Blood on the Sand Volume 1: The Broken Crown (Original)

by MJLCoyoteStarrk

The Winter War has left Hueco Mundo without an Emperor; an Empire will be divided as the powerful noble families of Hueco Mundo wage war in a bid to gain the crown and throne. Some will fight for love and others for power and others for revenge, but all will spill blood on the sand. Main Theme: "Assassin's Creed Rogue Main Theme" by Elitsa Alexandrova

12. Chapter 11: The Crossing

Blood on the Sand

Chapter 11: The Crossing

"DAMN IT!" Felix Marceaux roared as he crumpled the message. "How could this have happened?"

"It happened because we clearly underestimated our opponent," Leondes Leonisra said.

"This is foolishness. I should be more concerned about Tuma and Rureaux right now. But instead I find myself having to deal with that vain peacock. And to make it even worse, he's won a battle."

"One battle does not make a war, your majesty," Lyanna Reyvar said. "At least that's what my husband would have told you."

"Yes. I was saddened with his departure," Felix said, and there was a hint of sorrow in his voice. Lyanna knew that her husband and Felix had several disagreements, but that was one reason why he trusted him. And trust was something not easily found in the Eastern Mountains.

"Your grace, it's quite clear that we will have to deal with Phayne Andjo before we can focus our attention on your other enemies," Orexis Grindina said. "Already, some of the nobles are wavering in whom to give their allegiance. The Church's spies have informed me that some are playing both sides."

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious. I've known for some time that some of the Houses, and even some of those sitting on the Congress of Guilds, lack that weak virtue called 'Loyalty'. Tell me, have any of you received word from my brother?"

"Julius Marceaux is currently in the south, hoping to join with my father's forces," Leondes said.

"In that case, we don't have to worry about Phayne attacking them," Lyanna said. "They could be marching behind his back and he wouldn't even notice because he would be too busy listening for marching songs."

"If they get that close then Phayne will have nothing to fear," Leondes said. "Father is very strict about maintaining military discipline and he would never allow one of his soldiers to get out of line long enough to run their sword up his ass."

"My brother is the same way," Felix said smiling slightly. "That's why I'm not worried about them together being defeated. They are both men of military genius and discipline, even though they both have the personality of a stone gargoyle. However, I am worried that by the time we've dealt with Phayne the Fair then Skullak would have secured all four entries into the Las Noches basin."

"Yes, but he'll have to make a deal with the Old Scorpion," Tyanna said. "Men like him don't like making deals with the likes of Ecydis Gilga, but they sometimes have no other choice."

Scorpion's Pass, Located on the east side of the Dividing River

Skullak Tuma and his envoy travelled along the stone highway that led through the Crescent Mountains to The Crossing along the western edge of the Las Noches Basin. He was glad that they were not weighed down with cargo or riding on beasts, otherwise the journey would have been longer. However, they could use Sonído freely and rest at one of the inns or small villages along the way.

Now they were walking through the town of Scorpion's Pass located in the wide valley that ran through the Crescent Mountains to The Crossing. Banners of the golden skull being impaled by a black spear on a crimson field hung from tall scaffolds lined against the cliffs on either side. Merchants lined the roads selling their goods from their carts. The smell of cooking meat and herbs and scented perfumes was mixed with the smell of shit and piss.

Women dressed in red-dyed wools or silk walked the street and flirted with merchant and traveler alike. Bands of mummers were performing various plays or singing a variety of songs. Their brightly-colored costumes and ornate masks seemed to clash with the dreary stone walls of the buildings.

"Is there a festival going on that I was not made aware of?" Skullak asked.

"It's probably just another celebration for another of the Old Scorpion's brood marrying," Dordoni said. "He has enough children and grand-children, bastards and grand-bastards and great-grand-bastards, to where the celebration never ends."

"Is that so?" Skullak asked, doing his best to ignore one of the crimson-clad women baring a breast at him.

"Oh yes," Cirucci said as she stared daggers at the prostitute. "Daddy always told me that the Old Scorpion loves a good feast."

"I'm surprised that he hasn't grown as fat as Lord Andjo yet," Dordoni said.

"It's said that he turns the fat into a new child," Antonin Schiffer said. "And from what I've seen, I can believe it."

"I'm sure that he doesn't have that many children," Skullak said.

"Trust me, your grace, he does," Antonin said. "The only reason why they don't cover the world is because many of them have died in battle or by 'accident.'"

"If you can call a child being found with their face in the porridge and wearing a red smile an 'accident,'" Skullak said.

Ahead they could make out the wall of the east-side stronghold of The Crossing. The gate was opened and the drawbridge over the fifty-foot deep ditch was down. Standing in front the bridge was a group of ten Arrancars with their swords sheathed. They each wore iron gorgets painted red with the golden skull being impaled by the black spear. Their chain mail gleamed in the moonlight.

"Halt," their commander said raising a hand. "State your business."

"We're here on the Emperor's business," Antonin Schiffer said. "He wishes to have a word with your master."

The commander's eyes narrowed. It was then that Skullak saw that the commander had the thin face and jet black hair and small-iris eyes of a Gilga.

"My father is busy right now," he said. "He is overseeing his grandson's wedding feast."

"Does the wedding for his twenty-fifth grand-bastard take precedent over the Emperor?" Antonin asked.

"What emperor?" the commander asked. "Baraggan Luisenbarn is dead and my crippled half-brother has informed our father that four have laid claim to the title."

"They come in my name," Skullak said. "I am Emperor Skullak Tuma, first of his name. You will inform your lord-father that I am here to negotiate an alliance."

The commander rubbed his chin.

"Why should I? You're not Emperor yet. Can you hold your own against Marceaux or against Andjo?"

Skullak felt rage build-up inside him. He was about to say something when Antonin Schiffer put a hand on his shoulder.

"Let me handle this," he whispered. Antonin looked at the commander. "Sir, must I send word to Coldhearth and let Lord Sisamnes know that House Gilga is being difficult with his liege-lord?"

"Are you threatening to…?" the commander began.

"No, I'm merely thinking of my options," Antonin said. "On the one hand I can summon Lord Sisamnes and he might very well bring his sons with him, including his bastard. I'm sure that the Bloody Bastard would be more than happy to introduce you to his 'sisters.' However, if you were to comply then there will be no need to bother them."

The commander's face was extremely pale. Skullak had never seen a Gilga pale at the mention of another house.

It could be nothing. This one's not the Old Scorpion, he thought.

"Uh…that…that won't be necessary, Lord Schiffer," the commander said. He turned to one of his men. "Why are you just standing there, you walking piece of whore shit. Go to my father and tell him that Emperor Tuma is here to speak with him."

"Yes sir," the soldier said and rushed off.

"Forgive me. It's just that we must be careful with whom we allow in since war is brewing. The Major and Minor Houses are gathering their forces and some of the merchants are saying that war has already broken out in the Eastern Mountains."

"Still, that is no cause for you to waylay us," Lupos said. "The war hasn't arrived at The Crossing yet."

"That may be," the commander said, "but you know how Lord Gilga is. He's very cautious about who he allies with."

"Yet that hasn't stopped him from marrying into nearly every House and every institution in Hueco Mundo," Lupos said.

"Business ventures," the commander said with a wave of his hand. "My father needs to ensure that any would who use The Crossing pays the proper price. A business alliance is not the same as a political alliance."

"Tch…yeah right," Cirucci muttered.

"Yet he still cheats them," Lupos said.

The commander did not respond to that. Instead he turned on his feet.

"Come with me. I'll escort you to the Wailing Keep."

Skullak looked at Cirucci.

"Are you sure you still wish to come?" he asked.

"I'm not backing-down now," she said. "I've come all this way."

Skullak sighed and followed the commander over the drawbridge.

The Crossing

The Crossing itself was actually made of two stone bridges, each two hundred feet long connected to a central island of rock roughly a mile wide and a half mile long. The bridges were supported by a series of arches with the connecting stone base of the pylons used as docks. To add further support, eight towers were built with half of their diameter under and above the bridge with more arches built between each opposing tower on the bridge's underside.

The newest additions included the water gates built between the towers that were above the waterline far enough to allow the river's flow to remain unobstructed and yet could stop any vessel from passing while the gates were closed. The other additions were the great chains located fifty feet up river and down river from the bridge. Most of the time the chain was below water with only the first few thick links of the chain hanging from the gear chambers built into the cliffs and were only accessed by a hemp ladder hanging from a small door built high into the cliffs.

On either side of the river, two great forts were built to protect the bridge from land attacks. Each had twenty-foot long and fifty-foot deep ditches dug into the cliffs that could only be crossed by the drawbridges.

