by Reiter
“Continue forward, my KnighT,” she whispered.
A staircase of light formed to take the couple above the back table. They descended to the central area and walked across the room.
“You have my gratitude, Valian,” Pelania mentioned.
“For what, Your Majesty?”
“You have changed the length and speed of your strides perfectly. There aren’t many who can make the change and manage a natural stride. If I didn’t know any better, I would swear you were trying to impress me for the worst of reasons.”
“I would not dare to approach what you share with you husband,” Valian stated. “I have been blessed to see two couples in the throes of a deep and stirring love... and yes, I look forward to sharing such a sentiment with the right person at some point in my future. But I will also not dare to have you forget you are indeed an Empress, a lady, and a fine woman. What is a bit of harmless romance between friends, Your Majesty?”
“Harmless romance?” she snorted a laugh. “What a concept. You do not lack for courage, Valian. That I will tell you.”
“A second blessing conveyed to me by both sets of parents.”
“Especially the first set, yes?” the Empress asked, looking at her escort.
“More than I could measure, Pelania,” he thought, opening his mind to hers. The matter of Imperial Conditioning was common knowledge. The manner in which the MajiK of the Inner Rim Empire had embraced the woman had given her more than the gift of slowed aging. Many of the Imperial Blood were called upon to master the skills of many life-paths. Pelania was more skilled than most PsyondaRs in matters of using ThoughtWill. She struggled not to display how it felt to be warmly welcomed into the mind of another.
“And to call me Pelania,” she thought. “A name I often go for weeks without hearing.”
“That is a shame. It is a beautiful name.”
“Thank y–” Pelania was distracted by a room of thoughts in the house that was Valian’s mind. She was welcome in his house, but that room was barred and she could not help but feel that it was done for her protection. A closer look at the door revealed that it possessed eyes. The bar and door were actually another mind... a conscious mind inside a mind. “What? What are you?!”
“A friend,” Valian projected, leading Pelania over the second staircase made of light. “Surely you can see that.”
“Yes, I can both see and feel that. But to see this discipline in one so young... it is an abnormal thing.”
“And whatever would an Empress do with a normal friend?” he projected, walking the Empress to her seat.
“Thank you, Lord Valian,” she said softly.
“I don’t think I can call you Young Lord again,” she projected.
“My honor, Your Majesty,” Valian replied.
“Forgive me if I continue to address you as ‘Your Majesty’,” he projected.
“So long as it is only to my ear, Valian.”
“As you wish, my Empress. And this is the answer to the question you are not sure if you should ask.” Pelania’s nostrils flared as her mind was allowed to move through Valian’s memories of his birth parents.
Pelania stood up from her seat and gave her blessing to the proceedings. The dinner was officially started. As Valian pushed her chair forward when she sat down, Pelania patted his hand.
In exchange for what he had given her, Pelania shared her life with him. She was very impressed to see that he had less of a physical reaction than she had exhibited. He was very grateful for the sharing, and the two engaged in a number of silent conversations.
The Duke and Duchess sat together in a banquet hall, holding hands and smiling at the viewing devices. The Empress stepped toward the projected image and acknowledged the bowing couple.
“Master and Mistress of the House Jhormynn,” Pelania started. “... I know it is much later in the day for you than it is for us here enjoying the warmth of your splendid estate. We will not be keeping you too long.”
“This is but a simple service to our homeland, Your Majesty,” Vaiyorl returned. “We live to serve the Throne and the Inner Rim Empire!” Applause and cheering kept Pelania from making an immediate response.
“I have spoken to my husband, our Emperor. He is most pleased with what you have managed to assemble in a land outside our borders. When you and your wife return to your homeland, we must have you at the Imperial Palace so that we may embrace you with adequate praise for this accolade.”
Yorlson sat in his chair, looking both anxious and aggravated as his eyes moved from the view screen... to the Empress... and then to her escort. His jaws tightened as he clenched his napkin more tightly.
“I wouldn’t.”
“Wh-What?” Yorlson said, turning to look at the Lady Oedelorana.
“I wouldn’t,” she repeated. “Whatever it is that you’re planning on doing; it isn’t a natural move, and it’s likely that it will not come off the way you wish.”
“Not a natural move?!” Yorlson chuckled. “Forgive me, my Lady, but what does that mean?”
“Apologies,” the woman smiled. “I am a swordplay enthusiast. I sometimes speak in such terms. It’s clear that you’re preoccupied with something, and it isn’t this celebration. Whatever it is, you’re nervous and unsure of yourself. If that’s the case, it’s likely something you don’t feel strongly about doing. If you cannot commit wholly to an action, you shouldn’t do it.”
“That must be some sword arm you have,” Yorlson smiled.
“Now you’re trying to fence with a fencer,” Oedelorana stated, looking away from him. “That means you’ve made up your mind... and it’s probably the wrong decision.” The woman cut her green eyes back to Yorlson but he found he could not hold her stare. “Definitely the wrong decision.”
“Duke Vaiyorl, your demonstrations of graceful humility will soon be required material in our Imperial Conditioning classes,” Pelania said with a graceful smile. “It is a trait that your Ward has taken to heart. Earlier today, he and his erstwhile retainers engaged a number of Gateyans, preventing the formation of a demonic breach.”
