"A plebiscite?" Vedur asked, turning an angle towards Chen "A plebiscite for what?"
"For Inkit to be a vassal of the Union" Chen answered.
Vedur burst into a laughter immediately after Chen's last word. The guards also wore grins.
"You want the people to vote whether they want tyranny back? All these travelling around must have shook your brains inside your skull Chen. Go back. You and your new allies are welcome to come at us with everything that you have. You want to take freedom from our hands? Then you'll have to bleed"
"We will have a plebiscite" King Timothy's answer was quick yet powerful.
"The lion pup talks nonsense"
He grinned, the bastard King had it in him to grin "I have been acquainted with the laws of Inkit. A Magistrate could call for a plebiscite. Magistrate Chen calls for one"
Vedur examined Chen. His face was saggy but his posture was firm. His wits were with him. He doesn't look like someone being controlled. He also hadn't gone senile by the looks of it.
"We have known each other since we were young men Chen"
"Since we were foolish youths trying to fill our fathers' boots, yes. The ninth generation of Magistrates" Chen answered.
"I respected you, I still do. That's why I'm using my veto to stop your proposal for a plebiscite. Stop this nonsense. I veto your motion Magistrate Chen"
"And we veto your veto" Said the woman beside King Timothy.
"On what grounds, Queen Lucia? I knew your father. Edmund, good man, good merchant, passable King. If you have half his wits then you would have known that only Magistrates have the right to veto"
"Oh we also have that right" She smiled sweetly and gestured to the army at her back "The veto of steel"
Vedur's eyebrows met. His distaste was elevated by the proud smirk on King Timothy's face as he eyed the Queen.
Veto of steel huh? Vedur thought. She had a point though. Rules doesn't matter when presented against steel.
And a plebiscite would give them time anyway. The people wouldn't agree to live under tyranny again. Countless lives had been spent just to forge the Republic into being. A plebiscite would take long and they could use the time to rally the levies into the defense of Haubern.
"A plebiscite would take two weeks at the very least. Ten days for a summon, two for the preparation and another two for the voting and counting. There could be other interruptions" Vedur said
"We know. Magistrate Chen already told us" Queen Lucia said.
"And your army?"
"They wouldn't attack unless you attack us first"
Vedur nodded "I need to discuss this with the others. A plebiscite needs a lot of preparation"
"Then you better go now. And don't forget to take Magistrate Chen with you. For the first time in months the five Magistrates of Inkit will be complete again"
Her smile remained pure. But Vedur understood that behind that smile, a cunning mind works.
Without uttering a word, Vedur began walking back to Haubern. Chen followed him and the drawbridge was raised again.
When they were out of sight of the enemies, Vedur grabbed Chen's tunic and pinned him to the wall.
"Tell me this is a bad joke Chen. Tell me!"
Chen remained unconcerned. He flicked his tunic from Vedur's grasp.
"I have never made a joke in my entire life. Not a single one"
"But the republic..."
"Will not fall. It will grow stronger and everybody will be happy. Except the Wismarines though. Woe to them"
Vedur stuck his glare at Chen's face for a while. "You betrayed us?"
Pain flitted on Chen's expression for a bit. "You know me better than that"
Vedur lowered his head. "Then why?"
Chen fixed his tunic. He pointed at Vedur's toga. "White. Why do you think the founding fathers chose that color? History books tell us of five nobles who banded together to depose a tyrant King. Mav the Strong, Vepod Ironhands, Berd the Wealthy, Derset Goldtongue and Crod the Just. The five nobles attacked the capital and won. They say that the field outside of Haubern was filled with colors that day, colors if the flags of the five nobles. Red was Mav's, Brown was Vepod, Berd had green, Derset Blue and Crod had yellow. But why did they decide that a Magistrate's toga must be white?"
