Of Vultures and Vacuums

[Eric]

The Voltaire family as an entity was a rather powerful clan within Algeroth. Throughout its history their knack for intelligence had often given their members the abilities to wield great influence as they attached themselves to the Warheights. Consequently they were also quite a fertile family and while they all shared common traits there was one particular trait necessary that left some of its “lesser” branches wanting: Wealth. So it was for Merthin Voltaire and his immediate family, or at least it had been that way before the cataclysms that had seemingly wracked the entire world a few years prior. They had not been as poor as peasants, to be sure, but even still they could not afford to be as lavish as others. For this reason Merthin had always been very frugal and thrifty much to the chagrin of his wife. Despite the fact that even she realized it was a necessity to give them a few comforts.

It had not always been that way. When he had been a young man he had worked himself in as an emissary on a diplomatic detail sent to go over a trade agreement and possible alliance with the Kingdom of Vontier. Merthin and his family did not know what happened to the kingdom after the cataclysm but that was of no surprise. Those in power could barely gather intelligence as to what happened to their neighbors, much less what had happened to the countries on the other side of the world. Before, however, Vontier had been one of the greatest powers in the world. So his being sent there had been a great victory for him.

His career had stalled after his marriage to his wife a Vontais noblewoman named Sophie-Louise. They had fallen deeply in love and had married without the permission of either family. It had caused much more problems for Merthin than it had his dear Sophie. At the time, deeply in love as he was, he did not care. Since he had come to regret the way they had gone about it even if he still had no regrets for the marriage itself. That had been sixteen years before.

Upon returning he had been effectively shut out of the houses of government. He had expected the anger to dissipate and though it had he had as yet been unable to get back on the track he’d found himself in before. The death of his father and the passing of their lands held little consolation. While they did have some lush farmland there was not nearly as much as others and thus more often than not the price for their crops had never given them as much income as they might have liked.

The financial strain had caused some strain in the marriage, but they had never separated. Sophie was just a shrew of a wife who was never pleased with anything. It was a visceral marriage at times but it worked for them. Merthin did still love his wife for all the same reasons he had before. Her beauty had begun to fade, but it was replaced with an older more dignified look that made her look all the more imperious. It was her mind he’d fallen for though and that had only sharpened. The minor successes they had gained had been achieved together.

In fact their current windfall had been almost entirely her doing. The cataclysm that had shaken the very foundation of the entire world had provided their family with the means to jump up on the social ladder. Algeroth had fared better than most nations, to be sure, but even still much of its farmland had been destroyed and its infrastructure severely damaged. There farmlands however had been largely untouched for some reason or other. Merthin had at first thought to ingratiate himself by sharing his crop with others, but it had been Sophie who convinced him to set up a racket that would increase their wealth instead. They had also cut the rations of their peasantry so they could have a greater surplus.

In the same vain they had use that immediate collateral to gather mercenaries and in the ensuing chaos of reconstruction gained control of several food supply lines and bought up what food they could from minor landowners. As such they had become quit wealthy. Their stockpile giving them so much influence they had initially refused royal orders to share their grain for a bit of goodwill.

After a while they had come to their family house in the residential district of the capital with their children to begin to sell their grain there where they could get an even greater profit. They were not well liked among the commoners as they sold their food for double and sometimes triple the prices that had been the norm before. Sophie did not care, and while Merthin did prefer to be popular there were other things that needed to be done.

“So our dear king was deposed,” Sophie began as a serving girl fixed up her hair. Though she was forty there did not seem to be much grey in her hair. Of course with their new wealth she had been able to get her hair dyed back to its natural darker color. “I suppose this is as good a time as any that we make our move. Syrus never liked us you know.”

Merthin knew this already and her words were unneeded. Sometimes that was Sophie’s way however and so he did not comment. He was in thought at how they could go about it. They had heard through the grapevine that Sieg was ridding himself of loyalists. While that would have been a good label to bear years before it was not so good at the moment and he and his wife intended to use that to their advantage. The fact that she was foreign was no longer much of a problem either. She had been in Algeroth for nearly twenty years and her children were as Algerothian as they could be. They were perfect examples of the Voltaire.