“Valian!” Guysorla said, putting her fingertips to her lips. “How do you fare?”
“Thanks to the Empress, I am in fine health, Your Grace,” Valian said, after standing and bowing toward the projected image. “My ladyship needn’t concern herself over this. The matter has come and gone without casualty outside of those who intended the mischief.”
“Mischief,” Pelania remarked in a jovial matter. “Duke Vaiyorl, what is your experience with Gateyans?”
“Two encounters come to mind, Your Majesty,” Vaiyorl said, recalling a time when he was still a True Lord. “Depending on their point of origin, they can be especially strong ... their skin often being proof against minor weavings of MannA... with a proclivity for devouring their opponents.”
“Hardly an agent of mischief then.”
“Not the word I would use, Your Majesty,” Vaiyorl quickly agreed. “But Valian has never been one to seek attention for actions that come as second nature to him.”
“And yet, he is only a Knight-in-name only,” Pelania pointed out.
“My friend,” Valian projected, using a desperate tone. “... what are you doing?!”
“Answering a question you are not sure if you should ask,” she projected, rising from her seat.
“Perhaps we should correct that,” the Empress reflected, holding out her right hand. “N’Toa, unless you can find reason why I should not, my sword, if you please.”
Without hesitation, the large man came forward, slapping his gauntleted hands together. As he slowly pulled them apart, molten white fire flared and fell to the floor as a double-edged sword made of platinum and black steel formed. “Come forward, Shadow Spike. Your Mistress beckons!”
“I shall never leave my Mistress unattended!” the sword vowed as it completed its trek into this realm. “I hear her mind... I know her heart. The task before this construct is a worthy one!”
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br /> “Stop this madness!” Yorlson cried out, jumping up from his chair, pulling his hand free from the last attempt of Oedelorana to restrain him. “This... pallid is unworthy!”
The summoned weapon flew to Pelania’s hand and her eyes turned wholly black. The Empress was granted the view of the room through her blade’s perspective. All those of unnecessary note turned black and formless, but potential targets turned white. The level of threat they posed to Pelania was reflected in how brightly they shined. As expected, there were a number of white forms in the chamber. Some were simply black forms outlined in a hazy white light... others were clearly defined, glowing like a star in the sky. Out of curiosity, Pelania let her head turn in Valian’s direction. The Empress gasped in surprise to see that his image had not changed. He was still in full color, but his eyes were black like hers.
“Shadow Spike, what does this mean?” she projected after closing off her mind.
“It means I cannot read him, Mistress,” the blade replied. “But his conscious intentions mean you no harm.”
“I understand,” she thought, opening her mind back to the connection she had been sharing with Valian as she turned to look on the Proxy of the Duke. The aura of white light seemed to be surging, growing with every passing moment. “Oh, Valian... I am so sorry for you!”
“I am the defender of the Jhormynn Family,” Valian projected. “Even if I must protect it from itself.”
“Far more than they deserve,” Pelania remarked. “At least in this one’s case.
“Have a care, Proxy,” Pelania warned. “You come close to marring a very fine day in the annals of the House Jhormynn. You now speak against the will of your Empress and one of her most trusted friends,” she declared, holding up her blade which gave a near-blinding flash of white light.
“Your actions are based on what you know, Your Majesty,” Yorlson argued. “... and I had hoped to see my way through this day without having to bring this forward. I would have preferred to have addressed this matter without my parents and especially my Empress having to hear what I have to say about the one upon whom you wish to bestow a fraction of your incredible grace.”
“Speak plainly, Lord Yorlson,” Pelania directed. “My ears are anxious for the things you claim that I do not know.”
“This man is a criminal!” Yorlson accused.
“Well, at least I was promoted to being a man,” Valian muttered.
“You will be silent!” Pelania snapped as her soft yellow eyes locked on Valian. Her nostrils flared and her lips pressed together... and Valian knew they were both signs that she was desperately suppressing laughter. His face grew stern, giving her something to look at that would help her keep her resolve. “I will hear this!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Valian bowed.
“Lord Yorlson?” Pelania summoned, looking back at the Proxy.
“Your Majesty, not too long ago, Valian was assigned to govern a township within the province of my father’s estate. The township is called Bulrayne on the moon of D’Quarr.”
“The Duke has a holding out there?” Pelania asked.
“It was a birthday gift from the Emperor... three years ago, Your Majesty,” Vaiyorl explained. “The Castle in the Mountain?”
“Oh, the castle!” she said, remembering the event. “Ah, yes, I recall now. How fitting that a KnighT in name be given a castle.
“Especially that castle,” she projected to Valian. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
“None of the ‘he’s’ in my family are aware of the capabilities of the property,” Valian answered.
“How much rope are you going to give him?”
“All that he requests,” Valian replied as his jaws tightened. “And yes, I will let him choke... but I won’t let him hang.”
“Ahh, then he is not your target... but you already know he isn’t working alone... and the person behind his actions... that party is the one you seek!”
“Party or parties, Your Majesty,” Valian projected.
