Inquisitor's Promise (Act Two, Chapter Sixteen)

Aeneas has to keep his promises. His father's mission will be completed. And while he's at it, he will become Galatea's lord and Inquisitor. But love and politics are an explosive combination.

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Chapter Sixteen: The Pacifica Duchy

The trip to the Pacifica Duchy took about a day. To Aeneas, having to stay within the belly of a leviathan felt rather bizarre but it got the job done.

The pacifican capital of Simona R’leh was a majestic city. Buildings of rock and limestone dominated the cityscape. Being an underwater city, the architects of the Duchy took advantage of the use of the third dimension to create a robust traffic system. Meanwhile, the various artificial lights ensured that the place was not in complete darkness given that it was deep enough that very little natural light reached the seafloor.

As Aeneas looked out to see the view of Simona R’leh, he saw submarines, merfolk swimming, and large fish going swimming about city. He also spotted a large cathedral made out of limestone; the building was one of a basilica, rather than gothic structure.

The Leviathan’s final stop was the Caius Palace, the residence of the Duke of Pacifica. The building was one of the places in Pacifica which the non-aquatic races were able to occupy, being installed with a pod system designed to house air breathers.

Being located at the southern edge of the city, the complex of the Caius Palace allowed for the Leviathan to rest after a long journey. Aeneas, Lavinia, and the others who went with them took a submarine to the palace itself.

After a brief walk, Aeneas and his group made their way to the Pacifican throne room. It was a spacious room with a large window at the back which showed the sea life of the Duchy’s capital. Awaiting the group was Grand Duke Caius of Pacifica.

“Papa!” Lavinia cried. The deep one girl rushed to her father and hugged him tightly.

“It’s good to see you too, Lavinia,” Caius answered as he warmly caressed his daughter’s head.

Standing far removed from Lavinia, Aeneas did not wish to interrupt the warm reunion. And so, he remained silent. But Duke Caius was not one to ignore family.

“And how are you doing, my boy?” Caius asked Aeneas warmly.

In all honesty, Aeneas still found the familiarity that Duke Caius addressed him to be somewhat strange. However, he was happy to see a familiar face.

“I am just fine, Lord Caius…”

“Please, call me Uncle Kai. We are both family, remember?”

And thus, pleasantries were exchanged. Aeneas and Lavinia were able to catch up with Caius. Furthermore, Caius also met with members of Aeneas’ retinue which included Omaha, Giulia, and Pep.

“You have truly assembled for yourself quite the diverse team,” Caius commented.

“Not really,” Aeneas said. “We have the same goal, defeating the Grey Globe and preserving the Holy League.”

Caius chuckled. “Of course, my boy. And I take it you are here to ask for my loyalty to the Church, is that right?”

Aeneas nodded. “Indeed.”

“Then I shall do so,” Caius said as he put his right hand forward. “I will pledge my loyalty and that of the Pacifica Duchy to your cause. I only require a single favor.”

Aeneas knew this was coming. After all, he had been facing challenges in Veneto, the Lektros Dimension, and Texarkana. There was no reason to expect differently in Pacifica.

“And what favor do you require, uncle?” the Inquisitor asked. “Any enemies you wish for me to take care of? I understand that rebellions and other conflicts have broken out throughout the Holy League since my father’s death.”

Caius shook his head. “You need not do that, my boy. In fact, you need not even leave this place.”

“Really?” Aeneas blinked; he could hardly believe his good fortune. “Then tell me, so I can grant it and be done with it. Time is of the essence.”

The duke looked at Aeneas straight in the face. “Inquisitor Aquilanus. I want you, to marry my daughter Lavinia.”

There was silence in the room. Nobody seemed to know what to say, least of all Aeneas. The Inquisitor tried his best to find the words to say to avoid offending his uncle while at the same time get out of this situation.

Seeing that Aeneas was speechless, Caius pressed his point. “If you are unable to grant me this request, then I am afraid that I will be unable to give my loyalty to you. You may return to the surface where you came from,” the Grand Duke said flatly.

“P-please uncle, be reasonable!” Aeneas pleaded. “You can’t just throw around marriage proposals like that. And besides what does Lavinia think of all this?”

Aeneas knew immediately that this was a stretch. He knew exactly how Lavinia felt, but he desperately needed Lavinia to sway her father. But to his horror, he saw Lavinia giving off an eerie smile.

“This would be so great,” the deep one girl muttered. “It would be so easy.”

“Vinia…”

“As you can see, my boy. I am doing my daughter a favor. I am well aware that you have been bewitched by that Felipina girl. I won’t accept it! I have worked with your father for too long to let it go to waste!” Caius declared.

Aeneas considered his options. He knew that his father had worked hard to ensure that he and Lavinia had paired off. But things didn’t exactly work out that way. For a brief moment, Aeneas considered breaking his promise.

He could do much worse for a wife than Lavinia. Any man would be lucky to have her. And besides, Galatea would understand.

It would be so easy.

No. Never!

Aeneas had made a promise, and he remembered Rule VIII of the Inquisitor’s Code: The Inquisitor shall never lie, and shall remain faithful to his pledged word.

Aeneas knew that there was only one answer to give to Duke Caius, and it was not going to be the answer that Lavinia would like. The Inquisitor knew that his answer would undermine his mission to unite the Holy League, but he put his trust in Providence.

And before Aeneas gave his answer, Lavinia spoke up.

“Papa! Please stop,” she said softly. “This isn’t right.”

The Grand Duke looked at his daughter in shock. “What’s the problem, my dear?”

“I don’t want this,” Lavinia said, tears flowing down from her face.

“I am handing you your beloved on a silver platter,” Duke Caius snapped. “Do not ruin your opportunity!”

“Even if he would agree to marry me,” Lavinia said as she gave Aeneas a knowing look. “It would only be done under duress.”

“Do not let your foolish pride get in the way, my dear,” Caius chastised. “You know full well that this is the simplest way!”

“But sometimes the simplest way is not the best way, papa!” Lavinia replied. “Marriage is not some commodity to be bartered. It’s a sacred and holy ceremony.”

Lavinia then turned her face towards Aeneas. Quickly, she looked away in embarrassment.

“And also,” the deep one girl added. “I want Aeneas to be happy. If he is to become my husband, I want him to do it because he wants to, not because he has to.”

Aeneas was surprised by Lavinia’s actions. For her to eschew her golden opportunity was almost inconceivable.

But the Inquisitor remained silent. For now, this was the best thing that could have happened to him and opening his mouth would only ruin it. Aeneas had thought that Lavinia would have surely gone along with her father’s plan, but he was not going to question the absolute gift that he had received.

Duke Caius shook his head. “I understand, my dear. I will thus withdraw this request. In return, I will give you my loyalty unconditionally.”

Aeneas sighed in relief. From the sounds of the people behind him, it appeared the others were also relieved that the situation had been resolved.

But the Inquisitor would not have time to catch his breath as he felt the ground shaking beneath him. Outside the throne room’s large window, there was a convergence of sea creatures; but they were no mere fish, but rather creepy monsters of the deep.

“What’s going on here?” Aeneas asked.

“He’s here,” Lavinia answered.

Aeneas’ eyes widened. There could only be one person she was referring to. “You mean?”

“Yes,” Duke Caius said. “It’s the Swarm King Nineveh.”

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