Karis rose from his crouch. “Thank you for your time today, Narin. After the morning I had, I needed that sparring session.”

“The council again?” Narin tossed him a towel.

“Yes, and it is the usual struggle. I have found a few others to replace the members with, and I am cultivating them. They are all taking care of all the extraneous issues they have so I can move them in without distractions. It is going to take a little more time than I want, but in the end, it will be worth it.” Karis wiped the sweat off his face and neck.

“Good.” Narin nodded approvingly. “Slow and patient, Your Imperial Majesty. I’ve heard that you’ve got a reputation for being impatient, but I know that has to be an act because you were always incredibly patient as a prince.”

“I still am incredibly patient, Narin. I have to be. You cannot be impulsive when you are the emperor of a galaxy-spanning empire.” Karis shook his head. “I learned that lesson before I ever took the throne.”

“I’m glad.” Narin grinned. “I’ll see you the next time you get a free afternoon?”

“Absolutely.” Karis tossed the towel down the laundry chute and walked back to his chambers.

Imre was waiting for him. “Did you have a good session, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“It was a very satisfactory one.” Karis started towards his bedroom. “I need a shower now. Did you send word to Arken to send one of the new courtesans to me?”

“I did, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre glanced at his pad. “The one called Lynet will be here this evening.”

“This should appease my council,” Karis grumbled as he went and took his shower. Imre helped him dress in one of his more casual outfits and he ate a quiet meal in his room, dealing with some of the paperwork he needed to work on.

Lynet arrived a short while later. She was pretty, but he saw the arrogant look in her eye and realized he was not in for a pleasant night. “Your Imperial Majesty.” She bowed deeply.

“Hello Lynet. How are you liking life in the courtesan wing?” He braced himself for an unpleasant answer.

“It’s awful, Your Imperial Majesty.” Lynet took off her veil. “The women are all such dull companions, we don’t get as much food as we like, and Lord Arken expects us to read in our spare time.”

“Do you not read then, Lynet?” Karis asked.

“No I do not.” Lynet scowled. “I find it boring and pointless.”

“You do realize that I require my courtesans to read, to improve their minds, and to hold conversations with me on what they read as a means to entertain me.” Karis watched her expression change.

“You mean Lord Arken wasn’t lying?” Lynet looked horrified. “We really are required to read and study in our spare time?”

“I do not require you to spend all your time reading and studying. That is why the gaming boards are in there, and the holos. But yes, the bulk of your time is to be spent in study.” Karis was privately amused. Even Angharad hadn’t been this hopeless.

“But that’s so boring, Your Imperial Majesty.” Lynet smiled coquettishly at him. “Why are you so interested in such dull things when there are more fascinating things such as the tales from Rimara’s book or songs about love to discuss?”

“Those things are not interesting to me.” Karis regarded her seriously. “I grew up in the courtesan wing. I was introduced to those things at an early age, Lynet. They never appealed to me. I am a scholar when I have the time to study, and because I do not have the free time to do so, I expect my courtesans to study and engage me in conversation about their studies as a means of expanding my own education.”

“Perhaps you just never heard someone skilled tell those tales or sing the songs, Your Imperial Majesty.” Lynet was very good at playing the flirt. He would give her that. She wasn’t nearly as skilled as his father’s courtesans were though, and he’d seen them all through his childhood.

“My father’s courtesans were all incredibly talented ladies, Lynet.” Karis was not impressed. “He would not have kept them if they could not hold his attention. They also had years to hone their craft. You are new to your profession without much in the way of practice. I doubt you have the skills to match what I grew up with.”

“Sunus Academy trains their courtesans very well, Your Imperial Majesty.” Lynet bridled at the thought that her academy might be lacking in some way.

“I am sure they do.” Karis looked at her. “But so do all the other academies. I have not been interested in hearing tales or songs from the other courtesans either. I stopped calling for Angharad for a while until I learned she was reading. I do not always find what she is reading interesting, but at least she is trying. It sounds like you are not even willing to do that.”

“I don’t see why I should bore myself just to entertain you when I already know everything I need to entertain even the pickiest patrons.” The stubborn look on her face told him all he needed to know.

Karis rose and held out his hand. “I think I have heard enough, Lynet. I do not believe I have anything left to hear from you this evening. Let us conclude the night and I will send you back to the wing.”

“But – but I haven’t even sung or told you a story, Your Imperial Majesty,” Lynet protested.

