The Maelstrom's Heart

Chapter 2-2

“I’ve been hornswoggled into it,” Bavrana scowled. “You’re the first person I wanted to talk to.”

“Me?” I was starting to think nothing could surprise Jasena, but that did. “Do you… need something located?”

“No,” Bavrana shook her head. “Nothing like that.” Bavrana took a breath. “You’ve seen how the political atmosphere is dividing. There are the conservatives who don’t want anything to change, and progressives who want to make things better.”

“They say they want to make things better,” Jasena smirked. “But maybe they just want a change, and change isn’t necessarily good.”

“There’s both kinds, like with anything,” Bavrana nodded. “Some of the conservatives are afraid change will hurt the city, others are only worried it will hurt their own personal interests. Some of the progressives want to create a better city, and some are just looking for an opportunity to use change to their advantage and they don’t care what else happens.”

“So why do you care?” Jasena asked. “Why should I? It looks like change might not be in my best interests.”

“First,” Bavrana said, “Change is inevitable. Things will change, and if we don’t control that change, someone else will. Or it will be chaos.”

“Sure, but that kind of change takes longer. That makes it tomorrow’s problem.”

“Tomorrow’s problems have to be solved today. And those changes aren’t as far off as you might think.” Bavrana indicated me with a nod of her head. “He’s from Su Lariano. He’s not here by accident.”

Jasena looked at me speculatively before Bavrana continued.

“Su Lariano and Laraksha-Vo have allied. Both cities are now aware of Pokorah-Vo. Su Lariano is tired of the raids and the slavery, and Laraksha-Vo is feeling guilty about the whole thing.”

“You’re telling me the wolves are at the door.”

“Let’s say the wolves have taken a keen interest in our door,” Bavrana shrugged. “And they are considering the journey. I would prefer they stayed in their own houses.”

“And you think that if our policies changed, that would keep the wolves out?”

“I think it would be better if we manage our own change than to leave it up to others,” Bavrana told her.

“I’m still listening,” Jasena took a sip of her drink.

“If the slavers lose,” Bavrana told her, “There would be some restructuring of the Guilds. And likely the Districts. For example, the Slavers Guild would be completely disbanded. Slavery would no longer be legal in Pokorah-Vo. It is likely the most serious offenders might even be held accountable for violating the laws of Daoine.”

“Thieving is also illegal according to the laws of Daoine. Are you proposing I disband the Thieves Guild as well?”

“There will always be thieves,” Bavrana said. “It is better if it is controlled than if it is not. However, publicly, it would need to be disbanded. Privately, it is another matter.”

“You think you can convince me to take my Guild underground?” She laughed. “Give up all my power? Why would I want to do that?”

“You wouldn’t be giving up any real power. Besides, we’re going to need a new Guild,” Bavrana explained. “A Workers Guild. I want you to be the Guildmaster.”

Jasena blinked at her as that sunk in.

“A Workers Guild would naturally be opposed to slavery,” Bavrana went on, “as it would undercut wages. Without slavery, and with increased commerce with other cities, there will be more jobs. You’ll find fewer people looking to be thieves. True power will come from the Workers Guild. I think you would find yourself far too busy with the Workers Guild to worry too much about the Thieves Guild.”

“I’ve heard talk of a Workers Guild before,” Jasena said. “It’s never gotten anywhere.”

“It never had backing by other Guildmasters before,” Bavrana pointed out. “Plus, since you would officially be restructuring and redefining your own Guild, no one could block it. What you do within your own Guild is your own business.”

Jasena c****d her head at Bavrana. “You realize that if this works, it will make me the most powerful Guildmaster?”

“Most likely, yes.”

“You would trust a Master Thief with that much power?”

“I would trust you with that much power,” Bavrana nodded. “Thief you may be, but you have rules. You punish unnecessary violence. You don’t rob the poor.”

“I’m no selfless monk,” Jasena cautioned.

“Not what I’m looking for. I need someone selfish enough to look out for their own interests and the interests of their people, but who won’t cross certain lines because they’re too greedy or just too lazy to do things right.”

“Alright,” Jasena said. “If I were to go along with this, how would you propose we move forward?”

“Start with grassroots, pushing the Workers Guild idea,” Bavrana told her. “You can have your people spreading it, and I can do the same. No specifics yet. Nothing about your part in this, or mine. As few people as possible should know about that before the next Guildmaster meeting.”

“That works,” Jasena nodded, glancing at Zorina. “It also protects me in case things start to go sideways. Let’s do it.”

Jasena leaned forward, holding out her hand. Bavrana gripped forearms with her to seal the deal. At that moment, Mikolosk showed in another Urgaban. I could see half a dozen bodyguards on the other side of the door.

Jasena glanced at the man and then back to Bavrana. “Already? You were pretty confident in my decision.”

“I knew the deal was too sweet for you to turn down.” She turned to the man who stood, watching the exchange with curiosity. “Apologies, Veréliag. Please have a seat.”

Mikolosk poured a drink for Veréliag and left the room. Veréliag raised the glass and took a whiff of the contents, then he tipped it toward them before touching it to his lips.

“Now then,” he said, putting the glass on the table. “What trouble have you two brewed for me?”