As soon as the couple heard of Syrus’ deposition they began to think of how they could use their new position in the noble hierarchy to whittle their way into Sieg’s new cabinet. It would be dangerous, of course, but politics was always dangerous and money could only take one so far. The purge that was forthcoming would leave a vacuum of power and while Sieg would ultimately make many decisions if Merthin could carve himself a place among his advisors and officials they could gain quite a bit of power. The future he promised his wife all those years ago would be at hand.

His ruminations were interrupted as his wife spoke again, “You know your daughter and I went to look at some of the houses in the noble district while you were at the Merchant’s Guild. There was one I think we could get a good price on. The family is in dire straits and has barely been able to hold it together. The house looked a bit run down but that is probably because they cannot afford the upkeep anymore.” She had been wanting a new house in the capital since their windfall but Merthin had resisted just in case their fortunes changed and they were forced to lower their prices.

That had been years ago though and now he was inclined to agree with her. If he was to become a powerful member of the king’s council he would have to live in a nice place. He did not fail to note her appealing to his frugal mind. She was very shrewd that way, and while he was aware of the attempted manipulation he often just let her think she had. “We will have to look at it after our meeting.” It would please her and provide them with the image they needed to craft.

“I am ready,” she said as she smiled at him. That was a rarity that even their servants could appreciate. Perhaps they would even make love that night if everything played out the way he wanted. That would shock the servants even more, for even after their unexpected rise they still did not share much physical affection. He returned her smile as she turned towards him. It was a new dress he had commissioned for her and it fit her beautifully. It was a deep blue with gold trim which not only slimmed her but also seem to perk up her bosoms which had begun the eventual downturn that came with age.

“Then let us go my dear,” he said as he took her hand, "May Ezekiel guide our minds to victory."

[Sage]

A knock came at the door, but before it could be answered, the door would swing open revealing a young girl and a dreary man dressed in obscuring robes. He sighed as he entered, unannounced. If they had done their homework, they would recognize him immediately, whether they could see his face or not. It was Talis, the man who had served as Sieg's representative in the weeks following his takeover.

He had a reputation of being as cruel as he was mysterious, always dressing in strange clothes and showing up randomly, seemingly out of thin air. Moreover, he was unusually unimpressed with even the finest things and grandest acts. It was as if the personality had been completely sapped from him, and being bound to Sieg had caused him to lose touch with reality altogether.

" Your meeting with His Highness has been suspended, until further notice, " he droned. Talis paused briefly, studying their response with calculating eyes, which seemed to stand out unnaturally in the dim light. He suffered to speak further, clearly annoyed with his role as a middleman, and raised a hand in the girl's general direction.

" Since the various government offices are in a state of disarray since...well, since our arrival; Sieg has personally overseen much of the paperwork and transactions coming in and out of the castle. "

The girl seemed startled by the news. Taking over the immense amount of paperwork generated by the constant transactions taking place within the royal treasury was an astonishing feat, usually requiring a staff of at least twenty specialized accountants. Talis began to walk back out of the house and gave the girl a small shove between the shoulderblades which caused her to squeak and stumble forward.

" That being said, you should thank your King when you are next granted an audience. It is not in his nature, to dole out favors. " Talis gave the girl a sideways glance. She seemed as confused about why she was there as the Voltaires might be, and shook with nervousness, clutching several thin scrolls to her chest. " You will fill them in on the rest, won't you? " He did not wait for a response, and left as abruptly as he had come, leaving the door ajar.

The girl, who couldn't have been older than twenty, coughed and closed the door behind him, clearing her throat a bit as she turned to face the Voltaires again. Given their recently acquired status within the upper crust, it could be said that they were as intimidating to deal with as Talis, given that she was a simple and lowly agent of the Treasury.

" Erm...well, yes. It seems that the house you were interested in has been graciously donated to the Treasury, with annotations mentioning an inquiry you had made with the former occupants. His Highness...has...confiscated the aforementioned documents, but sent me here to respond to any interest you might have in purchasing the property. "

The girl fumbled for a tiny slip of paper in her armful, and held it awkwardly before her. " In light of the generosity shown by the former tenants, King Warheight has authorized me to relinquish the property for...this price. Only to you, only today. "

If they examined the paper they would find a figure that was substantially less than that of the value of the house, at least twice as good a deal as Sophie was expecting from the already-fortunate scenario. It would take a madman to refuse such a deal, and an idiot to not question it.

