Fourth Vector Ch. 33

The earlier murmuring now elevated to an excitable series of chattering. Jack's words had a polarizing effect on the Elders, one that made it difficult to tell what the body thought as a whole because it seemed to be splitting down similar lines. A good minority seemed to accept what Jack was saying without the need for proof, however, the majority of the Elders either seemed to want to call his bluff or reject him outright for what he suggested.

One Elder in the back stood up. "You talk about history like you know it but you should do some more reading of it before you address this kind of audience. Samara has always been and will always be a neutral power. We don't get involved in the petty squabbles of the south."

Several Elders agreed with him with another standing up. "Why did you come here today? To warmonger for your own conflict? It will take more than that to have Samara forsake her history!"

"I ask not that you forsake your history but rather that you protect it," countered Jack. "I've seen the places where Swabian boots have strode. I've been to Naxos and spoken with their former king, seeing the devastation and the poverty that it's brought to them. If you value your culture and your history, seeing it protected from the Swabians should be an utmost concern."

"We are more than capable of providing for our own defense," challenged another Elder. "The Samaran Army is strong and will beat back any invader!"

"I thought the same thing when the Swabians first came to my shores," replied Santino dryly. "I quickly found out how wrong I was. It was only with the help of our alliance that we have a fighting chance. You'll find that being alone against the Swabian threat is a sure recipe for disaster."

"I'm willing to chance our odds," replied the Elder with a glowering stare.

"Why chance your odds when you can fight with us and see them elevated?" asked Jack. "Would you rather fight the war on your own soil with just your army? Or you can fight as part of a coalition and take the fight to the enemy before they can kill your people and wreak devastation. Why not join with us against the Swabians?"

Before Jack could continue speaking, he was surprised when Lars Becker started to beat a wooden staff against the floor. Instantly, all chattering stopped and attention focused upon him. He stood only with some difficulty and looked at the Tribunes.

"What do our Tribunes have to say about such a threat?" asked Lars. "Have they given their verdict?"

Anton was the first to jump to his feet as a thin smile spread out on his lips. "We have, honored father. We told this delegation that Samara will continue her neutrality and that we will take no part in any war, let alone one against Swabia. It was our judgment that they return to Apulia to fight their war."

Lars nodded and then resumed his look at Jack. His expression softened. "I'm afraid that you have your answer then. It is not in my opinion that this body should overturn the Tribunes' decision."

Jack opened his mouth to argue but Anton beat him to the punch.

"A wise decision, honored father," replied the smug Tribune. "Perhaps we should see to it that these guests leave Samara now. We do not need their sullied words or hostile intent."

Jack had finally had enough. He pivoted on his foot and looked at the arrogant Tribune as his expressions darkened. "You would call my words sullied and my intent hostile? Tell me, Anton, what words would you use for a Tribune who has betrayed his own country and works for a foreign power?"

Several of the Elders gasped at Jack's words. Hendrick's mouth fell open. Anton's cheek flinched in response as all eyes turned toward him.

"And now we have the final act of the morning?" he snarled. "The great Galician King doesn't get what he wants so he turns to petty insults and imagined accusations?"

Jack shook his head as he casually put his hand in his pocket. "There's nothing imaginary about my proof. In fact, I have here in my hand all the proof I need that will show that Tribune Anton Roosa is working with the Swabians. He's being paid off by them, receiving bribes directly from the Swabian Embassy in Dobele. The reward for such treason against his own people? When Samara is conquered, Roosa will be put on a gilded throne. He will become a puppet king for the Swabians to rule Samara in their name."

Jack held the dispatch that he'd captured from the Swabian envoy the night before in his hand for all to see.

"You LIE!" roared Anton as he began to charge Jack. He took several menacing steps forward until one of the palace guards promptly inserted himself between the two men. "Take your lies out of my country!"

"I hope you've received enough gold for betraying your own people, Anton," said Jack calmly. "No wonder you didn't want to help us despite the evidence. Samara being invaded by Swabia was always part of your plan, wasn't it?"

