{"id":2692,"date":"2024-07-20T16:28:26","date_gmt":"2024-07-20T23:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2692"},"modified":"2024-07-20T16:28:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-20T23:28:26","slug":"campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/20\/campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Write a story with a big twist.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat smug bastard\u2019s done it again.\u201d Penelope made a fist and the small gem in the wall went dark, taking the wall-sized image of the dwarf\u2019s press conference coverage with it. She banged her warm brown fist on the table, her blonde-tipped, brown hair falling in waves around her face as she dropped her forehead to fist, hiding her hazel eyes. \u201cHe just laid out the entire transportation plan we just finalized last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can fix this.\u201d The elf with charcoal-grey skin, bright violet eyes, and long, straight, snow-white hair pulled into a severe braid took a step toward the desk. \u201cWe should go to the press, back door, \u2018unnamed inside source\u2019, let them know our campaign has a leak, and Ironstrike is taking our policies public before we can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally, Agatha? You\u2019re my campaign manager, and I thought<\/em> you were my friend. That will make me look weak and incompetent, and whiny to boot. I may not have your experience, but I know that\u2019s not how the game is played. It\u2019s a dirty game, I get that \u2014 but you \u2014 find the leak!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, Ms. Gonzales,\u201d Agatha said with a slight bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry I snapped. Please, let\u2019s just continue to be Aggie and Pen. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do in this town without you.\u201d Penelope raised her head to give Agatha an apologetic smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agatha stepped around the desk and put an arm around Penelope\u2019s shoulders.\u201cYou\u2019ll always be little Pen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope leaned her head against Agatha\u2019s shoulder. It brought back memories of childhood, when Agatha was her teacher, substitute parent, and frequent partner in crime, sneaking in forbidden sweets for her. \u201cWhy does everything have to change?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just the way the universe works,\u201d the elf said, petting Penelope\u2019s hair. \u201cBesides, if nothing changed, you wouldn\u2019t be the first human to get this close to nomination for Premier, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have good ideas, at least. If not, Ironstrike wouldn\u2019t be rolling them out as his own.\u201d Penelope chuckled. \u201cHe\u2019s been in the game for what, five, six decades? He certainly knows how to work the media.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut,\u201d Agatha said, \u201che wouldn\u2019t know a good policy or decision if it bit him on the ass. Deva Singh, his manager, has<\/em> to be involved. Still, if he does<\/em> win the nomination, he would be a fool not to choose you for VP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope sat up and straightened her back. \u201cFind out who\u2019s been talking to the Ironstrike campaign and uncover all their communications. I don\u2019t care if it\u2019s a speech writer winking at one of his interns, anything that ties any<\/em> member of my campaign to his, dig up everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t have any legal standing to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter. Get it done. I know you have technical and magical contacts that skirt the edges of legality. Use them if you have to. We have to find the mole.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll hire a PI. That way, any possibly less-than-legal actions they take won\u2019t blow back on you. I\u2019ll make sure whoever I hire has complete access to all my communications for the last year and inform them they are to report directly to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgatha, come on. I know it isn\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I have more communication with the Ironstrike campaign than anyone else around here.\u201d She crossed her arms. \u201cIt\u2019s only fair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope nodded. \u201cFine. What\u2019s on the agenda?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinal hearing with the Parliamentary vetting board at eleven, then you\u2019re free until the fundraiser at the Met Gallery, eighteen-hundred.\u201d Agatha pursed her lips. \u201cI can\u2019t join you for the hearing, I think I\u2019ll reach out to Deva, take her to lunch, see if I can get some information from her about who\u2019s been talking. I\u2019ll record our conversation for the PI, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d Penelope stood, moved her hand in a small gesture that made the gem in the wall pulse once before a section of the wall became a mirror. \u201cI should get myself squared away before the hearing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope\u2019s phone rang and she answered as Agatha left her office. \u201cGood morning, Ms. Underhill. \u2026 Sure, Janey. \u2026 Uh-huh \u2026 right \u2026 thank you. That seriously calms my nerves. See you at eleven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Deva Singh\u2019s phone rang. The number was unlisted, but she answered with, \u201cWhat do you have for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deep voice on the other end, warped with some sort of magitech said, \u201cWord is that the Gonzales hearing is a formality, the vetting committee has already decided she\u2019s cleared. Her campaign manager floated the possibility of Vice Premier under Ironstrike, and she didn\u2019t turn it down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Deva could respond the other party disconnected the call. Her tail twitched, and her horns itched. She looked in the mirror at her deep red skin, jet-black hair, and red eyes in black sclera. She wondered how she ended up working in politics. It was far outside what she thought she\u2019d be doing when she got her PhD in Social Work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her office door opened, and a red-headed dwarf wearing a bespoke suit stepped in. \u201cWhat is it, lass? Wondering again how you ended up in Capitol City?