act14side

*sigh* I really would love to help you, Enciodes.

After all, six whole years ago, it was me who paved your way back into this hall. Of course it hurts, pushing you out again by my own hands.

But in the end, when it's about all of Kjerag, I just can't defend you.

Though I believe the Browntails have benefited, greatly, from business in Turicum.

Am I denying that? It's not just money in our pockets, we can reap the rewards with our subjects too. Who wouldn't be a fan? Only sticks-in-the-mud like Arctosz.

But even though people talk behind my back thanks to it, crying witch about me, I still have a bottom line, Enciodes.

I don't know what you read or learned in those four years you studied outside, that drives you to abuse our trust to this point.

I was wrong about you six years ago, Enciodes. I'll pay for that in time—but you're going to pay first.

Ceding the valleys and mines under our jurisdiction, as well as the Silverashes' seat at the Tri-Clan Council. These are your demands. Is it not an excessively high price?

Karlan Trade has already stricken its then-director in these affairs, Gnosis, off its register. The company's growth policy has recently mildened too, that much is plain to see.

Too late, Enciodes.

If this price wasn't high, how would you ever remember it?

If you wanted to seek forgiveness, you never would've done any of this in the first place.

But since you have done it already, then today, here and now, you must pay something for it.

Are you handing over governance of the valleys and mines, or are you not? Are you seceding from the Tri-Clan Council, or are you not?

All I have done up to now was for the development of Kjerag.

That it would worsen our relations with the Paleroches and Browntails to this present extent, was never my wish.

And from the exchanges I've just had with the two of you, I see this worsening is already unavertable, and unredeemable.

I somewhat foresaw it, but to arrive at this moment in reality, at this time of grievance and ultimatum in this hall, still fills me with sorrow.

But I truly cannot bear to see a fissure arise in the three clans that govern Kjerag together.

Dissent in the three clans signifies dissent in Kjerag. It signifies, that Kjeragandr's people, are soon to lose their collective homeland.

Enciodes, if you truly thought so, if you truly ever thought so for even one moment...

You would have sent yourself packing from Kjerag, back to your Victoria, and been a worry less on Kjerag herself!

Arctosz. I, Enciodes Silverash, am the head of the Silverashes.

This means I must bear my responsibility for the future of Kjerag, and fulfil what is obliged of me.

I don't know what makes you feel I should have stayed in Victoria. Is it because those days of only two clans in parliament made you feel so much more powerful?

Not to mention, my reforms in the years I've led the Silverashes are a done reality...

The people of my territory haven't just gained from the way of life I've brought, they've continued to advance such lives by their own accord.

Even if I leave, the machines will still work, and the trains on the tracks will still set into motion.

Or do you truly believe that if I hand off the valleys and mines today, and cease operation of those factories and railroads...

That the people working there, the people benefiting from what it produces, will accede?

That's your problem to solve, Enciodes.

No, Ratatos. Maybe you have incredible trust in my problem-solving ability, but at base, this is not a problem I alone must face.

You wouldn't suggest that the Browntails' subjects have never profited any from these years Karlan Trade has done business?

How many people have the Originium stoves kept going through the coldest winters, procured from Columbia by Karlan Trade? There are no Catastrophes in our mountains, but the ice and snow still claim lives.

What is so disgraceful about the herders' prods, or the fertilizer that comes from Victoria?

You brought about this situation today—including your constant embellishment of yourself—and now you're using that same situation to menace us, shamelessly.

Get it out. Say this is all your accomplishment. Say you're powerless to give those of Kjerag self-sufficiency, and that you're not afraid to have them mocking you. You, head of the Silverashes.

Wrong, Ratatos.

To menace is the bluff of one who lacks confidence, while I—am only recounting the truth.

You deem Karlan Trade as a menace to Kjerag. That, in itself, is a mockery beyond the heavens.

Keh...

You've got some gall by the sound of it, Enciodes. I remember. You've been good at talking this sort of talk ever since you were young.

Don't waste your breath, Enciodes.

Today, you will...

Would I not hand it over today, General Gulo would have directly 'assumed' control of the valleys, having been stationed close by long ago.