Skullak looked at the barracks built into the thick walls and could hear the smiths working at their forges. Arrancars, mostly low Arrancars unable to perform Resurrección, were manning the walls with their crossbows and others were fledging arrows while the smiths were hammering heated metal into weapons or mundane items such as pots and pans.

"Commander, I thought your father said…" one began.

"SHUT UP, WILL! THE EMPEROR IS HERE TO SEE THE LORD OF THE CROSSING!" the Commander called.

"But…"

"DAMN IT, WILL! THE BOY GETTING MARRIED IS ONE OF HIS GRAND-BASTARDS! I DOUBT MY FATHER WILL PUT A BASTARD OVER AN EMPEROR! NOW GET BACK TO YOUR POST BEFORE I THROW YOU INTO THE RIVER!"

"Yes sir," Will said before turning around to look on the side of the wall facing Scorpion's Pass.

"Forgive me, my lord," the commander said. "My cousin's new to his post."

"He's your…cousin?" Skullak asked.

"Yes sir. You'll find it very difficult to find any guard here who isn't related in some way to the Gilgas. At last count, I would say that about 63% of our fighting forces are related to Lord Ecydis by blood."

"And…how many is that?" Skullak asked.

"Oh…that would be about 127, sir."

Skullak looked at Dordoni.

"Did he say '127'?" he asked.

"He did," Dordoni said.

"Gods…he really has summoned an army from his trousers if that's true," Skullak said.

"Please, Emperor Tuma, this way," the commander said as he lead them to the bridge.

Skullak could see the Wailing Keep rising tall from the central island. Its five towers seemed to be like five stone swords piercing the night sky. Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones and far below he could hear the river waters beating against the stones far below. He looked to the south and saw a group of merchant vessels sailing towards The Crossing, the banners of many of the merchant houses in the south and east fluttered in the breeze.

He turned to the north and saw a fleet of ships with either the two warring sharks of House Tiburon or the grey kraken of the Kraken Islands.

Skullak could imagine war galleys, and not merchant vessels, sailing up and down the river, carrying their troops to the north or south while troops moved across the bridge to invade the Las Noches Basin. He thought about Mordrath's attack and wondered if the Old Scorpion knew anything about it. He doubted it. Mordrath had found a way to avoid the Western Watch and he would have found a way to completely by-pass The Crossing.

"Sir, you mustn't falter now," Gantenbainne whispered. "We're already intruding on a Gilga's wedding."

"Why?" Skullak asked. "I…"

"You must show him that you're willing to take the initiative," Gantenbainne said. "Ecydis Gilga likes that and interrupting on of his brood's wedding shows that you're more than willing to put him in his place. You can't afford to look weak. If he sees any sign of weakness then he will jump on it."

"Either way I'll have to keep an eye on him," Skullak said. "All of these marriage alliances make me nervous. I know that our escort says that they're not political alliances, but…"

"I know," Gantenbainne said. "Business alliances are the same as political alliances. That's why it's important we make an alliance with him. He has his fingers in just about every pie in Hueco Mundo. We need his connections."

And if I don't then Cirucci will die, Skullak thought as he remembered what Wonderweiss told him.

"My Lord," the commander said. "You need to follow me or else you'll keep walking to the other end."

Skullak stopped and saw that they were now on the island. He could not help but think of how the island of stone had looked before it had been covered with shops and inns and taverns. Wealthy merchants in dyed-silks and furs watched as cart-drivers loaded or unloaded their cargo from the wagons. Peddlers were lined-up in front of the guild-houses, waiting to collect coin or different goods in exchange for their cargo.

The commander led them down the wide road intersecting the bridge road from the right. Ahead, the walls of the Wailing Keep rose. Guardsmen lined the bridge, their ornate polished-steel morion helmets shone in the moonlight. Their spears were decorated with flowers tied with ribbons. Some of the ribbons were striped with the Gilga colors of red, black, and gold and others were striped with brown and dark green.

The portcullis was raised and the heavy doors leading into the keep were open. Light blazed from the many glass-paned windows. The statues within the courtyard were decorated with wreaths of flowers on their stone heads. The sounds of music and drunken revelry drifted through the open doors.

Skullak took in a deep breath, preparing himself before walking up the stone steps.

Las Noches Basin

Mordrath Luisenbarn made his way through the ruins of what had once been an outpost. The stone wall still showed the charred scars of the wars fought during the Age of Chaos. The remains of Hollows and Arrancars were scattered about the yard.

Mordrath stopped and stooped to pick up a skull. He looked at it and smiled.

"My brother would have liked this place," he said. "It has no roof and it has very few walls and it's occupied by the dead. The dead are the most faithful servants for any lord."

"Why are we here?" Shaddam asked.

Mordrath didn't answer. Instead he dropped the skull to the sand and made his way to what had once been a doorway. He stepped through it and made his way to the staircase leading down. Maullarn and Shaddam followed him. Maullarn looked to the wall to the side and saw the number carved into the wall.

"Underground Corridor 3," Maullarn said. "Why are we here, Mordrath?"

Mordrath remained silent as he walked ahead of them. The sounds of their footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell. He made his way around the rubble caused by the level above having collapsed to reveal the inky black sky above.

Maullarn felt uneasy. This was the type of place where highway men or assassins would lurk, waiting for their prey.

He can kill both of us here and no one would know.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Mordrath led them to the doorway to the far right. He held out his left hand with the palm up. An orb of Reiatsu formed just above his palm, glowing with a silvery light.

"Wait," Shaddam whispered. "I thought his Reiatsu color is black with purple."

"No, he's using the spirit particles around him without having to use his own Reiatsu to stabilize it," Maullarn said. "Very few Arrancars have that capability."

Gods help me. I may loathe him, but there's no denying he's powerful.

"This way, gentlemen," Mordrath said. "I am about to show you what very few of my followers have seen."

"Why?" Shaddam asked.

"I plan on making you two among my top commanders," Mordrath said.

Maullarn looked at Shaddam, wondering what role Mordrath had for them.

"Why?" Maullarn asked. "Why would you make us a part of your councils?"

Mordrath looked at Maullarn and smiled.

"I have my reasons."

"Then tell me."

"Careful, Maullarn," Mordrath said. "I do not like to be ordered about by those who are below me. I may not be Emperor now, but I will be."

"I doubt that," Maullarn said.

"You may doubt," Mordrath said. "In fact, I encourage you to doubt. The last thing I need is to surround myself with ass-kissers and grovelers who tell me how great I am. I need people who will tell me the truth and who aren't afraid to say it. I need people to doubt me so that I can push myself to be able to prove them wrong.

"I may hate feeling weak, but that doesn't mean that I'll simply close my eyes to my own weaknesses. A good king learns from his mistakes and uses his weaknesses to push himself to become better."

Maullarn was taken aback. That was not like the Mordrath he knew from the old days.

What happened to make him so…well…modest?

Maullarn and Shaddam followed Mordrath as he made his way down the darkened corridor. Equipment was scattered about the hall of polished stone. Faded banners of a golden falcon on a green field hung on the walls and more withered corpses in military uniforms and armor were scattered about the hall. Mordrath stopped in front of a door to the left.

"Sir Dawson thought that he could take Las Noches from my brother," Mordrath said as he looked at the banner. "He only made it this far."

"Is this supposed to be some kind of…lesson?" Shaddam asked.

"I suppose you could say that," Mordrath said as he opened the door. "It's a lesson in how wars are won."

They walked into the dark room. Maullarn's eyes were drawn to the dark screens.

"This is the watch-room," he whispered. "And…" His eyes fell on the corpse sitting at the round table with a dagger with the pommel of a falcon's head was sticking out where his right eye would have been. The corpse's throat was cut. Dark dried blood covered his rotting green and gold uniform. "Sir Dawson," he whispered when he saw the gold falcon ring on the floor where it had fallen. "So…he did die."

"Everyone dies," Mordrath said. "His death was like his life, insignificant. He died alone and screaming. When his men knew the end was near they turned on him."

"He was a knight," Maullarn said. "He was one of your brother's Espada."

"That's true, but that did not stop him from making a grab for power. This is the first lesson you must learn. If you rebel and die then you are a traitor, but if you rebel and win then you are a hero. My brother betrayed Reygal, even though he did swear oaths of loyalty to House Leonisra. Reygal was weak in both body and mind and was therefore no fit king. My brother realized that after he survived the Poisoned Feast. I realized it much sooner."

"He was still king," Maullarn said. "My family stood by Reygal and remained faithful to him."

"That's surprising considering what Reygal did to your uncle and your brother."

"They…they rebelled against their rightful ruler."

"Did they?"

