AGNOMAKHOS

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 5

Not even the soft, morning sunlight in the council of Twelve's meeting room could affect the tense mood. Kulla stood with his four fellow colonels in a semi-circle, facing the seated councilors. He had his chin up proudly and listened as the other colonels finished describing the recent attacks on their battalions.

"I see," Perisophia said darkly. Arguably, she was the wisest and fairest of the Twelve, a woman with dark hair and cherry-red robes. She narrowed her eyes and glared into the distance. "So, these raiders identify themselves as 'Agnomakhos'?"

"That's right," said the third battalion's colonel, Pierra. She had wavy blond hair and sharp green eyes. "My captains captured a few of the raiders, and they proudly claimed to belong to such a group. But their memories were edited. None of them could tell us their base's location or their leader's name."

Kulla made no expression, but he felt a tremor of alarm. Selective memory wiping on so many people? Not many mages could do that, and if the Agnomakhos rebellion had a mage like that on their side, that spelled trouble for the Reverent Army. Similar concern played across the other colonels' faces, and some councilors', too.

"What have they accomplished by these raids, as a whole?" asked councilor Kero. He controlled a vast network of spies, informants, and agents across Theros, but clearly, the rebellion had evaded his spies so far. Remarkable.

Kulla cleared his throat. "I was up last night analyzing the patterns of the attacks, the locations and time, and the casualties both sides sustained," he recited. As he spoke, he felt the urge to yawn. Perhaps he'd nap a bit after this meeting. "I could discern only two things: that our battle-wise mages were prioritized in combat, and that the raids had an air of... bravado about them."

Perisophia jolted. "Meaning?"

"That the the raids were a show of strength."

"It's not unlike rebels and terrorist groups to show off," commented the fourth battalion's colonel, Teilos. He was easily the oldest colonel, with gray hair and a bushy moustache. But his bulging brawn showed why he held his rank. "It's psychological warfare, councilors. They want to get in our heads. The name Agnomakhos, targeting out precious battle-mages... they intend to intimidate us, undermine our perceived superiority."

"And to show the citizens that they can fight back, if their will is strong enough," another councilor added.

"So, the people are uniting under the Agnomakhos name to undermine us and destroy all we've worked so hard to create," Perisophia summarized, her tone icy. She held stock-still, like a predator ready to pounce. "Clearly, we have to send a message back in kind."

Elias, the second battalion's colonel, raised his eyebrows. "Even not knowing the rebel base's location?"

"You five will send scout forces throughout Meletis and its territories in the coming weeks," Perisophia told everyone. "To find the rebel base and all outposts. But in the meantime, I wish to curb any public support for Agnomakhos. I itended to enact martial law, and I trust you colonels to carry it out."

Pierra blinked. " But in the face of so much hostility from the public already..."

"It must be done!" Perisophia snapped. The other councilors recoiled. "I wish to have a curfew set up, and any rebel supporters must be found, arrested, and interrogated. I am giving the Reverent Army all power necessary to do this. Don't let anyone escape your notice. Dissention is everywhere, so you must look everywhere."

Perisophia glared at her fellow councilors, as though daring them to argue. None did.

"I shall inform my captains of this news," Kulla said simply. "First battalion is ready to serve the council's will."

Elias nodded. "As is mine."

Pierra pursed her lips. "As is mine."

"Mine, too," Teilos grunted. Kulla thought he saw a flare of anger in the old man's eyes.

"Mine, too," Mulos said with a grin. "My men won't let you down."

"Then it is decided," Perisophia exclaimed. "You five are dismissed. Remember... this city's future is counting on you."

*o*o*o*o*

"Wow, this looks good."

Jaina smiled when the waiter brought over her and councilor Kero's lunch at an outdoor cafe in Meletis' wealthy district. The man bowed respectfully and backed away, and Jaina immediately stuck her fork in her plate's chicken and vegetable mix and took a bite. It tasted even better than it looked!

"I come here every week," Kero said warmly. He took a sip of wine. "I'm glad you could join me."

"Mmmmm." Jaina took another bite and nodded, feeling more relaxed than she had in weeks. Being in this place always set her at ease; the fine restaurants, exquisite houses and shops, and the wide streets and tree groves lent a soothing air. Jaina rarely came here, but when councilor Kero had sent her a messenger bird asking her to lunch, she couldn't refuse. So, she had put on a comfortable blue toga and joined him here.

