Chapter 1: the morning after the night before
The Federal Ethian Union
Castagei ranch
Northern Volshan
Winters awoke woke with a start, his chest felt like someone had just pushed a hot metal spike through it, he pulled back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed for what seemed like an eternity. He felt waves of nausea pass over him, a film of cold sweat clung to him, he felt repugnant and the thought of a hot shower had never felt more appealing. With a pained groan he rose from the bed and dragged himself into the bathroom.
The President of the senate and consul of the FEU slumped against the shower wet wall as the steaming water attempted to wash away the sins of the night. Cleansed in body though not soul, winters swigged the mouth wash and regarded his visage in the mirror. At 58 he possesed a salt and pepper beard and receding hairline of black hair that was rapidly giving way to white. His green eyes retained their characteristic twinkle, though if you looked closely a certain world weary fatigue was becoming evident.
Jean Aristide Winters had always possessed a handsome face, even as he aged his fine boned features and patrician nose lent him a striking appearance. It was a strange thing, had his nose been slightly longer or his eyes ever so minimally closer together he would have been decidedly less handsome, but the god above had been kind in that regard.
The handsome son of Courvallier had aged somewhat since his spring election all those years ago but he was still in office and had lost none of his political mastery. By all accounts his upcoming campaign for a fourth term as consul was almost guaranteed to pass, he was as popular and riding high on the success of his economic policies.
It would take a particularly grievous scandal to topple the man from Courvallier, some shocking revelation regarding his true character. An affair was an immense risk and in a year of election whilst touting oneself as the family candidate? Winters was practically asking to be impeached.
Of course that was only an issue if he got caught and winters had been riding a wave of luck for a long time already. Officially he was in Volsha to work on his speech ahead of the state visit to Prydania, that wasn’t strictly speaking untrue but it was far from the primary reason for winters being here.
`coffees brewed and I found a pack of red crowns if you are so inclined` a soft feminine voice announced breaking winters bout of introspection
Carissa Luculles was the press secretary for the winters administration, with her bright red hair and delicate face she frequently been referred to as the `red star of the union` for her part she kept the briefings neat and the press firmly in check. She was an excellent press secretary, the fact that she was also winters mistress was incidental.
`praise god for coffee and cigarettes!`winters said with a rough smile as they entered the kitchen
He hadn’t ever conceived of himself as an adulterer, he was thirty years carissas senior and had adult children to boot. And yet he had been drawn to her, first her beauty and then her intellect, he had given in to the temptation and willingly abandoned all trappings of moral integrity at the first coy glance from her.
He wondered of Albertine knew? The marriage had grown cold, perfunctory, the spark long since extinguished. The late nights, long periods apart and simple unglamorous realities of married life had all worked to inflict a slow death on his relationship with his wife. Carissa was young, vibrant and offered Winters an escape from the monotony of political and married life.
`speech should be a good one….just promise youll stay safe`Carissa said her tone suggesting she was apprehensive about something
` it’s a state visit, the biggest danger is probably indigestion from too many lobster rolls!`Winters replied brushing aside the concerns
`I know…its silly…just been getting the jitters lately, nerves probably`Carissa explained
Winters nodded giving her a gentle expression, he knew what she meant, his own sleep had been disturbed by dreams of fire for days now. He wanted to tell her that he would divorce his wife, throw away his career and start anew with her, but he forced the words down. It wasn’t the time .
`ill be fine cara, ill be back before you know it`winters said In a reassuring voice
`you better bring me back some brennivin`she said with a wicked grin
`I shall personally present you with a bottle my lady!` he said in a posh tone and a mock bow
Then he lit his cigarette and inhaled a long drag of cloves, menthol and nicotine, he exhaled a trail of fragrant smoke as he reached for the coffee and felt the fatigue slip away. He decided he would take action when he got back, no more hiding, he would tell Albertine it was over and put things right.
Winters phone buzzed on the counter top, a text flashing across the glossy black screen, the idyll of the ranch now shattered. The text was from the household management, motorcade was inbound and would soon arrive to whisk Winters off to the airport.
`You better get ready, don’t want to miss your pickup`Carissa said sadly
Winters smiled sadly and promised himself he would make things right when he got back, consequences be damned he would marry Carissa and start again. He leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her lips before turning and heading upstairs, Prydania would not wait and the sooner he left the more quickly he could get it over and done with.
