The Emperor, 'Tis of Thee (MT, Semi-Open; TG for Entry)

[Ghant]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Nathan

Anton bowed low once more, nearly losing his balance. "Thank You, Your Highness, Your Imperial Majesty for restoring our formerly more-than-cordial relationship and I am grateful also for your offer of your halls. You are most kind. Perhaps, Your Imperial Majesty, we could, later on perhaps go hunting or any other distraction you would indulge yourself in?"

“If a hunting excursion is your heart’s desire, then that is what we shall do,” the Emperor answered, before turning his eyes to Arietta. “Sister…is there anything else you’d like to say to the Emperor of Krjder?”

“…Not really,” she replied casually. “Thanks for the apology and the gifts…and have a nice day.” With that Arietta curtsied half-assedly and went off, her footsteps muffled against the hard stone floor.

Nathan waited until she was gone before turning back to Anton and raising his hands. “Now that we have that all taken care of…I would like to express my gratitude for your humility and repentance.” Stroking his chin then as he leaned forward on the elbow of his opposite arm, the Emperor then raised an eyebrow and said, “You may recall that the original reason why Arietta and Seraphina went to Krjder was because you had expressed an interest in closer ties between our two nations, bound by matrimony. Yet, your actions seemed to indicate otherwise when my female kinsfolk went to your country.”

The Emperor smirked underneath his knuckles, and tilted his head. “Now that’s all water under the bridge…but at the same time, I have to wonder if that interest is still there, and if so, to what degree you are willing to further pursue your…initial interest. Certainly, there are many highborn princes and princesses in the world, but I can assure you, that none match us, we Gentries of Ghish. You only need to look at this very hall, and this very throne, to know of our power, prestige, reputation and legacy.” Nathan stretched out his hands and looked at his knees, down the jagged black steps of his mighty throne.

---

Cassandra

Aoife listened to what Margaery and Cassandra had to say, quietly at first. Then she crossed to the other side of the sad girl and stood beside the window, taking a look at the courtyard that Margaery found solace in gazing upon in her solitary condition. Cassandra observed this, watching Aoife the way one of those old paintings in the hallway seemed to look at anyone passing by.

"And you'd've what, Margaery? Fought off his attackers bare-handed? Called the guard? He'd've died whatever you did, and he'd've died even if he'd never met you. They would have found him and assassinated him wherever he happened to be," Aoife appealed to Margaery, while Cassandra stood back, still as a statue and watched.

Then Aoife turned to look at Margaery, and Cassandra noticed her glance her way. Cassandra offered no visible reaction to this, merely standing still and tapping the back of her hand against the wooden table covered with crocheting materials. She is so sure of herself, Cassandra thought of Aoife. So brazen…so confident. I can see why Nathan likes her…she has a warrior’s heart, and is so very fond of justice.

"Hiding won't help you heal,” Aoife went on. “Mewed up in these chambers all you'll do is fixate on that one single evening until it eclipses everything else in your life, past or present. I can tell you now that Uhtred's greatest regret would be to find out that his death had ruined your life too. The only people responsible for Uhtred's death are the pond scum who ran him through, and the cravens who ordered it done. They are the ones whose souls are forfeit, not you, Margaery."

Margaery didn’t respond to Aoife’s first plea, but she did to the second, after some careful thought. “…I suppose you are right,” Margaery muttered as she straightened out her gown. “He wouldn’t want this…and other people that I care about wouldn’t want this either. If you will excuse me, I think I am going to go to the gardens and feed the ducks. Then I’m going to make arrangements to return to Ibaiaga.” With that, Margaery curtsied and walked on light feet out of the room.

Cassandra watched her leave, and then turned back to Aoife, her face blank, but her brown eyes dark and seething, whether she wanted them to or not. “You certainly have a way with words, Aoife Brighteye. It is no wonder that your friends and countrymen love you, and your enemies hate you. With just a few well place words, you could sway an emotionally distraught young woman to uplift herself from her misery. Indeed, this one is very dangerous…and very useful…

[Krjder]

Imperiala Palace, Ghish, Ghant
As Arietta departed, Anton was reminded precisely why he lost interest in Arietta. The whole carefree, almost a complete lack thereof for any matter would not bode well in the Imperial Court and other aristocratic circles that essentially ruled the empire.
"Thank you, Your Higness." He said, bowing as she left the chamber. He turned to Nathan, and listened, before keeping his silence a moment.
"I myself am currently engaged to a Torrumbarian Princess, but I see no reason as to why you shouldn't marry into another Krïdan House. Your power and prestige are indeed great and I would be a fool to ignore this. My sister, Princess Isabella of Kungstädt is approaching 18 and I think the time is right to marry her. I am sure there are plenty of young, handsome boys for her..." Anton speculated, smiling at Nathan.

[Brytene]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Aoife

Margaery had responded surprisingly well to Aoife's entreaties, but not with quite the fire Aoife had hoped for. She had wondered whether it would be possible to convert Margaery's despair into anger, to turn her into a weapon at court, but that ambition was evidently implausible as the girl quietly left the room and prepared to quit the capital. Simply saving a young girl from spiralling was victory enough for anyone with a heart, though.

Princess Cassandra turned to Aoife with undisguised emotion in her eyes. "You certainly have a way with words, Aoife Brighteye. It is no wonder that your friends and countrymen love you, and your enemies hate you. With just a few well place words, you could sway an emotionally distraught young woman to uplift herself from her misery."

Aoife turned an arched eyebrow on Cassandra. "'Love' and 'hate' are strong words. People think I represent something, and they react to that for better or for worse."

She shrugged. "The truth is we're little more than debris in a river. Perhaps we can, by our actions, exert a little influence, but everything we do pales in comparison to forces we can't control. Fate is inexorable, or so they say."

Despite waxing philosophical, she was not so sanguine about the way events were unfolding. It seemed that Margaery had been censured, mewed up and left to rot for her part in the Brytisc fiasco. Perhaps that was mere paranoia, but the likelihood was that there was a very real anti-Brytisc faction in the Ghantish court, hidden behind the bluster of regular politics, and that this faction was behind Uhtred's death. If so, her own arrival could hardly be welcome, and the Jarl knew that those same people who had turned their backs on Margaery would not be able to take such subtle measure when dealing with Aoife. A blessing and a curse in equal measure.

[Ghant]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Nathan

"Thank you, Your Higness." Anton said to Arietta as she slithered out of the throne hall with a courteous bow. When Nathan spoke, Anton turned and listened to him. Say what you will about Anton, Nathan thought. But at least he listens. The younger Emperor’s mannerisms conveyed a semblance of remorse that Nathan didn’t anticipate he’d possess. It was most convenient.

Anton said "I myself am currently engaged to a Torrumbarian Princess, but I see no reason as to why you shouldn't marry into another Krïdan House. Your power and prestige are indeed great and I would be a fool to ignore this. My sister, Princess Isabella of Kungstädt is approaching 18 and I think the time is right to marry her. I am sure there are plenty of young, handsome boys for her..." Anton finished with a smile.

“Oh, no doubt there is a fair share of them here,” The Ghantish Emperor grinned. “Though she is young, and with any girl that age, careful cultivation and nurturing is in order to ensure their success and happiness. Here is what I propose. Send her here to court, let her enjoy the hospitality of my palace and the comforts afforded to princesses of great rank and station. She would have plenty of friends, from my sister Alexia to my cousins and their ladies-in-waiting and courtiers.”

Nathan stood up from the throne and stretched, popping the bones in his back and shoulders. “I will provide adequate opportunity for some of my close male kinsmen to be around her and vice-a-versa, and should things gravitate a certain way, then we can proceed with a match in mind. Though if that’s not the case, then by all means she can return to Krjder in as good of form as she arrived in. Worst case scenario, we build upon the progress that was made today and the state of Ghanto-Kridan relations is stronger then it was previously.”

Following that, Nathan raised an index finger. “Think on it, and get back to me upon the morrow. I think what we’ve already done is good enough for one day, don’t you agree?” The Ghantish Emperor spoke as he descended the steps back to the floor. “Please, make yourself comfortable and enjoy your evening. My men can show you to your chambers of honor and I will have my best staff at your beck and call should you need anything. Feel free to roam the palace grounds as you see fit, and should you need me, you may call upon me.”

Stopping in front of Anton, Nathan clasped him on both shoulders and grinned widely. “Thank you again, Anton of Krjder. Enjoy yourself.” Nathan took a step back and waved his hand, prompting some of his men to emerge and ensnare the gifts, while others stood idly by to show Anton his quarters, or accompany him to wherever it was he wanted to go. Nathan meanwhile headed straight for his solar, and for his next item of business…

---

Cassandra

Aoife raised an eyebrow at Cassandra, subsequent to what the latter said to the former. “Love and hate are strong words. People think I represent something, and they react to that for better or for worse."

Cassandra returned the look. False modesty is the masterpiece of vanity: showing the vain man in such an illusory light that he appears in the reputation of the virtue quite opposite to the vice which constitutes his real character; it is a deceit. Though that’s not what she said. “We all represent something,” Cassandra pointed out. “Some of us make a reputation for ourselves over it. You certainly have, if your outtakes serve as any indication. I fear I am less…magnetic in my virtues.”

"The truth is we're little more than debris in a river,” Aoife said with a shrug. “Perhaps we can, by our actions, exert a little influence, but everything we do pales in comparison to forces we can't control. Fate is inexorable, or so they say."

“On the contrary, one individual can have a great impact on the course of events,” Cassandra observed as she walked around the room, tracing her hands along the edges of the windowsills and chairs. “We are free to react as we will to any event, great or small. How we react to that event is entirely of our own design…sometimes the response is especially great. Fate by and large seems like an excuse men make to strip themselves of personal agency and responsibility…surely not having to act on one’s own volition is a freeing, liberating condition. Indeed, I would not so easily invest so much faith in fate…for fate is what we make it…”

A knock came on the door. “My lady,” one of the Imperial men said to Aoife. “The Emperor will receive you now. He is waiting for you in his solar.”

“Oh, such wonderful timing.” Cassandra nodded slowly and turned to face Aoife again. “I can accompany you there if you’d like…I know the way quite well…”

[Krjder]

Imperiala Palace, Ghish, Ghant
"That seems a most sensible scheme indeed, Your Imperial Majesty." Said the Emperor, having heard Nathan's proposal. Now it was his turn to send his sister into the relatively unknown. As his shoulders were clasped, Anton took the thanks graciously, with a solemn nod, before he, with one final bow, left the room. He turned to a servant, supposedly one who was to take him to his chambers.
"If I may, could you show my entourage and myself to our chambers, please? I wish to shower and change, before taking a walk." He said, though maybe considering taking a well needed bath instead of a shower, he could already feel himself lowering into the foam-topped basin of hot water....