After a few minutes, Jaina got down to business. She set down her fork and narrowed her eyes slightly. "So... what's the occasion, councilor?"

Kero wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin, set it down, and sighed. "This isn't easy for me to ask, but I don't know who else to turn to." He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Something is very wrong around here, Jaina. The council is corrupted like nothing I've ever seen."

Jaina pursed her lips. She had hoped that the council wouldn't come up, being the delicate issue that it was. "I know that we're going through a rough time," Jaina said carefully, "but it's for the good of Meletis. Ever since the Shadow League's invasion..."

"Perisophia's been over this several times," Kero said urgently, "but I'm still not convinced. This isn't our way, Jaina! This city is healing, but something has changed Perisophia. She's always been the wisest of us Twelve, but lately, she's started to dominate us. She's abusing her power, and Meletis suffers for it."

For the past few years, philosophers everwhere had been debating that topic. Jaina had heard it all, but still... "My loyalty is to the council, Kero. I was ready to give my life to protect Meletis. I have to trust the Twelve to rebuild it and keep it safe."

"From external threats, yes," Kero argued. "And we've done well in that regard. The Shadow League was shattered, thanks to you, and minotaurs and bandits have been kept at bay. But what about when the city turns on itself? What do we do then?"

Jaina sipped her wine. "Isn't that something you should ask the other councilors?"

"The council can't help this city anymore," Kero shook his head. "Perisophia has taken control, and she's coerced us into following her. That's why I need you, the sun champion. You saved us before, and you can do it again."

"That's enough." Impatiently, Jaina slapped a hand on the table. Her heart raced in her chest. "Kero, I would give my life to guard this city and its people. But if you're asking me to overthrow Perisophia, you're out of line."

Kero stared her down. "Can you really say that you're objective about this, Jaina? You were a commoner before you moved here to the city. You fought for the common people, and now they're suffering! Not from the Shadow League's ambitions, but from Perisophia's paranoia. We're facing a new kind of threat, and the people need you now more than ever. This isn't the kind of enemy you trained at the academy to fight, but it's the kind that we now face."

Jaina opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. Like the council, she dedicated her life to defending Meletis from all threats. If that meant being strict and demanding, that was a price to pay. But if Kero was right, and if the Shadow League's evil had been replaced by a corrupted Perisophia... "I suppose there's a reason for the Agnomakhos rebellion, isn't there?"

Kero nodded, encouraged. "I don't like seeing red-robed dissidents attacking the Reverent Army within our walls. But if we could set up negotiations with the rebel leaders, and find a common ground, all this could be over. We just need a way to reach Perisophia."

"You can't do it? Not even with your info network, Kero?"

"My agents confirm what I've been saying: that Perisophia's control is hurting everyone, even the people of our outlying towns," Kero said. "But I can't act on that information without you, Jaina. I've got the proof that Perisophia is out of control. I need you to bring her back to reason."

"Just how do you think I should do it? It's not like stabbing a cultist with a sword," Jaina said dryly. "This isn't my kind of battlefield."

"As the sun champion, you have all kinds of influence within many circles," Kero told her. "And many wealthy and powerful circles can affect the council's will. Cozy up to the right people, and you can find a private audience with Perisophia. Get enough important people on your side, and she'll have no choice but to come to you."

"Hmmmmm." Jaina pushed her food around on her plate. As she had told Kero, this kind of work wasn't her forte. Kissing up to rich people and influencing councilors? She'd much rather hunt down the Agnomakhos rebels and prevent full-scale civil war. Still, Kero wasn't on the council for nothing. "All right," Jaina said at last. "I'll tell Kulla about this. He doesn't like unncessary bloodshed any more than me, so he'll listen."

"That's good," Kero said, clearly relieved. "Thank you, Jaina, for listening to me. I feel like we've all been lost in madness."

"That's what I'm here for," Jaina smiled.

On the inside, however, Jaina was not smiling at all. She remembered how Rafael, the otherworldly vistor from Innistrad, had controlled the will of his minions, most of all, Cadoc. Had a similar force taken hold on Perisophia? Would Jaina have to free Meletis by the sword after all?

