The Dekmár Roads: The Factions of Natorna

Chapter 13: Shadowy Intentions

The Day Before

There was a small building within the confines of what the locals call the real city of Conharsa. The other locations for inhabitance on the planet were effective only outposts. For them, since there is only one city, the only name they would ever call it would be the city. If it ever had a name, it fell into disuse and had been forgotten. The city, however, was vast. It was larger than most other cities in the solar system. Like the larger cities, there were various different sections with different sizes and types of buildings. Some fortified areas but none had the likes of a castle and the protected courtyard like Conharsa had. The It was the Council building that was ginormous and was for the purpose of the Council meetings. Outside of the Council Building in the courtyard, there was a small neighborhood compiled of houses specifically for the council. One such house was where Cearfer was staying while he was there on Conharsa. He was meeting with Laoenfer

"The creatures who is supposedly helping us." Cearfer told Laoenfer. "I never trusted them ever since I saw one of them, his shadowy figure behind the pillar talking to Neheyuer."

"Something is off for sure, but Cearfer, they can't be that bad could they be? They are just strangers to us. I imagine we look pretty alien to them with our color-coded uniforms, shorter legs, and longer arms."

Cearfer raised his arms and clenched his fists as if he was gripping a ball. He then told him, "I am not trusting him because of what he looks like. There is something about him that just doesn't set well with me."

"Okay. You have my attention. Explain."

Laoenfer took a seat in the sitting room on the uncommon animal skin covered couch. He put his hands on his lap to encourage Cearfer to continue.

"Laoenfer. It is more than just an uncomfortable feeling I had around him. Like he was emanating something...well, evil. But as I said, that is not all. Things have been happening since he got here. Some kind of nova from Beonaiha that destroyed its' orbital base, two planets that had some cities with explosions from the nova-wave and now fire on Glecta. It can't all be coincidence?"

"Could these things have happened if the creatures were not here?"

"What are you saying? What about the fire? That couldn't have accidentally happened. Even you should know that."

"I am not saying it was an accident, Cearfer. Clearly. It was not, though, you know as well as I do that maybe this was bound to happen. I see more and more each day that people are not satisfied with the factions. There is not much I can do. Just set up more defenses? It may be my job, technically, but I am barely even a guild member. Before I started working for you, I rarely did anything. But even still, it wouldn't make a difference if they let me make random stupid defenses. Trying to convince my leadership of anything is like trying to convince a wall is not a wall and that it needs to move. There is no convincing anything of anything that has no brain. I don't know if my supervisors refuse to see what I see, they can't for some reason or simply just brainless like the wall. I admit, maybe part of the problem to be honest. But in the end, people are not happy with how the council controls their lives, asking everything for literally fucking nothing!"

Cearfer slowly sat down in a sofa next to the want-a-be soldier, his friend. He contemplated for a few minutes what he was talking about, looking at the words not spoken as much as what was. He glanced outside into the courtyard of the Council. He saw some of the members walking about doing whatever they do. None of them could hear what was said which, if they did, none of them paid any head. Mybe his friend was on to something. A little too passionate perhaps. He also thought about others. He did not realize that his friend truly fit into their category. The unhappy. The mistreated. He had not had the experience as he had for he always had been on the up and up, moving to a high manager position. He understood that some had concerns. Others were rather miserable. But no matter how miserable some were with the government, burning a great deal of the food seemed like an illogical move. You make yourself starve before causing any hardship to the Council that had large stores of food.

Cearfer, at length, spoke, "I am sorry you have had these experiences. They should not have happened and somehow need to be fixed. I agree with that. However, there is no way anyone among our people would have burnt the farms on Glecta. That would ensure their demise and the collapse of society, one that would be difficult to recover from. You would hurt everyone, not just the government. If people were not happy with the government, a move that could cause a possible genocide, is not a move anyone from this system would do. You agree?"

"I can see what you are getting at. You think it was from an outside force attacking us who and why? The race that the strange figures are from? If so, why would they attack us? What is the reason? Why don't have that many resources to warrant whipping us all out to have access to it? That sounds ludicrous."

"What else would you suggest?"

Laoenfer thought for a second. Was about to say something and changed his mind, "I...Well...for argument's sake, let us say that these people are to blame. We don't know why or what they stand to gain with so much effort for us to eliminate ourselves for them, how would we know? How would we prove it? All we have is our speculations from different events. We are saying we tied it to them but how? What did they actually do that shows us that? Did anyone see them cause the nova which destroyed many things? Did anyone see them light all the fires on Glecta? As far as I know, the answer is a no."

"So, we have nothing but yet, it fits so well."

"Cearfer, what do you want to do? Bring this empty speculation to Neheyuer and see what he will do with it? We need to look more into it. I am not saying you are right but you have me interested. I would like to know for sure what you believe is true or not. If it isn't, then I would like to know why our people started a fire."

"We can agree on that. I don't think it would hurt to bring it to him. Something tell me that he is suspicious of them too."

Cearfer and Laoenfer leave the house and head to the Council Leaders office. They were about to go in when they heard voices beyond the door. It was the stranger Cearfer saw earlier speaking to Neheyuer. He was certain by the voice. It sounded like it was just two of them in there. The assistant must have been somewhere else. They overheard the Council Leader say,

"When are you all going to help? Matters are getting worse by the second. I'm definitely paying you enough, am I not?"

"Matters are being handled. Is that why you brought me in here to tell me to do my job? I don't tell you to do yours, letting your entire system to fall apart around you."

"You don't have anything to show for and you hardly have enough people with you to do much anyway. It appears to me that you are being more of a burden than a use. If you can't start to make a difference, then I would rather you just leave."

"You rather be doomed than continuing to accept my help? After everything I have done for you? I have found your problems. But I take it you would like to get decimated by them? Go right ahead. I will pack up right now and watch as your system burns, while laughing from the edge of your solar system, wondering why you wanted that."

Neheyuer grew pale. He did want their help if they truly would give it. He definitely did not want them to leave if it meant the destruction of Natorna. He told him, "I want you to stay. Continue your work."

"That is reasonable request. You don't need to fear. I am already taking care of it. We have found some insurgents who are attempting to through you and the council. I have my people dealing with them swiftly."

The dark figure departed at once. Cearfer and Laoenfer came out from hiding around the corner of the building and entered. Laoenfer thought that Cearfer might actually be right about the creatures. Still no definitive proof but they surely could find something if they dig enough. They told the raddled Council Leader what they had been discussing, omitting the parts about being frustrated with the government for Laoenfer's benefit. Cearfer asked to bring the farmer into the city for protection. After some debate, Neheyuer agreed.

The Present

The farmer and his family arrived at the Council Leaders office. He introduced them to the troops he had selected while Cearfer and Laoenfer were gone. He then directed them to their new residence which happened to be across the tight alley way across from where Cearfer was staying.