Chaos of Choice: Book Five - Chapter Seven

 

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Chapter Seven

“At the end of time the Goddess shall rise and with her she will bring death and destruction unto the world as she unleashes her vengeance upon The Five Gods.”

-The Prophecy of The Five, Ch 5: The Prophacy

 

Fairris felt uncomfortable as she stood in the meeting hall of the ruling Lords of Port Na’brath. The room was round with green marble floor and orange stone pillars around the outside. At the center of the room was a round mahogany table with five chairs positioned around it, also carved beautifully with dark mahogany. Directly above the table was a glass dome ceiling that looked up into the clear blue sky and let in the warm light of Inüer.

It was in the shadows of one of the pillars that Fairris was standing quietly, no longer wearing the grey top of one from the Grey Company and once again in her old leather and cloth corset singlet that she had bought in Galleraze those many years ago. She was there as a personal guard for Lord Varrintine and it was not a good idea that she be seen as a member of the Grey Company. Especially when the news was that it had been two of the Grey Company who had raided Lord Cardonian’s warehouses on the docks not too long ago.

A meeting of the ruling Lords had been called quickly after everyone one learnt of Lord Zanzier’s demise in his house fire, and it had only been that morning that Fairris had met with Lord Varrintine out the front of Lord Zanzier’s scorched mansion.

Fairris subtly yawned and rubbed her eyes, she was very tired having been awake all the previous night and fought those Black Rangers early this morning. But she had to stay awake a few hours longer. Lord Varrintine was counting on her to help if anything untoward should occur.

Fairris seriously doubted that though, after all this was only a meeting of the ruling Lords, Cardonian would have to be a fool to openly attack Lord Varrintine here. But then again Lord Cardonian was a bit of a fool.

Fairris rubbed a hand across her face again as she tried to remove the cobwebs in her mind. Most of the Lords were here already and seated, with their own personal guards lingering in the shadows. It was only Lord Cardonian who was yet to make himself present. As they waited Lord Varrintine was talking causally with Lord Barrestine and Lord Terth, but Lord Zanzier’s chair remained empty.

The Lord’s conversations were cut short as one of the doors that led into the room burst open and Lord Cardonian stormed in, a very unhappy look upon his face.

“Finally we can start,” Lord Terth sighed as Cardonian took up his seat.

“I am glad I did not keep you all waiting then,” Cardonian remarked, a subtle sarcasm in his voice. “I have come into a rather difficult situation, as I am sure you all know. Some more then others,” Cardonian turned his eye directly to Varrintine.

“You are right Lord Cardonian,” Varrintine nodded, “Troubles have found us all, and sadly Lord Zanzier is no longer with us, such a terrible accident to have happened.”

“Or malicious foul play,” Cardonian was quick to say.

“Are you going to accuse someone Lord Cardonain?” Lord Barrestine asked seriously, “Do you have knowledge that none of us posses?”

“Yes,” Cardonian said with a slight smile, “But as for the fire in Lord Zanzier’s house, I only have speculations. Which I will share, in good time.”

“I am sure it will be deft and thought provoking,” Varritine remarked with a hint of sarcasm. “But there are other important matters that we must discuss. Most pressing of which being who is to take up Lord Zanzier’s seat here. His eldest daughter is soon to be married. . .”

“To your son, Varrintine,” Cardonian interrupted with a slight hint of anger, “May The Five take us before we have to suffer two Varrintine’s at this table.”

“That was not what I was going to suggest,” Lord Varrintine replied, narrowing his eyes at Cardonian. “By the law set down by Lord Thendrid in the Third Age: ‘If a Lord dies with no male children to take on his name and house, the Lord’s eldest daughter may do so, and whom ever she marries shall marry into that house and renounce their own family name.’ I propose that Lady Alorren Zanzier sit at this table and take up her father’s chair.”

“House Zanzier is still strong as third house, despite the recent events in this city,” Lord Terth nodded, seeming to agree. “And a woman in this ruling council will make things more interesting. Alorren Zanzier is known for her beauty and elegance.”

“Shall we ignore that she has married a Varrintine?” Cardonian spoke up, “Even if she is still a Zanzier her views will undoubtedly coincide with Lord Varrintines.”

