Blood on the Sand
Chapter 8: Divisions
The sounds of music filled the great hall just below the Five Towers. Servant Hollows and Arrancars ran up and down the rows to fill flagons with wine or ale or hard cider. Large plates of roasts and bread and fruits were placed on the tables.
Sarra and Strauss Jaegerjaquez were arguing again and breaking into fist fights with the representatives of House Boaran, with the black and green boar embroidered on their coats. The Boaran representatives were more than eager to join in and none was more eager than Gotfried Boaran's youngest son, Reinhardt. The giant man with a bushy fiery red beard roared in laughter as he picked up one of the oak barrels that were lined up for the servants to fill their pitchers from and threw it at the table.
Laughter grew as the Jaegerjaquez siblings and other Boaran representatives scattered as the table shattered under the barrel's weight. The barrel burst and the dark cider inside flowed onto the floor. The laughter became even greater as the Jaegerjaquez siblings leapt onto a table to escape the torrent. None laughed harder than Reinhardt.
"Aw, are da little kitty-cats afraid of getting wet?" he asked in his thick accent.
"FUCK YOU!" Strauss roared. "Unlike you, I prefer not to waste perfectly good liquor."
Reinhardt only burst out laughing even more as he grabbed another barrel.
"Hey Reinhardt, don't go destroying too many of those barrels," Edmonn shouted. "Some of us are thirsty."
"Oh, den let me serve ya me lord," Reinhardt replied and raised the heavy barrel over his head with ease.
"Thanks, but I would rather that our table wasn't in pieces," Edmonn responded and the two men roared in laughter.
"The Boaran family may not be a mighty house," Edvarrd whispered to Skullak. "But they're not one you want to get on the wrong side of."
"So I see," Skullak whispered. "I take it that he's one of your father's allies?"
"Yes. Even though the Boarans can get out-of-hand they are fiercely loyal and they are loyal to House Starrk."
"I suppose that one shouldn't expect too much of the Silver Wolf's allies," Leondes put in.
"Oh…and what allies does the Golden Lion have? I can understand the Double-Headed Eagle. But what other allies does your father have?" Skullak asked.
Leondes didn't say anything. Instead, he only smirked a little and sipped at his chalice of wine. Riccar, however only glared at Skullak.
"And has House Tuma been able to gain any supporters aside from House Sanderwicci? I highly doubt that you have, Skullak."
"I have some support with the Guardian Houses like Del Socaccio and Jaegerjaquez."
"Insignificant," Riccar stated. "One's a house that still believes they're in their golden age when they are on the decline and the other is a house of drunkards and brawlers. If you really want a significant Guardian House on your side, you need House Gilga."
"Tch…I wonder why. Oh yeah, that's right, Lord Gilga's the only one who can actually summon an army from his pants," Skullak moaned. Leondes stifled a laugh. Riccar glared at his son and Leondes only shrugged.
"Father, you've obviously never visited The Crossing. I swear the Old Scorpion has two legions worth of a single legitimate generation. Don't get me started with the number of bastards he has and then there are all of their offspring."
"Regardless, Ecydis Gilga may prove to be a vital ally."
"I would rather ally myself with a rogue Hollow," Skullak growled.
Training Ground
Reynal Marceaux watched his two older brothers practicing their swordsmanship with some of the other Arrancars. He winced slightly at the sound of metal clashing against metal, but he loved to watch. His green and gold eyes glittered in excitement. Thoughts of his Grandfather's gaze on him were driven away.
He wished that he could join them, but his two older brothers refused to help him to practice. He knew that they viewed him as too weak to be of any use and his mother and father were disappointed in him. He could not understand it. He wanted to become strong.
He broke out into another coughing fit and his breath became short. He wished his mother was there so that way he could try to get some comfort. However, the odds of her being a mother to him were slim. Out of all of the Marceaux children he was the weakest and was therefore considered to be not as important as his two brothers who would always find ways to remind him of his weaknesses.
He wished that he had been born into another family.
"Are you alright, Niño?"
