The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1)

by James Islington

It’s Sedotia. The woman who crashed the Transvect and shot Ulciscor. The woman who was helping Melior at the naumachia. The woman from the Anguis.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA IM SORRY WHAT

I’ve heard only the half whispered rumour that my mother, father, and sister were hanged before dawn,

How the fuck did he survive

“That’s the problem with people, though, isn’t it? They always think that other people are the problem.” Quiet. Angry. “You want to remove the Princeps? The senators? You’ll just become them, sooner or later. If all you’re trying to do is change who’s in control, then you don’t really want to change anything.”

“I was known as Artemius Sel. I was a traitor to the commandment of isolation. I attempted to gain synchronism and remove the seal to Obiteum during the rebellion of the seventh era after the Rending. I have thus been lawfully condemned to servitude, guiding those who come after.”

I stumble back as stone bursts from the ground ahead. Austere black walls slam upward until they’re towering, thirty feet high at least, partially blocking the massive Hierarchy symbol from view.

So they’re teaching the students how to get through the Labyrinth for THIS purpose - that’s why the academy was moved and they added it isn’t the curriculum - the headmaster dude def wants to open the gate to Ob— but he needs someone that’s able to do it correctly so he’s training kids

“What happens if I pass the test, Artemius?” I ask quietly. “You will go through the gate to Obiteum and Luceum. But not be allowed to remain here. Synchronism is reserved for leadership alone.”

“Accord becomes too strong, so close to the gate. Remnants from Obiteum guard the way. Would you like me to demonstrate?”

The creature is trembling, so I take off my cloak and wrap it around the cub’s body, drying it as best I can.

Bro 😭😭😭

As awful as it is, this will mean I move on to Class Five. Realistically, it might have been the only way it could have happened.

lol his mom killed the kid

Then beyond, I see Callidus. Everyone else is watching in stunned horror. He’s just beaming, a fist raised high in silent, jubilant victory. Celebrating for me. Celebrating with me.

❤️❤️❤️ if he dies imma be really sad

“I mean that for the past four Academy cycles, at least a couple of Thirds and Fourths have died. Every cycle.”

“Accidents, supposedly.” He takes a breath. “And there’s more. From those same four cycles, another ten graduates from Class Three have since vanished from their pyramids. Presumed dead. They were all in positions of power, but nobody seems to have done more than give their disappearances a cursory glance.”

The fuck

Its twin in the Academy feels increasingly like a proving ground. Veridius and Religion’s attempt to find someone who can run against the nightmares in the original.

!!!!!!!!!

Which in turn, leads me to again wonder if the missing students Callidus told me about saw their end in there.

😯

His usual cheer dies away a little as he looks up and sees my expression. “Ah. It’s time?”

I’m sad

Having to feign interest in those you don’t like, or at least don’t know well enough to have an opinion on. Pretending to have their interests at heart when in reality, you’re just figuring out how to make the best use of them. It’s all so… disingenuous.

This is why I hate rapport

“They ask something small of you. A thing you would prefer not to do, but is not so terrible. You think you are working your way up, but in fact they are changing you. Moulding you into what they think you should be, one compromise at a time.”

“I was in a Sapper.”

Jesus Christ he’s just a child

“It’s on the sea.” Indol beams. “A little island called Suus. Don’t worry. You’ll love it.”

😶😬

“But I assume you’re not so arrogant as to think that you’re our only project, Diago. Or even that you’re vital. You are an option. A cog. One we haven’t even seen prove its usefulness, yet.”

Oookaaay ??? Who else are they using

Think of the network of secret tunnels via which I escaped, the ones that run for miles through the palace and nearby cliffs.

“You think an Octavus who gives his Will is somehow less responsible than the Sextus who kills with it?

Yes I do

The decision may have been made by the few, Diago, but it’s the Will of the many that killed your family.”

!!!!

“But that’s the world. You can’t punish them all. Even if you want to.”

“You hurt any of them,” I say softly, voice shaking, “and on my oath, I will burn you and the Anguis to the ground. No matter the cost.”

Fuck yeah

He’s younger than I would have thought, not much older than Relucia, and has a wicked scar splitting his face diagonally from forehead to chin.

I’m worried this is that brother that apparently committed suicide

Sometimes I feel a little offended that he doesn’t trust me. Then I remember what I’m keeping from him, and decide not to judge.

My breath comes in gasps, then sobs.

😭😭😭

Let the tears come. Softly though, in case someone’s just outside. Even my grief has to be stifled.

I don’t know if I could have finished the day sane, if not for her.

Don’t do it bitch

I can almost see Ysabel doing cartwheels along the sand, or Cari building the elaborate sandcastles that I took far too much pleasure in knocking down. Instead, a little way along, I see the place where I dragged Cari’s lifeless body to shore. Where I spent too long and not enough time trying to revive her. And then the inlet where I released her body to the sea. Watched it tumble and roll as it was taken by the rip. The last of my world borne away with her.

Bro 😭😭😭😭

Now they’re Octavii. Enough energy to work. Not enough to find the joy in it.

“You mean since the invasion? The one where they hanged our king and his family like common criminals in the square? Is that what you’re talking about, Fadrique?”

Drag him

Menendo will get in trouble for this, but he doesn’t care. He hasn’t forgotten my family. He hasn’t forgotten Suus.

Overfunded and underestimated them.”

Why the fuck are they funding the terrorists

“Which is exactly why not even the possibility of our involvement has been considered.

Waahhht

“Perhaps if Melior were still alive, the Senate would be more pliable—but with him gone, they almost see us as less important, not more.

Oh funding them so they have a reason to need resources and power to fight

Military helped the Anguis attack the naumachia.

“You are not alone here, my prince. That’s why I took you to Menendo’s tavern, the other morning. I knew he would recognise you. I wanted you to know that you still have allies here. People who aren’t afraid to stand up to the Hierarchy, given the right motivation.”

Pride and self-respect may mean we never give in, but if they are all our enemies, we will never be happy.”

“Violence is no answer to grief,” I say eventually.

“And brave. And kind. And cunning. And frugal. And generous. And disciplined. And moral. And cutthroat.” He paused for a breath. “You need to be caring, and judgmental. You need to pre-empt but never unfairly. You need to be completely honest with your people, but be mindful of what information could harm them. You need to—”

“You’re saying there’s no such thing as a good ruler.” “There isn’t.”

Ulciscor told me that Caeror’s Class Three were left by themselves in the middle of the forest, had to spend an entire week evading capture by all of Class Four and Class Five.

But more importantly, I know them. I trust them. The idea of choosing anyone else is almost unfathomable.

Don’t get them killed 😭

“Bah. Don’t be a fool. If you’re going, of course I’m coming with you.” Callidus doesn’t look at me as he screws the bedpost back on, sealing the papers in again. “Just had to make sure you appreciate the risk I’m taking for you.” He shoots me a sideways glance. Grins.

Oh he gonna die and I’m cry

“Because I want you to understand that I hate them just as much as you do.” Eidhin speaks quietly as he looks at me, daring me to protest. I don’t. “I want you to know that you are my friend. That you have my full trust.”

❤️❤️❤️

“You are my friend, Vis. But there are more important things in life. If I were to go with you, you would not be able to trust me. And so I cannot go with you.”

Don’t blame him,” he adds quietly to me.

Why do I feel that this man is good and the adopted father is evil or something like did he kill his own brother or something is that why he’s so guilty

“Then they are the victor of the Iudicium.

Oh “loyalty” it’s all about trust