“I will do as you say,” she replied as her smile grew wider. “You are the Empress, after all, so what choice do I have?”
“I look forward to reading your reports,” I told her as I left. “Which I will expect to receive regularly, Thelmé.”
We had climbed three flights of stairs before Karina finally asked the question that must have been burning inside her.
“Can I tell Ella to have the guards stand down now?”
“I’d say yes, definitely,” was my reply. “I don’t think there ever was any threat from the Queen, but I appreciate the precautions you all took.”
As soon as we reached my residence, I hurried to my rooms, desperate to leave the difficult day behind me. Bane hadn’t returned, and Tási wasn’t there either, so I changed into my sleeping outfit and crawled into bed alone. But thoughts of just how I would deal with Líann over lunch the next day plagued my mind until I finally fell into a fitful sleep.
“I heard your meeting with Líann went well,” Tási said as I opened my eyes the next morning.
“Well enough,” I replied sleepily. “I’ll know better after our lunch today.”
“Oh?” Tási responded. “You saw the need to meet with her again?”
“Relax,” I said as I sat up and stretched. “It’s not in her suite, I made her come here instead.”
“You’re bringing the woman who wants to take my place into our quarters?” Tási snapped at me.
“I’ve invited the Queen of Íforn to my chambers,” I replied angrily. “Don’t pull this shit on me, Tási. You know your place with me isn’t in jeopardy.”
“But what about what she said?” Tási persisted. “That it was her fate to be with you?”
“She may be right about that,” I confessed. “I don’t know. But she would not be unique in that. As far as I’m concerned, you share that destiny with her. The difference is, you came first, and the place she intends to claim has already been taken.”
“How many?” Tási asked. “I know I told you that I didn’t want to know, but you have to tell me now. How many are there?”
“You already know them all, Tási,” I replied. “Nentai told me there would only be a few, so I don’t expect that there will be any more to follow.”
“What?” Tási exclaimed. “When did she tell you that?”
“Right after you told me that you knew I couldn’t be faithful to you,” I replied pointedly. “And that you’d accepted it.”
“Oh,” she practically deflated at the reminder.
“It’s not what I want, Tási—it’s not what either of us wants, but you know who I am and what my calling is, you told me that yourself. You know I love you and that no one will ever take your place, just as much as I need to know that you’ll always be here for me as well.”
“Of course I will,” Tási replied.
“Then can we stop having these discussions, please?” I pleaded with her. “I feel like a piece of shit every time this comes up.”
“I’m sorry,” Tási answered me softly. “This will be the last time, I promise.”
“Thank you,” I said as I wrapped her up in my arms.
I sent my tendrils flowing into Tási as I held her in my arms, and she responded with her own rivulets of emotion in return. We basked in each other’s love and affection for a while as we reinforced our bonds in the most profound and direct way we possibly could.
I felt the depth of Tási’s love for me in the tiny streams of emotion she had been able to master, and within them, her lingering sense of doubt and worry. In return, I flooded her with my own far more powerful waves of devotion, and let the full, unrestrained force of my commitment to her wash away those doubts. I knew that despite my efforts and her promise to let the issue lie, that those doubts would only return again, so as we pulled apart, I kissed her gently and resolved that I would offer her my reassurance more frequently.
We got ready for the day ahead, and Tási hurried off to see to her duties as I attempted to have a leisurely breakfast before I tackled the stack of reports that I knew were waiting for me with the new day. I had barely sat down in the antechamber outside my bedroom where I usually took my meals when Karina gave me some unexpected news.
“Empress,” Karina informed me. “You have some more interesting guests waiting to see you this morning.”
“Don’t we have rules about unscheduled appointments?” I threw up my hands in frustration. “Or is it only you who chooses to ignore them?”
“I’m truly sorry,” she replied. “But they were sent by each of your royal guests, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear what they have to say.”
“I’d better be, or I’ll demote you to sergeant and let Rhia take your place,” I replied, only half in jest.
“I hope you do,” Rhia chimed in from her station across the room.
“If she doesn’t, you’ll be doing twenty laps around the Palace,” Karina shot back as Rhia cringed.
“She just doesn’t know when to hold her tongue,” I smiled at their exchange.
“No, she doesn’t,” Karina agreed.
When I finished eating, and the dishes were cleared away, Karina escorted my unexpected guests inside. As she had said, the four of them represented each of the Kingdoms that had joined my Empire, and I was introduced to each one in turn.
Rhone was a stocky young dwarf from Dhel-Ar, with a thick brown beard, while Sofi, his counterpart from Íforn, couldn’t have been more different. The willowy elf had hair that was nearly silver-white, and piercing, ice blue eyes. Next to be introduced to me was Talína, a halfling from Isouri who looked to be in her early thirties, with a pronounced limp and the lighter brown hair and eyes that were apparently common to her people. Finally came Alton, an older human from Lorida, who was both thin and bald, but still appeared to be quite hale.