Karis looked down at her. “I am not interested in those things, Lynet. You were told what would appeal to me and you have indicated you are not willing to do that. I see no reason to continue our conversation.”

Lynet took his hand. He took her into his bedroom and finished with her. She was at least skilled in bed, and he was as gentle with her as he’d been with the other women, but he sent her away without much preamble.

“I take it she was not to your liking, Your Imperial Majesty?” Imre asked as Karis dressed again and went back to his paperwork.

“No, she was not.” Karis looked up at his valet. “I would rather do paperwork than pass another night in her company.”

“A damning judgment indeed, Your Imperial Majesty.” A faint smile twisted Imre’s lips. “I’ll bring you some wine. Would you like anything else?”

“Something sweet, I think.” Karis grimaced. “I need something appealing after that unpleasant experience.”

“I’ll have Adem bring you something from the kitchen, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre walked over and called for Adem.

“Thank you, Imre.” He worked late into the night and only went to bed when Imre came in and chided him for staying up so late.

The next morning, the council meeting went the same as all the rest had gone and nothing was done. Karis saw the way it was trending and called an end to it before it could devolve into a shouting match between him and his ministers. He had a lunch meeting with another lord and then held his audiences. After that he did some work on various documents over the course of the afternoon.

“Your Imperial Majesty, don’t forget you called for the courtesan Tekla this evening as well.” Imre got his attention some time later. “You should probably eat before she comes.”

“Starflare, has that much time passed already?” Karis glanced up at the chronometer. “And I have not forgotten I called Tekla. I am expecting tonight to go about as well as last night did. But we will have to wait and see if she learned from my other ladies or not.”

“Lord Vasco has been trying to get in to see you all afternoon. I have told him you were too busy for company and that you would speak with him in the council meeting tomorrow.” Imre knew that Karis usually refused the man entry, so it was no surprise that he hadn’t let him in.

“Thank you, Imre. Vasco is the last person I want to see today. Not after the disaster that was my council meeting this morning. I cannot wait until I can replace them and get rid of Vasco once and for all. Imre, send word to Tamas. I want an update on how he is coming with his investigation into Vasco. Have him come see me tomorrow after the audiences are over.” Karis set his pad to the side.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre helped Adem, who had just arrived with the dinner dishes, set Karis up for his meal.

A few hours later, Tekla arrived. She was escorted in and smiled shyly at Karis as she bowed. “Your Imperial Majesty.” She was conventionally pretty, not as stunningly beautiful as the other women, but she had a sweet face. She seemed a bit shy and just stared at Karis. When she realized what she was doing, she blushed and lowered her eyes.

“Tell me, Tekla, what do you do with your spare time in the wing?” Karis asked.

“Sometimes I play games with the other ladies, but mostly I read.” That startled him. “I’m not a very fast reader. Not like Sayana or Marin. But I do try to read something every day.”

“Tell me about what you have been reading.” Karis smiled at the quiet young woman. “I would love to hear about it.” She struggled a little in the beginning but as Karis gently guided her, she opened up more and soon they were having a lively conversation.

She wasn’t as well read as his other ladies, so the evening ended earlier than it usually did with them, but she promised him she would keep reading so they would have more to talk about the next time he called for her. He took her into his bedroom and finished with her before sending her off.

“I take it she was better than Lynet, Your Imperial Majesty?” Imre asked as he helped Karis dress for bed.

“She at least tried to read something. I think I have encouraged her to keep reading so when I call on her again, she will still be trying to keep up with my other ladies. Lynet is probably hopeless. I will call on her one more time, but I doubt she will have learned anything from our conversation.” Karis climbed into his bed.

“Well, I wish you a pleasant night, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre turned out the main light and left. Karis put out the smaller light next to his bed and laid back on his pillows. He put his arms behind his head. He wanted to call for another courtesan, but who to call for? He thought about each of his ladies and realized there was only one he wanted to see again. That was Sayana. He needed to see her smile, hear her voice, watch as she became animated during their conversation. She would be the perfect antidote to the abysmal quality of Lynet’s company. With that decided, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep dreaming of black hair and vivid green eyes.

The next morning Imre greeted him. “I’ve sent the request for a report from Lord Tamas. He will be here half an hour after the audiences end. Lord Vasco is demanding a meeting with you this morning before the council session. What do you wish me to tell him?”

“Send him in.” Karis sighed. “I may as well hear what he has to say. I will not get any peace until I do.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,” Imre said.

