Karis gritted his teeth. Otto was, once again, doing his best to avoid the policy changes that Karis had demanded a month earlier to fix the budget. The rest of the council stood behind him, saying Karis truly didn’t understand the budget if he was making those changes. They were also trying to get him to pass some laws that would cripple small producers, which he was not going to pass. Vasco was silent on both issues, to the surprise of everyone, so the council was floundering.

Tamerlan was not quite ready to take his place on the council. He needed to finish dealing with some personal business so it wouldn’t be hanging over his head, an easy target for Vasco to use to blackmail the man, so Karis couldn’t replace the Minister of the Exchequer yet. He was counting the days until he could, so he would be able to finally resolve the budget issue.

“Your Imperial Majesty.” Vasco caught everyone’s attention, speaking for the first time that day. “I have heard you sent Lord Tremere out to collect another courtesan. Is this true?”

“I am perfectly within my right to do so, Vasco.” Karis regarded the man with a cold expression.

“Perhaps you should consider the budget when acquiring courtesans, Your Imperial Majesty. They are quite the expense.” Vasco smirked at him.

“My courtesans have nothing to do with the budget, Vasco. They are part of my personal household and are part of a completely different set of funds than the Imperial budget.” The smirk vanished.

“Vasco brings up a good point, Your Imperial Majesty.” Otto jumped in quickly. “How many courtesans are you planning on having?”

“Six, to begin with. Tremere identified five young women that fit what I wanted and has set about collecting them for me.” Karis tried not to show his irritation. If this was all they were going to discuss, he was going to end the council meeting.

“What were your specific requirements, Your Imperial Majesty?” Vasco gave him what he thought was an innocently inquisitive look, but he saw the expression in the man’s eyes. He knew better than to explain his needs.

“Those are between me and Tremere, Vasco.” Karis waved him off. “You do not need to know my personal tastes.”

“Still, six is an awful burden to the Imperial treasury, Your Imperial Majesty.” Otto glanced at Vasco, who nodded his agreement.

“As I said, this is not coming out of the Imperial treasury. This comes from my household funds, which come from a completely different source than the Imperial treasury.” Karis was getting more than a little annoyed now.

“Yes, and you have no one managing those funds for you.” Otto seemed determined to get access to Karis’ private funds as well as the Imperial treasury. Karis snorted quietly. That would never happen.

“I have a very good team of accountants on my staff who are more than capable of managing my household funds. They have assured me that the addition of the six women will not be a burden.” Karis waved dismissively as if this wasn’t even a concern. Given the state of the Imperial family’s coffers, it really wasn’t.

“Which of your servants are your accountants, Your Imperial Majesty? Perhaps we should have the Minister of the Exchequer check their work.” Vasco seemed just as eager as the minister to get his hands on Karis’ financial information.

“I am not telling you who my accountants are. And they do not need their work checked by the Minister of the Exchequer. I have every faith in their skills. I periodically check their work myself, so I know what my financial situation is and where my money is going. I will know if something is wrong.”

“Perhaps Your Imperial Majesty should consider spending more time working on the ruling of the empire and less time on the selection of courtesans.” Vasco was beginning to irritate him and Karis needed to shut him down.

“I spend more time on the ruling of the empire than anything else, Vasco. Just because you have been denied the pleasures of the company of a courtesan does not mean I have to deprive myself of the same. My courtesans are my business, not yours.” He glared at his councilors.

“We are just concerned you may neglect your duties, Your Imperial Majesty.” Rhema, the Minister of Social Services, was trying to be conciliatory. All she was doing was rousing his temper.

“Did my father neglect his?” Karis countered. “He had more courtesans than I have chosen. I am quite capable of choosing appropriate times to spend with my ladies and when to focus on my work. As I said, my courtesans are my business, not yours.”

“Perhaps we should remove courtesans from court altogether. Eliminate the distraction.” Vasco looked around as if seeking approval.

“That is going a bit too far, Vasco.” Wieland shook his head.

“You are overreacting, Vasco,” Maaike agreed.

“I am certain His Imperial Majesty can handle his own household without us interfering. We need to get back to the business at hand. Your Imperial Majesty really must sign these motions into law.” Zefram drew their attention back to the debate they’d been having before Vasco had diverted to the courtesan question.

“I have told you several times during this and the two previous sessions, I will not sign them into law. They will cause more harm to small producers and that is not something the economy can take. Rewrite them to remove the offending clauses I highlighted, and I will consider it.” Karis glared at the man.

