Chapter 6 - The Puppet Emperor

A/N: 1779 words for The Last Man Standing.

Despite the tense atmosphere in the room I was bored out of my mind. As a high lord it was my duty to attend the yearly council that the emperor had to hold to follow tradition and create the guise of unity in the empire, but I would've rather been in my garden, watching the knights' search. It had been almost two months since I launched the search, and I knew that it could only be a matter of days before they finally located the guardian of the phoenix, and then the phoenix itself. Normally it would have been my first priority to try to take as much power from the other six as possible, but with the legendary phoenix out there I couldn't care less. The other six high lords were not stupid or gullible, yet the patterns of their minds were so obvious after only a few hours of study that I couldn't help but wonder if they had put them up intentionally.

Lord Cressery had - like his forefathers – far too high moral standards, and because he didn't want his children to be exposed to the temptations of the world he had chosen to isolate the whole family to the hold he had far up in the northern mountains. He despised anything that broke his moral code, which was pretty much everything that other people would call normal. Years ago I had found it amusing to try to tempt him to break that moral code, but I had eventually been forced to realise that lord Cressery was about as pliable as a cold piece of glass. Luckily he didn't care much for the sinful world outside his hold, and spent the yearly council peering condescendingly over his big nose at the other high lords. He looked a little like a scrawny old magpie, dressing only in black with skin white from staying locked inside his home for far too long.

Next to lord Cressery sat lord Tarren, the other lord from the north. He was undeniably beautiful, in the fair blue-eyed way of most northerners, but sadly also completely and utterly devoted to his wife and the people. He was one of those who loved to see himself as a 'man of the people', always putting the needs of the poor and the powerless over everything else, even though those people had never given him any reason to. His status of a hero that he had managed to achieve among the people, his influence and his seemingly endless fortune outlined a person perfect for being manipulated, but - like lord Cressery – his moral standards made it impossible to manipulate him into anything that would be beneficial for me.

“Either you withdraw your forces, or I withdraw my funding. It's up to you.” Lord Tarren's voice was just as melodious as one might assume from his looks, and the sharpness of his threat was almost lost in it.

Lord Stonemace – as he named himself – looked like he might hurl his enormous body towards lord Tarren, but even someone as hot-tempered as lord Stonemace knew better than that. He had made a name for himself during the great wars, and had won the respect of several soldiers that still served by his side in his small private army. He was a force to be reckoned with, but he had no money and had as such become more of a tool to lord Tarren than an actually high lord. I suppose I could have funded the little army instead, but I didn't really need an army of my own since I was already in control of the emperor's army. “Fine,” he growled after quite some time. “We'll withdraw, but I swear those savages were preparing for war.”

I sighed quite audibly. The though of the inhabitants of Sijhth Island going off to fight anything at all seemed ridiculous, and I knew well enough that the only reason lord Stonemace had invaded them in the first place was because he was bored. There was a shortage of wars these days, and for a warmonger like lord Stonemace peace was a time where he was even more useless than normally.

“I suggest we strike them down when we can.”

As I felt the emperor's eyes on me I shook my head a little bit. I didn't really care if a useless tribe or two were destroyed, but I knew that lord Stonemace wouldn't be satisfied with anything but complete genocide, and I needed those 'savages' to pick medicinal herbs for me and the academy.

“No, lord Stonemace. My empire will make no unprovoked attacks. If the inhabitants of the island actually attacks the mainland then we will discuss it again. Next question.” I surprised me how authoritative the emperor had learned to act during these meetings, even though it was rather obvious that he always agreed with me no matter what the decision was about.

“Make it the last question. This has already dragged on for far too long,” I added, straightening my back slightly as I realized my boredom had started to show in my posture, and the emperor nodded.