Vasco entered the room. “You are a hard man to speak with, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“I am very busy, Vasco. I have things to do this morning before the council session, so please make your remarks brief. I have work to do before we meet.” Karis picked up his pad and did his best to look busy.

“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty. I really think you’re being too stubborn about the request from Maaike about changing the age when children can leave school.” Vasco took a breath, as if he was preparing to launch into a prepared speech.

Karis held up his hand. “I am going to stop you right there, Vasco. I will not change it to fourteen. That is too young. Sixteen is too young in my mind, but that has been in place for centuries and I do not think we should change it just because I think they should be in school until they are eighteen. I think sixteen is too young to be working a child in an adult’s job, but I seem to be in the minority so I will not push my own agenda on that.”

“We need more hands in the workforce, and it would offer a better chance to the families who are less fortunate to earn a living.” Vasco was determined to push his agenda that morning and it annoyed Karis to no end.

“That is one step closer to slavery than I feel comfortable taking the empire, Vasco,” Karis snapped. “I am not changing my mind. Now, take yourself out of my quarters and let Maaike know she can stop presenting this to me because my answer will always be no.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Vasco turned and stalked out of the room.

“Starflare, I hate that man.” Karis rubbed his forehead. The servants brought him his breakfast and he ate, looking over the newest proposals from the ministers to see what else he was going to have to field from the council that day.

“Your Imperial Majesty.” Maaike spoke up as he entered the council chamber. The other ministers greeted him. “We need to discuss something of great importance with you.”

“And what is that?” Karis took his seat.

“Your marriage, Your Imperial Majesty,” Hovan told him.

“I am not getting married any time soon.” Karis wondered briefly why they were suddenly pushing for his marriage. Then it occurred to him that they probably wanted him to father an heir so they could assassinate him the same way they’d killed his father.

“Your Imperial Majesty, we must insist that you choose a wife as soon as possible,” Rhema began.

“My father didn’t have a wife, and he ruled quite well without one.” Karis waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t need a wife either.”

“You do need an heir, Your Imperial Majesty.” Vasco smiled triumphantly at Karis. “You as of yet don’t have one.”

“My father didn’t have an heir until he was in his forties. I am only twenty-one. I can stand to wait a few more years before I produce an heir.” Karis made another dismissive gesture.

“Your father was a different man, Your Imperial Majesty.” Wieland seemed intent on pushing the issue, as did all of his ministers.

“There is nothing different about our statuses when it comes to producing an heir.” Karis gave the man a cold look.

“Your Imperial Majesty must at least consider marrying and producing an heir as soon as possible.” Zefram urged him with an unctuous smile.

“I will produce an heir when I am ready. Not a moment before. And if I decide to produce an heir, I may just choose to do it with one of my courtesans rather than taking a wife.” Karis considered that as a viable possibility, more to thwart his council than anything else.

“A wife would be better, Your Imperial Majesty.” Rhema took up the cause. “We happen to have a list of eligible young ladies for you.”

“I am not marrying anyone right now. I will produce an heir when I am ready with who I please.” Karis refused to look at the pad she offered him. “That is my final word on the subject.”

“Your Imperial Majesty is perhaps being too hasty.” Vasco took the pad from Rhema and offered it to him again. “If you would just look at the list, I am certain you would find a young lady that suited you.”

“I said no, Vasco.” Karis fixed the man with a cold stare. “I meant it. Now, if this is all you are going to talk about, I am going to end this meeting.” The ministers quickly changed the subject, and the council meeting proceeded.

The council meeting ended, and Karis had lunch. Then he went to his audiences. After the audiences, Tamas came in and bowed to Karis. “Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Tamas, how goes that project I set you on?” Karis looked at him curiously.

“Slow, your Imperial Majesty,” Tamas said. “We’ve gotten some leads we’re following up on. I’ve got people watching both him and his private secretary, since he acts more often through that man than he does directly, so we are seeing some activities that we are also chasing down. I have two confirmed reports of assassination attempts, which I did prevent, Your Imperial Majesty. I am still collecting evidence against him.”

“Excellent, Tamas.” Karis nodded with appreciation. “Slow and steady is fine by me. As long as we can find proof of his activities, I will be satisfied. You say he has already tried two times to assassinate people in court?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Tamas consulted his pad. “One was Lord Tamerlan, who we were able to warn in time. The other was Lady Sidonie, who we were not able to warn in time, but we were able to get a doctor to her in time to save her life.”

“Do we know why Lord Tamerlan and Lady Sidonie were targeted?” Karis’ mouth went dry with worry.