“I am not apposed to Lady Alorren taking control of her house,” Lord Barrestine said, “But it is my opinion that house Wataven should be promoted to fifth house in the Port, and Zanzier demoted to sixth, initially. House Wataven has a strong heritage, and it would only seem fitting that house Zanzier be demoted after such a heavy loss. But of course that does not stop house Zanzier from retaking its former postion, my proposal is only for the time being until Zanzier is strong once again.”

“You speak much sense Lord Barrestine,” Terth nodded, “And I agree with your assessment of the situation.”

“You are good friends with Lord Wataven, are you not Barrestine?” Cardonian asked, and Barrestine nodded, “And so I cannot condone such an idea.”

“But I do,” Varrintine cut in, “Therefore Barrestine’s proposal has the majority consent. House Wataven shall be advanced to fifth and Zanzier drop to sixth. This in turn places you as the third house Barrestine, and your house as the fourth, Terth. A good outcome.”

Fairris saw Cardonian sneer angrily, but he did not say anything.

“Perhaps Barrestine and I should move to first and second,” Lord Terth jested, “After all each of you suffered a significant lose when the Merchant Bank was robbed.”

“Cardonian more then Varrintine I hear,” Lord Barrestine nodded.

“I was fortunate, I suppose,” Varrintine shrugged, “But that brings us to the next issue: the Thieves Guild.”

“Purge the whole of The Pit,” Cardonian said angrily, “Burn it all to the ground and rebuild. That place has been a stain on this fair city for too long.”

“That would result in many innocents being killed,” Terth was quick to say.

“What innocents?” Cardonian snapped back, “They all work for, or with, the guild and are as guilty as the whoresons who stole my money. Send all the guards into The Pit and wipe them all out, the merchants and we Lords must be protected.”

“We know your thoughts have always been with the welfare of the wealthy, Cardonian,” Varrintine remarked dryly, “But I doubt we will hear from the Theives Guild for quite some time.”

“Do you know their plans than, Varrintine?” Cardonian asked sarcastically.

“Such grand heists only happen once in an Age or two,” Varrintine replied seriously, “They have enough wealth to live comfortably for a century. We will not likely hear of the Thieves Guild for quite some time.”

“So we should just ignore it?” Barrestine asked, “Leave it for our children to deal with? It may have not been my vault that was robbed, but I have grown tired of these thieves. We are obligated to do something about it, the merchants and the wealthy families are hounding us to take action.”

“I agree,” Terth nodded, “Perhaps we could move guardsmen from The Pit into The Ladder and the Land of Lords, secure our streets and make the citizens feel more comfortable.”

“I was never going to suggest that we do nothing,” Varrintine nodded, “I agree with Lord Terth’s suggestion.”

“As do I,” agreed Barrestine.

A sly smile came to Cardonian’s face, “I am glad we are in agreement then. The guards shall be moved immediately.”

“Good,” said Terth, “I think we should also give serious consideration also to the army of Gaianaus camped on our borders. They have been patient in waiting for Cardonian to repay them for aiding you with your dispute with King Lienthor.”

“Repay them with what?” Cardonian snapped, “My vault was emptied if you recall.”

“This is still an issue you need to resolve Cardonian,” Barrestine said seriously, “As Terth said Baron Ellengar has been patient, but how long will that last. We do not have the resources to wage a war with Ellengar at this time.”

“You all berate me quickly, but have neither of you wondered how the Baron has the resources to loiter on our borders?” Cardonian asked suspiciously and looked to Lord Varrintine.

“We know well what you are saying,” Terth was quick to say, “The lower Lords may well be aiding the Baron’s presence, but that does not change the fact that you are obligated to give Ellengar his due.”

“To the Abyss with Baron Ellengar,” Cardonian cursed, “He can wait until the matters within our city walls have been resolved.”

“Very well,” Varritine spoke up, “This is your decision to make Lord Cardonian.”

“It is,” Cardonian growled, “Lets move onto the next topic.”

The other Lords hesitantly agreed and the issue with Gaianaus was moved aside.

Fairris yawned again and blinked exaggeratedly several times. Although she was quite tired she found it odd that all the Lords would have agreed upon something. For the rest of the meeting the Lords continued to talk about matters within the city. Race discrimination came up several times and invoked some heated discussion, and by the early afternoon little else was decided and the meeting was brought to a close.