"The people" Vedur answered "It represents the people's vote. The idea is that the Magistrates are only the representatives of the citizens. We are not Kings and never would be. We are servants of the people. We decide through a vote things that are too unimportant for a plebiscite. We are the people's voices Chen. Our job is to take care of them"
"That is right" Chen's tone was crisp "And do you think the people would want this war to continue? We often forget Vedur. We have been engrossed in this idea of a perfect Republic that we don't see the real issue here. The Republic is a tool, not a reward. It is a tool to make our people's lives better. If a tool doesn't work or another better one exists, then we should let it go. The Republic has done its part. We have lived in peace and equality, a golden age for justice. But times are changing Vedur. A new tool is in sight. A better one. I've been with them. I knew they are good people. I thought they would abuse their power at first but no, they are fair and just. As just as my Great great Grandfather"
Vedur resumed his walk to the Great Hall. Chen followed. The next thousand steps of silence was his.
"Let's say you are right. Let's throw out the doubt. I trust your judgement anyway. They are good and they would bring prosperity to us. But what about their heir? The next King or Queen of the United Kingdoms of Castonia and Vanadis? That man or woman would inherit a large Kingdom with Tulosa, Canton and Inkit as its vassals. Would that monarch follow the goodness of the current ones? What if an evil monarch would be born in the future generations? A tyrant? What will happen to the Inkish people then?"
Chen's face brooded. "That is a problem for the next generation"
"I cannot believe you talk of such filth. Not our problem? The founding fathers thought about us. It is our responsibility to think about the future generations"
"I misspoke Vedur. You know I did. It is indeed our responsibility. But we are too focused on what would happen in the future to see what is happening in the current. We face the present, not the future. I'm sure the next Magistrates of the Republic would have it in them to deal with any problems. But for us, we have our own problems to deal with"
"Problems like what?"
"Increasing prices of food, external and internal threats, peace, order. The Republic has long been plagued by problems. Corruption is rampant in our echelons. Diseases ravage us each year. And let us not kid ourselves Vedur" Chen shook his head "You know the Republic can't maintain its independence for long. If not the Union, we would be subjects of Wismar or Levan. Now I think it would be better to be subjects of good monarchs"
It's not that he doesn't know that. The matter of giant nations drooling over Inkit had long remained undiscussed. Vedur was not so foolish to ignore Wismar's lack of commitment. It was possible for Wismar to attack Inkit in the future despite it being its ally.
Vedur pushed the door of the Great Hall open. The smell of old stone filled his nose. "Well we will soon find out. The people's vote will decide everything"
*********
"Ha!" was Bouvin's immediate insult after seeing Chen again. The bulky Magistrate leaned forward and wrinkled his nose. Like a hound he sniffed "Is that Castonian perfume you are wearing Chen?"
"Vanadian" Chen answered with crossed arms "Chamomile with olive oil and rose petals"
"You smell like a catamite" Bouvin showed a rare grin "But seriously Chen, you are smart. You gained their trust. A plebiscite? Oh I thought they are smart enough to know that none of the Inkish would vote for Yea. Now we have time to prepare our defenses"
Vedur cleared his throat "Magistrate Chen will campaign for 'Yea' in this plebiscite"
All the other three Magistrates had looks of shock in them. Bouvin had an open mouth. Devik's reading lens fell from his nose. Herberk was licking his lips.
"You really are a catamite" Bouvin said with gritted teeth. "Why!?"
"Because..."
"He has his reasons" Vedur interrupted, probably for the best as Bouvin could have hit him if he continued.
"Reasons?" Devik frowned "You are siding with them Chen?"
"Like what I said, Magistrate Chen has his reasons. He will not succeed in convincing the citizens anyway. The voting will happen in two weeks. That should give us enough time to organize our defenses. So, meeting adjourned?"
"Not yet" Chen said "Both Yea and Nay have the right to preach. King Timothy and Queen Lucia wish to enter the city and talk to the citizens"
The other Magistrates again wore expressions both of doubt and surprise.
"And what stops us from slitting their throat once they are inside our walls?" Bouvin asked.
"Well if your honor as a Magistrate is not enough then my faction has enough men to guard them. Their guards are also loyal and strong. Have you seen Bear and Abraham? Well if you have then you would understand that trying anything funny would be impossible. And if something did happen to them, the thousands of Castonians outside will tear the city brick by brick and slaughter every living being inside. So please don't do anything stupid. It would be better for both sides"
His words were answered with nods from the four. And just like that, the most important plebiscite in the history of the Republic of Inkit had been put into law.