galvarelli/on-the-way-to-the-temple.txt

In the morning, after a quick breakfast, the yaks returned to their rooms to collect their things.
Chief had insisted that he come to the Temple alongside them, to ensure that the Temple would offer the yaks boarding for the next night if needed.
The flurry of activity of yaks repacking everything they'd unpacked yesterday masked a new arrival.
A dwarrow in fine, blue robes had entered the hall.
Border dwarrows didn't dress like that, Calvin thought.

Almost immediately after Calvin noticed, a shout rang through, and Kab sprinted past to talk to the new dwarrow.
The conversation that ensued was largely in very fast Dwarrowspeak, and Calvin understood little outside of the general welcoming sentiment and tone of subservience.
The humming tones that bounced off the wall beat at his ears, which Calvin had always found the hardest part of Dwarrowspeak.

Calvin approached the dwarves.

—This is the Stoneshod, then? the newcomer said to Kab.

—I am indeed the Stoneshod, Calvin said, straining at the limits of his Dwarrowspeak.
	I am the leader of the yaks.
	We wish to ask for aid.
	Aid from Mountberg.

The newcomer ignored Calvin, and spoke instead to Kab.
—They have had problems with the Hierarchy?
	You should have brought this to Mountberg, Kab, we might have helped you.
	Where is your Chief?

Calvin couldn't quite understand the beginning of Kab's response, but he interrupted all the same.

—Friend dwarrow, I am asking for aid, not Kab.
	You may speak to me if you wish.

The dwarrow gave Calvin a withering glance, and said in the Open Tongue, with barely any trace of an accent.

—I will talk to you in a moment, yak.
	This is a matter for this town and I, and when your time comes, I will let you know.

Calvin growled, but turned away and went to find Chief.
He eventually did, and found Chief in a room with the Jod and the woman who had been sitting by Kralvin at dinner.

—Chief, can we talk a moment?

—I'd be happy to, Calvin, but I'll need a moment.
	Some bastard from Mountberg decided to show up.
	He's taken Kab hostage with conversation at the moment, and I want to understand why he's here.

—That's why I'm here as well.
	I thought you had said that Mountberg wouldn't respond?
	That's the reason we were going to the Temple.

—Calvin, I promise you, Mountberg has been utterly uninterested in any messages we've sent.
	We've had rumours of infighting and instability.
	The one who's here, Cruimo, he's not good news.
	Nasty bastard.
	He's a Chartkeeper, which, it's hard to explain, but it's a powerful position.

The woman seemed to pale at this.

—Um, Chief.
	I, uh.
	I might know why he's here.

Chief gave her a look that chilled Calvin's bones.

—Do tell, Sister Omig.

—Well, you see, it was before dinner.
	I'd set up the loop on the guest rooms a bit sloppily, and anyway.
	One of the guards, he said that they were here to talk to Mountberg, so I sent the message.
	I thought it would be okay, I just wanted to save some time.

Chief sighed.

—Well, I suppose that's alright, Omig.
	Just tell me next time.
	I don't want to be caught by surprise.
	What specifically did you tell them?

—I had said that the Stoneshod were here because of a dispute with the Hierarchy.
	That's right, isn't it?

—Is that what my guard told you? Calvin said.

Omig looked even less thrilled with Calvin's interjection than she had with Chief's questions.

—Yes, Your Presidenticy, sir.

—Which guard?
	Kralvin, the tall one you were talking to during dinner?

Omig nodded.

—Chief, what are the rumours about Mountberg?
	Why would they be interested in fighting the Hierarchy?
	The Republic has always been at odds with them.
	Does Mountberg want to help Galvarelli?

Chief looked thoughtful.
He talked for a moment with Jod in Border, translating the question.

—Well, Calvin, Jod says it's not quite so positive.
	There's been news recently that Mountberg has been trying to consolidate power.
	Hence the instability for a while.
	If they want to strike a blow at the Hierarchy, it's because they think it will make Galvarelli weaker.
	The Hierarchy are the Voiced ones, right?
	Neutralising that, it's a great opportunity for Mountberg.
	Especially because you've mentioned the Meadowlark being under attack.

Chief looked at the ground sullenly.

—I'm very sorry about this Calvin.
	I didn't really expect Mountberg would ever want to help you.
	But again, I really didn't think they would have even responded.

Calvin flicked his tail thoughtfully.

—I should talk to Kralvin.
	Excuse me.

Calvin opened the door.
Kab was waiting outside, with Cruimo.

—Now Kab, the yak has left.
	Will your precious Chief be free now?

Without waiting for an answer, Cruimo entered the room, and Jod and Omig left quickly.

—I'm sorry for Cruimo's rude manner, Your Excellency, Kab said.
	I'd have spoken up, but I was trying to keep him far away from Chief.

—No need for apologies, Kab, you did fine.
	You deserve a medal for talking to him.

—He refuses to speak Border, you see.
	He understands it perfectly, but thinks that the Dwarrowfolk have no need for languages besides Dwarrowspeak.
	And sadly, I'm the only one here who speaks Dwarrowspeak.
	Along with yourself, I suppose.

—You know, I practiced languages as I was rising in government, and I was caught by surprise that you didn't all speak it.
	Glad to have that corrected.
	Anyway, pardon me, Kab.
	I need to find and kill one of my men, apparently.