“While I’m pleased to make your acquaintances, my loyal lieutenant refused to tell me why you’ve come to see me today,” I said as I cast a look of annoyance at Karina once our introductions were complete. “So, I would be most grateful if one of you would be kind enough to enlighten me.”
“Our sincerest apologies, Empress,” Talína replied for the group. “We were under the impression that you would be expecting our arrival.”
“During the negotiations over your Charter, our counterparts on the delegation were made aware that you had no secretary or aide to help you with the burdens of your office. A bit of a struggle commenced among the representatives of the various Kingdoms over who might have the honor of providing you with the help you needed. When the issue could not be decided, it was agreed that one from each nation would be sent to assist you.”
“Forgive me, but the position you seek is one that would allow you access to very sensitive information, Talína,” I replied as tactfully as I could. “It is not one that I am simply going to allow anyone else to fill for me.”
“I appreciate your concerns, Empress,” she replied without a hint of offense. “But we volunteered for this honor, and each of us has forsworn our allegiances prior to even coming here today. We would be willing to undergo any additional process or take any oath you might require should you feel that to be necessary.”
The thought of having someone to go through the stacks and piles of paper that accumulated on my desk for me every day was quite tempting. In time, when I learned each of their capabilities and aptitudes, I might even be able to pawn off some of my lesser duties on them, in particular, keeping my calendar, a task that my guards seemed to have a great deal of trouble with...
“You will renounce your former loyalties in my presence, and each of you will swear fealty to the Empire and to me, personally,” I declared to them. “In addition, I will ask you a series of questions, which you will answer honestly and completely, under penalty of death. I will consider any deception an indication that your presence here is an act of espionage, and I will kill you myself at the slightest hint of a falsehood.”
“If yo
u are willing to undergo this process, I will interview you one at a time each morning,” I concluded. “Starting right now with you, Talína. The rest of you may leave and decide among yourselves the order in which you will return to me.”
The other three left, and Karina raised an eyebrow at me as I approached Talína. She had heard what I had said to the halfling woman, and seemed curious about how the situation might play out.
“This is the same weapon that your former Queen used to swear her allegiance to me,” I said as I gripped Retribution and pulled it from my arm.
Talína actually startled in surprise as the limbs of the bow sprung out and the weapon took its full form before her eyes. Once it was revealed in its complete glory, I held the Artifact out to her, and she took it from me reverently as she knelt down to offer her oath.
“I forswear all my prior oaths, allegiances, and bonds, and pledge my undying loyalty to you, Empress Dreya Sintári, and to the First Sintári Empire.”
Well, shit, if that didn’t just about cover it all – I thought.
When she rose, I took Retribution back from her and motioned for Talína to take the seat across from me. As she limped over to her chair, I cast See Truth on her before sitting down myself.
“Are you here to spy on me?” I began without preamble.
“No, Empress, I am not.”
“Do you plan to cause me or my citizens any harm?”
“No, Empress, I do not.”
“Are you aware of anyone who does?”
“I am not, Empress.”
“Just answer the questions, Lína, you can leave off the formalities,” I said, guessing at the more familiar form of her name.
“Very well, Em-. Very well.” She corrected herself quickly.
“Is there anything that impedes or invalidates the oath you just took?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“What is your relevant experience for the job you seek?” I asked, switching to less dire matters since all her words had flowed in shades of blue.
“I was the secretary for our Ambassador until I volunteered for this position.”
“Why did you choose to leave the Ambassador’s service?”
“You may speak freely, Lína,” I coaxed her when she hesitated. “In fact, I encourage you to do so.”
“Truly?” She asked skeptically.
“The freer, the better,” I replied.
“He was a fucking pig who couldn’t keep his hands to himself… Empress,” Talína added almost as an afterthought.
“Is Nadiel aware of this?” I asked her pointedly. My opinion of the halfling Queen would take a definite hit if I found out that she was the sort to tolerate such abuse.
“No,” Talína replied reluctantly. “I’m certain she doesn’t know.”
“I will have to rectify that. Immediately,” I told her firmly. “When we are done here, your first duty to me will be to draft a letter detailing the Ambassador’s improprieties and deliver it to Nadiel. Leave nothing out, do you understand?”
“It will be my pleasure to do so,” she smiled.
“Then, unless there is anything else you think I should be aware of, I have a rather large stack of reports you need to get started on.”
“There is one more thing,” she hesitated again.
“Go ahead,” I prompted her.
“I used to be an adventurer until I nearly lost my leg,” she revealed to me. “I can still cast my Spells, but I can’t run or even walk very fast anymore.”
“So, you’re telling me that in addition to being my aide, you’re also an undercover member of my guard as well?”
“That would be an accurate description of how I view my duties to you, yes,” Talína replied with a smile.
“Lieutenant,” I called to Karina. “Move my desk into this room and let Talína work here until you can get my former office set up for my new aides. You’ll need to lug four desks in there, but I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding someone for the job.”
“Sergeant Rhia!” Karina summoned her with a smirk as I left the women behind.