“Those clauses are the whole point of these motions, Your Imperial Majesty.” Zefram seemed baffled why he would want to protect small producers over the wealth of his nobles. Karis ground his teeth. He hated dealing with the greed of these men and women.

“Then these will never be signed into law.” Karis met his gaze. “You seem to think I should be more interested in the welfare of the nobility than the welfare of the working class. May I remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that the working class outnumbers us by a significant amount and is our tax base? I will not do anything to hurt them.”

“Would Your Imperial Majesty consider signing this into law instead?” Vasco asked, sending something over the pad to Karis. “I have transmitted the necessary information to everyone else’s pads.”

Karis opened the motion and read through it. He frowned. It was a motion to restrict trade routes in and out of one of the sectors of space where there were a lot of incidents of piracy happening. He didn’t like it, but it would cut down on the number of routes the pirates could use to get at the haulers. It would give his military an easier chance of picking them off.

“I will sign it if you will agree to an increase in the presence of the military in that sector. We consolidate the presence of the haulers, we are going to draw the pirates in droves.” Karis looked up at the ministers.

“I would not dream of arguing, Your Imperial Majesty.” Vasco gestured at the pad. “This is only a temporary measure, after all. Once the pirates are taken care of, we can reopen more of the trade routes.”

“It is going to cause some jams in the star lanes, Vasco.” Hovan frowned at the motion. “You are asking to keep the same shipping schedules but reduce the number of open traffic patterns. We are not going to be able to keep the same schedules with that restriction.”

“As long as the freight moves at a reasonable pace, I am certain we can overlook the issue of the shipping schedule.” Vasco waved his hand as if it weren’t that big of a concern.

“We will see what we can do.” Hovan sighed. “We may have to prioritize and do some shuffling around. Some people are not going to be happy.”

“Will they still get their freight?” Karis looked at his transportation ministers.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Zefram frowned as he looked at the motion. “It just may arrive a few weeks later than anticipated.”

“What matters is that they get what they paid for and that it is not stolen by pirates.” Karis added the amendment about the military and signed the motion into law.

“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.” The triumphant smirk on Vasco’s face told Karis he’d just walked into something. What it was, he didn’t know. He groaned inwardly. It seemed Vasco had outmaneuvered him again. How was he always able to get around him so easily?

Because he’s had decades more experience at this than I have, that’s how, Karis thought as the council broke up. He returned to his rooms. “Do I have any meetings today, Imre?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him.

“With who?” Karis sat down and sipped the wine as he pulled the paperwork up on his pad.

“Lord Arken, Your Imperial Majesty. He is coming to report on the progress of the courtesan wing. Then you have a lunch engagement with Lord Durden to go over troop movements in the Quillian sector.”

“Starflare, I forgot. That meeting must have rattled me more than I thought.” He scowled at the memory of Vasco’s smirk.

“A bad day, Your Imperial Majesty?” Imre asked.

“I am certain Vasco did something I will regret agreeing to, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what. I hate dealing with that man.” Karis set the wineglass down before he broke it by clenching his hand around it.

“He is a devious man who does nothing without having several other plots tied up into it, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre frowned. “I don’t like it when you have to give in to him.”

“What I agreed to makes sense now, but what did I open up for him?” Karis rubbed his forehead with one hand.

“You will have to wait and see, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre shrugged.

“I know, and that is the part that has me worried.” Karis sighed. “Is Arken waiting for me? Or do I have a few minutes before his arrival?”

“He is waiting for you, Your Imperial Majesty. The ladies are out in the garden at the moment, so he has the time to come speak with you.” Imre watched him closely.

“I am glad the ladies are enjoying their garden.” Karis smiled as he thought of his days spent in the courtesan garden with his mother. “You can send him in, Imre.”

Imre bowed and left. A moment later Arken walked in and bowed. “Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Arken, how are the ladies?” Karis set his pad aside.

“Quite well. Sayana is having a little trouble acclimating to the food, but she is making an effort with every meal to eat a little more so eventually she will be eating everything on her plate. I have given her a week to get used to it, as I did Marin, and it seems to be working.” Arken relayed this information with a smile.

“The academies must keep a very simple diet if the women are having a hard time with the food I am having served in the courtesan wing.” Karis frowned. “I would have thought they would give their students better food because do their patrons not usually feed them well?”