He turned and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with a greying forked beard. His white coat hung to his knees and had a black and gold griffin, the sigil of House Del Socaccio, on the left breast.
"I…I'm sorry. I…I…I…"
"Easy, Niño, it's alright. Just calm down and try taking deep breaths. That should help control the rasping breath." Reynal tried to do as he was told, but it was difficult to calm down. "Just focus on an aroma that you like, Niño. Something like the smell of roasted Hollow with herbs or freshly-baked bread."
Reynal tried to focus. He thought of his mother's perfume, which smelled like moon-flake blossoms and mountain berries. He could smell it. He breathed it in deeply and was surprised that his lungs no longer felt constricted.
"Better?"
"Yes sir," Reynal replied.
"Good. What's your name, Niño?"
"Reynal Marceaux."
"Ah, so you're the youngest of the Marceaux family. I thought so. Very few among the nobility suffer the rasping breath. What are you doing here?"
"I was watching my brothers practicing."
"Didn't they invite you to join them?"
"They never do."
"I see. I'll have my son, Dordoni, practice with you if you like."
"But what about…?"
"Don't worry. I'll be sure that he goes a little easier on you, Niño. That way your lungs can adjust to the activity."
"Thanks. I…"
"Don't mention it. An Arrancar should learn how to fight. That way they can protect what they hold dear or gain at least some kind of self-respect."
Starrk Palace
Lupos Starrk looked at the room that had been his brothers. A pile of green pillows lay off to the side. He knelt beside them and picked up one pillow, inhaling deeply what he could of his brother's scent.
"You never changed."
He tossed the pillow back onto the pile and walked to the balcony. He looked up at the fake sky above and smiled.
"Did you come to find me, Skullak?"
He turned and smiled at the Arrancar who had just stepped into the room.
"You missed the feast."
"I don't care much for feasts."
"I know, but you should have come. Young Boaran threw an entire barrel of ale and sent the Jaegerjaquez who are here scampering."
"I'm surprised they didn't dive in. Oh well."
Skullak watched as Lupos walked back inside and looked at the pile of pillows.
"It's strange, Skullak. It wasn't too long ago that I was actually thinking of declaring myself Emperor." Skullak stiffened at that. "But the more I think of it, the more I think that maybe it's time we tried something new. One House shouldn't have all of that power."
"What are you thinking about?"
"That regardless of which path we take we may end up tearing Hueco Mundo apart."
"But, the Council of Houses will try their best to make sure not to let that happen."
"Are you sure?"
"The Arrancars have a proud history. The Nobles still have enough pride to keep the Arrancars from complete ruin."
"True, but you know how the Houses can be. Silver and gold are always changing hands. Lands are being exchanged and House leaders are being assassinated in their beds. The chaos must end. None of the High Lords of the Southern Plains lasted very long before someone else rose to take their place. I thought that when House Lorros gained the position, they could bring about stability. But now the black horned viper of House Rureaux has nearly wiped them out."
Skullak only lowered his head. When he heard that House Lorros had been unable to hold their position, he felt the same sorrow that Lupos felt. Then there was the matter of the Eastern Mountains. They were in a constant state of turmoil as well and House Andjo was no longer the power it had once been. Instead, power shifted to those who could afford it while the older and more established Houses became little more than mere shadows of a past long since dead.
"We need true leaders to lead. Perhaps the days of Hueco Mundo being an Empire are over. Yet, I fear that the road of change will be just as stormy as trying to declare a new Emperor."
"So, what are you thinking, Lupos? Do we stay an Empire and try to find someone worthy of the crown and throne, or do we just divide it into various states?"
Lupos shook his head. Both knew that either option would lead to chaos and war.
Outside the Occuldae Palace
"Well, that was fun," Friia said. "I don't know why you think your dreams are such a big deal."
Wonderweiss didn't say anything. His mind thought about the things that Raella told him. Some of his suspicions were right. She had told him that the Dragon banners were the banners of Mordrath Luisenbarn and that he would be a major threat. He suspected as much from the things he heard about him.
But much, not even Raella understood.
"Hey, are you listening?"
"Huh…oh…sorry, I was just thinking."