“Lord Tamerlan was targeted because Lord Yunus wished to marry his daughter to the man and Lord Vasco disapproved of the match.” Tamas read through his notes. “Lady Sidonie prevented Lord Vasco from securing a prime shipping contract and Lord Vasco was angry about that.”

“Vasco’s brother wanted to marry his daughter to Tamerlan?” Karis asked. “And Vasco resorted to trying to kill Tamerlan instead of talking his brother out of it?”

“His brother wouldn’t be talked out of it.” Tamas looked up from his pad. “Lord Yunus was convinced that Lord Tamerlan was the right man to marry his daughter to and was in the middle of trying to convince him to marry the woman. Lord Vasco didn’t need to try to assassinate him though. Lord Tamerlan later turned down Lord Yunus, saying he wasn’t planning on getting married for another decade or two.”

Karis felt some relief. Vasco didn’t know that Tamerlan was his chosen replacement for the Minister of the Exchequer. It had just been a coincidence that he’d targeted the young man. “Keep an eye on things, Tamas. Let me know if you get anything else on him.”

“I will, Your Imperial Majesty.” Tamas bowed and left.

He gave it a week, so his court wouldn’t think he was dead, and then told Imre to send for Sayana. “I know I had her not that long ago, but I am in the mood for her again.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre pulled out his pad. “I will send the message to Lord Arken immediately.”

The council session started as every session that week had, with the ministers pushing him to marry. He rejected the idea forcefully each time and each time they came up with some new reason for him to marry a woman of their choice. A regent of their choice for an infant prince who would let them do as they pleased would destroy the empire and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

After the council he did some paperwork until lunch, then went to the audiences. A few lords presented their daughters or sisters as marriage prospects, and he turned them down. He dealt with other petitions and finally ended them when his temper was frayed to the breaking point. He returned to his room and worked until Imre made him stop working to eat.

He worked on some paperwork until it was close to the time when Sayana would be arriving. He set his pad aside and stared into space, brooding on the fact that the council was now pushing him to marry.

He didn’t hear the door open. “Karis?” She spoke quietly, but that voice was unmistakable.

Karis smiled and focused his attention on the stunning woman standing in front of him. She was dressed in dark red tonight, and for a change she had her hair down. It was longer than he’d realized, down to her waist, with only two small braids in the front. She looked both younger and older at the same time with her hair hanging down.

“Sayana, there you are.” Sayana pulled off her veil and moved over to sit near him.

“Is everything all right?” Sayana’s expression was full of concern for him.

“I am sorry if my expression troubled you when you came in.” He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “I was thinking about the last council meeting. They are starting to pressure me to marry. They want me to produce an heir, and I am certain they plan on killing me like they did my father once I do. I am fighting back on marrying, but I can only push back for so long. I do need an heir.”

“I’m sorry you’re dealing with that, Karis. I certainly hope they don’t manage to kill you.” There was fear in those luminous green eyes.

Karis had an idea why she was so afraid. “I have the same hope. I do not relish dying, and I certainly do not want you ladies dying because my council does not like the fact that they cannot control me the way they expected they could.”

“Please be very careful.” Her lips trembled and she seemed to want to say more but fell silent.

“I will. Now, I know you have not had much time to read something new. You cannot have told me about everything you have read before this. Why not tell me about something else you have read in the past?” He looked at her with great interest.

Sayana talked to him about things she’d read, and the two talked for several hours. Imre appeared and told them it was growing late. Karis led Sayana to his bedroom, and they spent their last hour together. He held her when they were finished for a few moments before turning her over to his servants to dress her again.

“Good night, Karis.” Her fingers lingered on his arm for a moment.

“I wish I did not have to let you go.” Karis caught her hand in his. “Good night, Sayana.” Sayana smiled at him and headed out.

Imre helped him dress for bed. “Is there anything I can get you, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“A glass of water, Imre.” Karis leaned back into his pillows. “I fear I am going to need one of my sleeping pills tonight.”

“You’re almost out of them, Your Imperial Majesty,” Imre noted. “Shall I send to the doctors for a new bottle?”

“Yes please.” Karis glanced at the nearly empty bottle. “I use them often enough that I do not want to run out.”

“I’ll take care of it, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre left the room and came back with a glass of water. Karis took his pill and handed Imre back the empty glass. He palmed off the light once Imre left and laid back. He tried to think of something pleasant as he closed his eyes. Sayana’s laugh and her lyrical voice filled his mind. He focused on that as the pill did its job and he soon fell asleep.