Almost as soon as Calvin reached the throng of yaks in action, Calvin found Vaughan talking to Hermann.
—Vaughan, get Sergeant Kralvin, right now.
	I'll be in my room.

Calvin found his now re-emptied room and sat on the bed.
Kralvin entered after a few minutes.

—Sir, you wanted me?

—Kralvin, you may have doomed Galvarelli.
	Was that your intention?
	Or did you have any goddamn idea what you were doing?

—Sir, what do you mean?

—You went around me, you asked one of the dwarrows to go around their Chief.
	You told a potential enemy that they had a chance to attack the Hierarchy?
	What were you thinking?

Kralvin seemed to let a look of remorse break across face for a moment, and then it suddenly set into a grim, determined expression.

—President Calvin, we're here to protect the people that need protection, right?
	We're here because there has been rioting and violence.
	Against people like my parents.
	If Mountberg can help us protect them, I'm not sorry for asking them to.

—You're one of my guards.
	You've overstepped your mark.

—And so what if I have! Kralvin seemed to bristle in anger.
	I'm not ashamed to fight for what I believe in, _sir_, letting the sir fall from his mouth like a particularly rotten fruit.

Calvin felt his stomach roaring with flame at the insubordination, but he forced himself to take some deep breaths until it mellowed to a low simmer.

—Sergeant Kralvin, you don't think I remember you?
	That I don't remember your parents?
	I do fight for what I believe in.
	I fight for the people who the Republic should be fighting for.
	And if you have a problem with the way I do so, it is your right as a citizen of Galvarelli to tell me that you have that problem.
	However, at the same time, I have expectations for you as member of my Guard.
	This will be the last time something like this happens, understood?

Kralvin stared at him, unmoving.

—President Calvin, you were too ashamed to help my parents to let me do it in uniform.

Calvin felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

—Son, I understand.
	I really do.
	There are compromises we make.
	But that's not what this is about.
	If you're angry with me about that, then fine, tell me so.
	Anyway, we were here to ask for Mountberg's help, and they're here now.
	There will be a way to figure this out.
	You're dismissed.
	Send Vaughan in.

Kralvin turned on his hooves and left.

Calvin thought about the New Voice he'd heard a few hours ago.
Supporting those he was meant to serve.
If the New Voice was pushing him to support the farm animals, that might mean that helping the farm animals would indeed be bad for the Meadowlark.
Exactly, as the Hierarchy rhetoric claimed.
Calvin smashed a hoof into the ground.
If Yakaterina knew the New Voice would say that, she could have just planted the idea of opposing the New Voice to force Calvin into supporting her bigotry.

Vaughan entered the room.
—Vaughan, are we doing the right thing here?
	Should we be doing more to support the farm animals, instead of coming out here to fix some mystical problem?

Vaughan hesitated a moment.
—Calvin, I'm not sure.
	I don't trust the New Meadowlark, I have to say.
	And if it's true what they say, that the voice is real, well, I don't know.
	But I don't think it has to be a choice, you know?
	We can do two good things at once.

—If Nikki were here, she'd point out that we can't.
	Your constituency is just progressive Havenites, but if I try to do too much to fight the Hierarchy I'll be left powerless.
	That's valid.
	Right?

—Are you asking me, or telling me?
	Calvin, I joined the party because of you.
	I trust your judgement.
	You and Nikki, as much as I disagree with her.

Calvin told Vaughan about Kralvin.
Vaughan nodded.

—I see why you're thinking about it.
	Well yes.
	I still think we should have just gone in right away.
	I trust Nikki's judgement in general, but that doesn't mean I agree every time.
	Anyway, want me to report this to Lieutenant Hermann?

Calvin nodded.

—Thanks Vaughan.
	And thank you again for being here.
	I know your duties are extensive, but—

Vaughan interrupted,
—Don't mention it.
	Spending any time with the Assembly gives me a profound headache anyway.
	You and I both know that Chair of the Assembly isn't a real job.

Vaughan left, presumably to find Hermann, and Kab entered immediately.

—Sorry, Your Excellency.
	I hope you don't mind the intrusion?

—No Kab, what do you need?

—So, I think that Cruimo and Chief have reached an understanding.
	Well, sort of the opposite of an understanding.
	They're just each talking at each other, Chief in Border and Cruimo in Dwarrowspeak, refusing to acknowledge each other.
	But anyway, I think we're going to be heading out soon, if that's okay?

—Heading out to the Temple?
	Cruimo won't try to stop us

—No, although he does wish to come as a representative of Mountberg.

—Will he cause any problems?
	For you or Chief?

—No, I just think he doesn't like feeling misled into coming here.
	Speaking honestly, sir, I think he thinks less of you for your guard's actions.
	I did try to ask him whether he could offer aid to Galvarelli.
	He said that it was no concern of his, that it was purely an internal matter for yaks.
	Sorry, sir.
	I hope you understand that the Dwarrowfolk are not defined by Mountberg.

—Kab, I assure you, it is your village's hospitality I shall remember.

—Thank you.
	Jod is making our chart for the Path, so we should look to leave soon.
	I've let Vaughan know as well.