"Exacta, I could tell. Some of the things you told her about just don't make sense. You say that in one dream you saw a banner with a golden torch on a field of red, black, and turquoise. But there are no banners like that. Then you say that you saw a warrior wearing a golden helmet fighting a dragon with a broken sword. That sounds like a typical boy's dream."
"I know, but Lady Occuldae said that it could probably mean that anyone who fights against Mordrath will be broken in some way. I mean, the dragon is the symbol of Mordrath Luisenbarn, right?"
"Exacta," Friia moaned. "But then you saw what sounds like a Blood Veil wearing a golden crown rising from a mound of corpses, all wearing crowns."
Wonderweiss had heard the name of Blood Veil or Red Veil from time-to-time and he had no idea who or what they were. However, he did know that they were somehow a part of whatever was going to happen. He just didn't know how.
"What's a Blood Veil?" he finally asked.
Friia looked at Wonderweiss in surprise.
"Are you serious? You don't know about the Blood Veils."
"Uh…I'm the 'New Guy.' Remember?"
Friia smiled.
"Exacta. Alright, the Blood Veils are just a group of Arrancars who wonder around places. They can blend into their surroundings and they're fearsome fighters. They wear dusty clothes to help them blend into their surroundings and they attack anyone who tries to trespass on their territories. They have no real House nor do they have banners. The only thing they wear that marks them is a scarf dyed crimson that they wrap around their lower faces before going into battle."
"Do they have kings?"
"No es exacto. How in the name of the 12 am I supposed to know that? I'm not a Blood Veil. Anyways, what interests me is that last dream you told her. I mean her face went really white when you told her."
"Do you mean the one about the…uh…what was that word again?"
"The sun?"
"Yeah…that…what about it?"
"Why would the sun be rising in Hueco Mundo? I mean…I don't know much about its significance."
"Lady Occuldae informed me that the sun is a symbol of The End in Arrancar mythology. I suppose it means that this war could very well end life in Hueco Mundo or something."
"Exacta, but, is war really going to happen?"
"It is. It's too late to stop it and from what she told me…it's going to be bad. Some of my visions told me that treachery the likes that would make even Aizen look over his shoulder in fear will occur."
Friia shivered. The idea of treachery did not sit well with her. House Carias had almost been wiped out by treachery when one of her father's friends decided to hand them over to their enemies in order to gain possession of their property. She and Findor managed to escape by hiding in a shit heap. Now, she was the last of House Carias. The weight of that knowledge was like a boulder. She could only hope that whatever plots were going to come would not be aimed at her or Skullak or Wonderweiss.
The First Tower
Tyanna Luna
Tyanna Luna leaned back in her chair as the other nobles assembled. She was not surprised to see that High Lord Andjo was practically walking sideways. Phayne Andjo, however, walked with his head held high. It was clear which member of House Andjo actually tried to maintain the air of dignity expected of nobility.
Tyanna eyed the Eastern Flame. She knew that if anyone would attempt to claim the throne it would be him.
I may have to do something about him, she thought. He could become a problem with my own plans.
She loathed being restricted to the title of "Queen of Noche Resplandor" and so had made deals to gain the title of "Queen of the Eastern Mountains." But now, she was thinking that she should be the Queen of Hueco Mundo. However, declaring it outright would be a terrible mistake. Instead, she would hang back until the other candidates declared themselves and weaken each other.
Good things come to those who are patient and who are cunning.
She would use House Marceaux and Orexis for as long as they were needed. Then, when the time was right, she would make her move.
Cirucci Sanderwicci
Cirucci watched as the other nobles and representatives arrived. She watched as Skullak walked in with Lupos and Riccar. The three men were discussing something and she could not make out what any of them were saying.
"Are you alright, Rucci?"
"Yeah, I guess I'm a little nervous. Abby, I need to know. Did you know that we had a half-brother?"
Abigail sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Father told me. I'm sorry that we didn't tell you. But we didn't want you to be distracted from your relationship with Skullak."