"Liar! Get out! Get out! Get out!" By this point, Anton needed to be restrained by the guards as he tried to carve a path toward Jack, his powerful arms full of tension as he sought to use them. Jack trusted the guards to do their jobs and looked back out at the Elders, who were now watching him with curiosity.

As Anton continued to make a scene, Hendrick stepped forward and took the dispatch from Jack's hand. He read it quickly and then looked at the Elders.

"It appears to confirm everything Jack has just told us. Anton is being bribed to help the Swabians," said the young Tribune as he then passed it to the Elders.

It took the better part of ten minutes for the message to make its rounds amongst the older men. All the while, Jack watched their faces as they read it for themselves. Truth be told, they were extremely fortunate to find the dispatch on the Swabian the previous evening. Especially one that had been issued from Swabian high command directly to Anton. Despite it lacking the fine details of the plan, it wasn't hard to piece together the intent. Anton's outburst just confirmed Jack's initial suspicions.

By the time the last Elder passed the message back to Hendrick, the mood in the room had changed. No longer were the Elders standoffish or content to leave judgment in the hands of the Tribunes.

Now they were pissed and demanding blood.

"Such treachery from a current Tribune," muttered one Elder in a soft voice, shaking his head at the same time. "How far our precious Samara has fallen."

His musings were taken up in a chorus by the other Elders, with a small but vocal minority now doubting whether Hendrick or Bram were in the same league as Anton. With the specter of doubt now passing to the other Tribunes, Jack saw it fit to intervene one more time.

"You ask now whether your other Tribunes can be trusted," he said as he gestured to the two seated men. "I can tell you that I've seen the type of man that Hendrick Tysen is. He's a man that cares deeply for his country and wants to do the right thing by her. There is no one that I trust more with her fate. While I don't know Bram as well as I do Hendrick, I can trust that the leadership of this country is secure in their steady hands."

That quieted the murmurs for a moment but the largest question for the time being was what to do about Anton. He was still being restrained by three guards, and it was only an explicit order for the eldest Elder of his tribe that prevented him from talking any further.

That was when Lars Becker decided to stand up once more to address all of them. The old man hobbled to his feet and shifted his legendary glower toward the disgraced Tribune.

"Anton Roosa, you have brought shame on our beloved country. You are not fit to hold the Tribuneship after what has come to light this day. It is for that reason that I move that you are stripped of all your current powers and are totally removed from the office that you currently hold. You aren't worthy of being a Samaran Tribune."

Many of the Elders made their agreement known by clapping their hands or stomping their feet. It became a small uproar as all of them rushed to agree with Lars. As their unanimous decision was realized, Anton was led away by the guards but not before the symbols of his office were removed from his body.

"You can't remove me!" yelled Anton, his silence totally gone. "You don't know what you're dealing with here! I'm a rightfully elected Tribune of Samara! All of you are playing with fire! I'll be back!"

Anton was then stiffed in the stomach to make him stop yelling. He gagged on his own breath for a moment, just long enough for the guards to get him past the door. Once he was gone, Lars turned to look at Hendrick.

"I think it is a wise idea for the remaining Tribunes to immediately investigate Anton's affairs. I don't want to be surprised by any more evidence of his treachery."

With the disgraced Tribune finally gone, Lars turned to look at Jack once more. Jack felt the initial weight of his gaze on his shoulders and wondered what the man might say. Would he thank him for exposing the traitor but stay committed to their neutrality?

Would his gamble bear the fruit that he needed?

"Jack Easterbrook, I would like to thank you for all that you've done today," said Lars in a calm voice. "Unrest in one's own house is always the most dangerous kind of trouble. You've done all of us, and Samara at large, an incredible service today. I can't begin to think how many Samaran lives you might have saved today by coming forward like this."

Jack nodded his head. "All I want is for all the free peoples of the West to live in harmony in their own countries and under their own laws and customs. Once Anton's actions were brought to light, the only thing to do was see to it that he couldn't do any further damage to his own people."

"And in that matter, you've succeeded," said Lars before a small frown appeared on his wrinkled face. "Now, about your war. That is a tougher matter to discuss. I would say that it is now fully apparent to me that Swabian aggression against Samara is indisputable. The question is what to do about such treatment? How should Samara respond to this threat?"