Darijksberg Palace, Aastejk, Grand Duchy of Könjinslargen
Oskar Keiwoth rapped the brass knocker on the front of the Princess' suite with haste and urgency. Orders has come from Ghant that she had been summoned to the Imperial Court by her brother. From within, he heard a giggle. Oskar rolled his eyes as he put two and two together.
"Your Highness, there are urgent matters in need of addressing! I won't tell a soul, but I really must tell y-"

The door creaked open slowly and, gingerly, a boy, maybe only 16 stepped out in an unbuttoned, untucked shirt, navy pinstripe trousers and carrying in his hands his belt, waistcoat, tie, jacket, socks and shoes. He was good looking, with soft, tanned features, cleanly shaven, though his light brown hair was a mess. Oskar stepped aside and gave him a wry smile.
"At least she has taste, Your Grace." He said, recognising him as Jünkhėrr Korin vijk Bierchtauw, son of Baron Zawier vijk Bierchtauw, a parliamentarian and landowner. Korin smiled nervously as he stuffed his socks into his pockets and rammed his feet into his brogues.
"Though, I should inform you, the emperor is having her shipped out to Ghant tonight to find a more... exotic suitor..." Oskar continued. Korin grinned, now buttoning up his pink shirt, before turning the collar up for his tie.
"Don't worry, it was only a one off... we had a party last night, and I hadn't arranged any means of getting back home and I was staying overnight and...." Korin explained, trailing off, much to Oskar's amusement.
"I need not know Korin, we were all young once. The ones who get uppity about such things have either forgotten their teenage years or never had them in the first place."

After brief discussion, Korin left the hall, in vain trying to sort his hair, Oskar having assured Korin he would not tell Baron Bierchtauw about his frolickings. Once the Princess had announced that she was decent and her maids had made her room presentable, Oskar entered.
"I hope you weren't too harsh on poor Korin?" Exclaimed Isabella, appearing in a smart but not exquisite dress. Oskar smiled.
"Nah, I like the guy. His father's a good guy too. I can only guess who enticed who last night..."
"Well I'm sorry. Someone had to make the first move!" Retorted Isabella, crossing her arms defensively.
"Anyway, your brother has summoned you to Ghant. He thinks it's time for you to get married. No more chasing young boys. Most have them have barely hit puberty. He certainly hadn't." Isabella gave a knowing smile.
"Pack your bags, you leave tonight."

[Brytene]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Aoife

"That's just a matter of faith," said Aoife lightly. "You can only ever make one choice, and you cannot ever live any life but the one you do, so how can you be sure that you ever had a choice? That you would ever choose to do anything other than what you did?"

There was a knock on the door, and one of the guards said something to Cassandra, who then turned to Aoife and offered to lead her to the Emperor. Aoife simply nodded, gesturing for Cassandra to lead the way

apologies for awful post, I've been at a new post since Monday and am running on fumes =P

[The IASM]

Lilisi’s quarters
Inperiala Palace
Ghish
Ghant

LILISI

---

Ghant was a cold place, one which Lilisi found particularly unpleasant to be present in given it was nearing the end of winter. She knew it would be as such but the coldest places she had ever been were in the subterranean sections of Kaizangong and Xungong, but this almost constant cold was curiously impractical. How is God’s name does Hulang like this she wondered as she got up to close one of her windows. The North will be colder than this she thought as she reflected on her role. Hulang making her the court liaison she had particularly been forced into the role. How could she openly defy the Ditor in front of guests and furthermore how could she go against him after all he had done for her. He cared for her in a way which particularly made her particularly comfortable, and she suspected it was genuine. The warmth they provided to one another seemed to be mutually beneficial, and she was more than willing to help out.

However it seems she underestimated the total size of her brother’s agenda. He seemingly wanted to truly live up to his desire to surpass their father in every way possible. He was beginning to get a taste for power and it seemed he was enjoying every moment of it. Despite this he still wasn’t truly in power, a combination of Sanfu, the Grand Conclave and everyone else seemed to be focused on preserving their own power.

Lilisi was just glad to be away from it all, Akai was much as a home it was to her a toxic place. The Lazins in particular ever since her father vanished had been more divided than they had been in decades. The White branch had been slowly taking more and more political stances, taking a stronger view in their odd sermons. The Red on the other hand seemingly was descending into infighting over the actions of its heir, Prince Zhousi who seemingly made a mess of reconciliation efforts with the Heizu with some licentious actions towards one of the daughters of the main Black Clans. The issues of the Black Branch overshadowed them all however. Where to begin she thought as she reflected the issues of her own family.

Firstly, her three uncles were becoming particularly opposed to one another every day. The arrival of Yanfeng provided the Grand Conclave with somebody who they had the assumption they could manipulate. At least some of the nobles and Jituans assumed that, Lilisi knew Yanfeng and he was no puppet. His interests aligned with theirs for some reason, and it seemed quite a few either failed to realise that or seeked to capitalise on it. This weakened Sanfu’s already weakening grip on the Grand Conclave to levels which were not particularly good for him. However it seemed his plans for greater welfare had made him adored by the Akai people. It seemed however Qiang was the man behind the scenes for his little brother, making sure the aristocracy didn’t openly oppose him. There also was the issue of Machiko and her ambitious maneuvering around the court, slowly using her new husband’s network to try and make herself even more powerful that she had the right to be. Lilisi particularly loathed that woman, especially after her brother’s confession to Jocasta. That and there was some news that the pirates were getting worse in Zhaoze. Whatever was happening, it seemed like it was a poor thing for many people whether they be innocent or not.

She was glad to be away from that, and it seemed that the last few letters which were possessed by her predecessor Prince Zhu-Di Lazin. He was one of the last living children of Ditor Sunzhi - somehow surviving the pains of the worst parts of Akai history for men of his ilk. He was a man of great honor for sure, good conscious and skilled in many talents. Passed down to his two proteges, Qiang and Sanfu - he seemed to be a master of diplomacy and the wise application and interpretation of tradition. It was presumably Sunzhi’s belief in attempting primogeniture which presumably denied him from the Ditorate. He was often closely associated with his friend Prince Laurence Gentry and was deeply saddened when Jieke began to destroy his old mentor's legacy in Akai. However what Lilisi found most interesting about the man was his notes on the Gentrys and the various characters she’d likely be meeting.

Albert the first was described a man who wished to enjoy the world given to him in a manner which pleased him. The Crown Prince was described as someone who did not befit the title he had been granted through blood however Albert in the Lazin prince’s eyes would have been better he would not exactly be as good as some desired him to be. He found that there was something which didn’t make sense - he could’ve easily taken the young Nathan’s life if so desired yet did not. Nathan IV himself was described particularly harshly as someone not fit to bear the duties of the obsidian throne, weak in spirit and in mind. He also noted Albert’s education seemingly dampened out any potential in the boy - limiting to be a weak monarch. Either way, Zhu-Di in these notes showed his critical mind and his disapproval of much of House Gentry at times. He seemingly enjoyed his life in Ghish however, being away from Jieke’s ‘madness.’

Lilisi had those notes in mind as she approached the corridors which she had a few months returned to once empty of the many souls invited to it. She had a daunting task before her, for sure but alas she could hoped she could meet the task of ensuring that Akai-Ghantish relations are at least neutral in some way by the time she leaves. Whether that was feasible depended on her and her brother.

As she walked through the halls of the palace, her romanticism for foreign lands took over she expected her stay here would be an interesting one she imagined. She wore a particularly curious dress, one which was quickly becoming rather fashionable among the Akai. It was clearly designed with an almost neo-renaissance feel to it. Her collar was a black and gold design, with elaborate floral patterns with the eye of her family clearly placed onto it. It extended down, and made its way onto her collar bones with a thin point pointing into the suspended chasm of her chest. Underneath she wore a particularly well suited corset which fitted her almost particularly although that did little to make it less comfortable. Hulang in particular provided this version for it was supposedly knife and bullet resistant. Unfortunately for her, he did not specify how resistant and what do. Beneath that gap was a dress half inspired by Akai modern cheongshans and the dresses of the Cornellian empire it seemed. Its smooth, shiny silk was coloured a shade of crimson and black, covered in subtle golden floral and geometric patterns which added a conservative texture to the design - making it almost angelic. It fit closely to her athletic and almost sensual form, curving around her bust and derriere to subtly emphasize her in that sense. Her white-gold hair was kept short, and in a complex braided bun behind her head with two strands looping slightly. Her make up provided some subdued colour to her face, and her rose eyes stood out particularly prominently.

This was in great contrast to her guard the almighty Shang. He towered over all at a huge seven foot two inches, in a suit of ceremonial jet black armour surrounded by a white cloak to designate his status as an Anyinguan with a single monolith sigil on it. His mask hid his face from the world, a bearded monkey like demon which seemed to be in the image in some of the great ‘trolls’ of Zhaoze. He carried a huge double handed jian at its simple scabbard at his side. Yeah underneath that there was enough protection for the man to survive several rounds to the chest if need be. Even then, it would not unlike Shang to go without a knife and his fists were large enough to cause significant damage to anyone who got hit by them. He was a product of Zhaoze, a rather odd thing for a descendant of the great Lord-Regent Jieke Lang of Lazinato to be but they both served the role of protector for something the Lazins valued.

She arrived outside the room she was told to meet the Emperor of Ghant, she walked down those corridors with a sense of polite curiosity to her. As she arrived at the door she asked in carefully phrased Ghantish: “I am Princess Ditoral, Lilisi Limei Lazin. I was told that I should meet his majesty here? And would my dear accomplice need to remain outside?”

[Ghant]

“The Walls of Unsaid”
Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Alexia

Ghant was a cold place, but Alexia knew colder. Not the sort of cold that came with the weather, but the sort that afflicted the spirit. She’d been frozen, frostbitten in that regard, and just like the sort of frostbite that leaves the skin black resulting in scar tissue, those spiritual wounds never heal properly. The scars would be there forever, much to her sorrow. Alas, we must go on, and I shouldn’t dwell on such dreadful thoughts. We must survive…we must endure…

The willowy, lily white princess looked as she usually did, wearing a snow white dress that contrasted with her long black hair that dangled loosely behind her soft, slender back. Her deep blue eyes peered out forlornly beneath thick black eyebrows, an expression most somber and grave upon her face. She wrinkled her nose in her melancholic guise as she walked quietly across the floor of her half-brother’s palace, gazing blankly at the walls on either side of her. The walls, she contemplated. What stories you could tell, if only you could speak…

The Walls of Unsaid
build and build and build
up, up, up around us all; we kid ourselves,
saying that the emptiness is filled.

Something is always left
dangling in the air.
Something that wishes to be said isn't;
no, you wouldn't dare.
We all sit in towers of unforgivable things
that we've said are forgiven, forgotten;
and our minds are torn apart like butterfly wings.

True words are whispered only
in the darkest chasms of our minds,
and the lies grow and squirm and fester,
twisting and turning...what do we find?
Simply that we've built our own labyrinths,
with contradictions and things that aren't quite what they seem.
We try to keep up with what we've created,
but it doesn't appear real, but intangible, like a dream.

The Walls of Unsaid
build and build and build
up, up, up around us all.
What we thought was filled-
was an abyss, thirsting for untruths
and thoughts cut short-
begging for lies, insubordination, things hidden away-
creating a field for Frustration to cavort.

The Walls of Unsaid...
build
and build
and build...
Up, up, up
around us all....
waiting, begging....

for every single last one of us to fall.

Perhaps not even thinking about it, she walked in the direction of her brother’s solar, whereupon she stumbled upon a most curious sight. Princess Lilisi of Akai, she recalled, wearing a floral patterned dress with a black and gold collar. Like Alexia, she was possessing of particularly fair skin, though Lilisi’s was nearly albino, with white-gold hair to go along with it, in a bun that bobbed behind her head. In her fair face resided two red eyes, not unlike the Red Ghantar of Odolargia, most menacing in appearance.

Beside her was an individual that Alexia recalled to be Shang, a brute of a man that stood at least seven feet tall. He was wearing black armor with a white cloak behind it, and a sigil upon its front. As the Akai often did he wore a mask, in the guise of a monkey demon. How fascinating. At his side was a double handed jian, Alexia knew the weapon to be called, and if appearances were any indication, he knew how to use it too.