"Did you really think that I wouldn't feel hurt that you decided not to tell me?" Cirucci snapped. "By the gods, Abby…"
"I know. I'm sorry. We made a mistake in not telling you."
Cirucci looked at her sister and put a hand over her own.
"Well, you should have told me. But I suppose I can't stay mad at you and Daddy. You only did what you thought was best for me. How's our other sister doing?"
"She's better, but wasn't well enough to make the journey this time. Nurse is watching over her right now and sends us ravens to let us know how she's doing. We should be grateful that it was only a minor case."
Cirucci only nodded.
"How much did she vomit this time?"
"Not even a cupful, thank the gods. Remember the last time you got hit?"
"Of course I remember that. I was practically useless. I think I filled up a bucket and a half."
"I wonder if Skullak knows about a Sanderwicci's tendency to get sick real bad."
"He knows. Too bad he had to find out the hard way."
"What did you do?"
"I…sort of vomited on his uniform."
Abigail looked at her sister and then burst out laughing.
"I…I hope he…he burned it," she gasped.
Cirucci chuckled a little at that. She couldn't bring herself to tell her sister that Skullak kept that uniform after washing the vomit out and that he wore it just about all of the time. She was glad to see that her love did put on a fresh uniform today. If he had worn that uniform today, she would have to kick some sense into him.
She looked to where her half-brother, Larson, was sitting. He looked up and gave her a rather sheepish smile.
"I…I hope that you're not disturbed by me being here."
"It's alright. I'm sorry if I was rather cold with you earlier. It's just that…"
"I understand. The news that one's father or mother had a bastard child is not something that tends to be good news."
"So, how did you find him?"
"I didn't find him. He found me. It's…rather difficult to understand just how much that meant. Nobody ever goes looking for a bastard."
Cirucci felt that he was hiding something. But then again, bastard-born were rarely held in high regard and they learned how to hide things at an earlier age than most. After all, they were something that was kept secret as well.
Orexis Grindina
Orexis walked behind the Capataz. The old man's long white hair was neatly combed and braided. He leaned on a black wood staff with silver runes carved into the wood. In his other hand, he held a scepter of silver with a large moon stone at the top and was surrounded with twelve diamonds. The golden bells that hung at the waist jingled softly as he walked.
If he drops dead, I'll just pick up that fucking scepter and proclaim myself Capataz. Or better yet, I can strike him on the back of the head with this incense burner. They won't be able to stop me from it.
However, he restrained himself. Instead he continued to swing the incense burner while muttering prayers to the Twelve. He nearly stopped when he saw that the Amazonians were doing their own rites of purification for the room. He was not surprised to see that many of the Northern Lords were also taking part, including Lupos Starrk.
"Filthy heathens," he growled.
"We must show them the same courtesy that they're showing us," one of the priestesses whispered to him.
When I become Capataz, the first thing I'm going to decree is that all heathens are enemies of the realm and watch them all burn. Either that or I can sell them to the slavers. I'm sure that Barrcae Rureaux is making a good profit with that particular business. I may even keep one or two for my own sport.
His thoughts went away from prayers and onto how an Amazonian woman was in the bed. He wondered what kind of positions they liked. He had seen a text from the World of the Living that showed all of the various positions lovers could have and they fascinated him. He would be sure to try them out on the girls in the Pleasure Houses.
And if any of the other priests or priestesses, especially those who actually obey the teachings, asks where I'm going, I can just tell them I'm going to do a little converting.
Vallae Lorros
Vallae felt ill. She was no longer sitting under the banner of the golden stag on a green field. Instead, she now sat under the banner of the black horned viper on crimson. Barrcae Rureaux knew how to humiliate his enemies and he saw her as his enemy. She glared at Rureaux's official representative to the Council of Houses, a rather short and fat Arrancar whose gold-dyed beard gleamed of oil and smelled of spice wood perfume. The representative looked at her with his cold lilac eyes.
"I would advise that you don't try anything. The last thing High Lord Rureaux wants is for you to cause him any problems."
"What makes you think I should cooperate?"
The representative only smiled.
"Well, answer me."
The representative's smile became even wider.