"Well…" Maullarn found that he wasn't as sure as he had been. He remembered how blurred things were back then. On the one hand you had a group of rebels waging guerilla warfare with the help of some of the nobles who were bitter at having their lands and titles confiscated by the crown. On the other hand was Reygal Leonisra with his frail body, constantly coughing and hacking up bloody phlegm and the fits that would come upon him at any moment, and going-on muttering and shouting about how all of the nobles plotting against him and even went so far as to kill three of his children in fear that they would rebel against him. At first, very few talked about rebellion, but the Poisoned Feast changed that.

"So, you were loyal to the Weak King and yet you were also obedient to my brother. Why?"

"He was the rightful ruler. He wore the crown and sat on the throne."

"Any jester or mummer can wear a crown and sit on a throne," Mordrath said. "That doesn't make them king. Power makes them king. Victory makes them king, and there are two arenas that a king must be victorious in to truly be king. The first is the battlefield, for what use is a king if they don't know how to win wars? The second is the political arena, for what use is a king if they are unable to make long-lasting alliances with their neighbors, the nobles, and the masses?"

Maullarn looked away from Mordrath.

"Are you saying that wars are won with swords and words?"

"That's not all they're good for," Mordrath said. "Swords and words can also make an Emperor. However, there is one other key."

"What may that be?" Shaddam asked.

Mordrath smiled and walked to the corpse. He plunged his hand into the dried-out corpse's chest. The hierro skin, long dried out, shattered like porcelain and he drew out a shining orb. Mordrath had hidden it where none would expect to look, among the dead. Maullarn and Shaddam gaped at it.

It's brighter, Maullarn thought in awe. It's brighter than before.

"This," Mordrath said as he held up the first Hogyoku that Aizen made. The particles of souls trapped within continued their dance within, but the dance was stronger than ever before. It was almost as if the Hogyoku was awakening. "This…is the key to victory. Swords, words, and progress are the three keys to victory."

The Crossing

Skullak Tuma

Skullak could hear the sounds growing louder as they walked down the hall with banners hanging on either side. The commander continued his lead, and was giving them a regular tour.

"Over on the right is the banner of House Royce," he said and gestured to a banner depicting a grey and white eagle perched on a brown tree on a sky blue field. "They were the second family to marry their daughter over to my lord-father. She lasted roughly…ten births before he grew tired of her and mounted her head. All of her children, except for one, were killed during the first war against Aizen."

"That would be his heir-apparent, Stevan," Skullak said. "Am I right?"

"That's right. The only reason he's held-out for so long is because he allowed his older siblings and half-siblings to try their luck at killing the Old Scorpion first. Sometimes he allows them to kill each other and other times he steps in, like he did with his nephew Robin."

"He killed his own nephew?" Cirucci asked.

"Uh…yeah…he was quite clever about it. He actually loosened some of the planks on one of the rope-bridges, knowing how much Robin loved to play on them. The poor boy swung too hard and the board dropped out beneath him, sending him falling onto the rocks below."

"He made it look like an accident," Skullak said.

"That's right. It wasn't the first time that someone did that and it won't be the last. We Gilgas put our self-interest first, and that sometimes means killing-off a couple of family members here and there."

"What a family," Skullak said. "I can't believe that I have to make an alliance with you people."

"Careful," the commander said. "We Gilgas don't take kindly to being mocked. My cousin, Nnoitora…not the Espada, but another…slit his daughter's throat when he found out that she married a low Arrancar without his leave. He cut out her parts and forced the man to eat them before hooked him and dropped him over the side of the bridge."

"Hooked?" Cirucci asked.

Their guide hooked the forefinger of each hand and put them in his mouth, pressing against the inside of his cheeks.

"Hooked," he said as he took his fingers out. "No one messes with House Gilga and not be punished for their transgression."

"House Sisamnes did," Schiffer said and pointed to where a banner should have hung, but the wall was empty. "I see that you removed their banner of the Tortured Man."

"We…uh…yes…" the Commander said. "Well, come along now…my father does not like to be kept waiting."

"What did your banner-man do to make them so afraid?" Skullak asked.

"Lord Sisamnes…he…he flayed Lord Gilga's thirteenth wife and left her skin in his bed while he slept. He did that as retribution for Lord Gilga cheating him," Antonin explained.

"But why…?"

"Lord Gilga's thirteenth wife was Lord Sisamnes's daughter," Antonin said. "I don't know what all they did to her, but rumors range from them raping her or forcing her to eat her unborn child before flaying her to them only flaying her while she was alive. Still, others say that she was made to play the Bloody Bastard's Game. Again, most of these are rumors of low Arrancars and they've been known to exaggerate."

"Did you investigate?" Skullak asked.

"Why should I? It was a family matter," Antonin said. "I have more pressing issues than to get involved in my banner-men's private affairs."

Skullak was about to protest and then became quiet. He looked to Lupos.

"I can't choose who I ally myself with, can I?" he asked.

"You can," Lupos said. "But are you willing to accept the consequences? Lord Gilga is in a position of strength and we need him. Although, I suppose once you have secured the throne then you can replace him with someone else. However, if you do, then he will retaliate against you."

"I see," Skullak said and sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Cirucci

Cirucci looked at Skullak and could only imagine the turmoil he must have been going through. She did not like the idea of an alliance of any kind with the Gilgas. She had not forgotten how Nnoitora had risen in the Espada's ranks by betraying Nelliel, and according to her father such betrayals were not unheard of among the Old Scorpion's brood. It was how he got The Crossing in the first place.

"Although to be fair," her father had said before she departed with Skullak. "Reygal was frail in mind and body. He had delusions of grandeur and delusions of assassins in every shadow. After what he did at The Crossing…he had to die. If it wasn't for Ecydis Gilga opening the gates for Baraggan then Reygal would have been in power much longer, and there would be many more tragedies like the Poisoned Feast resulting from his insanity."

Cirucci knew that every noble house knew about the Poisoned Feast where Reygal had poisoned the wine that he served to the nobles who had gathered to celebrate the anniversary of his ascension to the throne. She knew that out of the one hundred and thirty-three nobles who were invited only eight had survived and her aunt had not been one of them. It was the Poisoned Feast that sparked Baraggan's rebellion and brought about the end of the Leonisra dynasty.

Yet Riccar thinks that anyone of Leonisran blood can sit the throne again. Doesn't he realize that many of the noble houses have not forgotten the Poisoned Feast or the Tournament of Fire? They're afraid of another Reygal.

"Cirucci, are you alright?" Skullak asked.

"I…I am," she said as they approached the doors that led into the feasting hall.

That's where she died. My dear aunt didn't do anything wrong and neither did her husband. They were loyal to King Reygal and yet he murdered them. He poisoned their wine and they died. Now I'm going to see where it happened.

The door opened and a serving maid rushed out being chased by a young man with dirty blonde hair with black streaks. They were both laughing as he chased her.

"COME BACK HERE MY SWEET," he roared. "MY SWEET TOOTH WANTS A TASTE A' YER PIE."

"Gods damn it," the commander snarled. "NNOITORA, ARE YOU DRUNK AGAIN?"

The young man stopped and looked at the commander and grinned.

"Ah, Ecydis, what are ya doing off ya post?" he slurred. "Daddy won't…won't be 'appy."

"You are drunk," Ecydis said.

Nnoitora looked at Cirucci and grinned.

"Hey now…look at da tits on dis slice a' cake. Come 'are and give us a kiss," Nnoitora slurred and grabbed his crotch. "Ya can give my snake a kiss first. He'll be 'appy ta make yer acquaintance."

"I think I'll pass," Cirucci said, obviously agitated.

"Aw…"

"Nnoitora, get out of here before you make us all look like fools," Ecydis said. "Go bother the serving wenches like you always do."

"A'right," Nnoitora said and rushed off. "WHERE'D YA GO MY LI'L HONEY CAKE?"

"Gods, that drunken fool," Ecydis snarled as he led them into the feasting hall.

Cirucci followed him through the doorway. For a moment, she was afraid of seeing Reygal Leonisra in his silks with the golden Lion Crown on his golden locks. She was afraid of seeing him laughing as his guests grabbed at their throats, trying to breathe as blood poured from their eyes like tears. But when she entered the large feasting hall, it wasn't the sight of Emperor Reygal the Crazed that greeted her.

The first thing that caught Cirucci's attention was the wall on the far end. Her eyes widened when she saw the heads mounted along the wall in various states of decay. Some looked as if they had been dipped in pitch to preserve them longer. Other heads looked to be moving because of the hordes of maggots crawling over them. A few heads appeared to have been shrunken. Below each head was a coat-of-arms, displaying a house's sigil. She was not surprised to see that most of the heads were hung above the Gilga crest and understood that those heads were those who tried to kill the Gilga patriarch and failed.

Smoke from the incense burning in the basins lined up against the wall drifted upwards, giving the gruesome trophies a hazy look. She was glad for the burning incense though since they helped to disguise the smell of decay.

