Cacoethes' Works

 Chapter Twenty: Capvita Part Two After their draining dinner, where Zaw Rronov spent most of his time feigning politeness towards Luc Gallus’ irritating comments, and then ignoring the growing tensions between the other clans -- including the persistent glare of the interim clan leader Tong, Tong Ming, the younger brother of the first clan leader, and enormous failure in his duties at that, Tong Pi.  By the end of the meal, Zaw Rronov didn’t want to bother with any more formalities or social exhaustions, but once Matsha and Refti returned to their rooms, and once Zaw Rronov was inside his room, it only took half a chas before there was a bold knock at his door. Rronov waved his hand, and the doors parted to let none other than Luc Gallus inside -- the only man self-assured enough to pester him. Luc Gallus pulled the doors closed and set down his golden pitcher filled with wine, and set down two cups on the table. Zaw Rronov joined him at the sitting area rather than his bed, ...

 Chapter Nineteen: Capvita Part One Zaw Rronov couldn’t tend to his newest apprentice and personal disciple himself as the autumn, harvest, season approached. Every season, for a week, the clan leaders of the legendary dynasties met together at one of the capitals to discuss their problems, concerns, and plans for the upcoming season. Zaw Rronov was the oldest clan leader in attendance, however it was the leader of the Tong Clan that looked so old, with a long tuft of goat-like facial hair dangling from his chin. Of course, Zaw Rronov was biased, since there was no one able to deny the dislike between the Zaw Clan and the Tong Clan. They had been in conflict since they were founded.  This season’s gathering was hosted in Aurumte, specifically in Capvita, which rested in the center of the capital city Seritium. There were some benefits to meeting at Capvita, especially for Zaw Rronov, but none of them had to do with the gaudy decor or the fact he could get away from his first s...

 Chapter Eighteen: Unusual Technique With a new set of duties, Nilhin had been moved to a new set of rooms to occupy, closer to the Zaw family’s rooms. They occupied the living quarters on the main floor of their underground fortress, and took up several buildings due to the complex and large number of living siblings and ancestors. Nilhin was placed only a three minute walk from the library, which Nilhin took great advantage of, often spending his time studying in the massive towering halls and shelves. There was information on everything and anything that Nilhin could imagine ever needing, and it was all headed by a kind librarian, Zaw Kefa, a cousin of the main family.  He finished his sword lessons at po-chas, and then he went to eat dinner with the servants in the lower levels of the many layers of Neuma. When he returned to the main floor, he went to Zaw Rronov’s study for their nightly magic lessons.  The problem was that Zaw Rronov was so patient with him, and yet...

 Chapter Seventeen: Catnip Reveal THE FRONT OF NILHIN'S DOOR had been defaced, feces had been spread over the entire thing -- so it was probably Ago. Nilhin had woken earlier than most of the other torturers deign it appropriate to rise most days, but since it was a quarter chas before mao-chas, they had all risen to see him off to dine with the clan leader for the second time in a row. Nilhin was wearing less impressive clothes now, but he still kept his necklace on. He ignored the looks of anger and the looks of hatred thrown at him as he passed the other torturers on his way to the main dining hall.  When he arrived, the head table was empty save for Zaw Rronov and an old woman who sat near him, but didn’t speak to him. The disciples were bustling inside, but they were mostly shoving food in their mouths before rushing right back out the doors to their lessons. Nilhin was nearly run into on multiple occasions before he reached the head table. He bowed at them both.  “G...

 Chapter Sixteen: Dinner with His Excellency NILHIN HAD BEEN A TORTURER, working in the once-closed Zishe cell block, for a full season when he and eight of his fellow torturers were invited to the head table that night to dine with the main family of the Zaw Clan. It was a great honour, of course, but it felt rather like a death sentence to Nilhin, who prepared himself, scrubbing himself clean in the bath that was prepared for such an occasion. He got dressed in the finest clothes he had been given as a payethi, and clipped his necklace around his neck, holding his hair up off his neck. It had started to grow quite long, but he still hadn’t ventured far from Neuma, and certainly not into Kotesh, the city bustling in the uppermost layers of the mountainous dwelling of the Tbai capital.  He walked, last in line since he was the youngest payethi currently employed in such a position, and followed the others to the main dining hall. It was a grand reception room with murals depic...

 Chapter Fifteen: Good Intentions, Bad Promotions NILHIN HAD BEEN A SERVANT FOR TWO SEASONS, a little longer than six months, and he had remained out of the eye of anyone important. He had no friends, and any allies, but he was cordial and friendly with all of the fellow servants. He knew everyone’s name, servant and master, disciple and teacher, that he attended to or occupied the same space as for any length of time. His main duties mainly involved tending to the gardens in one of the lower levels, thus climbing and descending several dozen sets of stairs multiple times a day, and tending to the laundry of the Neuma dormitories, preparing their uniforms so they could attend their lessons in clean clothes.  Nilhin’s boss was an old man, a generational servant of the Zaw clan, and he had discovered Nilhin writing poetry, to add to the pages he had transcribed of his mother’s work. The man nearly dropped the bowl of brown rice he came bearing, his eyes stuck on the brush in Nil...