Jack found himself holding his breath as Lars stopped speaking. The Elder looked around at the rest of the audience around him as if ascertaining their thoughts telepathically. Jack looked over at Bill, sharing a hopeful look with the old Galician lord.

Which way would the Samarans go?

The frown on Lars' face held firm. "It is unfortunate that it is my opinion that a state of war now exists between Samara and Swabia due to their interference in our country. It was a war we didn't want but if it is here, we will fight it nonetheless. To that end, I vote to end over a thousand years of Samaran neutrality in order to punish the country that would seek to treat us as enemies. It is my opinion that we join your alliance against the Swabian threat."

Like the punishment of Anton, the other Elders started to join in. A small group gave their immediate applause, joined by others as they grew braver in their response. Soon, all the Elders were clapping along to Lars' words.

Jack couldn't help but smile. The Elders were now firmly on their side.

He turned to look at Hendrick who now rose from his seat and approached the center of the floor.

"It looks like the decision of the Elders is unanimous," he said without emotion. "It is your decision that we go to war against Swabia and that we join this new Galician alliance. As a Tribune of Samara, I rule that we follow the advice of our Elders and join our forces together with those of the Galician King!"

More applause and uproar followed and soon all eyes had descended on Bram, the sole remaining Tribune. Jack actually wondered if Bram would have the courage to follow his earlier convictions but the Tribune was a shell of a man without Anton to hide behind. His response surprised no one.

"I also vote that we join the alliance," said Bram quickly, only stumbling over his words once. "We will join the war against Swabia!"

*****

The uproar caused by the Elder audience triggered a euphoria in Jack that wasn't about to dissipate anytime soon.

With Anton thoroughly disgraced and thrown out of office, the Elders and the two remaining Tribunes were now firm allies in the war against Swabia. With the audience ending, Jack, Bill, and Santino joined Hendrick in his office to discuss what the Samaran contribution to the war would look like and to extend their gratitude for his help.

"If not for your help, we might never have gotten this far," said Jack to Hendrick. "I don't know what we would have done if all three Tribunes had denied us from the start. You gave us a foothold to work with and I appreciate that more than you know."

Hendrick smiled and then nodded his head. "Your arguments and logic made sense to me, Jack. While it is still hard to believe that a Samaran force will leave our country for the first time in many centuries, it was your persistence that saw it through. Swabia should be punished and Samara will see to it that it happens."

"Amen to that," said Bill while rapping his knuckles against Hendrick's desk.

"So let's talk about the army for a brief moment," said Hendrick. "I will give orders for a force to start mobilization tonight so they can join you across the Slot in the fight in Apulia. It won't be the entire Samaran Army but it will be a healthy contingent."

"When you say healthy contingent, what kind of numbers are you talking about?" asked Jack.

Hendrick's head tilted from side to side. "About eight thousand men all told. About a third of the entire army will be coming with you."

Jack's eyes went wide and he couldn't help the grin that spread on his face. "They would be very welcome indeed. A force of that size will give us a fighting chance."

Hendrick chuckled. "I figured you'd appreciate that. I can't give you the whole army of course. I think that would cause too much trouble but you'll be getting the flower of our force. Those that are exceptionally well-trained and ready for action."

"How soon would they be ready to go?" asked Bill. "How long does your mobilization process typically take? We don't have much time to work with here if it could take weeks."

Hendrick shook his head. "Not weeks, but days. I will have them ready to leave in two days' time. We don't need any more time than that. I'll arrange for transports to meet you on the coast for the journey across the Slot as well as a general to be in command of the entire force. But timing won't be a detriment to your cause."

"Two days?" asked Jack incredulously. "That's much better than anything we could have hoped for!"

Hendrick looked pleased with himself. "You're getting the best of the best, Jack. If there was ever a chance to push the Swabians back, this is it. Samaran soldiers will soon prove their worth to you."

Jack reached his hand across the table. "You're a fine man, Hendrick. And you're a great ally. We'll make good use of them, I promise you that."