Those are…those are the heads of… She was unable to finish the thought.

Her eyes looked to the spot where the thirteenth's wife head was supposed to be and saw that it was empty. However, the crest below the spot showed a partially-flayed man screaming and ripping open his chest on a dark pink field.

That's such a lovely sigil.

She looked at the two banners hanging from the rafters. The one on her left was the Gilga banner, but the one on the right was more pleasant to look at. It showed five golden brown acorns on a dark green field.

"Father, Emperor Skullak Tuma is here to speak with you," Ecydis said.

"Is that so?" a rather hoarse and shrill voice said.

That voice, Cirucci thought as she turned her attention to the dais. Do they have a crone somewhere?

Her eyes drifted over to the owner of the voice who was sitting next to a ferret-faced man with watery eyes and oversized teeth that made him look as if he tried to swallow a piano. The figure sitting was dressed in so many furs that he looked as if he was made of fur. A gold chain hung around his neck. Twin steel finger-blades were on the middle finger on each hand with a gold chain running from the gold rings to a gold bracelet around his wrists. His greying black hair framed his long thin face and ran through two gold rings with a grinning skull engraved on them.

The Old Scorpion, she thought.

"CHANCELLOR STARRK!" a deep voice roared.

Her eyes glossed over the bride who was young and pretty. A wreath of white moon roses, violet dream blossoms, and clusters of red mountain berries was placed on top of her head. Her red hair fell in curled waves.

Standing next to her was one of the fattest men Cirucci had ever seen. He wore a green coat with gold buttons engraved with acorns. His dark brown trousers were tucked into a pair of well-worn boots. He had a bushy red beard with streaks of white around his jowls. A crown of silvery moon leaves with purple grapes was on his head. His blue-green eyes sparkled.

"Lord Merryvale," Lupos said. "I thought I saw your colors outside. You should have told me that your daughter was getting married." Lord Merryvale slapped a large hand to the side of his head.

"Oh, I knew I forgot somethin'," Lord Merryvale said in a thick accent. "My apologies sahr, I vas excited 'bout me daughter's vedding dat I forgot to let ya know."

"It's alright, Lord Merryvale," Lupos said. "Everyone knows how forgetful you are."

"Vell, I'm not completely forgetful, sahr. I alvays remember vere I keep de good ale."

"Well, I'll have to pay you a visit to make sure that you really do remember where the good ale is," Lupos said. The two men broke out in laughter.

"GRANDFATHER, THIS IS AN INSULT!" the ferret-faced man shouted in a squeaky voice. "This is my wedding and I don't remember…"

"SHUT UP, BASTARD," the Old Scorpion shouted. "This is Lord Tuma, one of the four styling himself Emperor. He's come to speak to me, although I don't know why I should bother. He's never come to visit me or attend one of my weddings."

"Father, Lord Tuma has…" Commander Ecydis began.

"SHUT UP, BASTARD!" the Old Scorpion shouted. "I know why the Tuma boy has come to see me. He needs my help to protect his borders. It's rather pathetic that for so long he's pissed on my name and now that he needs my help he's come her with his cap in hand."

"Father," one of the young men sitting at one of the tables said as he stood. "You forget yourself. Lord Tuma has control over…"

"I KNOW WHAT HE THINKS HE CONTROLS," the Old Scorpion shouted. "DON'T THINK YOU CAN INSTRUCT ME ON COURTESY, LANCELOT!"

"I'm Lancel," the Gilga said and gestured to the man sitting next to him who looked like his doppelgänger. "He's Lancelot."

"BAH," the Old Scorpion spat. "Lancel, Lancelot, whatever, you're still a piece of shit. Do you think you're better than me?"

"No…father," Lancel said as he sat down.

"Now, what do ya want, Tuma boy?"

"I want…"

"You want to push your weight around. You dare to come here with Chancellor Starrk and Lord Schiffer and think that will be enough to convince me."

"Father," an older-looking Gilga with grey hair and blood-red eyes said, "you forget yourself. He's our guest and…"

"I DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM YOU, BASTARD! YOUR MOTHER WOULD STILL BE A FISH-MONGERER'S DAUGHTER IF I HADN'T SQUIRTED YA INTO HER BELLY! Tch, she smelled like fish and she fucked like a fish."

He turned his attention back to Skullak and smirked.

"Do ya see what I have to put up with? My brood is a bunch of ingrates who think they can order me about. I AIN'T DEAD YET!" he roared. "I'M STILL LORD OF THE CROSSING YOU BUNCH OF INGRATES! Even my bastards think they can order me about."

"Lord Gilga," Skullak said. "It seems as if you've been fruitful in more ways than one. I congratulate you…"

"Spare me your flattery, Lord Tuma…or is that Emperor Tuma? I don't remember seeing you at my wedding," he turned to the young woman sitting next to him with her head down. "My beautiful wife missed ya, didn't ya dear?"

"I…I did," she replied as she nodded.

"Her years are five and ten," the Old Scorpion said as he stroked her cheek. "Such a lovely little flower," his hand drifted down to her breasts and began to squeeze.

Skullak frowned.

"You disapprove," Ecydis said and grinned. "I wager that she's no older than your mother was when your father stuck his prick inside her the first time."

"Father, this is…" one of the women at the table began.

"Silence Marra," Ecydis snarled. "I may have sent you to the Council of Houses to represent me, but don't think that means that you have any right to speak up."

Marra Gilga sighed and returned to eating the steamed vegetables on her plate.

"Father, I'm sure that Emperor Tuma would rather talk business," a rather handsome young man said.

"Oh, and now the pious Avery is telling me how to treat my guest. Bah, since all of my children think that I've forgotten my courtesies…" He looked at Cirucci and gestured her to come to the table. "Come here gal, let me greet ya properly."

She looked at Skullak who only nodded. Cirucci sighed as she approached. She could feel the eyes fall on her. She looked at them and recognized some of them. A teal-haired woman with a golden ram emblazoned on her crimson gown leaned over and whispered something to her neighbor, a dark-skinned woman with a viper made of gold and red rubies holding up the single strap of her yellow gown, marking her as one of Barrcae Rureaux's sisters, the Southern Snakes. A man wearing the four-winged eagle of House Redder, banner-men to House Marceaux, on his doublet was paying too much attention to his food to be doing anything other than observing her.

They'll all send word back to their houses to inform them of this.

Her eyes then went to a pale-skinned woman who was looking at her with great interest. She had the violet eyes, the hooked-nose, and black hair and thin face of a Gilga. Her lips were thin and had a slightly bruised look to them.

She turned her attention back to the dais. Lord Merryvale was busy eating roasted ribs drenched in a honey wine sauce. He looked up from his meal and smiled a genuinely pleasant smile. Cirucci returned the smile and then looked at the Old Scorpion.

"Privaron Espada Sanderwicci," he said. "I see that my idiot son, Nnoitora, was right. You are a lovely piece of meat, eh-heh-heh-heh," he said as he took her hand. He kissed her hand. Cirucci grimaced as he ran his tongue over her fingers. "There, now that I've performed a courtesy, perhaps my children will mind their own business."

"I thank you for…for receiving us," Cirucci said as she fought the urge to draw her hand away.

"Nonsense, I always love receiving Emperors." The Old Scorpion chuckled as he sat down. "Please, join us."

"Thank you, Lord Gilga," Skullak said. "We will be honored to join you in your grandson's happiness."

"Good, you four, move your worthless asses so that way the Emperor and his noble lords and lady may have a seat," he said to four of his children, or perhaps they were grand-children, sitting at the table.

The four immediately got out of their chairs, muttering and darting angry looks at Skullak. Skullak allowed Cirucci to be seated first while Lupos and Antonin took their places. The others in his entourage went to available seats at the long tables.

"Don't worry, my dear," Ecydis said. "I did not poison the wine like the last owner of The Crossing did."

Cirucci looked at the Old Scorpion who was grinning at her.

"WENCH, BRING GOBLETS AND PLATES FOR OUR GUESTS AND POUR 'EM WINE!" the Old Scorpion shouted to the serving women.

"Water will be fine for me," Skullak said.

"HA! Here I thought dat Lord Sisamnes was de only one who does not drink vine," Lord Merryvale said. "Next thing you'll be telling us you don't eat meat."

"Oh, I eat meat," Skullak said. "I just don't drink alcohol because I prefer to remain sharp."

Lord Merryvale laughed at that and slapped his large belly with his large hands.

"Ah-Ha-ha-ha! A good reason, but vine helps a man relax. So, ven do ve go to var, Chancellor Starrk? I know dat you vill vant me to lead de vanguard."

"We go to war when it comes," Lupos said. "However, I would rather speak in private of tactics."

