reinforce, is that we have seen what the Paatin invaders are capable of, in person. Reports have been pouring in, ever since, of our losses against them, and we have been almost powerless to react. These desert barbarians, as some have been calling them, are marching their way towards us and devouring the Empire as they go. The Empire is fragmented and weakened after the death of our revered Emperor and the ensuing war with the north. We have lost contact entirely with most of the territories. We can no longer continue to deny our current predicament. We must take action, and quickly, or we may find it is too late. The poisoning of the Order should only strengthen our resolve to act quickly, before more of our numbers are lost.’
Again,the assembly roared with disbelief and outrage. During the fracas, Samuel could not but help notice Master Celios and his neighbour whispering back and forth to each other. The noise began gathering momentum, but this time it was General Ruardin who spoke up,quellingthenoiseat once with his booming voice.
‘Quieten down! I have sat here patiently since our Emperor’s death and watched your petty arguments decide the fate of our Empire. I had once imagined that there were few amongst you who would knowingly place your own interests before our great and noble Empire. Sadly, I have come to realise that the Empire started rotting from within the same day our beloved Emperor was slain, and that it was you here, you supposed patriots, that have driven us into our current state.’ No one dared to speak up against the general’s fury. ‘Listen,then, to the Empress. You have all been given ample time to come up with a solution, but all I hear are more excuses and delays. I have taken the liberty of speaking with Her Highness in private. Some of you here may still remember that the Empire has been placed into her care until Emperor Leopold becomes of age and her word is law. We have spoken long and well, and the decision is this: if you do not present her with a plan of action within three days’ time, I will open the gates and send the Royal Guard to war.’
There was an audible gasp from around the chamber, but still, under threat of attracting Anthem or Ruardin’s wrath, no one dared let out more noise than that.
‘Please reconsider, Your Majesty,’ Chancellor Donovan pleaded to his Empress. ‘I do wish you would speak with us before making rash decisions of this kind. Without the Royal Guard, the city will be defenceless.’
‘Don’t fret, Chancellor Donovan,’ Empress Lillith told him. ‘We have not committed ourselves to this course of action just yet. Indeed, we would never send the entire Guard away and that comes more as a threat to you than anything.But if any more of the Empire falls, there will be precious little point in even defending Cintar. I will give you the promised three days to find a solution to this dilemma, but if a suitable plan is not presented,our threat will come to fruition. I trust you will work together and think well. You may use all the resources of the Empire to help with this task.’
‘I beg to correct you, Your Majesty,’ Councillor Madhaven, sitting several seats down, spoke up, ‘but Imperial edict signed by yourself states that a majority vote of your council must be gained before such decisions can be enacted. This is against your own decree and cannot be permitted, by your own word and law.’
‘I actually do remember most of what you put before me to sign, Councillor. I may not have Turian blood in my veins, but I do have the semblance of an education. Despite what powers you have managed to wrest from me, General Ruardin can still make such commands in times of war such as this.’
At that, Madhaven swallowed his pompous pride and nodded graciously. ‘Of course, Your Majesty.’
‘Weshall apply ouselves to your challenge,’ Donovan announced, ‘and report our plans back to you on the third day. I agree that we have been tardy, so I think I speak for all when I say we will commit ourselves entirely and prepare a plan of action worthy of the need. Given the seriousness of the day, I suggest we adjourn this gathering immediately and begin our work at once.’
‘Agreed,’ Empress Lillith returned.
Chancellor Donovan plucked up the gavel on his desk and struck it on its block, making a resounding crack that sounded the end of the meeting.
The congregation rose and began to meander out. Samuel was doing the same when he noticed a disturbance in the crowd beside Master Celios. He pushed his way through to see what was happening, with Goodfellow following closely behind, and found a tussle going on between Celios, his attendant and an agitated woman. The two men were doing their best to keep her quiet, but the woman was bawling and struggling against the both of them.
‘Give me back my husband!’ she was wailing, and the parting crowd regarded the scene with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
‘Keep your hands off him, my good woman!’ Celios instructed and he finally managed to pull the woman away from his indignant attendant. ‘Your husband is busy with his duties. Return to your chambers!’
‘That is all I have heard every day! When will he return to me? I have not seen him in months. My husband has been taken from me!’
‘He is not taken, you foolish woman!’ Celios said angrily. ‘Open your eyes. We all must make sacrifices in these days of turmoil. Go home and be patient.’
With that, some younger maidservants helped the desperate woman away. Celios’ attendant patted his clothes back into place and had to tuck his ruffled shirt back into his pants.
‘Who is that man?’ Samuel asked of Goodfellow.
‘I understand it is Sir Ferse. He has been assigned to take care of Master Celios, while our seer struggles with his…difficulties.’
‘Sir Ferse? But why would a Lord of the court be relegated to such subservient duties?’
‘I have no idea,’ Goodfellow responded. ‘There are so many strange things happening these days, I have given up asking questions.’
‘That sounds like good sense. I think I shall do the same,’ Samuel said and they pushed their way out of the room and set about to find their lunch.
It was mid-morning of the second day after the Empress’ ultimatum and Samuel was once again resting inhistowerroomhigh above the city. He had been feeling glum since the loss of Master Glim and was content to remain alone with his thoughts in his room, while the palace pondered its fate. He had just been peering out the window, lured by some disturbance far below, when Goodfellow burst in without a pause, bearing bad news.
‘The Empress has vanished!’ he declared.
‘What are you talking about?’ Samuel asked at once.
‘She retired to her chambersyesterday eveningand that was the last that was seen of her. She and her son have both disappeared.’
Samuel was beyond belief. ‘How could she disappear? She must be in the palace somewhere.’
‘She’s not in the palace. They’ve looked everywhere.’
‘Did they look in the dungeons?’ Samuel asked.
‘Everywhere,’ Goodfellow replied. ‘They’ve scoured the palace with hounds already and there is not a scent of her to be found.’
‘Magic?’
‘Nothing. Not a spell in sight. It looks like the palace was somehow infiltrated and she was bundled away, along with Leopold. General Ruardin is having a fit and is going through the palace staff like a wildfire. So far, no one seems to have seen anything and no oneelseis missing.’
Samuel drew his cloak from the wall. ‘Then let’s go and see if we can help. Things just keep getting worse and worse, don’t they?’
The palace was,indeed,in a frenzy as they made through the halls. Guards were present at every intersection and doorway, scrutinising everyone who passed. They even stopped the two magicians, asking their names and checking them against a list, which in itself was a sign of the extreme situation.
When they finally tracked down Grand Master Anthem, he was in a small meeting room with General Ruardin and Chancellor Donovan. Several other scribes were sitting in front of a bundle of papers, furiously sorting and scribbling on the piles before them. The door was open, and messengers and soldiers were filing in and out, making reports and receiving instructions. It seemed they had quickly established a plan of operation and the three men were busy with maps of the city,makingmarkshere and there as they received reports. Either,the three of them had agreed to cooperate for the sake of the Empress, or they were stubbornly competing to command the search- Samuel was not sure.
‘We just heard,’ said Samuel. ‘Is there something we can do?’
‘Not just yet,’ Anthem replied, ‘but it’s good you came. Wait here for instructions. I’m sure we will have use
