Men in the blue and silver of the Imperial guards drew weapons and moved to surround the Emperor and his dead bride. Various nobles and dignitaries stepped back to give them room, the more curious craning their necks to try and see past the human wall.
Liam Donal stepped forward, signaling to a pair of officers and the Head Steward. He turned to one of the officers, a lieutenant. “Seal the kitchens. Everyone there must be questioned. This is an attack on the royal family. We must figure out who is behind it as quickly as possible.” He turned to the other officer, this one a captain. “Get to the gates and have them closed as well. Chances are, the culprit or his accomplices are long gone. But we must make every effort to try and capture the men responsible.”
The officers nodded and hurried off to carry out his commands, gathering men as they went, while the Head Steward waited for orders. Normally, the Head Steward wouldn’t respond to a military commander. He worked for the royal family. However, Liam was right. This was a special circumstance.
“First, we need to clear the Hall and get these nobles back to their homes. There’s little we can do to stop the spread of the story. We certainly can’t hold them here in the palace against their will.” The steward nodded. Liam continued. “Once they’re gone, you and I need to go through the kitchen staff. You served his Majesty, so you know who last had his plate before you. And you know who’s new to the kitchens.”
The Steward breathed a sigh of relief, noting that Commander Donal didn’t consider him a suspect in the poisoning. Otherwise, he would have had him held with the kitchen staff, rather than allowing him the opportunity to slip away as he was showing the guests out.
Liam moved to the Emperor, signaling for his men to spread further out, giving them privacy. He leaned down and spoke quietly. “Your Majesty…we must get you out of here.”
Kilthane shook his head, still staring down at the body of his wife clasped in his arms.
“Your Majesty, please. We don’t know if this is the extent of the attack, or merely a distraction. The men responsible –“
The Emperor’s head snapped up, a look of hatred in his ice blue eyes as he interrupted Liam. “The men responsible will be captured and executed. They will feel my wrath. They will suffer as no men have ever suffered before!”
Liam looked around, realizing that many of the notables who had come to celebrate the Empire’s birthday were still within earshot, despite the attempts of the soldiers and the Head Steward to escort them out. While the Emperor’s feelings could well be understood, such talk was disturbing to a people who loved their freedom and respect for the rule of law.
“Your majesty, I’ve already ordered the kitchens and gates sealed. If the people responsible are still within the palace, we have them.”
“That’s not good enough!” The Emperor’s voice was sharp, but low, tightly controlled. “Seal the city! You and I both know that the men behind this aren’t here in the palace. Even if we catch the man who poisoned my plate, he didn’t act alone!”
Liam was taken slightly aback. The Emperor was talking about declaring martial law, something that hadn’t happened in the
“At once, Your Majesty.” He turned to one of his men, pulling off a ring with a griffin rampant over a flag on its face. “Head to the West Gate. Tell the officer there to seal the city. No one goes in or out but by my order. If he has any questions, show him this. Then head to the East Gate and give the officer there the same message. Then return to me. Take a griffin to speed you.”
“Yes, Commander,” the soldier replied, taking the ring and turning toward the door. He broke into a run as soon as he felt decorum would allow. Clearly, speed was of the essence.
Liam turned and surveyed the Hall. Most of the nobles had been shepherded out by this point, but one delegation, that from Reth’methil, was still in evidence. Chancellor D’Inday stood to one side of the large doors, eyeing the Emperor.
Liam walked over to her. “Chancellor, is there something you needed?”
She eyed him carefully, a thoughtful look on her face. Liam knew that she was a shrewd politician. She had to be, to be elected by the Senate of Reth’methil to the position of Chancellor. She was also a part of the most powerful family within that Kingdom.
“Commander Donal,” her voice was low, for him only. “Clearly something terrible has happened here. This was not an attack on the Emperor or his family. This was an attack on the Empire itself. You need to make sure that the blow wasn’t more successful than it at first appears.”
Liam nodded, in understanding. Allyson D’Inday was warning him that the proper forms had to be followed. Martial law would have to be lifted as soon as possible, and he couldn’t allow the Emperor to order summary executions in a fit of pique. “I am pledged to defend the Empire, Chancellor.”
“It is well you remember that, Commander. You are pledged to the Empire, not the Emperor. And as he himself reminded us not ten minutes ago, it is the will of the people, and not a grieving husband, that is the law of this Empire.”
Liam stiffened as she reminded him of his duty. “I thank you for your words, Chancellor,” he said, his words clipped. “I am well aware of my duty, both to the Empire and the man who runs it. Now, if there’s nothing else….” He let his voice trail off.
Allyson D’Inday knew she had upset Liam. He had been a faithful servant of the Empire for over thirty years. He had served in the Griffin Cavalry the whole time, starting as a private in the Emperor’s father’s time, and had worked his way up to his current position. He was widely regarded as an excellent officer, with a refined sense of duty. But he had known the Emperor since he was a boy. That was why Allyson had felt it necessary to remind him of that duty now. He would get over whatever insult he felt.
“No, Commander. That was all I had to say. May your investigation be as swift as the griffins you command.” Liam nodded to her, and she and her party turned to leave. As she did, the Head Steward returned to the hall.
“See to His Majesty,” Liam ordered crisply. “Have the doctor fix a sleeping draught, and prepare the Empress’s body for a state burial.”
Without waiting for a response, Liam turned and headed towards the kitchens, a look of grim determination on his face.
5 comments:
Coolness.
Have you read Robert Heinlein's Glory Road? The Donal is a lord in that story -- wondered if you were doing an homage, or just a coincidence?
Must be a coincidence. While I do enjoy Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land is the only work of his I've read through.
That's okay, it was the Doral and not the Donal. My mistake.
Stranger in a Strange Land is really good, and an influence on some of the ideas in No Man an Island. You should also read Job: a Comedy of Justice, Time ENough for Love, Number of the Beast, The Cat who Walks through Walls, and to Sail beyond the SUnset.
The "World as Myth" stories.
Obligatory comment on Heinlien --
I lurved Stranger in a Strange Land, though didn't enjoy Starship Troopers quite so much. I do want to read Job, a Comedy of Justice and The Cat Who Walks Through Walls. Gah, just too much on my reading list!
Now actually regarding the story -- your writing has improved so much. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Sonja! I really appreciate the complement. That is definitely a part of why I'm writing - to improve. It's nice to know that progress is being made.
I also think it helps that I'm a huge fantasy nerd. :)
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