Out of Exile - Chapter 2
A storm was rolling in. Its tall thunderhead rose far above its darkened base. The noise of birds filled the air that early morning. A breeze had turned into a wind and the long fields of grain and grass were as waves crashing on the shore.
The empty hall echoed with the howls of the intensifying wind. The windows were shut, but a strong draft burst in through the gaps in the shuttered windows and blew out the candles. Patarios sat undisturbed.
How does one start a revolution, he pondered. What drives a man's heart to the radical? What incentive is necessary to stir to repulsive actions. For, what actions could be more repulsive than killing one's own brother, one's own father.
Patarios leaned forward onto the heavy wooden table with his one arm, chewing the thumbnail of its hand. His eyes fixated upon the grains of the wood. A moment passed with no thoughts, and no movements. Finally, a spark flew within his mind.
What had driven me to this? What persuaded me at last that revolution was the only answer? Yes, I am not unique. Others' hearts and minds work in similar fashion. It was the human condition. It is the moment of crisis lurking just around the corner. An uneasy smile grew upon his face, for it was not one of humor, but discomfort.
What crisis? Is it really that we are the brink of civil war? That the young and the old no longer see eye to eye. No, it is not that we don't see eye to eye. That is an understatement. They see with their eyes, and we see with our hearts. What is the material? It is only a small fraction of our world. But, misunderstands do not create war.
No, it is not a crisis of warring factions. We are not warring, but crumbling from indifference. We have no unified culture between the old and young, and, without a common culture, an empire cannot continue.
At that moment, a young woman walked through the door. She was dressed in a red chiton with ornate patterns woven with gold threading. Her peplos beneath was much more simple, but stunning with its teal base and white floral patterns. In her hand she held a small lantern, and on her face she wore a playful frown.
"Sitting with all your friends, I see," she said loudly from the other side of the hall.
Patarios pretended not to hear her, while using his finger to follow the grains on the table.
"The silent treatment is the reward I get?" She pressed on.
"Reward for what, exactly," the exasperation in his voice was palpable. Finally, he took his eyes off the table and became present in the moment. Upon seeing that she had finally caught his attention, Kyali's playful frown turn to an almost comical smile.
"Well, if you must know, I just got done talking to Laonos. He said that he is willing to work with us... for a price."
"What price is that? I have little money to spare. I never knew that persuasion took so much financing."
She snorted as she giggled at his ignorance. "Silly, you don't need to pay serfs. They have no means to buy anything anyways. What are they going to do, travel across the country and pretend that they are citizens elsewhere? Don't be ridiculous. Everyone knows a serf when they see one. A favor is what he asks."
"A favor? What sort of favor?" his interest was growing despite his annoyance and her countenance.
"Yes, a favor," she said while twirling around letting the loose wrappings float around her. She stopped and smiled. "One that will be easy for such a strong, intelligent, and influential master like you."
"Now I know that it will be bad," he said while leaning back into his chair and placing his hands upon the armrests. "Tell me."
She giggled, "Guess."
"Really, you're going to make me guess?" He said while throwing his head back and tilting it to the side. He had not noticed how stiff his neck was, and reflexively let it crack.
"Gross," she said making a sour face. She had made her way across the hall, and now was standing before him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaning forward towards him. "Guess."
He sighed. "Fine." He looked around to make sure no one else was around.
Seeing him scan the room, she slipped one hand to the side of his face and said, "Don't worry, it's only us. No one followed me from the theater. I am not that naive."
After a long pause, he answered,"He wants to tell me how to vote on something next council meeting, correct?"
"Bingo," she said tapping his nose with her forefinger. "And you'll never guess the matter that is coming up, but try anyway."
"How would he know council matters before me? He's just a serf, and I'm actually on the council?" He asked in complete confusion.
"Uh uh uh. I'm not giving any hints," she gaily replied. "You'll just have to guess and guess and guess until you finally get it right." She stood up, and placed her fists at her hips and cast, yet another, playful smile his way.
"Is this about their share of the yield?" he asked.
"Maybe, but not just that, though," she drawled while rocked side to side like a restless, naughty child.
"They want more supplies?"
"What type of supplies?" she quizzed.
"Food?"
"And?"
"Ummm... clothing and materials for maintaining their homes?"
"Don't be silly. Of course that, but what else?" she mocked while starting to twirl again.
After a long pause, he thought of something that he, too, wanted for the serfs. It was something that was necessary for his goals, but far too risky to provide just yet. He cringed at the idea, but answered anyways. "Weapons."
"YAY! He finally got it!" she cheered as she danced around him, completely ignoring the disgust on his face. She threw arms around his shoulder from behind and kissed his cheek.
"Stop that. What if someone sees?"
"Who's going to see? And even if they do, it's just a kiss. I'm sure that you're allowed to receive a kiss on the cheek now and then," she said while giving several pecks alternating between his cheeks until he finally threw himself up and away from her.
"My wife has been ill, and she is the daughter of Andianos. I cannot afford to get on his bad side, or I will be off the council," he scolded.
She shushed him, placing her finger on his lips as she drew close. Her smell intoxicated him, and his guard dropped. They embraced and kissed each other forgetting all other things just for that moment.
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