Seats of Power

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Neesa"]

He waited for a moment, lingering within the dark like a skulking rat. The idea didn't sit well with him of course, but he understood the need for it. Someone wanted him dead, and if they really tried their hardest now was the time to succeed.

Eventually Neesa gave the all clear, and quickly Vrak pulled himself up and out of the pit.

His fingers dug into the rock, The Pureblood scaling the wall until finally he pulled himself from the pit. His eyes immediately fell upon the gathered Civilians, those who had swarmed to see what had happened. For a moment he took them in, and then he spoke. "I am Vrak Nashar."

Some people immediately bristled with recognition.

"I come to claim my seat upon the Council." He stepped forward. "Challenge me and fall, like all others who have."

He peered at the other gathered crowd. "Follow me, and rise."

 

[Neesa]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

A crowd almost had a mind of its own. Neesa always found it had a morbid curiosity and a confidence beyond the individuals. No one made a move to challenge him, but more than a few decided they had business elsewhere and skulked off.

A gathering formed before him. Perhaps some supported him. Others just wanted to see if anything else of interest was coming. More than a few cast the blood-stained assassin weary glances.

She kept her hood back, her pale milky skin on show. Right now she needed her eyes more than she needed to be invisible.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Neesa"]

Vrak stepped forward.

The crowd seemed to shirk away from him slightly, almost like a wave lapping away from a rock. The Pureblood couldn't help but smile, his ego growing to an impossible size. A glance back towards Neeesa gave an order for the both of them to move forward. He waved his palm and the crowd parted in front of him. His lips remained thin, but he didn't appear to care about the idea of assassins or someone else popping out from the crowd to kill him.

Perhaps there were some foolish enough to try, but Vrak knew they would die.

Without another thought, The Pureblood began to move through the crowd. They parted before him, slowly stepping aside one by one as they watched him pass. In the distance he could see the towering Central Temple, where the Dark Council stood.

Where his throne waited.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

The crowd filled in behind Vrak, but they afforded Neesa a wide berth. For some this was because of the bloody robes, others respect at the markings of a Lord's Hand, a few more it was due a to her personal reputation. Yet for a good fraction is was simple speciesism.

As they reached the open ground towards the tower another group of massassi marched towards them. Again they wore Sitas colours. Neesa pushed forwards through the crowd for a view, her hand reaching for the hilt of a blade. She was still exhausted from the battle before, each step a struggle in itself.

.Her shoulders drooped with relief when she saw Sitas himself at the head of the group. The huge massassi jogged, yet the older Lord kept pace at what seemed a casual stroll.

"Lord Nashar," he called. "There was word of a delay." With a signal of his hand the guards split into two groups and flanked the crowd to take up positions in neat lines around the crowd. No words were spared for Neesa, but she fell into Sitas' wake as he took up position beside Vrak.

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Neesa"]

He smiled again as they slowly began to approach the massive double doors to the temple, his hands slowly reaching behind his back before clasping together.

There was a certain amount of smugness that clung to him, something that seemed to radiate. Vrak couldn't help but feel pleased with himself, after all this had been his goal for nigh on three decades. He was finally ascending to his proper place, to the Council where he belonged.

"Nothing serious." He waved off the old man with an excuse.

Vrak ignored the fact that he had nearly died of course, mostly because he refused to accept that very fact anyway. The assassination attempt had failed, as would every other that came his way. He knew that eventually things would settle, though exactly how or what would happen when it Vrak didn't know. His hope was for a stable Empire that could look outward instead of inward, but only time would tell if things would work out in such a manner.

"No matter." He told the older Pureblood. "I'm eager to take my place."

Sitas' inclined his head, and without further words the two headed towards The Council Chamber.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

Neesa slowed and fell out from behind Sitas. He glanced in her direction briefly and they shared a look. She angled her walk to pull up alongside a tall and slender massassi. He leaned down so she could whisper a few words. He nodded and then broke formation and jogged away.

Explosives of that kind weren't common here. She needed whatever was left at the site recovered. Xrewth would also start word spreading to gather reports on the movements of Siedra's remaining followers.

The group slowed as they approached the chambers themselves. Sitas took two quick steps forwards and the guards moved aside. He gave a brief incline of his head towards Vrak and smiled as he pulled open the doors.

"Congratulations."

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Neesa"]

Vrak gave no words of thanks, he had none to give. In his mind this had all been brought about by no one else but himself. Everyone who had aided him, Neesa, Seraphina, Sitas, all of them had just been pieces to move around the Dejarik board. In the end it had been Vrak who had pushed them into the right place, who had shifted their views and pressed them to where he wanted to go. It had been him and him alone that had allowed him to get here.

He smiled as he stepped into the Council Chamber, three of the Councilors already arrayed around the table. They had all known he was coming, after Siedra's death it had been more than clear who would walk through these doors. For a moment he simply observed them, then slowly he stepped inside.

Slowly Vrak wandered around the circular Table.

Sitas took his seat, that of the Sphere of Education. For a moment Vrak simply watched him, then continued his predatory stalk around the other Councilors. They all eyed him, staring at him carefully as a tiger might stare at a lion. He smiled at them as he slowly rounded the table, reaching forward before slowly taking his throne. His gaze met each of theirs in turn, before slowly he parted his lips and spoke. "Now."

Vrak had not come all this way to stop, he had not come here to lavish and waste away on the Council.

He was here for so much more. "About our Empire."