The Bargainer 16

The Bargainer
Chapter 16

-VB-

A few hours ago, Gabriel managed to bring all of her siblings - her fellow upper priests and followers who were “blessed” by me - who were in Saath, and in the now vacant throne room of the “demigods,” we sat around in a circle on the floor - at my request - with only sitting pillows and a mat.

In front of me were Gabriel, Tatan, Remorju Kiomorra, Fagasin, and Qenran. Their titles were “Mercy of the Wolf,” “The Stoic One,” “Free Mind,” “Champion of Women,” and “The Quiet Will.”

According to them, their titles came from the people who referred to each of them by their deeds. Gabriel took my words seriously and became the merciful one who offered shelter and relief to those in need. She was the patron demigod for travelers, homeless, and the weak. Tatan, a brown skinned woman, looked like a regular woman with none of the Case-53 appearance. Her power, the ability to control her own emotions and project them outwards, allowed her to become a judge of sort, keeping all those involved in Saath’s court system calm. Remorju Kiomorra - and that was his first name - was an artist, able to impose what she saw in her mind onto reality with whatever material that was available for him. It was with this ability that he constructed, from the ground up, the artistic side of Saath; he also did most of the murals of the Wolf Temple. Fagasin, a dark haired and fair skinned man, understood all manners of social constructs and interactions. He could also manipulate certain ideas within people’s minds. It was with this ability that he raised women’s status to equal that of a man. For this, the women of Saath gave him the title “Champion of Women.” Lastly, Qenran. He was … He was a Case-53. A towering four mouthed and nine-eyed man with a body more like a worm than a human, he showed the people that no matter the change, strength in faith alone could accomplish feats unimaginable. A father of nine before his “ascension,” he had seen four of his children die due to unsanitary conditions and used his power over virus to cleanse the city of disease.

I couldn’t help but feel proud and thankful of these five. Even though I had given them no instruction other than to make Saath worthy of millions, they had gone and made it good.

Which … left me with the conundrum of the rest.

“Where are they? What are they doing?” I asked Fagasin, who seemed to be the most knowledgeable of the five.

He seemed … unhappy.

I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Your Majesty,” he bowed while sitting. “I cannot do anything but apologize.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What is it that you desire to apologize to me for?” I demanded this time.

“Many of our brothers and sisters, upon gaining a shard of your power… have taken to the field. They claim that they are doing your work, but all they have been doing is carving out their own kingdoms in the Dothraki Plains, driving out those who once harmed us. Less than half send back anything to help, and of those who do help, only a few offer anything substantial.” He fidgeted. “Many saw your lack of return as a sign that they were free to do as they pleased.”

“How many?” I growled, infuriated by this betrayal and trust.

He shivered. “O-Of the sixty-nine blessed, only seven outside of us five help to keep Saath safe and prosperous.”

… So I gave power to my supposed followers, and outside of what had to be no more than a sixth of those I raised, the rest had gone … MIA?

The fuck?!

I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly.

It stung to have your trust broken like this. I didn’t tell them to die for me; just work to make their home city better.

“Give me the names of those who sent even a single copper coin to help the city. And then give me the names of those who outright abandoned Saath.”

Fagasin leapt up and prostrated himself at my feet to my surprise. “Your Grace, please bestow upon them your mercy!” he quelled. “They know not-”

Why was he doing this?

What made someone who stayed loyal to the city and me go so far?

…

“-beg-”

“Family.”

He froze.

“You have a family member, one of the ascended, who abandoned the city.”

He trembled in fear now.

“Y-Yes.”

A man cannot choose his family he was born into.

“Who?”

“M-My father and brothers.”

“Why?”

“I have no excuse-”

“Then tell me something before I go and harvest her soul.”

“My mother!”

I paused. “What does your mother have to do with this? And sit before you speak! I will see your face when you talk!”

He did so, returning to his sitting pillow, before he spoke up.

“My m-mother… is not a great person. She is from one of Saath’s elite family. She abused all of us. Mother never wanted to be married to father, and abused him. He b-bled a lot and could not fight back because he was merely the son of a merchant while she was the daughter of the city’s previous rulers.”

“ And that allows betrayal against someone who’s personally blessed them, Fagasin? Does it?” I hissed.

He bowed again. “It does not. But I beg of you to be merciful… Take my life if you must, but spare my family’s.”

“... And the cause of this mess? Your mother?”

“Exiled along with her family. Her family attempted a coup when they realized we were now the true rulers, but lost their fight. We executed all those involved and exiled their families who weren’t.”

So a lot of things had happened in five years.

“Have any of them contributed?”

“My youngest brother,” he spoke up quickly. “He is one of the six who stayed loyal. He has set up a prosperous trading town to the west between Saath and Qohor and urges traders and merchants to come and visit Saath.”

“The rest?”

“... Outside of father, they offer some but very little. Not many have been successful as my youngest brother.”

I grunted and thought. None of the five before me dared to interrupt my thoughts. I closed my eyes and came to a decision. “I will not harm them,” I spoke up.

Fagasin wept and prostrated again.

But before he could say anything, I snapped.

“This is coming from your and your youngest brother’s contribution. Do not expect more than this! To breach trust and loyalty is to invite death, but I will match your reward with what they deserve. But I expect them all to return, renew their pledge of loyalty, and work for the betterment of Saath! Is that understood?!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Good. I will tour the city on my own. I am no longer in the mood to talk.”

I rose up, and before they could stop me, disappeared.

God, what a way to find out how shitty the situation was.