The Lost Emperor, Chapter 2

The door creaked open and a ray of light stabbed into the room. The shadow preceded the page, who squeezed past the barely open doorway and made his way to the Ministers clustered around the only table in the room. Such was the discipline required of all servants in the Duke’s household that even in this, the direst of hours in many a century past, the page walked over to the group instead of ran, arms flailing madly.

It would have been a pretty picture indeed, Minister Yarga thought grimly. If he could reach out with his thoughts he would have urged the boy to run as if he were chased by demons!

As it was, he watched patiently as the young page approached, while his fellow Ministers attempted to discuss their predicament as calmly as arranging for a winter festival. The real planning occurred a few hallways down, in the War Room, with the Generals and his Lordship. By virtue of Imperial Sanction, only Minister Feni Jaelar attended that congregation.

Yarga did not envy the Minister, as he knew Feni had a weak stomach for conflict, and the War Room was where the cieyal was located. They were doubtless surveying the enemy amassed in the lands outside the castle walls to better understand the enemy, the situation, the hope for escape. To hear the rumours was one thing, but to see the enemy through the cieyal would be truly unnerving to a simple man unaccustomed to the dreadfulness of warfare.

At last the young page was close enough to respectfully make his announcement. Yarga detected an excitement in the boy’s face, the way the eyes twitched. The murmured conversations between the Ministers gave way to silent anticipation.

“Honoured Ministers,” he began, stretching himself to his full height, “we have received word that his Imperial Highness has awakened from Trance.” There was an audible sigh of relief from the group.

This was indeed news, and each Minister in the room longed to hear the rest of it, willing the page to verify expectations of Imperial favour. It was their only hope for survival.

“We have also received news that the Imperial Garrison at LiBangden is on the march.” This prompted the other Ministers to burst into excited conversation. Finally! Salvation was on the way.

Minister Yarga maintained a grim outlook. The Commander of the Imperial Garrison was an acquaintance and, living so close to the border with East Arkra, the possibility of conflict was always a popular topic of conversation. Yarga and the Commander had discussed this very topic on a few occasions. He was not as excited as the others because, unlike even the young page, he knew which way those battalions marched.

And so must those in the War Room.

Yarga raised himself from his seat to stretch his legs. The page, waiting to be dismissed, sought permission from Yarga’s eyes. The Minister waved him away and pondered if there would be other news later in the day.

After all, the Emperor was no longer in Trance.