Chapter Text
Halim couldn't stop the wince as he watched the Judge land squarely on his knee, the full weight of both man and armor coming down on that small square of flesh and bone. The Bhujerban pavement was not forgiving of accidents.
Ghis didn't make a sound, instead he stood up swiftly and with as much dignity as he could muster. The Judge looked about and turned, secretly hoping no other eyes had been on him during his embarrassing tumble. Once reassured it had only been the Marquis, he snatched his cape which had gotten tangled around his ankles during a strong breeze.
“Would you retire? And take the rest of the day for your leg?” The Marquis asked, resting both hands on his cane. Ghis chuckled, barely audible, but the small rise and fall of his shoulders gave it away.
“You think me that old?” he asked as he fixed his helmet back on straight.
Halim cleared his throat and tapped his cane on the ground, drawing the Judge's attention to it. The Judge scoffed, crossing his arms behind his back and continued to walk.
“Your empathy is moving, Marquis, but I assure you – Doctor Cid is easier to digest in the presence of those who know him. I will stay until he has had a tour of the mines.”
The Marquis glanced at the Judge as they began their walk away from the Estate, down towards the Aerodrome. Ghis' retinue was ahead of them, the four Archadian soldiers walking in a square formation. The clanking of their armor echoing through the narrow streets gave any pedestrians enough warning to move out of the way.
“Your Honor would privilege me of course with the reason this Doctor is visiting the mines? I needn't remind you of Bhujerba's stance on such matters,” he said, cocking an eyebrow as he turned his head to watch the Judge's reaction – or lack thereof.
Ghis was quiet, walking along at his slow pace as they crossed the bridge that lead to the Aerodrome. He gave no indication of any laughter nor sudden anger at the Marquis' statement, rather just indifference. That alone sent a shiver of worry down Halim's spine. Indeed his lack of reaction, of any care at all to the Marquis' reminder, was in itself a statement.
“Ah! Ghis!” The voice drew Halim's attention and he turned to face the opening doors of the Aerodrome, an older man walking out with a bounce in his step. The Marquis fought an urge to move out of the newcomer's way lest he be plowed over.
“Doctor Cidolfus Bunansa, it is my honor to introduce to you, Halim Ondore IV, the Marquis of Bhujerba.” Ghis announced, stepping to the side and doing a small bow in the Marquis' direction. The Doctor seemed barely if at all interested in Halim, shaking his hand a little too quickly and giving no effort to even look at him. The Marquis couldn't help but mirror him – thoughts lingering on how bizarre it had sounded to hear the Judge say his name.
“So then let's see it – let us see this wondrous mine!” Dr. Cid exclaimed, already several steps ahead of the procession. Ghis made a small motion with his hand, and the four soldiers rushed ahead to catch up with the wandering Doctor.
“I see what you mean.” Halim said as he watched the Doctor fade further into the narrow Bhujerban streets. “Pray those four guards are enough to restrain his eccentricities?”
That earned a bark of laughter from Ghis, the sound raw and dry, made rough through his helmet. “We can only hope,” he responded, beginning to follow the path that the Doctor had wandered off on. “The Guards will see to it that he does not enter the Mines unattended. Archadian blood spilled on your soil would do neither of us good.”
“Agreed,” Halim said firmly, the strength backing his voice giving the Judge an indication on where he stood – or so he hoped. Ghis didn't bite, and the Marquis threw another line. “What is his interest in our nethicite, if you don't mind my asking?”
“He's become infatuated with it these last years, with a fervor I've never seen in any of Draklor's finest minds. Inconvenient though his enthusiasm may be, Archadia's airship fleet grows legion more and more. Soon we will be flying over the jagd.”
The Marquis had been playing the game long enough to know when it would suit him to be honest, and not feign satisfaction.
“Forgive my bluntness, Your Honor, but I would know if these advancements have any future in being pressed against the Bhujerban fleet. Our nethicite is no doubt valuable to Archades, but I have no future plans for an alliance. Nor will any of my successors should I have a sudden onset of death.”
Ghis laughed again, but it wasn't as loud, and had a flicker of genuine humor to it. He clasped his hands behind his back as he walked, the two moving together along the cobblestones that led them past the joined buildings and homes. Residents were quick to offer polite nods or bows to the Marquis, and moved aside to allow them a wide berth.
“Dealing with politicians is always a pleasant bore that helps cleanse out the taste of constant action in Archades.” Ghis said, slowing when Halim suddenly stopped without warning.
“I meant no offense...” The Judge said, his tone testing the waters. Halim chuckled at the tiniest sliver of genuine worry that sneaked its way through Ghis' exterior, though the Marquis' small laugh was strained.
“My leg,” he muttered, leaning heavily on his cane. Ghis' shoulders perked back up now that he was in the clear. Halim spoke again and his voice was broken in pain. “A moment is all I require. If you wish to go on ahead-”
Ghis shook his head, blunt horns bouncing back and forth in the air. He waited, crossing his arms to his front now. The Marquis took a little more than a minute to endure the sudden flare, and then began along again. Ghis' footfalls were the only sound now, the streets empty from the corner they had stopped at until the designated area. Halim chose not to comment when he realized Ghis had slowed his pace, even if the pity of one such as him was near intolerable.
“Ah – there is our lost Doctor.” The Judge said, pointing to Cid who paced back and forth impatiently, and the four guards waiting eagerly to return to their previous station. When Ghis came into view they turned their armored heads simultaneously, standing at attention. He nodded at them upon approach, and the good Doctor was quick to join his side.
“Marquis Ondore will be leading this tour, Doctor,” Ghis said as he slowly began down a flight of stairs. “I am merely part of the escort.”
“Well then we haven't a moment to lose. Come – come then!” The Doctor had passed Ghis and was headed further into the mine, the Imperial soldiers briskly keeping pace with him.
The two passed the threshold at the edge of the Mines, and Ghis paused, raising his head like a dog that had suddenly caught a scent. Halim watched him, staring in silent inquiry.
“A Paling,” the Judge muttered. The Marquis cast a small, inward sigh. He had hoped Ghis' title and station be entirely built on social ties and a strong family name. Halim knew it was not uncommon for Judges to be promoted to their rank because of association alone. Enough was known about Archadia by the Marquis that he knew to be wary, the lines between politics, class, and military intermingled and the system marched steadily onward with no signs of change. The light, decorative armor could have been passed off as evidence of his suspicions, but a trained sense for magicks contradicted that hypothesis. That made any hope he had of scaring the Judge off with the presence of the beasts within the Mines pointless.
“The Nethicite draws all sorts of abhorrent creatures to these mines, we mustn't be too cautious,” Halim spoke as he began to walk ahead of the Judge. Ghis laughed darkly and was close behind.