“I asked you here because I know that you and Jasena have a working relationship of sorts,” Bavrana began. Both Veréliag and Jasena turned bland faces toward her, acknowledging nothing. “That’s not meant as an accusation; let’s just say that you have interests which are aligned. As such, you should be aware of pending changes so you can be prepared and respond accordingly.”

“Changes?” Veréliag eyed them both.

“There’s going to be a change to my Guild,” Jasena told him. “Officially, there won’t be a Thieves Guild. There’s going to be a Workers Guild.”

“Officially. And unofficially?”

Jasena shrugged. “Unofficially, there might be some organization for thieves that would survive the transition. But officially, I will be representing the workers of Pokorah-Vo.”

“I’m sure you are aware of a growing faction in the city that favors opening trade with others?” Bavrana asked him.

“It’s not hard to hear the whispers,” he nodded. “But there’s also strong opposition from-- Ah, I see. You’re shutting down the slavers. And you want my backing to vote against Julek and Shegaruv because they’re heavily invested and will fight you.”

“If the vote passes to outlaw slavery,” Bavrana nodded, “The Slavers Guild will lose all standing. It is unlikely that any who stand with them will survive the transition.”

“That could leave two Districts up for grabs,” he mused.

“It’s possible,” Bavrana told him. “But nothing is certain.”

“Meaning you can’t promise me a slice of that pie.”

“Correct,” Bavrana said.

Veréliag looked at Jasena. “This will be a very good move for you,” he said. “I can’t see how going against it would benefit me in any way. But there are risks.”

“With great risk comes great reward,” Jasena smiled. From their shared expression, I suspected there was more to their relationship than met the eye.

“Far be it for me to stand in the way of progress,” he shrugged.

“I’ll leave it for you two to work out any logistics for the transformation,” Bavrana told them. “The change for Jasena will be announced at the next Guildmasters’ meeting. We will want to have a Clan Chief’s meeting not long after to push the vote against slavery.”

“Nicely done,” I grinned at Bavrana after they had left. “That’s one vote in the bag. Who’s next?”

“Next we knock out the two easiest ones,” she said.

She wasn’t wrong. Frelian immediately saw that open trade meant expansion for the Mage Guild that operated out of his District. Kivalek was too closely aligned with the Merchant Guild to go against us. That left Hrangan and Okéla to deal with. They arrived at the same time later in the evening. Neither acted happy to see the other, but they seemed more curious than anything else.

“Guildmaster,” Hrangan said as he took a seat. “I’m a bit surprised that you would call us both here.”

“As am I,” Okéla put in archly. “I should think any business you would have with him would be best kept from me. You know how I do love to interfere with his business. Not that he needs my help to be incompetent.”

“The obvious answer,” Bavrana smiled, “Is that had I spoken with you one at a time, the other would have taken offense at being second and assume opposition. Thus, maintaining a balance, each of you canceling the other out. Is that not the way?”

Hrangan narrowed his eyes. “You almost make that sound calculated.”

“You almost make it sound like it isn’t,” she answered. They started to object, but she continued. “Oh, you had me fooled for a long time, just like everyone else. And I didn’t ask you here to argue or prove to you how I know the truth. I need your votes at the next Clan Chief’s meeting.”

“Ministers’ Meeting,” Hrangan corrected.

Bavrana shrugged, “Semantics.”

“I see,” Okéla sneered, “We vote how you say, or you tell everyone about our secret. Is that it?”

Bavrana shook her head. “Not at all. I’m not trying to extort you. I just wanted to have a conversation with no pretense.”

The two Ministers glanced at each other.

“We’re listening,” Okéla said.

“There’s about to be a change with the Guilds,” Bavrana told them. “I’m not going to go into detail, but there’s going to be a Workers Guild.”

“I’ve heard that song before,” Hrangan shook his head.

“Not from a Guildmaster you haven’t. It’s happening.”

“That’s Guild business,” Okéla said. “That doesn’t take a Minister’s vote.”

“True,” Bavrana nodded. “But outlawing slavery does.”

“A lot of the bigger farms rely heavily on slave labor in the fields,” Hrangan said. “The Planters Guild isn’t going to go for that.”

“The Planters Guild will go through a painful time of change, and they will go on,” Bavrana told him. “People still need to eat. But if slavery became illegal, Shegaruv and Julek would be bankrupt. If someone had secretly bought up all of their debt…”

“They would own those Districts,” Okéla finished.

“The bottom line,” Bavrana went on, “Is that the days of slavery in Daoine are numbered. You can go down fighting, or you can get ahead of it and come out stronger. Neither of you have any direct links to the Slavers Guild. You have very little to lose and much to gain. And this opens the door to trade with other cities. That means more business for the Planters and the Craftsmen both.”

“You’re sure you have the votes to make this happen?” Hrangan asked.

“The math is simple. It comes down to the two of you,” Bavrana told him. “If you both go with the Slavers, we lose. If you split, we win. But if you split, whoever sided with the Slavers will be in a weakened position. I’m thinking that either way you go, this is one of those issues the two of you should agree on.”

“And if we vote against it?” Okéla asked.

“Then you simply delay the inevitable,” Bavrana shrugged. “And you miss your opportunity to take advantage of the changes. It’s in none of our best interests if the rest of Daoine comes to eradicate slavery by force.”

“We will consider your words,” Hrangan said with a nod. “You have given us much to think about.”

“You’ll get our answer at the vote,” Okéla said with a smirk.