Hendrick took his hand and squeezed. "I know you will, Jack. Now, let us reconvene tomorrow. You should celebrate the ruling while you can. For now, I have to see to it that we look into Anton's affairs. Who knows what else he might have been hiding?"

Jack was all too happy to give the Tribune his space and retire back to their lodgings where the excitement was at a fever pitch. Even Santino managed to look briefly happy before once more his sullen demeanor came back to the surface. He excused himself early on that afternoon and was content to stay locked in his room.

There had still been no leads on his family, however, it all seemed bound to change that evening when an out of breath Hendrick surprised them all by showing up at the lodging.

"You must all follow me at once!" said Hendrick as he put his hand on his chest. "There's something you need to see! All of you, come quickly!"

Thankfully, Hendrick brought two cars so that they could all stuff in but as the car sped along the narrow streets of the city, the Tribune refused to say what the cause for alarm was for.

"Just something you need to see, Jack," said Hendrick with a shake of the head. "Believe me, all will be apparent soon enough."

The car came to a stop moments later outside an obscure-looking manor in a quiet neighborhood. Hendrick gestured for them to follow as he bolted out of the car and made for the front door.

Jack gave Bill and Santino a wary look but ultimately followed the erratic Tribune inside.

Once all three of them were past the doors, Jack heard an immediate shout.

"Father!"

In the next moment, two young girls no older than twelve were barreling forward, their dark locks swinging in the breeze behind them.

"Emilia! Pia!" Santino rushed forward to greet them and soon scooped up the two girls into a great hug. Jack couldn't help but grin as he watched. In short order, the girls were crying in happiness at being reunited with their father. Even Santino was shedding tears, especially when an older woman appeared directly behind the girls.

"Giana, thank the gods!" boomed Santino as he embraced his family together in one long embrace.

"You found them," muttered Jack to Hendrick. "How did you find them so quickly?"

"Remember how I told you we had to immediately investigate Anton's affairs?" said Hendrick. "It turns out his office was a treasure trove of information. I always knew that Anton was someone who craved power but seeing all the things he had his fingers in was truly eye-opening. This was one of them. He'd been keeping tabs on Santino's family ever since they showed up in Samara."

"And I imagine he was letting the Swabians know all of it?" asked Jack.

Hendrick nodded. "Down to where they lived and their daily routine. When he found out that Santino was coming to Samara, he quickly put together what it was for. He kidnapped them to make your task that much more difficult. I reckon that he gambled if Santino was so distraught about his missing family, he wouldn't be able to bring the fire that he was most famous for."

Jack found himself nodding. "Not a bad plan. He certainly hasn't been himself this entire trip. That was one gamble that almost paid off for them."

"Almost," said Hendrick before breaking out in a smirk. "But one more foil that you can add to your list."

Jack started to chuckle. "I think this foil all belongs to you. I had nothing to do with finding Santino's family."

"No, but you got the ball rolling. And that deserves credit if you ask me."

Jack, Bill, and Hendrick were content to talk with themselves while Santino caught up on lost time with his family, but eventually, the Apulian Director broke away to make much needed introductions. Jack was introduced to his lovely wife, Giana, as well as his two daughters. All of them weren't keen on drifting more than a few feet away from Santino, a feeling that Jack understood quite well.

With night descending on them, Hendrick allowed Santino to stay at the manor with his family while he took Jack and Bill back to their shared lodging. It only seemed natural to let the family be together once again and of course Santino had no objections. Before they could leave though, Santino grabbed Jack by the arm.

"Jack, can I speak with you for a moment?" he asked. "Outside? Before you leave?"

Jack nodded and the two men walked out the front door and stood on the sidewalk. A smile was once again prominent on Santino's face, something that Jack wasn't used to seeing anymore.

"I'm glad this all worked out," said Jack as he gestured inside the house. "I was beginning to fret that we might never find them. Thank the gods for Hendrick."

Santino shook his head. "No, thank the gods foryou, Jack. Don't think that I don't see that this has your markings all over it. Not only have you saved Apulia for me but you've also saved my family. Who knows what that monster would have done with them? You've protected the two most precious things in the world to me--my family and my Apulia. For that, I'm forever in your debt."