"Now listen…"
"You may not care about your own life. However, do you really think that High Lord Rureaux won't do anything to make sure that he gets what he wants?"
"We both know that at least five of the Houses here are building armies to oppose his position."
"And he'll crush them as he did with all of the others. Unlike your father, he knows that loyalty can be bought and manipulated."
"So, he's taken some lessons from the nobility in the Eastern Mountains? That doesn't surprise me one bit."
"And you know what they say about the Eastern Blade."
"None can escape it," Vallae replied.
And that includes those who wield it, she thought.
Skullak Tuma
Skullak sighed as he sat in the seat engraved with the helmeted skull of House Tuma. He noticed that the Harribel and Tiburon representatives were eyeing each other with deep loathing. It didn't matter how far they tried to sit from each other, they were always somehow able to glare at each other.
He saw that there were other Houses who glared at each other in the same way.
If you get one to side with you then you alienate another of equal importance. House politics are always a fickle thing.
"Skullak," Lupos whispered from his seat next to him. "Are you ready?"
"No, but…"
Lupos only nodded.
Skullak looked up at the banners that hung on the high walls and from the House balconies. He was glad that Lupos had agreed to help oversee the Council. He wasn't sure if he could do it with someone whom he didn't respect and many of the Houses here he didn't know well-enough to truly respect.
He saw that all of the representatives and Nobles were gathered. It was time to begin.
Las Noches, Training Ground
Henri Marceaux, the oldest Marceaux brother, watched as Dordoni Del Socaccio and his youngest brother practiced. He stifled a yawn as he waited for his youngest brother to start showing any of his physical weaknesses.
"Good Niño," Dordoni said. "Now, left, left, right…"
He watched as they continued to practice defensive maneuvers. He was rather surprised that Reynal wasn't starting to rasp or to become too weak to hold up the practice sword. However, he knew that Reynal was trying to hide it. One could tell just from seeing how weak his grip was and how his legs shook when he stood still. He enjoyed seeing his little brother trying to practice since it gave him plenty of opportunities to mock him. Yet, it also pissed him off. He hated the idea that his weakling little brother could become strong and so he did whatever he could to keep that from happening.
"Niño, don't look over there. Keep your eyes and focus on your opponent. Or else, you will become a dead boy."
"Oh…sorry, Lord Del Socaccio."
"Just call me Dordoni, Niño."
Reynal smiled a little and nodded.
"Well, he looks happy."
He turned and saw Selena Schiffer watching. She turned and glared at him.
"What?"
"What are you doing here? And where's your little friend? I heard that you and the Wolf Girl are friends."
"Lianna's with her brothers right now in one of the other training areas. I just came over here to see what Dordoni was doing. What are you doing here? Won't your dad be upset that you're not with him?"
Henri glared at her.
"That's none of your business. And besides, I don't like people poking their noses in my business."
"Sheesh I'm sorry for being curious."
Selena turned to face the training ground and continued watching. Henri glared at her. He wondered what his other brother, Gerard, was doing.
Knowing him, he's probably gambling with the footmen.
Soldiers' Barracks
"YES!" Gerard Marceaux shouted as he saw the dice stopped. "It looks like I win again."
"Damn it," one of the soldiers moaned. "I'm out, young master."
"Aw, come on. I'll give you a fair chance to win it back."
Some of the other soldiers at the table snickered.
"I say that we play something else," one of the Leondes soldiers said. "I brought some cards with me, Lord Marceaux."
"Ooh, I love card games. So, what should we play? Rose and Thorns? River's Wild? Points?"
"Depends on what you wish to play, Lord Marceaux."
"Well thank you. I've always been partial to Four Corners Rook."
"Alright," the soldier said, grinning as he shuffled. "If you're playing, put in your coppers."
"Screw that. Let's go to silvers. For any who wish to play, but can't afford it, I'll put in for you. Now, deal those cards. I'm feeling lucky."
Tower 1
Tauroth Gilga
Tauroth leaned back in his chair as the members of the Council began to go into an uproar. He grimaced as he looked at his misshapen leg.
