Groen had already gone back to his tablet.
“What were we talking about?” Woodwick wondered aloud.
“I’ve no idea,” Groen mumbled, not bothering to look up.
Woodwick stroked his whiskers, admiring the sunlight reflecting off the water.
“This could all end someday,” he mused.
“No idea...”
From his study in the palace, Emperor Augustus took the long walk to the Great Hall. He remembered when he and Kalidas had traveled the same path to Prince Richard’s birthday celebration. When Augustus had learned Kalidas was dead, he couldn’t believe it. The Dahl were so long-lived, the emperor assumed his counselor would outlive him. Mortality was always there, in the background, waiting to make itself known. Even an emperor who decided the fate of so many sometimes forgot that those around him were no more immune to death than those who died by his orders.
Augustus opened the doors to the landing overlooking the Great Hall. Leaning against the marble railing, Prince Richard was already waiting.
“I just came from the senate,” the prince said. “A majority has called for your abdication.”
“Non-binding, of course,” the emperor replied with a wry smile.
“Of course,” his son said. “But still, a remarkable show of disloyalty.”
“They’re more concerned about getting re-elected than showing fidelity to me,” the emperor said.
“They should all hang for treason.”
“They know which way the wind is blowing.”
“Honestly, father,” Richard said. “I don’t see how you can remain calm during all this.”
“Do I seem calm to you?”
“More than me. I think my hair’s falling out...”
The emperor rubbed his bald head, careful not to dislodge the crown.
“I don’t have that problem, my boy,” he quipped.
“What are we going to do?” Richard asked.
“Do? Who says we have to do anything?” the emperor replied.
“Are you joking?”
“When I was a boy, Kalidas told me about an old Dahlvish proverb: A candle burns brightest when left alone.”
Richard crossed his arms and sighed.
“I don’t know what that means.”
The emperor laughed.
“In other words,” he explained, “if a wheel’s in motion, it’s best to get out of the way.”
Below the landing, on the main floor of the Great Hall, a pair of doors swung open and Lord Tagus III, accompanied by Lieutenant Burke, stormed in. Seeing the emperor and his son, Tagus marched up the stairs as if advancing on an enemy position.
“To what do we owe the pleasure, Lord Tagus?” the emperor said dryly.
“No need for niceties,” Tagus replied, reaching the landing. “You know why I’m here.”
Prince Richard took a step forward.
“Show some respect, Rupert,” he said.
“The writing’s on the wall,” Tagus replied. “The only question is whether the emperor will abdicate gracefully or suffer the consequences.”
“How dare you!” the prince shouted.
“Alright, Richard,” Augustus said while putting a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Stay calm.”
“What consequences is he talking about?” the prince asked.
“Good question!” the emperor replied, raising an eyebrow.
“The senate made its position loud and clear,” Tagus said, giving Augustus an angry stare. “You no longer have their confidence.”
The emperor chuckled.
“I don’t give a damn about the senate,” he grinned. “They have no power over me. In fact, I can disband them at my leisure.”
“Only if you want rioting in the streets...” Tagus said.
“Don’t be silly,” Augustus replied. “Do you really think the public gives a damn about those senators? We could line up every last one of those corrupt, self-indulgent fools and the public would cheer as we mowed them down. Everyone knows politicians are just out to line their own pockets. They’re no different than the nobles, but without the pedigree.”
“I think you underestimate the masses.”
“The masses?” Augustus asked. “Since when do you care what the commoners think? If you had your way, millions of them would be sent against the Magna. They’re just cannon fodder to a man like you!
Tagus’ forehead was turning crimson. The emperor imagined puffs of steam coming out of his ears.
“Your weakness in the face of the enemy is well documented,” Tagus spat.
“If by weakness you mean I’ve made peace with our enemies, then yes, guilty as charged. But if you think for a moment I wouldn’t raze every Magna planet if it meant saving the Imperium, you’re sadly mistaken. I’ve killed more Magna with my bare hands than you’ve ever met in person in your sorry excuse for a life!”
Richard coughed into his hand. “I thought you wanted to stay calm.”
“No, just you, my boy,” Augustus replied. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
Lieutenant Burke snickered, but quickly looked away, his mouth hidden behind his sleeve.
“Words are cheap,” Tagus said. “None of this matters if the fleet will no longer follow your commands.”
“That’s treason!” Richard shouted. “You should be shot!”
Regaining his composure, Tagus said triumphantly, “Considering the emperor’s own daughter is imprisoned for that very crime, I suspect the public would expect the same treatment for her...”
“My daughter’s no traitor,” the emperor said. “Her only crime was falling in love with the wrong man.”
A woman’s voice came from the doorway.
“If that’s the case,” Lady Sophia said, “I’m just as guilty...”
Lady Sophia saw Lord Tagus III the first time a few weeks after Prince Alexander had left her. She was attending a military ball with Princess Katherine, ostensibly so the young princess could meet eligible officers, mostly from well-connected families. The Empress was determined to marry off her daughter and wanted Sophia to help. To that end, the lady-in-waiting introduced Katherine to several nice, well-mannered men, none of whom interested the princess in the slightest. The situation hopeless, Katherine went home, leaving Sophia to fend for herself, something she usually did very well.