“It might have been a very generous offering to the Ward of my family,” Yorlson explained as he started to walk toward Valian. “... but it is a position that he has abused. It has come to my attention that Valian Styrke has engaged in criminal activity!”
“Yes, it wouldn’t be Yorlson if it wasn’t dramatic,” Valian thought as he sat back in his chair.
Pelania fanfared her blade, moving it toward her hip. A scabbard formed before the sword arrived and it split down the middle of its length, reforming as a whole construct around the blade. “Though this is not a proceeding of Imperial Law... it is an assumption that you have proof of this claim.”
“I need another viewing monitor,” Yorlson called out, spinning to face his parents. Their image was made smaller as the viewing port split into two windows. “Commander, you are cleared for your breach!” A view came into focus, coming from a camera mounted to the armour of an Estate Trooper who was the fifth in a charging group of men and women. It was early in the morning in Bulrayne and there was a bit of glare from the morning sun.
“Stay with me,” the Team Commander whispered. “Watch all corners and set all weapons for Hard Stun.”
“Hard Stun?!” Valian snapped, getting up quickly from his chair. “That setting can kill anyone not wearing armour!”
“Only a problem if they put forward any resistance,” Yorlson pointed out.
“As the regional governor, I collect tribute and settle disputes,” Valian stressed. “I am not a policing force. The woman who owns that property pays her tribute.”
“Hah!” Yorlson yelled. “So you admit you know her!”
“Perhaps you can tell me what crime I am committing in becoming acquainted with the Imperial Citizens who call that township home!” Valian fired back as he looked at the monitor.
“Take the door!” the Team Commander ordered and one of the energy rifles fired a fast-moving projectile. The doors to the establishment exploded and the armoured troops rushed inside.
Valian pointed at the screen while looking at the Empress. “I want it marked for the record the damage that is–”
“All that is damaged will be restored,” Vaiyorl spoke over Valian, a very distinct frown on his face. He was up out of his seat and glaring at Yorlson. Guysorla was also standing, but she held the hand of her husband, trying to steady his growing anger. “You have my word, son... all that can be restored will be!”
Yorlson was distracted from watching the breach and Valian closed his eyes as his hand slowly lowered to his side. The inner debate had been concluded... Duke Vaiyorl would be silent no longer... he would not bend to political pressure any longer. He had made his decision, and that which he felt in his heart would now be expressed in terms that no one could misinterpret. Valian was his son.
“Son?” Yorlson choked.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Suttara cried out, drawing everyone’s attention back to the scrying window.
“By order of the Duke’s Proxy, this is a search and seizure,” the Team Commander said, pointing his weapon at the woman.
Pelania could hear the wood of the back of Valian’s chair creek under his tightening grip. She looked up at his face and she did not need to approach their rapport to know he was genuinely angry and worried that the weapons were going to fire. She considered calling for all men to stand down, but she decided to allow her new friend’s scheme to play out.
“A search?!” Suttara snapped. “I have a right to know what you are searching for!”
“Contraband,” the Commander replied, handing the woman a crystalline rod.
Suttara received the rod as her people started making their appearances. “Hold action!” she commanded, putting her hand to the side of the rod. She pulled her hand away and the image of the filed paperwork appeared. “The lot of you, follow these thugs about and mark every single thing they mar. This is an outrage. I promise you... Sir Valian will hear of this!” Suttara returned to her reading as the Team Commander signale
d his men to resume their search. “You do realize that this is a criminal search and seizure. If I am not found to be in possession of contraband, this writ is powerless and you are the criminals!”
Valian rolled his lips inside his mouth just before covering it with his hand. “Okay, I didn’t expect that,” he thought. “He didn’t even file the right kind of paperwork!”
“Commander, find the underground fighting pit!” Yorlson directed.
“Underground?” Suttara questioned. “There’s only a wine cellar under this building!”
“Underground at the adjacent property!” Yorlson barked. “And take my voice off of speaker!”
The troops moved through the main building, finding a door and short tunnel to the adjacent property. There were more people who appeared as if they had just awakened from bed and they were pushed aside as the stairway was found.
“Six months,” Valian thought. “You gave me six months, Brother. But then again, you didn’t think I knew you were watching. How could you not watch me? Especially when I gave you your eyes!”
“I think we found the fighter stables,” the Team Commander reported. “Our scanners are showing over a hundred bodies in the area beneath us. We’re taking the stairs.”
Eyes moved from the monitor to Valian... some expecting him to cut and run or bolt toward Yorlson and attack him. The Ward of the Duke simply folded his arms and glared at the images being transmitted.
When the lights came up, illuminating the area, voices in the dining hall rose. To see so many frightened children scurrying away from the troops did not rest well with the patrons of the event.
“Those are children!” one man declared.
“Is the pallid making children fight?!”
“Wait! None of them are marked,” a voice cried out, and Valian kept from turning to look at Kethgeegan.
“No... they’re not. None of them seem to be wounded. What sort of fighting leaves no marks?”
“Commander, this is Valian Styrke. Please send your view-port operative forward to the next chamber, please. I wouldn’t want anyone to be forced to take the word of a pallid when the truth is so readily available.”