[Jaxon Voltaire]

Jaxon watched the exchange in silence, accustomed to being a sort of symbol for his parents. He was the oldest Voltaire child and often escorted to events with his parents. Having just turned seventeen, he was having more say in their business affairs, but he wasn't looking forward to his mother's company.

Since coming into fortune, he had witnessed her personality become intoxicated with greed. She was no longer the same caring mother and often abused him for his knowledge. Every acidic word out of her mouth, became a tainted reminder.

At least his father protected him, often using excuses to keep him out of her grasp. Jaxon admitted to sharing a closer bond with Merthin, his father having discovered his unusual gift first. The gift was like a plague within him, spreading relentlessly with an unyielding fury. His ability to predict the probability of an event, often caused unrest in his family.

Dressed in his finest, he kept silent, but noted the unsettling man and took pity on the girl. He would give her a kind smile, as if to relate with her inner plight. Jaxon inherited his fathers' fair features and his mother's austere nature. Mostly keeping to himself, he rarely took part in social activities, unless suggested by his parents for social means. Since his fits and spells were unpredictable, it was difficult for Jaxon to achieve a normal social life.

Taking the piece of paper from the girl, he made a mental note of her demeanor. She was like a mouse, anxious for some mere crumb. “We will pay the original amount and not a cent less.” Jaxon said smoothly,watching the girl react. He understood what it was like to struggle and his mother's words cut him deep. She seemed to mock the unfortunate, now that his ability had gained their riches and good fortune. Based on pride alone, he questioned the figures presented, wondering the tactic behind such a maneuver.

Looking toward his father, he awaited his opinion, often overlooking his mother's presence. Out of all the children, he was the one to get under her skin with ease. He knew that his father often sought his advice above her own words of wisdom.

He would be damned, before they became someone's charity case to win more favor.

[Eric]

Merthin’s face was pretty expressionless as Talis spoke. There may have been a bit of surprise at first as they had not expected anyone but he recovered in seconds. He may have been out of the game for many years but he still remembered all the rules. He also found that by keeping his cards close to his chest at all times it could unsettle people trying to get a read. He did not expect Talis to be unsettled, as from what he had heard the man rarely showed any emotion whatsoever. Merthin gave a few nods as Talis spoke. While he may have seemed nonplussed by the whole situation, for that was the only way one could react in this situation, his mind was racing. Had something happened? It was perfectly possible that the King could no longer fit them into his schedule. Even still he had to wonder if something else was going on. There were members of his extended family that could be considered loyalists. They did not have the diversity that he and his wife had.

He saw that his wife had been about to give some gracious reply but silenced whatever it was she had been intending to say as Talis plowed on. After he mentioned thanking the king for doling out a favor and indicating that the girl would tell them the rest as he left Merthin’s expression took on a more blatantly interested look. Perhaps not all bad at all. For a brief second he shared a look with his wife. He had to stop himself from showing the surprise he felt when she mentioned that the King himself had heard of their interest for the house his wife had only told him about moments before. Of course she had made all the proper inquiries. He was slightly annoyed but it was her way and he had never endeavored to control every movement of his wife. In fact some observers might have thought the opposite occurred. Even still that the King took notice and wished to help them was quite interesting.

Merthin took the paper from her hand, and looked at it. He was astonished at the price. He would have expected a heftier price to test their loyalty and to add gold to the treasury which had to be under some strain during the rough economic times that had come about as a by-product of the cataclysm. It was all a bit too easy for him. It showed a favor from the King in one way, but it would also indebt them. They could not refuse and even more: Why would they want to? He looked at Sophie and knew she was having a similar thought.

He had not even noticed their eldest son, Jaxon, until his head too was peaking at the paper in his hand. Merthin had been a somewhat strict father but they had a bond nonetheless. He had an interesting gift, but also had quite a block on his shoulder. Merthin knew that was his fault in some measure. He was a strict father with high expectations. Though there was a softer place in his heart for his eldest son than the others. For some reason the boy and his mother had never shared a true bond. He was not sure why but suspected it had something to do with her dislike of their home when their first child had been born. Back then they had not even been the lord of the estate and had been more like pensioners of his parents.

