Short Fiction: The Ceremony

The Ceremony, Grizzled Lions by Hugo Solis

Written by Jason Cristofaro
Illustrated by Hugo Solis

Ardo sat on the precipice of the Grizzled Lions roof, gazing down at the proceedings below.

“So what do you think of our new Mayor Yorrick?”

The dwarf next to him shifted uncomfortably. Not a fan of heights, he was perched farther up, his hands white-knuckled as he grabbed at the shingles.

“He’s an admirable fighter and an honorable man; I served with him in the 75th battalion over twenty years ago. I give him four months.”

Ardo cocked an eyebrow and grunted. “He’s already eying a promotion?”

Yorrick released his grip on roof and carefully studied his fingernails. After a moment, he looked toward the city center and mused, “No Ardo, in four months he will be a dead.”

“I think you’ve been drinking too much ale old man. Caragen is head of the Order of the White Rose; he has a phalanx of Paladin guards around him at all times. For heaven’s sake look that entourage!”

Ardo gestured to the hundreds of fighting men gathered in military uniform and organized in rigid phalanxes in front of the ceremony. The spectacle stretched out to fill the entire courtyard and extended as far as the marketplace. Closer in, a large group of Paladins in glittering plate mail bearing shields emblazoned with a white rose formed a semicircle in the front of the ceremony.

“He could have ten thousand soldiers under his command Ardo and it wouldn’t matter.” Yorrick looked down and softly whispered, “He has already earned the displeasure of the true lord of this city. I have heard rumblings from some of my contacts that a price has been put on his head. Caragen is a good man, but his enemy is cunning.”

“And who holds such power that a legion of the king’s finest troops is no obstacle?” Ardo mocked.

Yorrick glanced about him for some moments, making certain they were not being observed. He cautiously scrambled down the roof, looking around on more time he drew close to Ardo. He released one hand from its hold cupped it over his mouth, whispering into Ardo’s ear, “Look at the fourth woman to Caragen’s right.”

Ardo peered across the crowd; he muttered a few words of power to enhance his sense of sight and his gaze finally came to rest on a red-haired woman wearing a deep green velvet dress. She was slight in build and appearance, dwarfed by the other dignitaries on the coronation stage.

“I know that woman, that’s the widow Desirae von Edenhaller. What are you talking about you old fool? The lady von Edenhaller has been working tirelessly since the death of her husband for the poor of this city. She personally has funded a number of orphanages and shelters for the poor!” Ardo explained.

“Shut your mouth, fool! Who knows who could be listening!” Yorrick hissed. He gazed down at the stage, looking for a reaction from the widow, but her gaze remained transfixed upon the proceedings.

“Listen to me Ardo and mark my words well. She controls every brothel in this city, every penny of illicit money and every stolen good passes through her or her underlings. Have you not heard the rumors of the children who ‘go missing’ from her orphanages? Many of them are sold into to slavery, or worse. Do not think to cross her. I made that mistake once and Ruttanian paid for it with her life.”

Ardo furrowed his brow, “How do you know all this old dwarf? I thought Ruttanian was killed in a accident, her horse buckled and she was thrown! There were witnesses.”

Yorrick sighed, “Ruttanian confided in may several days before her death that she had been scrying to discover the location of several missing children. After months of tireless work, she eventually was able to discover that the disappearances were related to slavers. Slavers she eventually discovered were hired by the widow herself, but that’s not the whole of it. Ruttanian snuck into the widow’s estate and found evidence that the she was not just involved in slaving, but theft, bribery, prostitution and smuggling as well. Upon discovering this she confided in me and then left to inform the Order of the White Rose. That was the last time I saw her.”

After a moment of silence, Yorrick continued, “Since then I have discretely done my own inquiries, but everything I have learned supports Ruttanian’s allegations.”

“Caragen is a good man, but his war against vice and his recent shuttering of gambling dens and whorehouses has cut into the widow’s business. She is not pleased. Gossip among Caragen’s gnomish servants is that over the course of the past few months several comely young maiden’s have joined and left Caragen’s employ. They told me that the dismissals occurred after these servants acted in ways inappropriate for ladies of high virtue. Apparently Caragen is the rare man for whom such temptations are ineffective.”

“It’s a pity really,” Yorrick continued, “He would probably have been far happier and lived much longer had he been a weaker man…”

Ardo gazed at his friend for a few moments, looking down as the dwarf clung tightly to is seat. He seemed sincere, but Ardo had realized long ago that fanciful tales always sound sincere. Ardo chuckled, “Paranoia and suspicion don’t suit you old man. I suspect you have been led on a goose chase and have spent too much of your time listening to idle gossip and scullery maids for your own good. I didn’t realize the romantic lives of nobles were of such interest to grey-haired old soldiers.”

Yorrick shook his head sadly, “I wish that were true Ardo, I wish I wasn’t right, but mark my words and speak of this to no one.”

They sat silently for a few moments. The ceremony below had reached its nadir and the high priest was about to place the ceremonial coronet on the new mayors head.

As he placed the coronet on Caragen’s head, the priest’s voice boomed, “In the light of the all holy God, I pronounce thee Lord-Mayor of this fair city! Serve thy God and serve thy king!”

Caragen turned to face the crowd as a loud cheer erupted from his men. As he walked to the podium a noticeable amount of sweat beaded on the new Mayor’s brow, suddenly Caragen doubled over and began screaming, “Get it off! Get it off!”

Several of Caragen’s guards moved forward as blood began to trickle from his forehead. A second later, the mayor collapsed. As he fell forward and slammed against the ground his body shattered as if made of glass. Fragments of his person scattering all over the stage. Screams of horror began to swell in the crowd and confusion set in. The guard’s seized the high priest whose countenance belied shock and horror.

Ardo turned to Yorrick who simply shook his head and looked back at the crowd on the stage. It was then he noticed Desirae von Edenhaller. A chill ran down his spine. As he watched the face of the widow, no one else paid notice, but Ardo could clearly see the outlines of a faint smile. It was easy to discern as her eyes were not fixed on the scene unfolding before her. Her gaze turned upward, toward a dwarf and an elf sitting on the roof of a tavern…

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