“We have something rather important, your highness.” The two Mitrid'r brothers spoke at the same time, in perfect unison, as if they had practised beforehand. They had always enjoyed confusing others, especially us high lords, and their identical clothing, jewellery and similarly tied up black hair confirmed it. Their light brown eyes were as mysterious and alluring as the rest of them, the small golden drops in them telling of the ill-begotten fortune behind their names. 'Slave kings' had become their epithet, as the twins more or less ruled the east now, buying slaves cheaply from the dessert tribes or simply taking them by force. I had no doubt that they had slit more than a few throats to get to the position they now held, it even seemed like they enjoyed being thought of as murderers. Every time they came to the palace they had to be coaxed into leaving their weapons in their room, and even so I always noticed the hilt of some weapon or another sticking out of their rich clothing of black and gold. “We have heard rumours that several of your highness's knights have been deployed to the north. May we be so bold to ask why?” Their bright white, wry smirks were unsettling. They must have been consorting with lord Jaelkis, the ancient leader of the knights' order, on whose silence I had stupidly trusted. I guess we'll be only six high lords soon.

I gave silent thanks to my ability to control my facial expressions, because without it I would've surely frowned or glared at either the twins or the old man. Instead I kept my face cold and calm, answering them with a voice that sounded as untouched as my expression. “Yes. They were sent out on my orders,” I started, and the emperor nodded in agreement. “There is something very important that I need to locate. You need not worry about it.”

“Oh?” One of the brothers said with a playful expression, looking much like a cat playing with his food. The Mitrid'r lords had always been too confident. It was bound to become their downfall one day.

“So it has nothing to do with the prophecy?” the other brother continued. This wasn't good, in any way. The old fool had told them even more than expected, and they were apparently well-informed enough to know about the prophecy.

I chuckled. “I knew easterners were superficial, but believing in old legends?” I shook my head reproachfully, trusting in my acting skills. “If you must know, I was simply experimenting with a tracking spell. It is urgent to see if it functioned properly, because if it did I will soon be able to monitor any individual that might be a threat to the empire.” They knew well enough that I counted to that category. Their craving for power, and what that craving made made them do was notorious. Anyone would suspect them.

“We see.” The words were simple, but it was clear from glistening, hungry eyes that I had not yet heard the last from them.

***

The council was quickly adjourned after that, and only the emperor and I remained in the room. He must've known what I was going to say, for he was avoiding my eyes and looking rather pale.

“Lord Jaelkis is conspiring with the Mitrid'r brothers. He needs to be removed.” I had been planning to let time get rid of the dour old man, so that I could replace him with my own puppet once that puppet had been knighted, but since things had turned out the way they had I needed to get him out of the way immediately and find a temporary replacement.

“Surely it was only a slip of the tongue,” the emperor mumbled. The authority he had managed to conjure up during the council had vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Lord Jaelkis wouldn't do something like that to me, not willingly.”

I sighed inaudibly, walking up behind the emperor and putting both hands on his shoulders. “You have a kind heart, but sometimes that kindness makes you blind. I have already secured another letter written by lord Jealkis and addressed to the twins. It contains information about your daily routine and pinpoints the moments when you are the most vulnerable. He might have treated you kindly in the past, but he wants you dead now. The proof is overwhelming.” I didn't have any letter, but it would be easy enough to forge one if the emperor asked to see it – though I doubted he would.

His shoulders sunk together with his head, and I could just barely make out his voice when he spoke again. “I'll have him executed.”

I made myself smile comfortingly and stroked his cheek, bending down slightly to kiss him. “You shouldn't let something like this put you in a foul mood. People will always be out to take your power and position from you, especially since you have no children yet. Be careful with who you trust.”

“I can trust you, right?” His face was adorable, like a puppy begging its owner for attention.

Before I could answer the witch I had ordered to watch the knights for me during the council hurried in through the doors, immediately bowing down deep before the both of us. “I am so sorry for disturbing you, your highness. I need to speak to lord Rayvore.” She seemed to hesitate for a moment. “It is urgent.”

The knights had finally found them.