Alexia hung back and watched as Lilisi and Shang approached the Emperor’s solar, with the oaken doors shut and a Zinpalak knight standing in front of them. It was Robar Dyn, clad all in white, black and gold armor as was their fashion, heavy enough to protect the knight from harm but light enough to have freedom of movement and flexibility. He kept a double-bladed axe at his side, his hand not far away from it as he turned his gaze towards Shang, who he was roughly the same size as. Robar, like his Dyn kinfolk, had pale yellow eyes and dark brown hair with a light though scruffy beard about his face. He eyed Shang conspicuously, almost contemptuously.

Lilisi approached Robar, and in deliberate Ghantish said, “I am Princess Ditoral, Lilisi Limei Lazin. I was told that I should meet his majesty here? And would my dear accomplice need to remain outside?”

Robar shifted his eyes between Shang and Lilisi before responding. “The Emperor’s on a schedule,” he explained plainly. “And you’re last on it. When he’s ready to see you, he’ll have someone come fetch you. And yeah, you’d leave your friend here outside…the Emperor doesn’t like it when people flash muscle at him.”

That was when Alexia revealed herself, approaching and curtseying once she got close enough to be socially appropriate. “Greetings, your Highness and good sers…unfortunately Ser Robar is correct, in that the Emperor is preoccupied at this particular time with other matters of state. Though if you’d like, I’d be more then happy to entertain you until he’s ready to meet with you.” Alexia offered her arm and a faint smile to Lilisi, in the event that the latter would accept her offer and walk with her. Lilisi didn’t have many friends and court anyway, and neither do I...

---

Nathan

"That seems a most sensible scheme indeed, Your Imperial Majesty," replied Anton in response to Nathan’s plans. The Emperor of Ghant was most pleased at how…cooperative Anton had been, finding it to be almost too easy…though better too easy then too hard. Nathan had hoped that his business with Anton would come to a speedy conclusion so he could see Aoife of Brytene once more. There is much I wish to say to her, if only I can find the appropriate words.

Nathan grinned toothily. “I’m glad you think so.” Anton had said his parting words and left the Throne Hall, with Nathan following not far behind, with his guards about him holding Anton’s gifts. The Emperor’s white trimmed black robes dragged across the floor behind him, though he had an attendant in the form of his young cousin Marcus Haro to tug it along in case it got caught on anything.

That was when he heard Anton speak to the trusted servant Nathan had prepared to escort Anton to his chambers. "If I may, could you show my entourage and myself to our chambers, please? I wish to shower and change, before taking a walk."

It was Nathan’s Majordomo Bobo that answered, squat in his worn black garb and cap, between which only his broad face could be seen, containing wide brown eyes underneath a thick brow and a broad nose beneath. “Yessuh, I will take you to your chambers as Master bids thee.” Bobo led the way down the hall for Anton to follow, while Nathan watched them go. Along with Alexia, Bobo was one of two people that he pitied more then himself.

The Emperor went in the opposite direction, towards his personal solar. Ser Robar Dyn stood waiting there, and he inclined his head to the Emperor when he arrived. “Greetings, your Majesty.” Nathan didn’t like being called that, but in the end began to accept it because formality accepted it…and Nathan needed to accept formality in his capacity as Emperor of Ghant. Loathe as I may be to admit. “…Princess Lilisi came by, but Princess Alexia whisked her away,” Robar added as he stepped aside, away from the doors to the solar.

“Good…I’ll deal with the Lazin later,” the Emperor nodded as he slithered into the solar. “And send for Aoife, if you would be so kind…”

---

Cassandra

"That's just a matter of faith," said Aoife lightly. "You can only ever make one choice, and you cannot ever live any life but the one you do, so how can you be sure that you ever had a choice? That you would ever choose to do anything other than what you did?"

Cassandra smirked as she made her way down the hall, processing what Aoife had to say. “In the north, they have a saying…that the Gods created Ghant to train the faithful. In a way, I would agree, that we only have one chance to do what we do, and once whatever it is that we do is done, we must own. Then let the chips fall as they may.” Words to live by…words to die by.

After a few minutes of walking that consisted mostly of Cassandra taking in the sights of the halls’ décor as they passed through them, they arrived at the solar, guarded by Ser Robar Dyn. He inclined his head to the two women. “The Emperor has been waiting,” he said. “He will receive you.”

“Very good, Ser Robar, thank you.” Cassandra picked up the front of her skirt and went to move past the knight, while she turned back to Aoife and said “come.” Nathan had arrived enough time ago to have already made himself comfortable on a sectional couch beside the empty fireplace, sitting on his imperial robes that covered the coach like a blanket, cascading down to the floor. The room was more clean then it was usually in Cassandra’s experience, with the books stacked on their shelves and the glasses organized neatly in their cabinets.

Unlike other rooms in the palace, the Emperor’s solar (the one that he chose for himself) was a dark, drab rectangular room containing several bookshelves, cabinets, a desk, sectional couch, square coffee table and fireplace, with a few ornaments on the mantle, and a pile of small logs and rack of firepokers on either side. There were paintings of flowers and trees on the walls, along with an oddly endearing framed Ghish Imperials hockey jersey.

The Emperor had already started drinking, having poured a glass of wine for himself and for another, though when he saw Cassandra, he hastily poured enough. “Aoife, such a pleasure to see you again,” he smiled as he rose to his feet. “It has been too long.” To Cassandra he inclined his head. “Thank you for bringing the Jarl here,” he said with gratitude in his voice, clearly appreciative.

“…You’re welcome.” Cassandra remained standing though she took the glass of wine her cousin poured for her. She didn’t want to impose in case he wanted privacy. Which, knowing him and having heard what I’ve heard, he most certainly will… Cassandra didn’t know what to think about that…though she had to concede that she kept such thoughts far from her mind. I’m watching you, Jarl Aoife, to see what games you are trying to play. Oh, if only the Walls of Unsaid could speak, then I’d truly know…

[The IASM]

Outside Nathan’s solar
Inperiala Palace
Ghish
Ghant

LILISI

---

In front of the solar was a particularly huge knight, clearly rivalling her own bodyguard. His armour felt familiar somehow, it's black, white and gold seemingly giving her a sense of nostalgia for something long past. Lilisi studied the armour subtly; something in contrast to her brother whose’ overt stares seemed to be an intimidating tactic he employed. The armour seemed to be a balancing act, trying to find the golden ratio of protection and flexibility. His eyes were yellow, not unlike the Sutus of Jinlangan and his hair brown and possessed a curious beard. He carried a double headed axe, certainly appropriate for use in close quarters. Shang observed him as well, studying him as he moved his hands away from his more overt blade back underneath his cloak - presumably where he was preparing to grasp one of his smaller weapons. The knight’s eyes were truly suspicious, and Lilisi tried to avoid them. Yet they seemed more focused on Shang who looked equally displeased with him. Lilisi felt like there might be someone else watching this affair. She turned her head slightly before having her eyes and head return to focus on the knight again.

The knight’s eyes moved left and right, between the two Akai present as he studied them. “The Emperor’s on a schedule,” he blankly stated, in a manner which was rather blunt manner. “And you’re last on it. When he’s ready to see you, he’ll have someone come fetch you. And yeah, you’d leave your friend here outside…the Emperor doesn't like it when people flash muscle at him.”

Last on it? Alas why must guards be so uncivilized, do they not know of manners she reflected as her warmth dimmed somewhat. “That is noted, thank you for your assistance with this matter.” She then noticed Shang was seemingly annoyed as his description by the knight, but he did not flinch or move.

“You have a good taste in weaponry,” Shang commented, studying the knight before him and his weapon with the implication of caution in his voice. “But there is no need for distasteful conduct here,” he continued as he turned around. “Just note, I am not muscle as hard as it may be to see,” he said as he began to walk away with Lilisi. His Ghantish is better than mine the Princess came to realise as her eyes caught another figure in front of them.

Before them, there was a lady in a white dress had emerged. I Knew it, Lilisi thought as she observed the high noble before her. She was pale but not as much as Lilisi but this was juxtaposed by her black hair which fell across her back. Her face was as solemn as a marble statue, with deep blue eyes which were particularly intense to study. She was certainly pretty, and with these factors Lilisi began to try and work out who the lady before her was. Is that Alexia? Her memory seemed to recall her from the morning breakfast, she was there along with Caroline at the other table. She moved somewhat closely to Lilisi although it was not too close and curtseyed to her; something which she returned in the form of an Akai bow of the sort reserved for equals. “Greetings, your Highness and good sers…unfortunately Ser Robar is correct, in that the Emperor is preoccupied at this particular time with other matters of state. Though if you’d like, I’d be more than happy to entertain you until he’s ready to meet with you.” She in turn raised her arm and wore a smile, which was almost wilted. There was a melancholy feel to Alexia - something which the princess found intriguing.

Lilisi contemplated for a brief second before responding: “Honorary Princess Alexia if I am not mistaken? I'm Princess Ditoral Lilisi and this my Anyinyguan Lord Shang Yang.” She inquired and explained as she accepted her hand. “If my memory serves me correctly, I saw you at the day after the midsummer ball. The last time I was in this cold land.” She returned a smile with her lips, a shade of lush crimson brightened with lipstick. “I appreciate your offer, although I am curious about these other matters of state. I imagine you may be able to enlighten me on the events occurring here?” After waiting for a response from Alexia she continued: “Could I ask, how well your half-brother might react to a tool for ‘hunting’ being given as a gift? I've been contemplating whether he would appreciate something like that or not. I’ve spent some time designing it myself, to suit the climate here so it could be used even all the way up in Thule in winter and have little issues. I chose this over let’s say a knife as according to my brother… sorry half-brother there is a sword somewhere here from Akai so I’d like to avoid some redundancy there.” Lilisi then also paused once more to think before continuing. “I am starting to notice a strange distrust here; almost a sense of contempt from some. It seems the task at hand here might be rather difficult for myself.”

[Brytene]

“The Walls of Unsaid”
Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Aoife

The solar was a surprisingly modest room, filled with homely touches and even a hockey jersey. As a former sportswoman herself, Aoife could certainly appreciate the domestic feelings engendered by a splash of sporting colour on the walls, and she smiled unconsciously at the sight.

The Emperor rose to greet her, looking much the same as he had almost a year ago when they had last seen one another. He handed her a glass of wine which she accepted wordlessly, taking a sip before answering.

"It's good to see you again, Nathan," she said with a coy smile, not untruthfully. Despite her mixed feelings about Ghant, and her blatantly ulterior motive of hunting down Uhtred's killers, she was still pleased to see Nathan. In this nest of intrigues and conspiracy, he was, if not innocent, at least well-intentioned.

"I hope you are well." she added, noting the tense atmosphere as Cassandra lingered, still standing.[/i]

[Krjder]

Imperiala Palace, Ghish, Ghant
Anton faceplanted the bed on arrival to his chamber. The change from the steamy jungles of central Waiyakura to Ghant had left his body exhausted, the apology and show to the Ghantar royalty had drained his emotions and tired his brain. He undressed for the shower, a sight many would pay for, before stepping into the shower itself. The cascading hot waters washed away his doubts and relaxed his muscles, revitalising him, for the day was not yet done. Having lathered himself in shampoo and conditioner, Anton, wrapped in a towel, allowed an aide to apply his makeup and comb his hair.

About an hour later, dressed in black chinos, a white,pink and blue flecked long sleeve shirt, he left his chamber shadowed from afar by a bodyguard. He explored the grounds, where permissible, but secretly hoped to blunder into someone of note.