"Oh…yes…forgive me, my lord. I forgot," Merryvale said and laughed. "A TOAST TO EMPEROR TUMA AND TO DA NORDERN LANDS!"

Merryvale's men stood with their cups raised.

"TO THE NORTH AND THE WOLF AND EMPEROR TUMA!" they shouted.

The Gilgas only kept silent and those who were of houses Marceaux or Rureaux or those loyal to them wrinkled their noses. Others looked ready to reach for the blades.

"NOW, BRING IN DA FOOL!" Merryvale shouted. "I NEED TO HAVE AGOOD LAUGH!"

Music began to play from the balconies as the minstrels and mummers struck up a rather bouncy and fast tune. Cirucci recognized it as "The Jester's Jest". At that moment a tall, lanky man with short-cut black hair came running into the hall. His motley was made of a variety of cloth cut in diamond or square or triangular patterns of red and gold and purple and blue and green. He wore a cap of green and red on his head. As he moved the silver bells sewn on his motley and his shoes and cap jangled.

"Jingle-Jangle," the fool sang in his high-pitch voice as he danced. "Jingle-Jangle silver bells go a jingle-jangle. Silverbells's silver bells goes a jingle-jangle. Hee-hee-hee. Ho-ho-ho. Jingle-jangle. Jingle-jangle."

Ring-a-ling, ring-a-ling, jingle-jangle, ring-a-ling, the silver bells sang.

The Old Scorpion laughed and clapped his hands. Some of the other Gilgas merely took out bits of cotton from their pockets and stuffed their ears. The jester leapt onto the table and began to dance a jig around the plates of food. Lord Merryvale roared in laughter while his daughter began to clap in rhythm to the jester's ringing bells.

The Old Scorpion cackled as the jester began to taunt the guests while allowing them to throw grapes and tarts at him, which he caught in his large mouth. He turned to Skullak.

"How do you like my grandson's japes?"

"He's your grandson?" Skullak asked as he finished putting jam on a piece of bread.

"Aye, he is. We call him Silverbells, but his real name's Reygal, in honor of the jester who poisoned his guests and got his head cut off for it," Ecydis said with a grin.

"I just hope he doesn't play that jest on us," Skullak said before popping the piece of bread in his mouth.

"Don't worry. He doesn't have the wits the gods gave a trout," Ecydis said. "He's perfectly happy listening to his silver bells ring to the point where it annoys my other offspring."

Silverbells leapt off the table as the minstrels reached the end of the song and he bowed to them. The guests applauded while the Gilgas sighed in relief as they took out the cotton from their ears. Silverbells sat on the floor and scooted under the table. He grinned at the guests from his little fort and would shake his arms from time-to-time to listen to the jingling of his bells.

The minstrels in the upper balconies began to play a slow song. Some of the guests got up and began to pound their goblets on the table.

"Dance, dance, dance, dance," they chanted as they looked to the bride and groom.

The bride stood up and smiled at her father as she took the groom's hand. The ferret-faced man glared at Skullak as he and his bride went down the dais steps to the dance area that had been cleared. As they began to dance, other guests got up to join in.

Cirucci saw that some of them only went to other tables to whisper to certain people there. The Redder was talking with a young woman and a young man who looked to be her twin brother. She couldn't see if they were wearing their sigil or not and so could not tell who they were. The Tu Odelschwank and Rureaux were talking with an older grim-looking man with a brooch of the scorpion-tailed harpy of House Merrin on the left breast of his long black and plum coat. She could see that they were looking in her and Skullak's direction as they talked.

"Excuse me."

Cirucci looked up and saw the handsome Gilga standing beside her.

"Yes?"

"I merely wanted to apologize for my father's behavior. He has forgotten his manners when it comes to guests. I could tell that he was making you uncomfortable, but I want you to know that not all Gilgas are like him."

"Uh…thanks, I guess," Cirucci said. "Uh…what was your name again?"

"I am Avery Gilga, his fifth true-born son from his third wife. I hope that your lord doesn't mind if I borrow you for one dance as a way to apologize."

"Oh," Cirucci turned to Skullak and put a hand over his. "Do you mind if I join Avery for one dance, dear?"

"Only if you dance the rest of the dances with me," Skullak said. He looked up at Avery. "You don't really need to apologize for your father's behavior. I know what kind of man he is."

"Thank you, sire," Avery said. He held out a hand to Cirucci who accepted it. "I dare say that your lord-husband may be a little jealous."

"He isn't my husband," Cirucci said. At least, not yet.

"No, but he is rather protective of you," Avery said as he led her into a waltz. "He is right to worry about you."

"Oh…and why is that?"

"We Gilgas have our fingers in too many pies to make any kind of permanent alliance. Some of my half-brothers have been known to…"

"They've been known to slit each other's throats."

"Yes."

"How do I know you won't try anything like that?"

"You don't. However, since you've broken bread with my father, you are under the protection of the Hearth Right. My father may be many things, but he honors the Hearth Right when it comes to potential clients."

"Skullak isn't just a client," Cirucci snarled.

"I didn't say he was, but that's how my father treats everyone who comes to The Crossing. It may be difficult, though. This war could very well pit Gilga against Gilga. We have siblings married into Houses Marceaux and Andjo and Rureaux."

"Are any of you married into the Luisenbarn family?"

Avery looked at her in surprise.

"All of the Luisenbarns are dead," he said.

"Not all of them," Cirucci said. "There's Mordrath."

"He's in exile," Avery said and smiled. "I doubt that even he could survive for long in the Western Wastes."

Either he's a very good liar or none of the Gilgas knew anything about him coming back, Cirucci thought.

She looked around and saw the pale faced woman looking at her again. She raised a crystal goblet filled with a dark green juice to her lips and sipped at it. Avery looked to where she was looking and smiled.

"It would appear that you got the attention of my half-sister, Lady Leech," Avery whispered.

Cirucci looked at him confused and then looked back to the woman who was now conversing with a serving girl and the Gilga boy who had been sent to the Council of Houses. She could see that Tauroth was looking towards the dais and was frowning about something. He whispered something to Lady Leech who nodded and then whispered something to a serving girl.

What is that about? Cirucci thought as her gaze followed Lady Leech and the serving girl leaving the hall.

"Why do you call her 'Lady Leech'?"

"You may find out during your stay. But I would be cautious of her," Avery whispered. "She whispers many things to people who catch her interest and not all of them are truth."

"I suppose I could say the same about you," Cirucci said.

"You could," Avery said and bowed as the dance came to an end. "Then again, is there anyone who doesn't lie when it serves to their advantage?"

"There is," Cirucci whispered as she curtsied. "Skullak doesn't lie."

Avery smiled.

"My dear, everyone lies."

Skullak

"I would like to talk to you about an alliance," Skullak whispered to Ecydis.

The Old Scorpion looked at him and Skullak didn't like the way his smile widened to show more of his yellow teeth and blackened gums.

"I figured you would," he said. "But…what makes you the better choice for me? I could easily side with Andjo or Marceaux and give them a foothold along the western edge of the Las Noches Basin."

"You could. However, they don't have control over Las Noches."

"I recall that Baraggan didn't have control over Las Noches when I opened the gates for him."

"That's true, but he did give you The Crossing in exchange for opening the bridge to him. I can offer you something else."

"What might that be?"

Skullak knew that he was taking a risk. He hadn't told any of the lords of this.

"When I become Emperor, I'll give you both Breakwater and Storm's Head," Skullak said. "You will have control over the two largest ports along the seas."

Ecydis's eyes narrowed.

"Is that wise? You would be making enemies of both House Harribel and House Tiburon."

"They prefer to be at each other's throats," Skullak said. "They have been trying to wipe the other out ever since they argued over who would be in charge over this strip of river. I think that instead of three houses controlling the Dividing River, there should be one."

"So, you would give me all of the Dividing River," the Old Scorpion said. "What of the two sharks?"

"House Tiburon will gain the Storm Plains in the north and House Harribel will gain the Maiden Islands in exchange for losing their ports. They will see it as a gain."

"And what do your allies say of this proposal?" Ecydis asked.

Skullak looked over his shoulder to where Lupos and Lord Merryvale were drinking tankards of ale while Antonin was sipping at a cup of tea.

"They…are for it," he said.

"They don't know about this proposal," Ecydis said. Skullak looked at him and the Old Scorpion laughed. "Don't try to out-lie a liar like me. You'll lose every time. While I may like the proposal, I must refuse."

"Why?"

"It's because I like where I am. It's a lot less land to have to protect from marauding bands of savages and sell-swords."

Damn it, Skullak thought. I was hoping that would placate him.

"You see, young Emperor, I set the price for my alliances when I can see no real gain. If you want my loyalty, then you'll have to pay my price." Ecydis extended the middle of his right hand and pointed it at Skullak's chest. "Do you understand?"

