Bond

Virulence

The wispy old Chancellor pinched the bridge of his nose as drones of Assistors and Slaves flitted about his skin, creating a whirlwind of worry that got his robes in a literal tangle.

"Sir, hold still."

"My wise Chancellor, Quarrin has appealed to the Adjudicators for relief from a life sentence."

"Your Empirical Highness, the Hizon people have declared war- can you affirm that their treaties bound them from sanctioning such actions?"

He frowned at the voices, then frowned deeper when he realized his Abettor was nowhere to be found. Was it not enough torture that these treacherous songs were allowed to graze at his ears all day and all night?

Scratching at the thorn in his throat, the Chancellor made the motion for the herd to part, and they did so attentively.

"I am retiring to my private quarters, you are all dismissed."

The clutter didn't wait one second and took flight, repeating his words to those who had indeed heard his message loud and clear.

They shrieked the statement as if he had not just been his own herald.

The Chancellor then wondered where his Herald was.

Shaking away the hasty thought, he grasped the cold doorknobs in his remarkably dry palms and shut the doors behind him.

The prim and perfect quiet of the room caressed his ears and put him at peace. His bones could finally rest, his blood allowed to cease their relentless throbbing against his sallow skin.

There was a certain weakness in the Chancellor, and he knew this.

Darkness had begun to spread maliciously from his core, intending to carry itself to every ligament and every appendage of his body.

He supposed he could be in a stupor about it.

Instead, he was enraged. He was ready to drive his fist through this sickness that had done him wrong.

That place would feel the weight of his fury.

That Hell, those scum insisted was a haven for every living being on this side of the galaxy was not what it claimed.

This Gaia was his ultimate poison.

And if they were going to number his years by sending one of their own to his ship, then he would surely do the same.