When Jaxon spoke Merthin’s impassive face broke as he whirled around. “Jaxon!” His voice was raised but not quite a yell. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his wife’s head snap and her eyes narrow dangerously. There were times when their eldest son forgot his social graces and did not hold his tongue when he ought to. Though he had to wonder if his son might have some insight into the situation; even still it was not his place to say what the family would or would not do no matter how much leverage he often gave his son.

Merthin took a hold of his sons arm and turned back to the girl, “If you’ll excuse me for just a moment.” His tone was polite and apologetic. Without relinquishing his grip on his son’s arm he began to walk into the cloakroom which was a small room just off the foyer. He would shut the door and release his arm, “Are you trying to get us killed?”

Sophie did not follow her husband but instead turned back to the girl who had already been a bit frazzled. When she spoke her voice mimicked her husband’s, “I apologize for my son’s outburst. He’s been so dramatic after befriending some actors.” An easy lie, but she moved onward, “Why don’t we go into the sitting room and have some tea. You look quite cold. My husband will only be a moment.”

[Sage]

The girl quaked, her papers threatening to fall from her tenuous grasp. Of all people, the Voltaire's boy had stepped forward to speak. She noted a pause in Talis' gait as he made his way down the nearby street, before shrugging and disappearing around a corner. Her shivers became slightly more violent as Jaxon spoke, causing her to drop several of the delicate scrolls, sending her skittering across the floor to gather them back up.

" S-surely you'll reconsider, you don't know what he's like! "

The girl let out a squeak as she openly spoke out against her King, and muttered to herself as she collected herself and her belongings. " ...oh Gods, why me? " Her head snapped up as the man whisked his son away, and she refocused her attention on the matron of the family, whom she hoped would be the voice of reason. She stammered on, a tone of relief flowing into her words as she responded to Sophie. There was even a brief moment where she laughed genuinely, and perhaps too hard, at the remark made about the actors.

" Tea would be heavenly, or even something stronger! " The girl giggled to herself, half-joking. She could not remember the last time she had eaten or slept since Sieg had taken interest in her as an arbiter of kingdom business, much less the last time she had found the time to relish in a stiff drink. It was only when she had just gotten seated, she sprang back up and offered her hand to Sophie.

" Oh, please forgive me! I forgot, completely, to introduce myself. Sir Rai is such a brutish man, you'll excuse us for barging in without proper introductions. "

The girl cleared her throat, clearly still nervous, and perhaps becoming more and more interested in a touch of spirits to calm her buzzing brain.

" My name is Beatrix Pendragon. I believe I know your cousin, who works in the castle. She has been a good friend to me, terrible what happened to her brother. "

[Jaxon Voltaire]

Jaxon flexed his arm, once it was free from his father's grasp. He met his father's gaze with a dark look. His parents were being used as mere pawns and they were ignorant to the fact. The King would rather keep them happy and satisfied, rather than make them see any possible danger. Shaking his head, he carefully thought his words over. His father had a temper, but it wasn't without justice. Jaxon knew that he had been too hot-headed in the other room.

The little mouse had practically fallen on her head, when he refused the offer. Judging by her shocked expression, she had expected them to be ecstatic. Then again, she hadn't planned on Jaxon being present either.

That girl was a twit.

Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he kept his voice low with a purposeful disdain. “I don't like it, dad. Anyone with half a brain, can see that something smells rotten...and it isn't mom's perfume this time.” Feeling paranoid, he wanted to draw back into his introverted ways. Sometimes he wished his father had never gotten him involved in politics. Now the political drama interested him all too much. Why would the King lower the price? They had plenty of money. To make it even more curious, why would he cancel the meeting?

Something big must have happened, or he was losing confidence.

Jaxon shared all of these concerns with his father, keeping his voice controlled and without much emotion. “I thought that King's liked money. He should be overjoyed at the full price offer and then we can keep our dignity intact.” No matter how many times he dissected it, the new offer lacked logic.

“I don't like it...it doesn't feel right.” He finished, not knowing what else to say, or how to explain his feelings on the subject. Sighing, Jaxon felt defeated and worn from figuring out the King's actions. “I'll go with whatever you decide.”

