us out one by one. We have one option left – to fight. If we fight with Kalis, we will be ready."

  Lady Miriam nodded. "Perhaps we, indeed, may have a chance. Atharia is also in turmoil right now. It has grown too big to be able to control all its colonies properly."

  Victoria pursed her lips and looked away as if still adamant about the decision to fight with Kalis. But deep inside, she felt relief.

  She just won the RMA. This was her plan – from the assassination of the Crestmores to stop Alardice from becoming an Atharian province – to predicting the peninsulars and the clergy pushing for Isaac's execution... All these efforts culminate in combining the RMA and the Order of Kalis. And. Kindling the fiery embers of revolution smouldering deep within the hearts of the Alardi.

  Aaron said, "I agree with Lady Miriam. Sir Ishmael also speaks with great wisdom. The Crestmores' and Isaac's death proves the clergy and the peninsulars want war. If they did not, that would mean allowing Alardice to become an Atharian province... they would lose everything."

  "Yes... even the Order of Kalis realized that. Yet like what Sir Ishmael said, we sit here, squabbling like children," Sir Alzona said, eyes filled with dismay. "Pretending as if we're blind to it all! Our only option is to fight with them... to gain our long-lost freedom!"

  Ishmael looked at Victoria, then at the rest of the table. "I will not wait for the clergy and the peninsulars to come knocking on my door and kill me too. I will fight!"

  'He's not lying,' Victoria thought and hid a smile beneath her lips. 'The next phase of the plan begins.' She then subtly looked at Sir Alzona from her peripherals, and the RMA's de facto leader answered with a nod.

  "You speak well, Ishmael," said Sir Alzona as he closed his eyes.

  Silence descended once more, and Victoria could feel the tense air. 'How dramatic,' she thought.

  "Like I said... I will fight too!" Sir Alzona said as he flashed his eyes open, filled with determination.

  "I will fight," Aaron said.

  Victoria then expectantly looked at Elizabeth and Lady Miriam. After a brief pause, the two ladies finally declared their decision.

  "I will fight," said Dr. Elizabeth.

  "I will fight," said Lady Miriam.

  Then all eyes shifted to Victoria, whose lips curved into a thin, genuine smile. "If this is how it should be. Then alongside you all... I will also fight," she said.