The Union 237 Choice Of The Many

The death of Magistrate Bouvin spread not just in Haubern but also in all of Inkit. For several days before the plebiscite, it filled the gossips everywhere. This was the first time a Magistrate was killed in decades.

It of course brought a melancholic tone in Haubern. Although some still blamed the Union for the death of the Magistrate, most admit that it was the Magistrate's own fault- and choice. Nevertheless, Magistrate Bouvin was buried with honors he deserved. In his place as Magistrate stood his son, a man not even thirty.

Three days after the fall of the Magistrate, the time for the plebiscite finally came. Even though an army of Castonians sprawled, the voting was held outside the walls and beyond the creaky moat of Haubern.

Thousands gathered in a sea of voters. Each of them carried doc.u.ments validating that they are of age to vote. Avery held her doc.u.ment, a parchment the size of her palm. Most of the Inkish were not literate and just ignored what was written on the doc.u.ments. But Avery did not belong to the majority.

'This doc.u.ment certifies that Avery Bechive, born the fifteenth day of midsummer year One hundred ninety ninth of the Republic of Inkit, is eligible to cast a vote in both plebiscites and elections.' were the words written on her doc.u.ment.

At the bottom of the certificate was the seal of Inkit, pressed by one of the Magistrates. Having this certificate might be nothing for some. But for Avery, the certificate doesn't just give her the ability to cast her vote. It was a proof that she was an Inkish, alive and existing in her own time.

The queue was long and the voting wouldn't be over for at least two days and could last for three. Fortunately pavilions were provided for the scorch of the sun and peddlers of water were everywhere to quench the thirst of the voters. Voting was a tiring and long process. The Republic may have been failing for a long time now. But the people still believed in the power of a vote.

It wasn't until midday when she finally saw the Scale. The Scale, like what its name suggests, was a large balance scale with a simple fulcrum at the middle. The two pans were shaped like wine cups and were larger than horses. A voter would pick a stone at the foot of the scale and then ascend to the wooden platform overlooking the two pans. The voter would then cast the stone to the red pan for Nay and to the white pan for yea. At the end of the voting period, the pan kissing the ground would be considered as the people's answer. Avery was saddened when she saw that the Nay pan was the one currently on the ground.

A few dozen more people cast their votes, more than half voted for Nay. When Avery reached the boxes of stones, she was given a single stone by the three watchers. She saw that the stones were of equal sizes and also of equal weights, manufactured with precision just for this occasion. Of course discrepancies were common and cheating would occur from time to time but the watchful eyes of the watchers and also of the Magistrates themselves limited these unruly acts.

Clenching the stone in her hand, she stepped into the platform. The last three people in front of her all voted Yea. Without a second thought, Avery dropped her stone in the white pan. It felt good to voice her decision.

After stepping off the platform another group of watchers stamped some dye on her forehead. From what she saw from the others, the stamp was of green dye and the design was that of the flag of Inkit. The dye would vanish in a few days but it would remain for now, preventing her from voting again.

Avery wore a smile. The Nay vote still reigned but she had contributed to the Yea. Whichever side would win, she hoped that the people's choice would be followed.

*********

Hooth and his gang decided to vote on the second day. Many sneered at them for voting. For some, Hooth and the underworld gangs don't have the right to voice their opinion. Criminals shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Hooth doesn't care what many think. He and his gang were still Inkish despite their... professions. A man's deeds doesn't decide a man's rights after all. He was still an Inkish and he would vote.

The queue was shorter this time. Most had voted in the first day. Nevertheless the queue still extended for leagues. The good thing though was that the Castonians haven't attacked yet. That was the biggest concern of some people. With the voting happening outside of the walls, the Castonians could just sweep in and slaughter the Inkish. But the Castonians haven't moved even though the pan of Nay still touched the ground.

Hooth doesn't care anymore. The Union was his friend. He had decided that siding with them would bring him fortune and power in Haubern. He would be their watch dog, their hound to hunt those against them.

It was afternoon when he and his people were finally given stones. Hooth had the urge to drop a rock instead but the watchers were keen. Usual cheating would be difficult. And so he decided to play fair this time- just this time though.

All his men voted for Yea. If the Union loses in the plebiscite then they would also lose. The promise of a good future as hounds of the Union wouldn't come into being if the Nay vote wins.

When it was his time to drop his stone, Hooth closed his eyes. May the Omniscient bring him fortune, he prayed. The stone was flicked in the air, dancing and rolling until it hit the others in the Yea pan.

And then it moved. Yes, for the first time since yesterday the balance scale tipped. The Nay pan slowly rose while the Yea pan sank and hit the ground.

********

"Impostor?" Chen asked the King with raised eyebrows

"Yes, that's what the Priestess of the Great Rider warned us about. An impostor wearing a crown and a mask seated high on a throne. It is chilling, I know. The Queen and I have been racking our brains but we still don't understand the prophecy"

"And you are telling me about this because you think I could help?"

"No" He smiled "I just want you to know. Whether Inkit and the Union would be allies, our paths are tied. We want you to be careful. This world is strange"

King Timothy had told him about Shadow and Bear. Chen had also witnessed their abilities. He couldn't deny it. This world harbored strange things.

Chen returned his gaze on the balance scale. The Inkish were queued long and the Nay vote still reigned. He sighed.

"Our paths are indeed tied now. Even if the Nay vote wins, Inkit would ask for peace. Although we will not be your allies, the warming of the relations between our people has begun. The other Magistrates and I will be careful with this Impostor"

The King nodded "And whatever the Inkish' decision would be, the time for us to part draws near"

Chen had a small smile. He had been with both King Timothy and Queen Lucia for months and it would surely feel different without them. Ever since he first met them in Solon during the Castonian Civil War, his respect towards them had grown. He did desperate things. He conspired and cheated and betrayed them. He was punished as a result.

But whatever happened in the past wouldn't affect the present. The Republic needs them. He once thought that power corrupts everything. For peace to last, power must be shared. That line of thinking was wrong. Power corrupts those who wants to be corrupted.

"Are you making me cry or something?" Chen grinned

"A jest" King Timothy's eyes widened "I thought you never jest"

"Aye, I do jest. But only sometimes. Seriously though, I am saddened by the inevitability of our parting"

Just after Chen finished talking, a creaking sound was heard. He looked towards the balance scale and saw the moment the Yea pot hit the ground. Chen felt ecstatic. He uttered a quick prayer to the Omniscient that it would stay that way.

And it did. It was near sundown when the last of the voters ascended the wooden platform. The King and the Queen along with the other Magistrates watched as the last person dropped her stone in the Nay pot.

Chen waited for it to tip again. He hoped it won't. And it didn't. The Yea pan remained on the ground. The plebiscite was finished. The people have spoken. Inkit would join the Union.

Chen turned to the other Magistrates. "Today, the twentieth day of the early summer month of the two hundred seventeenth year of the Republic of Inkit, the people have voted that the Republic of Inkit would become a va.s.sal of the United Kingdoms of Castonia and Vanadis. Witnessed by the five Magistrates of Inkit, this plebiscite will be put into law at the earliest possible time. Long live the Republic"

Vedur, Herberk, Devik and Bouvin's son, Vulek all said the same lines as confirmation of the result of the plebiscite. The Yea vote had won.