\u201d He had lines around his brown eyes, and shots of grey at his temples. His beard was in a four-plait braid with a green ribbon run through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMorning, Hank. Something like that.\u201d She sighed. \u201cOur secret benefactor called again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the word?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVetting is a done deal, and Agatha Blackstone floated the idea of the VP to Gonzales. She didn\u2019t turn it down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe has great ideas, but not the political capital to get it done.\u201d He smoothed his beard. \u201cAs soon as she drops her candidacy, I\u2019m offering her the position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva\u2019s phone rang again, and she answered on speaker. \u201cThis is Singh, you\u2019re on speaker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, Deva, Agatha. Are you free for lunch? I want to pick your brain on something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure. Orcish at Mama Magthurg\u2019s at twelve?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpicy noodles sounds good. See you there. My treat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva disconnected. \u201cShe wants to know who the mole is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny luck on that front?\u201d the dwarf asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing yet.\u201d She turned off the mirror and turned to look down at the dwarf from her two meter-vantage. \u201cDoes using her plans to flesh out your own not feel dirty to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo \u2026 yeah \u2026 a little. But that\u2019s how the game is played.\u201d He straightened his suit that didn\u2019t need it, and said, \u201cKeep looking. If we find the mole before they do, we\u2019ll tell her. She doesn\u2019t need that sort of disloyalty in her camp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you acting on that disloyalty? What\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPolitics, lass. Pure politics.\u201d He checked the time. \u201cI\u2019m sitting in on Ms. Gonzales\u2019 vetting hearing, so I better go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva nodded. \u201cLater, Hank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Agatha and Deva sat in the back of Mama Magthurg\u2019s, enjoying their spicy noodles. Agatha looked across the booth at the demon across from her. \u201cYou know what I\u2019m going to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Deva said. \u201cWe hired a PI, but she\u2019s run into a dead-end. None of the calls are long enough to trace with tech or<\/em> magic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut they\u2019re coming straight to you?\u201d Agatha asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. And my phone is tapped in  order to trap him or her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHim or her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe voice is distorted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just got off the phone with a PI myself. We\u2019re probably going to tap everyone\u2019s<\/em> communications.\u201d Agatha frowned. \u201cI doubt it\u2019ll help, though. They\u2019re probably using a burner phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you think Ms. Gonzales has a chance at the nomination?\u201d the demon asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot really. I\u2019m just involved in her campaign because I\u2019ve watched her grow up, and I know the kind of person she is.\u201d Agatha\u2019s smile was sad. \u201cShe wants to help people, really<\/em> help them, and that doesn\u2019t translate well to political clout.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva cleared her throat. \u201cThis isn\u2019t a promise or anything of the sort, but Hank is making noises about offering her the Vice Premier role. She\u2019d be able to do a lot of good there and gain the political clout to carry her further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs if she\u2019d be young enough to run as Premier after Ironstrike serves three full terms.\u201d Agatha shook her head. \u201cShe\u2019s already fifty, and in twenty-one years she won\u2019t be taken seriously as a candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva shrugged. \u201cAnyway, I thought I\u2019d put it out there, so you aren\u2019t blindsided when Hank calls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agatha chuckled. \u201cI told her this morning that he\u2019d do well to have her as his VP choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWait, this morning?\u201d Deva leaned forward. \u201cWho else was there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust Pen and myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva looked at Agatha in shock. \u201cHer office must be bugged. The mystery caller told me about it just before you called.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShit. I\u2019ll send the PI over to scour her office now. Maybe the bug will tell us who the mole is.