With my workload lightened, and a couple of hours to kill, I decided to tour around the Imperial District, as Broda and Venna had so thoughtfully decided to name my Realm for me. It actually wasn’t a poor choice, and reflected the fact that we were independent and not aligned with any of the old Kingdoms, so I let the name stand. Unfortunately, my trip was derailed when a messenger met me as I was heading downstairs.
“Empress,” he greeted me formally. “A letter has arrived for you from Olóra.”
Now that was interesting.
“I will take that,” Karina said as she snatched the missive from his hands. She knew well that Olóra, and specifically King Gilfri, was behind the multiple attempts on my life and wasn’t going to take any chances on the letter being some sort of trap.
She snapped the seal and opened the parchment carefully, and only when her thorough examination found nothing suspicious did Karina hand the letter over to me.
The message was indeed from Gilfri, and was filled with rather glowing compliments, congratulating me on my accomplishments and requesting an audience with me to discuss the future of our two nations. Gilfri asked for no preconditions; only the traditional guarantees of safe conduct that were afforded diplomatic missions between the Realms.
It was quite puzzling, until I realized that Gilfri was likely unaware that we knew he was the one behind the assassination attempts. Why would he be? As far as he knew, all his hired killers had died without giving away anything when the blood clauses of their contracts were invoked. He was probably quite perplexed that I remained alive despite his best efforts, and maybe felt the need to take the measure of me in person. It was an interesting question, and one that I realized Líann might be able to help me with. After all, she was his equal, and likely had some dealings with the man as the Queen of a nearby elven nation. I would have to trust her with some delicate information, but I felt it was worth the risk if I could get some additional insight into the man’s motivations. With the letter in hand, I returned to my rooms to give the matter some more thought before Líann arrived for our lunch together.
I spent my time looking over the letter and reading it repeatedly, searching for any hidden meaning in its words, but I found nothing that gave me any clue to Gilfri’s intentions. I was still turning it over in my mind when the servers from the kitchen brought in the food for my lunch with Líann. Time had gotten away from me as I pondered, and it was nearly time for the Queen to arrive.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Líann?” I shocked her when she walked in. “I thought you understood that this was a casual meeting?”
She was dressed in an absolutely stunning gown in her trademark forest green that looked amazing on her but was far more suited for a formal engagement than the relaxed environment I wanted for our discussion that day.
“This is the least formal thing I own,” she seemed on the verge of tears as she protested.
“I’m sorry, Líann,” I soothed her. “You’ll need to get used to my bluntness. I meant nothing by it, but that outfit simply won’t do—come with me.”
I took her by the hand and dragged her across my apartments and into the large room that served as my closet. While Birt was doing his best to fill it for me as quickly as possible, it was still mostly empty, so I didn’t have to search long for what I sought.
“I’ll wait outside while you change into these,” I told her as I fished out a set of deep green trousers and matching shirt before setting a pair of simple shoes beside them.
“You want me to wear pants?” She asked in shock.
“What’s wrong with pants?” I asked as I not-so-subtly pulled back my Cloak to display the bottom half of Melía’s Armor more clearly.
“Nothing,” she whispered.
“Are you telling me that you’ve never worn pants?” I asked her incredulously.
“I haven’t,” she replied flatly.
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“Gods, Líann, you’re not going to be an easy project, are you?” I said mostly to myself as I massaged my temples.
“I’m sorry,” she lamented. “Will you help me put them on?”
“No, I will not,” I replied firmly. I wasn’t about to walk into that trap.
“I don’t know how,” she complained weakly.
“You’ll figure it out,” I said as I shut the door and waited outside for her to complete the apparently monumental task I’d set out for her.
It took her much longer than I thought it would, but Líann finally emerged from the closet wearing the outfit I’d given her. The more casual clothing actually looked good on her, and her obvious discomfort in wearing it robbed the Queen of some of her formerly haughty appearance.
“You look great, Líann,” I encouraged her. “Now let’s have some lunch, shall we?”
Líann followed me back to the meeting room that I’d reserved for our time together, and we sat down across from each other before having a few bites to eat. In deference to her difficult night, I’d made sure to have both wine and water set out for us, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised when she chose to fill her cup with the latter. I poured myself a healthy glass of the red liquid instead and began my task of turning the coddled aristocrat into a decent person.
“It’s really good, Líann,” I taunted her after I took a sip. “Are you sure you don’t want some?”
“No, thanks,” she replied in embarrassment. “I’ve had enough for a while.”
Before I pressed any further, I passed Gilfri’s letter to her and asked her what she thought of his words.
“Gilfri can be quite eloquent and charming when he wants, but he’s a rabid xenophobe,” Líann pronounced, finally comfortable in her element. “He likely only wishes to see for himself just what you’ve built here and who you really are before he decides whether or not he needs to eliminate you. Your Empire, and its Imperial District in particular, are too close to his own borders for him to ignore. He probably doesn’t know about the accords and alliances you’ve just made, so it might be interesting to see his reaction to your growing power.”
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