You...

Don't be so quick to resort to force, Arctosz.

I can make commitments and decisions, accordingly, to your proposals.

Conflict has been far from my intent up to now. As the head, I will not put up with any losses either.

But if it's for putting this grievous state of affairs in check, for the alliance of the three clans of the snow mountains, then in the capacity of Kjeragandr's people, the Silverashes can make concessions.

—I am fully able to offer the valleys and mines, with both hands.

You're serious?

You can say a fine line! Enciodes, there's no one here who'll be taken in by your drivel!

Hence why I say, Arctosz, don't rush.

Impetuousness will be your weakness, guardian axe of Kjeragandr, most pious soldier of Kjerag.

I can accept these conditions you two have devised. But it will not be handed to the Paleroches, nor the Browntails.

Then to whom do you give it? What, Kjeragandr?!

Completely correct, Arctosz, most faithful of the people of Kjeragandr.

Every inch of territory of the Silverashes, and of you all too, is fundamentally accorded to us by Kjeragandr's trust. We merely supervise it in Kjeragandr's place.

...Hold on, you can't be...

It is as you imagine, Ratatos.

I've decided I will hear your demands, and give the Silverashes' valleys and mines in whole to the Vine-Bead Court, for the Saintess to handle its factories and pits.

What?!

So as to avert conflict between the three clans, Kjerag ought to have a leader who can hold the faith of both the three clans, and the Snow Realm's citizens, at once.

Though we've managed, I believe that having the vicar of Kjeragandr take control of Kjerag once again, as in times past, is a fair and reasonable thing.

I imagine that peacefully settling this issue, peacefully partitioning the Silverashes' assets, and peacefully avoiding a direct clash of the three families, is what we hope for by all rights.

Ratatos, Arctosz—I can give up my valley and mines on this one condition. What do you think?

A spell of silence. The attending nobles look amongst each other, trying to comprehend what purpose lies within the words.

The only sound, the scratching of the transcriber's pen, but that freezes too a few short seconds later, hung in the atmosphere.

The first to break the silence is a pencil as it carelessly clatters to the ground, alongside a stunned gasp from an unknown someone.

Immediately, consciously, low murmurs of discussion arise one after another, as if a pan of rösti in lowly heated oil.

Look! Is that the man from the Edelweisses...

That Gnosis cur has the nerve to show his face here. I spit on him.

Good word, he's turned this way!

Pah. See the look in his eyes. Heaven knows why Mr. Enciodes ever gave him such great responsibility, when his parents clearly plotted...

Tut-tut-tut, shush it, now! You'll anger Kjeragandr if you speak of these things atop Karlan!

Though you have to admit, his happy days are at an end. Mr. Enciodes obviously couldn't tolerate his conduct one second longer.

Really? Did Mr. Enciodes finally pull him from his post?

Yes! Didn't you know? At the Council last month, he removed him from his office on the spot...

He's already out, then? That's wonderful! His number was long up!

Sir Gnosis.

I've warned that we should not converse on these occasions.

Yes, my apologies.

Only... I received an urgent message. The train carrying Rhodes Island's delegation is almost at Karlan's foot already.

You had some interest in this company. Do you want to go and meet them?

The Snow Realm has reached a major juncture. If they're external forces that have been drawn in, then I'll naturally meet them when the time comes. No need to go out of my way.

Besides... I'm merely an employee on probation now. What position do I have as pretext to meet them?

...Sir...

It really was disappointing to see how Enciodes acted, ejecting you as a figurehead just to appease the other two clans.

Appease? Enciodes's thoughts are by no means as simple as that.

I've heard Rhodes Island really did succeed in slowing the exacerbation of Ensia's Oripathy?

Yes...

Hm. Then they do, in fact, have the resources to win the Silverashes' favor.

But the attention of Enciodes is both a blessing and curse. No easy judgments yet.

You mean...

There is no extraneous meaning to what I said.

Anyhow, presumably those in the company must have applauded and cheered, the same way those two dilettantes did just now, hearing I was gone.

None of them understand your worth, Sir Gnosis.

Using the word 'worth' to describe a person implies that person can be weighed.