Lord Terth and Barrestine left quickly with their personal guard but Lord Varrintine asked for a quiet word with Cardonian before he too departed.

“I have nothing to say to you, Varrintine,” Cardonian sneered when they were left alone in the room. “I know you have been behind the attacks on my warehouses, and I know that you were involved in the robbery at the Merchants Bank somehow. I also suspect that it has been you funding Baron Ellengar to exert pressure upon me. You will not bring my house to ruin.”

“I have no such intention, I assure you,” Varrintine cut in, “And you can make me the mastermind behind all the conspiracies against you that you can think of, but we are both in a bad situation. Lord Terth was right when he joked about our financial positions, we need to act quickly if we are to remain the leading houses. I have a proposal for you, but we should not discuss it here.”

Lord Cardonian narrowed his eyes suspiciously, “I will make no allegiances with you.”

“I said nothing about being allies,” Varrintine replied just as coldly, “I have a proposal, and that is all. So, shall we say I be at your mansion this evening where we can discuss it over dinner?”

Lord Cardonian seemed lost for words, and he continued to eye Lord Varritnine suspiciously.

“I shall bring a bottle of my best wine,” Varrintine smiled disarmingly and many seconds slipped by as Cardonian continued to eye Varrintine suspiciously.

“Dinner will be just after dark, try not to be late,” Cardonian said hesitantly, and left the hall with his personal guard.

Again Fairris yawned and she followed Lord Varrintine from the hall through the grand hallways that led through the large building and out into the streets of the Land of Lords.

There Lord Varrintine asked Fairris to return to the house and get some rest while he went to take care of some other business. Fairris nodded and caught a carriage, thinking of how nice it would be to sleep once she arrived at the Varrintine manor. The carriage moved quickly through the buildings and even in her dreary state Fairris noticed that many more guards were already posted in the streets. Soon the carriage pulled up at the Varrintine mansion and Fairris happily headed straight for her bed. Without even changing out of her clothes she flopped down onto the comfortable sheets and sleep took her almost immediately.

The next thing she realised she was being awoken by a young maid who informed her that Lord Varrintine was asking for her in his study. The maid left and Fairris groggily got to her feet and stretched her back and arms above her head. Looking out her window she could see long shadows stretching across the gardens of house Varrintine, and Fairris guessed that it must be near nightfall. Rubbing her eye she walked to the bathroom and pumped some water from the brass tap into the wash bowl and splashed her face to help bring her from her tired state.

With another stretch Fairris headed out of her room and through the many decorative corridors and hallways in the mansion.

Thick rugs lined the stone floors and small plants sat on display tables throughout the house. On the sandstone walls hung many portraits of the ancestors of the Varrintine family. She stopped in front of one large painting that showed the Varrintine family tree. Fairris followed the line of sons all the way back to Lord Tharadain, who had been the first Nevārancien to come to Essinendeür at the beginning of the Second Age.

Fairris thought it strange that Lord Tharadain had come to Essinendüer in the first place, and even more strange that none others had come until now. But Fairris reasoned that it was because of the appearance of the Divenarn Band, which appeared out of the ocean after a great earthquake at the beginning of the Third Age, years after Lord Tharadain had died.

The Band was a line of millions of small razor sharp rocks that stretched from far in the north all the way south to the great glacier. The Divernarn Band prevents all from travelling between the continents over the Western Oceania. Now the only paths open are the harsh northern road that was always covered in freezing temperatures and ice, or across the vast Golden Sea which produced the most dangerous storms and could crush the strongest ships with ease. Now, only a few dared to try and reach Nevārance, and ever less succeeded.

Moving passed the large painting Fairris continued on her way to Lord Varrintine’s study where he waited for her calmly as he sipped a cup of tea and reading an old book.

“Fairris,” Lord Varrintine greeted her and placed his book upon the desk he sat behind, “Did you sleep well?”

“I guess so,” Fairris replied as she sat down, “I don’t think I moved once my head touched the pillow.”

“That is good,” Varrintine nodded and smiled, “Because I want you to come with me tonight to Lord Cardonian’s mansion, as my personal guard like earlier today.”

“Alright,” Fairris nodded, “Do you think there will be trouble?”

“We shall see,” Lord Varrintine said quietly, “I shall be leaving promptly, meet me out the front in a few minutes and I shall have a carriage take us to Cardonian estate.”