[Ghant]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Alexia

Upon Alexia greeting Lilisi, the latter said, “Honorary Princess Alexia if I am not mistaken? I’m Princess Ditoral Lilisi and this my Anyinyguan Lord Shang Yang.” Lilisi accepted Alexia’s offer, and took her arm.

“Tis I, your Highness,” Alexia smiled slightly. “And well met…Lord Shang.” Having accepted Alexia’s offer, she began to escort the Akai down the hall.

Lilisi added, “If my memory serves me correctly, I saw you at the day after the Midsummer Ball. The last time I was in this cold land.”

Alexia nodded, not wanting to let her mind dwell too long on that day. “That would have been the last time, yes. It doesn’t seem like it was all that long ago…though it has been a year. Some things have changed a great deal, while others have not. The palace is essentially remained the same. I can show it to you if you’d like.”

Lilisi cracked a smile. “I appreciate your offer, although I am curious about these other matters of state. I imagine you may be able to enlighten me on the events occurring here?”

I have to be careful here. Nathan didn’t want the Akai to know too much…or at least more then they had to know. Though, Alexia got the sense that Lilisi wasn’t as…unscrupulous as some of her kinfolk and countrymen. “Just a lot of talk about this oil business up north, combat operations in the Delvian States and in Deweden. I heard that Michael of Dakmoor and Jocasta went to Lazinato…perhaps you can tell me more about that, if you can?” Alexia felt this uncanny connection to Dakmoor that she couldn’t quite put her fingers on…

Listening to what she had to say, Lilisi spoke afterwards once again. “Could I ask, how well your half-brother might react to a weapon being given as a gift? The reason why I ask, is that I have one which I designed for him. Two to be precise, built with the Ghantish climate in mind as well as some history behind it?”

Exactly what my brother doesn’t need, Alexia thought. More weapons. “He’s a collector of sorts,” she told the Lazin Princess. “Or at least, he builds upon the one that’s already here. Sometimes, he even likes to train with them. He’s been spending less time playing video games and more time training at-arms.” And more time with his…female companions. “While I would encourage you to present it to him yourself, I’m most curious as to what this weapon is that you speak of…”

Alexia’s train of thought tapered off when she noticed someone she was aware of, but had never met. If I recall correctly, my brother contemplated sending me out there instead of Arietta. One can only wonder what could have been… Alexia curtsied when she saw him, and said “Emperor Anton of Krjder, your Majesty. I don’t believe we’ve met…I am Princess Alexia of Ghant, the Emperor’s half-sister. You know him as well as my half-sister Arietta…” Oh, I shouldn’t have said that. “A pleasure to meet you. May I introduce Princess Lilisi of Akai and…Lord Shang. I was just showing them around the palace, if you’d care to join us,” she smiled.

---

Nathan

"It's good to see you again, Nathan," Aoife said to the Emperor with a playful smile as she accepted his offering of wine. "I hope you are well." she added. The Emperor pulled her in for a warm embrace and kissed her on both checks before gesturing towards the couch nearby. It’s bad enough Cassandra is hovering around like a vulture waiting for something to die, the Emperor thought with a solemn expression.

It had only been a year ago, and yet it seemed far longer then that. Aoife had left not long after the ball and Uhtred’s death, and all that remained was the specter she left to haunt the Emperor’s mind. It wasn’t the fact that she left that lingered there…it was his belief that he had erred, somehow. Erred because she wouldn’t respond to his messages for sometime, perhaps because she thought he had used her. I can’t bring it upon myself to use anyone, he thought to himself. Because I myself know what it’s like to be used. All the same, he knew how it looked, and people, be they high born or low, were always prone to believe in appearances, regardless of what the facts might be.

“Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable.” Nathan did just that, on the couch opposite of the one he beckoned Aoife towards. “It’s good to see you, and rest assured I am well, though perhaps a bit more stressed. I’ve been more active in the…affairs of the realm, which brings with it its own fair share of trials and tribulations. My cousin Cassandra here has been of great assistance in that regard.”

Cassandra feigned humility, as far as Nathan could tell. “I do what I can to serve the realm,” his cousin said softly. “For what cause is more noble then serving the crown?” I can think of a few things. It wouldn’t serve to get into a philosophical debate with Cassandra…at least right now anyway. Besides, she usually wins those… among the members of their house, it was she that had the sharpest mind, as far as Nathan thought.

“Speaking of the crown,” the Emperor suddenly recalled. “Queen Aoife is no more…in her place is Jarl Aoife. Tell me…how did that come to transpire? An unfortunate thing, to be the last of something, and a shame at that, for you were an exceptional queen.” In truth, Nathan was feigning himself…though he was feigning ignorance…something I do as often as Cassandra feigns humility. He already knew the story from the media, but he wanted to hear it from Aoife’s mouth herself.

[The IASM]

In the palace corridors
Inperiala Palace
Ghish
Ghant

LILISI

---

“Tis I, your Highness,” Alexia answered as she wore a gentle smile. “And well met…Lord Shang.” Lilisi followed her carefully, her steps being soft and quiet as she held onto her arm. She felt cold herself, Ghant was significantly cooler than the vast majority of Akai and she was still adjusting to it.

Alexia nodded her head in response to her inquiry about the Midsummer ball, the white princess wondered whether it might be wise not to bring it up given the intense level of scandal present. “That would have been the last time, yes. It doesn’t seem like it was all that long ago…though it has been a year. Some things have changed a great deal, while others have not. The palace has essentially remained the same. I can show it to you if you’d like.”

“That it does,” Lilisi remarked as she contemplated the infamy of that night and her conduct on the day afterwards. She hoped her honest curiosity didn’t go down too poorly. What intrigued her was the vagueness of Alexia’s speak, oddly poetic. “That sounds wonderful, exploring the palace I mean. I’ve been meaning to see this Obsidian throne and whether it might match up to Giaishugnuang - the kneeling colossi. It’s my brother’s throne - five titans of man forged from the debris of the unification war whose hands shift and carry the ancient basalt throne which the Ditor sits. I think it is around thirty to forty meters high, I imagine your brother Nathan might have seen it when Hulang was originally coordinated all those years ago.” Lilisi hoped she might enjoy the description of the throne, for it was an abomination of a thing.

When Alexia answered her inquiry about the ongoings of the empire, were equally as imprecise although for different reasons it seemed. “Just a lot of talk about this oil business up north, combat operations in the Delvian States and in Deweden. I heard that Michael of Dakmoor and Jocasta went to Lazinato…perhaps you can tell me more about that if you can?” Lilisi began to study Alexia some more as she listened. She was different to what she had seen of Nathan in the pictures and Arietta. Usually, she would expect that if it were not for the fact that her other siblings seemingly also different. Amelia and Charles were darker in skin tone to the point of seemingly tangential familiarity and all of Caroline’s children had different varying hair colours. The Princess Ditoral decided to ignore this pattern but keep it in mind just in case she encountered Caroline. Hulang had asked that if she encountered her to inquire about what she has been saying somehow. And from his descriptions of her she founded as malicious as Linghin. She felt familiar somehow, a face which she associated with someone else, but she decided that she'd try and keep an eye out for that just in case she spotted any reminders. Still she should not leap to conclusions, her own family were shaped rather prominently by their lineage (which Lilisi occasionally joked was more of a tumbleweed than a tree) - maybe others suffered less so.

“The oil development project is part of the reason why I am here, my step-uncle Prince Kazou and Colonel-Marshal Qiaozhi Woerjin came here to help discuss it,” she spoke rather truthfully about a part of her purpose here. “And I must say that we commend your efforts in the Delvian states against those vile monsters. My father illustrated to be rather clearly that they are the scum of the earth, those to be eradicated. Alas, he died before he could finish his dream of completely destroying it across the nation.” Jieke was the man who ended slavery in Akai, after his mother’s Linghin’s rather reactionary approach to the issue. Yet the Black Clans as she knew still traded in vast numbers of them in the rural areas of Akai. Cheap labour for those willing to use them.

I probably should not comment on Deweden, less I spark an international dispute again. This was a polite conversation and Lilisi had no intention of inviting that issue unless she had to. Instead, she paid answered Alexia’s inquiry about Michael and Jocasta - that damned couple. In a dry if still somewhat warm voice, she continued: “It was my brother's birthday a few days ago. He’s ten and six now, and he chose to invite Jocasta while his uncle invited Titus. Michael was there as an accessory to my brother’s chosen guest.” Lilisi’s tone contained the ever slight trace of bitterness as she spoke about Jocasta. “The two seemed to get along exceptionally well, although in a ceremonial duel which my brother lost Michael beat him. I guess the most important results of that meeting was a betrayal of Aelia Quadrata to my uncle Prince Sanfu, a hypothetical betrothal between the royal houses of New Edom and Clan Lazin and a military-economic-political alliance between New Edom and Akai. It was a lovely night as it was good to see my brother so happy that day...” I just wish it was me making him so.

Alexia responded to her inquiry about the weapon Lilisi was so proud of creating with her own hands. “He’s a collector of sorts,” she explained the other princess. “Or at least, he builds upon the one that’s already here. Sometimes, he even likes to train with them. He’s been spending less time playing video games and more time training at-arms. While I would encourage you to present it to him yourself, I’m most curious as to what this weapon is that you speak of…”

Very interesting, sounds like my own brother, in that sense, Lilisi thought before noticing Alexia’s distraction. She followed her example and bowed before Anton as she listened. “Emperor Anton of Krjder, your Majesty. I don’t believe we’ve met…I am Princess Alexia of Ghant, the Emperor’s half-sister. You know him as well as my half-sister Arietta…” Lilisi internally grinned as she thought to herself. Ah so this is the Anton who Arietta snubbed. “A pleasure to meet you. May I introduce Princess Lilisi of Akai and…Lord Shang. I was just showing them around the palace if you’d care to join us,” she said while smiling.

“Your majesty,” Lilisi and her guard replied, before almost completely disregarding Anton and returning to her conversation with Alexia. Shang seemed to stare at him though his monstrous black monkey mask. Not my business but where were we again. “Anyways, Shang - present the gift.”

Shang the ever obedient and loyal man lifted his cloak to reveal a wide collection of combat knives and other hidden weaponry, some hidden in boxes so they could not be seen. One of them, however, stood out rather prominently, placed at Shang’s back. He withdrew it around, from his waist and displayed it before Alexia with his grim eyes looking down upon her. The box was as complicated in nature as the one Lilisi used for Albert but this time, it contained something more worthy of its contents.

Lilisi took her hand and placed it across an eye shaped thing, with her thumb in the centre and around it a red light emanated out from it and as she did, she lifted the case open. What lay inside was a simple yet lovingly detailed weapon. It was a revolver shotgun, around a good ten inches in length. It looked like a sawn-off device to some extent, something further confirmed by the curious barrel but had a revolver’s cylinder instead. The cylinder itself was engraved with eagle imagery as well as the barrel being covered with the image of its jaw open.it's handle, however, was its most curious part, steel wings curving around its handle in the most graceful of manners, every feather having considerable texture and detail to it. Each one had some element of Nathan's ancestry present on it in some way, whether they be accurate depictions of heraldry to animal symbolism. And on the barrel, there was almost an axe attached in the manner of a bayonet on both the lower half of the weapon. And on its blade, carefully shaped to provide to it a careful balance. The handle seemed multi-purpose almost, with its handle being oddly designed to be held so it can be fired and also used as a conventional axe.