"Your loyalty, your price," Skullak said. "Is that right?"

"That's right," Ecydis said and grinned. "Now, that's not too hard to understand now is it?"

Skullak looked over and saw Antonin avert his eyes.

Yet he was listening in, Skullak thought.

"I'll tell you what, Ecydis Gilga," Skullak said. "I'll remain here until you have named your price and I have answered."

"I see," Ecydis said and grinned. "I'm sure I can arrange for some chambers to be prepared for you and your entourage."

Tauroth

Tauroth Gilga made his way up the stairs, his crutch striking against the stone surface of the steps as he limped up the Architect's Tower. He reached out a hand to tap at the stone walls, hoping to find one of the caches where it was said that the Royal Architect who designed The Crossing had buried those who had a hand in the construction to keep its secrets hidden.

Who knows, I might even find the cache where the Lion Emperor had him buried in with most of his wealth.

However, no one had ever found the place where the Royal Architect had been entombed alive by order of Arturos Leonisra in order to keep the secrets of The Crossing hidden forever. He remembered hearing that the Royal Architect who had designed the palace of Las Noches had been found when Baraggan had the old palace torn down.

The poor man was buried in the floor of a cesspit. At least he had 50,000 gold lions and three times the amount of silver serpents to keep him company.

He continued his ascent as best he could. However, his malformed leg hindered him.

He hated his leg. It kept from being able to go into Sonído or from being able to climb ladders. It made his travels longer and more hindering. He knew that his father had sent him to attend the Council of Houses as a mockery to many of the houses. He was partially crippled and many Arrancars did not look favorably on any kind of weakness.

At least I'm not crippled in mind. At least I wasn't still-born or born blind or too weak to withstand my mother's release of spirit energy as she died while I was coming out of her womb.

He thought of the number of things that were worse than a malformed leg that resembled a withered tree branch to an actual leg. He could have been born a monstrosity with a face like a partially molten wax sculpture and a twisted body unable to function on its own. He could have been born too weak to do Bala or Cero like many of the low Arrancars who were nothing more than serfs for their superiors.

Yes, I truly am fortunate, he thought as he approached the final landing. I'm not at risk from any of my half siblings' plots because they know that I'm too physically weak to make a move against them. However, there's nothing wrong with my mind. I can plot and scheme as well as the rest of them, except for Silverbells. The only things he knows how to plot are his japes and acrobatics for father's amusement.

He limped towards the stone arch and stepped out into the endless night. He could hear the river's water washing against the rocks far below and the song of the wind. He could see a group of five ships flying the grey kraken on a black field.

"You came."

He turned and saw Jalen Gilga sitting on a stone bench. She was stroking the grey head of a night-singer. The bird chirped as it allowed her soft fingers to stroke its back.

"Well, how can I refuse my favorite little sister?"

"I'm only your half-sister."

"True, but you're still my little sister," Tauroth said.

"I'm sorry that I had you come up here. However…"

"I know. No one would expect me to come up here. So, what did you want?"

"I wanted you to see this," she said and held out a small pamphlet to him. "This started being distributed throughout Hueco Mundo. It's mostly aimed at the low Arrancars and some of the more liberal nobles."

Tauroth took the pamphlet and smirked.

"'A Call for Change,'" he read. "I see that Jon Ammens is making some more noise now. He made plenty of it at the Council."

"Jon Ammens is calling for the low Arrancars to unite and demand that the high Arrancars use their power for the good of all," she said. She took the pamphlet from him and opened it to one page. "'I am not advocating a complete overthrow of the nobility,'" she read. "'I recognize that those unable to enter Resurrección, much less perform Bala or Cero, cannot really rule for they lack the virtù that the Twelve bestowed on a few families. Nor am I endorsing a complete Democracy, where the unenlightened have a direct say in government, for down that road is chaos and ruin.

"'What I am proposing is that those blessed with power take the responsibility to use it to advance those without and to protect them from bandits and war and chaos. All that the humble want is to live their lives in peace and not be forced to become pawns for the nobles in their never-ending games for power.

"'We, who love peace and equality and brotherhood for all Arrancars, only want the powerful to be willing to humble themselves for the sake of the greater good. They must set aside their petty squabbles and be willing to work together to build a new society that will put the Soul Reapers to shame. We must prove to those who hunt us down and slaughter us without just cause that we are at least equal to them in all things that separate men from beasts.'"

She finished reading and looked at her brother.

"I've heard rumors that he's already starting up a society somewhere in the northwest."

"It won't last," Tauroth said. "It's a dream."

"Brother, this pamphlet is already making the rounds among the villages and farms. It's being recited in the streets. I heard that he's sending out representatives to help raise funds to build this society."

"Sister, we have four contenders for the throne to worry about and the last thing we should be concerned about is some fool preaching a fantasy."

"Five," she said.

"What?"

"There are five. Marra received word from her sources in Las Noches that Mordrath launched an assault and was killed."

"So there are still only four," Tauroth said.

"Tauroth, have you ever known a Luisenbarn to act so impulsively?"

"Uh…yes…his name was Baraggan."

"But we're not talking about Baraggan. We're talking about Mordrath. He's like many of our brothers and sisters. He doesn't act without thinking things five steps ahead. He's cautious and he only acts when he sees he can gain an advantage."

"In that case he's like Phayne Andjo's little sister. What's her name again? Maggie? Margery?"

"It's Margaret. Margaret Andjo pretends to be innocent, but she's cunning. I've heard rumors that she's the one responsible for arranging her brother's marriage."

"Yes, and there are rumors that the Kraken King married a mermaid," Tauroth said and rolled his eyes. "Rumors are rumors. They can be true or they can be complete bullshit or a combination of both. I met Margaret and she came across as a complete air-head who's only interested in songs about knights riding forth against Soul Reapers and pretty maids with flowers in their hair."

"That's how she wants to be perceived," Jalen said. "Men see what they expect to see and she knows how to use that to her advantage."

Tauroth lowered himself onto the stone bench, careful to keep his malformed leg out straight. When he sat he took his sister's hand and squeezed it.

"What's really bothering you? I know it's not Jon Ammens nor is it Mordrath Luisenbarn. And it's not Margaret Andjo."

Jalen bit her lip and sighed.

"I'm worried that Lord Tuma is putting himself at our father's mercy. He knows that he's not really in control and he doesn't know how to be in control."

"That's why he'll make a shitty Emperor," Tauroth said. "He's a soldier; not a king. He may have the support of House Starrk, and therefore the North, but he's too inexperienced to turn a military victory into a political victory. That's where Felix Marceaux has the advantage."

"Yes, and Felix Marceaux has the support of House Leonisra behind him. However, Phayne Andjo's little victory is making some of the Houses in the Eastern Mountains nervous. They're wondering if backing House Marceaux is such a good idea. Then there's Barrcae."

"Oh, has he actually gained support?"

"No, but he's sending out riders and envoys. I think he'll try to persuade the tribesmen and the mercenaries and the slavers to side with him."

"They're not exactly a trust-worthy bunch. They'll betray him as soon as someone comes along with a better offer."

"Yes, but as long as they think they have a chance, then they'll stay loyal. I heard he's even enlisting the help of the Blood Goats."

"Are you kidding? What kind of idiot would go fetch that group of lunatics? They're leader is a blood-thirsty madman with a voice that's more fit for a sheep than an actual Arrancar and he's been known to turn against those who hire him. However, I would like to hear him try to say 'sapphires' just once," Tauroth said. "I can just hear him now. 'We want thapphireth, thir,'" Tauroth said in a rather high-pitch, whiny, and slobbering voice. He broke out laughing. "I can just imagine Barrcae trying to contain his laughter."

"Yes, but Rureaux will have to lay low if he wants to have a chance. If I were him I would just let Marceaux and Andjo fight each other before making a move. We both know that Barrcae won't do that. He's like Zommari. He likes to maintain an air of control, but he's impatient. He'll make a move as soon as he can."

"If he wants to make a move then he should come up to The Crossing and try to make a deal with father. Skullak has."

"Tauroth, you know that father's going to make him pay a heavy price in exchange for his loyalty."

"Does father even have loyalty?"

"Brother, someone needs to warn him. He's too attached to his honor. Father will use that against him because he understands that one's greatest virtue is also their greatest weakness."

"He already knows not to trust father. Besides, I thought that Marra was taking care of that bit. At least that's the way it sounded when I talked to her at our dear brother's wedding feast."

"You know how Marra is. She doesn't really care either way so long as she sees something she can use to her advantage."

"Right now that would be to go against father. Marra believes in self-preservation above all else. I'm the same way. By all of the hells and heavens, most of our family is like that. Father could very well be making us head down a path that may lead to us getting our heads put on pikes. I can honestly say that I love where my head is right now and I would rather not see it change places."