*o*o*o*o*

"What a place," commented Valerie's treasurer when the two of them entered a mercenary recruitment hall. Located in a town not far from Meletis, the large brick building was crowded with warriors for hire and agents carrying bags of money. Fires in several fireplaces lit the place up, and when the well-stocked bar and drunken card games were factored in, the place resembled a large saloon more than anything. But this saloon had more swords, bows, and magic powers than any other.

Valerie tossed her fiery red hair. "Relax. This is a place of business, whatever it may look like. My agents have looked over a number of prospective hires. And there's one now." She pointed to a particular mercenary, and approached him.

"So there you are," the mercenary grinned widely. Brawny despite his advanced age, the man wore a bronze cuirass decorated with etchings of lions and gorgons, and he wore steel bracers and greaves for added protection. On his back was a wild assortment of weapons: a sword, a bow, and a spiked mace. On his belt hung several knives and a pair of brass knuckles.

"You're Argyros, aren't you?" Valerie said smoothly. She extended a hand. "I'm Valerie. I represent, and lead, Agnomakhos."

"I haven't set foot in old Meletis for years," Argyros commented, gripping Valerie's hand tightly. "I miss it. I was born there, did you know that?"

"I didn't."

"Well, I look forward to seein' how it's come along without me," Argyros said. He ran a hand over his knives. "I trust that you'll give me a lot of good battles? I haven't tested myself against my own people in a long time. Gotta see what that's like."

Valerie put her hands on her hips. "If it's fighting you want, you'll get it. But only against the Reverent Army. The common people are the victims here."

"Don't you worry yourself, sweet cheeks. I know what's fair game and what ain't," Argyros laughed. "What kind of money are we talkin' here?"

Right on cue, Valerie's treasurer stepped forward and offered some coins, then explained the payment plan. The total was more than Valerie would like, but Argyros was known to be among the best.

Argyros licked his lips as he examined a gold coin between his fingers. Then, he tossed it back into the bag and cracked his knuckles. "Done! I think we've got a good thing goin' here, Valerie. I'm yours."

Valerie couldn't help a smile. "Wonderful."

"Hey, are we talking about fighting in Meletis?"

Another man walked over, someone Valerie hadn't seen coming in. He was a little older than Valerie, with short, bristly black hair and medium build. He wore a sleeveless white shirt and white trousers tucked into black boots, but his strangest feature was a black bandana wrapped around his eyes like a blindfold.

Valerie raised her eyebrows. "Who are you?"

"Name's Lakram," the man introduced himself. He snapped his fingers, and a flame danced on his fingertips. "I overhead your conversation here. Sounds like some fun's about to go down in Meletis, and I don't want to miss out."

"Battle is a noble art," Argyros cut in. "Don't you mock it. Fighting the Reverent Army is a test of a man's skill, not a game."

"You think I play games?" Lakram said, mocking hurt. He grinned toothily, looking over at the bigger man. "I can do things you can't even imagine, big guy."

Valerie was intrigued. "What kinds of things?"

As an answer, Lakram snatched a silver coin from the money bag, clenched it in a fist, and opened his hand. The coin seethed with red mana, pulsing like a living thing. "One move from me, and this coin blows this building flat," Lakram boasted. "I can blow anything up. People hire me when they really want their problems out of the way. And I think that your Agnomakhos rebellion could give me a chance to prove it."

"I cannot suggest this," Valerie's treasurer hissed in her ear. "This man..."

"Will be an asset," Valerie told him. "Get the other bag."

Reluctantly, the treasurer produced another coin bag and Valerie offered it. "If you enjoy your line of work so much, Lakram, why not do it for me? For all the coins in this bag, you can help me take down the oppressive council of Twelve. That sounds like your specialty."

"Can't say no to shaking up the system a little," Lakram said, his toothy grin widening. "I'll do it, especially for a pretty face like yours."

Valerie blinked. "Excuse me?"

Lakram tugged at his blindfold. "I lost my sight in a fight a few years back, but my red mana lets me 'see' with heat waves and strong emotions. Not every red mage is attuned to mana like that, but if one sight is taken, another compensates."

"I see," Valerie commented. "And this attunement augments your abilities?"

"Sure does. You'll see."

"Very well." Valerie distributed her money. "Argyros, Lakram... let's get going. I have a carriage waiting. We've got some work ahead of us."