"I was inspired by the design which I came across in the archives, the idea of an axe bayonet is something which I came across some time ago, dating all the way back to Sunzhi and Laurence. Especially the engravings, that pattern was suggested to Sunzhi as one of the gunsmiths as a gift. It is a revolver to increase the possible lethality of the device, reducing the need to reload. Its ammunition is a type of slug I designed to be able to keep accuracy at considerable range while also being able to penetrate armour." Lilisi showed great passion when describing it in its intricate detail. "I just hope he may enjoy using it or at least gives it a good place in his collection. My brother has become increasingly interested in the training himself, says he wants to be able to equal or surpass Michael in a duel."

[Krjder]

Imperiala Palace, Ghish, Ghant
Anton bowed back courteously, a low bow, as he had heard of Akai, but knew little of it, so decided to play safe and show due respect. He smiled warmly at them all, but could tell the Akaians were not particularly interested.
"Thank you, Princess Alexia, I would love to join you." He said, though distracted by Lord Shand with his mask and cloak-concealed weapons. His eyes bulged at the weapon that was revealed.
"Wasz, en de naame vijk largenbouw..." He muttered, quietly but loudly enough that those present were alerted to his concern and confusion.
"My, that is a.... curious..." Anton stared at it for about five seconds before continuing; "firearm you have there. Would I be correct in my observations that such an.. instrument is for close quarter fighting?"

Approaching Ghant, Trøjmlijner-004
Princess Isabella rolled her eyes as Oskar Keiwoth, her aide, babbled on about Ghant and its relations with the Empire and the importance that any marriage would serve. As the plane descended, it cut below the cloud line and she could see the coast of Ghant from her window.

Suddenly, a bang ripped through the aircraft, making Isabella's heart stop. She dared to look out her window to where the wing was; both engines were flaming wrecks, the plane was now descending rapidly, all the more on the left side. She could hear the pilots, panic evident in their voice, shouting, calling mayday and swearing profusely. The plane hurtled towards the Ghantish coast, as the pilots knew that impact with the water would finish the plane at this speed, but a landing on hard ground could still be salvaged with great skill. Oskar clasped his hands in prayer, Isabella began to sob, her nuckles white from gripping her armrests.

More critical, was that the plane had had to stop and refuel, so any crash-induced explosions would completely destroy the plane. Finally, the plane, worryingly low passed over Ghantish land. The pilots immediately saw an open stretch of flattish land and begun a rocky descent, but not before their controls also lost purpose, the elevation reading going completely incorrect. The plane slammed into the ground, the engineer's head smashed into his controls destroying it utterly, the captain, who had unstrapped himself for easier access to the failing controls had smashed through the window, but was impaled by the window split, blood staining the windows. The co-pilot meanwhile had broken his spine and his lower legs shattered. In the back, most of the cabin crew had been thrown around, two killed instantly on impact, another trapped beneath the food trolley, her legs broken and a huge gash in her forehead. Of the three body guards, one had been crushed by a falling suitcase in the descent and nocked unconscious, sending his unresponsive body like a rag dol down the isle on impact, his head obliterated when it hit an ajar toilet door, the other two were bruised, but able to get up. Oskar too was unconscious, Isabella was relatively unscathed, but sat, still with fear and shock.
"Your Hignness, we MUST get off NOW, demanded a guard, removing Oskar from his seat. "The engines might explode any minute, we have to GO!"

Isabella slowly got up from her seat, and stumbled down the isle, behind the guard carrying Oskar, another followed her. She screamed when she saw the front of the plane; blood everywhere, not just blood but tissue, hair and gunk.
"Don't look, Your Higness, just go!" Just before she jumped from the door way, the rear of the plane blew up in a ball of fire, scorching them, as if a dragon had just roared in their faces. Screaming, they all ran across the field, save the guard at the back who had slipped and had been claimed by the advancing flames. His body ablaze, he found just enough resolve to take his handgun and end his agony swiftly. Isabella shrieked when she heard the gunshot, the last guard shuddered, putting down Oskar once they were clear of the wreckage. They awaited eagerly any sirens or approaching light.

[Brytene]

Nathan

"It's good to see you again, Nathan," Aoife said to the Emperor with a playful smile as she accepted his offering of wine. "I hope you are well." she added. The Emperor pulled her in for a warm embrace and kissed her on both checks before gesturing towards the couch nearby. It’s bad enough Cassandra is hovering around like a vulture waiting for something to die, the Emperor thought with a solemn expression.

It had only been a year ago, and yet it seemed far longer then that. Aoife had left not long after the ball and Uhtred’s death, and all that remained was the specter she left to haunt the Emperor’s mind. It wasn’t the fact that she left that lingered there…it was his belief that he had erred, somehow. Erred because she wouldn’t respond to his messages for sometime, perhaps because she thought he had used her. I can’t bring it upon myself to use anyone, he thought to himself. Because I myself know what it’s like to be used. All the same, he knew how it looked, and people, be they high born or low, were always prone to believe in appearances, regardless of what the facts might be.

“Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable.” Nathan did just that, on the couch opposite of the one he beckoned Aoife towards. “It’s good to see you, and rest assured I am well, though perhaps a bit more stressed. I’ve been more active in the…affairs of the realm, which brings with it its own fair share of trials and tribulations. My cousin Cassandra here has been of great assistance in that regard.”

Cassandra feigned humility, as far as Nathan could tell. “I do what I can to serve the realm,” his cousin said softly. “For what cause is more noble then serving the crown?” I can think of a few things. It wouldn’t serve to get into a philosophical debate with Cassandra…at least right now anyway. Besides, she usually wins those… among the members of their house, it was she that had the sharpest mind, as far as Nathan thought.

“Speaking of the crown,” the Emperor suddenly recalled. “Queen Aoife is no more…in her place is Jarl Aoife. Tell me…how did that come to transpire? An unfortunate thing, to be the last of something, and a shame at that, for you were an exceptional queen.” In truth, Nathan was feigning himself…though he was feigning ignorance…something I do as often as Cassandra feigns humility. He already knew the story from the media, but he wanted to hear it from Aoife’s mouth herself.[/align][/blocktext]

“The Walls of Unsaid”
Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant
Aoife

"The title was old and outmoded." Aoife replied, a dimple appearing on her cheek as her face began to form the faintest of smiles. She knew that to openly denigrate the concept of royalty in front of an Emperor was folly, but she also knew Nathan had both a sense of humour and tolerance for her that he would not extend to every person to stumble through his doors, and to flirt with controversy was her nature. "As the thrones of Brytene and Dyflin were both meritocratic, elected positions, we felt the titles should reflect this. Along with a change to our flag, one which represented the confederacy of our nations, this marked the beginning of a new age for Brytene. One in which free men and women took their place as members of one people, united behind leaders they have chosen."

In truth it was a little more complex than that; for example, she knew that the move had been designed to bolster the swelling nationalist party, and that the regime change had also served as excellent cover to cheat some, to her mind, filthy Inyurstan terrorists out of their blood money, but by and large the guiding principles were as she had outlined. She waited to see how Nathan would take her sudden outburst

ey fam, I know it's been months, sorry to have dropped out like that but I started a new job and just lost track of NS totally! I haven't been on at all in weeks

[Ghant]

“I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it." ― Terry Pratchett

---

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

"The title was old and outmoded." Aoife replied with a hint of dimple on her face. While the Emperor liked it when she smiled, he couldn’t help but feel sad for the loss of the title. For if anyone deserves to be a queen, he thought, surely it would be Aoife Brighteye. Alas, in the land of Brytene the value system was different…perhaps a bit more practical than their Ghantish counterparts.

Aoife went on to say that, "As the thrones of Brytene and Dyflin were both meritocratic, elected positions, we felt the titles should reflect this. Along with a change to our flag, one which represented the confederacy of our nations, this marked the beginning of a new age for Brytene. One in which free men and women took their place as members of one people, united behind leaders they have chosen."

Once again, the word meritocracy reared it’s ugly head. Nathan understood the concept well enough…that the “most qualified” people occupied positions of importance. In Rome, that was often how Emperors were chosen in days of old, and in the years just prior to the ascension of Valerian when there was a “rotating door” of Roman Emperors. Treating with them all began to become most tedious…

“A shame all the same Aoife,” the Emperor mused with pursed lips. “Traditions are such an important thing to a nation’s fabric, although I certainly do understand the…vestigial nature of the title. It’s been a while since I’ve cut my teeth on matters of philosophy, but…there are certain dangers in meritocracy, are there not? Far too often leaders are chosen because of their charisma, or because of their rhetoric. Some even by who they know. Tyranny of the masses can be a most terrible thing, as can be rule by the mob. I’ve lived to see such events transpire elsewhere, especially in Garza. Perhaps you are not so familiar with Rojo Martes, terrible tragedy that it was. The first thing the leaders they chose did was butcher my cousins in cold blood, for no other reason than being highborn. Some of them lived their lives piously and in devotion to the public good, yet in the end it mattered naught. It’s almost ironic to think, Aoife, that the system designed to enshrine our nobility is the same one that protects us from the depredations of the mob.”

Cassandra, it seemed, couldn’t help but snort in her disproval of the conversation at present. “Well of course, cousin, don’t you see? The story is all the same. We build this country, make it what it is today, and then the peasants suck whatever power we’ve earned away from us like parasites, until we have so little that we are glorified well-to-dos. Then they get rid of us, with ropes, guillotines and firing squads. Make no mistake, the more you give them the more they will take, until they take your life.”

Looking back at Aoife, Cassandra furrowed her brow and said, “United behind leaders you’ve chosen? Please. Any leader that is chosen will inadvertently pander to whatever social strata was responsible for getting them in power. What favors does a chosen leader owe to the minority, especially whichever one opposed their ascension? A leader that is born, and molded from birth, owes their favors to all, because no one was responsible for their ascension.”

“…To be fair, Cassandra,” Nathan coughed in an effort to address his cousin without provocation, “It’s not people of rank do not flourish in Brytene. Besides, they enjoy all the same rights and privileges as anyone else there…equal protection under the law and such. I mean, let’s be honest…here in Ghant, far too often the nobility benefits at the expense of the common folk, because the nobility hordes power, wealth and opportunities, leaving scraps for the rest of them.”

Cassandra turned to Nathan and raised an eyebrow. “Well, you know what they say, Nathan…cream always rises to the top.”

Oh, here we go with that shit again. Cassandra, of all of Nathan’s cousins, was definitely the most arrogant, haughty and self-conceited. She wanted things the way they used to be, when the Imperial family wasn’t just respected, but feared, when their legions could bear down on any lord great or small and make them submit through intimidation or force of arms. Those days were gone however, due to the insane machinations of the Mad Emperor of Ghant over seventy five years ago.

“Will all due respect, cousin,” Nathan pointed out with a quick glance towards Aoife. “The hallmark of a free society is opportunity. That’s why during my reign, I’ve been a champion of free higher education and a universal healthcare system that all citizens can take advantage of. As the Emperor of Ghant, I care a great deal about the welfare and wellbeing of all Ghantar, since I see it as my duty to ensure a high quality of life for all my subjects, if you will.”

“…So why is it that they mock and ridicule you, and even voted, though a narrow failure, to abolish the monarchy?” Cassandra posed the question sharply, and it was only then that Nathan knew that once again, he was caught in his cousin’s snare.

She does have a point, Nathan conceded to himself. Many people view the institution of monarchy with an inherent loathing and animosity. Perhaps it was because monarchy was a relic from a time when people lived their entire lives in a state of legal inferiority to highborns, under a class system so rigid that they would never rise above the yoke cast over them to make them work and pay their taxes.