Across the dance floor, now cluttered with streamers and dropped napkins, Lord Tagus was talking to another officer, a young lieutenant with a subservient air about him. Sophia liked the commanding tone in Tagus’ voice. It demanded respect, even obedience.
Of course, Sophia knew who Tagus was, even if she had never seen him in person. She knew of the hard feelings he had toward Alexander’s family. If anything, this made him even more attractive.
Knowing she couldn’t introduce herself directly, she tripped while walking across the floor, spilling her drink on Tagus’ pristine uniform.
He wasn’t pleased.
“Look where you’re going!” Tagus barked, wiping at his dress attire.
Playing the coquette, Sophia covered her mouth as she feigned embarrassment.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she said. “Please forgive me!”
Taking the time to actually look at her, Tagus’ expression softened. He cleared his throat.
“Well, mistakes happen,” he said.
“You must allow me to pay for your cleaning services. I insist!”
“Not at all,” he replied. “I’ll just have my attaché do it.”
“That’s very kind of you,” she said with a low curtsy. “My name’s Lady Sophia.”
Tagus bowed. “Charmed, I’m sure.”
In the following weeks, Sophia spent as much time with Tagus as he would allow. She became a fixture in his life, though their relationship was largely hidden from the outside world. For some reason, he preferred it that way. Sophia wondered if he was ashamed of her family’s poor standing or perhaps her position serving as Katherine’s handmaiden. The fact tha
t the House of Tagus had been robbed, at least in Rupert’s mind, of its rightful place on the Imperial throne might have played a part.
They usually met in secret, late at night or in places where people rarely mingled. At first Sophia was put off by this sneaking around, but then she began enjoying the sense of intrigue. It was more exciting than her time with Prince Alexander, even knowing that his family didn’t approve of their relationship. In so many ways, Lord Tagus was nothing like the prince. He acted like a real man, not a boy masquerading as an adult. Captain of the Gorgon, Tagus held real power and had a thirst for more. It was this ambition that really fueled Sophia’s heart. Before she realized it, she was in love.
She had started out wanting to use him, but in the end, he had been using her all along.
In the doorway to the landing, Lady Sophia rested her hands on her hips. Prince Alexander and Lefty Lucy stood to her right and left, respectively.
Lord Tagus stammered.
“Sophia?” he said.
“What’s the matter, darling?” she replied. “Surprised to see me alive?”
Tagus turned to the emperor.
“This woman is implicated in the pirate attacks,” he said. “She should be arrested at once!”
“It’s too late,” Sophia said. “I told Alexander everything.”
“Rubbish! Who would believe a harlot like you?”
Her fingers like claws, Sophia made a lunge toward Tagus, but Prince Alexander put his arm around her waist.
“Whoa!” the prince said. “Take it easy...”
“I’ve had enough of this!” Tagus said.
“Stay where you are, Rupert,” Alexander said, releasing Sophia. “There are guards posted outside to prevent you from leaving.”
“I demand to know what’s going on!” Prince Richard shouted.
“Rupert made a deal with that Magna, Maal-Bok, to raid Imperial shipping. He’s been feeding Bok the freighter routes which Bok then gave to Durant Blixx.”
“How does Lady Sophia know all this?” Richard asked.
Sophia smiled.
“Because Rupert asked me to help kidnap Princess Katherine,” she said. “He believed it would finally turn the tide against the emperor.”
“How could you betray Katherine?” Richard asked.
“Oh, please,” Sophia scoffed. “Once she was married, where would I be? Rupert promised me a place by his side. I’d never have to worry about my future again...”
“Stupid woman,” Tagus said. “You’re nothing to me.”
“Maybe I was foolish,” she said, “but only because I believed in you. I should’ve known not to trust a man like you.”
With a scornful sneer, Tagus addressed the emperor.
“You can’t possibly believe any of this drivel,” he said.
The emperor, tenting his fingers together, grinned broadly.
“Yes, Lord Tagus,” he said. “I certainly do!”
“You’d believe her word over mine?”
“As it happens,” Augustus went on, “I don’t need to. I’ve known about your involvement since the beginning!”
“What?” Tagus said.
“I’m the emperor, you stupid little boy! Do you really think I didn’t know you orchestrated this whole affair?”
“Then why would you allow it to continue?” Tagus asked, bewildered.
“Because I knew if I provided you the rope, you’d hang yourself with it.”
Tagus rose as straight as he could.
“I’m the first son of the Tagus family,” he said. “No matter what proof you think you’ve got, arrest me and you’ll have a civil war on your hands!”
“Perhaps,” the emperor replied coolly, “but there’s another way...”
“And what’s that?” Tagus asked.
“Trial by combat.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I assure you I’m quite serious,” the emperor said. “Defeat my son in combat and you’ll walk out of here scot-free, you have my word.”
“I haven’t fought a duel in ages,” Richard admitted.
“I was referring to Alexander,” the emperor said.
“Me?” Alexander said.