The Federal Ethian Union
Castagei ranch
Northern Volshan
Winters awoke woke with a start, his chest felt like someone had just pushed a hot metal spike through it, he pulled back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed for what seemed like an eternity. He felt waves of nausea pass over him, a film of cold sweat clung to him, he felt repugnant and the thought of a hot shower had never felt more appealing. With a pained groan he rose from the bed and dragged himself into the bathroom.
The President of the senate and consul of the FEU slumped against the shower wet wall as the steaming water attempted to wash away the sins of the night. Cleansed in body though not soul, winters swigged the mouth wash and regarded his visage in the mirror. At 58 he possesed a salt and pepper beard and receding hairline of black hair that was rapidly giving way to white. His green eyes retained their characteristic twinkle, though if you looked closely a certain world weary fatigue was becoming evident.
Jean Aristide Winters had always possessed a handsome face, even as he aged his fine boned features and patrician nose lent him a striking appearance. It was a strange thing, had his nose been slightly longer or his eyes ever so minimally closer together he would have been decidedly less handsome, but the god above had been kind in that regard.
The handsome son of Courvallier had aged somewhat since his spring election all those years ago but he was still in office and had lost none of his political mastery. By all accounts his upcoming campaign for a fourth term as consul was almost guaranteed to pass, he was as popular and riding high on the success of his economic policies.
It would take a particularly grievous scandal to topple the man from Courvallier, some shocking revelation regarding his true character. An affair was an immense risk and in a year of election whilst touting oneself as the family candidate? Winters was practically asking to be impeached.
Of course that was only an issue if he got caught and winters had been riding a wave of luck for a long time already. Officially he was in Volsha to work on his speech ahead of the state visit to Prydania, that wasn’t strictly speaking untrue but it was far from the primary reason for winters being here.
`coffees brewed and I found a pack of red crowns if you are so inclined` a soft feminine voice announced breaking winters bout of introspection
Carissa Luculles was the press secretary for the winters administration, with her bright red hair and delicate face she frequently been referred to as the `red star of the union` for her part she kept the briefings neat and the press firmly in check. She was an excellent press secretary, the fact that she was also winters mistress was incidental.
`praise god for coffee and cigarettes!`winters said with a rough smile as they entered the kitchen
He hadn’t ever conceived of himself as an adulterer, he was thirty years carissas senior and had adult children to boot. And yet he had been drawn to her, first her beauty and then her intellect, he had given in to the temptation and willingly abandoned all trappings of moral integrity at the first coy glance from her.
He wondered of Albertine knew? The marriage had grown cold, perfunctory, the spark long since extinguished. The late nights, long periods apart and simple unglamorous realities of married life had all worked to inflict a slow death on his relationship with his wife. Carissa was young, vibrant and offered Winters an escape from the monotony of political and married life.
`speech should be a good one….just promise youll stay safe`Carissa said her tone suggesting she was apprehensive about something
` it’s a state visit, the biggest danger is probably indigestion from too many lobster rolls!`Winters replied brushing aside the concerns
`I know…its silly…just been getting the jitters lately, nerves probably`Carissa explained
Winters nodded giving her a gentle expression, he knew what she meant, his own sleep had been disturbed by dreams of fire for days now. He wanted to tell her that he would divorce his wife, throw away his career and start anew with her, but he forced the words down. It wasn’t the time .
`ill be fine cara, ill be back before you know it`winters said In a reassuring voice
`you better bring me back some brennivin`she said with a wicked grin
`I shall personally present you with a bottle my lady!` he said in a posh tone and a mock bow
Then he lit his cigarette and inhaled a long drag of cloves, menthol and nicotine, he exhaled a trail of fragrant smoke as he reached for the coffee and felt the fatigue slip away. He decided he would take action when he got back, no more hiding, he would tell Albertine it was over and put things right.
Winters phone buzzed on the counter top, a text flashing across the glossy black screen, the idyll of the ranch now shattered. The text was from the household management, motorcade was inbound and would soon arrive to whisk Winters off to the airport.
`You better get ready, don’t want to miss your pickup`Carissa said sadly
Winters smiled sadly and promised himself he would make things right when he got back, consequences be damned he would marry Carissa and start again. He leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her lips before turning and heading upstairs, Prydania would not wait and the sooner he left the more quickly he could get it over and done with.
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