Chapter 5.1

  If you could describe the hall in the imperial fortress in one word, you would use the word, imposing. Like the previously mentioned fortress exteriors. Made from a deep gray wear resistant stone, the massive building with the facade was teleported here as a large square foundation and all. All to showcase the imposing nature of the empire even at a distance.

  But for even those who visited the imperial fortress on friendly business the fortress tried to be as daunting as possible. Take for example, just as as you entered, you had to walk though a reception area filled with imperial soldiers, knights, and squads. And if that wasn’t enough, there were the fortress sentry standing guard on their pedestal next to the walls. These were ten foot tall granite sculptures with mana veins. In the case of an attack, they came alive, moved, and were the first response to enemies.

  Past the reception area were two passages. The left led to the offices of the imperial magistrates and the right to imperial judges. You had to walk past these offices and through imperial officials best known for smiting people with large mana effects, all the way around, until you were opposite the reception, and only then you could enter the hall.

  The landing in front of the hall slowly turned from gray to a rice white. Although the locals may claim it to be representative of the Voss skin tones, it was actually not. The white was chosen to identify at a glance any magic or magical effects from the top of the throne and the balconies. The white floor also made the visitors turn their heads naturally look at the polished purple granite leading to the amethyst stairs. That meant from the top the emperor or his representatives could see the shine of a hidden blade coming long before it was thrown.

  And above it all stood the imperial throne. Made for a human body larger than anyone had ever seen, it was grand, tall, and gray to highlight the emperor’s facial tone. The only white on the throne were the Voss devices of an ice bear, and a snow leopard on its armrests.

  And under the throne was a smaller more private area. Warmly furnished it did away with a large tapestries and ceiling to floor runners. Instead, it welcomed everyone with leather cushioned chairs and rugs. Past which there was a room usually used for sensitive discussion with the regional nobility, dignitaries, or imperial chancellery. Right now the discussion taking place in the room wasn’t very sensitive.

  “So in conclusion, your imperial majesty. We have a beast hoard on the horizon, damned infiltrators looking to assassinate us, and a possible war with the elves.” General Lloyd summarized the developments.

  Father’s eyes flashed gold for a second. The emperor reclaimed his composure and looked at his general. In a controlled stiff voice he asked, “Lloyd, how did the elves get all the way from the fortress gates, to the hall while carrying my son?”

  The general took in a deep breath. “The initial discussion I have had with those on watch have been disappointing, your majesty. The soldiers on watch who let them in say they did it because, they have always let elf lords in. Those were their standing orders. Your majesty, the boys and girls over here and not bad. Half of them are charmed by the elves. And the other half, well you see they have seen elf magic. I can fix them. They just need to be trained better.”

  Emperor Larden, the ruler of six old kingdoms stretching over three thousand miles looked at his general for a long silent minute. He finally asked, “Who was responsible for the fortress before you arrived?”

  The general sighed audibly. “Commander Rin Gal, your majesty.”

  “Punishers.” The emperor said and on the other side of the portal three men appeared kneeling in front of his majesty. “Rip out Rin Gals tongue. Give it to his second. Tell him that it is a reminder to not give stupid orders.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” The three figures spoke and faded away.

  General Lloyd smiled. “Thank you for not taking his life, your majesty.”

  Father nodded stiffly. “Now tell me why didn’t the sentries activate when they saw my son had been incapacitated?”

  Lloyd was more relaxed now. He shrugged. “The throne is mostly discharged your majesty. I believe its been fending off attacks for a while now.”

  “Who?”

  “The damned were Ascari your majesty.” General Lloyd reported

  “Those demon loving fuckers again?” The emperor snarled.

  “Yes.”

  “First the Tyran hills. Now, the Voss mountains.” Father tapped his fingers on his armrest.

  “Your majesty. We can look at the bigger picture later. I am more worried about your heirs right now.” General Lloyd brought father back from his thoughts.

  Father glanced at us, frowned and went back to looking at the General. “Tell me about this Sylvari.”

  “Jethryl Sylvari. Fourth of his name and the youngest son of Ralathel Sylvari. I think you attended one of his exhibitions in the capital a week or so ago.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Father leaned back. “Right. Yavana took me to… Fire mages.” The emperor groaned and looked at me. He finally said, “Bring him in.”

  The general nodded and someone moved to the door. Meanwhile the general leaned in close to the portal and with a smirk whispered, “Your majesty. Brace yourself.”

  Father looked at the General and stopped. His lips slightly twitched but the rest of his body, including his posture remained straight. My sibling on the other hand lowered their heads with a smiles and snorts.

  We all heard the heels before we saw him.

  A sharp, unfamiliar click-click against stone, hesitant at first, then resigned. When the elf lord archmage Sylvari finally stepped into the room, I don’t know why but my siblings shook silently with laughter.

  The elf moved dramatically like a tragedy in slow motion.

  His long black hair had been brushed back and tied neatly, swaying against his waist as he walked. The maid’s uniform clung to him like it had been designed specifically to offend his dignity. The skirt ended scandalously high, just below his thighs, leaving his long legs far too exposed. The heels forced a sway into his stride that I wanted my Saha to have.

  The top was worse.

  It stopped just short of decent, baring his midriff, pale and smooth, rising and falling with each controlled breath he took clearly reminding himself that murdering the prince of the empire was still illegal.