\u201d Agatha dropped a couple large bills on the table and left in a hurry, making a call on her phone as she went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No sooner had Agatha disappeared around the corner than Deva\u2019s phone rang. The mystery caller again. \u201cMake your move tomorrow morning. The human\u2019s going to highlight wand control at her fundraiser tonight, which will push her right out of the running.\u201d The caller hung up before Deva could say anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The fundraiser was a bust. Penelope laid out the only policy that Ironstrike hadn\u2019t stolen from her, wand control. She explained in detail how wands beyond cantrip power would be regulated in the same way guns were, in order to keep them out of the same hands that they wanted to keep guns from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was hot-button topic, and not something any<\/em> politician hoping for election should broach. She knew it could backfire, and it did. Still, she played the role well until the event ended. She sat on a table and sighed. \u201cThat could\u2019ve gone better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agatha didn\u2019t have an answer for her. She\u2019d advised against bringing it up until after election. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to tell you, Pen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do. Throw in the towel, Aggie. We\u2019re done. I don\u2019t have the backing to stay in the race.\u201d Penelope lay back on the table and laughed. \u201cNow, I can relax. I might even sleep in until six or seven tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDeva said that your office might be bugged, not that it matters much now.\u201d Agatha sat on the table next to Penelope and stroked her hair. \u201cI sent the PI to your office to find the bug. Maybe that\u2019ll tell us who the mole is \u2026 was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to,\u201d Penelope said. \u201cI already know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agatha stiffened beside her. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not stupid, Aggie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope sat up. \u201cIt was stupid idea, anyway. A human mayor of a predominantly human, orc, and halfling middle-sized city running for Premier? Never happen in a million years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut\u2014,\u201d Agatha sputtered, \u201cI\u2019m not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShh, I\u2019m the one telling the story now. It doesn\u2019t help if that human has some more liberal views on social matters than the centerline of the party. I\u2019m just happy our policies have gained the kind of traction they have with Ironstrike\u2019s campaign, however ill-gotten they may be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Penelope was silent for nearly a minute, Agatha asked, \u201cBut \u2026 who\u2019s the mole?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHmm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agatha stared at Penelope, who raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou were so convincing that you were angry Ironstrike was stealing your plans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was angry,\u201d she said, \u201cbut not because of that. I was angry that he could spin those as his plans and everyone gobbled it up, but nothing I ever<\/em> said in twenty years in office, or testifying in front of Parliament, ever<\/em> got anyone\u2019s attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t know how smart you are, Pen. That\u2019s on them.\u201d Agatha patted her on the shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope stood and stretched. \u201cMy work here is done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot so fast,\u201d Agatha said. The look on her face reminded Penelope of her childhood when Agatha was her tutor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat, ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll no doubt be hearing from Ironstrike. Deva told me that it wasn\u2019t a promise, but Hank was \u2018making noises\u2019 about you as VP pick. He doesn\u2019t make those decisions on his own. It was Deva\u2019s way of letting me know you were about to be tapped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess I could do that,\u201d Penelope said, \u201cafter I sleep in for one day at least.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what about Premier? If he does three terms, you\u2019ll be\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know how old I\u2019ll be. Aggie, let me tell you a little secret. My only<\/em> goal in running in the primaries was to get the party to focus on what matters to the constituents and get out of the political navel gazing they\u2019ve fallen into in the past three decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have the political weight to get the party talking about things like improving transportation infrastructure or expanding healthcare access. Hank does. I knew<\/em> those issues would strike a chord in the party and beyond<\/em>, and get voters fired up. I was right. And Hank has the media skills to make it count.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Write a story with a big twist. available at Reedsy \u201cThat smug bastard\u2019s done it again.\u201d Penelope made a fist and the small gem in the wall went dark, taking the wall-sized image of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[210,209,220],"class_list":["post-2692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-fiction","tag-short-story","tag-urban-fantasy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/sxT7i-campaign","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2692"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2693,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2692\/revisions\/2693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}