Sacrifice

Chapter 9 - The First Council Meeting

Sunrise saw Kalli at the North Gate, she hadn't slept much, but the excitement of science made her feel even more awake than usual.

"You look all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."

Kalli swung around to see Adir who looked anything but.

"Rough shift?" she asked.

Adir shook his head. "The gate was quiet, not even a wolf sighting, but I spent half of it trying to sort out some issues with the men. Is that what I think it is?"

Kalli smiled and handed Adir one of the steaming cups that she was holding. "Rosehip and honey, your favourite."

Adir took it with a sigh of relief. "You're an angel."

They walked away from the gate as Adir drank his tea and Kalli inspected him.

"You need to get more sleep," she finally declared.

Adir shot her an ironic look. "Really?"

Kalli blushed and changed the subject. "Did you manage to sort out whatever was up with your men?"

"A bit. But it's a widespread problem. They haze anyone who's new because they're bored and angry at being assigned to the North Gate." He shook his head. "But it doesn't matter, it has to stop, and I'm the only captain who's trying to do something about it."

"That's rough," said Kalli. "But you're the man for the job; all of the soldiers I've met think you're the best captain on the gate."

Adir shrugged and turned the conversation away from himself. "So, what's got you interested in the Cirts?" He sat down on a low stone wall.

Kalli joined him. "I was looking for a place in the Imkan Empire that has enough power to run my telescope but that had a low enough level of light pollution that I'd be able to get accurate star positions with my telescope. There's one in the capital, but it's the Cirt compound."

Adir nodded. "That doesn't surprise me."

"So you know about the Cirts?" Kalli asked.

"Probably more than most Imkanians. One of my men, Corry, has a grandmother who's a Cirt. I had a hell of a time integrating him into the unit because of all the stigma, but I learned a fair bit along the way. Why don't you tell me what you already know?"

Kalli shrugged. "Just the gossip that goes around. They don't like outsiders, so they lock themselves away in their compound. They've made a fortune lending to Imkanians who are down on their luck, and there's nothing they wouldn't do for money."

Adir took a last swallow of his tea. "Mostly untrue," he explained. "They're not greedy. I'm sure there are a couple like your father, but that could be said for any group of people. The rumours that they're money hungry comes from the fact that they extended credit to some rather despite noblemen who are in the process of paying them large sums of interest. As a people, they aren't as rich as our nobility, but they have very low poverty rates in their society, unlike in certain parts of the Empire. They don't shun all technology; they simply believe that technology is moving too fast."

"But that is just plain silly," Kalli objected.

Adir shrugged. "I'm just telling you what I know; I'm not going to defend them or pass judgment. They feel very strongly about the study of science, but they prefer to study what they call the 'elementals' or the basics of science. They study the earth and the sea and the air without manipulating it. Over the last couple centuries, they've become more and more reclusive, rarely leaving their walled compound."

Kalli hesitated for a second. "They also say that the Cirts will steal your soul."

Adir paused with his cup halfway to his mouth. "That's absurd."