“Is that all?” Fairris asked curiously and Varrintine nodded.

Fairris rose from her chair and moved for the door, but Lord Varrintine’s call stopped her.

“Fairris,” Varrintine called to her, “Thank you. None of this would have been possible without your aid.”

A sincere smile came to Lord Varrintine’s face and she tried to reciprocate. But something seemed strange to Fairris and she left the study in slight confusion. As she moved back through the house it seemed very empty, deserted in fact, not even the staff were about. Fairris tried to dismiss the oddity of it all as she moved through the front door and into the graveled area in front of the house the carriage was already waiting for her. Fairris looked around for the stable hands that would have usually brought the horse and cart around, but no stable hand was to be seen.

Lord Varrintine came from the house then, locking the door behind him and he smiled softly as he walked over to Fairris.

“Don’t worry, everything will be alright,” Lord Varrintine said strangely.

Before Fairris could voice her thoughts the sound of many feet and chain mail came from the front gate and column of soldiers jogged up to the house with Lord Cardonian at the lead.

“Arrest that man,” Lord Cardonian commanded with a triumphant smile on his face, “And his elf servant.”

Fairris drew forth her gunblades ready for a vicious battle but Lord Varrintine moved in front of her.

“Everything will be alright Fairris,” Varrintine said seriously, “No blood need be shed. Trust me.”

Fairris did trust Lord Varrintine, but neither did she enjoy the thought of being arrested and imprisoned. Slowly Fairris returned her blades to their sheaths and held her hands out for the guards to bind in iron manacles.

“What is the meaning of this Cardonian?” Lord Varrintine demanded as his hands were also bound.

“You are being arrested for the robbery of the Merchant Bank, conspiring with criminals, and betraying your country,” Cardonian said with a devious smile, “I have a witness that states that you were the mastermind behind the heist, and your elf here oversaw the whole thing. What have you to say for yourself?”

Lord Varrintine smirked and shook his head, “Well done Cardonian, you win.”

“Take them away,” Lord Cardonian commanded and Fairris was roughly pulled along the drive and shoved into a barred carriage where the door was locked behind her. Lord Varrintine was put into a separate carriage and they were both soon rattling along the roads.

As Fairris sat in the paddy wagon she could not understand what was going on. How had Cardonian found a witness to the heist of the Merchants Bank? And how had any that might have seen something connected it to Lord Varrintine orchestrating it? Maybe someone had seen her during the robbery and later saw her with Lord Varrintine? Either that or one of the thieves that she had executed the theft with had betrayed them. But Grenorl was a good friend of Vythe’s and trusted each one of the other thieves.

Fairris continued to rack her brain as she tried to work out what had gone wrong, but even when the carriage arrived at the courthouse and prison cells she could not see their error.

When the wagon stopped she was pulled out and shown the way into the prisons. Lord Varrintine’s wagon had also stopped at the courthouse, but he was not being taken to the grimly cells underground and was led away from Fairris. She on the other hand would have to suffer the dirty cells.

Fairris was pushed down many flights of stairs and into a sort of administrative room where she was stripped of her gunblades and other personal affects. Fairris held back her anger as the guard frisked her very thoroughly for any hidden weapons. Her name was then recorded in a large book as was the reason for her imprisonment and shoved down another flight of stairs and into the small cell blocks below the city.

“She’ll be executed with Lord Varrintine tomorrow morning,” the administrative guard said, “Take her straight to the holding cells. And no messing around with her either, we got other things to do.”

The guards leading Fairris grumbled furiously at that, but they followed their orders and soon Fairris was placed in one of three small cells in a room that led out a door onto the executioners stand.

Her shackles were taken off her wrists and the cell door was locked behind her. With a heavy sigh Fairris took a seat on the small wooden bench in her cell and wondered how much she truly did trust Lord Varrintine.

Fairris got no sleep that night and she continued to wonder where Lord Varrintine’s plotting had gone wrong. Still she could not work it out and her mind began to drift and she wondered if this was the cell Lieut had been imprisoned in before his supposed execution after being blamed for killing the Grand Magi those two years ago. Unlike Lieut though, Fairris doubted that the Regional Commander would show up and take her away and place someone else in her positon.

Fairris thoughts stayed on Lieut for the rest of the night, although in her searching for him she never came across word of him Fairris believed that he was alive somewhere in the world.

