The conflict in the lair of the Auburn Order lasts much longer than it needs to. Marfgad expertly maneuvers the chaos and removes the best fighters of the order from the fray so that she can evaluate the fighting skills of Whadgaf. And Whadgaf is relentless in her assault. It’s true that Whadgaf spends the majority of her time reviewing financial transactions and renters’ logs, but on her breaks from her regular routine, she shadows her mother as she trains with the military elite of the planet Hafjeran, the Flight Command. The Flight Command are very disciplined in their use of weapons and in hand to hand combat and they are known for their relentless attacks. Whadgaf has no aspirations to join the Flight Command, but she likes the idea of being able to defend herself and she appreciates the vigorous exercise that she gets from the training. It comes in handy as she systematically incapacitates the members of the Auburn Order who try to subdue her.
Marfgad stands with members of the order off to the side as Whadgaf descends to the stone floor, slowly flapping her wings and gasping for breath. When she is on the ground she looks at Marfgad with an intensity that impresses the head of the order.
Marfgad’s motions for one of the better fighters of the order to engage Whadgaf. “This is Liuar, see how you fair against his speed and agility. And while you’re wasting your energy, I will try my best to educate you on the injustices your family has perpetrated.”
Whadgaf is visibly exhausted, but she makes the first move against Liuar; she flaps her wings hard and lunges at the man who is taller than her with an impressive wingspan. Liuar is too fast and takes flight well before Whadgaf reaches him, and as he hovers over her, he punches down and connects solidly with the top of Whadgaf’s head. She is stunned but not deterred and she takes flight in a split second, confounding Liuar who doesn’t want to seriously injure her but expected his blow to at least slow her down. It does not and the battle between the two wages above the stone floor of the lair.
As feathers fly and the seriously wounded are dragged away for medical attention, Marfgad speaks loudly enough to fill the lair with the history they had brought Whadgaf there to hear. “Your father, Whadged Jiris is a member of Ruling Council, made so by the passing of your oldest living relative, the woman known as Whaf Jiris. She is said to have died at the age of 589. 589. That is a remarkably long life for anyone on Hafjeran. I think we can all agree.”
Whadgaf remembers hearing about her great aunt Whaf, but she never saw the woman in person. There is a picture of the woman when she was over 200 years old that hangs in the Jiris Building and Whadgaf has always appreciated that the Jiris family had a strong matriarch for her to look up to. Her father made a point to tell Whadgaf that she too could live to be 600 years old if she was as hardworking and diligent as her great aunt. It is why Whadgaf does not complain that she is cooped up all day, looking down at the busy city that she could never really engage.
“The current representative of the Briged family to the council is said to be over 600 years old. He is 756 according to records we obtained. The Rhaldeg family representative is said be 650 years old. It is possible that these pampered members of the Hafjeran Owning Caste are able to live much longer than any other Hafjeris, but this is suspect. Especially since both Briged and Rhaldeg are currently dead and have been for more than 200 years.”
Whadgaf struggles to keep up with Luiar who flies around the lair to avoid the direct conflict that Whadgaf is eager to bring to him. When Luiar is still for too long, Whadgaf catches up to him and does her best to land a blow, but Luiar is fast enough to avoid them all. When she is winded, Whadgaf seems to sink downward like a deflated balloon and she rests on her knees on the stone floor. Her wings collapse around her like discarded fabric and she takes deep breaths that raise her shoulders.
Marfged approaches the exhausted Whadgaf, still talking at her. “The bodies of these Hafjeris are still alive, there are doctors who attest to that, but their minds have not stirred in centuries. And yet, they are still titleholders for much of the property on Hafjeran.”
“What are you talking about?” Whadgaf asks. She is exhausted and though she wants to hit Marfgad in the mouth and shut her up for good, she can’t hardly move.
“Your precious aunt and many of the title holders on Hafjeran are all but dead, kept alive by blasphemous science to illegally extend their lives and maintain the hold they have on property that would by law be auctioned to the highest bidder because most of these people do not have direct descendants. Your father kept your aunt ‘alive’ long enough to afford to buy all of the property that was owned by your aunt.”
“So what, that makes perfect sense.” Whadgaf says.
“It’s illegal. The Ruling Council has long done away with the practice of public auction that allowed for renters to dream of one day owning themselves. They have stacked the deck against every family that was not able to own when Hafjeran was founded. And your father callously discarded the body of your aunt when he got what he wanted. He doesn’t care about his family, your family. He only cares about his place on the council…”
Whadgaf’s head is down. She appears to be contemplating Marfgad’s words as the rise and fall of her shoulders abates. When she looks up at Marfgad she says,
“Let me go now before someone dies. None of this matters, everything you say is inconsequential.”
Marfgad shakes her head woefully and motions to Luiar to engage Whadgaf again. Luiar is noticeably frustrated but follows orders. He swoops in at Whadgaf who is too tired to defend herself and he knocks her onto her back. Whadgaf is finally subdued.
“This was a bad idea.” A member of the order says.
“We have to reinstate the auction, it’s the only way to topple the council.” Marfgad says. “As long as we have one of them, we have leverage. If we can change her mind, then we’ve won.”
“But she is stubborn. She was a bad choice.”
Marfgad smiles to herself. “She was the only real choice. She’s strong enough to survive what comes next.”
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