"So, what are we going to do?" Jalen asked as she watched the bird fly away. "What are we going to do when war comes to our doorstep?"

"Well, I suppose it will be every Gilga for himself or herself."

Cirucci

Cirucci ran a finger through the hot water in the large pool. Steam filled the great bathing hall. Marble statues of water nymphs and sprites lined the walls with murals depicting sea creatures at play. She untied the red silk sash around her waist and took off the black and gold robe she had been provided in her chambers. She reached up and took out the pins that held her hair in place, allowing her purple hair to hang around her.

She put a foot into the hot water and nearly brought it out again. However, she only took another step down the stone steps leading into the pool. When the water was up to her hips she dove in. She could feel her muscles relax as the hot water helped to soothe the tension she had been feeling.

I wish they provided some soap, she thought as she swam the length of the pool.

She sat on one of the submerged slabs of stone used as benches and leaned against the pool wall. She closed her eyes, allowing the water to lap against her. Her eyes flew open when the door to the bathing hall opened. She covered herself as best she could when she saw two people enter the hall.

One was an old-looking Arrancar man wearing the long grey robe of a physician with a hemp rope tied about his waste. He was completely bald except for a long, thin white beard that went to mid-torso. His bald head had a large liver spot that nearly covered the left side of his gleaming dome. He was carrying a covered silver bowl.

The other was the pale, thin woman whom Avery had referred to as "Lady Leech." She was dressed in a long, gold and crimson kimono with a black sash tied about her thin waste. Cirucci noticed how long and thin her fingers were.

Lady Leech's eyes looked to where Cirucci sat and she smiled.

"Ah, I see that our guest decided she wanted to go for a swim. How is the water?" Lady Leech asked in a smooth, somewhat low voice.

"It's warm."

"Good. Doctor, I'll have my treatment here with my feet in the water if you don't mind."

"Just as long as you don't jump in," the aged man said in a quavering voice. "At least not until the session is over."

Lady Leech nodded and she lowered herself to where she sat at the pool's edge and dipped her feet into the water. She rolled up one sleeve of the kimono and held out a bare, extremely thin and extremely pale arm to the physician.

"I know my brother referred to me as 'Lady Leech'. It's my nickname in The Crossing. Well, this is why."

The physician uncovered the silver basin and put the lid on the floor. He pulled out a pair of tongs and dipped them into the basin. Cirucci grimaced when she saw him pull out a plump, white leech.

"My lady was born with an imbalance of the humors that plagues her with migraines and other ailments," the physician said as he put the leech on the bare arm just over the Branchial Artery. "She has needed leeching ever since she was a child. Bleedings were too risky, because it's easy to poison a blade or leave her to bleed to death; so her mother entrusted her care to me."

"You see, Lady Sanderwicci, I need to make sure that my blood is properly balanced otherwise I may fall prey to my bad blood."

"What's wrong with your blood?" Cirucci asked.

"It's as my physician said. I was born with an imbalance of the humors. When I cried my first breath, I bled from the nostrils and the mouth. According to the physicians, I was born with wet and hot blood that had to be purged somewhat to bring it level with dry and cold."

Cirucci had heard of the ailment. The Arrancars referred to it as the "Roygakov Disease," after Dmitry Roygakov who was one of the Mad Emperor's most trusted advisors. It was said that Roygakov helped to keep the Empire from collapsing under Reygal's insanity but then he succumbed to the disease he was born with and died choking on his own blood while Reygal looked on laughing.

Cirucci remembered how many Arrancars mourned the passing of Dmitry Roygakov and how her father told her 400 years after Reygal's downfall that it heralded the end of any hope the Leonisran Dynasty may have had to continue unless one of Reygal's heirs took matters in their own hands and committed Regicide. However, whichever of the remaining Leonisran brothers committed the act would face the wrath of Hueco Mundo for Regicide was deemed a great sin against gods and man unless the monarch was killed in battle.

And Jango Tuma finished off the Mad Emperor, Cirucci thought. He killed the Emperor in battle and so won honor, but…

"So, my dear," Lady Leech said as she turned her head slightly to let the physician put a leech on her neck over the Exterior Jugular Vein. "You know what disease I have."

"Yes, you were born with the Roygakov Disease."

"That's right. I am the bastard daughter of Lord Gilga and Lady Helena Roygakov. Unfortunately, she fell victim to Reygal's madness and was forced to participate in his Tournament of Fire. Your lord's father killed Reygal and for that I am grateful. However, I heard that Riccar Leonisra was getting ready to kill his father with a Cero in the back when Jango Tuma slashed his throat. If Riccar had acted sooner, well, the Leonisra Dynasty could have been saved and perhaps Aizen wouldn't have been able to conquer Las Noches."

"Perhaps," Cirucci said. "If that's the case then many things could have been avoided." Cirucci watched as the white leeches took on a pinkish hue as they drank Lady Leech's blood. Lady Leech nodded in agreement.

"My half-brothers joke on how I won't take a man to bed because I prefer my leeches to be my lovers. However, they don't realize that I have grown tired of my lovers' love bites," Lady Leech said and stroked one of the leeches on her arm. "I endure them in order to keep my blood properly balanced. Sometimes, pain must be endured for the benefit of the whole. Tell me, Cirucci Sanderwicci, do you know what my father has planned for your paramour?"

"He is not my paramour," Cirucci said, turning red. "I'm not even married."

"But you have made love, have you not? You gave your maidenhead to him."

"I…," Cirucci began as she remembered the first time she and Skullak had made love. It had been years ago when he was still the Primera Espada. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

Lady Leech smiled and looked at the physician.

"I think my leeches are properly fed. When you're finished taking them off, you may leave. I wish to swim a little."

"Shall I fetch some of the salts, my lady?"

"That won't be necessary."

The physician nodded as he took out a scalpel and heated the blade with his Reiatsu. He touched the hot blade to the first leech and when it released its hold, the physician grabbed it. Cirucci watched in fascination as the physician took the leeches off with the precision of years of practice. Lady Leech sighed in relief as the last leech was taken from her neck. She rubbed the bruised spot on her neck.

"Thank you. You may leave until the next session."

"As my lady commands," the physician said and bowed before departing with the silver basin in his hands.

Lady Leech stood and unfastened the sash around her waist.

"I hope you don't mind if I join you," Lady Leech said as she disrobed. "That water is just too inviting for me to resist." Cirucci saw that Lady Leech didn't have many curves to speak of. Her breasts were small, more fit for a child than a woman grown, and her waist was almost straight. "I know I don't have the type of body most men desire," Lady Leech said. "That's why I like it."

"Why?" Cirucci asked as Lady Leech stepped into the pool.

Lady Leech submerged into the water for a moment. She emerged and wiped her wet hair back. She smiled at Cirucci.

"Men get in the way," she said. "They hold us women back from achieving our potential. The priests tell women to stay with their husbands. Husbands tell their wives that their place is in the home with their children. Men like to think that they're in control and like to demonstrate their power by controlling us women. Why should I want a husband or children when my ailment holds me back enough already?"

"I suppose you wouldn't," Cirucci said. "However, I…"

"If you're thinking of marrying Skullak then you can forget it," Lady Leech said. "I know my father enough to know what he'll demand of him."

Cirucci paled.

"How could you know what Ecydis Gilga will ask?"

"I know much," Lady Leech said. "I know which of my siblings are conspiring with each other. I know that Fair Ecydis is sleeping with my father's wife just as he slept with his previous wife. I know that my half-sister is going to abort the bastard growing in her from her little rendezvous with her brother. You see, Little Sparrow, I know which Gilga is fucking whom or plotting with whom. I know which ones you can trust, which is not many, and which ones you can't trust, which is nearly all the rest. I know that my cousin, Baxter, spends much of his time in the opium dens with his whores while his wife sleeps with her hand-maidens. I know that Nnoitora, the drunken fool, is plotting to kill his nephew when he's not fucking the servants or too deep in his cups. The funny thing is that his nephew, Robert, is plotting to kill him when he's not too busy sneaking off to visit the gambling houses and running up his debt.

"That's just a small portion of what I know," Lady Leech said.

"Why are you telling me this?" Cirucci asked.

"It's because you need to understand what kind of people your lover is going to have to deal with. House Gilga is a house of rapists, murderers, thieves, and hoarders who commit incest, bestiality, patricide, matricide, fratricide, and so many other things that will make your blood run cold. You need someone who can tell you what the Gilgas plot and do and say. You need information. Many of the other houses have informants within The Crossing, but you do not. I can be your informant."

"Why are you helping me?"

Lady Leech looked at Cirucci and smiled a cruel smile.