  Someone, okay mostly Saha, had clearly enjoying herself. She had had done his makeup. But I couldn’t blame her. She had looked so deviously happy that I had just kept looking at her. And now, Sylvari’s dark lashes framed sharp silver eyes, softened with mascara, while a faint blush dusted his cheekbones. It gave him an infuriatingly delicate look, like a character out of a story that had come alive, and decided to glare at me.

  Sylvari gave me one last look and bowed from the waist towards father.

  “I Jethryl Sylvari, Archmagus of fire. Magus of wind greet thee Magus Supreme, Larden Starbright.”

  Father nodded gracefully. “I Larden Starbright welcome thee, Jethryl Sylvari, Archmagus of fire. Magus of wind to my domain.” He turned to me and asked, “Voss, care to explain?”

  I pointed at the elf lord and nodded. “Servant.”

  “More like a slave.” Sage snorted.

  Father gave Sage and angry look and turned his glare at me. “Voss. I have welcomed Jethryl Sylvari as a guest. Please explain his state.”

  I realized that I would have to talk and exhaled. “He does not acknowledge you, father, as his emperor. Your are order. He is not. The servants uniform is to remind him that he is a servant of the empire. If he doesn’t learn, I will kill him.”

  “You will do no such thing. Not…” Father started by looking at me and stopped. He turned to the elf lord as if he had suddenly realized something. In a casual tone asked, “Wait, is the Sylvari family rebelling against the empire? In that case...”

  Jethryl Sylvari stiffened and knelt. “No, my emperor. That is not the case. It is just a small disagreement between the new duke and I.”

  “Quarreling with your overlord? I must say, you keep surprising me.” The emperor looked at his elf lord and asked, “Shall I call this business closed?”

  “There is small matter between the Truechild and I, your majesty.” The elf persisted.

  “Jethryl, listen to me boy. You came here to play politics, you got outplayed. You decided to measure strength, you got your bottom thrashed. You came here to humiliate my children. You got humiliated, yourself. All by a boy that is two and half months old.” The emperor let that sink in to the elf’s mind and his voice lost all warmth. “So, if the words duel come out of your mouth, I will come there right this moment and rip those ears off.”

  Jethryl gulped. “No, your majesty. You misunderstand. Your son has bested me. I will offer my service or my life.”

  Ilya covered her face with a palm. Sage groaned. The General pinched the bridge of his nose. Father sighed. And I just looked around clueless. What was going on here?

  “Are you sure you want to walk this trail Sylvari?”

  “I must.”

  “Fine then. Go, get yourself sorted up. I will let you and Voss discuss the terms of your service later.”

  The elf lord left. And finally father looked at us.

  “Well, children. Its been seventeen hours since you have left home. In that time…”

  Father looked at Ilya. “You have bedded a baron.”

  Father turned to Sage. “You have got yourself captured.”

  And then it was my turn. “And you almost started a war with the elves.”

  Father looked at all three of us and asked, “Have I missed something?”

  We all lowered our heads at father’s disapproving gaze and shuffled our feet. Father let us stew for a while while he looked at us.

  Finally he said, “Fine, lets start at the beginning? Why did you decide to disobey me and start mingling with the locals?”

  I stepped ahead. “Father, there were damned. A lot of them. We needed to keep our favorites safe.”

  Father’s eyes locked on to me. “Damned? In the nobility? How many?”

  “I counted thirty seven.” I looked at my siblings and asked, “How many did you see?”

  Sage and Ilya looked at me blankly.

  “Voss.” Father said gently. “They can’t see them. Only you can, my son.”

  I looked at father and then back at my siblings. Ilya and Sage shook their heads. They couldn’t see the predators. Why? They were Truechild. Or was it because I was a reaper? If that was the case then father was right, only I could see the damned.

  Father gave me moment to collect my thoughts. “Voss, look at me my son. I need some clear answers. Will you give them to me?”

  I nodded and hesitated. “I need the mouth.”

  “Mouth?” Father asked.

  “Father. Voss adopted a punisher. He speaks for Voss.” Ilya grinned.

  “A punisher? Which punisher?” The emperor asked his general.

  “Grisslow.”

  “Do I know him?”

  “You do your majesty. He was the investigator that got orchestrated the death of that merchant boy and his family. You had him removed from the inquisitorial services. He found a home with the punishers.”

  The emperor covered his face with a palm and asked, “lloyd, what is happening out there?” When the emperor did not receive and answer he waved imperiously and ordered “Bring him in.”

  Grek rushed and quickly took a knee in front of the emperor and muttered, “You divine majesty.”

  Father sighed. “Oh I remember you now. You are one of the cultist. What are you calling yourselves now?”

  “The church of the divine immortal spear, your divine majesty.”

  Father sighed. “Now that is a mouthful.”

  “I will relay your words to the church.” Grek smiled.

  “Please don’t. If they are willing to intercede on your behalf, you have their ear. They will take your words to heart and I don’t want them in my halls again.” The emperor shook his head. “Now, tell me what is this mouth business?”

  “His highness has appointed as his unofficial translator. He often times can not find the motivation to explain himself. I have assisted him a handful of times today, and I take it he likes my service.” Grek explained.

  I nodded at father and gave a thumbs up.

  Father looked at me with a wince. “Voss, you do know he is part of the cultists, right? They believe I am god. And you my heirs are my divine children.”

  I shrugged. “He is good at talking.”

  Father exhaled. “No, son. He is not. He is an empath. He can read what you are feeling.”