"It's a surprise that the representatives from Houses Harribel and Tiburon aren't yelling at each other," he noted.
"That's never a good sign," Marra whispered. "That means that we should expect a couple of dead foot soldiers on both sides pretty soon."
"HEY, YOU'RE SO FULL OF SHIT THAT IT'S A WONDER YOU DON'T SMELL LIKE THE SHIT HEAP UNDER A PRIVY-CHUTE!" Sarra Jaegerjaquez yelled.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" the young Lord from House Mauvant shouted.
"DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT OVERTHROWING THE IMPERIAL STATE WILL BRING STABILITY?" Phayne shouted. "YOU ARE ADVOCATING ANARCHY!"
"WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING ANARCHY! WE'RE ADVOCATING DEMOCRACY!" one of the Mauvant's friends shouted.
There were boos and stomps at the words.
"IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH!" the Rureaux representative shouted.
"Then what do you suggest?" one of the other men in Mauvant's group asked and stood up. "My comrade, Mauvant, may have misrepresented what it is that we're pushing for."
"Who's this guy?" Tauroth asked as he took a sip of wine.
"I don't know. But he seems to be the only sane one in that bunch."
"Yeah, he's not shouting."
"He is very zealous on this matter," the Arrancar continued. "However, his zeal may have helped to cause the misunderstanding. We are merely suggesting that the time of being ruled by an Emperor has come to an end. The very fact that the crown shattered is evidence of that. We need to restructure our society before we allow House politics to destroy us.
"The best way to do this is to allow every Arrancar a voice in how things are run."
"What's wrong with keeping things the way they already are? If it works, then why change it?" the representative from House Occuldae asked.
"Hmm, I wonder why Raella isn't here," Jalen whispered. "Perhaps she could shed light on what Lord Mauvant's intentions are."
"It's obvious what Lord Mauvant's intentions are," Tauroth whispered. "He's trying to tell everyone that he needs to have those bandages of his changed. I'm sure that they're soaking with more than just water by now. I suppose I should be grateful that I'm not suffering from Grey Skin on top of having this damn leg."
Jalen ignored him. She looked at the man who was making his case for this alien concept of Democracy. She thought she knew who he was: Jon Ammens. His pamphlets were scattered throughout the Empire and she took one from a smuggler who had been paid to take them across The Crossing and she had read it. She found many of the ideas to be naïve, but there was also a power in them. The notions of tolerance and liberty and equality were things that demanded the destruction of the old House system. But then, she knew that the naïve ideals would never come about.
In all of her studies she had found a constant when it came to society: All society is maintained by some kind of hierarchy.
Lyndon Reyvar
Lyndon Reyvar sat and hung on to everything that was being said. This was his first Council meeting as a Lord and he found it fascinating. He was familiar with the black-haired Arrancar who was speaking. He found Jon Ammens to be an eloquent speaker. However, his ideas of equality and justice were nothing but dreams.
And he's a fool to think anyone will truly listen, he thought. Maybe some of the younger ones will listen, but other than them…
"That is all I have to say," Ammens said and bowed politely before sitting down.
"While your words are eloquent," Skullak began as he stood up, "they are also the words of a dreamer. Unfortunately, now is not the time for dreams, but for action. Your proposal will not be accepted . When the first Arrancars were born, the 12 gave a Divine Mandate that one would rule over all Hueco Mundo for as long as they are strong. Imperial Rule is the way our society is run by Divine Right."
"THOSE ARE THE OLD ANDJO WORDS!" Phayne shouted.
"What are you doing?" Agneaux asked, not really interested.
Phayne raised a hand with the palm outward.
"I AM THE EASTERN FLAME! I AM OF HOUSE ANDJO! BEFORE THE WORDS WERE CHANGED TO 'FORWARD IN GLORY' OUR WORDS WERE 'BY DIVINE RIGHT'!"
"ANYONE CAN MAKE THAT CLAIM!" Lord Marceaux shouted. "THE HOUSE WHO'S WORDS THAT ONCE WAS IS NO MORE!"