“People don’t like being told that they’re not as good as you,” the Emperor finally responded.

“…Especially when it’s true,” Cassandra smirked.

So many people will beg and plead,
For other people to see to their needs,
But when told it's a problem, they will disagree

They stand up on the ballot box,
And say this vote was just "tough luck",
And yet scream in abject misery, when futures are turned to dust

Too many people don't give one damn,
About those in power, and all their plans,
And every day that passes, one less person stands

The masses feel the pain of ages,
Through their blood, vision rages,
Yet they do not realize, that they hold the keys to their cages

Unclean cars and motorbikes,
Terrorism and union strikes,
Why must we fight to be so different, when we are all so very alike?

We all want the same things,
Water to drink, air that's clean,
A little, tiny piece, of the human dream

Still we scream when changes come,
It's either too much or not enough,
And in the middle of it all, we forget how to love

So I say annihilate the masses,
Push the red button, let the earth tremble, and then be still,
If there's no-one left alive, there will be no-one left to kill

Annihilate the masses, everyone loses, no-one gains,
Annihilate the masses, so that everyone will finally suffer the same,
Annihilate the masses, so that we will all feel the same pain

The "human condition" is a joke, it's the greatest epic tragedy,
United, we are blinded by our misfortunes,
Yet alone, we still can't see

So annihilate the masses, take away the air we breathe,
Annihilate the masses, dig 8 billion graves 6 feet deep,
Annihilate the masses, maybe if we're all gone, we will finally be set free

Annihilate the masses, start the fire, and watch it burn,
Annihilate the masses, let the world no more seasons turn,
Annihilate the masses, in the moment of our ending, maybe we will finally, truly, learn

---

o o o o o o o

---

The Golden Coast
The Province of Nathia, Ghant

We wish for food,
Water and love,
Protection and fairness.
Is that too much to ask for?

How come you feast,
While we starve,
While we beg for bread?
You have so much and we so little.

I do not ask for pastry,
I ask for crumbs.
I do not wish for wine,
I wish to clench this thirst.

Look at yourself,
We say,
With humility,
Remove that crown.

Face the mirror,
And realize,
Without your birth,
You are same as us.

Karl Harugari sat in the passenger seat of his sedan puffing casually on a long cigarette, his feet up on the dashboard. It was a bad habit that manifested in his troubled youth, but even all these years later, he hadn’t been able to shake it. Everyone has a vice that will kill them eventually, he thought. His was cigarettes…and liquor…and whores…and gambling…

The early morning was one of Karl’s favorite times of the day. In the bumfuck parts of Nathia, the streets were sleepy and the diners ripe for the picking. Karl ordered his coffee black since it went so well with his cigarettes, and he preferred banana nut muffins with a cream cheese spread to go along with it. His thoughts wandered between his lot in life and the strippers from the other night, one in particular was his informant…and a bit too personal of one at that.

Anything could be a drug, whether it was actual drugs, or gambling or sex. Anything that was addictive, could corrupt a man the same way. Karl was not clean, but then again, no one was…even the people that had the squeakiest clean of reputations. Karl didn’t have one of those though, as a result of mistakes he made in the past that kept haunting him like ghosts in an old house. Yet on this particular day, his lot in life seemed like a subject of greater personal interest then the specters of his favorite whores.

It was a wonder he was still on the provincial criminal investigation unit, given his troubled history, though it wasn’t always that way. Karl was once a bright-eyed bushy-tailed academy graduate eager to get out into the streets and make a difference in the community. Only it didn’t work like that, and while he set out to change the streets, he learned an important lesson. The streets change you.

Such was the nature of the game. It didn’t matter where you came from or what your intentions were. First rule of the streets: the streets don’t give a fuck. One could hope all they wanted that things would be better, or different, or fair. But life was none of those things, especially for poor kids that started from the bottom and worked they up into a life in the corrupt criminal justice system, which wasn’t designed to actually clean up the streets of gangsters and thugs, but to perpetuate a state machine that ran a racket of its own.

The first mistake Karl made was pointing it out. He initially tried to take the lead, perhaps because he thought he was the smartest, or the best or the brightest. He thought his way of doing things was the best, and all he had to do was convince everyone else they were too. That didn’t work however, and from there it only got worse. There were debates, then arguments spawned from differences of opinion, differences over methodologies and personality clashes. Karl got caught up in the web of organizational politics and the spider of ruin stung him and sucked the blood dry from his veins. He’s not a team player…He’s a toxic influence…He’s a drama queen… word traveled and his reputation was fucked. Opportunities closed themselves off to him, and he was stuck with the bottom-feeder shit left to the cops on the lowest rung of the department. Oh, you’re that guy we’ve heard about…you have a ‘reputation…’ over and over again.

Drugs provided an escape, easily accessible in the criminal underworld he was set loose upon and abandoned in, as the higher-ups just wanted him to go away. There was LSD, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and shit that Karl didn’t even know how to say. While this stuff was legal, much of it was frowned upon, but it gave him the release he needed from his troubles, numbing his mind and distracting him long enough to find some peace in the world of insanity and unfairness that decided to shit on his once promising parade.

His marriage was the first thing to go. He stopped paying attention to his lovely wife that was his high school sweetheart once upon a time and the apple of his eye. You’ve changed, she told him, and then she was gone…or rather he was gone, because she kept the house and most of their things. This was followed by her getting full custody of his daughter, which he seldom got to see, and when he did he had to deal with the self-righteous prick that caught his ex-wife on the rebound. Life had gone in a tail-spin, and Karl wondered if it was all worth it now. Disillusionment set in, followed by the apathy and malaise that accompanies it. That’s life.

What Karl needed was inspiration, and he found it in short order. As it happened, a detective on the criminal detective unit asked for Karl specifically to be his partner…the infamous Alfred Bocks. Detective Bocks was everything that Karl wasn’t. His was a career of excellence and phenomenal police work, and quite frankly a brilliant mind to boot. He had recently lost his partner due to retirement, and Bocks took an interest in Karl of all people to replace him.

Karl remembered the first conversation they had, only a year ago. “Why me?”

“Because you got fucked over, and you didn’t deserve it. Your academy record was good, and you have your heart in the right place. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and it ruined your career. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference still, that you can’t succeed. Stick with me, and I will help you achieve great things. It might not be right away, it will take some time to happen or maybe not at all, but I think with hard work and dedication, you can be a great detective.”

Nobody had ever said anything even remotely resembling that to Karl in his whole life. He was sold…he was in. Then the work began, and the rest took care of itself. A trail of gangsters left in their wake, infiltration as deep as the Sea of Ghant and even some ins with the Sindikatu…which was what Harugari and Bocks were looking into the day that Bocks had his feet up on the dashboard, smoking a cigarette, and Bocks running back to the sedan.

Harugari had grungy blonde facial hair and a mop on top, with crystal blue eyes gleaming with cynicism. Tall and slender, he contrasted with the short, stocky Bocks, who had receding brown hair under a beige woolen flat cap and dull olive-colored eyes. Bocks was like him though…just another poor kid from the bad areas of Onmutu looking for a better life than what they originally had.

“There’s been an incident,” Bocks informed his partner, matter-of-factly.

Karl’s first thought was that it was some gang-on-gang related violence. “Gangster shit?”

“No, worse than that…a plane crashed…a VIP plane…” Bocks climbed into the sedan and shut the door behind him.

Oh no, not this again. Karl remembered when Crown Prince John died in a plane crash back in 1994…that was a huge ordeal and a public relations fiasco. “Who?”

“Princess Isabella of Krijder,” Bocks answered as he started driving. “She was on Trøjmlijner-004 with her aides and personal staff. The engines caught fire mid-flight, and the plane crashed on the beach. It’s a wonder that the pilot was able to salvage the craft, had he been any worse everyone would have died. The princess survived, I’m told, as did some of her entourage. The rest I plan on investigating personally.”

Bocks had received information about the crash, and fortunately they were not that far away. It took them a good hour or so to arrive at the beach, with Bocks keeping quiet and brooding over the facts and figures as was his way. Karl smoked some cigarettes with the window down and played games on his phone. They arrived at the devastated beach to find it taped off by police and emergency response vehicles with flashing lights abound. The wreckage was quite ruinous in appearance, and the remains of the plane and passengers were…still being assessed.

Karl hesitated for a moment, before Bocks got out of the car. Karl got out after that and followed him into the crash site, where local police were scurrying about. As one might expect, they were a bit…territorial. “Detective Bocks,” the local police chief said as he approached them casually. “I’m surprised to see you here. Shouldn’t you be off busting gangsters?”

With a chuckle, Bocks walked closer and told him “the Provincial government wants me to look into this…to see if it’s Sindikatu related. Surely you guys understand. I’m not here to step on anyone’s toes. Just doing my job.”

The police chief chuckled in response, though he did so with the tinge of sarcasm in his voice. “Province sent you down here huh? You should know, Bocks, that the Imperials are down here too. Yeah, this shit is awfully fucked up…I mean, a foreign princess? If the Sindikatu is responsible then they got some huge balls. Uhtred of Deepdale was one thing, but a foreign Imperial Princess? What’s this shit coming to?”

“Terrorism, chief.” Bocks began sleuthing around the scene, while Karl did the same not far away. “What happened exactly?”

“…From what we’ve been able to gather, they flew this way, stopped to refuel, and then came in. The engines caught fire, and they had to make ground. The pilots saw the beach and tried to land it here, and it turned into a nasty crash. The engineer’s head smashed up against the controls, while the captain was impaled by the window split and the co-pilot suffered a broken spine and shattered lower legs. Yeah, really nasty shit Bocks. Flight attendants got torn the fuck up, and of the three body guards, one got his head busted open, and the other two suffered bruises, though one of them caught fire and burned to death.” The police chief showed Bocks and Karl the scene of the accident, while Bocks took out his notepad and started taking down notes of his observations.

“And the Princess, where is she now?” Bocks asked coolly.

“With the EMTs. The Imperials have been on her like flies on shit. I don’t know if the Emperors of Ghant and Krijder have been informed or if they are aware, but God forbid when they are. If the Sindikatu is responsible for sabotaging the plane while it refueled, then heads are going to roll, make no mistake about it.”

“We will talk to the Princess once she’s had the chance to calm down,” Bocks informed the Chief. “The last thing she will want to do after getting left alone by the Imperials is to talk to us. So we will wait until we’re sure she’s ready.”

Karl coughed, and looked at Bocks, telling him “Bocks when you got a minute, would you mind if we talked alone?”

“Sure, Karl…we can do that.” With that said, Bocks tucked away his notepad and walked over to Karl, who had stepped off to the side.

“…You don’t see anything wrong with this?” Karl asked his partner, feeling slightly annoyed at what he perceived to be going on.

Bocks raised an eyebrow. “What do you think is going on?”

Looking around to make sure nobody was listening, Karl took a deep breath before saying, “We’re supposed to be breaking up the gangs and working against the mob, yet we are out on this god-forsaken beach investigating a crashed plane…all because it was carrying some princess…seems to me like the provincial government considers this girl a higher priority.”

“That’s because she is. She’s a foreign princess from a strong country. How do you think it would look if we all just stay on our asses while killers are out and about? It wouldn’t look good, Karl, and besides we know the Sindikatu has it out for highborn folks. It’s part of their terrorist agenda.” Bocks, unlike Karl was a man that far more content with his lot in life than Karl was with his, and it showed in his utter complacency with the political status-quo.