"I'm helping you because I hate my father. What better way to take out my hatred on him than by making sure that I help those he doesn't like. My father hates your lover because he survived."

"What?"

"My father helped to bring about the end of House Tuma, as you very well know. What better way to take out my hatred against him than by making sure that House Tuma rises again? You see, Little Sparrow, the best way to take out your hatred against someone is by making sure that their enemies succeed. The enemy of my enemy is my ally. My foolish kin don't understand that and so they continue to try to kill the Old Scorpion, only to wind up dead themselves.

"However, I know that there are fates worse than death. One such fate is to bend the knee to someone you hate, and my father hates Skullak. Thus, I want to see him bend the knee to your lover."

Skullak

Skullak sat at the table in the sleeping quarters he had been given. He looked out the window wondering what the Old Scorpion was playing at. The Old Scorpion could have had all of the Dividing River. The Old Scorpion could have become even richer and more powerful than ever before, but he refused. Skullak knew that the Old Scorpion was the type who would never pass up an opportunity to gain more prominence.

He has something else in mind. Skullak frowned at the thought. The bastard was one of those who conspired to destroy my family. Yet I need him…at least for now. When I become Emperor I will replace him with someone else. I'll send the Old Scorpion into exile if I decide to spare him.

However, Skullak had a feeling that Ecydis Gilga would do whatever he could to ensure that his place at The Crossing would be kept secure.

There was a knock at the door.

"Enter," Skullak said.

He watched as Avery Gilga entered the chamber. Avery was dressed in a long dark grey coat with white fur at the collar. He wore a dark red ascot that was tucked under his white vest. He saw that Avery held a rolled-up pamphlet in one hand.

"Do you find your chambers satisfactory?" Avery asked.

"Yes, they're quite comfortable. Thank you," Skullak replied. "However, I don't think that you came here to discuss my chambers."

"True," Avery said and held out the pamphlet to Skullak. "Jon Ammens has been busy since the Council of Houses."

Skullak took the pamphlet and read it.

"He's advocating that the Low Arrancars have a voice? What of it?"

"The thing is that the Low Arrancars are starting to take notice."

"The Low Arrancars can't even go into Resurrección. Gods, they can't even perform a Bala," Skullak said and tossed the pamphlet onto the table. "Why should I view them as a threat?"

"They're numerous," Avery replied and sat across from him. "Many of them want to go about their normal routine, but others…others want to see a change. Some of them want a revolution."

"Those who can enter Resurrección can crush them," Skullak said.

"That's the thing. Ever since Aizen came along with his Hogyoku, the natural Arrancars who can go into Resurrección are on their way to becoming the minority. Now, some of these Hogyoku-Arrancars want to gain position and they may see Jon Ammens's call for revolution as an opportunity."

Skullak frowned at that. He knew that the majority of these Hogyoku-made Arrancars lived in Las Noches.

"How do you know this?"

"I have my sources in Las Noches," Avery said. "I know about Mordrath's little attack that ended in his demise."

"He's not dead," Skullak said.

"My source said that he felt Mordrath's Reiatsu vanish. That usually means that the Arrancar's dead. My father was relieved when I gave him the news, but he was also troubled that Mordrath got past him in the first place."

"So, he didn't know."

"Of course he didn't, otherwise my father would have fled. He's afraid of Mordrath."

"I thought he feared no one other than House Sisamnes."

"Lord Tuma, my father normally isn't afraid of anyone except for those who have done something to really faze him and that has only happened twice in his life. One was waking up and finding his wife's flayed skin lying next to him in bed. The other was the Tournament of Fire. My father witnessed it and he never spoke of it."

"Then wouldn't he have feared Reygal?"

"You would think so, but my father supported Reygal up until he saw that betraying the Mad Emperor would be advantageous for him. No, he was afraid of the only one who survived the tournament itself, Mordrath Luisenbarn. While all of the other Arrancars who were chained above the fires were consumed in the flames, including the Prince of Fire, Mordrath came away unscathed. From what I can tell, there was something about Mordrath's eyes that made my father wary of him."

Skullak thought of the times he had really seen Mordrath up close. There was always something off-putting about Mordrath; even Baraggan was wary of his younger brother.

"What do you want, Avery?"

"I came to tell you that your lover is meeting with my half-sister, Lady Leech."

"Why should I care?"

"My half-sister may say that we call her 'Lady Leech' because she requires regular leeching to keep her humors balanced. However, that would only be partially true. The thing that you need to know about her is that we call her 'Lady Leech' because she's like a leech herself. She feeds off of her prey by feeding them false information while getting true information in return. Unfortunately, her ailment causes some to easily trust her and she knows that the greatest lies are those that are partially true."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you may need me to help discern her messages, Emperor Tuma. My dear sister is a bastard child and you know what they say about those born bastards."

"Yes, 'Treacherous breeding results in treacherous blood,'" Skullak said. "However, how can I know I can trust you?"

"You don't. I'm a Gilga," Avery replied. "However, I'm not like my father. I'm more like my mother. She was a Verrit and their words are 'Glory in Truth'. I prefer to keep to my mother's words than my father's."

Skullak nodded. The Verrits were known for being honest and for keeping their word. His father trusted their word more than any other house save for House Starrk. However, that did not change the fact that Avery had Gilga blood, and Gilga blood was known to be treacherous.

"If you want my trust, then you must earn it," Skullak said.

"I understand. To show my sincerity, I shall tell you what my father has planned."

Cirucci

Cirucci entered the feasting hall. It was empty save for the Old Scorpion sitting at his chair in front of the severed heads of his wives and children. In front of the dais, Skullak, Lupos, and Antonin stood. She saw that Avery and another Gilga, whom she had not met during their stay in the Crossing, were sitting on either side of Ecydis.

The other Gilga was tall, and broad-shouldered. The scowl on his face seemed to be permanent. His black hair was shortly cropped, except for his bushy sideburns. He was completely dressed in black save for the red-painted gorget with the black skull and gold spear. His black boots were tipped with steel at the toes. He was tapping one foot against the stone floor in impatience.

"Ah, Lady Sanderwicci," the Old Scorpion said. "My heir apparent, Stevan, has just returned from his hunt. Stevan, this is Lady Sanderwicci, the girl I've told you about."

Stevan looked at Cirucci and his scowl hardened. His black eyes seemed to blaze as he looked her up and down.

"I suppose she'll do," he growled.

Cirucci didn't know what to make of that. She looked to Skullak and saw that he wasn't looking at her.

Something's wrong. Skullak, why aren't you looking at me?

Ecydis grinned.

"Are you sure that you're willing to pay the price?"

"I am," Skullak said. "Now, tell me your price."

Cirucci thought about what Lady Leech had told her and knew what the Old Scorpion would say before he even said it.

"The price for my loyalty is two-fold," the Old Scorpion said. "The first, you are to marry one of my daughters and because I'm so kind, I'll let you have your pick. The second…" The Old Scorpion looked at Cirucci and smiled. "…Cirucci Sanderwicci is to marry my son, Stevan Gilga.

"That is my price, Tuma. Now, do you accept my terms or shall I send you away empty-handed?"

Cirucci looked at Skullak. She could see Skullak looking at her from the corner of his eyes. Cirucci didn't like what she saw.

Refuse him. Say "No" and let's get out of here. Let's just…

"I…agree," Skullak said.

"Good," Ecydis purred and his smile widened. For a moment, Cirucci thought that the Fifth Espada, Nnoitora Gilga, was standing before her. "It's good to see that you are willing to make some sacrifices for the good of the Empire, Emperor Tuma."

End of Chapter 11

A.N.: One of the major ways that political and/or economic alliances were formed was by marriage. This was especially true in Ancient history where polygamy, especially among national rulers, was permitted as a means of forming multiple alliances with surrounding nations or more powerful nations.

I knew how I wanted to end this chapter, but getting there proved to be more difficult.

I should also note that Jon Ammens was inspired by a combination of Enlightenment thinkers like Thomas Paine and also Jack Cade who led a popular revolt in 1450 and were a precursor to England's Wars of the Roses. One of Jack Cade's aliases was "John Amend-All".

Also, I wanted to get in a bit of Hueco Mundo history in, especially concerning the reign of Reygal Leonisra. I pretty much had an idea of what caused Baraggan to rebel in the first place, which was Reygal poisoning many of the lords whom he viewed as being a threat to his reign. I was inspired by a combination of Lord Dunsany's play "The Queen's Enemies" (about an Egyptian Queen who invites her rivals to a banquet in a temple beneath the Nile only to drown them) and Stephen King's final book in "The Dark Tower" series where the Crimson King poisons all of his court. The Tournament of Fire was inspired by George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" where Jaime Lannister remembers how the Mad King Aerys killed Eddard Stark's father and brother.