Chapter 29
Five days had passed since Piro Tecadelion's funeral. The Empire was filled with a heavy sadness for the loss of their beloved Emperor. Even people who had never met him wept in the streets, grown men unashamed to show their grief for a man they truly admired. His funeral was a grand one, and every Medoran would recall the day for the rest of their lives. The mourners had all come dressed in white, and stood silently during the entire ceremony. When Piro's body was finally laid inside the cold stone building and sealed away from the world of the living, the streets erupted with contagious weeping.
Uritus yawned as he thought back on it. He was tired of feigning sadness and was ready to move on. The Emperor's Hall was full of petty people and servants who absolutely dripped with annoying condolences that filled his ears with aggravating echoes of pity. He was finding it hard to find places where he could meet with people without the bland repetitions of these people ringing in the hallways around him. Finally he was able to sneak away from the people and the Elite Guard for a while and meet with Battus Gredda in one of the formal dining rooms. He ate as they spoke.
"What is the next move Uritus?"
He finished chewing the roast duck before he answered. "Well, everything is in place and going according to plan so far, but I am not sure what I will do next. I have considered faking my own death, but I don't know if that's the best idea."
"I don't understand how that would help us anyway."
"It would harm us as much as help us. The reason I considered it is because everyone in Medora knows that my younger brother would make a terrible Emperor, and they would be more comfortable with the idea of letting the Mages take control of the Empire. The reason against it is that the people might think that the Mages killed my father and me in order to seize control. They would not trust the Mages."
"Well, Emperor," Battus said with a grin, "the Mages really are the ones behind the plot. You can't blame the people for being wise."
"I know that. But I can blame myself for failing strategically. Right now we need the people calm and easily influenced. I also need you to keep the Earth and Moon Legions busy. Have them searching for assassins or something; I don't care what it is. There is a major change that needs to take place and it has to be timed perfectly. I want the control of this Empire in the hands of the Mages just as the other five Legions are slaughtered in Vindyrion. When news gets back to the people that the army has been annihilated, they will be more open to such change."
"I understand. And you were thinking that the people won't accept this change as long as you are alive and functioning as Emperor."
"Right. That's the complication that is bothering me. I need to be able to hand the reigns to the Mages and I can't do that without it being suspicious. If I fake my own death, they will not trust the Mages. If I grant them power while I am alive, they will not trust me."
Battus bit his knuckle as he looked down at the table. "Yes that makes sense. I must admit that I am still concerned about the loss of those five Legions. Regardless of who our allies are, we will be greatly weakened and vulnerable for attack."
"I would not worry too much about being attacked Battus. Remember that we have Inshae on our side. No other god has stepped in and done anything, and as far as I can tell, they are either ignorant or indifferent to all these matters. I also have strengthened my power significantly. Even if the whole world turned against us, I am fairly confident that we could defend ourselves."
"But why risk it? I still don't understand why you are willing to let all those men die out there."
"It's all part of the plan Battus. It will cause a commotion here at home. People will be very afraid, and they will want an answer to solve the problem. The Mages are that answer. Aside from that, I can do little to remove power from the Nobles. I can't simply have them all killed, and I can't just tell the people that the Nobles are no longer allowed to represent them. It will cause an uprising, and we cannot handle that, especially in our weakened state.
"The Medoran system needs a total change. We can't have the Nobles in our way, and the best way to remove them is to make the people not trust them. It will be obvious to them very soon that things are falling apart. At the precise moment that happens, the Mages will step in and assume control. Once we have that control, we will rebuild Medora the way it should have been built in the first place. It will be a land of fairness to all, no matter who they are. We will then build our power and take over the rest of the world."
Battus leaned back in his chair and rested his chin in his hand. "Your scheme seems a little too grand, don't you think? Taking over the world is asking for too much."
"Not at all Battus. There is no sense doing anything if you do not intend to take it all the way. You're forgetting that the Vindyri and the Bhoors already share many of the beliefs I hold. They know the way of equality among all is the only just and fair way; even if their systems are not exactly perfect. Regardless of our differences, we all understand that no man should be allowed to stand above the rest. Each man must be raised up and made great with him.
"In addition to that, I remind you again that we have a god on our side, and I possess his sacred robes. We are stronger than any other nation, and those nations will soon be aware of that fact. They will accept me as their ruler in time, and if not, I will simply persist. I am immortal so long as I wear the robes, so their attempts to resist me are futile. I cannot lose. Once we hand the rule over to the Mages, I don't see why I'd ever take the robes off."
"Except maybe for that Mirra Odera of yours," Battus said with a crooked grin.
Uritus sighed and drummed his fingers on the table. "Yes, she is another complication. She is a perfect candidate for the wife of the Emperor, but I don't think she'd be very interested if she was asked to be the wife of the Red Master Mage. She is attracted to power though, so perhaps it won't matter either way."
Battus cleared his throat. "I think you are too involved with that girl Uritus. She is not part of the plan."
A flash of anger came to his eyes but he controlled himself. "I decide what the plan is Battus. I am your Emperor and the Red Master Mage. She will be in my life and that is all there is to it. She does not stand in the way of the plan in any way."
"Forgive me, Red Master," he said, bowing his head.
"For now we must focus on taking power away from the Nobles. The people are far too stupid to be allowed to have any legitimate representation in the Empire. They simply do not know what is best for them, so we must provide them with a system where they have no control. It will not be accepted at first, so we must implement these new ideas slowly. They will eventually come to the realization that this new system is best for mankind. They will let go of the old ways just like a snake shedding its old skin."
"I'm still confused on what to do about the Nobles, Red Master," Battus said as he scratched his head.
"We will spread lies about them. We will force them to demand more money from the people. We will constantly remind the people that the Nobles cling to the old ways and are only interested in helping the wealthy. If any of them cause enough trouble, we will kill them and tell everyone that rebel Vindyri were responsible. But these are only tricks to soften the people. Once the five Legions are destroyed, the Mages will easily take control and the Nobles can all be killed."
"Forgive me, Red Master, but aren't there more successful Medorans than needy ones? Won't it be difficult for the people to feel sympathy for the poor and disdain for the rich when most of them are thriving?"
"Wealth is not the definition of success. Equality is success. They will come to see that in time. Until they do, we will pull at their heartstrings and make them feel guilty. We will parade the poor people in front of them and show them what inequality has done to Medora. We will constantly show them how terrible it is to have success while others suffer. We will show them how easy and proper it is to help the needy. Then, when we are all on the same level, we will advance to the greatest leve
l of civilization. We will all become one, and as one we shall bring our light to the rest of the world; from this land to Bhoor-Rahn and beyond!"
Battus said nothing as Uritus resumed his meal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mighty Hammer Down Page 52