“I don’t like the idea of chasing after ghosts because the highborns are suddenly scared of becoming targets. Dare I say that they even had it coming. Man, think about it…the way they abuse the system. The corruption, the wheeling and dealing. I’d bet that they’re involved in the criminal network too, but we can’t touch them because of who they are. Hence, nothing changes…until now.” Karl thought that venting his frustrations would make Bocks understand, but it didn’t.

“Listen, Karl, I get that you’re frustrated,” Bocks told him in an equally hushed tone. “Yeah, the highborns only give a shit now that this Princess of Krijder could be the victim of a terrorist plot. It means that they’re vulnerable. But they’re people too, and everyone that’s a person deserves protection under the law. I know it’s hard for you to believe it Karl, but there’s a system here that works well enough for everything to operate. It’s not the best system, but so far it’s worked. We are but instruments in that system, and it’s up to guys like you and me to keep it working.”

“Fuck that,” Karl snorted in frustration. What the fuck do I owe those elite pricks? “I don’t think you understand…”

“No, you don’t understand,” Bocks shot back, putting his hand on Karl’s shirt collar. “Let me be blunt with you, Karl. This place…they run it, and we just dwell here at their leisure. What we get is what they give us, and like little hamsters we run and run and run, round and round, while they watch with amusement or indifference. Now, people from Ghish want us, as in you and me, to look into this, and it would look very bad if we didn’t accept. So that’s what we are going to do. I don’t give a shit about your republican or anti-monarchist views, Karl. I really don’t. There’s a terrified young girl over there that just saw her friends killed in a plane crash. So try to be a bit more fucking sympathetic, why don’t you?”

Bocks pushed Karl away just then, while the latter reached into his shirt pocket for his pack of cigarettes and his lighter. He lit one up as Bocks took his notepad back out and resumed writing down his observations. Karl looked the other way while he smoked, glancing at some of the smoldering ruins of the plane. It’s almost like a segregated society, he thought, the clear blue sky of the early day being tainted with black smoke. They have their own planes, their own schools, their own everything. As accessible as the Emperor of Ghant was said to be, Karl had never met him, or seen him for that matter. He’s just another man in an ivory tower, totally clueless.

Bocks was just a product of the system, chewed up and spit out to be just another cog in the machinery, dependent upon a system that wasn’t designed to lift him up, but to hold him down in one place. That was the great irony of it all…Bocks was a brilliant detective, as decorated as they came, yet he was still just a pawn in the game of greater entities that took advantage of him, while at the same time using him to keep their own noses clean.

People in power are rarely in those positions because they are the best suited for them. Far too often Karl found them to be power-hungry, corrupt and self-aggrandizing, rewarding their friends and using their power to restrict access to their upper echelons. Now here Karl was, an unwitting pawn in their game of cat and mouse with the ghosts of the Sindikatu, who might not have even been involved in the incident that resulted in this plane from Krijder crashing. And all the thinking inside the box that comes with it...

Can you not see
the abyss yawning wide
in which you relax like a bath?

A day follows night
follows day follows night
follows life after life
follows death
and its tragic embrace,

and onwards and upwards
and backwards and downwards
we float like a sycamore seed;
the wind is our master
and we are its puppets
and all that you know is a lie.

For if we are puppets
there is naught we can do
save wait for our strings
to be jerked.

And yet we still stand
like the house on the sand
and watch as the Ark passes by.

[Brytene]

“Sometimes it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." ― Terry Pratchett

---

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

Nathan certainly didn't appreciate the populism Aoife was espousing, but if he disliked it then it was evident that the haughty, high-born Cassandra despised such thinking. The two of them sparred in front of her, Nathan putting up a half-hearted defense of the average person whilst Cassandra laid out a withering barrage of anger and disdain. The Emperor clearly did not have the energy to put up too much of a struggle, and so eventually he finally conceded; “People don’t like being told that they’re not as good as you,”

Cassandra smirked at her victory. “…Especially when it’s true,” she added, unable to avoid snatching the last word. Aoife remained silent for a moment, stopping just short of awkwardness, before speaking up.

"Frankly it's just a law of averages. The more people making a decision, the less likely it is to be outstanding, but the less likely it is to result in widespread death or destruction. Good kings and mad kings are two sides of the same coin."

She shrugged - to go further, to touch upon the concepts of cultural stagnation or even inbreeding, would have been ill-advised and rather offensive given present company, so like a sailor spotting rough seas ahead she switched tack.

"Anyway, Nathan, I'm not here purely for the joy of rigorous political discussion, as delightful as that may be," she said, managing to avoid glancing at Cassandra as she said so. "I'm here because the Sindikatu still have a murder to pay for."

[Ghant]

“The Law of Averages”
Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

Cassandra’s incessant loathing of the common people wore thin upon the Emperor’s nerves. He tolerated such thinking of course, because he believed in earnest that she wasn’t in any position to act upon her predispositions. In spite of that, she was often right, though Nathan never acknowledged it to her lest he reinforce her already bloated ego. She did warn me that the Edomites think they own me, he thought then. That going to the Embassy with Sophia to treat with Amenmar was a show of weakness and submission…

Aoife, for her part, sat quietly while Cassandra verbally sparred with the Emperor. It suddenly dawned upon him that while Cassandra and Aoife didn’t know each other, it was probably better it remain that way. The two seemed to him like oil and water, especially given their attitudes on politics, social conventions and civil rights. Chances are they’ve already soured upon each other, if this conversation is any indication.

After Cassandra got in her last verbal barb, Aoife finally spoke, nearly as politely as before. "Frankly it's just a law of averages. The more people making a decision, the less likely it is to be outstanding, but the less likely it is to result in widespread death or destruction. Good kings and mad kings are two sides of the same coin."

“The law of averages,” Nathan thought with a finger on his chin. That does make sense. “I never thought of it that way. Though of course, I try to set the bar high and aim for the outstanding,” he teased. Cassandra was quiet, merely sipping on her tea and observing with eagle eyes.

"Anyway, Nathan,” Aoife continued, in an effort to keep the conversation on track. “I'm not here purely for the joy of rigorous political discussion, as delightful as that may be," she said. "I'm here because the Sindikatu still have a murder to pay for."

While the Emperor felt an innate need to try to impress Aoife with his grasp on the situation, he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her. He ended up telling her the reality of the situation instead. “Yes, of course…the Sindikatu. A work in progress, rest assured.” That wasn’t all he had to say about that, though he took a small break to clear his throat. “People often assume that large countries have large populations. This is more often than not a faulty assumption. While Ghant might be a large country, by no means does it have a large population. In fact, the population is surprisingly small for a nation of such great size, which means two things.”

Two very important things. The Emperor had been in the north enough times to know how…wild and remote it truly could be. The perfect base of operations for terrorist groups. “The first is that there’s an exceptionally low population density, to the extent that you could wander around the wilderness for days between villages and not encounter other people. The second is that the Imperial government simply doesn’t have either the manpower or the resources to control the territory, which is why the two means of justice in the north lay with the rangers, and with the northern lords. The rangers I fear are often ill-equipped to deal with a conglomerate as robust as the Sindikatu, and the northern lords, well…”

What should I say about them? “They have a tendency to play their own game. Their fiefs are larger than their southern counterparts, they tend to exercise greater control over their lands and their affairs, and that lends itself to…recalcitrance and treachery. All three of the great Civil Wars at the end of the 19th century were initiated by the northern nobility, and it is far too impractical to rein them in the way that governments of other countries might. Thus, an effort is made to keep them satisfied by giving them a wide berth, but I’d be lying to you if I said that they don’t take advantage of it.” Nathan sipped coolly on his tea, rubbing his chin as he often did when he was ruminating in such a way.

“I’d also be lying to you if I said that I didn’t suspect some of these lords aiding and abating the Sindikatu, be it with monetary assistance, providing them with shelter or looking the other way. It’s a complex issue, and one that will require a massive undertaking on the part of the Ghantish government and Imperial resources. Yet, it is certainly one worth undertaking, because with the death of Uhtred, it shows that they are becoming more bold and more brazen…”

Cassandra had taken to fiddling with her phone, and yawning ever so slightly as her cousin the emperor went on and on. Then she paused, and looked at Aoife, and then to Nathan. “If you’d excuse me, there’s been an…incident.”

“…An incident?” the Emperor looked at her with wary eyes.

“The Emperor of Krijder’s sister was en route to Ghish via a private plane. It went down, crashing onto the beach off of the Golden Coast. It wasn’t pilot error…the engines literally exploded rather abruptly. Casualties have been reported, though the Princess is alive and mostly unhurt, sans a few bruises and scratches. She’s being treated and looked after by local medical units.”

Nathan rested his face in his hands and sighed in exasperation. “For fucksake…was the Sindikatu involved?”

“That’s currently being looked into,” Cassandra replied casually, as though it was of little concern. “It is possible that the plane was sabotaged when it stopped for refueling.”

“Let me know when you know anything, and send some people to look after her. If somebody wanted her dead, they’ll likely try again once they find out she’s still alive.” Nathan rubbed his eyes and looked back up at Aoife. “The Sindikatu are a threat not just to the social order of Ghant, but to the safety and security to our citizens and those from countries abroad. I intend to destroy them utterly and bring them to justice…but I might need some help in order to accomplish that…”

[Brytene]

“Thus, an effort is made ”
Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

Aoife listened to Nathan's explanation of the political situation in the north and boiled it down to one simple message; there wasn't much that could be done. Not if Nathan wanted to keep his country halfway stable. Aoife's plan of action would have been to let the Rangers figure out which northern lords had even a whiff of interacting with the Sindikatu, then bomb their holdings flat, arrest the survivors and bleed them dry of information, but that was hardly something she could ask Nathan to do. Not if he wanted to remain Emperor.

But then Cassandra interrupted. Apparently someone had made an attempt on the life of the sister of the Emperor of Krjder, and Cassandra seemed to think the Sindikatu may have had something to do with it. Managing to bomb a plane and not kill all the passengers was quite an achievement, but a thought struck Aoife almost instantly. She was not an intelligence officer, not a secret agent or a detective, but as a soldier she had been taught the value of predicting your enemy's behaviour, of anticipating their actions in order to catch them flat-footed and hand them a beating as a result.

"Nathan, if they failed they'll try again, like you say. That means we know they're coming; that means this time we can catch them. Grab them, wring them for information, chase them up the chain until we find whoever is behind this." she interrupted, not looking at Cassandra. She paused, thinking to herself a moment, but then gave up; like directions, she figured it was easier to simply ask.

"Here's the question. Who in Ghant would benefit from the deaths of both Princess Isabella and Eorl Uhtred, and would have the kind of power and shitty personality to align themselves with a criminal cartel for the purposes of cold-blooded murder?"

As she spoke, she finally turned her gaze to Cassandra. Scrutinizing her face to see if any alarm bells went off, to see if she flinched at the idea - Aoife had little doubt that among Cassandra's circle of confidantes, there had been few tears shed at Uhtred's death, and she certainly didn't seem too distraught at Isabella's close call either...

[/quote]

[Ghant]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

"Nathan, if they failed they'll try again, like you say,” Aoife replied to the Emperor after listening to him ramble about the north. It is not as hopeless as you might think. Many believed that northern Ghant was a knot that couldn’t be untangled, or that it was a land of lawlessness and impunity. It is merely a place where the strong prevail. I just need to be stronger than my enemies.

Aoife added “That means we know they're coming; that means this time we can catch them. Grab them, wring them for information, chase them up the chain until we find whoever is behind this."

