Chapter 19
If only the Olhavians understood how fearful the overliege vampirex is of losing their Ministry.
The leader of the richest district in Olhav is prim, proper, and utterly mysterious.
They give an air of indifference and absolute control of their ward.
Yet the charade could not be further from the truth.
The overliege is frightened. Frightened of what Aramastun Wyvox might do now he’s consolidating so much power.
With the Intelligence and Military Wards fallen into his hands, he has control of the army and the spies.
At any moment, he could snap his fingers and bring ruin to the Commerce and Faith Wards.
If Aramastun wants total control of the Five Ministries, why wouldn’t he? What’s stopping him?
The overliege has had to pick away spies of their own, trying to find the few who are trustworthy and capable enough to keep an eye on the Night Judge.
They have hired as many mercenaries with their bountiful wealth as possible, and yet the thread of terror always remains just beneath the surface of their porcelain skin.
They have succeeded, too, in keeping a close eye on Aramastun’s movements. But the pervasive fear is still there. The primary source of income and power for the overliege, the North Mines, are getting harassed by Aramastun’s vicious judgemen.
Once the overliege loses the mines, they lose any semblance of control they might still possess. It would be a travesty, and one that they can’t let happen. So they need a plan.
There are also the . . . base desires of the vampirex overliege that sway much of how they operate.
It makes plans difficult to execute at times, because they’re trapped in a room with three or four mistresses and paramours, overindulging in pleasures of the flesh in a way that would astound most people.
The overliege is not most people. They do not dwell on the wants and desires of the base insects who flock this great city—the commonbloods.
All the other vampires are just a means to an end for them. And they will conspire more schemes to get what they need: freedom from the tyranny of their “brother,” Aramastun.
If it takes an uprising, then so be it. The miners the overliege faithfully hired are already getting wary. They don’t have enough protection from Aramastun, and many of them have fled in the night. When they’re found, they will be punished summarily.
Silver lives and dies in the North Mines. It is the artery through which the overliege lives. Without it, they are powerless. So they will do whatever it takes to keep that spigot turned on, to keep the money flowing, and to keep the power on their side.
Even if it means hiring more interfolk miners—or stealing them away from their homes, as it were—and finding unscrupulous individuals to use to suit their purpose.
Everyone is a means to an end in this gilded house of cards.