“Yes, why him?” Richard protested. “I’m the first son...”
“Indeed,” Augustus replied, “but Alexander is the better swordsman. Besides, I’m sure Rupert would appreciate paying him back for that casino brawl.”
Rubbing his chin, Tagus nodded.
“I’ll agree on one condition,” he said.
“Name it.”
“The fight is to the death.”
The emperor considered for a moment.
“Agreed,” he replied.
“Wait, what?” Alexander asked.
The duelists, Prince Alexander and Lord Tagus, convened on the landing while the rest stood below on the main floor. Each man held a saber in his hand.
“Keep an eye on that bodyguard of his,” Tagus shouted to Lieutenant Burke. “I don’t want her interfering...”
“Uh, yes, sir!” Burke replied.
“En garde, gentlemen!” the emperor roared and the two duelists raised their swords.
“Don’t expect mercy,” Tagus warned the prince.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Alexander replied.
Alone on the landing above, Tagus and Alexander crossed swords, the clang of metal reverberating through the hall.
“There’s something I don’t understand about you, Rupert,” Alexander said, parrying a lunge by his opponent.
“Really?” Tagus replied, swiping his blade in the air.
“You have everything you could possibly need, yet you still want more.”
“Rubbish,” Tagus said, “I only want what my family deserves.”
Tagus lunged again, this time catching the prince off-guard. Alexander sidestepped, but felt the saber slice through the folds of his tunic. He could feel the air against his skin, but not the wetness of blood.
Alexander made a thrust of his own, which Tagus ably dodged.
“This isn’t about your family,” the prince said. “You want power but the more you get, the more you want.”
Tagus sneered.
“Power is everything,” he said. “Either you have it, or you become the victim of those who do...”
“I don’t care about that,” Alexander replied.
“Exactly,” Tagus replied, driving the tip of his saber into Alexander’s left shoulder.
The prince shouted in pain as Tagus unleashed a barrage of thrusts and slashes. Bleeding heavily, Alexander blocked each attack, but felt his energy draining away.
“You’ll have to do better than that!” Alexander said, breathing hard.
Tagus laughed cruelly.
“The strong rule the weak,” he said. “That’s why you’ll always be a loser.”
“Maybe,” Alexander replied, “but there’s one thing stronger than even you.”
“What’s that?”
“Gravity.”
Lowering his sword, Alexander struck Tagus in the chest with the sole of his foot, sending him flying backwards and down the stairs. Tumbling, Tagus rolled to the bottom, coming to rest in a tangled heap.
“Lord Tagus!” Burke shouted, taking a stride toward his captain.
Lucy shot a balled fist into the lieutenant’s stomach, sending him sprawling. She leaped on top of him, straddling his chest. Burke stared up at her.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Alexander descended the staircase to where Tagus was lying, his leg twisted in an unnatural direction.
“You cheated...” Tagus moaned, unable to raise his head.
“Yeah,” the prince replied. “I’m not a very good person.”
“Kill me then. It’s a fight to death.”
The prince rested the tip of his sword against Tagus’ neck.
“True,” Alexander said, “but there’s one thing people like you don’t understand...”
Tagus grimaced, waiti
ng for the death blow. “What?”
“Mercy.”
His arm in a sling, Prince Alexander met his father in the emperor’s study. Both stood by the fireplace.
“How’s the arm, my boy?” the emperor asked.
“The nanos are doing their job,” Alexander replied. “The docbot said I’ll be healed in another week.”
“Good!”
After an awkward pause, Alexander said, “Listen, I wanted to ask you about things...”
“Things? What kind of things?”
“You were behind everything that happened,” the prince said. “I wanted to know why.”
The emperor looked at the floor and nodded.
“I realize I owe you an explanation,” he said, “but I’m afraid you won’t like it much.”
“Try me.”
“A man in my position must do things for the greater good, even when that means putting others at risk. I recognized the threat that Rupert posed, so I had to act.”
“That’s fine, but why include me in all this? Why not Richard?”
“Richard’s a good man,” the emperor said, “but he’s too concerned with rules and appearances. You, on the other hand, are a wild card or, as Richard would say, a real pain in the ass.”
“It’s a gift.”
“I knew by throwing you into the equation, your chaotic nature would throw a monkey wrench into whatever Rupert was doing.”
Alexander realized something.
“When you sent me to Prill, you knew Maal-Bok was there!” he said.
“I was wondering when you’d figure that out,” his father said. “My spies told me Maal-Bok killed Lord Tycho and I already knew he was working with Rupert and the pirates.”
“How did you know that?” the prince asked incredulously.
“The Magna ambassador told me,” Augustus replied. “He had his own spy working with Bok.”
“Why the hell would Bar-Batos help you?”
“As the old saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The ambassador knew about Maal-Bok’s intention of using Rupert to wage war against the Magna. Bok wanted to destroy Magna society, so outcasts like himself could have a place. Obviously, the ambassador wasn’t very keen on that idea.
“Bok’s first mistake was trusting Rupert. When Bok was no longer useful, Tagus discarded him, along with Lady Sophia.”
Imperium Chronicles Box Set Page 27