As Nathan considered how to respond to this, Aoife continued to speak on the matter at hand. "Here's the question,” Aoife posed. “Who in Ghant would benefit from the deaths of both Princess Isabella and Eorl Uhtred, and would have the kind of power and shitty personality to align themselves with a criminal cartel for the purposes of cold-blooded murder?"

“…I already know who’s behind it.” Or at least who I suspect is behind it. “He’s the most wanted man in Ghant, as cunning and devious as he is elusive. A Thular clansman by the name of Unni Yarudi. Maybe you’ve heard the name before somewhere…he’s something of a criminal mastermind. Nobody really knows what he wants or why he does the things that he does, but the man feeds on chaos the way a fat boy feeds on cake. You know how they say that some men just want to watch the world burn…that’s him.”

Cassandra scoffed visibly at this assertion. “Here we go with this Unni Yarudi again. Nobody even knows if he exists. Hell, you can even go to the Yarudi clan’s lands in Thule and speak to any of them yourself. Nobody seems to know anything about him, not even where he’s supposedly from. You might as well be chasing after ghosts.”

The Yarudi Lands might be a good place to start. “…But the plane…” Nathan was cut off by Cassandra, who ever so slightly raised up her hands.

“That quite literally just happened, and we don’t even know if it was sabotaged. For all we know, it was just some malfunction or the plane itself was faulty. There’s a lot that we don’t know and jumping to conclusions wouldn’t do any of us any good,” she appealed to him.

Just then the Emperor had a brain flash. “What if it was SACTO? They have…problems with Brytene, and Krjder is in the International Freedom Coalition, which has…butted heads with SACTO as well. What if they are involved?”

This time Cassandra glared at her cousin. “Oh, now you want to throw around accusations at our allies? Sometimes I wonder who’s side your on, Nathan.”

“…There’s one side worth being on,” the Emperor returned the look, before grinning gently at Aoife. “Justice and truth. As soon as we turn a blind eye to that, then we don’t really deserve whatever power we have.”

“And truth and justice are in the eyes of the beholder,” she countered coolly just before taking a deep gulp of her wine, her eyes casually drifting towards Aoife. Nathan knew his cousin well enough to know when she didn’t like somebody, and she certainly didn’t approve of Aoife, for reasons that he wasn’t sure of. Yet

[Brytene]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

Nathan deflected almost expertly - it was as though he were reluctant to push matters, though to be fair Aoife could understand why. He began talking about some Unni Yarudi, who sounded to Aoife like Babu Yagu, some mythical bogeyman living in the woods who could be blamed for any crime. Cassandra scoffed, and for the first time Aoife found herself agreeing with the haughty aristocrat.

It wasn't until Nathan mentioned SACTO that Cassandra cooled - going from contemptuous to visibly annoyed in a heartbeat. She feigned disinterest, but her glib retort was more than enough. "And truth and justice are in the eyes of the beholder,” she said, her gaze unavoidably sliding towards the Bryton.

Aoife's face went vacant a moment as she struggled to marshal her reaction - was she angry or amused? Whichever, the key was to drive at the wedge, to bring action out of words.

"Whether it was this Yaroody person, some jostling government minister of yours, or even the work of SACTO thugs, we'll know soon enough. They failed to kill the Princess, and no doubt once they find out I'm in the country they'll be spurred to an ever greater excess of hate. All we have to do is turn Isabelle and me into traps. Let them strike, draw the venom, and once we've got them in our grip we can find out who paid them, bleed them for what they know. "

She shrugged. She half suspected Cassandra knew more than she was letting on at this point, but then again the thought of the powers behind these attacks shying off just because rumours reached them of Brytisc involvement was absurd, and so Aoife wasn't too concerned about airing their plans in front of her.

"We could always push your intelligence assets to find out more about this Yaroody whilst we wait. Someone must have heard something - even if it wasn't him, that's news itself."

[Ghant]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

"Whether it was this Yaroody person, some jostling government minister of yours, or even the work of SACTO thugs, we'll know soon enough,” Aoife pointed out in her subtle, though nonetheless fiery way. “They failed to kill the Princess, and no doubt once they find out I'm in the country they'll be spurred to an ever greater excess of hate. All we have to do is turn Isabelle and me into traps. Let them strike, draw the venom, and once we've got them in our grip we can find out who paid them, bleed them for what they know."

That prompted Nathan to shift uncomfortably in his seat. “You want me to use you as bait, Aoife?” There were few people that Nathan didn’t want in harm’s way more than Aoife, and the thought of someone coming to inflict harm upon her made him feel more protective then perhaps he should have. “You’re asking a lot…whoever is responsible for this rash of violence is especially cunning.”

Cassandra shrugged subtly. “If Aoife here wants to be the bait, why not let her? She’s a grown woman, she can make her own decisions. Though if something terrible were to happen, she can’t say she wasn’t warned in advance. Ghant is an especially dangerous place for those who go around looking for trouble.” As though she were playing poker, Cassandra went back to sipping on her wine. Nathan didn’t like her attitude, but he didn’t say anything about it, instead focusing his attention on Aoife and what she had to say.

Aoife added that "We could always push your intelligence assets to find out more about this Yaroody whilst we wait. Someone must have heard something - even if it wasn't him, that's news itself."

“I can do that,” Nathan agreed, “though I want to know more about what you had in mind for this ‘bait’ plan of yours. Where do you want to do that? Here? Somewhere else? So help me God, if they come and try to hurt you I’ll string them up myself, and then I’ll personally track them down unto the ends of the earth.” The Emperor tried to think of other places that they could go where her plot might succeed more easily. Gadea, perhaps, or some place in Gaemar. Maybe even the north, on a hunting trip… it was hard for him to concentrate on that though…Cassandra could tell he was drawn to Aoife, and that annoyed her, he knew. She never did like any of the girls that I fancied…

Nathan wasn’t very good at hiding his feelings. In another life, Aoife was Empress of Ghant, the champion of social progress that thrusted the Empire forward in the fashion of Empress Paulina or Empress Edaalya. That’s all that was though, dreams. Besides, the Aoife in front of him skirted royal pomp and pageantry in favor of a more democratic position. That free, principled spirit was what Nathan loved the most about her, and tragically, that was the reason why she wouldn’t stay with him, no matter how much he wanted her to. For I loved a bird, and if I had clipped its wings, it would have been mine, it would never have flown away. But this way, it would no longer have been a bird. And it was the bird that I loved.

[Brytene]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

Whilst Nathan clearly abhorred the idea of placing Aoife in harms way, the Jarl could practically sense the satisfaction radiating off of Cassandra. A poker face was all well and good when your opponent had no idea what your cards were, but when you knew what to expect the signs were easy enough to read.

"A hunting trip would be ideal. I could take a small contingent of guards with me, we make it look obvious that the hunting trip is cover for me to dig around in the far north. They won't be able to resist such an easy target, especially not one rooting around their base of operations. In the meantime, you let Isabella act just as normal. Swamp her with special agents, keep her safe."

She patted the sword that hung at her hip. The hilt was black and silver, graven with Ghantish runes; this was Stormbiter, gifted to Aoife months ago by Nathan in the aftermath of their night together. She had chosen it in place of her usual Barghest, the brutal blade forged from the bones of her foes, because she wanted to remind Nathan of what they had shared and the implicit promises of that distant night, the night Uhtred had been murdered.

"Gods willing, Stormwolf will be avenged on those who have betrayed Ghant and brought murder to her streets. Though I would suggest it be Imperial forces that strike the most visible and hardest blows - I imagine your detractors would love to claim that foreigners were having to fight your battles for you, as much as I would love to be turned loose to raise hell."

Aoife was a little more single-minded than Nathan, but even to her the incongruity of her words in this place struck her. She realised at that moment that they were fundamentally different, and perhaps what she had taken for weakness on his part was rather a greater level of introspection, a more measured and thoughtful approach to the world that she perhaps lacked. When surrounded by those such as Cenwulf and Uhtred, brash and brawling or clever and cunning, it was easy to think of yourself as the humane one, but she found herself almost excited at the prospect of blood-letting, and knew that no matter how determined he was to stamp out criminality and raise his banner high, Nathan would never and could never rejoice in death. Perhaps that wasn't a bad thing. Such people were rare, in Ghant and Brytene both.

In that moment she softened, allowing a smile to play over her lips. Best to take the lead on this one. "Just let me know where to go, Your Majesty, and I can set off first thing tomorrow morning."

[Ghant]

Inperiala Palace
Ghish, Ghant

Much to Nathan’s pleasure, however apprehensive it may have been, Aoife seemed amicable to his idea. "A hunting trip would be ideal. I could take a small contingent of guards with me, we make it look obvious that the hunting trip is cover for me to dig around in the far north. They won't be able to resist such an easy target, especially not one rooting around their base of operations. In the meantime, you let Isabella act just as normal. Swamp her with special agents, keep her safe."

Nathan watched her as she patted the sword that he had given her. It was a sword without a master, but now it had one that was worthy of it. “I’d caution against bringing firearms. Northerners are especially hostile towards them, Thular in particular. Though if you must, keep them well concealed…”

"Gods willing, Stormwolf will be avenged on those who have betrayed Ghant and brought murder to her streets. Though I would suggest it be Imperial forces that strike the most visible and hardest blows - I imagine your detractors would love to claim that foreigners were having to fight your battles for you, as much as I would love to be turned loose to raise hell," exclaimed Aoife, to which Cassandra had a deft response.

“I’m assuming you’ve never been up north,” the Princess replied tactfully. “It’s a vast, and in many places inhospitable terrain. Having Imperial forces walk around going village to village and cave to cave is far too impractical. Once we know where our enemies are, we will target them and eliminate them root and stem. They won’t be dispatched to go on wild goose chases, but if you’d like to do that you’re certainly welcome to.”

The Emperor took a deep breath and exhaled as deeply. He felt that Aoife was right and true, even though that sentiment would surely disappoint his cousin. “Aoife is right, you know. They’d be fools to attack an Imperial contingent, but one foreigner almost by herself in wild northern country? They’d take that bait for sure, and once we’ve caught the fish, we’ll know where they spawn.”

Aoife let out a smile. "Just let me know where to go, Your Majesty, and I can set off first thing tomorrow morning."

Nathan smiled devilishly in response, and raised his glass of tea. “Oh, you didn’t think you’d be going alone did you? I plan on going with you…”

In quick succession Cassandra spit out her wine and clutched her throat. “This is fool’s folly,” she shook her head in disbelief. “With all due respect, Nathan, this is far too great of risk for you…”

“But not too great of risk for Aoife?” Nathan put his glass down and rose from his couch. “I can’t in good conscious sit on my hands down here and worry at night about whether she’s still alive. I couldn’t eat or sleep at night with that on my conscious, so I’m going. Incognito if I have to…Arietta has a great hair stylist that I’m sure could dye my hair…”

Cassandra stood up and snorted at him. “You’re an idiot sometimes, you know that? You’re needed here, especially with those Edomites scuttling about. Who do you suppose will rule in your absence?”

“Why, you of course.” The Emperor cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms. “I may be an idiot but I’d rather be an idiot than a coward. I’m sure you will have things well in hand, and I will bring a few good men to have my back.”

Looking at him coolly, Cassandra inclined her head and said, "as you wish, your Majesty." Then she turned her back and saw herself out of the room, walking briskly down the hall.

Turning to Aoife, Nathan reached down a hand and said. “Upon the morrow, we shall leave if that is your desire. We can take a small plane, I know a place in the Thula mountains we can go to. The weather there is the best it will be all year, but there will be some preparation we will have to undertake. I can show you to your quarters if you’d like.”