- Jul 12, 2018
- 9,342
The following posts are private and secret
Arthur's eyelids drooped down as he struggled to remain awake. The repetitive yet random action of waves crashing near the walls of Fort Saint Elmo were enough to hypnotize even the strongest-willed of men, but he was doing this as the sun was approaching the horizon. It had been known for at least a few mellennium that there were sunsets no where else in Europe like those witnessed at Malta. Arthur was standing atop the outer wall of the old fort and breathed a sigh of relief. After weeks of intense negotiations between very different sects of Maltese society, and the Order, there was finally a stable government for the Maltese islands. In his right hand was a rosary which he was holding for comfort, while his left arm was resting atop the wall. For about an hour now he had been contemplating who had helped him through this short but tireless journey so far. Silas Delacroix, the Grand Chancellor and second in command of the Order, had proven to be an incredibly wise and honest man. Arthur's best friend, Johnathan "Jack" Denaro, was now the acting-Grand Commander and held unfettered loyalty to him. Among these two giants who commanded Arthur's trust were the many half-men that tried manipulating him, and the Grand Officers of the Order, for their own political advantage. "Forgive your enemies, but remember their names," he thought to himself.
Now that there was an elected Parliament and a Prime Minister, and an established judiciary, there was only one more part of the government for formalize and finalize: Grand Master. Arthur still was Lieutenant Grand Master, "Lieutenant" meaning that he was "Acting" Grand Master until a permanent one was elected. Per tradition, he made it clear that he wanted to stand for election as permanent Grand Master, as did some other men in the Order. The new constitution required that all candidates for the office be absent from the assembly called the "Council Complete of State". This council was the grand legislative body of the Sovereign Order of Malta - it was a combination of smaller legislative bodies and was vested with the ultimate responsibility of electing a knight to the position of Grand Master. For the first time in centuries, the Council was assembled in Malta. At that very moment, they were assembled in Fort Saint Angelo, across the Grand Harbor. In fact the fort that Arthur was standing atop of at the moment - Fort Saint Angelo - was the sister fortification of Fort Saint Angelo. The Council could meet for an hour, or for a month. It was about as predictable as a conclave electing a new Pope.
"Lieutenant Grand Master," said a distant, yet familiar, voice from behind. Arthur turned and saw the Grand Chancellor, Silas Delacroix, standing about thirty feet back. Flanking him on each side was a Sovereign Guard, each armed with rifles.
"Good evening, Silas," Arthur said as he wiped his face and leaned against the stone wall behind him. "Is today's session over?'
Silas checked his watch and sighed, "You need to come with us, immediately." Silas said this in a tone that implied it wasn't a request.
Arthur stood up straight from his formerly relaxed position and stepped a bit closer. "What is the matter?" he asked.
Silas, along with the two Sovereign Guards, stepped forward as well. The two guards each firmly placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder, while the other took hold of his wrist. "We're not sure if we can trust you, Lieutenant Grand Master... Please come with us. I'll explain soon enough."
Silas walked towards a staircase for the outer-wall of the fort, and the two guards forcefully escorted Arthur who quietly complied. Just outside of the walls of Fort Saint Elmo was a discrete motorcade - three black SUVs. Arthur was led to the one in the center. Before he got in, however, Silas approached him. The older men looked around to make sure no one was watching, then removed a long piece of black cloth from his pocket. "I'm going to blindfold you," he stated. Silas did so, and then acted as if he was about to slap Arthur, stopping his hand maybe an inch before his face. Arthur didn't even flinch, indicating that he indeed could not see.
"Alright, we're ready," Silas said.
Arthur and the Grand Chancellor entered the middle SUV. Arthur could see nothing and only heard the sounds of a driving vehicle as they motored away from the fort.
"I'm waiting for that explanation," Arthur said.
Silas said nothing.
Arthur leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He started to fall asleep.
Arthur's eyelids drooped down as he struggled to remain awake. The repetitive yet random action of waves crashing near the walls of Fort Saint Elmo were enough to hypnotize even the strongest-willed of men, but he was doing this as the sun was approaching the horizon. It had been known for at least a few mellennium that there were sunsets no where else in Europe like those witnessed at Malta. Arthur was standing atop the outer wall of the old fort and breathed a sigh of relief. After weeks of intense negotiations between very different sects of Maltese society, and the Order, there was finally a stable government for the Maltese islands. In his right hand was a rosary which he was holding for comfort, while his left arm was resting atop the wall. For about an hour now he had been contemplating who had helped him through this short but tireless journey so far. Silas Delacroix, the Grand Chancellor and second in command of the Order, had proven to be an incredibly wise and honest man. Arthur's best friend, Johnathan "Jack" Denaro, was now the acting-Grand Commander and held unfettered loyalty to him. Among these two giants who commanded Arthur's trust were the many half-men that tried manipulating him, and the Grand Officers of the Order, for their own political advantage. "Forgive your enemies, but remember their names," he thought to himself.
Now that there was an elected Parliament and a Prime Minister, and an established judiciary, there was only one more part of the government for formalize and finalize: Grand Master. Arthur still was Lieutenant Grand Master, "Lieutenant" meaning that he was "Acting" Grand Master until a permanent one was elected. Per tradition, he made it clear that he wanted to stand for election as permanent Grand Master, as did some other men in the Order. The new constitution required that all candidates for the office be absent from the assembly called the "Council Complete of State". This council was the grand legislative body of the Sovereign Order of Malta - it was a combination of smaller legislative bodies and was vested with the ultimate responsibility of electing a knight to the position of Grand Master. For the first time in centuries, the Council was assembled in Malta. At that very moment, they were assembled in Fort Saint Angelo, across the Grand Harbor. In fact the fort that Arthur was standing atop of at the moment - Fort Saint Angelo - was the sister fortification of Fort Saint Angelo. The Council could meet for an hour, or for a month. It was about as predictable as a conclave electing a new Pope.
"Lieutenant Grand Master," said a distant, yet familiar, voice from behind. Arthur turned and saw the Grand Chancellor, Silas Delacroix, standing about thirty feet back. Flanking him on each side was a Sovereign Guard, each armed with rifles.
"Good evening, Silas," Arthur said as he wiped his face and leaned against the stone wall behind him. "Is today's session over?'
Silas checked his watch and sighed, "You need to come with us, immediately." Silas said this in a tone that implied it wasn't a request.
Arthur stood up straight from his formerly relaxed position and stepped a bit closer. "What is the matter?" he asked.
Silas, along with the two Sovereign Guards, stepped forward as well. The two guards each firmly placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder, while the other took hold of his wrist. "We're not sure if we can trust you, Lieutenant Grand Master... Please come with us. I'll explain soon enough."
Silas walked towards a staircase for the outer-wall of the fort, and the two guards forcefully escorted Arthur who quietly complied. Just outside of the walls of Fort Saint Elmo was a discrete motorcade - three black SUVs. Arthur was led to the one in the center. Before he got in, however, Silas approached him. The older men looked around to make sure no one was watching, then removed a long piece of black cloth from his pocket. "I'm going to blindfold you," he stated. Silas did so, and then acted as if he was about to slap Arthur, stopping his hand maybe an inch before his face. Arthur didn't even flinch, indicating that he indeed could not see.
"Alright, we're ready," Silas said.
Arthur and the Grand Chancellor entered the middle SUV. Arthur could see nothing and only heard the sounds of a driving vehicle as they motored away from the fort.
"I'm waiting for that explanation," Arthur said.
Silas said nothing.
Arthur leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He started to fall asleep.