“Maybe Lieut will show up and save me from the headsman's axe?” Fairris mused, but she did not believe it for a moment.

Her only hope lay with Jar’nesh and Ty’far, for if anyone was going to rescue her from this prison it would be those two. But like her, they too trusted Lord Varrintine, and it was that trust that Fairris knew would save her.

As dawn came she was still sitting in the prison cell hoping someone was going to burst in and pull the cell door open for her to walk free. Soon the noise from a gathered crowed sounded from outside and a guardsman came and took from her cell and out the door to the executioner’s stage.

The light from Inüer shone bright in her face and the jeers from the crowd were deafening. There on the stage before her, overlooking the sea of people stood Lord Varrintine proudly, a slight smile on his face. Fairris took some comfort in that smile and she stood beside the Lord.

Also on the stage was the hooded executioner with a large axe in his hand, a few full mailed and helmed guards, and Lord Cardonian with a victorious smile on his face.

“What happened to the trial?” Fairris asked Lord Varrintine.

“This is the trial,” Varrintine replied simply, “Don’t worry Fairris, everything will be alright.”

“You keep saying that, yet here we are, about to be executed,” Fairris smirked and shook her head.

Fairris looked out into the crowd that had amassed at this early hour, and she saw a lot of confused expressions as they wondered why a ruling Lord of the city was about to be executed.

Lord Cardonian hushed the crowd then and began to clear up their confusion, or deepen it.

“Good citizens,” Cardonian spoke loudly, “No doubt you are all wondering why there is to be an execution at this early hour, and why it will be Lord Varrintine dying.”

Many murmurs flowed through the crowd and Cardonian silenced them.

“He a traitor to the people,” Cardonian screamed, “He was the mastermind who burned the warehouses on the docks so that I would move most of my money into the Merchant Bank. He then hired the Thieves Guild to steal from it, and made sure that they stole from his own vault as well so that it looked as if he was also a victim. I know what you are all thinking, you remember that it was Varrintine’s warehouse that burned first and where he lost a son to the flames. But that is who he is my people. He is the kind of man who would kill his own son so that he may try and strike me down. He is the kind of man who persuaded our good Lord Zanzier to marry his beautiful daughter to a Varrintine son, and turn around and burn Lord Zanzier and his wife in their beds. All to strengthen his choke hold on this city.”

Many of the crowd yelled for Lord Varrintine’s death, but many others continued to look around in confusion.

“But good people, your wise Lord Cardonian has discovered his evil ways,” Cardonian continued, “And I have a witness to prove it. Come forth good man.”

A hooded man came from the side of the stage and walked over to Lord Cardonian.

“Please forgive the man for not showing his face but he fears Lord Varrintine terribly,” Cardonian said, “But I can tell you that he was one of the thieves who stole from the Merchant Bank and is looking to repent for his past transgressions.”

Fairris looked in disbelief towards the hooded man, not for one second did she believe that one of Grenorl’s chosen men would have betrayed them, let alone know it had been Lord Varrintine to arrange the theft. Fairris mind suddenly flashed back to Garren, the quiet thief with the mismatched eyes. If anyone had betrayed them it had to have been him. When Fairris first met Garren she had thought him mistrustful.

“What is your occupation good man?” Cardonian asked the hood figure loudly.

“Former thief, m’Lord,” the man replied, projecting his voice so that the crowd could hear.

“And what is it you wish to tell us all?” asked Cardonian.

The hooded man looked over to Fairris and Lord Varrintine sheepishly and cleared his throat. Fairris’s eyes went wide in disbelief as she realised that the man was in fact Grenorl, and not Garren.

“I have this thing here,” Grenorl said loudly to the crowd, “It’s a viewing sphere and will show you all the truth of your Lord.”

Dramatically Grenorl took small glass sphere from his pocket and tossed it high into air. Above crowd the sphere stopped and stayed suspended in the air, a feint light grew within it and Fog began to float in the air around it. Within the Fog images began to form vividly and the sound was heard clearly about square.

“Cardonian, is that you? What in the Abyss do you want?”

It was the voice of the recently deceased Lord Zanzier as he lay in his bed beside his wife. Fairris looked in surprise at the vivid image of Zanzier’s dimly lit bedroom and Lord Cardonian leering over the top of him.

