Nights of Villjamur - Mark Charan Newton [192]
People moved on, and the Gamall Gata kids trotted off, all apart from the blond and redhead, who stayed for a little while longer, looking on as the snow fell in thick, heavy streaks while Jeryd and Marysa remained in the cold, clutching each other as tightly as they could.
Kneeling in the wreckage of their lives.
Interview with Chancellor Urtica, to be nailed to the door of every tavern and Jorsalir church by order of the Council.
HISTORIAN: Thank you for seeing me, chancellor. Can you just confirm, for posterity’s sake, why you’ve organized for an interview to be issued across Villjamur?
URTICA: Certainly. We’re about to organize the executions of the Empress Rika and her sister tomorrow, and we will be starting the Empire afresh. I have been selected as the only candidate to go forward and construct the new era—an era of more open politics, with nothing to hide. What more suitable a manner to do this than with interviews? With pamphlets circulated around bistros, taverns, and whatnot, I can communicate with the people. I am, after all, a man of the people. So it is a new kind of leadership, and it is time the people had honesty from their leaders—not as before with a madman and then a murderess!
HISTORIAN: Well that certainly sounds encouraging. Now, could you tell us a little about the strange circumstances surrounding Rika’s exit?
URTICA: I’m very sad to see that a woman would want to do something like killing her own people. It was simply wrong. I found out about it, of course, and I investigated further—it was clear that Rika and Eir had signed a document requesting the refugees be killed. The Inquisition followed it up, of course. The Council decided that this level of deception is unacceptable, so I did what I could to save thousands of lives and my efforts were rewarded by the Council.
HISTORIAN: Will you therefore be letting the refugees in as a peace offering in these dire times?
URTICA: Unfortunately no, the refugees suffer from dreadful diseases that could harm our people. And it is suggested there are tribal terrorist factions among them who wish to penetrate the city in order to destabilize our democratic ways. We cannot permit such a risk. Unfortunately, this might also mean that we must conduct more searches on the streets of the city—in such treacherous times, we must join together in purging Villjamur of such evil, tribal radicalism.
HISTORIAN: There were rumors of a botched military operation on the far side of the Empire recently. Could you enlighten your subjects as to those events?
URTICA: These are searching questions! I shall remain honest with you: several regiments of our brave soldiers were crossing an ice sheet when a savage band of Varltung warriors used cultist trickery to destroy them. Our troops didn’t stand a chance. As a result, I will be declaring open hostilities against all Eastern tribes and, as soon as is possible, we might initiate a full-scale invasion.
HISTORIAN: Some people have suggested that your missions to the Varltung islands might be merely to claim more resources. What do you say about this?
URTICA: It is utter nonsense.
HISTORIAN: Has your ascent to the most senior position of the Empire been challenged in any way?
URTICA: Well, it’s important to remember that I was in a hugely senior position even within the Council. Perhaps second only to the Empress in terms of role. Due to this fact, that I helped to save thousands of lives, and also that several other Council members supported me for Emperor, the majority vote was with me. We are not a barbaric people—of course the matter was debated heavily, and this is a democracy we live in, after all. I was the chosen one.
HISTORIAN: Chancellor Urtica—soon to be Emperor Urtica—thank you for your time.
URTICA: Thank you.
CHAPTER 46
RANDUR TRAMPED ALONG THE STREETS OF CAVESIDE, COLLAR FLIPPED UP, head down, a couple of bags slung over his shoulder.