"This is true," Orexis stated. "Those were the words of House Leonisra and then House Luisenbarn's when Baraggan took the crown. The 12 chose which House would lead and where they would lead from. Las Noches has always been the Heart of Hueco Mundo and whoever rules Las Noches rules Hueco Mundo."
Lyndon leaned forward. This was the moment they waited for. Soon, the Houses who would declare themselves would step forward. Everyone was eager.
"Then who shall step forward to lay claim?" Skullak asked.
"I WILL!" Phayne cried out. "I, PHAYNE ANDJO LAY CLAIM TO THE THRONE!"
Cirucci Sanderwicci
"I figured he would," Cirucci whispered.
"Who else will step forward?" Abigail asked.
"I, SKULLAK TUMA LAY CLAIM TO THE THRONE AS IS MY RIGHT!"
Cirucci gasped. She had never thought he would go through with it. She had thought that he wouldn't. Fear rose in her when she saw Phayne glaring at him with hatred. However, that hatred would be directed elsewhere.
"I, FELIX MARCEAUX LAY CLAIM TO THE THRONE!"
There were murmurs at that. Cirucci saw Felix Marceaux standing up.
"Oh gods, three…three claimants," Abigail whispered.
And one of them is the man I love. Skullak, how could you be so reckless? Did you only do it when Phayne Andjo declared himself?
"BARRCAE RUREAUX LAYS CLAIM TO THE THRONE!" the Rureaux representative shouted.
She saw that Lupos Starrk was whispering to Skullak. She wondered what they were saying when Lupos stood up.
No, don't.
"I, LUPOS STARRK LAY CLAIM TO THE THRONE!"
She could feel the tension in the air. Five candidates had laid claim, but she had a feeling that there was a sixth out there.
"HOWEVER," Lupos continued. "I ONLY DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS MY DUTY AS ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES! I DO NOT WISH THE THRONE OR THE CROWN! THEREFORE, I SHALL BACK HOUSE TUMA FOR THE CLAIM!"
Cirucci leaned forward. Murmurs rose at that. It was something that a Starrk would do. They rarely ever seized power for themselves. She looked at Riccar Leonisra and saw that he was not really interested in Starrk's words. She knew that when Felix Marceaux declared himself, he was essentially declaring it for House Leonisra.
"Those who back House Starrk will back Skullak," Abigail whispered. "Just think, he's got the support of the Northern Lands because of Lupos."
Cirucci didn't feel comforted. It was true that Starrks kept their word, but they didn't have the best track record of backing the right horse. Then there was the matter that so far only four candidates had truly stepped forward. But she had a sneaking suspicion that there were others.
The Shore of Woe
Mordrath Luisenbarn watched as the rest of the landing party made their way to shore. The corpses of the Hollows and Gillians they had used would be allowed to feed the sharks. The platform for his throne was being assembled.
"Sir, we just received a raven from Saracc," Petros said as he walked up to him.
Mordrath reached for the message tube and opened it. He unrolled the parchment that was inside and read it. He smiled.
"I take it that he has good news, sir."
"Yes. The path they've been building in secret has been completed. They don't need to attack the Tower of Carrion after all."
"Then everything is falling into place."
"Oh yes," Mordrath replied. He looked at his spear. The black wood was smooth and the golden dragon that wound its way up the upper quarter shone. The blade that protruded from its mouth shone like ice. He raised it and pointed the blade in the direction of Las Noches.
"I, MORDRATH LUISENBARN LAY CLAIM TO THE THRONE! THE THRONE IS RIGHTFULLY MINE AND I WILL SIEZE IT! ALL WHO OPPOSE ME WILL FEAR MY WRATH!"
Las Noches, Tower 1
Mauvant
Lord Mauvant gritted his teeth as he watched as one-by-one the other Houses made their declarations. There was no surprise that House Harribel and House Tiburon abstained. They would most likely focus on their own rivalry to even bother with picking a would-be Emperor to back.
"What should we do?" Addan asked.
"We do nothing for their cause," Jon Ammens stated.
"Why not?" Mauvant asked. "If we want to bring change, then we must take action. I say we declare our own sovereign state."