[Sophie]

“Beatrix Pendragon…” Sophie smiled as she took the girl’s hand between both of hers. Sophie’s hands were warm and inviting, not unlike a tiger’s den. Or so her dear husband had mentioned a few times in their long marriage.

“Ah yes, my cousins have seen some heartache recently.” It was an overarching comment that could not be used against her should the words reach Sieg’s ears. Sophie was nothing if she wasn’t practical – there were ways to talk when the walls themselves had ears and eyes.

As Beatrix took her seat, Sophie poured tea for four, gesturing to the liquor cabinet she unstoppered a bottle of red wine and poured a tiny bit into Beatrix’s cup. She took the cup and saucer over to the girl and handed it to her.

“For your nerves, dear.” Sophie could appear to be motherly if she wanted to be. In truth, she cared for her children – except she felt that her husband spoiled their oldest son Jaxon. His outburst in polite company was nothing but a sign of this coddling.

Sophie stopped for a moment as she passed a silver tray propped on the mantle of a fireplace in the sitting room. She caught her reflection and smoothed the crow’s feet that were starting to make their appearance around her eyes. Her face was starting to show its age and she was doing everything she could to stop it. Most women wore their wrinkles proudly after a certain age, but Sophie was going to delay time for as long as she could. Tucking an errant hair back into her elaborate hairdo, Sophie took her cup of tea and sat with her knee near but not touching Beatrix. She turned to the girl and offered her undying attention – a trait that had won their family quite a leg up in social circles.

It was so easy to seem concerned about current events, even if Sophie wasn’t. That was generally when the best information was passed along.

“I am glad to know your name. Please, enjoy your tea. We serve nothing but the best for our guests, and I am glad that we had some available for your unscheduled arrival. My husband and I were just about to leave the house for a walk about the city.” Dressed like she was? Doubtful that they were walking anywhere. “Merthin does so love to entertain my whims.”

Sophie sipped her tea and smiled, setting the cup and saucer daintily on her lap and protecting it with one hand – as a mother might around her children.

“Again, I do apologize for Jaxon’s outburst. He has found a love of acting and has become quite dramatic. If you are here much longer you might get to see my younger children. They’re upstairs doing their lessons with their tutor.” It was obvious that Sophie was quite thrilled to acknowledge these younger children – perhaps because she had been in a better place mentally when she’d had them. She had been quite depressed after Jaxon’s arrival because of the change in her body and because of the financial strain that they had found themselves in. It was around that time that Sophie had dedicated herself to making sure that they would climb the social circles again – even if it killed her.

Sometimes Sophie was unsure if it had killed her – it had definitely done a number on her heart.

[Sage]

Delighting in the opportunity to regain her senses, Beatrix sat gingerly, as though she were worried the furniture might burst into flames beneath her at any moment. Having to travel with Talis anywhere was unnerving at best, but any time she was made to represent the King's interests, she was a nervous wreck of her already jittery self. She started by idly sipping on her tea, but her body's response to the nourishment caused her to drink nearly the entire cup of rich liquid before she refocused on Sophie.

" It's quite alright, I just hope you realize, I--... " Being an employee of the government, it was not her place to advise citizens in matters in which she was involved, but while they were far enough away from the castle to feel safe from the near-omniscience of Sieg, she could not help herself but provide some warning.

" Honestly, if you were to pay the full amount, I would be forced to report the sale as he presented it to you. It is not wise to turn down a gift from our King, especially not one so generous as this. "

Beatrix did not need to explain the importance of the particular plot of land in question. The actual house was immaterial, it could have been a shack. But owning property that close to the walls of the castle was an honor reserved for only the most powerful families of nobles, war heroes, scholars, and master artisans. Sophie's little branch of the Voltaire family had gained recent notoriety, but this would be a huge foothold of political power that was being offered to them for a pittance.

" I would love to meet your children, but I really would like to show you the property as soon as possible. If you do choose to make a purchase today, there will be a great deal of paperwork we will need to go over. Before you are issued a deed, there will need to be a reallocation of city services, and assignment of personnel. "

Among numerous other opportunities presented by living in the Noble District, Sophie would have the option of having military security assigned to the protection of her family. Not to mention a limited staff dedicated to the maintenance of their new home and property, again, an optional but gratis arrangement.