“From what I understand, the academies keep their diets fairly simple,” Arken confirmed. “Only sharing out the finer foods on feast days.”

“Well, at least they are getting used to it and not making themselves sick trying.” Karis picked up his wineglass and took a drink. “How is Tremere coming along on collecting the rest?”

“He is on his way to get Zarina now.” Arken consulted his pad for the latest message. “He will be heading to Ezionus and Unara next. They are second and seventh in the rankings and he hopes to find what you are looking for there.”

“It is going to be interesting to see what the ladies he finds read and how well they can hold a conversation.” Karis was looking forward to a real conversation with someone and not the political dance he had to do with his courtiers every night.

“Marin and Sayana are continuing to read. Angharad is not. She still refuses to be bored, as she puts it, and expects you will be charmed by her songs and tales.” Arken shook his head. “She will not listen to anything I have to say on the matter.”

“Those bore me. I want stimulating conversation, not someone singing at me or telling me licentious tales.” Karis said. “I heard enough of that growing up in the courtesan wing.”

Arken gestured helplessly. “Geno did not pay attention at all when he picked her.”

“That is why I retired Geno after you told me about her.” Karis twirled his wineglass in his fingers. “I am glad Tremere paid better attention to my requirements.”

“Tremere is very good at his job, Your Imperial Majesty. He is a suitable replacement for Geno. Though I do miss having him at court. Davyd and Theunis are not as good as Tremere is at gathering information.” Arken looked pensive and Karis was concerned that something was amiss that Arken needed him so badly.

“I am sorry to keep him away from his other duties for so long, Arken,” Karis apologized.

“It is important to find you women you are comfortable with, Your Imperial Majesty.” Arken smiled reassuringly. “Tremere and I understand this. I am making things work. It is not as easy as it would be if he were here, but it is not impossible.”

“I trust Tremere will not be out too much longer collecting the ladies and then you can put him back to work in the court.”

Arken nodded. “I expect a few more months and then I will have him back at court.”

“Is there anything the ladies need?” Karis looked at him inquisitively.

Arken frowned in thought. “Nothing that they have mentioned.”

“All right. If they do need something, please let me know.” Karis set the wineglass down again.

“I will.” Arken bowed and left.

Imre returned with servants to set up the lunch meeting and Karis spent his lunch going over troop movements with his Warmaster General. They got things arranged and Karis sent him off feeling more satisfied than he’d been before lunch. After lunch there were the audiences, and Karis dealt with those with ease.

After the audiences, he went back to his rooms. He finished the work he had to do and realized he still had a couple hours before he had to get ready for court. “Imre, do I have anything on my schedule for this afternoon?” Karis looked up at his valet.

Imre checked his schedule. “No, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Then I do not wish to be disturbed until I have to get ready for court. I plan to read for a bit. I have not had time for a while, and I find I miss it.” He picked up his pad.

“I’ll make sure you’re undisturbed, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre went and gave the order to the Imperial guards.

Karis pulled up the Imperial archives on his pad and chose a book on history. He settled in to read. It took Imre touching his arm to draw him out of the book. “Is it that time already?” He glanced at the chronometer.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. It is.” Imre stood waiting with Adem and Lucan.

Karis sighed and put his pad aside. It was likely to be weeks before he got a chance to read again. He was always so busy, there didn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything he wanted to do. He let Imre and the others help him change and went to dinner.

The chief source of gossip that night was the new law he’d set in place at the council meeting that day. Everyone was wondering what the effect would be on the shipping lanes and if supplies would be as readily available or not. Karis dealt with a few questions and then decided he’d heard enough. He retired for the evening and left the court to the power brokers.

Imre called Adem and Lucan back and they got him ready for bed. He stared into the darkness thinking over the new law, wondering how Vasco could twist it to benefit himself. He worried about this until he finally passed out from sheer exhaustion.

The next morning, Imre woke him at his usual time. “Cancel the council meeting today,” Karis groaned, as he struggled to sit up.

“Did you not sleep well, Your Imperial Majesty?” Imre looked at him with some concern.

“No, I did not.” Karis held his head in his hands. “I am not in the mood to deal with my council this morning. Send word I am unwell and will be canceling the council meeting and the audiences for today. I will deal with the paperwork, but that is it.”

“The council is going to insist upon you being seen by a doctor, Your Imperial Majesty,” Imre pointed out.

“The council can insist on what it wants.” Karis fell back onto his pillows and contemplated going back to sleep. “I am not seeing a doctor. I am not seeing anyone today. That is the point of canceling everything.”