“By The Five how did you get in here? What hour is it?” Lord Zanzier stammered trying to gather his composure.

“You are a traitor Zanzier,” Lord Cardonian said quietly.

“What are talking about?” Zanzier demanded, “You cannot possibly be on about Alorren’s marriage to the Varrintine’s son. Lord Varrintine paid a decent dowry, and I am sure even you can see the benefit of the marriage. Now get out of my house before I have you thrown out. How dare you come around at this hour, uninvited, and accusing me of treachery. Leave now.”

But Lord Cardonian did not move and he drew forth a slender dagger.

“You betrayed me Zanzier,” Lord Cardonian said again, “And you know what happens to people who cross me. You’re a vile worm Zanzier, a leech latching on to the most wealthy and powerful to suck them dry. But you have made mistake thinking Varrintine can usurp me. It’s the last mistake you will make, traitor.”

“Wait, Cardonian,” Zanzier tried to beg, but his words were cut short as Cardonian drove his dagger deep into Zanzier’s chest.

Yanking the dagger free Cardonian turned his attention to Lady Zanzier who was looking as if she were amid a nightmare. With a whimper Lady Zanzier jumped from her bed and tried to run for the door, but Cardonian grabbed her before she could reach it and pulled her backwards onto his bloody dagger. A slight gasp escaped Lady Zanzier’s lips and she fell limp in Cardonian’s arms. With great effort Lord Cardonian dragged Lady Zanzier back to the bed where he dumped her next to her dead husband. Then after wiping his dagger on the bed sheets Cardonian left the dark room.

A few seconds passed and fire engulfed the room, turning the Fog images black. The Fog around the flatoing sphere then vanished and the sphere fell back towards Grenorl. But the leader of the Thieves Guild was no longer there and the glass sphere shattered on the stone.

The sound of breaking glass echoed around the square and over the stunned crowd whose faces were marked with stunned and appalled expressions.

The long silence was unbearable to Fairris as she stood there beside Lord Varrintine and wondered if she truly had just seen what she had. Lord Cardonian turned a horrified expression towards Lord Varrintine, his mouth hanging open, and Varrintine returned the look with a sly smile.

Lord Cardonian’s expression then slowly turned to one of outrage and like the rumble of distant thunder the crowd once again found their voice. This time though they were shouting for the death of Lord Cardonian. With manic eyes Lord Cardonian looked about the crowd and Fairris could see that Lord Cardonian’s life was crashing down around him.

Suddenly Lord Cardonian drew a slander dagger and raced towards Lord Varintine. But he did not get close and the guards grabbed him, roughly taking the dagger from his hands and forcing him towards the chopping block. The crowd were screaming for blood and justice, and with no one to guide them the guards listened to the crowd. Lord Cardonian screamed out in denial as the guardsmen shoved him onto the chopping block. Not knowing what to do either the executioner followed the will of the crowd and raised his axe high above his head. The crowd cheered and the heavy axe fell quickly, cleanly severing Cardonian’s head from his body.

Lord Varrintine nodded grimly and in satisfaction before turning to Fairris and giving her a wink.

“I told you there was nothing to worry about,” Lord Varrintine smiled and Fairris shook her head in disbelief.

The guards then came and released both Varrintine and Fairris from their shackles.

“Ty’far, Jar’nesh?” Fairris said in surprise as the two guards took off their helmets and visors and smiled at her. “You knew about this?”

Both her companions nodded sheepishly and smiled.

“I am sorry for my deception Fairris,” Lord Varrintine said sincerely, “But you were necessary for the ruse.”

Fairris let out a slight laugh and shook her head and Lord Varritine turned his attention to the cheering crowd. The Lord raised his hand to silence them so that he may explain what had happened, but he never got the chance.

Suddenly a great gust of wind rushed in from the west and knocked everyone from their feet, blowing tiles from the rooftops and ripping flags from their poles. Then came the sound of thunder rolling across the blue sky and cracking deafingly loud above their head. The thunder was followed the sound of ripping fabric and shattering glass, and as they got to their feet everyone looked in disbelief and horror to the sky. From the southeast a great chasm appeared across the sky. Its depths were of utter darkness and from its gaping maw spewed forth beasts and other foul creatures.

People sceamed and chaos engulfed the crowd.

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