Classless

Chapter 24- Crazy

Chapter 24- Crazy

Chief Song POV

Bashi was as crazy as they came, I was used to navigating different kinds and breeds of communities, small settlements, and villages. Bashi or as he liked to be called now King was a man unto himself, his brand of crazy was one I had never seen replicated over time and I should know considering that I had known him since I was a teenager. He used to be an addict but now the leader of this movement, so it was safe to say he was doing well for himself. I did my best to avoid him whenever I could, I could say with confidence that I was a patient person but my action now would prove otherwise. Fedor had said what I had thought but they did not take kindly to anyone insulting their King even if the King had a screw loose. I found it hypocritical that their precept which counteracted the entire freedom, nature, and green earth philosophy they had going, like with most sects the people in it do not the irony in their beliefs and their actions. Murmurs had broken out when Fedor asked if he had lost his mind, it was a fact that Bashi was King here and his influence was limited to this place. They were not physically violent, at least before this present time.

“I am sorry King, she isn’t used to speaking to monarchs,” I said dryly.

“Monarch? Is that what you take me for?” He said in a tone that tried to deflect his animosity toward me, his stature usually gave him an edge over other people. He knew that it did nothing to me and that rattled him, I enjoyed rattling him, he was just another man pretending to be something he was not.

I smiled and casually moved Fedor behind me, “You are King, are you not?”

“Only by name alone. A name, something you wouldn’t understand. I merely lead the way and ensure that the world becomes enlightened. I serve the earth and it serves me as well.” He was a prick, a prick that hadn’t changed since he was thirteen.

I wrestled with the urge to snidely reply. “Your demands are ridiculous, Fedor is not one of your people, you do not have the right to demand that of her.”

“Demands, No. This was merely a negotiation, a pro, and a quo. You give me what I want and I give you what you want.” Bashi laughed again. His laughter reminded me of an echo, it held no substance.

I groaned they had done a good job of hiding their activities from the powers that be, they allowed a semblance of freedom but not enough that they could actually challenge the status quo. “A negotiation needs consideration, we are here as mere messengers yet you have locked one of my men because you can, you asked that they refrained from meat which they did, and now what? You want to kidnap the only woman on board my ship, why? Isn’t that because you are King?”

Bashi dropped his mask of propriety and glared. “Keep teething, Song.”

“Bashi.” I dropped his proclaimed title, his people were truly disturbed now, even the air thickened but there was time for everything and this wasn’t a time to be cordial.

“How dare …”

“I am not one of your people, I stand as a representative of the government to retrieve a national treasure and escort it back to its rightful place. Be as you may, you are still one of the settlements under the unification law and in case you have forgotten, our show of reverence is a privilege that we accord you and not an entitlement. This is the only choice I accord you, will you release the treaty? Or do we go back empty-handed and make it known that you clearly disobeyed a direct order.” I maintained eye contact with him.