"I agree," Ammens replied. "However, where are we going to establish it? Do you wish to sail to the Kraken Islands? Perhaps we could go to the Western Wastes and establish a sovereign society there."
"No," Mauvant hissed. "We establish it where all of Hueco Mundo can see it. We establish it here."
"How do you propose we do that?" Parron asked.
"Rebellion," Jon answered. "We empower the regular Arrancars to side with us and then we rebel against the establishment. However, we need to prove that Democracy will work. They've spent too long under Imperial rule. As it takes time to get a babe from milk to solid food, so too does it take for society to go from Empire to Democracy. We cannot force it to happen right away. That will only lead to failure."
"What failure?" Mauvant asked.
"Haven't you heard that every rebellion also sews the seeds to their own destruction? We must make sure that those seeds are slow to grow and that the result will not be absolute destruction, but a mere hibernation of the idea."
Skullak Tuma
Skullak knew that he had one of the strongest forces with Starrk giving him his support. He was surprised that Starrk agreed to declare himself. However, Lupos Starrk's decision to support him wasn't as much of a surprise. He knew that House Starrk always did what they thought was best.
Lupos had been surprised when Skullak declared himself for the throne, but it was his right as one of the First Houses. It was expected. Agneaux Andjo did not say whom he supported, which was no big surprise. House Gilga also abstained when it came to the Declarations of Loyalty. So far House Marceaux was the only one who came close in support and that was because of House Leonisra. The name demanded respect and there were Houses in the Southern Plains, the Eastern Mountains, and the Northern Lands who were loyal to them.
The Amazonians declared themselves for House Tuma because of House Starrk, which was one of the only Houses they had any respect for. The Congress of Merchants and the Church of the Faith declined to vote. Skullak knew that boded ill. He would not receive either of their support. However, he was reassured to see that Houses Del Socaccio and Jaegerjaquez and Granz, three of the four Guardian Houses, had sided with him. That would give him an edge in maintaining control over the Basin. The other Guardian House, House Gilga, abstained. There was no surprise there. House Gilga was known to side with those who were winning and those who paid very well.
So far, the House that had the weakest support was House Rureaux. That was not surprising since Barrcae was still a relative newcomer and his brother, Zommari, had been a disappointment. But Skullak knew that even those who appeared to be weak could be a major threat. He had found that out during Mordrath's Rebellion when he felt a sudden spike in Mordrath's Reiatsu.
Mordrath had been holding back his true potential. Skullak didn't understand why he did that except that perhaps he wished to undermine Aizen.
"I suppose I should congratulate you on your success," Leondes whispered from beside him.
"What do you mean?"
"It would appear as though the Silver Wolf had more powerful allies than my father anticipated. I had no idea that Houses Schiffer and Apacci were on such good terms with him."
"You've obviously never checked."
"Just be careful, Skullak."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what I said. You may regret ever declaring yourself."
"If I'm victorious…"
"Don't think you will be. Politics are not about honor and courage. They're about cunning and greed. Don't think for a moment that none of your closest allies would sell you out for the right price."
Occuldae Palace
Raella sat in her study and looked at the parchment she had received. She began to hum softly before singing:
Five declare and divide the land
Ten shall wear the crowns
That shall stain the land with blood
"So, it begins. Wonderweiss Margela, you may be able to stop some of what's to come, but most of what you saw will come to pass."
She touched the parchment to the candle's flame and watched it burn. She continued singing:
Bound woman, ruined man, beggar fool
Only Chaos shall truly rule.
End of Chapter 8
A.N.: I'm sorry that I'm a little bit late on this one. So that brings us to the beginning of the civil war in Hueco Mundo, which will become extremely bloody and not all will survive. In fact, many of the events that will happen over the next few chapters (exact number is not yet known) will lay the ground work for an even bigger war to come. In the meantime, here's the list of the factions:
Phayne Andjo
Skullak Tuma
Felix Marceaux
Barrcae Rureaux
Mordrath Luisenbarn
The next chapter will deal with reactions to this as well as the various factions preparing for the coming war.
Thank you for reading and please review.