“I think you should see a doctor, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre was definitely concerned. “You’re looking very pale, and this is the third night in a row where you haven’t slept well. At the very least the doctor could prescribe something for you to help you sleep at night.”

“I will not take a drug that will leave me vulnerable to assassins.” Karis refused to do anything that would leave him helpless.

“At least talk to the doctor, Your Imperial Majesty.” It was so rare for Imre to be this determined about anything that Karis realized he was genuinely worried about him.

“Oh, very well. Since you refuse to leave me alone about it until I agree. Send for one of the Imperial doctors to see me after I have had my breakfast.” Karis grumbled about it, but he was touched by Imre’s concern. No one else seemed to care about his health.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre helped him out of bed. Karis took a shower and dressed for the day.

Servants brought Karis his breakfast and he worked on some paperwork that had come in overnight as he ate. He sent various requests back to the councilors with scathing commentary about their choices, signing off on a few things that made sense but mostly declining to give in to his council. Some of these were the same things he’d declined the night before reworded but still containing the items he found objectionable.

He finished eating and the servants cleared the dishes away. He continued working until there was a chime at his door. Imre opened it and a doctor walked in. “Your Imperial Majesty, I was told you’re feeling unwell today?” the man asked, bowing.

“I have not been sleeping well the past few nights. It takes me hours to fall asleep, and even when I do get to sleep it is not very restful. I currently have a headache, and I am quite irritable because last night was probably the worst night I have spent.” He knew he was all but growling at the man, but he really didn’t feel good right now and he just wanted to be left alone.

“Well, we can give you something to help you get to sleep,” the doctor said. “But we don’t want to give you anything that will keep you asleep in case of an attack. I think, once we get you to sleep, you’ll have a better night’s rest. Long nights awake mean what little sleep you do get isn’t very restful because you’re not getting enough rest. And I can give you something for your headache.”

“As long as the drugs are not going to make it hard for me to wake up if I need to.” Karis was relieved there was a cure for his insomnia that didn’t include being drugged into insensitivity.

“All they’ll do is help you fall asleep, Your Imperial Majesty,” the doctor assured him. “They won’t keep you asleep. They’re a very short-lasting medication.”

“All right. I will try them.” Karis figured anything was worth a try.

“I’ll bring them to you shortly, Your Imperial Majesty,” the doctor told him. “Do you want me to bring you something for your headache as well?”

“Yes please. I need to be able to work, and I am finding it difficult to do so because of the pain.” Karis winced as the stabbing behind his eyes got momentarily worse.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes, Your Imperial Majesty.” The doctor left the room. A short while later he returned with a small bottle of pills and a hypo spray. “The pills are for sleep. The hypo spray is for the headache.”

Imre took the pills while Karis waited for the doctor to inject him. The hypo spray was pressed against his neck, and a moment later there was a faint hiss as the medication was dispensed. The headache began to ebb a few minutes later.

“It is working.” Karis was relieved as the pain slowly drained away. “Thank you.”

“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” The doctor gestured towards Imre. “If those pills don’t work, we’ll have to resort to more drastic measures. That may mean you needing Imperial guards in your room while we force the issue with sleep.”

“I hope it does not come to that.” Karis looked over at Imre. “I will try those pills first.”

“They take about fifteen minutes to kick in, so make sure you’re laying down after you take one. Close your eyes and relax. After fifteen minutes, you should feel very sleepy and should have no trouble dozing off.” The doctor said this as much for Karis as for Imre, because both of them needed to know the effects of the pills.

“Thank you.” The man bowed again and left.

“I will make sure you have a glass of water to take the pill with tonight, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre set the bottle of pills on the sideboard.

“Thank you, Imre.” Karis picked up his pad. “I suppose I should get back to work.”

“I’m sure no one would take it amiss if you took the day off, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre smiled. “You need to rest.”

“Well, all they are doing is sending me back the same things with one or two words changed and all I am doing is reiterating what I told them last night.” Karis looked over what was waiting for him. “I do not see how taking a day off from telling them no is going to make a difference.” He pulled up his book and leaned back on the couch. “I want no further visitors, Imre. Not even the ministers.”

“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre nodded. “I’ll let them know you’re resting at the suggestion of the doctor and will be available tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Imre.” Karis settled in and started reading. Imre placed a glass of wine next to him and left him to enjoy a day of peace and quiet.